Three nights later, Li Hao entered the forbidden library.
Dust and silence filled the ancient hall.
At its deepest corner, something pulsed.
A jade tome.
It reacted to him.
The moment his fingers touched it—
The world shattered.
Darkness swallowed everything.
A voice echoed.
"Heaven has denied you… so take from heaven instead."
Images flooded his mind.
Beasts roaring.
Blood burning.
Souls devoured.
"Those without martial souls are not empty," the voice continued. "They are… unbound."
A forbidden method revealed itself.
Slay a beast.
Devour its essence.
Forge a soul.
Not awaken.
Forge.
Li Hao's breathing grew heavy.
This was not a path granted by heaven.
This was a path stolen from it.