Rise of The Abandoned Husband

The devastation surrounding me was absolute. Trees stripped of life, earth cracked and barren, and at my feet, Vivian—now a withered shell of the formidable opponent who'd attacked me minutes ago.

"What... are... you?" she whispered again, her voice barely audible.

I knelt beside her, feeling strange new power coursing through my veins. Whatever had happened during my breakthrough had fundamentally changed me. I'd drained her life force without even trying.

"I'm not sure what I am anymore," I admitted. "But I think I'll call this new ability my divine devouring skill."

I placed my hand on her forehead, curious if I could control this power now that I was aware of it. Focusing my qi, I felt the connection form—like invisible tendrils extending from my palm into her body.

Vivian's eyes widened in terror. "No... please..."

"Relax," I said. "I'm not going to kill you. But you're going to tell me everything."

I pulled gently with my qi, drawing a small stream of her energy into me. The sensation was intoxicating—pure power flowing directly into my core, strengthening me with each passing second.

"Your real name," I demanded.

She resisted briefly, then gasped as I increased the pull slightly.

"Violet," she choked out. "Violet Russell."

"Violet," I repeated, easing the drain. "Who sent you after Clara's mask?"

Her lips trembled. "My sect... Frostfall Sanctum."

I'd never heard of them. "And what is the Frostfall Sanctum?"

"A thousand-year-old sect," she said, a hint of pride breaking through her fear. "One of the oldest in existence."

I processed this information. A thousand-year-old sect meant serious power and resources.

"And why does your sect want Clara's mask?"

Violet's eyes darted away. "I don't know the details. Only that my sect master personally ordered its retrieval."

I increased the drain slightly. Her back arched in pain.

"Don't lie to me," I warned.

"I'm not!" she gasped. "The orders came directly from Grandmaster Frost himself. He's a Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster. He doesn't explain his orders to someone of my rank."

I eased the pressure, considering her words. A Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster was several realms above me—someone who could crush me with a mere thought if the stories were true.

"What did he tell you about the mask?"

Violet's breathing steadied slightly. "Only that it was ancient. Powerful. And absolutely essential to acquire."

"Essential for what purpose?"

"He didn't say." She winced as I gave her a skeptical look. "I swear! In our sect, we follow orders without question. I was simply told to retrieve it by any means necessary."

I studied her face, looking for signs of deception. Finding none, I sat back on my heels, frustrated by the lack of specific information.

"So you don't know why the mask matters, who made it, or what powers it holds?"

She shook her head weakly. "All I know is that when Grandmaster Frost learned it had been found, he became... agitated. I'd never seen him like that before."

I stood, looking down at her frail form. She was telling the truth—or at least what she believed to be true.

"Can you stand?" I asked.

Violet attempted to push herself up but collapsed immediately. "No," she whispered.

I sighed and bent down to scoop her into my arms. She felt impossibly light, like a bundle of dry twigs wrapped in cloth.

"What are you doing?" she asked, alarm in her voice.

"Taking you with me," I replied. "You're still valuable for information, and I'm not done questioning you."

As I carried her through the devastated forest, I reflected on my new power. The divine devouring skill had manifested spontaneously, yet it felt natural, as if it had always been part of me. I could sense energy everywhere now—flowing through trees, animals, even the earth itself. And I could pull on that energy, drawing it into myself.

It was terrifying and exhilarating at once.

"Your sect," I said after walking in silence for several minutes. "How many members does it have?"

"Thousands," Violet replied weakly. "But only a few hundred inner disciples with significant power."

"And where is it located?"

She hesitated, then seemed to realize withholding information would only lead to more pain. "The northern mountains. Beyond the Frost Valley."

That was at least a month's journey, even moving at a cultivator's pace. Far from here, but not unreachable.

"Does your sect master know you failed to retrieve the mask?"

"By now, yes," she admitted. "I was supposed to report back three days ago."

"And what will he do?"

She looked up at me, fear evident in her eyes. "He'll send others. Stronger disciples. Maybe even elders."

Great. More enemies to deal with. As if I didn't have enough already.

We reached the edge of the forest, and I could see the Noble Family compound in the distance. The sun was beginning to rise, casting long shadows across the countryside.

"Liam," Violet said suddenly, her voice slightly stronger. "You have no idea what you're getting involved with. Give me the mask, and I'll convince my sect master to spare your life."

I laughed. "You're in no position to negotiate."

"You don't understand," she insisted. "Grandmaster Frost is over three hundred years old. His power is beyond comprehension."

Three hundred years old? That seemed impossible, but then again, I was learning that many things I'd once thought impossible were simply beyond my previous understanding.

"Tell me more about these elders he might send," I said, ignoring her plea.

Violet sighed, resigning herself to cooperation. "The weakest among them is at the Military Saint realm. The strongest... I don't even know. They rarely show themselves."

Military Saint. Two full realms above where I currently stood. My new power notwithstanding, that was a concerning gap.

We reached the Noble Family compound gates. The guards tensed as they saw me approaching with a strange woman in my arms, but they recognized me quickly and stood aside.

"Master Knight," one said with a bow. "Lord Noble has been asking after you."

I nodded and proceeded into the compound. Several servants gasped as I passed, whether at my new, more imposing appearance or the withered woman in my arms, I couldn't tell.

Patrick Noble was in the main hall with his son Guy when I entered. Their conversation stopped abruptly as they turned to look at me.

"Liam!" Patrick exclaimed, rising from his chair. "We were worried when you didn't—" He paused, staring at Violet. "Who is this?"

I placed Violet carefully in a nearby chair. "A guest who will be staying with us for a while."

Guy approached, his eyes roving over Violet's withered form with undisguised curiosity. "She looks half-dead. What happened to her?"

"I happened to her," I replied simply.

Patrick's eyebrows shot up. "Is that... did you do that to her? With your cultivation?"

I nodded. "She attacked me during my breakthrough. It didn't end well for her."

Guy whistled, impressed. "Damn. She must have been quite the beauty before... whatever you did to her."

Violet's eyes flashed with anger despite her weakened state. "Watch your tongue, boy. You speak to a disciple of the Frostfall Sanctum."

Patrick's face paled. "The Frostfall Sanctum? Are you certain?"

"You know of it?" I asked, surprised.

"Everyone in the cultivation world knows of the Frostfall Sanctum," Patrick replied, his voice lowered. "They're one of the oldest, most secretive sects in existence. Their members rarely appear in public, but when they do..." He trailed off, glancing nervously at Violet.

"When they do, what?" I prompted.

"Death follows," Patrick finished. "They're assassins, alchemists, and information brokers. No one crosses them and lives."

Violet smiled coldly, despite her weakened state. "Your friend is wise, Liam Knight. You'd do well to heed his warning."

I crossed my arms. "Is that a threat?"

"A reality," she replied. "Release me now, and perhaps my sect will show mercy to the Noble Family for harboring me against my will."

Patrick took a step back. "Liam, perhaps we should—"

"No," I cut him off. "She stays here until I decide otherwise."

Violet's eyes narrowed. "Then you condemn everyone in this house to death. My sect does not forgive, and they do not forget. They will come for me, and when they do, they will kill everyone who stands in their way."

The tension in the room was palpable. Patrick looked terrified, Guy confused. And me? I felt something I hadn't expected: excitement. The breakthrough had changed more than just my power—it had altered my perspective. Threats that would have worried me before now felt like opportunities.

"Let them come," I said, my voice calm and certain. "I'll be waiting."

Violet's eyes widened slightly, as if she was seeing me in a new light. "You truly don't understand what you're facing."

"Maybe not," I admitted. "But neither do they understand what they're facing in me."

Golden energy sparked around my fingertips as I spoke, the divine devouring skill responding to my emotions. Whatever was coming, I would be ready. The mask was under my protection, and I intended to keep it that way—no matter who or what the Frostfall Sanctum sent after me.