Feng Han's patience paid off as the Frozen Flame Sect disciples quickly arrived, huffing angrily as their eyes scanned from side to side. Their frustration was visible on their faces; even the gnashing of their teeth could be heard in the silent forest.

  They dove into the clearing ahead, confident in their cultivation and dreading Han Lie's reprise if they failed. But in their recklessness, they stepped onto the trodden path, rife with Feng Han's false tracks, and beneath them, the ground gave way.

  "What the—"

  Their panicked voices cracked as they fell violently into a large pit trap. Lining it were dozens of steel-tipped spikes jutting from the earthen walls. It was an old hunter's trick to capture careless beasts. And today, these disciples were the beasts, captured in Feng Han's trap.

  Even with their cultivation, the spikes pierced into their bodies repeatedly, splattering blood across the pit's interior. No matter how much they clawed and screamed on their descent, nothing could save them.

  Cultivators they may have been, but they were not immortal. Body forging was the act of creating a vessel that could handle the profundity of qi and ascend beyond mortality. It alone was not a miracle—it was merely the beginning of a long journey, one that the Frozen Flame Sect disciples would no longer traverse.

  Feng Han crawled out from his hiding space once the screams were silenced and eyed the bloody mess within the pit trap. His eyes were cold. He didn't wish to kill anyone, but he wasn't a saint.

  He'd had to survive since the age of five, his parents' appearances a blur in his mind as he did whatever it took to protect himself and his sisters. If the Frozen Flame Sect insisted on pushing him into a corner, he'd fight back.

  "I hope your next life is a better one."

  Just as Feng Han was about to turn and leave, he felt a searing pain beside his chest. The spatial ring he'd stowed away burned with violet flames, a powerful surge of qi emanating from it as it vibrated furiously before his eyes.

  A gleaming white light erupted, blinding Feng Han's senses momentarily as he threw his hand up to cover his eyes.

  Feng Han looked carefully through the cracks of his fingers, only to see a golden chalice hovering in front of him. Around it, qi thrummed, pulsing with a strange vitality that made him nauseous just looking at it.

  It was ornate, almost mystical in its appearance. It cast an invisible pressure so overbearing that Feng Han's back creaked beneath it. It bobbed in front of him before it flashed toward the beast pit.

  What the hell is going on?

  Feng Han stood rooted and shocked. Curiosity consumed him, as did the fear of the unknown, but he took the chance and edged closer to the pit. As he looked down, his jaw dropped, and his heart pounded violently to escape free from his chest.

  Holy shit! What is that thing?

  Inside, the cultivators' bodies desiccated, their lifeblood draining visibly as it flowed into the chalice. Before Feng Han could even release the breath trapped in his throat, the men below resembled dried, rotting husks of wood.

  Run, I have to run... Is that why they're pursuing me so madly?

  He had heard stories of objects that defied reason and understanding, those that possessed abilities beyond mortal means. Ones that even cultivators would burn entire cities to ash to obtain.

  Relics that were so bizarre and surreal that their presence alone was akin to an Immortal descending from Heaven.

  It can't possibly be... Immortal Relic.

  Feng Han turned and ran, but his body flattened face-first into the ground as the overwhelming pressure returned, crushing him helplessly. He struggled, sweat drenching his back, just to turn himself over onto his back.

  The golden chalice appeared, hovering menacingly in front of Feng Han. The golden accents shimmered with a bloodied crimson hue as the lifeblood filled the chalice.

  [Drink the blood and shed your mortality. Take me, drink me, be one with me.]

  A haunting voice echoed in Feng Han's mind, making him reel as his fingertips dug into the earth. He crawled back desperately, eyes twitching as the chalice hovered closer and closer.

  [Do you fear me? Fear the unspoken and unknown? Weakness is a sin. Cowardice is a poison. Drink from me, and unimaginable power awaits you.]

  Its voice rang continuously, a wicked temptation that hovered within Feng Han's reach, so close, yet so far as if there was a chasm between them. He was tempted, an almost trance-like state as those words spun freely in his mind.

  Gradually, the pressure dulled, allowing Feng Han to move freely and edge his hand closer to it as if possessed. But his trance shattered, countless shouts thundered from behind as a large group of Frozen Flame Sect disciples stormed the forest.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Feng Han shook his head, fear latching itself onto his heart as he stared at the relic. He turned and ran before it was too late, and the sect's forces surrounded him.

  [Why panic, boy? Drink from me, and none will stop you ever again. Has nobody taught you to grasp every opportunity before you?]

  Feng Han ignored it, his eyes cold as he fled into the depths of the forest. He had been taught to grasp every opportunity, but was the golden chalice an opportunity or a death sentence? It was insistent, excessively so. Even if he was tempted, he couldn't risk it while the sect pursued him.

  Even worse, with the desiccated state of their companions, if they found Feng Han beside them, he'd be done for.

  The chalice shifted through the air, always a single step behind Feng Han, sitting comfortably in his blind spot like a starved predator. Its tempting voice was silent as it allowed Feng Han to escape.

  Feng Han dove deeper into the forest, following the streaming sounds of the Dragon Scale River's waters. He reached a thin bank that bisected the wood and leapt off the ledge with all the force he could muster, crossing over in one powerful jump.

  With each step, he could feel the darkness of night lifting overhead as the inevitable embrace of sunrise neared. His lungs were ragged, exhaustion piling on with every moment spent fleeing, but a sliver of relief warmed his heart.

  Yue'er, Xue'er... be safe. Go to Serene Willow City. Brother will keep them busy for you.

  Ever since he'd stolen the coin pouch from Han Lie's waist, Feng Han had been running ragged. When he thought he'd finally rest for the night, the slums erupted into hellfire, and he had to run again.

  He had never doubted his stamina, but even for him an entire night was too much.

  Eventually, he settled near a clump of trees, breathing like a dying dog as the exhaustion overwhelmed him.

  [You're so weak.]

  The golden chalice mused, not caring for Feng Han's unconsciousness. And just like that, a blinding crimson light flashed, and both vanished from the area.

  ...

  Meanwhile, further back, the oncoming disciples from the Frozen Flame Sect reached the Beast Pits' clearing. One unfortunate disciple rushed forward, slipping against the outer edge of the pit and falling into it uncontrollably.

  His screams were terrible as he spun and impaled himself on the spikes below. It came as a relief to the others, however, as they managed to pause their steps in time.

  The disciples looked down carefully, seeing the desiccated corpses and their freshly fallen companion. A mix of fear and anger painted their faces.

  "What the hell happened? Was it the thief?"

  "How's that possible? A mortal can't do all this in such a short time."

  "It was probably a beast? It looks like a hunter's trap that the juniors sometimes help with for their missions."

  "What beast? Have you ever seen a beast cause this kind of injury? How are we going to report this to Senior Brother Wei Shen?"

  "That..."

  "He won't be happy. Three disciples are dead, and we have no idea where the mortal went."

  "I'll go. I'll report it to Wei Shen."

  "What? Are you sure?"

  "Even if you're close with him... are you confident, Tan Yu?"

  "It's fine. It's fine, really," Tan Yu said, waving his hand dismissively at the concern. "Wei Shen's just working hard to obtain Boss Han Lie's favor. I understand him and why he's so anxious, but I know he won't make it difficult for me because of it. Accidents happen."

  "Thank you, Senior Brother Tan Yu!"

  The disciples all expressed their gratitude, bowing to Tan Yu. None of them was bold enough to want to incur the ire of Wei Shen or Han Lie. Someone offering themselves up as a volunteer made them incredibly grateful. As for what would happen to Tan Yu after he reported it, they couldn't care less as long as they escaped the brunt of the blame.

  "The rest of you, be careful. Don't succumb to the same fate as them," Yan Yu said as he looked away from the pit. "Find him if you can; if not, wait for the others to arrive."

  He continued, "Don't be careless just because he has no cultivation. Even cornered rats know how to bite. Even if we messed up, we can't keep failing, unless you want the seniors to rip our tendons out."

  "Yes, Senior Brother Tan Yu! We'll keep it in mind."

  Tan Yu nodded and retreated back to Eternal Flame City to report the events to Wei Shen. The distance was too far for communication talismans, and in general, Tan Yu knew better than to send something so important via a talisman.

  After a little over thirty minutes running as fast as he could using his cultivation, Tan Yu reached the slums. He found Wei Shen quickly, standing tall like a veritable barricade that confined the mortals to the smoldering remains of the outer district.

  Even if Wei Shen knew that Feng Han was outside the city, the fury for the slums that allowed the thief to escape was not light. Countless people fell beneath the Frozen Flame Sect's attack, and no one would mourn them.

  "Brother Shen!" Tan Yu said, bowing slightly. "I'm back with a report."

  Wei Shen eyed him coldly. Tan Yu had been a close brother of his, but compared to the opportunities surrounding Han Lie, the two were incomparable. "Yeah? You couldn't send it by talisman? What is it?"

  Seeing the blatant irritation on Wei Shen's face, Tan Yu felt chills run down his spine. Sweat rolled down his back, and he stuttered, "W-we found him, b-but he managed to get away, s-still it shouldn't be long until they find him..."

  "Idiot. Don't tell me you came all this way to say what I already knew?" Wei Shen spat coldly.

  "N-no, of course not, Brother S- Wei Shen!" Tan Yu shook, waving his hands frantically. "I just wanted you to be the first to know. Once we reclaim the lost treasure, you'll have the most merit to claim."

  As soon as Tan Yu spoke those words, he recoiled against the ground violently, his ribs aching as Wei Shen's fist shot out and slammed against his nose.

  "You're courting death, Tan Yu!"

  Tan Yu cried, holding his bloodied nose as he stared in disbelief at the seething Wei Shen.