Godslayer: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Cultivation System

"I ask of you, children," the elder's eyes softened, yet his voice remained unwavering. "You must stay safe out there. And if you ever uncover the source of that crimson pillar—you must not engage." His expression darkened, his brows furrowing in a rare display of unease. "That aura was demonic… dark and ominous. Never—and I mean never—befriend a demonic cultivator."

The group nodded hesitantly. Many of them did not want to leave. They wanted to fight, to stand beside their elders, to defend their home. But they were too young, too inexperienced. Their parents and elders ushered them toward the narrow cave hidden within the mountain's embrace—an escape route that had existed for generations, carved out in secrecy. It was designed only for humans to pass through, its structure too tight for larger pursuers.

As the last child disappeared into the tunnel, the tall man outside shouted once again, his booming voice carrying over the village walls like a storm crashing against the cliffs.

"I want these lands, the women, and plenty of alcohol." The tall man stood before the village gates, a wild grin stretching across his face. His voice dripped with arrogance as he spread his arms wide. "See? I'm not asking for much, am I right, boys?"

Behind him, his gang erupted into cheers and roars, their chaotic energy filling the air like a swarm of hungry beasts. They jeered, laughed, and pounded their weapons against the ground, eager for the bloodshed to come.

"You have no place here. Leave!"

Suddenly, the air trembled as a massive, human-sized palm materialized from thin air, descending from above with the force of a falling star, aiming to crush the invader in a single blow.

But the tall man merely scoffed.

With a flick of his wrist, he unsheathed his saber, its blade gleaming ominously. One effortless swing. The palm shattered instantly, its energy dispersing like scattered mist.

The man exhaled, his grin fading into a cold, piercing stare. "Well… I guess that means we'll just have to take it ourselves."

With a single, brutal slash, his saber cleaved through the village gate, splitting it clean in half. The wood groaned before collapsing, dust and splinters flying into the air.

Then—chaos descended.

Hundreds of men stormed inside, their battle cries drowning out the desperate screams of the villagers. That day, not a single soul remained alive.

By the time the sun set, the gang had already claimed the village as their own, its sacred land tainted in blood.

Meanwhile, as the village still stood, the children fled through the underground passage. Unwilling, yet trained never to disobey, they moved swiftly through the long, cold tunnel. Their torches flickered in the damp darkness, casting shaky shadows against the uneven walls.

The ground was slippery, treacherous with moisture, and more than once, someone slipped and fell, their cries stifled as they hit the cold, hard stone. The tunnel trembled with each impact of the battle raging above, dirt and loose rocks shaking free from the ceiling. But no one spoke. No one dared to. The fear of making too much noise, of exposing their only escape route, silenced even the youngest among them.

None of them knew where they should go, nor what they should do once they reached the outside. But they were determined. They would survive. They would find help. They would save their home.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, a faint glow flickered ahead. Light.

The child at the front of the group—a young woman, the oldest among them—abruptly halted. The sudden stop nearly caused those behind her to crash into each other.

Her breath hitched.

Her instincts screamed at her.

Something was wrong.

"Jiejie, what's wrong?" The young man walking closely behind her whispered. In the tight, narrow tunnel, he couldn't see what lay ahead—his only guide was his sister.

"I-I'm not sure..." Her voice wavered slightly, her gaze fixed on the figure sitting at the tunnel's exit.

A white-haired man, his back facing them, completely still.

The rhythmic rise and fall of his breath told her one thing—he was in deep meditation. His aura was stable yet oppressive, unshaken by their presence.

She didn't know it, but this was none other than Wen Ran.

After his breakthrough, he had immediately entered consolidation, focusing entirely on stabilizing his cultivation. He was completely unaware of the outside world, his consciousness locked deep within.

Inside his dantian, the once wild and chaotic crimson rivers now flowed in perfect order, a series of spiritual energy loops circulating in an endless, harmonious cycle. Power radiated through his body, refining every inch of his being. He could feel his injuries mending, his strength sharpening, and soon, he would awaken.

But there was a problem.

Wen Ran blocked the only exit.

Unaware of the chaos he had caused, he sat there, completely immersed in his own world, an unmovable obstacle in the children's path.

Just then, Xiao Mo returned.

The little white rabbit had been wandering outside, happily collecting berries. This place was abundant with food, and she had eaten to her heart's content, stuffing her tiny body until she was round and full. Feeling proud of herself, she had even gathered a small mountain of berries and stacked them neatly in front of Wen Ran as a gift.

But as she turned back—she froze.

A group of strangers stood behind Wen Ran.

Her ears twitched violently. Impossible. She had not sensed anyone pass through!

How did they get here?

Confusion swirled in her tiny mind, but instinct took over. Her soft, round body stiffened, her ears lowered, and her stance turned defensive. A low, almost silent growl escaped her throat as she inched closer to Wen Ran, nudging him cautiously.

Wake up! Her small paws pushed against his arm.

She didn't know who these people were, but she didn't trust them.

But no matter how hard Xiao Mo pulled, pushed, or nudged, Wen Ran remained completely unresponsive, trapped in his deep meditation.

His body was like an immovable stone, his breathing steady, his aura completely detached from the outside world.