"The Ugly Sovereign: Ascending Beyond Mortal Scorn"

The First Symptoms

A week after destroying the last seed, Luo Feng woke drenched in cold sweat. His hands trembled, and jagged black veins snaked up his arms like cracks in stone. The scar where Yan Mo's dagger had cut him pulsed with a dull, sickly heat.

Granny Wen's Diagnosis:

She examined his arm, her frail fingers brushing the blackened veins. "This is no ordinary poison… It's a blood curse. The Yan Clan has bound their malice to your life force."

Symptoms:

Fever: His skin burned one moment, froze the next.

Hallucinations: Shadows whispered his name, and the faces of the dead flickered at the edge of his vision.

Qi Instability: When he tried to meditate, his energy raged like a storm, tearing at his meridians.

Xiao Mei's Fear:

She held a damp cloth to his forehead. "We'll find a cure. Granny, there must be a way!"

Granny Wen sighed. "The cure lies in the curse's source… Luo Feng's own blood."

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The Yan Clan's Ritual

Deep in a cavern lit by blood-red candles, Master Yan and Elder Wu stood over a stone altar. A clay bowl filled with Luo Feng's blood bubbled violently, emitting a foul green smoke.

The Ritual:

Master Yan chanted in a guttural tongue, carving symbols into the floor.

Elder Wu added crushed Dark Bloom petals and a lock of Luo Feng's hair (stolen during the battle) to the bowl.

The mixture coalesced into a blood phantom—a shadowy copy of Luo Feng, its eyes glowing venomous green.

Master Yan's Command:

"Find him. Corrupt his Qi… and return his heart to me."

The phantom dissolved into mist, seeping through the cavern's cracks.

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The Phantom's Hunt

Luo Feng staggered into the forest at dawn, hoping the cool air would ease his fever. Instead, the trees seemed to lean closer, their branches clawing at him.

The Encounter:

The blood phantom materialized from the mist, its form shifting between Luo Feng's reflection and a snarling beast.

"You cannot outrun yourself," it hissed in Luo Feng's voice.

Battle in the Woods:

The phantom mirrored his moves, anticipating every strike.

When Luo Feng channeled Qi, the curse flared, burning his veins.

The phantom slashed his chest, leaving a wound that oozed black blood.

Retreat:

Xiao Mei found him collapsed by the river, clutching his chest. "It's… using my own Qi against me," he gasped.

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Granny Wen's Desperation

Back at the shack, Granny Wen sorted through brittle scrolls of ancient remedies. Her hands shook as she brewed a bitter tea of Ghost's Cap Mushrooms and Moonpetal Roots—a dangerous mix to dull the curse's pain.

The Risk:

"This will weaken the curse… but it could stop your heart," she warned.

Luo Feng drank it without hesitation. "Better dead than their puppet."

Temporary Relief:

The black veins faded, and the fever broke—but his Qi lay dormant, useless.

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The Silverwood Sapling's Gift

That night, Luo Feng knelt by the Silverwood sapling. Its golden leaf glowed softly, reflecting in his eyes.

The Vision:

The golden serpent's voice echoed from the tree. "The curse is part of you… but so am I. Let go… and trust."

Leap of Faith:

Luo Feng pressed his cursed palm to the sapling. Light erupted, searing his veins. The phantom screamed in the distance as the sapling's roots pierced his skin, drawing out poisoned blood.

Sacrifice:

The sapling's golden leaf blackened and withered—but Luo Feng's veins cleared, the curse weakened.

"Thank you," he whispered, collapsing.

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The Yan Clan's Fury

In the cavern, Master Yan roared as the blood phantom dissolved. Elder Wu stared at the cracked ritual bowl.

"The boy found a way to resist… but the curse still lives in him. It will return stronger."

New Orders:

Master Yan smashed the altar. "Burn the Luo Clan's fields. Let them starve… and watch their 'hero' fail to save them."

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Luo Feng's Resolve

At dawn, Luo Feng stood at the edge of the village, watching smoke rise from burning crops. The curse lingered in his core, a sleeping viper.

Xiao Mei handed him Granny Wen's rusted sword. "What now?"

He gripped the hilt, the sapling's light still flickering in his veins. "We fight. Not just for us… but for them."