"Please, sister, I'm begging you—just let me go, alright?”

A stunning woman pinned Ethan Lewis beneath her. Her eyes shimmered like autumn waters, seductive and dangerous all at once. A phoenix crown sat atop her head, and a sheer red veil clung to her body, outlining every curve. Her skin, pale as jade, peeked through the fabric, and the only other thing adorning her was a delicate leg band high on her thigh. Beyond that—nothing.

Her breath was hot, her cheeks flushed. Her jade-like hands tore at Ethan’s clothes without mercy.

Her lips parted, voice sweet as honey but laced with force, “Today, you and I cultivate together—no excuses.”

Ethan was frozen. That veil was the only thing between their chests. His scalp tingled.

He was young, blood running hot, and this kind of situation wasn’t something he could just brush off. Still, he forced out a protest, fighting the temptation buzzing through his veins. “Sister, I have a fiancée… You have to stop!”

The woman gave a dangerous smile. “Perfect.”

Her final shreds of patience vanished—ripping away what little clothing remained on him, leaving only a blood-red pendant around his neck.

“I’ve always had a thing for taken men,” she purred.

Before Ethan could react, her lips crashed onto his. He struggled, but it only seemed to excite her more. Her body moved on instinct, overpowering him with ease.

“Mmm…”

***

A few days later.

Fresh red stains dotted the grass. Her crown, veil, and leg band were scattered around like debris after a storm.

Ethan groggily opened his eyes. The woman was still straddling him. He blinked, dumbfounded. This sister… she was too wild.

He’d passed out halfway through—and she just kept going.

Now, his back ached and his kidneys throbbed. He desperately needed some serious medicine.

“You’re awake?” Her voice was light.

She slipped into another red dress, stunning as ever. As she leaned over him, she grabbed his hand and pressed it to her chest, her tone almost teasing. “Your turn now. Rip mine off.”

Ethan jolted, heart pounding, and quickly shook his head. “No way! Keep going, and I really might die!”

He was miserable. He hadn’t expected his first time to be with someone like her—and definitely not this intense. If she clung to him like this, he’d be empty in no time.

She grinned. “You think I’m that easy?”

Ethan snapped back, “Aren’t you?”

She gently touched his chest, her fingers brushing over the red pendant still hanging there.

Only then did Ethan remember.

That pendant—an heirloom every Lewis heir had to wear. While resting during his journey, a drop of his blood had fallen onto it. And then… she appeared.“I’ve been asleep inside this Burial Pendant. Just woke up, body’s weak. Needed your innate Dao Body to heal. Problem with that?”

Scarlett Reed lifted Ethan Lewis’s chin with a finger, her enticing eyes sweeping over him.

“You, kid—innate Dao Body, yang energy burning hot, face handsome, body decent. I'd say I got a good bargain.”

Ethan looked like he could cry. “Bargain? I lost twenty years of yang energy! Not a drop left!”

Scarlett tapped his forehead lightly, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “Idiot. You think I’m that kind to take advantage for nothing? You’ll get your return.”

Ethan frowned, voice curious. “How exactly?”

Scarlett’s gaze sharpened. “You, Ethan Lewis, heir to the Lewis family in Qingcang City of Qingzhou. You began body forging at seven, activated spirit at fourteen, reached Profound Realm at eighteen. A genius of Qingzhou, no?”

Ethan blinked. He didn’t expect her to know so much—but then, she’d always been inside that pendant. Nothing strange if she’d been watching all along.

He gave a bitter nod. “Yeah. But that was the past.”

Seven to forge the body, fourteen to awaken spirit, eighteen to enter Profound Realm! By twenty, he surpassed nearly all geniuses in Qingzhou.

But three months ago, while fighting for a spirit mine on behalf of his family, the Colemans struck.

His family’s warriors fell one by one. In the end, he alone stood against dozens of their elites.

He killed many, but didn’t make it out unscathed—his dantian shattered, strength crashed down to the Body Forging Realm.

He went on a journey to fight, hoping danger would ignite his potential. But before that spark came, he was drained dry again.

Scarlett’s eyes glinted with mischief. “Wanna rise again? Become stronger than before?”

Rise again. Stronger than before.

Ethan’s eyes burned with resolve. “Yes. If I don’t grow stronger, my family falls. I die.”

In Qingcang City, five noble families vied for power. Once, the Lewis family stood at the top.

That status? Built on the blood of his enemies, back when he was at his peak.

Now that he’s fallen, those old rivals are sure to come back swinging—

Not just to kill him, but to destroy the Lewis bloodline. And his fiancée Yara Lynn? She’d be dragged down too.

Scarlett placed a gentle hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “Then come with me.”

In the blink of an eye, space twisted.

Ethan found himself standing in an alien world.

Countless stars above were fading into nothing. Behind him, a sea of blood surged. The ground was dark red like dried blood underfoot.

And before him, across the vast wasteland—

Nine towering stone tablets pierced the clouds, each one like a mountain, silent and unshakable.Ethan Lewis looked around, puzzled. “Where is this place?”

Scarlett Reed stepped forward with unhurried grace. “This is the world inside the Burial Pendant. It’s called the Burial Realm.”

Ethan frowned. “Burial Realm? Why such a name?”

Scarlett answered plainly, “This realm was made to bury all worlds. When the heavens fall and the realms rot, this will be their grave.”

Ethan felt a jolt in his chest. He asked, “Who… are you really?”

In this realm, mighty beings could crush mountains and boil oceans with a flick. But even power like that meant little in a place built to bury worlds.

Scarlett only said, “You’ll find out in time.”

Ethan pressed, “Are you a Great Emperor?”

In the Divine Martial World, cultivation followed ten major realms: Body Refining, Spirit Awakening, Profound Insight, Subtle Dao, Heaven-Touching, Law Mastery, King’s Ascension, Supreme, Saint Lord, and Great Emperor—each with nine stages.

Great Emperor—an existence above all.

Scarlett gave a slight nod. “You guessed right.”

Ethan’s heart sank. This wasn’t a simple matter.

Scarlett turned and pointed to the nine massive stone tablets ahead. “These bury the legacy of nine of my old companions. If you can claim one, not only will you regain your strength, you might even reach the peak.”

Recover strength. Touch the pinnacle…

Ethan stared at the stone tablets, their surfaces etched with titles.

Universe Master.

Undying Alchemist.

Lord of Forge and Flame…

All of them, legends.

Each was a sovereign that shook the ages—a myth from a forgotten time.

Claiming even one legacy meant unimaginable fortune.

Scarlett looked at him. “You may choose one now. The rest will come later.”

Ethan stood silent for a moment, then stepped to the tablet marked Universe Master.

“I choose the Universe Master’s legacy.”

The path of the sword—rare and powerful. Once chosen, it only led forward.

Right now, Ethan needed strength. The sword path was the strongest.

In a flash.

A golden light burst from the stone, thunderous and fierce, flooding into Ethan like a raging river of swords.

A supreme sword technique filled his mind—The Sword Manual.

The origin of all sword arts, the root of countless paths.

The torrent of sword qi surged through his meridians. His broken core began to reform, drawing in that vast power.

His aura swelled wildly—as if something inside him was waking up, unstoppable.