The three figures on the bridges watched in terror.

  The girl trembled the most, her face pale as snow.

  "T-this... this is what he did earlier..." she whispered, eyes wide with dread. "We ended up suffering for it..."

  Tears streamed down her cheeks as her body shook with fear.

  "W-why? Why can’t you just SHUT UP?!" she suddenly screamed, dropping to her knees.

  "My Qing’er..." she clutched her chest, collapsing into a sob that tore through her lungs. Her shoulders trembled violently, helpless against the wave of despair.

  Inside the dome, a terrifying aura, far more brutal than before, exploded outward, crashing into Jin Yu.

  BAM!

  He was flung like a ragdoll, slammed against the dome’s wall before rebounding, crashing into the ground below.

  Ding!

  Ancient Will Detected!

  Absorbing…

  A broken, guttural laughter spilled from Jin Yu’s lips.

  "Ha... haha... hahahaha..."

  His bloodied face twisted into a wild grin as his eyes locked onto the System’s alert.

  Then he raised his head, just slightly, and looked at the man, who was visibly trembling now, struggling to rein in his rage.

  Blood trickled down Jin Yu’s chin as his grin widened.

  "Keep feeding me..." he whispered, then burst into crazed, body-racking laughter.

  "Hahahahahaha!"

  The man’s eyes flickered, not with Fury this time, but fear.

  An invisible force yanked his Will off Jin Yu, tearing it away violently, severing it forever.

  His once-solid figure flickered, dimmed, the glow bleeding out of him as his form began to grow transparent.

  What is this?!

  If he had a heart, it would have seized in terror.

  His eyes widen as he stared at Jin Yu’s body, shaken to the core.

  Jin Yu rose.

  Bloodied, grinning, unbent.

  He stood tall and met the man’s horrified gaze with a mocking smirk.

  "What? Scared now? Why don’t you keep going?" he taunted. "Let’s see who dies first."

  The man hissed, voice trembling with restrained fury.

  "Bug... it seems my mercy has made you arrogant. Do not cross—"

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  "Oh shut that shit-hole you call a mouth."

  Jin Yu’s voice sliced through him like a blade.

  "Doesn’t the stench from it nauseate even you?"

  The man trembled with Fury, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself.

  He opened them moments later, lifting his chin as if the flickering of his form didn’t betray him.

  "You insolent insect... I’ve destroyed legions for less. You think this Lord fears you?"

  His voice thundered, but the tremor beneath it ruined the weight.

  Jin Yu tilted his head mockingly.

  "No, I don’t think you fear me."

  He wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

  "I know you do."

  His eyes gleamed like a predator with nothing left to lose.

  "You’re shaking like a wet dog, trying to hide behind big words. Go on, try again. Let’s see how much more of you I can burn off."

  The man’s aura surged briefly, crackling with rage. He raised his hand, Will gathering like a storm at his fingertips...

  Then it stalled.

  The memory of what happened last time chained his wrist.

  His hand dropped, subtly. Quietly. But Jin Yu noticed.

  And grinned.

  "Aww... what’s wrong, old thing?"

  He took a step forward.

  "Scared your next tantrum might get you erased for good?"

  The man sneered, but his voice was thinner now.

  "I am a fragment of divinity! You are nothing but a reckless brat with a death wish!"

  "And yet, here you are," Jin Yu said, his voice low and vicious, "watching your 'divinity' run with its tail between its legs. Be honest, how long has it been since anyone dared to talk back to you?"

  The man’s expression contorted, flickering between rage and restraint. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came. Even his pride was choking.

  Jin Yu chuckled, dry and cold.

  "That's what I thought."

  He stepped forward again, slow and deliberate.

  "Look at you. You talk like a god, but act like a coward. Keep pretending. Keep barking. I’ll be right here… laughing when you vanish."

  The man’s form pulsed, unstable. His eyes were lit with fury, but underneath it, that same flicker of fear returned. He said nothing.

  "You’re done."

  Jin Yu’s voice dropped to a near-whisper, deadly calm.

  "The moment you hesitated… you lost."

  The man took another deep breath, struggling to contain his anger. He waved his hand lightly and crossed it behind his back, then spoke with the regal of an elder, his previous elegance back.

  "Forget it, I won't argue with a lowly being"

  He then lifted his chin and looked down on Jin Yu before continuing.

  "As far your rudeness to this Lord, your challenge in this trial...has doubled." he paused, making sure his word sink into Jin Yu's heart.

  Jin Yu only poked his ear with his pinky, looking at the man, as if watching a fool yap.

  Undeterred, the old man continued.

  "Every being in this world Must come together to eliminate you, and whoever made the kill, this Lord will personally bestow him a token to the Overlord's inheritance."

  He declared, his words reverberating throughout the Red world, as if sealing Jin Yu's fate.

  Jin Yu raised an eyebrow, looking completely unbothered.

  Then he pointed his finger towards the three fellows.

  "You mean those living dead?" he asked the man in mockery.

  Hmph!.

  The man snorted in disdain before replying.

  "Lowly being, your ignorance of this Lord's power will be your end today."

  Then he waved his hand, a hint of Schadenfreude in his eyes.

  Phrroooooom....

  A circular motion of Red light instantly appeared at the two cave entrance, a moment later, dozens of people with three distinct groups appeared on both terrace , shock and astonishment mirroring their face.

  Jin Yu eyes narrowed as he looked at them, his thoughts unknown.

  The people continued looking around in surprise, when someone exclaimed among them.

  "Th-this....we are in!, We are in!, This is the Red World!"

  The others eyes widen in surprised.

  Someone whispered. "Is it the perso-, I mean Lord who spoke just now?"

  "I think so, look" another person pointed at the platform, where only Jin Yu stood now, the man was no where to be seen.

  "Is that true?, We will get the inheritance if we kill him?"

  Another whispered.

  "Who is he?"

  Another cracked his neck and spoke. "I don't care who he is, he's dying either way."

  "Aren't you too arrogant, you think a man spoken for by the Lord is waiting to be slaughtered?"

  "Who cares, I'll kill him!"

  Another barked, already moving forward.

  Like that, words rang out continuously, everyone looking at Jin Yu like a predator seeing it's prey.

  Even the unholy cultivator's eyes burned with excitement.

  The girl stood up, her previous gloom gone, replaced by something else, Hope?

  The person in question, Jin Yu, had his face full of worry, not because of the people staring at him like a lamb, but because of something entirely different.

  The System's Alert

  It floated in his vision, delivering both good and bad news.

  Ding!

  Ancient Will Absorbed.

  Ding!

  Next breakthrough available.

  Ding!

  Error: Insufficient influence points!

  Ding!

  Second Ancient Will unabsorbed.

  Ding!

  Third Ancient Will unabsorbed.

  DING!

  WARNING: TOO MUCH HOSTILE ENERGY ACCUMULATED!

  DING!

  WARNING: MUTATION OR EVOLUTION MAY OCCUR!

  SYSTEM'S REMARK: Use the refined energy first, to absorb the hostile ones!.

  Jin Yu stared at the screen in concern.

  I think I've eaten too much!.