Beneath the swirling tapestry of the cosmos, Wang Lin streaked across the void, a comet of avarice fleeing the Dragonscale Star. He bore with him the entirety of their accumulated wealth, pilfered by his hand. Within his enchanted pouch lay mountains of Dragonbone Powder and glimmering shards of Hellfire Crystal.

Further within resided a legion of golems, the mightiest of which was a construct nearing the First Celestial Tribulation. All this was the lifeblood of the Dragonscale Clan, now surrendered by their craven chieftain.

As he journeyed, Wang Lin’s eyes blazed with inner light. He pondered the battle with Simozi, and the sudden arrival of the enigmatic Emperor of the Fallen, who bestowed upon him the title of Young Emperor.

“What bond ties the Emperor to the Four Sacred Sects… if any at all? And if so, who *is* he? If none exists, what could be the reason for such favor? He offered only a jade token, seeking no audience… What thoughts lie veiled within such actions?” Wang Lin’s brow furrowed, his speed increasing.

“The Emperor initially spoke only of the Five Breaths Treaty, a predictable gambit. My duel with Simozi was likely to draw him out, for Simozi, as a pursuer, would surely violate the laws of the Fallen and face banishment.

But the Emperor *slayed* Simozi’s avatar! A mere expulsion would have sufficed, but this act conveyed a message! Simozi was a Third Step powerhouse! This was a statement directed at Grand Elder He!”

“Clearly, within those few breaths, the Emperor shifted his intent. He initially seemed content to observe, yet intervened directly. What could have ignited such a change?”

Wang Lin’s gaze deepened with contemplation. He halted, a chilling possibility dawning.

“I wield the power of Five Origins. The Emperor, with his profound strength, could have perceived this… or perhaps the Hellfire Crystal I unleashed betrayed the Flame Origin within me. Should the Emperor be tied to the Four Sacred Sects, he would instantly recognize me as Vermillion Bird!”

“These two possibilities, perhaps, sparked his change of heart. Yet, all remains conjecture, unproven.”

“He also used the envoy to chastise the Dragonscale chieftain, a show of power… ultimately directing me to attend the Elder Selection of the Fallen Star Assembly in three months…”

“This reeks of deception. I shall attend in three months to discern the Emperor’s true aim!” Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with resolve. Dismissing these thoughts, he strode forward, employing the magic of Spatial Contraction, towards the Scorpion Shadow Star.

Meanwhile, the company of Greed Wolf sped onward, nearing the Scorpion Shadow Star. Over a thousand streaks of light whistled through the void, carving ripples across the star-strewn canvas, their thunderous passage echoing towards their destination.

Moments later, the thousand streaks crashed down, and hundreds of warriors pierced the star’s protective winds, plunging towards the world below.

Surrounded by his followers, Greed Wolf descended, arrogance etched upon his face.

Above the Scorpion Shadow Star, the heavens themselves twisted, and the winds raged. The sky seemed rent asunder, unleashing a torrent of sword light.

The faces of every inhabitant blanched with terror as they gazed upon the sky.

The earth trembled in time with the celestial chaos, buckling beneath the oppressive might of the descending horde.

Near the periphery of Wang Lin’s dwelling, Zhong Dahong paced, hands clasped behind his back, berating several Scorpion Shadow clansmen.

Behind him, the elder Zhang stood with deference, a hint of smugness playing on his lips. He reveled in the sight of clansmen, his betters in strength, cowering before Zhong Dahong’s rebukes.

“Have you no shame? Days have passed! *Days*! You were tasked with gathering information, yet you’ve yielded nothing! When the Master returns and demands answers, can you shoulder the blame? Hmph!” Zhong Dahong snapped, a cold snort escaping his lips.

His words drained the color from the faces of the clansmen before him. One hesitated, then spoke, “Regarding this matter…”

Before he could continue, his face contorted in alarm as he looked toward the heavens. In that instant, all the Scorpion Shadow clansmen, save Zhong Dahong, raised their heads in stunned silence.

The chieftain of the Scorpion Shadow Clan, who had returned at Wang Lin’s request, was meditating in a valley near Wang Lin’s cavern. He snapped open his eyes, terror blazing within them, and with a blur, launched himself into the sky.

Zhong Dahong, startled, glanced upwards. His blood turned to ice, and his face paled. The elder Zhang gasped and stood transfixed.

The sky was awash with waves, as if the sea had risen to swallow the stars. Blades of light streaked from the horizon, accompanied by a roaring crescendo.

The sound began as a whisper, but quickly swelled into an earth-shattering thunder!

“The Cloud Recluse Clan seeks an artifact! This star is claimed for three months! The Scorpion Shadow Clan is hereby banished! Depart immediately, lest you face oblivion!” The pronouncement boomed from within the approaching tempest of sword light, an overwhelming tide that reverberated through the heavens.

“Cloud Recluse Clan, what is the meaning of this! Though small, the Scorpion Shadow Clan is a member of the Fallen Star Assembly!” The Scorpion Shadow chieftain cried out in desperation, his words cut short by a frigid voice from above.

“Silence!” The icy command choked the roar of the storm, its chilling resonance silencing the world below. From within the ranks of a thousand, one figure emerged!

As he drew upon his power, a wave of putrid stench spread outwards, engulfing everything. The chieftain of the Scorpion Shadow Clan stumbled back, his face contorted. “Greed Wolf!” he croaked.
The stench was unbearable, lingering like a shroud across the blighted land. The Dark Scorpion clan, assaulted by the vile odor, gagged and retched. Zhong Dahong, lacking the strength of will and ignorant of the dreaded Star Wolf’s true nature, succumbed to the foulness and vomited.

This act ignited a storm of fury in the Star Wolf’s eyes. With a flick of his sleeve, the very heavens shifted, and a colossal fan materialized. Radiant with arcane energy, it swept forward in a devastating arc.

The earth groaned and trembled, peaks crumbling to dust in the wake of the fan’s power. Even the humble sanctuary of Wang Lin was not spared, collapsing in a shower of stone and timber.

The Dark Scorpion warriors, numbering over a hundred, were powerless against the gale. Blood gushed from their lips as they were tossed like autumn leaves, flung far and wide.

Even the chieftain of the Dark Scorpions struggled against the force, his body dragged backwards against his will.

The land fractured, the sky seemed to tear, and the wizened crone of the clan spat blood before falling unconscious, hurled into the distance.

A single sweep of the fan had stunned all who witnessed it!

Zhong Dahong, caught in the tempestuous winds, was pulled inexorably towards the Star Wolf. The closer he came, the more intense the stench became, until his face contorted in revulsion.

“Does it stink?” the Star Wolf hissed, his eyes fixed upon the trembling man.

“No, no stink at all…” Zhong Dahong stammered, fighting to suppress his nausea. Fearful of disbelief, he forced a deep breath, feigning a look of blissful appreciation. But this only betrayed him, and he wretched again.

A murderous glint ignited in the Star Wolf’s gaze. Zhong Dahong, desperate, shrieked, “My master is a being of boundless power! You slay me, and your doom is assured! The Dark Scorpion chieftain could not withstand a single one of my master’s spells! Though your power is great, you are no match for him!”

The Star Wolf chuckled, a chilling sound.

“My master surely journeys here even now! He could return at any moment. Dare to harm a hair on my head, and you shall suffer a fate worse than death! The Dark Scorpion clan dared to wound me, and now they are slaves! The same awaits you!” The fear of death lent a frantic edge to his words.

“Boundless power, you say? Had you not spoken of a master, I might have been lenient. But if you have a lord, then I shall see what power he wields. A servant who insults me incurs the wrath of the master. All who trespass against the will of the Star Wolf shall perish!”

With a gesture, the Star Wolf unleashed a wave of force into Zhong Dahong’s body. The man coughed blood, his form near to shattering, and he was cast aside like a broken doll.

“Had you and your master been of the Dark Scorpion clan, I might have hesitated to spill your blood. But since you are not, I shall witness how your master will bring about my doom!” With a flourish, the Star Wolf summoned a howling gale, sweeping away the Dark Scorpion clan from the star.

Turning to the Cloud Runners who thronged about him, he announced, “Remain here with me, and await the arrival of this slave’s master. You shall witness the completion of my treasure! To see the Star Wolf unleash his art is a rare fortune indeed! My treasure is unmatched in all the realms! You shall see how I bring ruin to a Celestial Decay cultivator, a sight you shall remember for all eternity!”

Arrogance dripped from the Star Wolf’s words. With another wave, nine ancient stone tablets appeared before him, their presence altering the very fabric of reality. He summoned forth ninety-nine longswords, their blades shimmering and swirling with an ethereal light.

Then, he cast forth a wave of emerald light, which crashed upon the land, causing the ground to tremble and groan. From the soil sprung forth trees, a dense forest blooming instantly.

The Cloud Runners watched, their spirits alight. To witness the Star Wolf unleash his treasure was a dream come true!

“The Star Wolf’s treasure has been spoken of in hushed whispers. Perhaps we can glean some small understanding from witnessing its glory!”

“It is said that the Star Wolf’s treasure can slay a Celestial Decay cultivator! None have ever witnessed such a thing. What art could possibly achieve such a feat? Today, we shall know!”

“No one knows the full extent of the Star Wolf’s arsenal. To witness but a fraction is a blessing!”

They spoke in tones of awe and reverence.

Zhong Dahong, lying prone upon the ground, stared in horror. He might not know the true identity of the Star Wolf, but the awe in the faces of the surrounding cultivators struck a chilling chord in his heart.

The Star Wolf, his expression a mask of arrogance, gestured once more. The forest stirred, the trees groaning and writhing as if awakened from a deep slumber. Before the eyes of the astonished onlookers, a spectacle unfolded that drew gasps of disbelief.

The forest, the entire mass of trees, was rising from the ground!

It was no mere forest, but a monstrous being formed of countless trees!

The trees coalesced into a titanic Treant, standing thousands of feet tall. A wave of raw, untamed power washed over the landscape.

The Star Wolf, with a swift movement, stood upon the Treant’s head, his arrogance reaching new heights. Another gesture tore a rift in the sky, from which a colossal furnace emerged, hanging in the air beside him.

“The Celestial Forge! It is the Celestial Forge, one of the Star Wolf’s most renowned treasures!”

“It is said that the Star Wolf, when he was but a Nirvana Shatterer, used this very forge to slay one of three Nirvana Completion cultivators who hunted him and grievously wounded the other two!”

Yet again, the Star Wolf waved his hand, and the heavens themselves shifted. A swirling black mist coalesced before him, shrinking rapidly until it became a fearsome spear.

The spear, composed of pure shadow, radiated an aura of utter annihilation!
The array of arcane treasures, laid bare for all to see, struck awe into the hearts of the surrounding cultivators. Their gazes, once curious, now held a palpable reverence for the Wolf of Greed. Even Zhong Dahong, a man hardened by hardship, felt a chill creep into his bones, a bitter taste rising in his throat.

The Wolf luxuriated in their regard, basking in its warmth. In such moments, the lingering stench upon his soul faded, the memory of past humiliations dissolved, and even the shadow of Wang Lin’s terror lessened its grip.

“These baubles are but a pittance, a trifling fraction of my vast arsenal!” the Wolf roared, his voice echoing across the blighted landscape. “I have not yet unleashed the true power at my command! My treasures are so numerous, so potent, that even the mightiest Grand Ascendants of the Third Step would pale in comparison!”

“Behold, you fortunate few!” he boomed, gesturing wildly. “Gaze upon the spectacle! Witness how long this tribulation-touched wretch can survive before the might of the Wolf!” The surrounding cultivators, emboldened by his pronouncements, roared their approval, their faces alight with anticipation.

Zhong Dahong’s face drained of color, his heart heavy with regret. “Doomed… I am doomed,” he muttered to himself. “Never did I imagine such a hoard of power! And these trinkets, each radiates a strength beyond comprehension. If the expressions of the crowd are true, this Wolf has slain Ascendants before… I am finished… utterly, irrevocably finished!”

As if in response to the Wolf’s boasts, the colossal treant beneath his feet, a grotesque guardian formed from splintered wood and twisted limbs, raised its head, its hideous eyes blazing with verdant light. The Wolf, ever arrogant, merely lifted his chin and gazed towards the heavens.

His assembled artifacts thrummed with anticipation, on the precipice of activation. The outer ring of spectators, electrified by the moment, mirrored his gaze, their necks craned skyward, yearning to witness the devastating power of the Wolf’s treasures.

In that very sky, where all eyes were focused, a ripple spread through the fabric of reality. From its epicenter, a figure slowly materialized, a silhouette against the swirling ether.

The figure was tall, gaunt, its features still indistinct. Yet, even shrouded in shadow, a palpable aura of chilling indifference descended upon the land.

The Wolf, his posture rigid with pride, faltered. The moment his eyes fell upon the blurring silhouette, a tremor ran through his being. His pupils constricted, his heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. His jaw hung slack, disbelief warring with a primal fear. He rubbed his eyes, desperate for clarity. What he saw next shattered the very foundations of his bravado.

Never in his most fevered nightmares had he imagined this encounter. Standing before him, a specter from his past, was the source of his deepest terror, the one who had robbed him of everything. It was Wang Lin, the architect of his waking nightmares!

“No… no, this cannot be! It is a trick of the light!” The Wolf’s mind reeled, his skin slick with a cold, clammy sweat. A tsunami of dread washed over him, shaking him to his core. As the figure sharpened, as the truth became undeniable, the Wolf’s sanity teetered on the brink of collapse. A million thunderbolts seemed to detonate within his skull, his eyes bulging in horrified recognition.

The memories crashed down upon him: the theft of the Ancient Thunder Dragon, the plundering of the Transference Cauldron, the ravaging of the Mountains and Rivers Diagram, the desecration of the Soul-Seizing Peak! Every treasure stolen, every victory turned to ash, all at the hands of the man before him. Fear and panic rose within him, threatening to drown him in their suffocating depths.

“It… it is him!” he stammered, his voice a ragged whisper. “How can he be here? This is impossible! He belongs to the Inner Sea! He is my nemesis, my doom! He must have sensed my newfound power, my new treasures! He has come to steal them away!”

All of this transpired in the span of a heartbeat. Just as the figure solidified, just as he took a deliberate step forward, just as the assembled crowd braced themselves for a display of unparalleled power, the Wolf shattered.

A scream, so piercing it threatened to shatter the eardrums of all who heard it, tore from the Wolf’s throat. Without hesitation, without a second thought, he turned tail and fled. He unleashed the full fury of his cultivation, accelerating his movements beyond comprehension. In a blur of chaotic energy, he vanished, leaving behind a swirling vortex of dust and despair. He abandoned his carefully constructed image, scattering his precious treasures to the wind in his desperate, panicked flight.

The suddenness of the event left the spectators, including Zhong Dahong, utterly dumbstruck.

“What… what manner of technique was that?” stammered one, his voice laced with confusion. “What divine flight did he employ? He vanished in the blink of an eye!”

“Perhaps… perhaps he is merely preparing to unleash an even greater weapon?” another ventured, grasping for a semblance of understanding.

“But that shriek…” a third whispered, his brow furrowed with concern. “It sounded… wrong. As if he were faced with something truly terrifying…”

“I… I cannot shake the feeling that the esteemed High Priest was… fleeing…”

“Fleeing?!”

“Wolf of Greed!” The voice of Wang Lin, calm and resonant, echoed across the bewildered expanse. He paused, taken aback by the chaotic scene. “Fleeing?”