The Invincible Sect Leader

A New Beginning. Yan Ling sat cross-legged in the secluded cultivation chamber deep within the Heavenly Mystical Sect. His breathing was steady, his body tense with anticipation. Before him, Chan Li stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm yet unreadable.

"Are you ready?" Chan Li asked.

Yan Ling nodded. "Yes, Sect Master!"

"Then forget everything you know about demonic cultivation."

Yan Ling's brows furrowed.

"Forget? But I've spent years refining my techniques"

Chan Li waved a hand, and suddenly, a wave of pressure crashed down upon Yan Ling. His body trembled, sweat forming on his forehead.

"Your foundation is flawed. You cultivate by consuming, by stealing from others. It is unstable, filled with impurities."

Yan Ling gritted his teeth. "Then what should I do?"

Chan Li smirked.

"Destroy it."

Yan Ling's eyes widened in horror.

"Destroy… my cultivation?!"

Chan Li nodded. "If you want to rebuild stronger, you must first break the weak foundation."

Yan Ling hesitated. Years of hard work, years of bitter struggle it had all led him here. Now, the Sect Master was telling him to throw it all away?

"If I do this… I'll be no different from a mortal," Yan Ling whispered.

Chan Li's smirk deepened.

"Then, start over and reach where no mortal or immortal has ever reached before."

Yan Ling clenched his fists.

Destroying one's own cultivation… was madness.

Yet, at this moment, staring into the Sect Master's unwavering gaze, he felt a deep sense of trust.

"Fine!"

With a deep breath, Yan Ling closed his eyes and began to circulate his demonic energy.

Then

BOOM!

A muffled explosion echoed inside his body as his dantian cracked!

Yan Ling's face twisted in pain. The dark energy he had painstakingly cultivated erupted violently, burning away inside his body.

His veins ruptured, his meridians cracked. His cultivation plummeted!

Nascent Soul → Core Formation → Foundation Establishment → Qi Refining → Mortal!

Yan Ling fell forward, gasping for air. His body ached, trembled it was as if he had been reborn weak and helpless.

But through the haze of pain, he heard Chan Li's voice calm, firm, guiding.

"Now… let me teach you the way of True Demonic Energy."

True Demonic Cultivation Begins. Chan Li sat across from Yan Ling, his fingers tracing an ancient symbol in the air. The Tai Chi Demonic Symbol spun slowly, emitting a black and white radiance.

"First, forget the notion that demonic energy is evil. Energy is neither good nor evil it is how you use it."

Yan Ling nodded weakly.

"True Demonic Energy is not about consuming others. It is about refining both Heaven and Earth's energy, absorbing both light and darkness, turning them into something greater."

Yan Ling's eyes burned with curiosity.

"How do I begin?"

Chan Li smirked.

"Sit. Meditate. Feel the energy around you."

Yan Ling obeyed, closing his eyes, reaching out with his spirit.

For the first time in his life

He didn't forcefully steal energy.

Instead, he allowed it to flow into him.

He felt the warmth of heavenly Qi, the cool breeze of the world's natural energy. At the same time, he sensed the whispers of the dark, the remnants of demonic Qi in the air.

Under Chan Li's guidance, Yan Ling began to refine the two forces, bringing them into balance.

Black and white energy swirled around him, slowly merging together

And then

BOOM!

A surge of power burst from his body. His meridians reformed, stronger than before. His dantian, once shattered, became even purer!

His cultivation returned

Mortal → Qi Refining (1st Stage)

Yan Ling's eyes shot open, filled with shock.

"I-I broke through just by absorbing energy normally?"

Chan Li chuckled. "That's just the first step. You will now cultivate naturally, without harming yourself or others."

Yan Ling trembled.

For years, he had been stealing life, killing to survive.

Now, for the first time

He felt free.

"Sect Master… I… I will follow you to the end!" Yan Ling vowed, bowing deeply.

Chan Li smirked.

"Good. Because this is just the beginning."