Sovereign of Aetherial realm

Chapter 3: The Ruins of the Lin Clan

The charred remains of the Lin Clan estate came into view as Lin Feng stepped through the forest. Smoke curled upward from the ruins, and the once-vibrant courtyard where he had trained as a child was now littered with broken weapons, corpses, and ashes.

Lin Feng's jaw tightened. The proud banners of the Lin Clan had been torn down, trampled beneath the boots of the Iron Shadow Sect. Memories of laughter and camaraderie echoed faintly in his mind, only to be swallowed by the stark reality of betrayal and slaughter.

"This… is the price of weakness," he muttered under his breath, his fists clenching.

The Aetherial Codex pulsed faintly in his mind, as though sensing his resolve. "Sentiment has no place in the path of ascension," the voice of Sovereign Aetherius rumbled. "Your vengeance begins here. Focus."

Lin Feng forced himself to look past the destruction and move toward the Ancestral Hall, where the Lin Clan's greatest treasures were once kept. If the Iron Shadow Sect hadn't already found them, those treasures could be the key to regaining his strength.

The Ancestral Hall was surprisingly intact, though the large double doors were slightly ajar. Lin Feng slipped inside, his senses on high alert. The air was thick with tension, and faint footsteps echoed through the hall.

He crouched behind a pillar, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a figure rifling through the remains of an ancient altar. It was a young disciple of the Iron Shadow Sect, likely searching for the Lin Clan's treasures.

Lin Feng's lips curled into a cold smile. "Perfect."

Using the shadows to his advantage, Lin Feng crept closer. The Aetherial Codex thrummed within him, and the knowledge of the Devourer's Bloom technique surged into his mind. With a swift and silent movement, Lin Feng struck the disciple's dantian, the dark tendrils of his technique wrapping around the man's Qi.

The disciple gasped, his body convulsing as his cultivation was drained. Within moments, he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

Lin Feng stood over the body, his Qi surging to Qi Refinement Stage 3. His progress was rapid, but the sensation of absorbing another's energy still felt alien.

"Good," Aetherius's voice echoed. "You are beginning to understand the power of the Codex. Continue. You must grow stronger."

With the disciple dealt with, Lin Feng turned his attention to the altar. The intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes glowed faintly, indicating the presence of a hidden formation.

Lin Feng knelt before the altar, his fingers tracing the runes. Though his memories of his clan's teachings were incomplete, the energy of the Aetherial Codex seemed to resonate with the formation, guiding him.

"Focus your Qi here," Aetherius instructed, directing him to a particular rune.

Lin Feng obeyed, channeling his energy into the rune. The altar trembled, and the carvings lit up in golden light. A hidden compartment slid open, revealing a small jade box.

Inside the box lay a Soul Nourishing Pearl—an artifact capable of rapidly healing spiritual injuries and enhancing one's cultivation foundation.

Lin Feng's breath caught. "With this, I can completely repair the damage to my dantian."

"Do not waste it," Aetherius warned. "Consume it only after you've fortified your body further. For now, focus on clearing this place for now. "

As Lin Feng stood, the sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears. A group of Iron Shadow Sect disciples, five in total, entered the hall. Their leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, noticed the open altar and the lifeless body of their fallen comrade.

"Who's there?" the man barked, drawing a massive blade.

Lin Feng stepped out of the shadows, his calm demeanor masking the storm of fury within him. "You've desecrated my clan's sacred grounds. For that, you'll pay with your lives."

The scarred man laughed mockingly. "And who are you? A survivor clinging to a dead name? You should've stayed in hiding, boy."

Lin Feng's eyes glinted coldly. "You'll regret underestimating me."

The disciples surrounded him, their weapons drawn. Lin Feng took a deep breath, the Aetherial Codex pulsating within him. He activated Devourer's Bloom, dark tendrils of energy coiling around his body like a sinister aura.

The first disciple lunged at him, but Lin Feng sidestepped effortlessly, delivering a precise strike to the man's chest. The tendrils of his technique latched onto the disciple's Qi, draining it in seconds.

The others hesitated, their confidence wavering as they watched their comrade collapse.

"What kind of demonic technique is this?" one of them muttered, fear creeping into his voice.

Lin Feng didn't answer. He moved like a phantom, each strike precise and lethal. The second disciple fell, then the third, until only the scarred man remained.

"You… you monster!" the man growled, his voice trembling with anger and fear.

Lin Feng's expression remained cold. "The Iron Shadow Sect dared to challenge the Lin Clan. Now, you will bear the consequences."

The scarred man roared, unleashing a powerful technique that sent waves of energy surging through the hall. Lin Feng met the attack head-on, the dark aura of the Aetherial Codex amplifying his strength. With a final, devastating strike, he shattered the man's blade and drained his Qi.

The scarred man collapsed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Lin Feng stood amidst the bodies, his Qi now stabilized at Qi Refinement Stage 4. His breathing was steady, his resolve unshaken.

As the silence settled, Lin Feng looked down at his hands. The power he had gained came at a cost—each life taken, each Qi absorbed, left a mark on his soul.

"Is this what it takes to rise?" he murmured.

"It is the way of the strong," Aetherius replied. "Hesitation is death. If you cannot embrace this truth, you will never ascend."

Lin Feng closed his eyes, the image of his family's slaughter fresh in his mind. He couldn't afford to waver. Not now.

Turning back to the altar, he placed the Soul Nourishing Pearl into his storage pouch and walked toward the hall's exit.

The Lin Clan was gone, but its legacy would live on through him. And one day, he would ensure that the Iron Shadow Sect and all who conspired against him would face the full fury of his vengeance.