C8: Bloodbath in the Inner Sect

The outer sect was in complete chaos. Flames rose from several destroyed pavilions as Lin Xiao’s forces — now swollen with surrendered outer disciples — secured the area. Lin Xiao stood at the center of it all, his black robes stained with the blood of Elder Tie, his long black hair tied in a high ponytail that still sparked with faint red and black chaotic lightning.

Su Mei and Murong Xue stood close behind him. Su Mei’s eyes shone with open admiration and desire, while Murong Xue maintained her cold exterior but kept stealing glances at his domineering figure.

【System Notification】
【Sub-Quest “Conquer the Heavenly Cloud Sect’s Outer Region” – Completed!】
【Reward: 10,000 System Points + Outer Sect Control Token. System Level → 6. New Function: Follower Loyalty System unlocked.】

Lin Xiao felt the surge of power. He had already broken through to the peak of Spirit Condensing Realm after plundering Elder Tie. The next step — Core Formation — was now within reach.

These insects thought their sect was untouchable, he thought arrogantly. I will turn their pride into graves.

Flashback – Ten months ago.

A delegation from the Heavenly Cloud Sect had visited the Lin Clan. Lin Feng had been chosen to entertain them while Lin Xiao was forced to serve wine like a slave. One of the visiting inner disciples had deliberately spilled hot wine on Lin Xiao’s hands and laughed when he flinched.

“Even the Lin Clan’s young master is this useless? No wonder your clan is declining,” the disciple had mocked. Lin Feng had joined in the laughter, later beating Lin Xiao privately for “embarrassing” him in front of important guests.

That memory hardened Lin Xiao’s resolve as he led his growing army toward the inner sect gates. The massive stone gates, engraved with cloud and sword motifs, stood imposingly ahead.

A group of elite inner sect disciples and three more elders were already waiting, their faces filled with shock and fury.

The leader was Elder Xuan, a thin, sharp-eyed man at early Core Formation Realm and one of the inner sect’s law enforcement elders. He was known for his cruelty — having tortured countless disciples who broke minor rules.

“You filthy demon!” Elder Xuan shouted. “Massacring our outer sect and killing Elder Tie? The Sect Leader has been alerted. Today you will die without a grave!”

Beside him stood a tall, extremely handsome young man named Li Tian — the top core disciple of the inner sect and a notorious bully who had once visited the Lin Clan with Zhou Wei. Li Tian’s eyes burned with hatred as he recognized the man who had humiliated his circle.

“Lin Xiao… you actually dare come here?” Li Tian sneered. “I’ll personally cut off your limbs and feed them to spirit beasts while your new women watch.”

Lin Xiao’s gaze locked onto Li Tian. Red and black lightning intensified around him.

Another familiar face from the past. You all enjoyed trampling on me indirectly. Now I get to repay every single one of you personally.

“Talk is cheap,” Lin Xiao said coldly. “Come and die.”

The battle for the inner sect exploded.

Elder Xuan attacked first, summoning hundreds of sword shadows with a powerful formation technique. The sky filled with deadly qi blades.

Lin Xiao activated Heaven Defying Slaughter Domain at full strength. The red and black lightning domain clashed against the sword formation, corroding and shattering many of the blades. He then charged straight into the fray using Shadow Step.

Li Tian joined the assault, wielding a high-grade spirit sword and executing elegant but lethal sword techniques. He was at the late Spirit Condensing Realm and considered a genius.

“You think you’re hot shit after killing one elder?!” Li Tian roared, launching a flurry of sword strikes.

Lin Xiao met him directly. Their swords clashed dozens of times in seconds. Each collision sent sparks of red-black lightning exploding outward. Thanks to God-tier Comprehension and the Chaos Emperor Sword Art, Lin Xiao quickly found holes in Li Tian’s style.

He feinted high and slashed low, cutting a deep gash across Li Tian’s thigh. Before the genius could retreat, Lin Xiao followed with a palm strike infused with chaotic energy that sent him crashing into a group of inner disciples.

The three other elders attacked simultaneously, trying to overwhelm Lin Xiao with numbers.

It was brutal.

One elder used whip techniques that cracked like thunder. Another summoned earth-attribute golems. The third unleashed icy sword qi.

Lin Xiao became a whirlwind of destruction. His ponytail whipped wildly as he flashed between attackers. The Slaughter Domain slowed all of them, giving him the edge. He severed the whip elder’s arm with a Chaos Severing Slash, then impaled the ice elder through the chest.

Detailed blood and gore filled the battlefield as he showed zero mercy.

“Plunder!”

He drained the fallen elders one by one, their screams music to his ears. Their cultivation bases, talents, and storage rings became his.

【Multiple Major Plunders!】
【+21,000 System Points.】
【Cultivation breakthrough to Early Core Formation Realm!】

Power exploded within Lin Xiao. His aura surged dramatically. The red and black chaotic lightning around him grew thicker, forming faint dragon-like silhouettes for a brief moment — echoing the epic covers of his destiny.

Li Tian, seeing his elders fall, tried to flee in terror. Lin Xiao appeared in front of him instantly and grabbed him by the throat.

“You wanted to cut off my limbs?” Lin Xiao whispered darkly. “Let’s start with yours.”

He systematically broke both of Li Tian’s arms and legs with precise, agonizing strikes, just like the beatings he had once endured. Then he crippled the dantian and fully plundered him.

Li Tian died sobbing and begging — a far cry from his previous arrogance.

Elder Xuan, the last one standing, was severely injured. He tried one final desperate attack, burning his lifespan for power.

Lin Xiao ended it with the third form of the Chaos Emperor Sword Art. A massive lightning slash bisected the elder horizontally. The upper half of Elder Xuan’s body fell with a look of utter disbelief.

【System Level → 7. New Function: Minor World Projection (for temporary domain strengthening) unlocked.】

The inner sect gates were now completely under Lin Xiao’s control. Hundreds of inner disciples knelt in surrender, terrified by the demon who had slain multiple elders and a top genius in one battle.

Su Mei approached boldly and knelt gracefully. “Young Master, I offer myself completely.”

Murong Xue followed, though with slightly more pride. “I will serve you… and grow stronger by your side.”

Lin Xiao pulled both women up and claimed them publicly with dominating kisses, marking his possession. There was no romance — only raw conquest. The sight further intimidated the watching disciples.

“From today, the Heavenly Cloud Sect’s inner region belongs to me,” Lin Xiao declared arrogantly, his voice echoing across the peaks. “Swear loyalty or die.”

Most chose to live.

As night fell, Lin Xiao sat in the former inner sect elder hall, now his temporary throne room. Su Mei and Murong Xue attended to him personally, massaging his shoulders and serving spiritual wine while he reviewed the System Shop and planned the next assault.

The Sect Leader and the strongest elders were still deeper in the core region. Powerful reinforcements were likely on the way.

But Lin Xiao felt no fear — only excitement.

Eighteen years of being trash, he thought, sipping wine while one beauty fed him spirit fruits. *Now I grind their entire sect into dust. And this is still only the beginning.

He looked at the two beautiful women beside him and smiled coldly.

“Prepare yourselves. Tomorrow we push into the core sect. I want the Sect Leader’s head as my trophy.”

The Eternal Grind showed no signs of stopping.

The Heavenly Cloud Sect’s nightmare had only just begun.