Darkness.
Then...
Pain.
Lin Yuan felt as though countless burning needles were piercing every bone in his body. His muscles convulsed as streams of golden light surged through his meridians.
He gritted his teeth until blood seeped from the corners of his mouth.
"AAAH!"
His scream echoed through the ancient cavern.
The nine colossal chains began to rattle.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each metallic roar shook the entire underground world.
The ancient voice spoke once more.
"To wield the Nine Chains, one must first endure the pain of rebirth."
The black crystal drifted toward Lin Yuan.
As it touched his forehead, countless memories flooded his mind.
Ancient battlefields.
Gods falling from the heavens.
Demons tearing apart stars.
A lone cultivator stood amidst the ruins of worlds, wielding nine divine chains that bound heaven, earth, fate, space, time, life, death, karma, and the soul.
With a single swing, galaxies shattered.
Then...
He vanished.
Lin Yuan fell to one knee, gasping.
"What... what was that?"
"The memory of the first Ninth Chain Sovereign."
The voice continued.
"The Nine Chains are not merely weapons. They are the Laws that govern existence itself. Yet their power has been sealed. To awaken them, you must grow stronger."
A glowing scroll materialized before him.
Across its surface were ancient characters that seemed alive.
The Nine Chains Scripture
The cultivation technique was unlike anything Lin Yuan had ever heard of.
Ordinary cultivators absorbed spiritual energy to strengthen their dantians.
The Nine Chains Scripture demanded something far more dangerous.
Each breakthrough required forging one spiritual chain within the body.
Every chain represented absolute mastery over a Law.
Every chain also came with unbearable pain.
Fail...
And the cultivator would perish.
Lin Yuan took a deep breath.
"If this is the only path to avenge my family..."
"I'll walk it."
The crystal flashed.
Pure spiritual energy poured into his body like a raging river.
His meridians expanded.
Bones cracked and reformed.
His blood glowed with faint golden light.
Hours passed.
Finally—
BOOM!
A powerful wave erupted from his body.
The spiritual energy in the cavern rushed toward him.
The First Chain began to take shape around his dantian.
A black chain covered in golden runes.
Its appearance transformed his aura completely.
The ancient voice sounded pleased.
"Excellent."
"You have stepped into the First Realm Disciple."
Lin Yuan clenched his fist.
He could feel strength coursing through every muscle.
Compared to before, he was several times stronger.
Yet the voice warned him.
"Do not become arrogant. In the outside world, you are still weaker than an ant before true cultivators."
Lin Yuan nodded.
"I understand."
His hatred had not blinded him.
It had sharpened his resolve.
He would climb one step at a time.
Suddenly, the cavern trembled violently.
Cracks spread across the ceiling.
The ancient voice grew solemn.
"The inheritance has awakened... Others will sense it."
Lin Yuan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Greedy eyes will soon descend upon this place. Leave now."
A beam of golden light shot from the crystal into Lin Yuan's chest.
There, over his heart, appeared the mark of a broken black chain.
"This is the Sovereign Mark. Guard it with your life. If your enemies discover its true nature before you are strong enough, they will hunt you across the Nine Heavens."
The cavern shook again.
Rocks began to fall.
A hidden stone passage opened at the edge of the chamber.
Lin Yuan looked back one last time.
"Who are you?"
For the first time, the ancient voice hesitated.
Then it answered quietly,
"I... am only the last remnant of the one who failed."
The black crystal dimmed.
The chains fell silent.
Without another word, Lin Yuan turned and sprinted into the passage as the ancient sanctuary collapsed behind him.
Far above, beneath the stormy sky, three powerful figures in different-colored robes stopped at the same time.
Each looked toward towards the direction of Black Crow Mountain.
One of them narrowed his eyes.
"An ancient inheritance... has awakened."
Another smiled coldly.
"Find it."
"The one who inherits it... must belong to us."
Or die.