Sovereign of Aetherial realm

Lin Feng stood amidst the ancient carvern, his body coursing with unfamiliar power. The golden light from the runes on the alter danced across the jagged walls, illuminating his determined expression. Though his cultivation was damaged from the poisen, the energy granted by Aetherial Codex stirred deep within his dantian, repairing what was lost and igniting something entirely new.

For the first time since his betrayal, Ling felt hope.

"Good, " the voice of Sovereign Aetherius rumbled in his mind. " You posses the will to endure, but will alone is not enough. You have inherited the Aetherial Codex, a forged to defy the heavens. However its power only submit to the strong. Do you have the strength to claim it? "

Lin Feng's fist clenched, his knuckles white. "I will earn it. No matter what it takes. "

Aetherius's voice chuckled darkly. "We shall see. "

The glowing alter dimmed, and the book floated in the air, flipping open to it's first page. The characters shifted again, forming a single technique:Devourer's Bloom.

"What is this?"Lin Feng asked.

"The Aetherial Codex thrives on the energy of others, " Aetherius explained." This technique allows you to absorb the life force and cultivation of your enemies. With it, you can rebuild you strength— if you survive. "

Lin Feng frowned. The thought of stealing cultivation from others felt foreign, even vile, but the memory of his family's scream and the faces of his betrayers burned in his mind. If he wanted revenge, morality could not no longer hold him back.

"How do i start? "

The book pulsed with golden light, and a wave of knowledge surged into Lin Feng's mind. He fell to his knees, clutching his mind as the technique engraved itself into his consciousness.

Aetherius's voice echoed once more. "The world will devour you if you hesitate. Strike first, devour them, and rise. Begin with the lurkin that lurk above. "

Lin Feng looked up towards the cavern ceiling, his sharp gaze piercing the layers of earth as he though he could already see the Iron Shadow Sect disciples slaughtering the remnants of his clan.

Climbing out of the cavern was no small feat. The energy of Aetherial Codex enhanced Lin Feng's weakened body but his cultivation was only at the beginning of Qi Refinement once again. Every step felt like a battle, but his unyielding resolve pushed him forward.

Finally, he emerged from the ground and found himself in the forest outside the Lin Clan estate. Smoke and the scent of blood filled the air, distant cries echoed through the trees, the estate was in ruin, but several Iron Shadow Sect disciples had split off to loot nearby areas.

Lin Feng hid behind a tree, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a group of three disciples walking towards him.

" They really did not put up much of a fight,"one of them sneered.

" Bah, The Lin Clan was just a gathering of cowards. Let's hurry up and finish looting—"

Before the man could finish, Lin Feng burst from the shadows, his speed fueled by the new energy flowing through him. He struck with a palm aimed directly at disciple's crest, channeling the rudimentary form of Devourer's Bloom technique.

The man's scream filled the air as his Qi was forcibly drawn into Lin Feng's body. His skin withered, his cultivation drained, he fell lifeless on the ground.

The remaining two disciples froze, shock and fear evident of their faces.

"What kind of technique is that?" one of them stammered.

Lin Feng's cold gaze met theirs. His expression was void of hesitation, his fury hidden beneath a calm mask." The kind that will send you to hell. "

The other disciple roared and lunged at him, wielding a curved blade. Lin Feng sidestepped the attack with surprising agility and countered with a attack of man's dantian, shattering it.

" No!" the man cried, as collapsing as his cultivation dissipated.

Lin Feng finished with another strike, using the Devourer's Bloom to siphon the last remnants of his Qi. As his energy surged, Lin Feng felt his body repairing itself further. The poisen that once crippled his dantian was now completely eradicated, and his cultivation stabilisized at Qi Refinement Stage 2.

The final disciple turned to flee, but Lin Feng's voice froze him in place.

" Running won't save you. "

With a burst of speed, Lin Feng appeared before the man and delivered a single, decisive blow.

As the third body fell,Lin Feng stood amidst the carnage, his breathing steady. A mixture of digust and satisfaction churned in his stomach. This was the first time he had killed but it wouldn't be the last.

" I will take everything from those who took everything from me, " he muttered to himelf, his fists tightening.

The energy gained from the three disciples was minor compared to what he had lost, but it was enough to confirm the potential of Aetherial Codex, every fight would make him stronger, every victory a step closer to his ultimate goal.

But revenge alone was not enough. If Lin Feng wanted to survive, he needed to rebuild his strength and resources. The Lin family was gone, but there were still treasures hidden within the estate— treasures that could aid him in battles to come.

As he turned back towards the ruins of his home, the voice of Aetherius echoed once more.

" Your journey has just begun, boy. Remember this feeling—the thrill of rising from the ashes, the hunger for power. But beware... every step you take towards the heavens, the greater the weight upon your soul. "

Lin Feng closed his eyes briefly, steeling himself. The path he had chosen was of blood and fire, but he would see it through the end.

With the faint glow of Aetherial Codex still lingering around him, Lin Feng stepped forward into the ruins of Lin Clan, ready to claim the legacy that was rightfully his.