World of Rules

... 

In the dead of night, the Shu Family moved in silence, like a beast stalking its prey, surrounding the Lian Family's manor from all directions.

There was no warning, no alarm—just a sudden and devastating assault.

Sharp screams shattered the silence!

The members of the Lian Family woke to the sound of steel tearing through flesh, to the sight of flames engulfing their halls, to the sensation of blood flooding the stone floors like an endless stream.

Hell had descended.

At the heart of this chaos, Shu Jian, the head of the Shu Family, stood amidst a sea of mutilated corpses. His robes were soaked in blood, yet his eyes remained cold—devoid of even a flicker of mercy. Before him, the last remaining Base Lords of the Lian Family gathered, desperately trying to mount a final stand.

"We are a great family!" one of them shouted, his voice shaking. "If you kill us, your family will have no escape!"

Shu Jian didn’t respond. He simply raised his blood-drenched sword and took a step forward.

And so, the true slaughter began.

The Base Lords of the Lian Family charged. Forces clashed. Bodies were torn apart.

One elder attempted to escape using the Law of Wind, but before he could ascend, his head was severed, his body convulsing mid-air like a slaughtered bird before crashing lifelessly to the ground.

Another conjured a barrier of flames, desperate to defend himself. But Shu Jian sliced through it in an instant, his blade cleaving the elder’s body in two. The fire died as his blood poured out.

In less than an hour, there were no survivors among the Lian Family's Base Lords.

Nothing remained but the stench of blood and the corpses growing cold.

There was no time for rest. No time for mourning. With everything valuable plundered, the Shu Family moved toward their next target—the Mo Family.

This time, there was no real battle.

When the Shu Family arrived, the Mo Family stood in eerie silence. Their faces were pale, their bodies trembling as they stared at the men of Shu, whose weapons were still dripping with fresh blood.

There was no need for words.

Some members of the Mo Family attempted to resist—but they were swiftly cut down, their blood staining the pristine white marble floors of the manor.

After the first wave of deaths, the young patriarch of the Mo Family immediately fell to his knees, his face ashen, his voice shaking:

"We… surrender."

For a long moment, there was only silence. Then, Shu Jian smiled—a cold, merciless smile.

And just as smoothly as it had all begun, the Mo Family was completely plundered.

Thus… in a single night, two great families vanished from existence.

---

The following day, chaos erupted in the city.

Horrifying rumors spread like wildfire—rumors of the Lian and Mo Families being annihilated by the Shu Family. At first, some refused to believe it. But soon, undeniable evidence surfaced—the corpses hanging from the city gates, the abandoned mansions, the plundered wealth.

There was no room for doubt.

Yet, the chaos did not last long.

With an iron grip, the Shu Family crushed any sign of rebellion, stamping out resistance before it could even take form.

And soon, a terrifying silence settled over the city.

The once shared dominion of three great families had crumbled. Now, there was only one ruler—the Shu Family.

Or rather…

The entire Blazing Coral Island now belonged to them.

---

Deep within the island, inside an ancient, abandoned cave, where a long-forgotten teleportation array lay dormant…

There were two figures.

One was kneeling, his head bowed, his breathing unsteady.

It was Shu Jian, the man who had conquered an entire city in mere days. And yet, at this moment, he was in a state of submission—no more than a servant before a far greater existence.

The other stood before him, staring down with utter disdain, his gaze devoid of interest, as if he were looking at something utterly insignificant.

That person was Di.

Dressed in long, flowing black robes, his presence melded seamlessly with the surrounding shadows. His jet-black hair cascaded down his back, swaying with the cold drafts that whispered through the cave. His pale complexion made his presence even more otherworldly.

But his eyes…

His eyes were an abyss.

They reflected no light, bore no emotion—only a cold, infinite void that made anyone who gazed into them feel as though their very existence was being erased.

There was no need for Di to speak.

But Shu Jian forced himself to, his voice low, struggling to remain steady:

"As you commanded… the Lian and Mo Families have been utterly wiped out. Their wealth has been plundered, and the primordial stones we acquired should be more than enough to activate the array."

For a moment, Di remained motionless. His gaze did not waver.

But then, ever so slightly, he nodded.

It was as if the outcome had never been in doubt.

Then, in a voice so calm yet so absolute that it seemed to fill the entire cave, he spoke:

"Begin the restoration."

Without hesitation, Shu Jian obeyed, moving to repair the ancient formation.

---

In a dark corner of the cave, Di sat in absolute stillness.

His eyes were closed, his presence undisturbed, his aura as deep and steady as an unfathomable abyss. Yet, occasionally, he would open his eyes—just slightly—to observe Shu Jian as he worked tirelessly, restoring the long-dormant array.

Ancient engravings were polished, stones rearranged, energy funneled into the intricate lines etched into the cave’s rocky floor.

Hours passed…

Suddenly, the very air inside the cave trembled.

The long-dead engravings began to glow—first with a faint, pale blue shimmer, then intensifying, growing brighter and brighter.

Until at last…

The array surged with life once more.

...