C10: Peak of the continent

One month after the fall of the Heavenly Cloud Sect, the once-mighty sect had been completely transformed. Its name was changed to the Eternal Grind Sect, and its floating mountains now radiated an oppressive red and black aura that could be seen from hundreds of miles away.

Lin Xiao sat upon the newly rebuilt Supreme Throne in the highest palace. His long black hair was tied in a high, flowing ponytail that moved with faint red and black chaotic lightning even when there was no wind. His black and gold robes embroidered with coiling lightning dragons made him look like an emperor of destruction.

Su Mei and Murong Xue knelt gracefully at his sides, feeding him spiritual fruits and wine. Their cultivation had soared thanks to continuous dual cultivation, and their loyalty had reached 100%. They were now his official concubines, peerless beauties who served only him.

【System Notification】
【Main Quest “Rise from the Ashes” – 78% completed.】
【Current Cultivation: Peak Core Formation Realm】
【System Level: 9】

Lin Xiao crushed a high-grade spirit stone in his palm absentmindedly, absorbing its energy instantly. His God-tier Comprehension made every cultivation resource ten times more effective.

One month,he thought with dark satisfaction. In just one month I turned the most arrogant sect in the region into my backyard. But this is still not enough. The real grind is only beginning.

Flashback – The Night Everything Changed.

Lying in his own blood in the Lin Clan courtyard, on the verge of death, mocked and beaten for the last time. The cold mechanical voice of the System had awakened something far darker than mere ambition. It had awakened pure, unrelenting vengeance.

Every humiliation, every broken bone, every laugh at his expense had been carved into his soul. And now he had repaid them all with rivers of blood.

A powerful aura approached from the distant sky. Lin Xiao’s eyes opened, glowing with red lightning.

“Finally,” he murmured arrogantly. “The big fish have arrived.”

Three massive flying ships bearing the insignia of the Azure Dragon Empire’s top sect — the Supreme Divine Sword Pavilion — descended toward the conquered mountains. Leading them was a Nascent Soul Realm expert, Grand Elder Feng Wuji, accompanied by dozens of elite cultivators and two other Nascent Soul powerhouses.

They had come after hearing the shocking news that an unknown young man had single-handedly destroyed the Heavenly Cloud Sect.

Feng Wuji landed in the central plaza, his white robes fluttering. His aura was like a vast ocean, suffocating everyone below Nascent Soul.

“So you are the rumored demon called Lin Xiao,” Feng Wuji said coldly. “You have caused quite the stir. Surrender now, hand over the sect’s resources and your cultivation technique, and I may spare your life and take you as a slave. Refuse, and your entire new sect will be erased from the continent.”

The two other Nascent Soul elders beside him laughed mockingly.

Lin Xiao rose slowly from his throne and walked down the steps. Su Mei and Murong Xue followed a few paces behind. His followers knelt in perfect order, showing absolute loyalty.

“Slave?” Lin Xiao’s voice carried across the entire mountain range, filled with arrogance and killing intent. “The last people who tried to make me submit are all dead. You three old dogs think you can succeed where they failed?”

Feng Wuji’s expression turned icy. “Insolent junior!”

He attacked without warning. A single sword strike from a Nascent Soul expert could split the sky. A gigantic sword phantom hundreds of meters long descended with world-destroying force.

Lin Xiao smiled coldly. He activated Heaven Defying Slaughter Domain at its maximum, reinforced by **Minor World Projection**. The red and black lightning domain clashed violently against the sword phantom, holding it back.

Then he used Shadow Step and shot upward like a comet wrapped in chaotic lightning.

Chaos Emperor Sword Art — Eternal Grind Annihilation!

His counterattack met the elder’s strike head-on. The resulting explosion destroyed several nearby peaks and sent shockwaves across the sky.

The battle between Lin Xiao and the three Nascent Soul experts shook the entire region. It was a fight that would be recorded in legends.

Feng Wuji was incredibly strong, using supreme sword techniques passed down for thousands of years. The other two elders supported him with powerful domain abilities and secret arts.

Lin Xiao was pushed to his absolute limit. Bones broke. Blood sprayed from his mouth multiple times. Heavy injuries accumulated. But every time he was injured, he plundered fragments from his opponents and used the System to heal and grow stronger mid-battle.

His inner monologue raged with cold fury:

You come here thinking I’m easy prey? I was trash for eighteen years. I have endured more pain and humiliation than you can imagine. This pain? It is nothing. I will grind you all the same!

The longer the fight lasted, the stronger Lin Xiao became. His chaotic energy adapted, his comprehension deepened, and his Plunder Module continuously stole talent and cultivation from the three powerful elders.

After a devastating two-hour battle that left the surrounding mountains in ruins, Lin Xiao delivered the finishing blow.

He sacrificed a large portion of his blood essence and unleashed his strongest technique yet — a perfected version of the Chaos Emperor Sword Art that manifested a gigantic red and black lightning dragon.

The dragon roared and devoured the three Nascent Soul experts’ final desperate attacks, then swallowed them whole.

【Legendary Triple Plunder Success!】
【+180,000 System Points!】
【Cultivation breakthrough to Early Nascent Soul Realm!】
【Acquired: Supreme Divine Sword Pavilion’s Core Inheritance + Multiple Nascent Soul Treasures.】
【System Level → 10. Ultimate Function: Ascension Gateway unlocked.】

Power beyond imagination flooded Lin Xiao’s body. His injuries healed instantly. The red and black chaotic lightning around him condensed into a majestic dragon that coiled protectively around his body. His high ponytail floated upward as his aura reached terrifying new heights.

The three Nascent Soul experts died with expressions of utter disbelief. Their flying ships and all their elites surrendered immediately or were slaughtered.

Lin Xiao stood in the sky, looking down at the conquered lands with cold arrogance.

He had done it.

From the useless young master who was beaten half to death in a trash courtyard… to the undisputed ruler of a major region in just over one month.

He returned to the Supreme Palace. Su Mei and Murong Xue rushed to him, their eyes filled with worship. More beautiful women captured from the invading force and previous conquests waited inside, ready to serve.

That night, Lin Xiao held a grand celebration. He took additional concubines, rewarded his loyal followers with immense resources, and executed every last disloyal element without mercy.

As the moon hung high, the System’s final notification rang in his mind.

【Main Quest “Rise from the Ashes” – Completed!】
【Reward: Immortal Ascension Ticket + Chaos Emperor Scripture (Complete Version)】

A glowing golden portal appeared in the sky above the palace — the Ascension Gateway.

Lin Xiao stood on the highest balcony, looking at the portal. Su Mei and Murong Xue stood beside him, along with his strongest followers.

“Eighteen years of being called trash,” he said, his voice carrying across the entire sect. “Eighteen years of humiliation, beatings, and betrayal. I have repaid it all with blood and conquest. The Tianyuan Continent is now my stepping stone.”

He turned to his women and followers.

“Those who wish to follow me to higher realms may come. The rest will guard this territory in my name. The Eternal Grind never stops.”

Su Mei and Murong Xue knelt. “We will follow Young Master anywhere.”

Lin Xiao stepped into the portal without hesitation. Red and black lightning erupted violently as he ascended, the dragon aura around him roaring triumphantly.

The portal closed behind him and his chosen followers.

In the Tianyuan Continent, legends of the Ruthless Emperor Lin Xiao would spread for thousands of years — a warning and an inspiration.

But for Lin Xiao himself, this was merely another beginning.

The Eternal Grind would continue in higher realms, grinding gods and immortals alike if they dared look down on him.

“I was trash once. Now even the heavens will kneel.”