The Scion of Ruin

The burden of Heaven Suppression felt heavier the closer Li Shen approached the towering gates of the Mission Hall. Behind those jade‑carved doors lay the rest of the Outer Court – and his chance at proving himself. Cloaked in early-morning mist, the courtyard thrummed with life. Outer Disciples clustered in huddles, voices animated with speculation. A bolt of excitement shot through Li Shen's chest just watching.

The Mission Hall itself was built like a grand pavilion, supported by crimson pillars etched with glowing runes. Within its vaulted halls, mission-scrolls hung like offerings, each scroll aglow with faint spiritual Qi. Some flared dangerously, warning that they were perilous—others flickered dimly, marked for low-risk tasks. The air buzzed with possibility—and peril.

Disciples scurried from board to board: Spirit Beast hunts, demon‑cleansing expeditions, supply‑run escorts—each promising merit points, sect credit, and above all, experience. A polished stone mosaic in the center displayed tiered thresholds—casting the Mission Hall in the light of a challenge arena. To enter was to step into a network of opportunity … and watchful eyes.

Li Shen followed a path toward the "Demon‑Cleansing" board, his soul lightly vibrating with anticipation. After weeks hunkered in solitude, he longed for action. Training alone left him untested; he needed dangerous Qi to temper his blades—and his resolve.

A hush seemed to settle as he neared the demon-cleansing section. The scrolls here glowed in muted grays and purples. Some flickered wildly—high-level missions with promises of danger but heavy reward. Others stayed still, denoting safety but little merit. Li Shen's heart thudded. He approached what looked like a maiden solo mission—promising but likely fatal. His fingers hovered … when—

"Looking for a good group, brother?" The voice slithered from just behind him.

He paused. A tall, slim Outer Disciple, mid‑twenties by his appearance, waited with a honeyed smile. His posture was relaxed, but the irises of his eyes were sharp. Li Shen recognized him—he'd seen that face near Elder Guo's quarters, standing apart from others. This must be Zhou Tai—the "friendly" nephew of Elder Guo.

"I'm scouting demon-cleansing runs," Li Shen replied evenly, nodding toward the board. "Any recommendations?"

Zhou Tai's lips curved in practiced warmth. He exuded confidence—perhaps even Qi Condensation Stage 8, common but not trivial for an Outer Disciple. "Solo ones are tempting, but beginners often bite off more than they can chew. Especially with that unpredictable demonic Qi. You're better off starting quietly, in a group. Less glory, yes—but safer. I could put in a word. There's a mission near the Southern Pass, in the Shadow Mire. Mostly low‑level Demon Beasts—Rank 1, maybe a demon‑corrupted cultivator or two. A group mission. You'd be kept under watch, but you'd get in—and learn."

He stepped closer, subtly brushing Li Shen aside from the solo board scrolls. Li Shen felt the prod of jealousy. This felt engineered—Zhou Tai steering him away from a solo run. "A group mission's fine," Li Shen said, deliberately calm. He met Zhou Tai's gaze. "If you think it's suitable."

Zhou Tai smirked—like a sentinel placing him under gentle watch. "Excellent. I'll see you at the departure platform. Try to arrive early. It's popular."

He drifted away, and Li Shen watched him join another cluster. The smoothness of it left a sour reek in Li Shen's mind.

---

The sect's Mission Hall was divided by colored banners: Blue for mundane errands, White for Spirit Beast hunts, Purple for Demon‑Cleansing, and Black for sect‑critical or secret missions. Each mission summarized location, type, danger level, minimum ranking, group or solo, and merit reward. Outer Disciples were expected to choose based on their permitted tier; Li Shen, with his unorthodox progress, didn't quite fit neatly—but as long as he held Sect ID, he could pick any mission the hall accepted he was suitable for.

These missions were not only tasks—they were rites of passage. A group mission meant shared experiences, alliances, tensions. Solo runs meant isolation. Mastering both forged the strongest Disciples.

As Li Shen turned away from the board, the distant clang of early bell summoned the first wave of assignments. Disciples filled forms, drawn lots for mission squads. He noted the scores: Jing Wei, Yan Xue, Zhao Jun—experienced hands. Newer faces like him were slides in name lists, assigned by elder arbitrators. Li Shen, unfamiliar to the elders, was passed over until an elder whispered, drew his name in and out of a stack—and dropped him into Group Team #7 for the Shadow‑Mire expedition. No solo. Exactly what Zhou Tai had intended.

Li Shen bowed his thanks, but the heart churned.

---

That evening, Li Shen retired to his cave—a rough‑hewn cavern behind Outer Court where he had practiced alone. He closed his eyes, clearing the riot of worldly chatter. His energy—strained, yet steady—rooted into his dantian. He lit a single wax candle, its flame flickering as if dancing to his pulse.

He reviewed the mission strategy: group—team synergy. Watch others' weaknesses; fill them with his blades and inner Qi. But first … he needed a breakthrough. Qi Condensation Stage 1 felt sturdy, but insufficient. Demon‑cleansing without solid Stage 2 would pit him at risk.

He inhaled the ambient qi—thin, cold, stubborn. Heaven Suppression weighed on every intake. He recalled the taste of demon blood on his tongue, the echo of its feral promise. His Heaven Asura Destruction Body—his unique heritage—bore an iron hunger for Qi. He coiled his spiritual sense around the weakness in Heaven's barrier. With each heartbeat, he felt moisture bead on his forehead; his clothes dampened in the stillness.

Pain spiked. His consciousness pulsed—like a blade striking stone. His vision dimmed; a buzzing overtook his hearing. He tightened his grip on the candleholder. Flames danced dangerously. Then—

A snap. A flicker in his mind. A warm wave rushed from his dantian outward. Painlamps burst in his chest, then eased. He glimpsed the candle's flame steady, as if accenting his internal harmony. He opened his eyes, breathing inaudibly as his fingers tightened.

Qi Condensation Stage 2.

It wasn't a surge—it was subtle, hidden. But it was unmistakable: meridians brighter, pressure more stable. Enough to shatter meditative ceilings. Enough to cut deeper through demon corruption. It was a tiny seed—but in his chest, its bud glowed.

He collapsed to his knees, breath ragged. The breakthrough had taken more than blood and iron—it had cost him sweat, strain, spiritual resonance. In that sacred cave, Li Shen realized: for the first time, he had truly DARED to take power. He'd braved the impossible.

---

At dawn, disciples gathered at the outer courtyard. Group 7 assembled near the gate. Li Shen stepped from the shadows. Around him:

Jing Wei: Broad-shouldered, armor-clad. Qi Condensation Stage 7. Stoic gazes, seldom speaks.

Mei Lan: A sprightly girl with braided hair. Stage 5 energy. Carries dual sabers. Flickers with confidence.

Xiong Bo: Large and jovial. Stage 6. Smells faintly of sweat and alcohol—a fellow who craves battle.

Tan Yi: Quiet, looks Stage 4. Wields a talisman scroll in one hand, reading it like scripture.

They eyed Li Shen curiously. A new face—but not unwelcome.

Zhou Tai, standing apart, greeted them with a shady bow. "Ready?" he asked as he joined the group. "We shouldn't tarry—Shadow Mire isn't far, but demons seldom wait."

Jing Wei's eyes swept past Zhou Tai's smile. "Let's move."

As the group stretched and began to depart, Mei Lan whispered to Li Shen, loud enough for only him to hear: "Rank 1 Demon Beasts are like facing ten Stage 1 Condensation cultivators at once. Count yourself lucky—most groups wouldn't risk solo." She glanced at Zhou Tai. "Thanks for the steadiness."

Li Shen inclined his head. Trust to be earned—but knowledge would be kept close.

---

While crossing the Outer Pass, the team spoke softly of what awaited them. The concept of Rank Beasts was part of inner sect education—but many Outer Disciples remained hazy. Li Shen had fresh definitions stored in his mind, all from his breakthrough night:

Rank 1 Beasts: Equivalent to Stage 1 Qi Condensation cultivators—10 full internal levels. A serious threat in packs.

Rank 2: Equivalent to Foundation Establishment cultivators—human realm of building Qi cores.

Rank 3: Core Formation equivalency—rare, extremely dangerous.

Up to Rank 9—ascending through Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Qi, and Immortal Great Realms—cargo of demonic apex predators.

Mei Lan murmured, "They say a pack of Rank 1 Beasts can overwhelm a lone Stage 3 cultivator." She flicked her sabers. "But they don't sting as badly as demon‑corrupteds."

Xiong Bo grunted agreement. "Yesterday I heard an elder mention—two Rank 2 Spirit Beasts held off a Foundation Establishment guest for an hour."

Li Shen nodded inwardly. His breakthrough gave him Stage 2 Condensation; among Outer Disciples, he was quietly catching up. A misstep—an encounter with a Rank 2 demon—would kill him swiftly.

Tan Yi looked at their mission scroll. "Shadow Mire contains clusters of corrupted artefacts and residual demonic Qi creating low‑level Demon Beasts. Might bump up to Rank 2 at worst—nothing we can't handle with care."

Zhou Tai joined in. "Exactly. And with a disciplined party—Team 7—we should separate beasts swiftly and clear room. Focus on consolidation—strip corruption from both beast and terrain. Elder Guo will appreciate efficiency."

Li Shen watched Zhou Tai speak. Controlled. Assured. Political. The nephew knew protocol—but his precision reeked of agenda.

...

By mid-morning the group reached the Shadow Mire. A stretch of ancient swamp, glossed with low mist. Gray reeds scraped against shirts; pale fungi pulsed on rotten logs. The air buzzed with sour spiritual Qi. Flint‑white toads croaked—venomous hums in the background. Light filtered thinly through deadwood canopy. This place was sickened—an oubliette for aberrant energies.

"Stay close," Jing Wei said. He motioned the group into a shallow crater ringed by half‑submerged stones. "No solo wandering. Mei Lan and I flank front; you two—Li Shen, Xiong Bo—cover flanks. Tan Yi, you watch corridors and traps."

Li Shen felt the pressure in his dantian—tight, responsive. He glanced at Mei Lan, who nodded back once in silent acknowledgment. Jing Wei signaled forward.

They advanced through ankle‑deep water. A putrid stink burst ahead—sound of something large thrashing. Jiisha—croc‑like Demon Beast—Rank 1. The thing emerged, sleek and amphibious, a hool of corrupted spinal fins. Its eyes pulsed purple.

Mei Lan struck first, vaulting forward and slashing. Jing Wei unleashed twin Qi blades. Li Shen circled to flank. Xiong Bo raised a war axe over his shoulder.

The croc snapped fangily; its jaws cracked. Jing Wei stopped it with a burst of Qi and a punch. Mei Lan sliced into its ribcage; Xiong Bo finished with an axe swing. A spark and wisp of demon Qi rose as the creature collapsed.

Tan Yi stepped forward with a chant scroll; pale runes glowed. A wave of white light washed over the carcass, purging the remnant corruption faster than any flower rain would.

Breaths came fast. The team regrouped.

The mission log ticked its first check: "One Rank 1 Demon Beast neutralized."

As they continued deeper, more crocs and toad‑like things emerged—six in all. Rank 1 beasts, group manageable, but the more they killed, the thicker the corruption lay. By early afternoon they reached a pit of dark ooze, crimson coils rising from its center.

From within that ooze surfaced the real prize: Corrupted Mire Toad, an amphibian monstrosity nearly twice a man's size. Its maw dripped acid, its eyes like black pits, its body slick with pus. Its aura pulsed demon Qi—hazier, rank unknown.

It let loose a warble that shook the reeds. Nearby, a half‑demon cultivator stumbled out—eyes grotesquely glazed; nails grown ankled. Human in form—but demon inside. A Demon‑Corrupted Cultivator. Too late, Li Shen registered the thing wasn't alone.

"Rank 2," Mei Lan hissed. "That toad is Foundation Establishment level—rank too high. But we can't run; too many packs behind us."

Jing Wei's face hardened. He drew the center of the formation. "Take care: flank and contain. Li Shen, Xiong Bo, you circle left. Mei Lan right. I'll take the front. Tan Yi, get ready to seal the corrupted cultivator—scrawling technique."

Zhou Tai watched from Jing's flank, calm. The demon‑cultivator snarled forward, acid spittle crackling; the toad reared. An acid blob hurtled toward Mei Lan—her sabers blocked, but acid ate into her cloak.

"Foul scourge!" Xiong Bo charged in, war-axe held high.

Li Shen felt adrenaline pool. He heard something within—his Dantian hum increased. He stepped outside the formation cautiously—aware. Below his sword chakra, energy felt stronger than before. Stage 2 ready.

He slashed twice—each arc of blade releasing a shimmering Qi wave. It struck the demon-toad's flank. Its skin sizzled. A shockwave jolted him. He skidded back.

The corrupted cultivator hurled nails imbued with demon Qi. Mei Lan leapt back, warding him off. Jing Wei closed in with twin Qi blades, slicing tendons across the corrupted cultivator's arm. Tan Yi flung light‑scroll, sealing the wound with holy script.

Xiong Bo leaped forward, his axe buried in the toad's neck. Li Shen charged in with blade Qi infused with his new surge. He struck upward, across the beast's chin, Qi slicing through cartilage. Acid dripped in response—but the creature fell, a demon shriek echoing into the mire.

The cultivator collapsed. Jing Wei and Tan Yi arrived, sealing both corpse and beast with lightwork. Mei Lan knelt and helped soothe Xiong Bo's sleeve, which had taken splatter from acid. The group stood—tired, bruised, victorious.

A silence held.

Then Mei Lan looked at Li Shen. "That Qi… the way you hit. Something's changed."

Jing Wei's gaze sharpened. "Indeed. Your Qi—Stage 2 now?" His eyes appraised him. Li Shen nodded, quietly.

A new respect glimmered among them. Even Zhou Tai's smile tightened.

---

The walk back was quiet. The swamp receded. Light grew and birds called unharmed. The spiritual Qi of the pass washed over them—a cleanse.

In the courtyard, Team 7 received their mission rewards: merit points, scrolls of purification jade, and minor Qi pearls. Li Shen pocketed his share; they would later bolster his foundation. But most potent was within—Stage 2 Qi condensation. A difference no amount of sect treasure could match.

Elder Guo's droned praise echoed. "You handled yourselves well. Demon‑corrupted cultivator, and a Rank 2 Demon Beast? Quite the group's deed. Exceptional for Team 7." He paused. "Li Shen—Stage 2 breakthrough? Noted. Good." He cast Li Shen a long look, then his eyes flicked to Zhou Tai. Zhou Tai inclined slightly, expression neutral. The nephew's job was done: supervise, report, and—somehow—keep the real threats close.

Zhou Tai stood aside as Li Shen passed. His whisper was low, half-concealed: "Nice work. Balances risk and reward… you did well."

Grudging. Competitive. Exposing no warmth.

On the edge of the courtyard, Mei Lan handed Li Shen a white Qi pearl. "Take this." She offered it quietly. "Call it… repayment. More like… Fraternity. For your breakthrough. Keep going."

Li Shen accepted it—his fist upraised. It glowed faintly, a token of shared blood.

Jing Wei nodded at Li Shen. "You're a dependable flank guard. And strong. Keep growing."

Tan Yi smiled and added, "May your path cut clearer than blades."

Xiong Bo slapped him on the shoulder. "To many more hunts together."

As the group dispersed, Li Shen stood alone—no longer the silent shadow at the hall's edge. Stage 2 Qi Condensation pulsed within him. His asura-bloodline Path had borne fruit. The beast-world's threat scale was no longer theory—it was a ledger by which his future would be measured.

As he drifted back toward his cave, he saw the flicker of Zhou Tai's eyes across the crowd. And he knew: this was not the end of suppression, but its escalation. Beneath watchful eyes, he had gained. What he would do next would matter. The sect, the wilderness—and Elder Guo's servant—were watching.

Now, Li Shen held a new weapon: quiet progress. A demon buried. Stage 2 Qi. A deeper resolve. And among his group, he had found allies—if not yet friends. The clear boundaries of Ranks 1 to 9 inhabited his mind like a map of future challenges.

But tomorrow? Tomorrow, he would step further. And the battle—for strength, for truth, for paths beyond Heaven Suppression—would deepen.