The World Hidden Within the Flesh of a God

Qin Hailong's body still lay on the cold stone tiles.

No screams. No movement. Even the distant birds seemed to flee the sky.

The Black Stone glowed with a crimson light — the life-and-death pact had been fulfilled.

But no one dared to speak.

The elder of the Sacred Claw Sect stepped forward, his legs trembling.

He looked down at the corpse of his son, then at Shen Mu, still standing with half-closed eyes.

He raised his hand... but couldn't move it.

"What… is this force?" he whispered.

The masked representative of the Sect of Scorched Shadows lowered his gaze.

Golden flames flickered in his eyes, yet even he seemed puzzled.

"This isn't a technique," he murmured. "It's not even Qi."

His gaze lingered on Shen Mu.

"What kind of existence are you?"

Shen Mu slowly lifted his head, as if listening to something beyond the world.

Then, without warning, his body swayed.

He dropped to his knees. Blood ran from his nose, then from his eyes.

The violet mark on his chest began to glow.

> [Connection to the Inner World: First Key – Unlocked]

[Primordial Gate: Manifesting...]

A deep rumble shook the entire square.

Inside Shen Mu's mind, a massive gate emerged, suspended in a dark, endless void.

Ancient. Immense. Forged from a black metal even the gods would fear to touch.

It was not open.

But it breathed.

Far across the heavens, an ancient dragon in deep meditation opened one eye, alarmed.

In a forgotten tomb, an immortal with burning eyes jolted upright.

And atop the Celestial Continent, an old emperor murmured:

"Someone… dared to awaken the Gate?"

In the physical world, Shen Mu collapsed.

A black halo engulfed his body. He trembled violently.

Several masters rushed forward, only to be thrown back by a pressure that didn't belong to this plane.

The sky darkened. Clouds twisted into unnatural forms.

And across the ground, words burned themselves into the earth:

 "Do not touch what belongs to the Void."

Shen Mu lost consciousness.

And for a brief moment… everyone felt fear.

Not the fear of death—But the fear of having stared into an abyss…

And realizing it was staring back.