From the blighted reaches of the Fallen Lands, the name of Greedfang was whispered with a mixture of awe and fear. His origins were shrouded in mystery, appearing in that desolate realm without fanfare, his cultivation a mere flicker of Nirvana’s dawn.

Yet, Greedfang was a master of the unexpected. From his hands flowed wondrous elixirs and enchanted artifacts, each sparking tempests of desire and strife throughout the Fallen Lands. Though his power seemed meager, his cunning was boundless, his spells unsettlingly potent. Armed with arcane wards and treacherous enchantments, even those of greater spiritual stature found it nigh impossible to capture him.

He possessed a singular gift for escape, a fleeting surge of speed that amplified his swiftness ninety-sevenfold, leaving pursuers in the dust. Ever cautious, Greedfang vanished at the first scent of danger, thus evading many a perilous fate.

As the ages drifted by, Greedfang’s power waxed steadily. In time, he transcended to the realm of Purity Nirvana, his spells evolving into enigmas that defied understanding. His ascent drew the attention of the warlords and elders of the scattered tribes, and their covetous eyes fell upon him, prompting a relentless hunt. When all seemed lost, Greedfang unveiled an arsenal of hitherto unseen artifacts, each imbued with earth-shattering power.

Three Shattered Nirvana cultivators, blinded by greed, were felled by his surprise onslaught. One was utterly annihilated, while the others fled, bearing grievous wounds. This deed sent shockwaves throughout the Fallen Lands. A mere Purity Nirvana warrior had not only survived the pursuit of three Shattered Nirvana masters but had extinguished one!

Greedfang’s name became a legend, whispered on the winds of the Fallen Lands. Yet, the tribe of the fallen elder seethed with vengeance. Though lacking a Boundless Realm elder, their power was formidable. They dispatched a cultivator touched by the First Heavenly Tribulation to hunt Greedfang.

For a being of such magnitude to hunt a Purity Nirvana warrior was akin to a tiger crushing an ant. All held their breath, anticipating Greedfang’s demise. But once again, a miracle unfolded.

Greedfang revealed an artifact, one that would become the subject of countless tales. It was said to be a broken statue.

As the statue appeared, the Fallen Lands convulsed. Mist and shadow shrouded the stars, and a primordial roar echoed through the heavens. The First Tribulation cultivator was utterly obliterated by the statue’s power!

But the echoes of destruction didn’t stop there. It resonated throughout the Fallen Lands, shaking those enduring their own Heavenly Tribulations to their core. The power unleashed was enough to devastate a Third Tribulation cultivator. Even a Fourth Tribulation cultivator would have to fight with all they had to remain unscathed.

None knew if Greedfang possessed other, even more potent artifacts, for his treasures seemed endless.

Such wonders defied comprehension. How could a Purity Nirvana cultivator wield an item capable of slaying a Heavenly Tribulation warrior?

In the aftermath, Greedfang disappeared. Whispers arose that the Fallen Emperor himself admired Greedfang and sought him out. Greedfang, with his silver tongue, presented another treasure to the Emperor, receiving in return elixirs of immense power, bolstering his cultivation.

Years passed. When Greedfang next emerged, his cultivation had soared to the mid-stages of Shattered Nirvana! This drew the attention of those touched by the Fourth Heavenly Tribulation.

One such cultivator, consumed by avarice, attempted to seize Greedfang’s treasures, only to be driven back, grievously wounded. Once more, Greedfang’s name echoed through the lands, and none dared challenge him.

Rumors of Greedfang’s immense wealth spread like wildfire.

Beyond his spells and artifacts, Greedfang possessed another extraordinary ability: Wherever he went, treasures followed. Even a desolate, barren world yielded wonders in his presence.

Thus, it was said: “Where Greedfang treads, the barren earth blossoms with treasure.”

Yet, Greedfang possessed a singular weakness, a hidden vulnerability. Woe betide the one who remarked upon, or even hinted at, his peculiar aroma.

His bane was his stench!

Through some twisted alchemy, Greedfang was surrounded by an almost unbearable odor. A reek so potent it could be detected from afar, lingering long after he had passed.

The dozen cultivators in his entourage were acutely aware of the foulness, yet dared not betray a flicker of disgust, their expressions fixed in respectful awe.

They traveled swiftly, soon reaching the star system claimed by the Dark Scorpion Clan. Greedfang’s eyes burned with anticipation as he gazed upon their home world.

He had arrived in these outer realms a lifetime ago, barely clinging to life. Through his own cunning, he had achieved his current stature, his cultivation far surpassing his humble beginnings. Even his artifacts had been entirely replaced, each a testament to his near-death escapades. He was no longer the insignificant being from the inner realms, and if he could return home, his status would be one of great importance.

However, he could not bring himself to feel any excitement. The stench that clung to him was an inescapable shadow, permeating his very being. He had grown accustomed to it, but the reactions of those around him gnawed at his sanity.

He had sought countless cures, but the odor was etched into his very soul, fused with his spiritual essence. No matter his efforts, he could not banish it.

This torment had festered for countless years, fueling his hatred for Wang Lin, for the Celestial Seeker, and for the monstrous Moongazer!

“Celestial Seeker, had you not forced me to the outer realm, I would not have suffered such a fate! And Moongazer, I swear to tear you limb from limb!”

“But most of all, it is Wang Lin! My nemesis! He has stolen all my treasures: my Shifting Cauldron, my Primal Thunder Dragon, my Scrolls of Mountains and Rivers, my Soul-Extracting Immortal Mountain… all that I had amassed over millennia, taken by him!”

The mere thought of Wang Lin sent searing pain through Greedfang. But beyond the hatred, there was a deep-seated dread. After their many encounters, he held a profound fear of Wang Lin.

With the passage of time, that fear had only grown stronger. Despite his improved cultivation, the fear remained, a constant shadow in his heart.

He could not explain why, but the mere thought of Wang Lin sent shivers down his spine.

“My nemesis! On Vermillion Bird, the treasure I coveted, the Heaven Defying Bead, was snatched away by him. In the Demon Spirit Land, I was stronger, yet he devoured my Primal Thunderheart and my Thunder Dragon! My Thunder Dragon, whom I had raised since birth! Had I fused with it, I would have become a true Thunder cultivator!”

“It was also at the hands of the Celestial Seeker and his cohorts that I sought him out in the outer realm, only to be swallowed by the filth that spewed forth from Moongazer’s mouth. There I met Wang Lin again! He stole my cauldron, my Scroll of Mountains and Rivers, everything!”

“And even as I was about to escape from Moongazer, he prevented me, leaving me wounded near death! But the heavens favored me, allowing me to escape and hide on a distant cultivation star!” Greedfang often reflected upon the past, and how each time, his torment stemmed from the figure of Wang Lin.

All his life, Greedfang had sought treasure, but only in Wang Lin’s presence had he lost everything, nearly losing his life in the process. This was a nightmare that would never leave him.

“Now I wield new artifacts, my cultivation far surpassing my past self. These artifacts are far stronger than anything I once possessed. I refuse to believe that Wang Lin could possibly escape the inner realms and come to this ancient star, to the Fallen Lands, to steal from me once more! If such a thing were to occur, then Wang Lin truly is my nemesis!”

Greedfang scoffed, dismissing such a scenario as utterly impossible.

“The Cloudrunners possess a treasure that might purge this stench, but it cannot be taken from them. I must remain in their service, delving into its secrets until I have mastered it. Then, the entire cosmos shall be my playground, and I will never cross paths with my nemesis.”

“I have already deciphered the treasure’s secrets, and I only require the legendary Undying Scorpion of the Dark Scorpion Clan. With that, I am confident that I can eradicate the Moongazer’s stench!” Greedfang’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, filled with regret and a deep sense of sorrow as he reflected on his life.

“My treasures of old… My nemesis. I am fortunate to reside in the outer realms, far from my nemesis. Otherwise, I fear my treasures might change hands once more…” Greedfang’s dread of Wang Lin was rooted in the nightmares of his past. Even now, with his increased cultivation, the nightmares lingered, and he could not shake the fear.

He was like a bird once struck by an arrow, surviving by a thread. Even if the bird grew strong, even becoming the leader of the flock, the memory of the arrow would forever be etched into its heart. The mere sound of a bow would send it into a frenzy.

This was a crack in his very core. Unless Greedfang personally slew Wang Lin and shattered the nightmare, he would forever be a bird on high alert, anticipating the next strike.