Malevolent Immortal

The sun, a cruel mockery of the warmth that had vanished from his heart, beat down on Kai's face as he awoke. The scent of pine needles and damp earth filled his nostrils, a stark contrast to the sterile, metallic tang that lingered on his skin from the previous night. 

News traveled fast, even in this remote village nestled amongst the mountains. Leader Chen, his voice heavy with grief and barely suppressed rage, had addressed the villagers that morning. A search party would be assembled, scouring the area for any trace of the ruthless killer who had dared to violate the sanctity of his home and spill the blood of his men.

Kai felt a flicker of… something. Worry? Fear? No, those emotions were long gone, consumed by the same darkness that fueled his cultivation. It was more like a cold, calculating assessment of the situation. He had been careful, his movements cloaked in shadows and silence, his face hidden by the darkness. Still, twenty lives snuffed out left a heavy stain, a stain that no amount of rain could wash away.

He recalled the look in Leader Chen's eyes as the man swore to bring the perpetrator to justice. A shiver ran down Kai's spine, and for a fleeting moment, he felt a pang of something akin to respect for the village leader. Chen possessed a quiet strength, an unwavering determination that Kai recognized in himself. They were two sides of the same coin, driven by an insatiable hunger for power.

As the days bled into weeks, the villagers' initial suspicion fell upon Kai. Whispers followed him like shadows, branding him as a harbinger of misfortune, a curse upon their peaceful existence. But whispers were all they had. No evidence linked him to the crime, and the search parties returned empty-handed, their anger turning to frustration and fear.

Kai used their fear to his advantage. He retreated further into the forest, seeking refuge in the herbalist's abandoned cottage. The old man's death, a necessary evil back in January, now provided a convenient hideout. 

He spent his days meditating, drawing upon the potent natural Qi that permeated the ancient forest. The stolen elixirs, a meager reward for the risk he had taken, fueled his cultivation, pushing him further and faster than he had ever imagined. But it was the forest itself, with its untamed energy and whispering secrets, that truly accelerated his progress.

His open meridians, a gift from the demon pact that had shaped his destiny, drank in the Qi like a parched man at an oasis. 

The faces of the dying guards haunted his dreams, their silent accusations echoing in the stillness of his solitude. He told himself that their deaths were insignificant, mere stepping stones on his path to greatness. 

He had tasted power, felt its intoxicating allure course through his veins, and he craved more. The stolen elixirs, potent though they were, were but a drop in the ocean compared to what he desired. He needed something more, something… stronger.

By the end of July, he had broken through to Mortal Qi Rank VI. The forest thrummed with his power, the very trees bending to his will. He could feel the change within him, a subtle shift in his perception, as if the world itself had become clearer, sharper. But it wasn't enough. He wasn't satisfied.

October arrived, cloaked in hues of amber and crimson, a visual reminder of the blood that stained his hands. His cultivation surged once more, propelled by the stolen elixirs and the untamed energy of the forest. He tasted the power of Mortal Qi Rank VII, felt its raw potential coursing through his veins. Yet, a seed of doubt began to sprout in the barren wasteland of his heart. The elixirs were gone, their potency spent, and still, he hadn't reached the coveted realm of Foundation Establishment.

He had expected an effortless ascent, fueled by his unique constitution and the stolen resources. But the path to power, it seemed, was not without its obstacles. As he honed his skills, hunting larger and more dangerous beasts in the depths of the forest, he began to understand.

His open meridians, while a blessing in cultivation, were also a double-edged sword. They allowed him to absorb Qi at an astonishing rate, but they also made him a glutton, devouring energy with an insatiable hunger. It was like trying to fill a bottomless well.

But there was a silver lining. Through his battles, he discovered that his open meridians did more than enhance his cultivation. They also amplified his combat prowess, making his Qi usage terrifyingly efficient. He could fight longer, harder, and with greater precision than anyone else at his level.

The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. He didn't need to brute-force his way into Foundation Establishment. He needed to refine, to hone his control over his power. He needed to become a weapon sharper than any blade, a force of nature as unforgiving as the winter winds.

And he knew just the opponent to test his newfound understanding against. Leader Chen, the man who had sworn to avenge his fallen guards, would be the ultimate proving ground. He could already envision their clash, a dance of death beneath the watchful gaze of the ancient forest.

The anticipation thrummed in his veins, a dangerous symphony of power and ambition. This time, it wouldn't be about stealing resources or proving a point. This time, it would be about survival.