Li Feng walked in silence, his robe scorched at the edges, his eyes reflecting crimson remnants of the Saint’s spirit.
Yan Mei finally broke the silence.
“You changed in there.”
“I died in there,” he replied. “And something else came out.”
As they neared the Ashen Grove, a message pulsed from the system.
[System Update: Reputation Unlocked – "Heaven’s Heretic"]
– Effect: Known to Saint-tier entities
– Consequence: Divine Hostile Reactions
– Bonus: Fear Effect against below-Gold Core enemies
– Hidden Title Gained: Heavenbreaker (Locked – 3/7 Trials Completed)
“You’re now marked by Heaven,” Yan Mei said after reading his screen. “They’ll hunt you.”
“Then let them come,” Li Feng muttered. “Let them remember why they should fear betrayal.”
Two days later, in the heart of the Vermilion Sect, Grand Elder Han knelt before the Sky Mirror.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The reflection shimmered—not of his face, but of Li Feng, holding the Heaven-Breaking Scroll.
“Impossible,” he rasped. “That trash is… alive?”
“No,” replied Sect Master Yu from the shadows.
“He’s worse than alive. He’s awakened.”
Meanwhile, back at Black Fang Province, word had spread like wildfire:
A discarded disciple had survived the Vault.
A mortal had burned through Saint Seals.
A heretic had stolen Heaven’s wrath.
And in the darkest corners of the continent, those once discarded began whispering a name:
“Li Feng, the Abandoned Flame.”
[System Prompt – Global Event Triggered: Rise of the Heretic Flame]
– Special Trait unlocked: Infernal Will
– All betrayals remembered by the host will empower their next breakthrough
– Hidden World Quest: Throne of Ashes revealed
That night, Li Feng meditated beneath a cold moon.
“You’re not afraid?” Yan Mei asked.
“I am,” he said. “But not of death. Only of dying before I burn their empire down.”
His hand tightened around the hilt of a rusted sword—the same one they had mocked him for carrying.
Then…
[Level Up Achieved – Level 10]
– Realm: Iron Vein Core
– Skill Mutation Detected: “World Splitter Slash” evolving…
– New Skill: Ashblade Execution
– Trait Evolution: Wrathborne Heart – Awakened
The sky above rumbled.
Far to the east, a masked woman in violet robes opened her eyes.
“He lives,” she whispered. “The boy with the sealed fate…”
“Then we’ll meet again. When Heaven truly falls.”
End of Chapter 8