The Secret Realm

Kael Ardent stood at the entrance of the secret realm, his eyes narrowed as he gazed into the vast expanse of shimmering landscapes beyond. This was the Ardent Family's hidden domain, a place where only the most elite of their bloodline could enter to hone their skills and strength. The air crackled with an ancient power, and Kael felt the pull of opportunity.

Here, magical beasts roamed free, their essence ripe for the taking. In his hand, he gripped the Devouring Sword, a dark blade that pulsed with hunger. It was no ordinary weapon—it devoured the blood, Qi, and souls of anything it killed, transferring their power to its wielder. Kael had unlocked a fraction of its potential, but today, he would push its limits further.

This secret realm was formed by laws of space by a very senior ancestor of Ardent clan this information was mentioned in the novel that he had read in his previous life, Ethan now Kael always felt gaining strength and weakening the luck and fortune of the protagonist Robert Voss shall be his first priority since heavens will of this world may create some unforseen circumstances if extreme actions such as threatening the life of person that heavens itself chose.

Kael stepped into the secret realm, Kael's senses heightened. The ground beneath his feet was soft and damp, and the dense fog ahead barely concealed the dark figures lurking within. A deep, rumbling growl echoed through the mist, and Kael smirked.

"A good start," he muttered to himself, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword.

Within moments, a beast leaped from the fog—a black-furred wolf, its eyes glowing a menacing red. Its jaws were wide, aiming for Kael's throat. With a swift movement, Kael sidestepped the attack, bringing the Devouring Sword down in a clean arc. The blade sliced through the wolf's neck as if it were made of paper, and immediately, the sword shone with an eerie crimson light.

The wolf's blood Qi and soul and life force were absorbed into the blade, and Kael felt a rush of energy surge through him. His veins burned with power, and a cold smirk twisted his lips.

"This is only the beginning."

As he ventured deeper into the secret realm, the number of magical beasts increased. It wasn't long before Kael was surrounded by a pack of ten dark wind wolves, each one larger and more fearsome than the last. Their red eyes gleamed in the darkness, and their sharp fangs dripped with venom.

Kael's body tensed, but there was no fear in his eyes—only a calculating coldness.

With a burst of speed, Kael darted forward, his blade moving faster than the eye could follow. The Devouring Sword cleaved through flesh, bone, and sinew as it harvested the life force of each beast it struck down. Each kill sent another wave of power coursing through his body, strengthening him.

The wolves attempted to flank him, but Kael's battle sense were too sharp after fusing his soul with the original owner of the body. He spun on his heel, parrying their attacks with graceful precision before driving the sword deep into their hides. The moment the blade pierced their flesh, their life force was drawn into the sword, their souls devoured by the insatiable hunger of the blade.

In the end, only silence remained. The corpses of the magical beasts littered the ground around him, their blood staining the earth. The crimson glow of the Devouring Sword pulsed rhythmically, as if alive with satisfaction.

Kael stood still for a moment, feeling the surge of blood Qi and soul energy settle within him. His own cultivation had risen slightly—a tangible reward for his relentless pursuit of strength. The realm had much more to offer, but this was only the first trial.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, sheathing the blade momentarily as he surveyed the terrain. In the distance, he could sense the presence of something more powerful—a true challenge. Without hesitation, Kael moved forward, his steps purposeful and his mind focused.

As he approached a narrow canyon, the ground beneath him trembled. A massive shadow loomed from within the dark crevice, and a roar shattered the eerie silence. Emerging from the depths was a monstrous creature—a Crimson Scale Bear. Towering over ten feet tall, its body was covered in thick red scales, and its claws could tear through steel. Its blood Qi was immense, a testament to the countless beasts it had devoured to survive in this secret realm.

Kael's eyes gleamed with excitement. The stronger the beast, the more Qi and soul energy it could provide. He had never faced a creature of this magnitude, but the hunger inside him was insatiable. The Devouring Sword pulsed in response, eager to feast on the bear's essence.

The bear charged at Kael with terrifying speed for a creature of its size, its claws swiping toward him with deadly force. Kael dodged at the last moment, rolling to the side as the claws gouged deep furrows into the earth where he had just stood. He sprang to his feet, his sword already in motion.

He aimed for the weak points in its armor-like scales, striking at the joints and underbelly. The beast roared in pain, but Kael remained unfazed. He danced around the bear's wild attacks, his movements fluid and precise. Each strike with the Devouring Sword drained the bear of its strength, its blood Qi being absorbed with every cut.

But the bear was not an easy foe. It swiped at him with renewed fury, catching him off guard. A sharp claw grazed his arm, drawing blood. Kael winced, but the pain only fueled his determination.

With a snarl, he channeled his blood Qi into the Devouring Sword, igniting the blade with a dark crimson aura. He lunged forward, dodging the bear's next attack, and drove the sword deep into its chest. The creature roared in agony, its life force rapidly draining as the Devouring Sword fed on its soul.

The bear collapsed with a final, earth-shaking thud. Kael yanked the sword free, watching as the last vestiges of the bear's life were consumed by the blade. The power coursing through him was immense, almost overwhelming. He could feel his cultivation advancing once more, his body adapting to the newfound strength.

Kael stood amidst the carnage, his breath coming in heavy gasps. His wounds were minor, already healing thanks to the regenerative effects of the blood Qi he had absorbed. But the thrill of the hunt had not dimmed.

This realm was vast, filled with countless magical beasts waiting to be slaughtered. And with each kill, Kael would grow stronger, more formidable. His family's secret realm was a crucible for forging power, and Kael had every intention of becoming unstoppable.

As he turned to leave the canyon, Kael smirked, his eyes glowing with a dangerous light.

"The path to power is paved with blood" he muttered, "and I will walk it to the end".

"Each person in this fantasy world can follow one supreme path and one subsidiary path, since supreme path of devouring has been decided I'll use high path of blood as subsidy path"

With that Kael disappeared into shadows of the realm while his devouring sword hungry for more, he knew after devouring few magical beasts he would hit Soul Transformation Realm.