Wei Liang's first glimpse of his new hunting ground came as he drifted through dimensional barriers weakened by his traumatic passage. Below him stretched a realm of impossible scope—not a single universe, but a vast collection of interconnected worlds floating in seas of crimson energy.
The Crimson Void Realm, as local inhabitants called it, operated on cultivation principles that made Wei Liang's original universe seem primitive. Here, practitioners routinely shattered mountains with casual gestures, flew between worlds on sword-light, and lived for millions of years. What he had considered ultimate achievement was barely sufficient to survive among the weakest residents.
Perfect, Wei Liang thought as he descended toward the nearest world. In a realm of monsters, a true predator can feed without limit.
His blood-avatar form materialized on a floating continent called Azure Dragon World. The landmass stretched for billions of li in all directions, its surface dotted with cultivation sects, ancient cities, and wilderness regions where terrifying beasts roamed freely.
Wei Liang's arrival went unnoticed among the constant flow of travelers between worlds. His ninth-stage power, while reduced from his peak, still placed him well above mortal concerns. But compared to the casual displays of strength he witnessed, he was merely another moderately talented cultivator.
Good, he mused, observing a group of young masters casually demolishing a mountain range during their sparring session. Let them underestimate me. It will make the harvest all the sweeter.
He made his way toward the nearest city—a sprawling metropolis called Jade Phoenix City that housed over a billion inhabitants. The architecture combined familiar Chinese elements with alien modifications suited to a realm where gravity was optional and space could be folded at will.
The city's commercial district buzzed with activity as cultivators from dozens of worlds conducted business. Treasure auctions, pill refinement competitions, and technique demonstrations filled the air with exotic energies. Wei Liang observed everything with predatory focus, cataloging potential targets and opportunities.
His first priority was gathering information. Despite his power, he was still fundamentally lost in this new realm. He needed to understand local customs, power structures, and most importantly, identify the strongest individuals worth consuming.
A commotion near the city center caught his attention. A crowd had gathered around what appeared to be a street-side restaurant, their excited voices carrying across the district.
"Young Master Chen is dining at the Celestial Pavilion!"
"I heard he just returned from the Dao Comprehension trials!"
"They say he's already reached the Heaven-Stepping Realm at only two hundred years old!"
Wei Liang's interest sharpened. A young genius with significant power sounded like an ideal first target. He made his way through the crowd, his blood-avatar form easily pushing past obstacles.
The Celestial Pavilion was an elegant establishment specializing in spirit beast cuisine. Through the windows, Wei Liang could see a young man in expensive robes casually consuming what appeared to be roasted phoenix meat. The casual display of wealth and power radiated from him like heat from a forge.
Young Master Chen appeared to be around Wei Liang's apparent age, though in a realm where cultivators could live for eons, appearances were meaningless. His cultivation base felt solid—Heaven-Stepping Realm was apparently significant by local standards, though Wei Liang wasn't entirely sure how it compared to his own power level.
Only one way to find out, Wei Liang thought, pushing through the restaurant's doors.
The Celestial Pavilion's interior was even more luxurious than its exterior suggested. Servers moved like dancers, carrying dishes that radiated spiritual energy strong enough to benefit even high-level cultivators. The very air seemed to sparkle with condensed qi.
Young Master Chen sat at the central table, clearly enjoying being the focus of attention. He was handsome in the way that only powerful cultivators could be—perfect features unmarked by time or hardship, eyes that held depths of accumulated wisdom, an aura of casual dominance that suggested he'd never faced serious opposition.
Wei Liang approached the table with measured steps, his expression carefully neutral. "Greetings, Young Master. I wonder if you might spare a moment to enlighten a humble traveler about local customs?"
Chen looked up from his phoenix meat with mild interest. "You're not from Azure Dragon World. Your accent... Void Walker, perhaps? Or one of the outer rim territories?"
"Something like that," Wei Liang replied evasively. "I've heard much about your recent achievements. The Heaven-Stepping Realm at such a young age is truly impressive."
The flattery had its intended effect. Chen's chest swelled with pride, and he gestured for Wei Liang to sit. "Please, join me. It's rare to meet someone who appreciates true talent. Most people here are too focused on their own mediocre cultivation to recognize genuine superiority."
Wei Liang sat, his blood-avatar form perfectly mimicking human behavior. "I'm sure you've faced many challenges reaching such heights. The path of cultivation is littered with the bones of the unworthy."
"Indeed!" Chen's eyes lit up with the fervor of someone who loved talking about himself. "Just last month, I had to discipline some upstart from the Sword Saint Sect who thought he could challenge my authority. The fool actually believed his pitiful Soul Formation cultivation could match my Heaven-Stepping techniques!"
As Chen continued boasting, Wei Liang assessed his target more carefully. The young master's cultivation was indeed impressive by local standards—his spiritual energy felt dense and refined, suggesting years of careful advancement. But there was something soft about his foundation, as if he'd never truly been tested by genuine hardship.
Raised on pills and resources, Wei Liang concluded. Powerful but inexperienced. Perfect for my purposes.
"Your wisdom is clearly vast," Wei Liang said, his voice carrying just the right note of admiration. "Perhaps you could advise me on a small matter? I'm seeking rare cultivation resources, but I'm unfamiliar with local suppliers. Someone of your status must know all the best sources."
Chen preened at the acknowledgment of his status. "Of course! In fact, there's an auction tonight at the Thunder Cloud Pavilion. Several heaven-grade treasures will be available, including a Nine-Transformation Dragon Pill that could advance even my cultivation."
"Fascinating," Wei Liang murmured. "Though I imagine such treasures command astronomical prices."
"Money is no object when you have true power," Chen declared loudly, clearly wanting the other diners to hear. "My family controls three spirit stone mines and two pill refinement kingdoms. We could buy this entire city if we chose to."
Wei Liang's eyes glinted with predatory interest. A wealthy young master with powerful family connections—the perfect target to establish his reputation in this new realm. But he needed to be careful. Direct confrontation in a public space might draw unwanted attention before he understood local power structures.
"Your family's wealth must be legendary," Wei Liang said. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in a small wager? I have a technique that might interest someone of your... refined tastes."
Chen's curiosity was clearly piqued. "What sort of technique?"
Wei Liang leaned forward conspiratorially. "A method for determining a cultivator's true potential. Many people appear strong on the surface but lack the fundamental qualities needed for ultimate advancement. Would you be interested in a demonstration?"
"Are you suggesting I lack true potential?" Chen's voice carried a dangerous edge, and the temperature in the restaurant seemed to drop several degrees.
Perfect, Wei Liang thought. Pride was always the easiest weakness to exploit.
"Quite the opposite," Wei Liang said smoothly. "I'm suggesting you possess qualities that lesser cultivators could never understand. But if you're concerned about the test revealing something unflattering..."
"Concerned?" Chen's spiritual pressure exploded outward, rattling dishes and causing weaker cultivators to flee the restaurant. "I am Chen Haotian, heir to the Thunder Cloud Dynasty! My bloodline has produced Saints and Emperors! Test whatever you like—you'll find nothing but perfection!"
Wei Liang smiled, and for the first time since arriving in this realm, it was completely genuine. "Then shall we step outside? This technique requires... privacy."
Chen rose from his chair with fluid grace, his robes billowing with contained power. "Lead the way, stranger. I'm curious to see what parlor tricks pass for cultivation techniques in the outer territories."
As they left the restaurant, Wei Liang felt the familiar thrill of an approaching hunt. In minutes, Young Master Chen would learn what true cultivation looked like. And Wei Liang would claim his first soul in the Crimson Void Realm.
The blood-soaked path to dominance was beginning anew.