Pain still pulsed, a dull throb behind Lin Xiao’s eyes. The ancient will’s retreat left a void, a chilling residue that clung to his spiritual sea like frost. He had pushed it back, forced it into submission, but the battle had left him raw, exposed. Raw power surged beneath him, a subterranean ocean of pure Demonic Qi. It hummed, vast and untamed, stretching far beyond the cavern he currently occupied. This was the heart of the ancient sect’s power, a resource capable of fueling entire empires. He opened his eyes, black orbs reflecting the dim, oppressive light of the cave. The air itself felt thick with concentrated Demonic Qi, a palpable pressure that would crush lesser cultivators. He had to tame it, mold it, make it truly his. Resistance met him instantly. As he extended his spiritual sense, reaching for the vein's core, a chaotic roar erupted. The Demonic Qi bucked, a wild beast refusing the bit. It lashed out, sharp tendrils of energy attempting to infiltrate his meridians, testing for any lingering weakness. His jaw tightened. This was not a negotiation. He had just faced down a millennia-old consciousness. A mere qi vein, no matter how potent, would not defy him. Lin Xiao channeled the Villain System's power, a dark, consuming hunger that resonated with the vein's raw energy. Slowly, painstakingly, he began to assert his will. It was like wrestling a leviathan. He poured his own Demonic Qi into the vein, not just absorbing, but injecting his essence, branding it. His intent was clear: *Submit. Serve. Become the foundation of my dominion.* Black veins spiderwebbed across his skin, dark as ink. His spiritual energy flowed out, a torrent, meeting the vein's ferocious opposition head-on. Every fiber of his being screamed in protest, but Lin Xiao ignored it. He pushed past the pain, past the limits of endurance. He needed this. His empire demanded it. Under his relentless assault, the Demonic Qi vein began to yield. The chaotic roars subsided into a deep, guttural thrum. The wild currents smoothed, coalescing into a more organized flow. He wasn't just drawing power; he was restructuring its very essence, aligning its chaotic nature with his own focused, tyrannical ambition. Energy flooded him then, not just from absorption, but from the harmonious resonance of the vein acknowledging him as its master. It was a deluge, pure and overwhelming, cleansing his meridians, strengthening his spiritual roots, and expanding his spiritual sea at an alarming rate. A profound tremor shook his core. The bottleneck he had been approaching shattered like fragile glass. His cultivation base surged, propelled by the inexhaustible wellspring beneath him. He felt every cell in his body singing with power, transforming, ascending. His bones solidified, denser, stronger. His blood hummed with newfound vitality. The Demonic Qi within his Dantian spun faster, condensing, purifying. The sensation was akin to being reborn, emerging from a chrysalis of limitation into a being of immense, untamed power. Power exploded from him, a silent, visible wave that rattled the very stones of the cavern. He had broken through. No longer merely at the peak of the Soul Formation Realm, he had stepped across the threshold. He was a cultivator of the Nascent Soul Realm, a Demonic Sovereign in the making, his new status heralded by the raw energy swirling around him. Looking down at his hands, he clenched them. The strength was intoxicating. Every nerve ending tingled with the potential for destruction. The world seemed sharper, colors more vibrant, sounds more distinct. He could feel the pulse of the Demonic Qi vein, now a controlled, subservient entity, deeply connected to his own spiritual core. This wasn't just a cultivation resource anymore. He had integrated it. The entire vein, vast and potent, would now act as a living power plant for his future empire. Its energy would nourish his domain, empower his followers, and fuel his ascent. It was a colossal anchor, solidifying his presence in this realm, making his claim undeniable. “System,” Lin Xiao murmured, his voice deeper, resonating with his new power. “Status.” A familiar blue interface materialized before him, glowing faintly in the dimness. [Host: Lin Xiao] [Cultivation: Nascent Soul Realm – Early Stage] [Demonic Core: Stabilized] [Villain Points: 1,850,000] [Current Mission: Consolidate Demonic Qi Vein (Completed!)] [Reward: 500,000 Villain Points, Cultivation Breakthrough] [Next Major Milestone: Dao Transformation] A wave of satisfaction washed over him. Nascent Soul. A significant leap. The path to ultimate power was opening wider, beckoning him further into the abyss. Suddenly, a phantom chill swept through him. The air grew heavy, oppressive. It was not the ambient Demonic Qi, but something far more ancient, far more insidious. A vision, sharp and brutal, ripped through his mind, the same chilling premonition that had been implanted by the ancient leader's retreating will. It was not a memory, but a future. He saw himself, older, hardened, bathed in an infernal glow. The power was immense, terrifying, yet hollow. He felt the cold, unfeeling stare from his own eyes, devoid of warmth, devoid of light. It spoke to him, the voice from the vision, echoing the ancient leader's words, yet clearer, more precise. *Dao Transformation, Lin Xiao. The ultimate transcendence. But the unimaginable sacrifice…* It revealed the truth. *It involves severing your own humanity, Lin Xiao. A final, absolute severance. You must fully embrace a monstrous, eternal darkness to truly become the Demonic Sovereign.*

Chapter 35: The Sovereign's Terrible Choice