《Ascension of the Evil Sect Lord》 Chapter 1: The Librarian and the Curious Incident at Night Kai Feng was a laidback young man in his early twenties with no ambitions. He was happy to lead his life in an ordinary and unexciting way, finding comfort in his daily routine. His greatest joy was reading, and he spent most of his free time buried in books rather than engaging in any physical activities like sports. With a slightly slim build and an unassuming stature, Kai was the type of person who could blend effortlessly into any crowd, rarely drawing attention to himself. Naturally Kai worked as a librarian. His life was a monotonous routine of sorting and cataloging books. One evening, as he was reorganizing a section of the library, his eyes landed on an old manuscript, its worn, fragile pages out of place among the neatly stacked volumes. Curiosity piqued, he picked it up and flipped through its cryptic stanzas of poetry, which seemed meaningless at first glance. Yet, for reasons he couldn¡¯t explain, he kept on reading the book. He wasn¡¯t even particularly interested in its contents¡ªyet something compelled him to continue. Time passed unnoticed. The library had long since closed for the night, leaving him alone in the dimly lit reading room. As he turned to the last page, a soft glow began to emanate from the parchment. The glow intensified until a blinding beam of light shot out, engulfing him completely. Before he could react, his body froze¡ªsuspended in a stasis barrier, unmoving and unresponsive. A portal tore open in the air, revealing two identical young women clad in flowing black ancient garments. They had striking, youthful appearances. Their long, silky black hair cascaded down their backs, accentuating their fair, flawless skin. Their eyes, sharp and captivating, gleamed with a mysterious light¡ªone with a steely, calculating gaze, the other with a playful glint. Despite their beauty, there was an undeniable sense of menace in their poised movements, as if they were both light and shadow, dancing on the edge of battle. They stepped into the library, their faces exude curiosity as they approached the glowing barrier that held Kai. ¡°It has begun,¡± one murmured to the other. Moments later, a second portal shimmered into existence, and two men emerged, their white robes like celestial banners swaying in the air. The older of the two, though not by much, had a commanding presence. His long hair was tied neatly behind him, and his features carried the confidence of experience. The younger man beside him, slightly less seasoned carried himself with disciplined precision. His piercing gaze held a quiet intensity, his stance balanced and poised, ready to strike at any moment. Though he followed his senior''s lead, there was no doubt that he was a formidable force in his own right. Their very presence exuded a sense of righteousness and power. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°We¡¯re too late,¡± one of them said grimly. They stepped forward, preparing to break the stasis barrier, but the two girls immediately moved to intercept them. ¡°Demonic wenches!¡± one of the white-robed men spat, his expression twisted in disdain. A battle erupted. The twin girls, despite their identical appearance, fought with contrasting styles¡ªone unleashing raw energy blasts, while the other wielded a sword with fluid precision. The energy-wielding girl carried no weapon. She conjured a technique called ¡°Shadow Eclipse Wave¡±, sending rippling dark shockwaves through the air. Her opponent countered with ¡°Heaven¡¯s Sundering Light,¡± an explosive beam of radiant Qi that split the darkness in two. The sword-wielding twin moved with ¡°Phantom Mirage Strike¡±, a technique that created a mirage of multiple swords striking from different angles. Her movements so fluid that she seemed to phase in and out of reality. Her opponent countered with ¡°Flowing Cloud Technique¡±. The clash sent sparks flying through the air as their blades met in rapid succession. Recognizing that the twins¡¯ synergy made them far too dangerous together, one of the men called out, ¡°Split them apart!¡± Each took on one of the twins in a furious one-on-one duel. It turned out to be a good strategy as the sword-wielding girl was eventually overpowered, allowing her opponent to turn his attention back to the barrier. Channeling his Qi-infused strikes, he attacked the barrier relentlessly, but the stasis field refused to break. ¡°Together!¡± he called to his companion. Both men combined their most powerful techniques, unleashing a devastating assault upon the barrier. One invoked ¡°Heavenly Starfall Judgment,¡± summoning celestial energy that crashed down like meteors. The other executed ¡°Void Piercing Lance,¡± an attack that concentrated all of his Qi into a single piercing point, meant to shatter the fabric of energy itself. The sheer force of their combined assault caused the ground to quake, the air humming with volatile energy as golden and silver light clashed against the barrier. Books lay scattered as tattered pages fluttered through the air, drifting around the room like snowfall on a winter day. The stasis bubble shuddered violently but did not break. The ancient magic holding Kai remained intact, defying even the most destructive techniques. Kai remained frozen, seemingly oblivious to the chaos unfolding around him. Finally, exhausted, the four combatants ceased their fighting. Realizing they could do nothing, the four warriors lowered their weapons. They sat down, surrounding Kai¡¯s frozen figure encased in the energy bubble, waiting in silence. It was an absurd sight¡ªfour cultivators, locked in a deadly rivalry, now forced to meditate around an ordinary young man trapped in an energy cocoon. Chapter 2: The Old Man and his Mysterious Training Kai Feng had no idea what was happening in the library. Because Kai Feng was no longer there. Cold wind rushed against his skin. Kai gasped, his eyes flying open. He found himself standing atop a mountain peak, surrounded by rolling clouds and endless sky. The air was crisp, charged with an energy he had never felt before. Before him stood a thin old man, his expression mischievous and knowing, his long beard and ancient robes giving him the air of a sage from forgotten times. ¡°You¡¯re finally here,¡± the elder mused, eyes twinkling with amusement. His robes were tattered, his long white beard so long it nearly touched the ground, and his eyes sparkled with an unsettling amount of amusement. ¡°Finally awake, are we?¡± Kai blinked. ¡°Who the hell¡ª¡± Before he could finish, a wooden cane smacked him across the head. WHACK! ¡°OW! What the hell?!¡± ¡°You dare speak to your master like that?!¡± the old man cackled. ¡°No respect! No discipline! Bah!¡± Kai rubbed his head, glaring. ¡°Master?! I don¡¯t even know who you are!¡± The old man ignored him. ¡°Hm. Weak body. No spiritual foundation. No discipline.¡± He sighed dramatically. ¡°Why must fate always send me idiots?¡± Kai took a step back. ¡°Okay, listen, I think there¡¯s been a mistake¡ª¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. WHACK! ¡°NO THINKING!¡± the old man shouted. ¡°JUST TRAINING!¡± And before Kai could even protest, his tough training has began. At first, Kai resisted. He complained. He screamed. He tried to run. But no matter what he did¡ªthe old man was always one step ahead. Every time he refused to train, he got smacked. Sometimes he was kicked down a cliff, only to somehow land back on the mountaintop a second later. Kai kept track of the days by scratching a mark on a big boulder. Days blurred into weeks. Weeks into months. His body, once weak and useless, became sharper, stronger, faster. At first, Kai did nothing but cultivate¡ªmeditation, breathing exercises, and focusing his internal energy. His master instructed him to sense his Qi, guiding it through his meridians, into his palm, arm, and internal organs. Soon, Kai could see the energy itself, his hand enveloped in a glowing aura. His first real test came when he was ordered to direct that energy at a willow tree. The first few attempts barely caused a breeze, but with time, he began to harness his Qi properly, eventually striking the tree with enough force to splinter its bark. From there, his training grew more complex. He was taught to combine his Qi into various attack forms, refining techniques that enhanced both power and efficiency. One day, his master threw a flurry of small stones at him, forcing Kai to react instinctively¡ªhe formed a Qi shield just in time, deflecting them away. Another day, he was required to strike multiple moving targets in succession, learning to manipulate his energy mid-air. At first, Kai grudgingly followed the old man''s orders. As time passed, he found himself enjoying the training. He had nothing better to do in his real life anyway¡ªwhy not learn something new? His body felt stronger, lighter, and more responsive than ever before. His reflexes improved, and he felt healthier than he had in years. And yet, through it all, he never stopped wondering. ¡°Why am I here?¡± ¡°Is this a dream?¡± ¡°If I wake up¡­ will I still remember all of this?¡± The old man only ever smirked. One day, after what felt like three years, the old master finally stood still. ¡°It is time.¡± Kai, exhausted and panting, frowned. ¡°Time for what?¡± ¡°Time for you to go,¡± the old man said. Kai''s gaze fell upon the boulder, he silently counted the etchings¡ªone thousand and ninety five markings. So... it has been three years. It felt like an eternity. As soon as this realization hit, the world began to melt. The sky shattered like glass. And as everything around him faded, the old man grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s see how well you survive, my foolish disciple.¡± Kai gasped, his eyes flying open, revealing the familiar sight of the library once more. The library was exactly as he left it. Kai found himself seated at his desk, exactly where he had been before. But something was different. As his vision cleared, he realized he was surrounded by four strange looking unfamiliar figures, their expressions unreadable. The stasis barrier had vanished, and the air was thick with tension. Kai gulped. What the hell just happened? Chapter 3: The Unwilling Combatant Chapter 3: The Unwilling Combatant Kai glanced at the clock, it read three in the morning. He vaguely remembered that he started reading this at the stroke of midnight. Strange, he thought, it felt like three years have gone by yet only three hours have elapsed. Maybe it was only a dream... Around Kai stood four strangers, their eyes locked onto him like hunters stalking prey. The two are named Liu Yu and Liu Yue, known as the Twin Willows of Jade and Moon. Liu Yue, the quieter and more sensitive of the two, while Liu Yu had a cheerful personality, carrying an air of playful danger. Their dark flowing hair framed their sharp, cunning eyes, and their robes, embroidered with silver and dark runes, hinted at something dangerous about them. The two men were dressed in blinding white robes, radiating an aura of power. The older of the two was Zhao Tianyang, who made a name for himself as the Righteous Blade¡ªhis presence alone exuded righteousness, though his gaze burned with hostility. His companion, Bai Fu, was younger and less experienced, yet still carried himself with confidence, his sharp eyes glinting with ambition. The older of the two men sneered. ¡°Step aside, wretched demons. That book does not belong in the hands of filth like you.¡± The twins whirled around, their playful demeanor replaced by cold fury. ¡°We found him first. The Manual chose him.¡± ¡°That manual belongs to those who serve true righteousness!¡± The second man growled. ¡°Give it to us, or we¡¯ll take it by force.¡± Zhao Tianyang the Righteous Blade scoffed, his sword clanging against the barrier.¡°Foolish demonic witches, do you even know what you¡¯re doing? Surrender now, and your deaths will be swift.¡± Liu Yu smirked.¡°Oh? A ¡®righteous¡¯ dog barking orders? How scary...¡± She mockingly puts a hand on her chest. ¡°Sister, do you hear that? This poor fool thinks he¡¯s a hero!¡± Liu Yue calmly watched.¡°A hero? I only see a butcher who wears white.¡± Bai Fu chuckled darkly.¡°Why bother arguing, senior brother? We take the manual and his head.¡± Liu Yu giggled.¡°His head? Oh, no, no. We want him alive!¡± Liu Yue spoke in a serious tone.¡°But if you insist, we can carve you two up instead.¡± The two men glanced silently at each other and launched towards Kai. Their figures blurred with impossible speed, moving toward him like phantoms of light. Kai froze. There was no time to react. At the last second, the two girls moved. ¡°Get back!¡± They intercepted the men, their blades clashing with a violent explosion of force. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Kai stumbled backward, barely keeping his balance. His heartbeat roared in his ears as a fierce battle unfolded around him. Steel clashed against steel. Dark energy met divine radiance. The twins moved in perfect harmony, their movements like a deadly dance, fending off their attackers with swift, elegant strikes. The ground cracked under the pressure of their blows. Shadows and light danced violently across the stone floor, sparks flying with every collision of weapons. But it was clear. The girls were losing. Kai¡¯s mind reeled. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. He was just a damn librarian! Why were these people fighting around him¡ªover him? One of the white-robed men¡ªhis shoulder-length long hair now wild with fury¡ªstruck past the defenses of the twin on the left. Liu Yue cried out as she was sent flying backward, crashing against a pillar. Her sister darted to defend her, but the other man had already closed the gap. With a brutal palm strike, he sent her sprawling to the floor. Kai¡¯s breath caught. ¡°They¡¯re¡­ losing?¡± The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. He was next. And sure enough¡ª One of the men turned his sharp, merciless gaze toward him. ¡°Enough wasting time.¡± The man lunged, his sword radiating golden energy, surging forward in a vicious killing move. Kai¡¯s world slowed. Time moved like thick honey. He could see every detail¡ªthe terrifying speed, the raw power aimed directly at him. And he felt a foreboding helplessness. He was going to die. But then¡ª His body moved on its own. His arm shot up, palm intercepting the strike in an instant. Boom! The impact sent a shockwave through the air. The attacker¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Kai didn¡¯t just block the attack¡ªsomehow he had deflected it. His fingers twisted instinctively, redirecting the energy, deflecting it with perfect technique. A lost technique. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Zhao Tianyang whispered. ¡°That move¡ªI have not seen anything like it. How could you have learned such a technique? It must be from the manual!¡± Kai¡¯s mind reeled. The manual? What is he talking about? But he had no time to think. The two men came at him together. His instincts kicked in again. Kai¡¯s feet shifted, his body moving on its own. A powerful strike shot forward, slamming into the first man¡¯s chest. A whirl of motion¡ªhe spun, dodging an incoming blade, his leg kicking upward in a fierce counterstrike. Boom! Both men were sent skidding backward, their expressions twisting in shock. Kai stared down at his own hands. What¡­ was that? That wasn¡¯t him. That wasn¡¯t anything he had ever learned. But his body knew exactly what to do. The techniques, the movements¡ªthey were all inside him. His years of training under the old man weren¡¯t a dream. They were real. Zhao Tianyang recovered and leaped back on his feet almost instantly, using the momentum to launch a second attack on Kai. Panicking, Kai attempted the same move but nothing happened. He stared at his palms helplessly and tried again. Zhao Tianyang instinctively ducked but it was just another empty palm. The man smiled.¡°So¡­ you have no control over your powers,¡± he said in mirth, realizing that Kai was just lucky earlier on. He could easily defeat Kai. Zhao Tianyang consolidated his Qi into his sword arm and launched a powerful Qi-infused sword strike that could have easily cut a solid oak tree in half like a knife slicing through butter. Kai winced. Chink! The screech of metal clashing rang out. Liu Yu had reacted in time and used her sword to block the blow aimed at Kai. Her blade snapped upon impact with Zhao Tianyang''s powerful blow, the broken part flew into a bookshelf embedding itself deep into the wood. Liu Yue grabbed Kai¡¯s arm. ¡°No more playing around¡ªwe need to leave!¡± She raised her hand, tracing rapid symbols in the air. A portal began forming, swirling with shadowy mist. Kai hesitated. Should he go with them? These girls don''t exactly look like ¡°good people,¡± but the men in white? They claimed to be good but they had attacked him with a killing move! He glanced at the twins¡ªthey were rather cute. And honestly? If he had to pick between dying at the hands of merciless cultivators or following two dangerous but beautiful women, the choice was obvious. ¡°Screw it.¡± The portal shimmered, reaching completion. The two men recovered quickly and launched themselves at him. Too late. Liu Yu grabbed Kai¡¯s wrist and yanked him forward. The world around him warped and collapsed. The last thing he saw was the furious expressions of the two men as they vanished into the mist. Chapter 4: A Challenge of Fire As Kai crossed over to another realm, he found himself standing before a massive fortress carved into the peak of a dark, foreboding mountain. The structure loomed over him, its jagged towers shrouded in mist, banners of deep black and crimson fluttering in the wind. This was the Obsidian Peak Sect. The grand hall was a vast chamber lined with obsidian pillars, torches casting eerie flickering shadows upon the walls. At the front of the hall, three imposing figures stood, their gazes locked onto Kai. Liu Yue and Liu Yu stepped forward, bowing deeply before them. ¡°This is the one,¡± Liu Yue stated, her voice even. ¡°The bearer of the Celestial Eclipse Manual,¡± Liu Yu added with a smirk. The three elders regarded Kai with a mix of curiosity and reverence before stepping forward to introduce themselves. A towering man with a broad, muscular frame stepped forward, his presence exuded authority. His eyes were sharp like a predator¡¯s, and a long scar ran down his cheek, a mark of countless battles. He was the enforcer of the sect¡¯s laws and the pillar of strength that maintained order. "I am Elder Kong Tianba of the Enforcement Hall also known as the Lion Protector," the Elder spoke in an even voice. A slender, pale woman, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable glint followed next. Dressed in dark robes, she moved with an eerie stillness, as if she could vanish at any moment. She oversaw assassinations, espionage, and intelligence gathering for the sect, making her the most feared and mysterious among the elders. She smiled as she addressed Kai, "My name is Elder Pu Erniang of the Shadow Hall, my worldly name is the Scorpion Revenant". Finally, a weathered warrior with fiery red robes took a step forward, his aura radiated intense heat, making the air around him shimmer. A master of flame-based techniques and combat, he commanded the Crimson Hall, the offensive division of the sect. He was both admired and feared for his unmatched battle prowess. "I am Elder Huo Jue from the Crimson Hall, known as the Dragon Sentinel," the Elder said with an air of authority. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°The prophecy foretold this day,¡± Elder Kong declared. ¡°The one who holds the lost techniques of our sect, the bearer of the Celestial Eclipse Manual, has returned. By the will of our founder, you shall be inducted as the leader of the Obsidian Peak Sect!¡± A murmur swept through the hall. Everyone knelt. A sea of black-robed cultivators bowed in unison, their voices echoing:¡°We pay our respects to the Sect Lord!¡± Kai froze in place, his mind blank.¡°W-wait. What?¡± This had to be a dream. Or maybe a nightmare. One person did not bow. Elder Huo Jue scoffed. His fiery eyes burned with defiance. ¡°This is absurd. This boy¡ªthis outsider¡ªhas done nothing to earn the title of Sect Lord!¡± He turned to Kong Tianba. ¡°A sect leader must be strong. If he cannot even defeat a mere elder, what right does he have to lead us?¡± The crowd whispered in agreement. Elder Pu Erniang smirked. ¡°It is within your right to challenge him.¡± Elder Huo Jue drew his blade, flames coiling around its surface. ¡°Then I, Huo Jue, challenge Kai to a duel!¡± Kai¡¯s stomach dropped. ¡°WHAT?!¡± Liu Yu clapped her hands excitedly. ¡°Oh, this should be fun~¡± Liu Yue sighed. ¡°Try not to die.¡± Kai was terrified. How could someone like him¡ªwho had never fought in his life¡ªdefeat a battle-hardened expert?! The battle began. Blades of fire rained toward him, searing the stone floor as Kai barely dodged. Elder Huo Jue moved like a raging inferno, each strike forcing Kai back. Huo Jue''s voice thundered through the hall. "Let me show you the true might of the Crimson Hall!" He thrust his palm forward, unleashing Scorching Dragon Fang¡ªa blazing Qi construct in the shape of a dragon¡¯s maw snapping toward Kai. Kai rolled out of the way, sweat dripping down his brow from the sheer heat. He barely managed to gather himself when Huo Jue appeared behind him in a flicker of movement, slashing down with Flame Severance Blade. Sparks flew as the flaming sword cut through the air, grazing Kai¡¯s shoulder and burning through his clothes. Kai stumbled, clutching his arm. He had no idea how to counter the Elder''s moves. Every movement from Huo Jue was calculated, relentless. The elder didn¡¯t just attack¡ªhe dominated. Kai had no strategy. No plan. No clue what he was doing. Every attack he threw missed or had no power. And then, Huo Jue¡¯s strongest attack came crashing toward him. "Burn!" Huo Jue roared, forming a massive sphere of fire overhead. He executed Infernal Sun Descent, a technique that condensed pure, concentrated fire Qi into a miniature sun, ready to obliterate anything in its path. Kai¡¯s eyes widened in sheer panic. His body refused to move. Chapter 5: The Truth Behind the Prophecy As the burning sphere descended, an overwhelming instinct took over. Something within him stirred¡ªdeep, ancient knowledge awakened. Kai flinched, throwing up his arms¡ª And then it happened. His breath slowed. The world blurred. His body moved on its own. Kai''s hands traced an unseen pattern, his instincts guiding him as his Qi flared to life. A pulse of black and golden energy surged through his body. "Celestial Eclipse: Obsidian Moon Reversal!" A massive black crescent materialized, slicing through the descending sun. A shockwave rippled outward, extinguishing the flames mid-air, leaving only swirling embers. Boom! A shockwave exploded outward. The flames twisted and vanished, snuffed out by a burst of pure black and golden Qi. The room fell silent. Kai opened his eyes, staring at his hand. What¡­ was that? Elder Huo Jue stumbled back, eyes wide. His fire had been completely neutralized. His grip on his sword tightened. "Impossible¡­ That technique¡­ it''s from the lost arts of the our sect!" He looked at the scorched marks where his flames had been extinguished. He let out a heavy breath, then he knelt. ¡°I concede.¡± The crowd exploded in cheers. Kai had no idea what just happened, but somehow¡ª He had won. As the sect members dispersed, Elder Kong Tianba led Kai to a private chamber, where Liu Yue and Liu Yu joined them. Kong Tianba spoke first. ¡°You must be wondering why this has happened.¡± Kai nodded aggressively. ¡°Yes. Absolutely. One hundred percent.¡± "Percent? Is that a term from the lost techniques? I am not familiar with that word." Kai replied sheepishly, "Nevermind about that." He then straightened and began to explain the history of the sect. ¡°The Obsidian Peak Sect was founded centuries ago when our founder, a legendary cultivator, discovered the Obsidian Peak¡ªan ancient mountain infused with powerful Qi veins. Realizing its potential, he established a fortress at its summit, gathering disciples and developing techniques unique to this land. Thus, the sect was born.¡± Kai listened carefully as Kong continued, ¡°The sect is structured into three great halls, each led by one of the three elders. Below each hall are twelve chapters, scattered across the central plains. Each hall controls four chapters, overseeing different aspects of our sect¡¯s operations.¡± He gestured to himself, ¡°The Enforcement Hall, which I lead, ensures order and maintains discipline.¡± Then, toward Pu Erniang, ¡°The Shadow Hall specializes in intelligence, assassination, and covert operations.¡± Finally, toward Huo Jue, ¡°The Crimson Hall is our strongest offensive force, housing our most powerful combatants.¡± Kong¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°After our founder¡¯s passing, the sect was left without a leader. The three elders, each strong in their own right, were constantly at odds, unable to gain the upper hand over one another. This power struggle left the sect divided for decades.¡± He sighed. ¡°But I knew that this division would only lead to our downfall. That¡¯s why I sought answers. Our founder left behind a prophecy, one that spoke of a chosen successor¡ªthe one who would wield the Celestial Eclipse Manual and master its techniques.¡± Liu Yue spoke next, ¡°We spent years following clues, searching for any trace of the manual. Eventually, our investigations led us to the mortal realm.¡± Liu Yu grinned. ¡°And guess what? We found you~¡± Kong nodded. ¡°You were discovered just in time, and so we brought you back here. To lead.¡± Kai was astounded. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t fit this prophecy. I¡¯m just an ordinary librarian!¡± Kong frowned slightly. ¡°Librarian?¡± Kai sighed. ¡°I took care of books.¡± Kong Tianba chuckled. ¡°Then consider this fate. The keeper of knowledge shall now be the keeper of power.¡± Kai groaned. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make me a leader.¡± Kong Tianba leaned forward. ¡°You will learn. And we will guide you.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Kai, still overwhelmed, hesitated before asking another question. "I noticed that many members like dressing in black and some look really intimidating... Is this¡­ an evil sect?" Elder Kong Tianba raised an eyebrow before giving a short chuckle. "That depends on who you ask." He leaned back and continued, "Unlike many so-called righteous sects, we have an open policy for recruitment. Most orthodox sects take in only disciples from noble backgrounds or those with exceptional talent. We take in anyone who has the potential to grow. Naturally, this means we attract¡­ a variety of individuals." His expression darkened slightly. "As our sect grew, some members began to act as they pleased, flouting rules and engaging in less savory activities. The so-called righteous sects took notice and used it to paint us as evil. Jealous, no doubt, of our influence and numbers." Kong smirked, eyes gleaming with amusement. "But tell me, Kai¡ªdoes that sound like an ''evil sect'' to you?" Kai wasn''t sure what to say. Kong continued, "There is no single direction guiding us toward ''evil,'' if that''s what you''re asking. We simply do not concern ourselves with the approval of self-proclaimed righteous sects." Feeling a little uncomfortable, Kai changes the topic ¡°I''ve heard the term Cultivation many times now. What are the mechanics?¡± Elder Kong Tianba frowned. "Mechanics? I am unfamiliar with this term. But if you are asking about the path of cultivation, then listen well." ¡°Qi is the lifeforce energy that permeates all living things. It is the foundation of cultivation techniques, the force that separates mortals from those who walk the path of power. The stronger one¡¯s Qi, the closer they are to immortality and divinity. A cultivator¡¯s entire journey is defined by their ability to absorb, refine, and wield Qi efficiently.¡± He continued, "Qi is not limited to combat. It can strengthen the body, enhance martial techniques, enable Lightness Skills for movement, and even be used for healing crafts. Mastering Qi is mastering one¡¯s existence." ¡°To the best of my knowledge, there exist four great realms, yet I am certain that many more lie beyond our understanding.¡± ¡°The Mortal Realm is the world of your origin, where technology has taken the place of cultivation due to the absence of Qi refinement.¡± ¡°This realm is known as the Ascendant Realm, a land where true cultivators thrive¡ªa world dominated by sects, ancient clans, and martial supremacy.¡± ¡°Beyond it lies the Divine Realm, the highest plane of existence, where only legendary immortals ascend after transcending their mortal limitations.¡± ¡°Lastly, there is the Nether Realm, a dark abyss ruled by chaos, where demons and corrupted cultivators dwell, wielding forbidden power.¡± He then began to outline the Nine Stages of Cultivation, each step marking a cultivator¡¯s arduous journey toward immortality. ¡°The first stage is Qi Initiation¡ªthe moment a cultivator awakens their senses to the flow of Qi in the world, learning to draw it into their body for the first time. It is a fragile state, where one must grasp the essence of energy before true cultivation can begin. Next comes Qi Refinement, where the body is strengthened, and the raw energy gathered is purified into a usable force. Many falter here, unable to endure the grueling process of internal tempering, their foundations forever incomplete. Beyond that is Foundation Establishment, the first true step toward power. At this stage, a cultivator stabilizes their meridians, forging internal Qi pathways strong enough to withstand greater energy flow. With a firm foundation, one can aspire to greater heights¡ªwithout it, their cultivation is doomed to collapse. Then, there is Core Formation. Here, the cultivator condenses all their refined Qi into a solid core within their dantian, forming the very heart of their power. This core amplifies their strength and unlocks deeper techniques, separating common martial artists from true cultivators. True power begins at Nascent Soul. At this stage, the cultivator gives birth to a spiritual avatar within themselves¡ªa miniature version of their soul, capable of independent thought and action. From this point on, their mastery over Qi reaches new heights, and their lifespan extends far beyond mortal limits. Yet even the Nascent Soul is but a stepping stone. The Soul Ascension stage follows, where one¡¯s control over their spirit becomes absolute. At this level, a cultivator can project their consciousness outward, manipulate energy with mere thought, and exist in both the physical and ethereal planes. All cultivation roads ultimately lead to Transcendence Tribulation. It is the heavens¡¯ judgment, a test that no mortal can escape. When a cultivator reaches this stage, divine lightning descends, flames from the void roar, and reality itself bends against them. It is the greatest challenge, where countless prodigies have perished, their dreams reduced to ashes. Those who pass shall ascend to the divine Realm as immortals. ¡°Cultivators who succumb to corruption, consumed by power and vengeance, inevitably enter the Nether Realm through Demonic Ascension instead. Though feared across all realms, demonic cultivators wield strength beyond mortal comprehension. Yet, few who tread this path retain their sanity¡ªmost are devoured by the very darkness they embrace.¡± He paused, his gaze piercing as he concluded, ¡°This is the path of cultivation¡ªthe ascent to divinity or the plunge into damnation.¡± Kai grew contemplative. In the Mortal Realm, countless philosophies had mentioned about the the existence of heaven and hell, moral dualities that mirrored the Divine and Nether Realms. Were these merely mortal interpretations of these higher realms? The realms could be perceived as separate dimensions, yet the very concept of cultivation suggested progression¡ªa structured ascension from one existence to the next. But what of the countless mortals who never embarked on this path? So many mortals living in the Mortal Realm had lived their entire without stepping beyond their world. Taking a deep breath, Kai tried to steady his thoughts. ¡°So where do I stand?¡± Kong¡¯s gaze grew sharper, unreadable. ¡°Your case is¡­ abnormal.¡± He continued, "Normally, a cultivator only learns techniques they can handle at their level. Even if they obtain advanced manuals, their body simply cannot harness the power." He exhaled. "But you are different. Your cultivation level is only at Qi Refinement, yet the Celestial Eclipse Manual has already imparted the techniques of the highest level to you." Kai paled. "So I skipped the tutorial and went straight to the first level boss??" Kong frowned. "...I do not understand those words, but yes. Your body is like a small vessel, it is not able to hold much Qi." He gestured toward Kai¡¯s hands. "Without a Core, which is only developed at a later stage, your Qi reserve is too small to wield the Celestial Eclipse techniques at will. That is why they only activate when your life is in danger¡ªyour survival instinct forcefully condenses your Qi, allowing you to momentarily unleash immense power. But this is unsustainable and dangerous." Kai exhaled. "So what can I do?" Kong¡¯s voice was firm. "You must train. You need to increase the size of your qi vessel by strengthening your cultivation base. Without proper Qi circulation, your power is nothing but uncontrolled bursts." He placed a hand on Kai¡¯s shoulder. "I will impart to you the sect¡¯s meditation techniques. Through them, you will learn to absorb, refine, and condense Qi, stabilizing your power. Only then will you become worthy of the title Sect Lord of the Obsidian Peak Sect." Kai groaned. "Great. Homework." Liu Yu giggled. "Look on the bright side, Sect Leader, if you fail, we¡¯ll just watch you get beaten up again." Kai sighed. Chapter 6: The Cave of Trials The mountain cave was cold, damp, and utterly dark. Han Long¡¯s fists were raw, his knuckles split and bleeding from pounding the rock walls. A dim light shining through a crevice of the cave entrance illuminated his anguished face, his jaw clenched tight, eyes blazing with stubborn resolve. He was trapped. The cave¡¯s entrance was blocked by a massive boulder, immovable despite his every effort. He had tried everything¡ªpushing, kicking¡ªbut nothing worked. How did I end up here? The last thing he remembered was walking through the mountain pass, searching for medicinal herbs. The jade pendant that he had worn around his neck started to glow with a pale green light. As he glanced at the glowing pendant, its surface swirled with faint green energy. It felt warm against his skin, pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, and then he was here¡ªin this cursed cave. His head throbbed. His body was sore and bruised. He had been punching, kicking, and screaming for hours, but the boulder hadn¡¯t budged. A voice echoed from deep within the cave, its tone cold and commanding: ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Han¡¯s body tensed. The voice was deep, authoritative¡ªfilled with power and disdain. It seemed to come from the cave itself, reverberating through the cave walls. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Show yourself!¡± Han¡¯s voice was hoarse, but he kept his stance firm. His body was battered, but his spirit was unyielding. A shadowy figure materialized before him, floating in mid-air. It was a man¡ªtall and imposing, he was decked in battle armor, his face stern and unforgiving. A long scar ran down his left eye, and his gaze was as cold as ice. ¡°You do not need to know who I am,¡± the figure announced, his voice echoing like thunder. ¡°Prove yourself worthy or die in this cave.¡± Han¡¯s eyes widened. Prove himself? ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Han demanded, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how I got here! Let me out!¡± The figure before him didn¡¯t flinch. Its gaze, cold and unreadable, bore into him like a judge passing sentence. ¡°Weak. Pathetic. And yet you dare call yourself a warrior?¡± Han¡¯s chest tightened at the words, though he refused to show it. He had always been alone, never knowing the warmth of family or the faces of his parents. Survival had been his only teacher¡ªscavenging scraps, hunting in the wild when hunger gnawed at his ribs. As he grew, he had learned to fight, not through formal training, but by watching, mimicking, adapting. He became a wandering fighter, taking part in brutal matches for coin, enduring pain, and clawing his way to victory. A warrior? He had earned that title with blood and sweat. His jaw tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t need to prove anything to you.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The figure remained still, its voice like the rumble of distant thunder. ¡°Then leave. The path is before you. But if you seek freedom, you must earn it. Defeat your enemies. Shatter the boulder. Only then will you be worthy to carry my legacy.¡± A deep tremor rolled through the cave, shaking the ground beneath Han¡¯s feet. The stone split, fissures racing like veins of a living beast. The walls groaned, shifting as if the cavern itself were awakening from a slumber. Then came the shadows. They slithered and stretched, twisting into monstrous forms, their glowing red eyes burning like embers in the abyss. From the darkness, three creatures emerged. The first was a Shadow Panther, its sleek body rippling like liquid night, each step fluid and silent, as though it was a whisper of death itself. Its claws, black as obsidian, gleamed under the dim cave light, ready to strike in an instant. The second, a Blood Wolf, bared its fangs, hunger burning in its crimson gaze. Drool dripped from its snarling maw, sizzling as it touched the ground. Its thick fur bristled with aggression, every muscle tensed, coiled like a spring ready to unleash devastation. Last came the Stone Ape, towering above the others, its muscles bulging beneath a thick hide that looked as unyielding as the cavern itself. Its fists, massive as boulders, clenched and unclenched, each movement causing the earth to tremble. They circled him, their growls low and guttural, reverberating through the cave like a death knell. Their eyes gleamed with bloodlust, fixed on Han with an eerie intelligence. This was no mindless hunger¡ªthis was the hunt. And he was their prey. ¡°Survive or perish,¡± the figure said coldly, fading into mist. Han¡¯s body moved on instinct. Years of training kicked in. He dropped into a fighting stance, his legs bent, fists clenched. His eyes darted between the three beasts, calculating his chances. Three against one. No weapons. Injured and exhausted. Great. The Shadow Panther lunged first, its body blurring into a streak of darkness. Han twisted his body, dodging by a hair¡¯s breadth. Its claws sliced through the air, narrowly missing his neck. Before he could catch his breath, the Blood Wolf charged, its jaws wide open. Han leapt backward, his back hitting the cave wall. No room to maneuver. The Stone Ape roared, slamming its fists into the ground. The cave shook, stones falling from the ceiling. Han¡¯s eyes widened. If I stay defensive, I¡¯ll die. A memory surfaced¡ªhis master¡¯s voice: ¡°A cornered wolf fights with everything it has. Strike before you¡¯re struck.¡± His eyes hardened. No more running. With a burst of energy, Han charged forward. The Shadow Panther leapt at him, but he ducked low, his fist slamming into its abdomen. The beast howled, fading into black mist. One down. The Blood Wolf pounced, aiming for his throat. Han spun to the side, his elbow smashing into its snout. It whimpered but retaliated, claws raking across his arm. Blood sprayed. Pain flared, but Han didn¡¯t stop. He gritted his teeth, swinging his leg in a roundhouse kick, sending the Blood Wolf crashing into the cave wall. It shattered into red mist. Two down. The Stone Ape roared in rage, charging with earth-shattering speed. Han could feel the force radiating from its body. Too strong to block. He dodged sideways, barely avoiding the Ape¡¯s crushing fists. The ground cracked, debris flying. It¡¯s too strong. I need to use speed. Han focused his energy, he felt power coursing through his veins, his body becoming lighter, faster. Shadow Step. His form blurred, moving faster than the eye could see. He appeared behind the Stone Ape, his fists coated in green energy. ¡°Falling Leaf Strike!¡± he shouted, his fists crashing into the Ape¡¯s spine. The creature roared, its body crumbling to dust. All three are gone. Han collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. His arms throbbed with pain, blood dripping from his wounds. But he was alive. He had won. The figure reappeared, his eyes colder than before. ¡°Barely adequate. You survived, but that was merely the beginning. If you wish to leave, you must grow stronger¡ªstrong enough to break the boulder with your fists.¡± Han¡¯s eyes widened. Break the boulder? With my bare hands? ¡°Survive the fights and master your power, and only then shall you be free.¡± Han¡¯s heart sank. How many fights would it take? The cave walls shifted again, shadows forming more beasts¡ªlarger, stronger, more ferocious than before. ¡°Your training begins now.¡± The figure vanished, leaving Han surrounded by monsters. Han stood up, his body trembling but his eyes filled with fire. Be it one day or eighty years, he would survive. ¡°I¡¯ll break this damn boulder. Even if it takes me a lifetime.¡± The beasts roared, rushing at him. Han charged back, fists blazing with green energy. Chapter 7: The Relentless Trials Han Long stood on shaking legs, his body drenched in sweat and blood. His vision blurred as he struggled to remain conscious, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Before him, a mountain of shattered rock and dust lay scattered¡ªthe remains of the beasts he had just slain. But the trials were far from over. ¡°You survived. Barely,¡± the figure¡¯s voice echoed, cold and disdainful. ¡°But survival alone is not enough. You must grow stronger¡ªstrong enough to shatter this cave¡¯s barrier and escape.¡± ¡°Break the barrier?¡± Han gritted his teeth, his legs wobbling. ¡°With my fists? That¡¯s impossible!¡± The Avatar¡¯s eyes narrowed, his expression like chiseled stone. ¡°Weak words from a weak fighter. If you cannot break the boulder, you will die here.¡± Before Han could utter a single word of protest, the shadows around him twisted like living smoke, writhing and stretching into grotesque forms. The air grew thick with an eerie energy, pulsing as if the cave itself had become a living nightmare. Then, from the darkness, they emerged. First, a pair of glowing crimson eyes. Then another. And another. The numbers multiplied¡ªten¡­ twenty¡­ too many to count. Shadow Panthers prowled the edges of the cavern, their sleek bodies flickering like phantoms, slipping in and out of the darkness as though they were part of it. Blood Wolves stood snarling, their fangs long and jagged, dripping with a thick, venomous saliva that sizzled as it touched the ground. Their eyes burned with hunger, muscles coiled and ready to strike. And then came the Stone Apes¡ªtowering, monstrous creatures with bodies like carved rock. Their fists, large as millstones, clenched and unclenched, capable of pulverizing boulders with a single blow. Han¡¯s breath came in shallow bursts. His instincts screamed at him to move, to run, but there was nowhere to go. The beasts had formed a deadly perimeter, sealing him in like prey in a hunter¡¯s trap. Then, the voice¡ªcold, merciless. ¡°Survive¡­ or perish.¡± The figure before him dissolved into mist, vanishing as though he had never been there. The beasts roared in unison, the sound shaking the cave walls. They charged at him, eyes filled with bloodlust. There¡¯s no escape. Han¡¯s legs tensed, his muscles screaming in pain, but he forced himself to hold his stance. If he was going to die, he would die fighting. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The Shadow Panthers attacked first, their bodies blurring with incredible speed. Han¡¯s instincts screamed as he dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding claws that could slice through steel. The second Panther appeared behind him, fangs bared. Too fast! He twisted his body, his elbow smashing into its face. The beast howled, bursting into black mist. The Blood Wolves lunged, moving as a pack. Han leapt upwards, twisting in mid-air, his legs spinning. ¡°Falling Leaf Kick!¡± His kick sliced through the air, his energy infused with the Qi that he circulated. Three wolves shattered in one move, but the others retaliated, claws raking across his back. Pain flared. Han stumbled, blood spraying. He gritted his teeth, his vision blurring. If I slow down, I die. The Stone Apes charged next, their massive fists slamming the ground. Shockwaves rippled through the cave floor, nearly knocking Han off his feet. He focused his energy, his body blurring as he used Shadow Step, dodging left and right. His fists coated in green light as he drove them into the Apes¡¯ chests. ¡°Heavenly Destruction Fist!¡± Two Apes crumbled into stone, but the rest kept coming. No end in sight. Han¡¯s body screamed in pain, exhaustion setting in. He could feel his energy draining. ¡°Too slow,¡± the figure¡¯s voice taunted. ¡°Too weak.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Han roared, his anger igniting his energy. His body glowed with green light, power flooding his limbs. He charged forward, his fists moving faster than before. One beast after another fell, each strike more powerful, more precise. But his body couldn¡¯t keep up. His muscles tore, bones creaking under the pressure. Blood dripped from his mouth. ¡°Faster! Stronger!¡± The figure¡¯s voice echoed, but his face showed no mercy. ¡°You are weak. You are pathetic. How can you expect to break the barrier when you can barely survive a few beasts?¡± Han¡¯s heart raced. I have to get out. I have to survive. But his body was breaking. His vision darkened, his limbs feeling like lead. Am I going to die here? The beasts closed in, jaws snapping, claws gleaming. Han could barely lift his arms. His eyes glowed with green light as his aura exploded, the cave shaking under his presence. The beasts froze, their crimson eyes flickering. Han took a step forward, his body moving faster than before. His form blurred, his fists becoming shadows. ¡°Heavenly Destruction Fist!¡± His punch shattered the ground, a shockwave rippling through the cave. Beasts exploded into mist, their cries echoing as they vanished. One by one, they fell. Panthers, Wolves, Apes¡ªall destroyed. The cave fell silent. Han stood in the center, his body still glowing with green light. He could feel the power coursing through him, his body stronger, faster, more resilient. But something was wrong. The power felt¡­ hungry. Ruthless. The figure reappeared, his lips curving into a cold smile. ¡°Good. You¡¯ve tasted it, haven¡¯t you? The power that lies dormant within you.¡± Han¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What¡­ what did you do to me?¡± The figure¡¯s smile widened. ¡°You awakened the power that has always been within you.¡± Han¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He looked down at his hands, still glowing with energy. The power was intoxicating. ¡°This is only the beginning,¡± the Avatar continued, his voice echoing. ¡°You need more training to master this power. Only then can you shatter the barrier and escape this cave.¡± Han¡¯s fists clenched. More pain, suffering, and battle. But if that was the price of survival, then he would pay it. ¡°I don¡¯t care what it takes,¡± he said, his eyes burning with resolve. ¡°I will escape. I will become stronger.¡± The figure¡¯s eyes gleamed with approval. ¡°Very well. Let us continue.¡± The shadows twisted again, forming even stronger beasts¡ªtheir eyes glowing with malice. They roared, charging at him. Han charged back, his fists blazing with Qi. His battle for survival had only just begun. Chapter 8: The Final Obstacle Han stood before the massive boulder, its surface jagged and unyielding, a final obstacle that separated him from true freedom. His hands curled into fists, raw from the battles he had endured within the cave. Every fiber of his being, every muscle honed through eight years of relentless combat, burned with a singular purpose. He closed his eyes. He could still feel the weight of those years¡ªthe Shadow Panthers lunging from the darkness, the Blood Wolves tearing at his flesh, the Stone Apes raining down blows heavy enough to crush bone. He had fought, survived, and risen above them all. Now, there was only one opponent left. Han exhaled, grounding himself. His energy surged, coiling like a raging storm within his core. He bent his knees, fingers tightening into a stance that had become second nature. This was not just a strike. This was everything he had become. With a roar that shook the air, Han launched forward. His foot slammed against the earth, propelling him like a spear. The power of his movement sent a shockwave through the ground as he twisted his body, every ounce of his strength converging into a single, devastating blow. His fist met the boulder. A deafening crack split the air as the force of his strike rippled through the stone. The impact wasn¡¯t just physical¡ªit carried the weight of his battles, his pain, his unyielding will. The boulder trembled, fissures spiderwebbing across its surface. Then¡ªBOOM! The entire rock shattered, fragments exploding in all directions, reduced to nothing but dust and rubble. The cave echoed with the sound of destruction, the final remnants of his final trial crumbling before him. Han straightened, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. He stared at the empty space where the boulder once stood, then at his own hands, fingers still tingling with the remnants of his unleashed power. He had done it. He hadn¡¯t just shattered a rock. He had shattered the limits of the man he once was. His body ached with a deep, bone-deep exhaustion, but beneath that, a newfound power surged through his veins. Every muscle felt honed, every movement instinctive¡ªhe had trained, fought, and survived what seemed like long drawn grueling years within that dark abyss. As Han stepped out of the cave, the blinding sunlight forced him to squint. His surroundings shifted and he seemed to have been transported to where he was before ending up inside the cave. Something seemed off. The world outside hadn¡¯t changed. The trees still swayed gently in the same positions as when he had first entered the cave. The air smelled the same, crisp and unbothered by the passage of time. Even the embers of the small fire he had left nearby still smoldered, barely burned down. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His hands trembled as he picked up a branch, feeling the familiar roughness of the bark. When he had entered the cave, it had been morning. Now, the sun hovered just past midday. He scanned the sky, his breath hitching. His honed tracking instincts confirmed that a mere eight hours had elapsed. Disbelief clenched in his chest, a pressure that refused to ease. His fingers found the jade pendant resting against his skin, its cool surface a sharp contrast to the heat surging through him. He had stumbled upon it while foraging for food in the forest, its faint glow catching his eye as it lay half-buried in a tangle of long grass. It had looked valuable, so Han had slipped it around his neck on a whim, intending to sell it once he returned to town. But now¡ªhow? What kind of power did this pendant hold? He had lived through countless battles, fought, bled, and endured the trials of the cave. He had hunted, subdued, and survived against beasts beyond imagination. His body bore the scars¡ªetched reminders of every battle, every wound. His mind, once untrained, now carried the instincts of a seasoned warrior, sharpened like a blade honed to perfection. And yet¡ªtime itself had betrayed him. His gaze flickered to his reflection in a nearby pool of water. The boy who had entered the cave¡ªa wiry, unseasoned fighter was gone. What stared back at him was a man. His face was different¡ªhardened, battle-worn. The once-youthful sharpness of his features had been chiseled into something fiercer, a face sculpted by hardship and survival. His jaw was more defined, his cheekbones prominent, his skin darkened and weathered, eight years of battle that had only taken eight hours outside. He had not aged but the signs of the training made their marks on his appearance. His hair, which had been short and neat, was now wild, unkempt, streaked with dirt and dried blood. Strands clung to his forehead, damp with sweat. His once-lean frame had transformed¡ªhis shoulders broader, his arms corded with muscle, every inch of his body honed for combat. Scars, fresh and old, laced his forearms, each one a testament to the beasts he had subdued. His eyes, once burning with youthful defiance, now held the gaze of a warrior¡ªsharp and unyielding. The innocence of inexperience was gone. What remained was the hardened steel of a man who had endured hardship and survived. The realization sent a chill down his spine. Whatever force had governed that place¡­ it had tempered him, reforged him. A sharp pain lanced through Han¡¯s chest, sudden and unnatural. His breath hitched, and his hand shot up to his collarbone, fingers grazing his skin. A thin, purplish-black line ran along his veins, barely visible beneath his flesh. It pulsed faintly, snaking down from his neck to his arms, spreading through his body like ink seeping into water. The same cold haunting voice from the figure in the cave echoed within him. ¡°A reminder of your purpose. You have been administered the Shadow Venom Curse. It will remain within you, invading your arteries with each passing day. Should you fail your mission, it will consume you.¡± Han¡¯s fists clenched. The weight of the statement pressed down on him, cold and suffocating. He had survived that hellish cave¡ªonly to emerge shackled by death once more. He lifted his sleeve, watching as the ominous black veins traced faint pathways beneath his skin. They were slow-moving now, confined to his upper body. But he understood the implication¡ªthey would spread. He exhaled sharply, steeling himself. The voice returned, its tone unyielding. ¡°Go forth and fulfill your first quest. Succeed¡­ or die.¡± His jaw tightened. He had no choice. Either he completed the mission, or the poison would claim him. Han exhaled, steadying his pulse. He had faced death before. He had conquered beasts, endured the abyss, shattered his limits. This would be no different. His path was clear. With one final glance at the purplish-black veins threading through his skin, Han took his first step forward. Chapter 9: A Failed Mission Nestled amidst a vast bamboo grove, where golden sunlight filtered through the emerald canopy, the Heavenly Radiance Sect stood as a beacon of righteousness in the cultivation world. Known far and wide for its unyielding pursuit of justice, the sect saw itself as the guiding light in an age of turmoil. Founded centuries ago by Sage Yun Guang, a cultivator revered for his wisdom and unparalleled mastery of purity-based techniques, the sect followed a strict doctrine of purity in heart and actions. Their ultimate goal was enlightenment¡ªto transcend mortal desires and ascend to divinity through righteous deeds and unwavering discipline. To the world, the sect represented order, morality, and honor. Their disciples were trained not only in martial techniques but in philosophy, governance, and ethics¡ªfor they saw themselves as protectors of the weak and arbiters of justice. However, while they preached righteousness, the sect was not without its flaws. They viewed evil sects and unorthodox cultivators as threats to be eliminated. Their version of justice was absolute, often leaving no room for mercy or redemption. Those who opposed their ideals, or simply walked a different path, were deemed heretics, demons, or corrupted souls. In the Grand Hall of the Heavenly Radiance Sect, a towering chamber of white jade pillars and golden tapestries, two figures knelt before an imposing throne. Zhao Tianyang and Bai Fu, their robes still stained from battle, kept their heads lowered in shame. Before them sat Shen Zhenhai, the revered Grandmaster of Heavenly Radiance Sect. A man of profound experience, Shen Zhenhai had cultivated for decades and was revered as a paragon of virtue. His long silver hair was tied neatly behind him, his face lined with the wisdom of years. His piercing gaze burned with righteous fire. Draped in the flowing white and gold robes of his sect, he exuded unshakable confidence and authority. His voice, when he finally spoke, was calm yet thunderous, filled with the weight of absolute conviction. ¡°You have failed.¡± Zhao Tianyang gritted his teeth. ¡°Sect Master, the demonic sect had already laid claim to the manual before we could intervene. They fought fiercely, and¡­¡± Shen Zhenhai raised a hand, and silence fell. ¡°Do you think righteousness requires excuses?¡± His eyes bore into them, cold and unwavering. ¡°Do you believe the heavens will tolerate failure in the face of evil?¡± Bai Fu swallowed hard. ¡°Sect Master, we¡ª¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Enough.¡± Shen Zhenhai¡¯s fingers drummed lightly against the armrest of his seat, his mind already working through his next move. He would not allow the Celestial Eclipse Manual to remain in the hands of an evil sect. It was a divine artifact, meant to be wielded by those with pure hearts and righteous will. His gaze flickered toward an attendant. ¡°Summon Yin Shuang.¡± With a flick of his sleeve, he dismissed the two, sentencing them to twenty-four days of meditation and reflection¡ªa lesson in discipline. After some time, Yin Shuang entered the hall. A young woman of delicate features and a quiet presence, she neither commanded attention nor sought it. Some would consider her pleasing in appearance, yet she lacked the dazzling radiance of other beauties. Instead, she exuded a subtle, melancholic air, her expression always calm, detached and unreadable. She wore the sect uniform plainly, without adornments, her movements precise and disciplined. Despite her lowly status as a mere outer disciple, there was something controlled about her presence¡ªlike a blade that had yet to be unsheathed. She knelt before Shen Zhenhai. ¡°Disciple Yin Shuang greets the Sect Master.¡± Shen Zhenhai regarded her for a moment. ¡°This is regarding the evil sect Obsidian Peak Sect. Are you aware that they have stolen a sacred artifact¡ªthe Celestial Eclipse Manual.¡± ¡°Yes, Sect Master.¡± He continued, ¡°I am assigning you a mission of great importance.¡± She did not flinch. ¡°I will carry out the sect¡¯s will.¡± Shen Zhenhai allowed himself a small smile. ¡°Good. You will infiltrate the Obsidian Peak Sect. You are unknown to them. Unlike others, your presence will not draw suspicion.¡± He stood, stepping down from his throne and walking toward her. ¡°Your task is to steal back the Celestial Eclipse Manual. And should you find an opportunity¡­¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°Eliminate their so-called sect leader.¡± For the first time, Yin Shuang blinked in slight surprise. ¡°Eliminate?¡± Shen Zhenhai lifted a hand, and an attendant stepped forward, presenting a small wooden box with some intricate mechanisms. He opened it, revealing a row of thin, silver needles¡ªeach gleaming with a faint, ominous glow. ¡°These are the Flying Star Needles. They can be concealed within your sleeves and fired with the flick of a wrist.¡± He gestured for her to observe. ¡°The mechanism is here¡ªsimply press this point, and the needles will release in an instant.¡± Yin Shuang studied the weapon with quiet precision. Shen Zhenhai¡¯s tone grew heavier. ¡°They are coated with a poison that paralyzes upon contact. Even the strongest cultivator will be rendered helpless.¡± He met her gaze. ¡°The sect leader of the Obsidian Peak Sect is an incompetent fool. He lacks cultivation and has likely never wielded a blade in his life. Strike when he least expects it, and he will fall like an unworthy pretender.¡± A long pause. Then Shen Zhenhai smiled, a benevolent, fatherly smile. ¡°Succeed, and you shall be greatly rewarded.¡± Yin Shuang lowered her head. ¡°I understand.¡± Shen Zhenhai¡¯s voice took on a pious tone, as if delivering divine judgment. ¡°Justice must be carried out. One does not need to speak of righteousness when dealing with demons.¡± He turned his back to her. ¡°Go, and return with the manual.¡± Yin Shuang rose, her expression unchanged. ¡°As you command.¡± With that, she turned and left the grand hall, disappearing into the corridors of the Heavenly Radiance Sect. Shen Zhenhai watched her go, eyes gleaming with conviction. ¡°Righteousness shall prevail.¡± Chapter 10: A Past Bathed in Blood As Yin Shuang walked through the long, quiet corridors of the Heavenly Radiance Sect, her mind drifted to the past¡ªa past she had pieced together from the words of others, for she had been too young to remember it herself. She was the sole survivor of the Azure Cloud Sect, a once-thriving sect that had been utterly annihilated by the Obsidian Peak Sect when she was just an infant. Though she had no memory of the massacre, the stories of ruthless slaughter, burning temples, and mountains of corpses had been drilled into her since childhood. The Grandmaster of Heavenly Radiance Sect, Shen Zhenhai, had taken her in out of pity. He had been a fellow disciple of her mother, a woman of great virtue and skill. When he learned of the Azure Cloud Sect¡¯s demise, he had claimed her as a ward of his sect, raising her within its walls as a lowly disciple. But even under the protection of the sect, life had not been kind. Growing up, Yin Shuang had never truly belonged. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Though she bore the name of a once-respected sect, it only served as a reminder of her orphaned status. The other disciples whispered behind her back, mocking her as the "orphan girl," the "stray kitty" or worse, a "cursed survivor." She was bullied, ostracized, and made to feel like an outsider. Some accused her of bringing bad luck to the sect, while others praised Master Shen¡¯s kindness toward her, believing she had done nothing to deserve his favor. She learned to keep her head down, to endure and to remain unseen. Friendships? She had none. Trust was just a foolish concept. The only solace she found was in training, in sharpening her skills, in proving to herself that she could be something more than the weak orphan they thought she was. Now, she finally had a chance to prove it. This mission was more than a duty¡ªit was an opportunity. If she succeeded, she would finally gain respect, acknowledgment, and a place within the sect. More than that, it was a chance to strike a blow against the very people who had destroyed her family and her sect. Yin Shuang¡¯s fingers tightened around the concealed mechanism of the Flying Star Needles. She would not fail. As she stepped beyond the walls of the Heavenly Radiance Sect, the path before her was uncertain. But one thing was clear in her mind¡ª She would have her revenge. Chapter 11: The Secret of the Manual Late at night, Kai sat alone in his chambers, staring at the flickering candlelight. The grand halls of the Obsidian Peak Sect were silent, yet Kai felt anything but safe. Since his arrival in this world, he had been surrounded by danger and uncertainty. Assassination attempts, duels, and the expectations of leading a sect filled with scheming factions¡ªall weighed heavily on him. ¡°How long can I really survive here?¡± he muttered to himself. Back in his world, the most dangerous thing he faced was paper cuts and the occasional angry patron. Now, any moment could be his last¡ªwhether by the hands of his own sect members, who likely resented him, or the orthodox sects, who saw him as an enemy. Kai¡¯s fingers tapped restlessly against the Celestial Eclipse Manual lying on the table before him. His mind wandered to the possibility of escaping. Could he find a way back to his world? Could he abandon this place before it was too late? But how? And what even brought him here in the first place? Sighing, he opened the Celestial Eclipse Manual and flipped through its pages. As expected, the words remained cryptic and unreadable, just as they had been the fateful night he found it in the library. He recalled his conversation with Elder Kong about cultivation levels and how strength was determined in this world. ¡°I wonder what cultivation level Elder Kong is¡­¡± he mumbled absentmindedly. Then, something impossible happened. The ink on the pages trembled. The symbols shifted, rearranging themselves as though they were alive. A soft glow emanated from the parchment. Kai¡¯s breath hitched. He had seen a lot of strange things since arriving in this world, but this? This was something else entirely. Then, words appeared before his eyes. Kong Tianba Cultivation Level: Nascent Soul (Mid Stage) Strength Rating: 87 Speed Rating: 72 Techniques: Obsidian Lion Fist (Attack Type) ¨C A devastating close-combat technique that generates shockwaves. Mountain Crushing Palm (Attack Type) ¨C A powerful strike that can split boulders in two. Dark Iron Body (Defense Type) ¨C Enhances physical resilience, making the user impervious to most blade strikes. Kai stared at the text, his mind racing. This is¡­ like a game stat screen. A magical stat screen. At the bottom of the page, a new line formed: Would you like to see his other techniques? Kai hesitated, then muttered, ¡°Yes.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The words shifted again, unveiling even more hidden details about Elder Kong¡¯s abilities. Techniques, weaknesses, areas of expertise¡ªeverything was laid bare before him. Kai leaned forward, heart pounding. This book wasn¡¯t just some ordinary cultivation manual. It had transported him to a strange place where a strange old man forced him to cultivate and train¡­ and now it was revealing the true cultivation status of the people around him. Does this mean¡­ it knows about me too? With a dry swallow, Kai whispered, ¡°What about me?¡± The pages shifted once more. Kai Feng Cultivation Level: Qi Refinement (Mid Stage) Strength Rating: 21 Speed Rating: 24 Techniques: Celestial Eclipse Techniques (Locked) ¨C Unable to be freely activated due to low Qi reserves. Flowing Shadow Step (Lightness Type) ¨C A movement technique that sometimes activates instinctively. Eclipsing Palm (Attack Type) ¨C A defensive counterstrike that redirects energy upon impact. Kai groaned, dragging a hand down his face. ¡°So I really do suck, huh?¡± Not only was his cultivation pathetically low, but most of his techniques were unreliable. His own body wasn¡¯t even strong enough to sustain them. Now it made sense why his abilities only worked when he was desperate¡ªhis body was instinctively pulling together every last drop of Qi just to unleash a single move. No wonder he felt exhausted every time he fought. Kai clenched his fists. This needs to change. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he recalled the breathing and meditation techniques Elder Kong had taught him. If I want to survive¡ªno, if I want to take control of my fate¡ªthen I have no choice but to cultivate. Kai closed his eyes. Breathe in. Slowly, he focused his breath, clearing his mind. Breathe out. His awareness expanded. He could feel the subtle energy in the air¡ªthe faint tendrils of Qi that drifted throughout the sect like invisible currents. It was like reaching for something underwater. The Qi was there, but the moment he tried to grab hold of it, it slipped through his fingers. He grit his teeth. No. I need to focus. Once again, he drew his mind inward, following the rhythm of his breath. Breathe in. Draw it in. Let it flow. A faint warmth began to gather in his core. Kai¡¯s heart leaped. He could feel it¡ªthe energy responding to him. It was weak, barely a trickle, but it was real. He focused harder, stretching his senses. The flow of Qi moved sluggishly through his meridians, like a dried-up riverbed desperately trying to channel water. His reserves were pitiful, but at least now, he could feel them. So this is cultivation¡­ A soft hum filled the air. Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open. The Celestial Eclipse Manual was glowing again. This time, the shifting text displayed something new. Qi Circulation Rate: 2% (Inefficient flow detected.) Potential Cultivation Method Detected: Celestial Eclipse Breathing Technique Would you like to attempt optimization? Kai¡¯s breath caught in his throat. ¡°¡­Optimization?¡± The book could analyze his cultivation? His pulse pounded in his ears. If this thing could optimize his technique, wouldn¡¯t that mean he could progress faster? Without hesitation, he muttered, ¡°Yes.¡± The moment he spoke, the world around him seemed to shift. A new set of instructions formed on the page¡ªa modified version of the breathing technique Elder Kong had taught him. It corrected the inefficiencies, changing the flow of Qi through his meridians. Kai took a deep breath and followed the new instructions. At first, nothing happened. Then¡ª WHOOOSH. A surge of Qi rushed into him, flowing smoother than before. It was still weak, but compared to before, it was like going from sipping water through a straw to drinking from a stream. His body trembled, his muscles tensing as the energy circulated. It actually works! For the first time since arriving in this world, Kai felt something unfamiliar swell within him. Hope. If this book could help him train faster¡­ If it could give him an edge in this brutal world¡­ Then maybe, just maybe¡ª He had a chance. A real chance. Gritting his teeth, he continued cultivating, following the book¡¯s optimized technique. The candle beside him burned lower, the night stretching long into the morning. But Kai didn¡¯t stop. He was taking his first real step toward power. Chapter 12: The Assassination Under the guise of a simple maid, Yin Shuang entered the Obsidian Peak Sect with surprising ease. A well-placed bribe and a convincing display of humility had secured her a position within the sect¡¯s servant ranks. From the moment she arrived, she kept her head low, silently observing while diligently performing her tasks. Scrubbing floors, preparing meals, washing laundry¡ªall were menial but necessary duties. She endured them without complaint, her hands never idle, her posture always respectful. It was all part of the plan. She knew the only way to get close to the so-called Sect Leader was to build trust¡ªstarting with the Chief Steward Chen, the one who oversaw the servants. He was a gruff man with a sharp eye for laziness, yet he seemed to appreciate her diligence. Unlike the other maids, she never gossiped, never questioned orders, and completed her work swiftly and quietly. And all the while, she nursed her hatred in silence. Yin had not yet seen the Sect Leader, but she had already judged him guilty. A man who led such a vile sect could not be anything other than a scheming, ruthless villain. He was surely a snake, a cunning manipulator, a man devoid of virtue, who used every opportunity to spread evil. She loathed him. Every fiber of her being screamed for justice. The Obsidian Peak Sect must be eradicated, and its leader must die. And soon, she would get her chance. One evening, the Chief Steward called for her. ¡°You¡¯ve done well so far, Xiu Huan¡± he addressed her with her fake name. ¡°We need more good servants like you.¡± Yin bowed her head in acknowledgment. He continued, ¡°Xiao Hua is sick. She¡¯s the one who delivers meals to the Sect Leader. Since she can¡¯t go, you¡¯ll do it instead.¡± Yin¡¯s breath nearly caught in her throat, but she quickly lowered her gaze to hide the flicker of emotion. This was it. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. She had been patient, disciplined, and now, the heavens rewarded her efforts. Yin calmly accepted the task, ensuring that her Flying Star Needles were prepared and hidden within her sleeves. Once she killed him, she would seize the Celestial Eclipse Manual and escape. Carrying the basket of food, she made her way toward the Sect Leader¡¯s quarters, her mind focused, her movements steady. This was the moment she had trained for. Inside his chamber, Kai sat cross-legged on the floor, deep in cultivation. He was on the brink of breaking through to the Foundation Level. Qi surged through his body, flowing through his meridians like a rushing river. He felt the barriers within him loosening, breaking apart as his Dantian expanded to accommodate the new influx of energy. The feeling was exhilarating¡ª ¡ªand dangerous. He had to maintain complete control. If his Qi became unstable, if he lost his focus for even a moment, it could have devastating consequences. His breathing slowed. He concentrated. The Qi spiraled around his core, stabilizing, refining¡ª And then, at that precise moment¡ª Yin Shuang silently stepped into the chamber, her presence nearly undetectable. The moment she laid eyes on Kai, she faltered for just a fraction of a second. This¡­ was the Sect Leader? He looked¡­ young. Far younger than she had expected. There was no sinister air about him, no cruel, calculating gaze. To her, it seemed almost as if he did not belong here. Her hatred burned away the momentary hesitation. Wolves sometimes wear sheep¡¯s clothing. There was no need for sympathy¡ªonly justice. Her grip tightened on the concealed trigger. He must die. The entire sect must die. Without another thought, she fired the Flying Star Needles. The mechanism released the needles with a near-silent click. Razor-sharp and unerring, the needles streaked through the air like meteors towards their target. Normally, the Celestial Eclipse techniques would instinctively shield Kai from an attack like this. But at this crucial moment¡ª All of his Qi was concentrated on his breakthrough attempt. As the poison-coated needles pierced his skin, an unnatural reversal occurred within his meridians. The surge of Qi that had been building up collapsed inward, disrupting the entire circulation system causing his Qi to flow in the reverse direction. His chest convulsed. A searing pain erupted from within. It was as if his own Qi had turned against him. An internal detonation ripped through his body. His Dantian shuddered, his meridians snapped like frayed strings¡ª Kai coughed violently, his vision blurring. A mouthful of blood spewed from his lips, splattering onto the floor. More followed¡ª A crimson pool formed around him. He collapsed, barely conscious, his limbs weak, his Qi completely out of control. Yin Shuang¡¯s eyes widened. She had expected a fight. She had braced for a battle against a formidable villain. Instead¡­ He had simply crumpled. ¡°¡­So weak?¡± she whispered. Her mission was not yet complete. This was her chance to finish it. To end his life and bring justice to the Azure Cloud Sect. To retrieve the Celestial Eclipse Manual for her Master. She stepped forward, raising her blade, ready to deal the final blow. Chapter 13: The Twilight Spirit Bloom Han Long moved swiftly through the dense wilderness, his Jade Pendant glowing faintly as it guided him forward. His breath was steady, his focus sharp¡ªthis was a rare opportunity, one that few cultivators could even dream of. He was on a quest for the Twilight Spirit Bloom, a mystical flower that bloomed once every five hundred years beneath the setting sun during a three stars alignment. It was said to contain the lingering essence of ancient immortals, a crystallization of divine energy woven into its delicate petals. As Han neared his destination, he could sense the shift in the air. The very atmosphere hummed with power, an ethereal pulse of Qi that harmonized with the flow of nature itself. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The pendant pulsed rapidly, indicating he was close. Before him, a towering waterfall cascaded into an abyss, the deafening roar of water crashing against the rocks below. Han narrowed his eyes¡ªthe flower was somewhere beneath. Without hesitation, he leaped. Han landed gracefully at the bottom of the abyss, his eyes locked onto a faint glow in the distance. There, surrounded by moss-covered ruins, lay the Twilight Spirit Bloom. Its five petals resembled fragments of dusk itself¡ªfading from deep violet to shimmering silver at the tips, capturing the final embers of daylight. Golden veins ran through each petal, like streaks of lightning frozen in time. At its center, a soft ember-like light pulsed rhythmically, in harmony with the heavens above. This was it. The legendary flower. Han approached cautiously, but just as he reached out¡ª A deep growl rumbled through the air. From the darkness, a colossal beast emerged, its eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. It was the Guardian Beast of Twilight, a creature bound by ancient forces to protect the sacred bloom. Its form was like a shadow forged from dusk, its fur glistening like the night sky. Sharp fangs dripped with celestial energy, and its claws looked sharp enough to cleave stone with a single swipe. Han exhaled sharply, unfazed. This was not his first time fighting a guardian beast. The beast lunged first, its massive claws ripping through the air, aiming to tear Han apart. But it was not just a creature of raw strength¡ªits body flickered like a mirage, shifting between solid and spectral. Han¡¯s instincts screamed a warning as an unseen force struck his mind¡ªa spiritual attack. Han¡¯s vision wavered for a split second, a sharp pressure stabbing into his consciousness. The beast¡¯s spiritual Qi was trying to overwhelm his mind, distorting reality around him. He bit down on his tongue, using the pain to anchor himself before countering with Iron Crushing Fist, his strike colliding with the beast¡¯s claw, sending out a shockwave that shattered nearby stones. The beast roared, its body momentarily vanishing into the shadows. Then, from multiple directions at once, it unleashed Eclipsing Phantom Claws, a technique that manifested spectral slashes through the air. Han barely managed to evade, twisting mid-step as one of the energy claws grazed his side, searing his flesh with an eerie cold flame., a blinding attack that disoriented most foes. Han grit his teeth, rolling to the side and delivering a devastating palm strike to the beast¡¯s ribs. The two clashed relentlessly¡ªpure strength against primal fury. Han¡¯s muscles burned, his injuries from the battle accumulating. The beast, though formidable, was also growing weaker. Realizing he couldn¡¯t win by brute force alone, Han shifted his strategy. He closed his eyes for a moment, attuning himself to the beast¡¯s pulsing spiritual presence. The Guardian Beast relied on illusions and sudden shifts between physical and ethereal states¡ªif Han could read the moment it became tangible, he could strike. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. When the beast lunged again, its fangs bared, Han didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, he stepped forward, sensing the shift¡ªright before impact, the beast fully materialized. That was his opening. Han gathered every ounce of his Qi into his palm and unleashed Sky-Shattering Palm, striking directly into the beast¡¯s core. The energy rippled outward, dispersing the illusionary mist and collapsing the Guardian Beast¡¯s form into the abyss., a full-force strike that pierced through the beast¡¯s chest, sending it crashing to the ground. The Guardian Beast of Twilight had fallen. Han staggered but remained standing, he was victorious. Just as he reached for the flower, a chuckle echoed from the darkness. From behind a ruined pillar, an old man stepped out. Though aged, his stance was steady, and his eyes held the glint of a seasoned warrior. His presence alone exuded strength. ¡°Thank you for getting rid of that thing,¡± the old man said casually. ¡°Now, be a good lad and leave the flower.¡± Han¡¯s eyes narrowed. His pendant hummed, assessing the old man¡¯s power level. Unknown Warrior Cultivation Level: Core Formation (Peak Stage) Strength Rating: 92/100 Han was one level below him. But he was not afraid. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that,¡± Han said coldly. The old man sighed. ¡°Then I suppose we will have to see who deserves it.¡± The two warriors lunged at each other, their fists colliding with the force of an earthquake. The abyss trembled beneath their sheer strength as dust and debris swirled around them. Neither relied on intricate cultivation techniques¡ªthis was a brutal test of raw power and battle-hardened instincts. Neither relied on fancy techniques, this was a raw battle of power and skill. The old man fought like a seasoned veteran, his attacks carried the weight of decades of experience. He never wasted movement, each strike precise, each dodge calculated. He anticipated Han¡¯s attacks before they fully formed, adjusting his stance fluidly to block and counter. His footwork, though slower, was deeply rooted, allowing him to deflect Han¡¯s force with minimal effort. Han, however, had youth and endurance on his side. His attacks were aggressive, relentless, and unpredictable. Unlike the old man, he fought with pure adaptability, adjusting mid-strike to exploit any weakness. He quickly noticed how the old man¡¯s movements, while precise, had a half-second lag in recovery¡ªhis aging muscles no longer responding with the same sharpness as his mind. Han began feinting attacks, forcing the old man to commit to counters before twisting into new, unexpected strikes. Fists shattered boulders. Kicks sent shockwaves through the abyss. For what felt like an eternity, the abyss echoed with the sounds of flesh meeting flesh, the ground cracking beneath their feet. Han launched a savage flurry of punches, but the old man absorbed them like an immovable mountain. Then, with an explosive burst of force, the old man delivered a devastating elbow strike to Han¡¯s ribs, sending him skidding backward, blood dripping from his lips. Han¡¯s vision blurred¡ªhe had underestimated just how much damage he had taken from both the beast and this battle. But time was against the old man. Age was his greatest enemy. The battle teetered on edge¡ªboth fighters were battered, barely standing. Han gritted his teeth, using his opponent¡¯s previous movements against him. He feigned a stagger, baiting the old man into stepping forward for a finishing blow. In that fleeting instant, Han twisted on his heel, dropping low and driving a crushing Titan Breaker Fist straight into the old man¡¯s ribs. The Qi-infused force ruptured the air, sending the old warrior hurtling backward. He slammed into the mountainside with a thunderous impact, cracks webbing out from where he landed. The old man slumped against the rocks, his breathing ragged. He tried to push himself up, but his arms trembled and gave way. He let out a slow chuckle, the ghost of a warrior¡¯s pride still lingering in his eyes.* Han stood over him, bloodied and exhausted, but Han had prevailed. The old man chuckled weakly. ¡°You¡¯ve won, young man. Your strength is undeniable.¡± He coughed while his blood flowed profusely, his life slipping away. ¡°But before you take the flower¡­ hear my plea.¡± Han did not move. The old man continued, ¡°This flower¡­ it was not meant for me. It was for my granddaughter. She lives by the lake nearby¡­ A poor child, blinded from grief after her mother passed away.¡± His trembling hands grasped Han¡¯s wrist, his grip weak but desperate. ¡°Please¡­ cure her. That is all I ask.¡± With those final words, the old warrior breathed his last. Han remained still for a moment, then turned his gaze toward the flower. Intrigued, Han followed the old man¡¯s dying words and found the small cottage by the lake. Inside, a blind girl sat alone, struggling to complete simple tasks now that her grandfather was gone. She sat quietly at the table, tears rolling down her cheeks as she fumbled with her food. Han watched for a while, a strange emptiness filling him. He had never known his parents. He, too, had been abandoned by fate. Perhaps¡­ she was no different from him. In a sudden motion, he stepped forward, knocking her unconscious before she could react. Carefully, he extracted the sap of the Twilight Spirit Bloom and applied it to her eyes. The room was silent. A furious voice echoed in his mind. ¡°You defied me.¡± Han smirked. ¡°You can just leave me to die from the poison¡­ or you can send me on the next quest.¡± Chapter 14: The Interrogation Chapter 14: The Interrogation Kai found himself back in his world. The familiar hum of fluorescent lights, the quiet rustle of pages turning in the library, the smell of old books surrounding him¡ªit was all there, unchanged, as if nothing had happened. He blinked in confusion. Was it really just a dream? The cultivation, the sects, the danger¡ªhad it all been some wild imagination? His fingers brushed against a book on the table. The Celestial Eclipse Manual. A shiver ran down his spine. Why was it here? Before he could react, a sharp pain exploded across his body. Thousands of needles pierced into his skin, agony blooming in every nerve. His breath hitched as darkness rushed toward him like a tidal wave¡­ Kai jerked awake, soaked in cold sweat. He gasped, his breath uneven. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar, yet the warmth of nearby voices grounded him to reality. ¡°Master! You¡¯re awake!¡± Two pairs of wide, concerned eyes hovered over him¡ªLiu Yue and Liu Yu. The twins exchanged glances before breaking into matching grins. ¡°You had us worried sick!¡± Liu Yu pouted, crossing her arms. ¡°You better not scare us like that again!¡± Kai groaned, trying to push himself up, but a sharp pain shot through his chest. Liu Yue placed a firm hand on his shoulder, shaking her head. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Elder Kong is coming.¡± The reality of his situation returned in flashes¡ªbreaking through to the Foundation stage¡­ blacking out¡­ pain. Elder Kong entered, his expression stern yet relieved. ¡°You¡¯re fortunate to be alive, Sect Leader.¡± Kai frowned. ¡°Last I remember, I was meditating¡­ then everything went dark.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse. Elder Kong replied grimly. ¡°We found you and an unknown maid sprawled on the floor. Poison needles were embedded in your body, and the maid was carrying a concealed weapon, clearly the source of those needles.¡± A chill ran through Kai. ¡°An assassin?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Elder Kong confirmed. ¡°You were at the most vulnerable moment of your breakthrough. Your Qi flow reversed due to the poison, causing massive internal damage. It should have killed you instantly.¡± Liu Yu grinned. ¡°But you¡¯re still here! Tough as ever!¡± Elder Kong¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°That is because your defensive technique activated instinctively. Before the maid could finish the job, your Celestial Eclipse Technique protected you instinctively, taking her down with you.¡± Kai¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°So, she failed¡­ and now she¡¯s captured?¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Liu Yue nodded. ¡°Liu Yu found both of you unconscious. We secured her immediately.¡± Kai shifted, wincing at the pain in his ribs. ¡°I want to see her.¡± Liu Yue immediately frowned. ¡°Why? You¡¯re in no condition to interrogate an assassin.¡± Kai forced a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m curious. I want to see what someone who wants me dead looks like.¡± Liu Yu tilted her head. ¡°She¡¯s tied up, you know. She can¡¯t do anything.¡± Kai nodded. ¡°Then there¡¯s no harm. I just want to know why she wants me dead.¡± Liu Yue still looked uneasy but sighed. ¡°Fine. But if she tries anything¡ª¡± Kai held up a weak hand. ¡°I¡¯ll let you two handle it.¡± A cold determination settled in him. If he was going to survive in this world, he needed to start understanding his enemies. The Sect¡¯s Uproar The air in the dungeon was damp and thick with the scent of old stone and iron. Torches flickered along the walls, casting eerie shadows over the cells. Kai stepped inside, his footsteps slow but steady. The twins flanked him protectively, their expressions wary. Outside the dungeon, angry voices filled the courtyard. ¡°Sect Leader, kill her! She must not be allowed to leave alive!¡± ¡°She dared to attempt an assassination within our own walls! She must be made an example of!¡± Even the elders, normally composed and wise, had gathered to voice their outrage. Elder Kong¡¯s voice cut through the chaos. ¡°Sect Leader, I implore you. Executing this assassin is not only justice¡ªit is necessary. Mercy will be seen as weakness, and Obsidian Peak Sect is not a sect to be trifled with.¡± ¡°The other sects will laugh at us,¡± another elder warned. ¡°They will see us as spineless.¡± Kai¡¯s gaze remained steady. ¡°Let me speak with her first.¡± The elders exchanged uneasy looks but stepped aside. Yin Shuang sat against the far wall, her wrists and ankles bound by thick iron chains. Even in captivity, she held herself with dignity, her gaze sharp and defiant. As soon as she saw Kai, her expression twisted into pure loathing. She tore her gaze away from him as if the sight of him was unbearable. Kai tilted his head, intrigued. ¡±You despise me that much?¡± he mused. She refused to answer, staring at the damp floor. ¡±I just want to know why you tried to kill me,¡± Kai continued, his voice calm, almost casual. Yin scoffed. ¡±As if you don¡¯t know. As if your entire sect isn¡¯t built on blood and treachery.¡± Kai frowned slightly. ¡±I think you¡¯ll find that I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± She laughed bitterly, her voice dripping with hatred. ¡±Of course, the villain pretends innocence. Just kill me and be done with it. I failed my mission. There¡¯s nothing else to say.¡± Kai studied her, his curiosity deepening. Then, an unexpected sadness settled in his heart. There was actually someone in this world who hated him. For as long as he could remember, Kai had never done anything truly wrong to anyone. He had never bullied, betrayed, or harmed another unjustly. Yet here she was, looking at him with the purest hatred. Why? Did she truly see him as a monster? A villain? The elders and disciples waiting outside began chanting. ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± Their voices rumbled like a storm. Kai remained silent for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, he smiled. ¡°No. Let her go.¡± The uproar was deafening. ¡°What?!¡± Liu Yu blurted. ¡°Are you serious?!¡± The elders and sect members were furious, shouting in outrage. ¡±She.. she tried to kill you!¡± Liu Yue added. ¡±If you let her live, she¡¯ll just try again.¡± Kai shrugged. ¡±Maybe. Maybe not. But I want to see what happens.¡± Elder Kong was skeptical, but he did not protest. The rest of the sect, however, was in an uproar. Rumors of Kai¡¯s ¡®mercy¡¯ spread quickly, and many questioned if their new leader was truly fit to rule. Yet Kai stood firm. Deep inside, Kai held onto the hope that she would one day change her opinion of him. That she would see that he was not the villain she believed him to be. Secondly, he wanted to set an example. The Obsidian Peak Sect should not be ruled by mindless violence. He wanted his disciples to learn that power and mercy could coexist. Yin Shuang was released outside the sect gates, still bound in confusion rather than chains. She didn¡¯t thank Kai. She didn¡¯t even look at him. Instead, she walked away, disappearing into the misty horizon. As she left, one thought burned in her mind. This is a trick. Some kind of deception. The Obsidian Peak Sect was an evil sect. Their leader was evil. There was no way he would let her go without an ulterior motive. Chapter 15: The Weight of Powerlessness Kai sat in stunned silence, his mind racing. He tried circulating his Qi again, reaching for even a trickle of energy. Nothing. A cold dread sank into his bones. His Qi was completely unresponsive. He could not move energy, could not execute techniques. It was as if he had returned to being¡­ Ordinary. A sharp, uncomfortable stillness filled the chamber. Elder Kong¡¯s gaze was heavy with understanding. ¡°You¡¯ve lost all access to your Qi, haven¡¯t you?¡± Kai swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Liu Yu gasped. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right? You¡¯re fine, right?¡± Liu Yue¡¯s hands curled into fists. ¡°This¡­ this can¡¯t be happening.¡± Kai exhaled, a wry smile twitching at the corner of his lips. ¡°I thought the same thing.¡± Elder Kong¡¯s expression remained unreadable. ¡°This must be kept a secret. If anyone learns that the Sect Leader of Obsidian Peak is powerless, you will not last the night.¡± The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Kai¡¯s stomach clenched. Even when he had Qi, his position had been precarious¡ªthe three halls are barely united under him, rival sects wanted him dead, and assassins lurked in the shadows. And here he was, a sitting target. Elder Kong stroked his beard thoughtfully. ¡°You need treatment. And soon.¡± Kai¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Can this be fixed?¡± ¡°Your Qi pathways have been completely blocked,¡± Elder Kong said. ¡°If left untreated, you may never regain access to your cultivation.¡± Liu Yu¡¯s face paled. ¡°Never?¡± Elder Kong nodded solemnly. ¡°There is one person who might be able to help, one with a reputation throughout the lands as Divine Healer.¡± Kai perked up. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Bai Lianhua,¡± Elder Kong replied. ¡°A healer of unparalleled skill. She resides in Clearwater Village, southeast of the sect stronghold.¡± Kai mulled it over. ¡°So, I just stroll into this town, ask her nicely, and she fixes me?¡± Elder Kong¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°If it were that simple, I wouldn¡¯t be worried.¡± Liu Yue frowned. ¡°Clearwater Village is neutral territory. If word spreads that the Obsidian Peak Sect Leader is there, vulnerable, enemies could take advantage.¡± Elder Kong nodded. ¡°That is why this mission must remain secret. Only the twins will accompany you. No guards, no messengers, no one else can know.¡± Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°Great. So I¡¯m basically sneaking out of my own sect to go see a mysterious healer.¡± Liu Yu grinned. ¡°Sounds fun, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kai groaned. ¡°You and I have very different definitions of ¡®fun.¡¯¡± Elder Kong¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Hiding your condition will not work for long. As the Sect leader, you will probably be challenged for your position every few weeks. If you are not healed before then, you will not be able to hold your place.¡± Kai nodded grimly. He had no choice. As dawn broke the next morning, Kai, flanked by the twin sisters, left the Obsidian Peak Sect under the guise of an ordinary traveler. Chapter 16: Clearwater Village The journey to Clearwater Village was uneventful, but as soon as Kai and the twins arrived, they were greeted by a vibrant marketplace bustling with life. The air was filled with the scent of exotic spices and sizzling meat, mingling with the chatter of merchants calling out their wares. Silk traders displayed shimmering fabrics, while artisans carved intricate jade talismans. Street performers captivated small crowds with dazzling acrobatics, and a group of elderly cultivators sat under a shaded pavilion, sipping tea and discussing the latest sect rivalries. Kai absorbed the scene with wide-eyed fascination. ¡°This place feels¡­ alive,¡± he murmured, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings. Liu Yu smirked. ¡°Yeah, a nice change from the doom and gloom of our sect stronghold.¡± Kai turned to the twins. ¡°So, how do we find the healer?¡± Both of them answered in unison. ¡°The tavern, of course.¡± They entered the largest tavern in the village, the Autumn Breeze Inn. It was an ordinary-looking establishment, filled with traveling merchants and low-ranking cultivators sharing drinks and stories. The trio settled at a table, ordering food while keeping an eye on the crowd. Liu Yue discreetly handed the waiter a gold ingot, her voice smooth and measured. ¡°We¡¯re looking for the Divine Healer.¡± The waiter¡¯s eyes lit up as he pocketed the ingot. He leaned closer. ¡°The healer is well-known here. She resides at the northernmost end of the village, near the stables.¡± Kai sighed in relief. ¡°That was easy.¡± But of course, things did not proceed as smoothly as he wished. When they arrived at the healer¡¯s residence, they were greeted by a snaking queue of patients waiting to be treated. Kai watched the crowd in awe. ¡°Divine Healer indeed, just look at how many patients waiting to see her.¡± Liu Yu, ever impatient, marched straight to the caretaker and demanded an audience. ¡°Do you know who our master is? He is the Sect Leader of Obsidian Peak Cult! If you know what¡¯s good for you, bring us to your master immediately!¡± The caretaker paled but nodded subserviently before disappearing into the consultation room. When he returned, his expression was composed yet firm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My master says she does not deal with the evil sect and will not see any of you. Please leave.¡± Murmurs spread among the waiting patients. Their expressions shifted from curiosity to unease. Whispers filled the air. ¡°The Obsidian Peak Sect¡­? Here?¡± ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be in this village.¡± ¡°I heard they massacred the Azure Cloud Sect years ago¡­.¡± Liu Yu¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°Yes, we are the evil sect! But you¡¯d better treat us nicely, or we¡¯ll deal with all of you!¡± The crowd flinched. Liu Yue grabbed her sister¡¯s arm and pulled her away. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t make it worse! We still need her help!¡± Kai exhaled. So much for a peaceful visit. The next morning, while resting at the Wandering Horse Inn, an unexpected visitor arrived. It was the Divine Healer¡¯s caretaker. ¡°If the three esteemed cultivators don¡¯t mind,¡± he said, bowing, ¡°my master would like to see you now.¡± The trio exchanged wary glances before following him. They were kicked out from the healer¡¯s residence just the day before, what made her change her mind? Kai expected a serene, wise old woman, but instead, he was met with a disheveled, middle-aged woman with sharp eyes filled with exhaustion. Bai Lianhua did not look friendly. ¡°You,¡± she said coldly, crossing her arms. ¡°I do not usually deal with the evil sect.¡± Liu Yue asked respectfully, ¡°Why do you feel that way? Has the Obsidian Peak Sect wronged you?¡± Bai Lianhua¡¯s nostrils flared. ¡°The Azure Cloud Sect Massacre is well-known. Your sect cold-bloodily wiped them out. I have treated far too many wounded cultivators who suffered at the hands of your people.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Kai frowned. Elder Kong had said the sect wasn¡¯t truly evil, yet everywhere they went, their reputation painted a different story. Bai Lianhua sighed. ¡°Yet¡­ I have no choice but to make a deal with you.¡± She took a deep breath, her voice tight with grief. ¡°Last night, my daughter was kidnapped.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What?¡± Bai Lianhua nodded. ¡°At first, I thought you were responsible, since I rejected you yesterday. But¡­ this is not the first time. A ghostly black figure has been abducting young women for weeks. And last night, I saw it for myself, a ghostly dark figure like a black whirlwind that took my daughter.¡± Her voice trembled. Kai studied her. Despite her anger, her pain was real. ¡°I have assessed your cultivation levels, all three of you do not have the cultivation levels to do what the ghost was capable of,¡± Bai continued, her eyes narrowing at Kai. ¡°Especially you. You are completely powerless.¡± Kai smirked. At least she was perceptive. Bai Lianhua took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal. Promise that you will help me rescue to my daughter, and I shall treat your internal damage.¡± Kai didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°That¡¯s a deal.¡± Bai Lianhua blinked in surprise. She had expected bargaining, reluctance, not immediate acceptance. She reached forward, placing three fingers on Kai¡¯s wrist checking Kai¡¯s pulse intently. She remained silent for a moment before shaking her head grimly. ¡°I was hoping to repair your meridians so you could assist in the rescue. But¡­ your condition is beyond my skills.¡± Liu Yu scowled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the Divine Healer? Why can¡¯t you fix it?¡± Bai sighed. ¡°Your master¡¯s meridians are completely blocked, and his Qi circulation has reversed in a way that is unnatural. The only way to fix this is¡­¡± ¡°Unless what?¡± Liu Yue pressed. ¡°Unless I perform surgery to manually flush his meridians. But if I do that¡­¡± She hesitated. ¡°He will not survive.¡± The twins turned pale. Kai pondered. When he was in the mortal realm, he had no cultivation to begin with. There was nothing wrong with being an ordinary person¡ªin fact, he had been ordinary all his life, and he did not mind returning to his previous way of living. He could go back to his own world and become an ordinary librarian again. That was not too bad. At least he did not have to worry about being killed every now and then. Kai, however, smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you for trying.¡± As they left the clinic, Kai noticed a distraught couple nearby. Out of curiosity, he asked them what was wrong. ¡°Our daughter was kidnapped by the ghost last week,¡± the father said, his voice choked with sorrow. ¡°No one has been able help us¡± Kai turned to the twins, making a scary face. ¡°Are you scared of ghosts?¡± he teased. Liu Yu kicked him. ¡°Master, we¡¯re not scaredy cats like you!¡± Liu Yue frowned. ¡°But you have no Qi. This is too dangerous for you.¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°So you two will protect me.¡± Liu Yue let out a sigh, arms crossed as she shot Kai a disapproving look. ¡°The healer already told us¡ªwe don¡¯t stand a chance against this ghost.¡± Kai, unfazed, simply smirked. ¡°Then we won¡¯t fight it head-on.¡± He glanced at the twins, mischief dancing in his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll outsmart it.¡± Liu Yu scoffed. ¡°Master, you have can¡¯t use your Qi. This is too dangerous for you.¡± She gestured toward the darkened path ahead. ¡°Let the two of us handle it while you go back to the inn and rest.¡± Kai waved a hand dismissively. ¡°No can do. I can¡¯t just let you two have all the fun.¡± His grin widened. ¡°Besides, for once, you girls can protect me, huh?¡± Liu Yue narrowed her eyes at him, unconvinced. But Kai wasn¡¯t backing down. This was his last adventure¡ªdangerous or not¡ªbefore he returned to the quiet, uneventful Librarian life waiting for him. And he wasn¡¯t about to miss it. They inquired in town for all the young girls who fit the description of the age group. It turned out that there was only one girl of this category left. ¡°This ghost wouldn¡¯t be so dumb and predictable as to kidnap the only girl left, right?¡± Liu Yue asked. Kai replied, ¡°He might. This town has no cultivators who could pit against him. He would be thinking, why not?¡± That night, Liu Yu disguised herself as this young girl. She explained, ¡°My sister specializes in Qi techniques while I specialize in Martial Art techniques. My attacks require closer proximity while hers are better at a distance. So I am more suitable to be the ¡¯victim.¡¯¡± Kai nodded. ¡°We shall nab him in one go and force him to reveal the location of his victims. Hopefully, we do not need to resort to actual combat. Both of you, await my command!¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± they replied. Liu Yue mused to herself, Now that he¡¯s lost his cultivation, he¡¯s finally acting like a true sect leader. Talk about an ironic twist of fate! Late at night, Liu Yu lay on the girl¡¯s bed and pretended to sleep. She deliberately left the window unlocked to invite the ghost in. Her breathing slowed to feign deep sleep, but she remained fully alert, her hand close to her hidden weapon. Would this ghost pay her a visit? She wondered. She was slightly afraid yet excited. Meanwhile, Liu Yue and Kai hid in a massive wardrobe in the girl¡¯s room. Being the daughter of the village¡¯s tycoon, her cupboard was so big that the two of them could comfortably sit in it without feeling cramped. The tycoon was happy to have volunteers to protect his daughter. He had secretly moved his daughter to a hidden room somewhere else, protected by many of his bodyguards. The wardrobe was slightly cracked open to allow them to see the room without being detected. Feeling bored while passing time, Kai whispered, ¡°So tell me¡­ how did the two of you end up in the Obsidian Peak Sect.¡± Liu Yue, usually the quieter of the two sisters, hesitated. She preferred to leave the chattering to her lively sister, but somehow, she felt comfortable with this unassuming young man who was now her sect leader. She sighed. ¡°Elder Kong found the two of us as babies, abandoned in a secluded hut during one of his missions. There was absolutely no indication of who we were.¡± Kai remained silent, listening intently. ¡°Elder Kong brought us up like a father, and we respect him greatly,¡± she continued. ¡°He taught us cultivation and martial arts techniques. He discovered our potential¡ªmy flair for Qi techniques, and Liu Yu¡¯s talent in Martial Arts. He trained us to be able to fight together as a powerful force.¡± She looked away, her voice quiet. ¡°Since then, the sect is all we¡¯ve ever known.¡± Kai grew thoughtful as he listened to their sorrowful past. He reminded himself to treat them with kindness, even when they were occasionally harsh toward him. But then again¡­ Now that he had lost his cultivation, he might have to return to the mortal realm soon and never see them again. What a shame¡­ An hour past midnight, Liu Yue was jolted from her drowsy haze, her senses snapping to alertness as a chilling wave of killing intent washed over her. Liu Yu also sensed the presence of an intruder and subtly tapped Kai. Kai hadn¡¯t developed such sensitivity yet, but seeing Liu Yu¡¯s expressions, he prepared for action. A ghostly figure had indeed appeared¡ªa shadowy silhouette, silent as the night, gliding toward the bed in a swift, swirling motion. Chapter 17: To Catch a Ghost The night was still, the air heavy with tension. Candlelight flickered faintly, casting long, wavering shadows across the wooden walls. The room appeared undisturbed¡ªjust another quiet night in the manor. But beneath the stillness, a trap had been meticulously set. Liu Yu lay motionless on the bed, her breathing slow and steady, mimicking deep sleep. A thin blanket draped over her, concealing the short iron spikes she had hidden beneath. She had deliberately left the window unlocked, an unspoken invitation for their unseen adversary. Inside the massive wardrobe, Kai and Liu Yue crouched in silence, waiting. Liu Yue peered through a tiny crack between the doors, while Kai, lacking Qi but not wits, kept a firm grip on the nearly invisible trap trigger. His fingers tightened around the thin thread, his heart pounding in anticipation. Then, it happened. A sudden shift in the air. Not a gust of wind, not an unnatural chill¡ªbut movement. The candle flames barely flickered, but Liu Yue felt it. Fast. Too fast. From the corner of the room, a blur of motion appeared¡ªa figure moving with unnatural fluidity, silent as a whisper, swift as a shadow. No footsteps. No creaking floorboards. No heavy breaths. One moment, the room was empty. The next¡ªsomeone was standing at the foot of the bed. Liu Yue¡¯s breath caught in her throat. The stealth was absolute. The speed, inhuman. Kai barely suppressed a shudder. He couldn¡¯t even see how the intruder moved¡ªonly the faintest ripple in the air, the barest outline against the darkness. This was a cultivator who had reached the pinnacle of lightness techniques and movement arts. Liu Yu remained still, but her fingers twitched beneath the blanket, ready to strike. Kai exhaled silently. He¡¯s in position. With a flick of his fingers, the suspended capture net above the bed snapped free, dropping in an instant. The weighted threads were laced with Qi-disrupting energy, meant to ensnare and suppress. But the figure reacted in an instant. There was no hesitation. No moment of surprise. Just movement. The figure twisted its body in an unnatural arc, slipping through the falling net like water through a sieve. It should have been impossible, yet he did it without effort, his form shifting mid-air, limbs moving faster than the eye could track. A shadow flickered. A blur of motion¡ªhe was already moving for the window. Liu Yue¡¯s secondary formation activated¡ªiron bars slammed down, sealing the exit. Still, no hesitation. The figure simply redirected, rebounding off the wall like a phantom, not stopping for even a breath. Kai reacted. Now or never. His fingers darted into his sleeve, pulling out a Thunderclap Pellet¡ªa small, smooth sphere crafted from alchemical powders and compressed Qi-infused minerals. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he hurled it to the ground. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The pellet detonated on impact, releasing a thunderous crack followed by a searing flash of golden-white light. The explosion of light erased all shadows, momentarily turning night into day. The masked figure flinched¡ªa fraction of a second¡¯s hesitation, but enough. His movement, previously ghost-like, stuttered as his senses reeled. A cloud of reflective dust exploded across the room, catching the shadow mid-movement. For a fraction of a second, his figure was fully visible. The intruder wasn¡¯t just a ghost in the night¡ªhe was a man. Draped in deep gray robes, masked, eyes like slits of cold steel. His frame was thin and wiry, built for speed rather than brute strength, yet every movement exuded precision and deadly efficiency. His limbs seemed unnaturally long in the dim glow, each motion controlled, calculated, like a blade honed to perfection. A cultivator of high mastery. Liu Yue moved instantly. The masked figure kicked off the wall mid-fall, twisting his body through the lingering ink cloud. He landed in a crouch, gaze snapping toward the wardrobe¡ªtoward them. He knew. Liu Yue flung her hand forward, launching a set of hidden needles. But the figure twisted mid-air, a sharp blur of motion as he avoided the projectiles. A flurry of attacks erupted in the dimly lit room. Liu Yue attacked from the side, fingers flashing as she sent Qi-infused, needle-thin projectiles straight for his pressure points. Liu Yu, aggressive and relentless, closed the distance, wielding her short blades in a deadly flurry of strikes. The masked figure dodged with impossible precision, bending, twisting, shifting between their attacks like a wraith. But he was still on the defensive¡ªthe sisters¡¯ coordination was too strong. They pressed their advantage, moving as one, their strikes weaving into a dance of steel and precision. Liu Yu feinted left, then spun low, aiming a brutal kick toward his ribs. Liu Yue took the opening, sending a burst of palm strikes at his exposed back. For a brief moment, it seemed like they had him. He adapted. The instant their rhythm became predictable, he exploited it. His footwork shifted¡ªa single pivot, and he vanished from Liu Yue¡¯s strike zone entirely. Before she could react, his hand lashed out, gripping her wrist with unrelenting force. Liu Yue gasped as a wave of force sent her flying backward, slamming against the wooden wall. Liu Yu reacted immediately, lunging to intercept, but he was already moving. Faster. More precise. In a flash, his leg swept out, catching Liu Yu off guard. Her balance faltered¡ª In that moment, he struck. A single, controlled palm against her chest¡ªnot enough to kill, but enough to send her crashing to the floor. The battle had shifted in mere seconds. Kai, still crouched inside the cramped wardrobe, hurriedly whispered his question to the Celestial Eclipse Manual, his fingers gripping the ancient pages with tense urgency. The air inside was stifling, but the cold sweat on his back made it feel like ice. A golden glow flickered to life, casting eerie shadows against the wooden panels as glowing characters rearranged themselves on the page. Unknown Cultivator Cultivation Level: Core Formation (Advanced Stage) Strength Rating: 44/100 Speed Rating: 84/100 Techniques: ??? (Lightness type) ??? (Absorption type) Kai¡¯s eyes locked onto the cultivation level. Core Formation (Advanced Stage). Liu Yu and Liu Yue were fighting someone above their level. But there were two of them¡ªmaybe that was enough to even the odds. His eyes flicked back to the page, a question gnawing at his mind. Why weren¡¯t the techniques fully revealed? Every other time he had used the manual, it had provided the full names and descriptions of abilities. But now, all it showed were their types. Was this because the figure was too strong? Or¡­ did it mean the techniques were somehow hidden? Absorption-type techniques? Kai¡¯s breath hitched. What exactly did that mean? Did they drain Qi? Life force? Souls? So far, the shadowy figure outside hadn¡¯t used anything resembling such techniques. Kai swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay still. If that figure truly had a technique that could steal from others¡­ Then he couldn¡¯t afford to be caught. Liu Yue pushed herself up, breath ragged, blood trickling from her lip. Liu Yu staggered to her feet, blades trembling in her grip. The masked figure, standing unharmed in the center of the room, tilted his head slightly, assessing them. Then he moved again. A blur of motion¡ªbefore Kai could even register it, the sisters were down. Silent. Swift. Unstoppable. Kai¡¯s breath caught in his throat. His hands clenched around the manual. The masked figure turned to face him. And then¡ªhe stepped forward. Not in a rush. Not in a flurry of motion. Just a single, deliberate step. Kai was next. Chapter 18: What Goes Around Comes Around The masked figure moved with lethal precision, his body a blur as he closed the distance to the third person hiding in the wardrobe. His mood had soured¡ªthis was not how the night was supposed to go. He had been harvesting the maidens in this town, draining them of their essence¡ªthe pure, unrefined energy that is converted ino Qi upon cultivation. The young maidens of this town had fed his progress, their essence fueling his ascent through the cultivation levels. This was his final harvest before moving on. And then these foolish brats had dared to ambush him. They were weak, barely above Qi Refinement stage, unworthy adversaries. He had taken them down with ease. But now, his attention turned to the final one¡ªthe young man hiding in the wardrobe. His sharp eyes narrowed as he sensed for the boy¡¯s cultivation. Hmmm¡­ This foolish looking boy¡­ he has Qi, but he can¡¯t even control it. Odd¡­ A crippled cultivator? Or someone with damaged meridians? Either way, he was helpless. And yet, there was something else¡­ The dark figure¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. Although I prefer young girls, this boy¡­ he has quite a large pool of essence. It would be a waste to leave it untouched. ¡°Waste not.¡± With a sudden burst of speed, he dashed forward, the floor beneath him barely making a sound as he surged toward the wardrobe. Kai¡¯s heart pounded as he saw death itself hurtling toward him. This guy is way too strong and he could not even use his Qi! His mind screamed for him to run, but his legs refused to move. Blam! The wardrobe exploded into splinters, blown apart by sheer force as the dark figure¡¯s hand shot forward, locking onto Kai¡¯s arm. Kai barely had time to flinch before the Absorption Technique activated. A sharp pull. An unnatural sensation, as though something inside him was being yanked from his very core. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Kai gasped, his vision blurring. The dark figure was extracting his essence, the raw life energy that all non-cultivators carried in abundance. It was the same process he had used on the young girls, draining them until there was nothing left. So this is it, Kai thought. I¡¯m going to be sucked dry like the others¡­ But something was¡­ off. The dark figure frowned, his grip tightening. His Qi surged as he increased the suction force, pulling harder on Kai¡¯s essence. Yet¡ªinstead of extracting, he felt resistance. What is this? It was as though Kai¡¯s meridians refused to yield. The more he tried to draw energy out, the more it fought back. His eyes narrowed. This had never happened before. He had absorbed countless victims¡ªwhy was this one different? He pushed harder, pouring more Qi into the technique, forcefully ripping at Kai¡¯s life essence. Kai trembled under the pressure. His body felt warmer and warmer, his skin tingling as his Qi stirred¡ªeven though it should have been blocked. His Qi wasn¡¯t flowing outward. It was flowing inward. Then, it hit Kai. This guy¡¯s specialty is Absorption Techniques! Kai¡¯s mind raced. He¡¯s trying to extract my Qi or essence, but¡­ because my Qi is in reverse circulation, it¡¯s pulling energy from him instead! The realization sent a chill down his spine. The tables have turned. He wasn¡¯t the one being drained¡ªhe was the one absorbing. The dark figure¡¯s expression darkened. A flicker of confusion passed through his gaze as he sensed an unnatural shift in the flow of energy. The more he tried to extract, the more he felt his own Qi slipping away, leaking into Kai¡¯s body in unstoppable waves. ¡°No. That¡¯s impossible.¡± His mastery over absorption techniques had been unparalleled, honed through decades of perfecting his craft. There was no technique, no defensive measure that should have been able to reverse his siphoning ability. Yet this boy¡­ He tried to break the connection, but it was too late. Kai¡¯s body trembled, but it wasn¡¯t from weakness. His meridians¡ªpreviously blocked, sluggish, unresponsive¡ªsuddenly surged with energy. His Qi surged, pouring into his once-blocked meridians, filling every inch of his being like a dam breaking free. A violent pulse of Qi erupted within him, breaking through the blockages. The sensation was overwhelming. Kai¡¯s mind blanked as the flood of energy rushed through his meridians, overriding the stagnation, expanding his Qi pathways beyond their previous limits. The energy poured into him uncontrollably, forcefully pushing him beyond his bottleneck. His dantian rumbled. Boom! A wave of energy burst outward, sending the dark figure staggering back. The dark figure slammed his hand into the ground, steadying himself as his eyes locked onto Kai with something new in them. Not just anger. Shock. His body trembled slightly, the backlash of energy having weakened him more than expected. For the first time, his prey had harmed him. Kai dropped to one knee, his body shuddering as the remnants of foreign Qi settled inside him. His breath was ragged, his muscles burning from the sheer force of the breakthrough. A moment of silence and then he looked up. His Qi was no longer blocked. His meridians were fully cleared. His cultivation had advanced. Kai was now at Foundation stage. The realization sent a rush of power through him, but he had no time to savor it, the dark figure was already recovering. The dark figure stared in disbelief. His own Qi reserves had been drained, and his target¡ªthis worthless cripple¡ªwas now stronger than before. Kai exhaled slowly, his hands tightening into fists. His strength had returned. Chapter 19: A Trap is Sprung The room pulsed with residual energy as Kai steadied himself, his breath ragged but his Qi no longer blocked. His meridians, once constricted and lifeless, now surged with power, as if a dam had finally broken. The masked figure, his own Qi partially drained, narrowed his eyes. ¡°You¡­¡± His voice, smooth and devoid of emotion, carried a hint of irritation. He had meant to extract this boy¡¯s essence¡ªbut instead, the boy had turned the tables on him. Kai clenched his fists. I¡¯ve gotten stronger, but he¡¯s still a full level above me¡­ I can¡¯t win with raw power. The masked figure moved first. A flicker of motion¡ªthen he was gone. Kai¡¯s instincts screamed. Right! He barely dodged as a palm strike tore through the air beside his head. He¡¯s fast! Before Kai could fully react, the figure¡¯s knee shot forward, aiming straight for his ribs. Kai braced, bringing up his arms¡ª Impact! The force sent him skidding back, boots dragging against the wooden floor. The pain jolted through his body, but¡ªhe was still standing. Kai exhaled. I can keep up. My Qi isn¡¯t blocked anymore. The masked figure didn¡¯t give him time to recover. He moved again. This time, his fingers curled into a claw, striking forward in a technique meant to rupture internal organs with a single touch. Kai had no time to think¡ª Eclipsing Palm! His body moved instinctively, his palm meeting the attack directly. Boom! A shockwave rippled through the air as the two forces clashed. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The masked figure staggered slightly, his own force redirected back at him. His eyes flickered with momentary surprise. This brat¡­ Kai took the opening¡ªFlowing Shadow Step activated. He slipped behind the masked figure in an instant, his movement almost unconscious. A palm strike¡ªaimed at the figure¡¯s exposed ribs. But the masked figure twisted unnaturally mid-air, his leg snapping back in a counter-kick. Kai barely dodged, the force of the movement sent him off balance. A mistake. The masked figure capitalized immediately. A low sweep kick¡ªKai¡¯s legs were taken out from under him. Before he hit the ground¡ª A hand clamped onto his throat. The masked figure lifted Kai off the floor with one arm, his grip like iron. Kai gasped, struggling as his feet dangled inches above the ground. ¡°You are still weak,¡± the figure murmured. Kai gritted his teeth. His vision blurred, his lungs burned. His Qi surged instinctively, searching for a way out. The moment of desperation¡ªwas when the answer came. His body reacted. The Flowing Shadow Step activated again, but this time he let the motion guide him. Instead of resisting, he flowed with the movement. His body twisted unnaturally, slipping free of the iron grip. The masked figure¡¯s fingers closed around empty air. Kai spun mid-fall and lashed out¡ªEclipsing Palm! The moment his hand met the masked figure¡¯s chest¡ª Boom! The force of the redirected energy blasted outward, sending the masked figure flying back. He crashed against the far wall. Silence. Then¡ªa slow chuckle. The masked figure rose smoothly, dusting off his robe. ¡°That technique of yours¡­¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Interesting.¡± Kai took a deep breath, his stance shifting slightly. He had landed a solid hit¡ªbut it still wasn¡¯t enough. He was stronger than before, but his opponent was still on another level. The masked figure blurred forward once more, moving faster than before. His footwork was precise, his attacks relentless¡ªa predator closing in for the kill. Kai barely had time to react before a palm strike slammed toward his chest. Too fast! Flowing Shadow Step! Kai twisted, shifting his weight at the last second. The strike barely missed, grazing his robes instead of piercing his torso. But the masked figure was already adjusting, pivoting mid-motion¡ª A low sweeping kick aimed for Kai¡¯s legs. Kai leaped back¡ªbut not far enough. The kick clipped his ankle, throwing him off balance. His opponent capitalized immediately, flickering behind him like a wraith. Kai barely turned¡ª A knife-hand strike shot toward his throat. Kai¡¯s instincts screamed¡ªNo time to dodge! Eclipsing Palm! Kai threw up his arm in desperation¡ªredirecting the force at the last second. The impact sent him skidding back, but the redirected energy made the masked figure recoil slightly as well. Kai coughed, gripping his ribs. Damn¡­ even with my counters, I can¡¯t keep up with his speed! The masked figure stared at him coldly, as if assessing his prey¡¯s last moments. ¡°You fight well for your level,¡± he admitted. ¡°But you can¡¯t win.¡± Kai¡¯s mind raced. He knew the truth¡ªhis enemy was stronger, faster, and more experienced. How do I beat someone faster than me? Then it struck him. Speed was this man¡¯s greatest weapon. What if I used it against him? Kai¡¯s eyes flickered toward the broken remnants of the wardrobe. He had an idea. He just needed an opening. Chapter 20: Turning the Tables The masked figure exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on Kai. His robe barely showed a trace of dust from the impact, as if he hadn¡¯t just been blasted across the room. Kai flexed his fingers, feeling the energy coursing through his meridians. I landed a clean hit¡­ but he barely flinched. His opponent was still a full realm above him in cultivation. A direct confrontation would end in defeat. But speed¡ªspeed was his enemy¡¯s greatest strength. The masked figure¡¯s posture shifted slightly, a coiled predator preparing to strike again. And he vanished. Kai¡¯s instincts screamed at him¡ªLeft! He barely twisted aside as a blade-like palm slashed through the air, missing his neck by inches. The attack was so fast that the air itself seemed to cut, sending shivers down Kai¡¯s skin. I can¡¯t dodge forever. The next strike came instantly, a downward chop aiming for his shoulder. Kai didn¡¯t block¡ªhe flowed. Flowing Shadow Step! His body twisted, his feet guiding him along the momentum of the attack, allowing him to slip just beyond the strike zone. The masked figure¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He¡¯s adapting? But adaptation wasn¡¯t enough. Kai needed to force an opening. So¡­ how do you beat someone faster than you? Speed was only an advantage if it could be used freely. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Kai¡¯s eyes flickered to the room¡¯s layout. The weakened floorboards. The collapsed wardrobe. The remnants of the threads from the capture net left behind by the trap. That¡¯s it! He moved toward the broken remains of the wardrobe, his mind calculating the next move. Kai forced a smirk, stepping back toward the center of the unstable floor. Come on¡­ just a little closer. The masked figure followed¡ªjust as he planned. ¡°You look confident for someone who¡¯s losing,¡± the masked man remarked. Kai rolled his shoulders, feigning a relaxed stance. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ I¡¯ve figured something out.¡± The masked figure tilted his head slightly. ¡°Oh?¡± Kai¡¯s grin widened. ¡°You rely on speed too much.¡± Kai''s foot struck a piece of shattered wood from the wardrobe, kicking debris into the air. A split second distraction. The masked figure¡¯s focus flickered toward the flying debris¡ªjust enough for Kai to make his move. Eclipsing Palm! Kai¡¯s palm lashed out¡ªbut not to attack. Instead, he struck the ground. Boom! The force sent a powerful shockwave rippling across the floor, blasting broken furniture and shards of wood into the air. The masked figure instinctively shifted, his feet gliding to avoid debris. That was exactly what Kai had counted on. He¡¯s too fast¡ªso I have to control where he moves! The instant the masked figure adjusted his footing, Kai was already moving. He darted left, forcing him toward the unstable wooden boards near the collapsed wardrobe. The masked figure stepped into the trap. A small, near-invisible thread wrapped around his ankle. The moment his weight shifted¡ª The floor beneath him buckled. For just a fraction of a second, he was off balance. That was all Kai needed. He surged forward. Eclipsing Palm! His Qi-infused palm struck the masked figure¡¯s exposed ribs¡ªredirecting his own force back into him! Boom! The masked figure¡¯s body twisted mid-air, crashing hard against the weakened floorboards. The wooden floor gave way beneath him. Kai staggered back, breath heaving. The room went still. Dust and debris settled. The masked figure had fallen through the broken floorboards, vanishing into the darkness below. Crash! He plummeted into the lower level, wooden planks and debris collapsing with him. A thick cloud of dust rose from below. Kai staggered back, his breath heavy. His whole body ached from the battle, but¡ªhe was still standing. He peered into the darkness below. The masked man was buried beneath the wreckage, his body partially pinned by the broken wooden beams. Kai exhaled. Did I¡­ beat him? Chapter 21: The Most Problematic Follower The room was heavy with tension as the masked figure, battered and defeated, knelt on the broken floorboards. Kai, breathing hard, stood over him. His hands were still clenched into fists, but he didn¡¯t deliver the final strike. Instead, he watched as the defeated man slowly raised his hands in surrender. ¡°You¡­ you win,¡± he sighed dramatically, shaking his head. ¡°I, the Ghoul of Lightness, admit my defeat!¡± Kai narrowed his eyes, still wary. The twins, however, were not as forgiving. Liu Yu took a step forward, sword raised. ¡°Then I¡¯ll finish you off!¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± The man waved his hands frantically. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that! I¡¯m surrendering, aren¡¯t I?¡± Liu Yue¡¯s gaze was sharp. ¡°Give me one good reason we shouldn¡¯t end you right now. You preyed on innocent girls¡ª¡± ¡°Innocent?¡± The man scoffed. ¡°They were hardly innocent. A few of them were spoiled noble brats!¡± Liu Yu¡¯s glare hardened. ¡°And that justifies what you did?¡± The masked figure cleared his throat. ¡°Ahem. What I meant to say is¡ªit¡¯s not as bad as you think!¡± Kai frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The man crossed his arms smugly. ¡°You think I just kill my targets?¡± Liu Yue narrowed her eyes. ¡°Explain. Now.¡± The man sighed, sounding genuinely offended that they thought him a killer. ¡°I don¡¯t drain them dry! I merely extract some of their essence, enough to fuel my cultivation. But it¡¯s not permanent.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Then¡­ those girls aren¡¯t dead?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± The man huffed. ¡°They¡¯re just in a temporary deep sleep. At worst, they¡¯ll be unconscious for a few days. After that, their bodies will naturally restore their essence, and they¡¯ll wake up good as new, no permanent damage whatsoever.¡± Liu Yu looked skeptical. ¡°You expect us to believe that?¡± ¡°Believe it or not, it¡¯s the truth,¡± the ghoul said smugly. ¡°If I actually killed my targets, I would¡¯ve been hunted down ages ago. My methods are far more refined!¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Kai let out a slow breath, considering the implications. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re saying they¡¯ll wake up in a few days, and they¡¯ll be able to go home like nothing happened?¡± The man nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Exactly! A little exhausted, maybe, but otherwise completely fine!¡± Liu Yue and Liu Yu exchanged glances. ¡°¡­Is that even possible?¡± Liu Yu muttered. Liu Yue sighed. ¡°There are some techniques that extract unprocessed essence without causing permanent harm¡­ but they¡¯re rare. Most practitioners aren¡¯t careful about it.¡± Kai stared at the ghoul. ¡°And you¡¯re telling me you are careful?¡± The ghoul grinned proudly. ¡°I am the Ghoul of Lightness, after all! My technique is flawless!¡± Liu Yu still looked angry. ¡°That doesn¡¯t excuse what he did.¡± Kai let out a breath. He agreed. But¡ªhe had already made up his mind. ¡°You lost,¡± Kai said, his voice firm. ¡°I¡¯ll let you live¡ªon one condition.¡± The man tilted his head curiously. Kai stared him down. ¡°If you¡¯re going to use your absorption technique¡­ you only use it against evil people from now on.¡± The ghoul blinked. Liu Yue and Liu Yu whirled toward Kai in disbelief. ¡°Kai, you can¡¯t be serious!¡± Liu Yue snapped. Liu Yu scowled. ¡°You¡¯re letting him go?! After everything he¡¯s done?!¡± Kai clenched his jaw. ¡°I know what he¡¯s done. And I won¡¯t let it happen again.¡± He turned back to the man. ¡°If you ever try this on innocent people again, I¡¯ll hunt you down myself.¡± The ghoul stared at him, then chuckled. ¡°Heh. You¡¯re¡­ really something else, aren¡¯t you?¡± Liu Yue crossed her arms. ¡°Kai, your softness is going to be your undoing one day.¡± Kai grinned. ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯ve told me before.¡± The ghoul stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Hmm¡­ hunting evil people instead, huh? I suppose that¡¯s not a bad idea. There¡¯s plenty of nasty cultivators out there hoarding Qi resources. Might as well take it from them!¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you¡¯ll agree to it?¡± The ghoul suddenly grinned. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t just agree.¡± He bowed deeply, placing one hand over his chest in a dramatic display of loyalty. ¡°I, the Ghoul of Lightness, hereby pledge myself to your cause!¡± Kai froze. ¡°¡­What?¡± The ghoul straightened, looking incredibly pleased with himself. ¡°You¡¯ve bested me in battle! Clearly, fate has chosen you as my lord!¡± Liu Yue facepalmed. Liu Yu groaned. ¡°Kai, this is your fault.¡± Kai ran a hand down his face. ¡°I never asked for a follower.¡± ¡°Nonsense! I shall serve you from the shadows, hunting only the corrupt, stealing only from those who deserve it!¡± The ghoul laughed. ¡°Oh, this is going to be fun!¡± Liu Yue muttered, ¡°This is a bad idea.¡± Kai sighed, already regretting his decision. ¡°Alright, then,¡± Kai muttered. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The ghoul grinned. ¡°Ah! Finally, you ask! My name is Zhao Xun, the Ghoul of Lightness!¡± He puffed his chest proudly. ¡°One of the legendary Five Ghouls!¡± Kai, Liu Yue, and Liu Yu exchanged glances. ¡°¡­Still never heard of them,¡± Liu Yu said flatly. Zhao Xun froze. His face fell into utter disappointment. ¡°You¡­¡± He pointed at them, looking genuinely hurt. ¡°You really haven¡¯t?¡± Liu Yue shook her head. Liu Yu crossed her arms. ¡°Nope.¡± Kai sighed. ¡°Not a clue.¡± Zhao Xun groaned in frustration. ¡°Unbelievable! This generation is so uninformed! What do they even teach in sects these days?!¡± Liu Yu muttered, ¡°Not this, apparently.¡± Kai massaged his temples. ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here before I regret this any more than I already do.¡± And thus¡ª The Ghoul of Lightness, Zhao Xun, became Kai¡¯s most problematic follower. Chapter 22: A Path Not Taken Kai sat in the Wandering Horse Inn, absently tracing patterns on the wooden table as his thoughts churned. His body had healed, his Qi was no longer blocked, and yet¡­ He still felt trapped. Since arriving in this world, he had barely had a moment to breathe. First, he had been forced into a sect, then attacked by assassins, and now he was expected to lead a group of ruthless cultivators? That wasn¡¯t his life. He wasn¡¯t some warlord or master strategist. Back in his world, he spent his days reading books, sipping tea, and ignoring the real world. He didn¡¯t have rival sects plotting his death or disciples waiting for his orders. And now that he was in neutral territory¡­ He could leave. If he slipped away now, he could disappear into the mortal world, live quietly, and maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªfind a way home. His only problem? The twins. Liu Yu and Liu Yue weren¡¯t just his bodyguards. They were watching him closely, ready to pounce if he did anything suspicious. He needed a distraction. The Great Escape Kai tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought. How do I distract two overpowered cultivators without raising suspicion? Then he heard it¡ª A loud crash from the kitchen. His eyes flicked over just in time to see a flustered young server struggling with a towering stack of plates. The boy¡¯s hands were shaking, his balance barely holding up the wobbling tower of porcelain. Perfect. Kai stood up abruptly, bumping into the server just enough to tip the balance. CRASH! Plates shattered across the floor. The server yelped, stumbling as broken shards scattered everywhere. The innkeeper¡¯s wife stormed out from behind the counter, her face red with fury. ¡°You clumsy fool!¡± she roared, grabbing a broom like a weapon. ¡°That was an entire night¡¯s worth of dishes!¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. The poor boy stammered in panic. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± That was all Kai needed. Liu Yu and Liu Yue immediately turned their attention toward the commotion. Without hesitation, Kai slipped out the back door. As soon as he was in the alley, he broke into a sprint, weaving through the narrow streets toward the village outskirts. Freedom. Just a little more¡ª Then he saw her. A young woman stood near a fruit stall, looking mildly uncomfortable as she stepped away from a burly, heavy-set man who was leaning toward her with a unsavory grin. She wasn¡¯t dressed in fine silks or ornate jewelry¡ªin fact, her clothing was plain and practical, a simple tunic and skirt. But even in simple attire, she was without doubt a beauty, her features soft but striking, her black hair long framing her face naturally. Her large soulful dark eyes flicked between the merchant stall and the man blocking her path, trying to ignore him. Kai could tell she wasn¡¯t frightened, she was just annoyed. ¡°Come on, girl,¡± the man said, his rough voice slurred with drink. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. Just have a drink with me.¡± The girl sighed, clearly uninterested. ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡± The man grinned, his thick fingers reaching toward her. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that¡ª¡± Kai exhaled. Damn it. He didn¡¯t have time for this, but¡­ His feet were already moving before he could stop himself. With zero hesitation, he stepped between them, casually resting a hand on the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She said no,¡± Kai said flatly. The man blinked, then scowled. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Kai sighed. ¡°The guy telling you to leave before I embarrass you in public.¡± The man¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°Listen here, you¡ª¡± Thwack. Kai¡¯s fist met his jaw, and the man crashed into a nearby cart, sending apples rolling across the street. The few villagers nearby gasped, then immediately pretended to mind their own business. Kai dusted off his hands. The girl blinked at him, then let out a small, amused chuckle. ¡°That was fast.¡± Kai glanced at her. ¡°Yeah, well. He looked like the type to talk too much.¡± She hummed in agreement. ¡°I appreciate it.¡± Kai nodded. ¡°No problem.¡± She studied him for a moment, then tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes filled with quiet curiosity. ¡°You¡¯re not from around here, are you?¡± Kai considered lying¡ª Then shrugged. What did it matter? He was leaving soon anyway. ¡°I¡¯m Kai Feng,¡± he said. Something flickered in her expression. ¡°¡­Kai Feng?¡± she repeated, rolling the name over her tongue. Then she smiled faintly. ¡°It suits you.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. Huh. That was¡­ refreshing. For once, someone wasn¡¯t treating him like a feared sect leader or a walking target. She smiled lightly, then glanced over her shoulder. And her expression shifted all of a sudden. Kai followed her gaze and spotted a tall figure approaching from the opposite street, a broad-shouldered young man with eyes that gleamed with sharp intensity. Kai frowned slightly. The girl sighed, then gave him an amused look. ¡°Looks like my time¡¯s up.¡± Kai glanced at her. ¡°That guy looking for you?¡± She tilted her head, mischief dancing in her eyes. ¡°Won¡¯t you help me hold him off?¡± Before he could respond, she added with a playful smile, ¡°Just don¡¯t hurt him, okay? He¡¯s not a bad guy.¡± Without another word, she turned and ran, slipping into the crowd effortlessly, vanishing before the man reached Kai. Kai watched her disappear, a feeling of mild amusement and confusion lingering. Then he turned back¡ª Only to find himself face-to-face with the newcomer. The man¡¯s sharp eyes flicked to the still-unconscious thug on the ground, then back to Kai. Kai sighed. Here we go again. Chapter 23: Drunken Fools Kai barely had time to exhale before the broad-shouldered man closed the distance between them, stopping just a foot away. The guy was tall, muscular but lean, built like someone who had spent his life fighting instead of meditating. His eyes burned with intensity, scanning Kai with the sharpness of a predator sizing up an opponent. Kai already didn¡¯t like him, too stiff, too serious. The man¡¯s gaze flicked briefly to the thug still groaning on the ground before snapping back to Kai with suspicion. ¡°You,¡± the man said, voice gruff. ¡°Have you seen a girl? Black hair, about this tall¡ª¡± He raised a hand to indicate height. ¡°Wearing simple clothes. Probably wandering around like an idiot.¡± Kai tilted his head. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s real specific. You want me to summon a sketch artist for you?¡± The man¡¯s brows furrowed, clearly not amused. ¡°Just answer the question.¡± Kai leaned back slightly, rubbing his chin as if deep in thought. ¡°Hmm¡­ nope. Doesn¡¯t ring a bell.¡± The man scowled, eyes narrowing. ¡°You hesitated.¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°I do that sometimes. Makes people wonder if I¡¯m lying.¡± The man let out a long, frustrated sigh, muttering something under his breath. His whole posture radiated irritation, and Kai could tell he wasn¡¯t the type to handle setbacks well. Normally, someone like this would annoy Kai instantly¡ªbut strangely, instead of being outright hostile, the guy just looked¡­ mildly pissed off at life in general. Kai wasn¡¯t sure why, but he felt like this stone-faced stiff looking dude had issues. Still, the guy wasn¡¯t outright attacking him, which was progress compared to most of Kai¡¯s recent encounters. They stared at each other for a moment, the tension heavy between them. Then¡ª ¡°You look like a foolish man,¡± the man said. Kai blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± The man crossed his arms, his expression flat. ¡°Your face. It pisses me off.¡± Kai scoffed. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. Should I get a different one?¡± The man exhaled sharply, shaking his head. ¡°Forget it.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°You¡¯re really bad at making friends, huh?¡± The man¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°I don¡¯t need friends.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s the saddest thing I¡¯ve heard today. And I talked to an old man who lost his dog earlier.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The guy glared at him. Kai grinned back. He promised that good-looking girl that he would hold him back. ¡°I¡­ I¡­ hereby challenge you to¡­ to a drinking match!¡± Kai muttered, he could not think of any other ways to hold him back. The man blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ha, you¡­ you¡­ must be scared of losing to a drinking master like me!¡± The man was peeved. ¡°No way, I hereby accept your challenge!¡± They locked eyes. Neither of them liked each other. Fighting wasn¡¯t on the table. A drinking match, however? That, they could do. The tavern was loud and lively, filled with merchants, travelers, and low-level cultivators relaxing after a long day. Kai and the grumpy stranger sat across from each other at a wooden table, a massive jug of strong rice wine between them. ¡°You sure about this?¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want you passing out on the first round.¡± The man snorted. ¡°I could drink you under the table in my sleep.¡± ¡°Oh, big words. What¡¯s your name, anyway?¡± The man took a long swig from the jug before slamming it down. ¡°Han Long.¡± Kai chuckled. ¡°Figures. You look like someone named Han Long.¡± Han narrowed his eyes. ¡°And you?¡± Kai grabbed the jug, taking a dramatic sip before setting it down with a flourish. ¡°Kai Feng.¡± Han¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Never heard of you.¡± Kai smiled. ¡°Great. Let¡¯s keep it that way.¡± They stared at each other for a beat¡ªthen poured themselves another drink. And so it began. One drink. Then another. And another. Kai wasn¡¯t an idiot. He knew his limits. Back in his world, he was a terrible drinker. Two glasses of wine and he¡¯d be asleep in a bookshelf somewhere. But this wasn¡¯t his world. He had Qi now. Subtly, with each drink, he circulated his internal energy, forcing the alcohol out of his system before it could affect him. Han, meanwhile, seemed completely unfazed, drinking like it was water. They kept going. The Insults Escalate Kai slammed down another cup. ¡°You drink like an old man.¡± Han poured another for himself, not breaking eye contact. ¡°You drink like a spoiled noble.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°I¡¯m not a noble.¡± Han scoffed. ¡°Explains the bad posture.¡± Kai¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Explains why you have the personality of a rock.¡± Han exhaled. ¡°You talk too much.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t talk enough.¡± They kept drinking. More insults flew. Kai called Han ¡°a humorless brute.¡± Han called Kai ¡°a weak, book-reading twig.¡± Kai called Han ¡°a grumpy old man trapped in a young man¡¯s body.¡± Han called Kai ¡°a walking headache.¡± They both kept drinking. At some point, the tavern had gone quiet, the other patrons watching in fascination as the two men, completely different in personality, downed cup after cup, refusing to lose to the other. Drunken Wisdom Somewhere between their eighth and twelfth drink, things took a weird turn. Kai squinted at his cup. ¡°You ever wonder why birds don¡¯t get lost?¡± Han blinked, looking genuinely puzzled. ¡°What?¡± Kai gestured vaguely. ¡°Birds. They fly around all the time. But they always know where to go. How do they do that?¡± Han stared at him for a long moment, then poured himself another drink. ¡°That¡¯s the dumbest thing I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± Kai nodded solemnly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Han exhaled. ¡°But I¡¯ll tell you why.¡± Kai leaned in. Han took a slow sip, eyes dead serious. ¡°They have wings.¡± Kai gasped dramatically and the entire tavern erupted into laughter. They kept drinking. The world blurred, a while back Kai had already exhausted all his Qi flushing the alcohol out of his system. Han had not resorted to such trickery, he was simply a much better drinker compared to Kai. At some point, Kai leaned forward and slurred, ¡°You know¡­ you¡¯re not so bad.¡± Han grunted, swaying slightly. ¡°You¡¯re still annoying.¡± Kai pointed dramatically at him. ¡°And you have the emotional range of a wet log.¡± Han snorted. ¡°And you look like someone who¡¯d cry if they kicked a rock.¡± Kai nodded slowly, as if considering. ¡°Fair.¡± They kept drinking. Kept bickering. Kept glaring at each other like mortal enemies¡ª Until they both slumped forward, their heads hitting the table at the exact same time. They were both out of it, completely unconscious. The tavern erupted into cheers. Chapter 24: Bound by Rope A dull, throbbing pain pounded against Kai¡¯s skull, dragging him from the depths of unconsciousness. His body felt heavy, weighed down by an unseen force. His mouth was dry, and the stale taste of alcohol clung to his tongue. What happened last night? He cracked one eye open and immediately regretted it¡ªthe light pouring through the inn window felt like a thousand tiny needles stabbing into his brain. Hangover. A bad one. With a groan, he tried to move¡ªonly to realize that he couldn¡¯t. A strange tightness bound his limbs, and as his senses sharpened, he became acutely aware that he was tied up. What in the¡ª?! His arms were secured behind his back, and his legs were tied together with a length of sturdy rope. He struggled, twisting slightly to test the bindings, but they were snug and expertly knotted. Then, he noticed two familiar figures standing at the foot of his bed, arms crossed, watching him with identical expressions of smug satisfaction. Liu Yue and Liu Yu, the twin willows. ¡°Good morning, Master,¡± Liu Yu said, her voice as sweet as honey, but her smirk told a different story. Liu Yue sighed dramatically. ¡°Ah, how the mighty have fallen.¡± Kai blinked at them, his mind still sluggish. ¡°¡­Why am I tied up?¡± Liu Yu tilted her head. ¡°Because you¡¯re a bad patient.¡± Liu Yue nodded. ¡°And a terrible sect leader.¡± Kai let out a weary sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is that I get drunk one time, and suddenly I¡¯m a criminal?¡± Liu Yu grinned. ¡°Oh no, Master. You tried to ditch us.¡± Liu Yue¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°And that, we cannot allow.¡± Kai frowned, memories of the previous night surfacing in fragments¡ªmeeting the pretty girl with mischief in her eyes, the broad-shouldered man chasing her, drinking¡­ a lot of drinking¡­ and then¡ª Ah. He had tried to sneak away, hadn¡¯t he? Kai clicked his tongue. ¡°You two are really overreacting.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Liu Yue gave him a pointed look. ¡°Am I? Let¡¯s recap. You vanished without a word. Then we find you drinking and making¡­ questionable choices.¡± Liu Yu chuckled. ¡°We had to drag you back, Master. It wasn¡¯t pretty.¡± Kai exhaled through his nose. ¡°Alright. I admit defeat. You win.¡± Liu Yue raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s it? No excuses? No clever plan?¡± Kai smirked. ¡°You tied me up. What else can I say?¡± Liu Yu beamed. ¡°Good! Then you finally understand¡ªyou¡¯re not giving us the slip again.¡± Kai sighed again, shifting uncomfortably. ¡°Could you at least untie me now? My arms are going numb.¡± Liu Yue hesitated for a moment before pulling a dagger from her sleeve. In one swift movement, she sliced the ropes off his wrists and ankles. Kai flexed his fingers, rubbing his wrists where the bindings had left faint marks. ¡°High alert from now on,¡± Liu Yue said firmly. ¡°You won¡¯t be sneaking off again, Master.¡± Liu Yu smirked. ¡°You belong to the Obsidian Peak Sect, whether you like it or not.¡± Kai didn¡¯t reply. Once the twins left the room, Kai leaned back against the bed, staring at the ceiling. The hangover was annoying, but it wasn¡¯t what truly bothered him. It was the state he was in. He had recovered, sure. His Qi was flowing properly again, his body had healed, and his strength had returned. He was, by all accounts, perfectly fine. He even felt proud that he could control his techniques very well in his first real fight and he had won beautifully. But was he truly fine? Kai exhaled, rubbing his temples. Being forced into the position of Sect Leader had always left a bitter taste in his mouth. From the moment he arrived in this world, he had been shoved into a role he never asked for. People bowed to him, feared him, expected him to lead. They called him Master, demanded decisions, plotted against him, watched his every move. There was no freedom. No escape. Even now, he couldn¡¯t even slip away for a single night without being dragged back in ropes. He was trapped. The Sect was his prison. And he hated it. Kai ran a hand through his hair. There had to be a way out. He had to find some way to slip away, to disappear¡ªfor good this time. The problem was that the twins were no longer underestimating him. If before they had given him space, now they would be watching him like hawks. Tch. Troublesome. His mind wandered. The girl from last night. He wondered if she was still in town, running from her pursuer, playing her little game. She had been interesting. He couldn¡¯t quite figure her out¡ªwas she a troublemaker? A thief? A noble in disguise? She had that air about her¡­ the kind of person who didn¡¯t belong in one place for long. Kai envied that. Then, his thoughts drifted to Yin Shuang¡ªthe assassin. Where was she now? Had she returned to her master to report her failure? Was she plotting another attempt on his life? Or was she simply wandering, lost and confused after being spared? Kai frowned slightly. Why had he let her go? Even now, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure. Perhaps a part of him wanted to prove something. To himself. To the sect. To her. He shook his head. No use thinking about it now. He had his own problems to deal with. Kai sat up and glanced at the window, watching the sunlight stretch across the town outside. Escape wouldn¡¯t be easy. Not anymore. The twins would stick to him like glue. But he wasn¡¯t going to give up. If he was going to disappear, he had to be smart about it. For now, he would play along. Pretend to accept his role. Pretend to be obedient. Pretend he wasn¡¯t plotting his escape. When the opportunity presented itself, he would be gone. A slow smirk played on his lips as he stretched, rolling his shoulders. He had always been good at bending the rules. This was just another challenge. He glanced at the door where the twins had disappeared. Let them think they had won. For now. Chapter 25: Whisper in the Dark After the failed assassination attempt on Kai, Yin Shuang returned to the Heavenly Radiance Sect under the cover of night. The towering halls of the sect gleamed under the pale moonlight, their pristine white walls a stark contrast to the shadows she carried within her heart. Her robes were still stained with remnants of her mission, and exhaustion clung to her bones like a heavy weight. The guards at the gate merely glanced at her before stepping aside. She was expected. Failure was never overlooked. As she walked through the silent corridors toward the grand audience hall, every step felt heavier than the last. The air inside was thick with the scent of incense, the flickering lanterns casting long shadows along the polished floors. Disciples stood in hushed groups, their gazes flickering toward her before quickly looking away. When she stood before Master Shen Zhenhai, she fully expected punishment¡ªperhaps even expulsion. Failure was not tolerated in the sect, and she had not only failed to retrieve the Celestial Eclipse Manual but had also been captured and released by the enemy. She kneeled, lowering her head. ¡°Master, I have failed.¡± The hall was silent. Shen Zhenhai sat upon the raised platform, his presence dominating the chamber. His long silver-white robes were immaculate, his expression unreadable. The symbol of the Heavenly Radiance Sect, embroidered in gold, glowed faintly on his chest. He was a man who prided himself on righteousness, and Yin had no doubt that failure was an affront to him. Shen Zhenhai studied her in silence, his sharp eyes glinting with something unreadable. ¡°You were captured by the Obsidian Peak Sect¡¯s leader?¡± he finally asked, his voice calm. ¡°Yes, Master,¡± Yin confirmed. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°And he let you go?¡± Yin hesitated before nodding. ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Zhenhai steepled his fingers together, his gaze piercing through her as if searching for an unspoken truth. ¡°You may have failed to kill the evil sect leader but your efforts were commendable. You shall serve in a higher rank from now on,¡± Shen Zhenhai declared. Yin¡¯s breath caught. ¡°Master?¡± ¡°From this day forth, you will be promoted to the rank of Radiant Blade.¡± Murmurs rippled among the gathered disciples. A failure receiving a promotion? Some smiled and congratulated her to her face, but Yin was not blind. She heard the whispers behind her back. ¡°She must have seduced the sect leader of the evil sect.¡± ¡°Maybe she betrayed us and made a deal.¡± ¡°She failed and got rewarded? How laughable.¡± But Yin pretended that she did not hear those spiteful words. She had learned long ago that words could not wound her¡ªnot as deeply as betrayal or loss. Yet, a sliver of doubt gnawed at her. Why had Kai let her go? And why had Master Shen not punished her? Late one night, as the sect rested beneath the silver glow of the moon, a voice whispered her name. ¡°Yin Shuang¡­¡± Her eyes snapped open. The chamber was empty, the air still. Had she imagined it? Then, the voice came again. A soft, chilling murmur. ¡°Come to me¡­¡± Yin threw on her robes and stepped out into the cold night, following the voice. She moved through the quiet halls, passing empty courtyards and training grounds. The whisper guided her beyond the sect¡¯s main complex, toward the abandoned shrine at the farthest edge of the sect grounds. The shrine had long been forgotten, its stone pillars cracked, ivy creeping over its once-holy walls. Faint remnants of old talismans fluttered against the wind, their protective enchantments long since faded. It was a place where old, broken weapons were discarded, a graveyard of forgotten steel. Yin hesitated. Why was she drawn here? And then she saw it. There, among the rusted blades and shattered spears, an old, abandoned sword lay waiting. Its blade was covered in rust, its hilt wrapped in tattered silk, long forgotten by time. The metal was dull, and at first glance, it looked no different from the other discarded weapons. And yet, it called to her. She reached out, hesitant. As her fingers brushed the hilt, a warm pulse shot up her arm. She tightened her grip. Whatever this blade was, it was no ordinary weapon. Chapter 26: A Dark Chapter The rain poured in steady sheets as Kai Feng and the twin sisters rode along the winding mountain path toward one of the twelve chapters of the Obsidian Peak Sect¡ªIronwood Chapter. It had been three days since they left Clearwater Village. Kai was still adjusting to the weight of his restored Qi. The battle against the Ghoul of Lightness had forcibly unblocked his meridians, but his control was still unrefined. He had spent the past days meditating, refining his Qi circulation, trying to mold it into something usable. And now, they had arrived at their next destination. Ironwood Chapter was one of the larger factions under the Obsidian Peak Sect¡¯s command. It was responsible for recruiting new disciples and handling external affairs. Commander Kong had mentioned that this chapter¡¯s leader, Commander Wu Jiang, was highly ambitious. The scent of damp earth and fresh rain should have been calming, but the air was thick with something unusual. Liu Yue noticed it too. ¡°The Qi flow here is strange,¡± she murmured, eyes scanning the surrounding trees. Kai exhaled. ¡°Let¡¯s stay alert.¡± As they crossed the final ridge, Ironwood Chapter came into view. Ironwood Chapter looked like any other sect stronghold¡ªtall black walls, watchtowers, banners fluttering in the storm. Kai exchanged a glance with the twins before stepping forward. ¡°The Sect Lord has arrived,¡± the guard announced when he saw the party approaching. The gates creaked open. Kai walked ahead, observing everything carefully. There were disciples sparring in the training grounds. Many of them looked sick¡ªskin pale, lips cracked, dark veins running up their arms. Liu Yue whispered, ¡°These people¡­ their life force seemed drained.¡± Kai frowned. ¡°By what?¡± Before she could answer, a booming voice echoed across the courtyard. ¡°Sect Lord Kai Feng!¡± A broad-shouldered man strode toward them, his black robe lined with golden embroidery¡ªCommander Wu Jiang. The Commander was smiling, but there was something¡­ wrong about it. His eyes were too bright, his expression stretched too wide. Kai kept his expression neutral. ¡°Commander Wu Jiang.¡± The Commander bowed deeply. ¡°It is an honor to welcome you to Ironwood Chapter.¡± Kai¡¯s gut twisted. There was something unsettling about this place. Something hidden beneath the surface. Commander Wu Jiang gestured toward the main hall. ¡°Please, come inside. We have prepared a feast in your honor.¡± Kai hesitated but nodded. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Inside the grand hall, tables were filled with fine dishes¡ªroast pheasant, braised pork, exotic fruits from distant regions. Disciples stood on either side of the hall, their expressions blank, their postures rigid. Kai sat at the head of the table, Liu Yue and Liu Yu positioned on either side like silent sentinels. Across from him, Commander Wu Jiang poured wine with a measured grace, his expression an enigma¡ªneither welcoming nor hostile, yet laced with something unreadable beneath the surface. Kai picked up a cup but didn¡¯t drink. ¡°Ironwood Chapter looks¡­ different from the other Chapters that I have visited.¡± Wu Jiang chuckled. ¡°Ah, we have made great progress, Sect Lord! I have devised new cultivation methods that have greatly strengthened our disciples.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Wu Jiang chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°Ah, all in due time, Sect Lord. You must be weary from your journey. Come, let us feast, and we shall discuss matters after you have rested.¡± Kai¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn¡¯t like waiting. But pressing too hard now might alert Wu Jiang that he was suspicious. So, he nodded. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Inside the grand hall, a lavish feast had been prepared. Long tables were filled with roast pheasant, braised pork, and fruits from distant regions. Candles flickered in golden sconces, casting shifting shadows across the walls. Kai took his place at the head of the table, Liu Yue and Liu Yu flanking him. Across from him, Wu Jiang poured wine with a measured grace, his expression an unreadable mask. Kai picked up a cup but didn¡¯t drink. ¡°Ironwood Chapter looks¡­ different from the other Chapters that I have visited.¡± Wu Jiang chuckled. ¡°Ah, we have made great progress, Sect Lord! I have devised new cultivation methods that have greatly strengthened our disciples.¡± Kai¡¯s grip tightened on the cup. ¡°Is that so?¡± Wu Jiang leaned forward, his smile never faltering. ¡°We have made great advancements in our cultivation methods.¡± Kai¡¯s gut twisted. This was the man Commander Kong had mentioned¡ªambitious, cunning, and known for experimenting with unconventional cultivation techniques. Kai forced a polite smile. ¡°Advancements?¡± Kai set the cup down. ¡°Commander Wu Jiang, you mentioned advancements in cultivation. What exactly have you been working on?¡± Wu Jiang chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Ah, Sect Lord, let us not rush. These are matters best discussed when your mind and body are well-rested.¡± Kai¡¯s fingers tapped against the table. ¡°You¡¯re avoiding the question.¡± Wu Jiang¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Not avoiding¡ªdelaying. Tomorrow, you shall see for yourself.¡± Liu Yu leaned forward, eyeing him warily. ¡°And why not now?¡± Wu Jiang chuckled again, swirling his wine. ¡°Because some things are best appreciated with clarity, young one.¡± Kai didn¡¯t like it. But he had played enough chess in his past life to recognize a stalemate. Wu Jiang wasn¡¯t going to reveal anything tonight. So he exhaled and leaned back in his chair. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll rest.¡± Wu Jiang¡¯s eyes glimmered with something unreadable. ¡°Excellent.¡± Kai didn¡¯t miss the way Wu Jiang subtly signaled to a nearby disciple¡ªnor the way the disciple nodded and left the hall. Their guest quarters were lavish, far more luxurious than necessary. Soft silk bedding, warm incense, and a quiet, undisturbed atmosphere. Too quiet. As soon as the servants left, Kai spoke. ¡°We¡¯re being watched.¡± Liu Yue nodded. ¡°I noticed. There were hidden formations along the hallway.¡± Liu Yu rolled her shoulders. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan? We¡¯re obviously not waiting for morning.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Obviously.¡± Liu Yue frowned slightly. ¡°Wu Jiang is hiding something. And if he doesn¡¯t want us to see it now, it must be happening at night.¡± Kai nodded. ¡°Then we see it for ourselves.¡± At midnight, they moved. Dressed in dark robes, Kai, Liu Yue, and Liu Yu slipped from their chambers, avoiding the surveillance formations Liu Yue had detected earlier. They followed the faintest traces of energy, moving through the dimly lit corridors of the Ironwood compound. The deeper they went, the more unnatural the air became. They reached a hidden passage at the far end of the compound¡ªa narrow stairwell leading downward, partially concealed by a tapestry. Liu Yu grimaced. ¡°Always the underground dungeons.¡± Kai exhaled. ¡°Cultivators love their secret basements.¡± They descended in silence. The deeper they went, the stronger the stench of blood and decay became. Then they heard it. A muffled scream. Kai froze. His hands clenched into fists. They weren¡¯t just imagining things. Liu Yue whispered, ¡°It came from the end of the corridor.¡± Kai moved faster. And then, as they turned the final corner, they saw rows of iron cages lined the walls. Inside the cages are men and women, their bodies frail, their eyes hollow. Some were shackled to stone slabs, their skin covered in glowing inscriptions, their bodies twitching as dark Qi seeped from their pores into golden siphoning arrays. Others were strapped into strange contraptions¡ªtubes inserted into their veins, draining their life force into crystal vials. Some weren¡¯t even alive anymore. Lifeless husks sat slumped against the bars, their mouths open in silent screams, their bodies drained of all vitality. Liu Yu clamped a hand over her mouth. Liu Yue¡¯s entire body tensed, her hands trembling in quiet fury. Kai¡­ couldn¡¯t breathe. This was worse than he imagined. This wasn¡¯t cultivation. This was slaughter. He stepped forward, reaching for the bars of the nearest cage. A frail man inside barely reacted, his breath shallow, his skin waxy. Kai¡¯s fingers curled tightly around the bars. ¡°Who did this to you?¡± he asked, voice low. The man barely turned his head, his lips parting in a whisper. ¡°¡­Ironwood¡­ Wu Jiang¡­¡± Kai¡¯s chest burned. He had known Wu Jiang was hiding something. But this¡ªthis was beyond simple ambition. This was madness. Liu Yue¡¯s voice was tight with restrained rage. ¡°Master, what do we do?¡± Kai inhaled sharply, his decision already made. ¡°We end this.¡± Liu Yu grinned, cracking her knuckles. ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to hear.¡± Liu Yue nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s move quickly.¡± Kai turned back to the prisoners. ¡°We get them out. Then we deal with Wu Jiang.¡± Liu Yue hesitated. ¡°And the disciples? Many of them are just following orders.¡± Kai¡¯s jaw tightened. Not all of Ironwood¡¯s members were innocent. But not all of them were guilty either. ¡°We handle it case by case,¡± he muttered. ¡°But first¡ª¡± He pressed a hand to the bars, sending a pulse of Qi through the metal. With a shattering crack, the locks exploded. The prisoners inside barely reacted. They were too weak and too broken. Kai clenched his fists. ¡°Yue, see if you can stabilize them. Yu, get ready for a fight.¡± Liu Yu smirked. ¡°Way ahead of you.¡± The alarm would be raised soon. Ironwood Chapter had been hiding in the shadows for far too long, conducting such depraved experiments on innocent victims. And now? Kai was going to do something about it. Chapter 27: The Shattering of Ironwood The underground chamber trembled as the battle erupted. The wails of the prisoners, the clanking of chains, and the emanation of corrupted Qi filled the air as Commander Wu Jiang and his two enhanced warriors rushed towards the pary of three, their eyes burning with raw, unstable power. The trio stood their ground. The situation was dire. They weren¡¯t just fighting Wu Jiang, both of his souped-up lieutenants were his strongest enforcers, each enhanced through unnatural forced cultivation techniques. Their Qi was erratic, their bodies unnaturally swollen with stolen energy. And then there were Ironwood Chapter¡¯s corrupted followers, rushing toward Kai¡¯s group in a blind frenzy, their eyes vacant. Kai clenched his fists. These people aren¡¯t our enemies¡­ but we have to get through them. Liu Yue¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°I¡¯ll subdue as many as I can without killing them.¡± Liu Yu cracked her knuckles. ¡°Tch. So no full-force attacks? Fine, I¡¯ll hold back.¡± Kai exclaimed. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± And the battle was met. The first wave of mindless disciples charged. Their eyes were void of reason, their movements eerily synchronized, like puppets controlled by invisible strings. Liu Yue moved first. Her fingers traced an intricate pattern in the air¡ªher Qi surged, weaving into spiraling threads of energy. ¡°Phantom Veil Formation!¡± A burst of violet mist engulfed the battlefield. Within moments, the movements of the attacking disciples slowed, their limbs heavy, their strikes delayed. It wasn¡¯t an attack¡ªit was an illusionary technique designed to dull aggression, making their attacks sluggish without harming them. The disciples stumbled, struggling against the unseen force suppressing their strikes. Kai stepped forward, deflecting blows without counterattacking. ¡°Good work,¡± he muttered. ¡°Now let¡¯s deal with the real threats.¡± Commander Wu Jiang grinned as his two mutated warriors stepped forward. Both were massive, their bodies grotesquely altered by stolen Qi. Their veins pulsed unnaturally, their eyes flickering with an eerie golden light. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Kill them,¡± Wu Jiang commanded, voice calm. The warriors moved. The first warrior lunged at Kai. His Qi-infused fist shot forward like a battering ram. Kai twisted at the last second, barely dodging as the attack obliterated the stone floor behind him. Liu Yu appeared beside him in an instant. She launched herself into a spinning aerial kick¡ª¡°Soaring Dragon Strike!¡± Her leg slammed into the warrior¡¯s ribs, sending him skidding backward. But instead of falling, he absorbed the impact, his Qi visibly swirling to repair the damage. Liu Yu frowned. ¡°These guys have unnatural recovery.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes narrowed. They¡¯re regenerating Qi instantly? The second warrior charged Liu Yue. His speed was unnatural for his size, his blade slicing through the air toward her throat. Liu Yue raised her palm. ¡°Moonlight Mirror Technique!¡± A shimmering barrier of energy formed in front of her, redirecting the warrior¡¯s own slash back at him. He grunted as his own Qi-infused blade cut into his shoulder, but instead of retreating, he roared and charged again. ¡°They¡¯re mindless, too,¡± Liu Yue muttered. ¡°They¡¯re fighting on instinct alone.¡± Kai¡¯s thoughts raced. If they absorb attacks, and they don¡¯t feel pain¡­ then brute force won¡¯t work. That meant¡ª They had to outthink them. Kai took a deep breath. ¡°Change of plan. Don¡¯t attack directly, let them deplete their Qi.¡± Liu Yue¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding. ¡°A reversal strategy?¡± Kai nodded. ¡°Lure them into overusing their Qi. The moment their energy destabilizes, we finish them.¡± Liu Yu grinned. ¡°Sounds fun.¡± The Counterattack The warriors rushed them again, their Qi blazing. But this time, Kai and the twins didn¡¯t fight back with brute force. Liu Yue feinted backward, forcing her opponent to expend Qi trying to break her barriers. Each time he swung, she redirected his power into the air, making him burn through his reserves. Liu Yu fought in a weaving pattern, dodging at the last second to let her opponent¡¯s attacks miss entirely, causing him to burn Qi through wasted movements. Kai used Eclipsing Palm to deflect strikes at the last moment, ensuring their energy rebounded instead of harming him. The battle shifted. The warriors, mindless and over-enhanced, were consuming Qi too rapidly¡ªtheir bodies struggling to contain the stolen energy. Then it happened. The first warrior stumbled. His Qi flickered¡ªhis body rejecting the stolen power. Kai¡¯s eyes flashed. Now. ¡°Twin Moon Devastation!¡± Liu Yue and Liu Yu attacked together. Liu Yue formed a vortex of pale energy, Liu Yu ignited her fists with blazing Qi. The two sisters struck in perfect harmony. Boom! The warrior was engulfed in a combined blast of force, sending him crashing into the stone pillars. He didn¡¯t rise again. The second warrior collapsed under his own unstable energy, his Qi surging out of control before exploding outward in a harmless burst. Only Wu Jiang remained. Wu Jiang¡¯s smile finally faded. ¡°I should¡¯ve known you¡¯d be a problem.¡± His Qi surged¡ªunlike his warriors, his control was precise. He wasn¡¯t just a brute relying on stolen power. Kai narrowed his eyes. He¡¯s the real threat. Wu Jiang moved like a specter, appearing in front of Kai in an instant. A palm strike shot forward¡ª Kai barely blocked, but the impact sent him flying into the far wall. Pain shot through his ribs. ¡°Master!¡± Liu Yue moved to intercept, but Wu Jiang vanished and reappeared behind her, striking her spine. She gasped, crumpling. Liu Yu attacked next, her fist glowing with golden energy. Wu Jiang smirked¡ªthen grabbed her wrist mid-strike. Before she could react, he redirected her attack into her own ribs, sending her crashing into the floor. Kai wiped blood from his lips, forcing himself up. Wu Jiang cracked his neck. ¡°You¡¯re all too slow.¡± Kai exhaled sharply. His body ached, but he wasn¡¯t done. His hand clenched. ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered. ¡°Then I won¡¯t hold back either.¡± Chapter 28: New technique Unlocked The underground chamber shook with the force of the battle. Dust and debris fell from the stone ceiling as Commander Wu Jiang stood tall amidst the chaos, his robes fluttering unnaturally. His Qi surged in a whirlwind of stolen energy, a raging storm barely contained within his body. Kai clenched his fists, his breathing steady despite the overwhelming pressure. Wu Jiang¡¯s power was immense¡ªunnatural, even. The forced cultivation techniques he had used had given him a seemingly endless reserve of energy. And worse? He was using it recklessly. The two enhanced warriors had already been dealt with, but the fight was far from over. The Ironwood Chapter¡¯s mindless disciples still swarmed, their expressions blank, attacking in waves. Liu Yue and Liu Yu were fending them off without lethal force, moving like twin whirlwinds amidst the chaos, disabling as many as they could. But the true fight¡ªthe real battle¡ªwas against Wu Jiang. Wu Jiang smiled, his voice rich with condescension. ¡°Did you think my warriors were my greatest weapons?¡± he asked. His Qi exploded outward, the air distorting from sheer energy. Kai gritted his teeth. He has way too much Qi¡ªit¡¯s practically spilling out of him. Liu Yu flicked her wrist, gripping the hilt of her sword. ¡°Alright, then. We¡¯ll just have to do something about it.¡± Wu Jiang chuckled. ¡°You foolish weaklings.¡± He raised a single palm. BOOM! A shockwave of pure Qi erupted, slamming into the trio. Kai and the twins were blasted back, skidding across the stone floor. Kai¡¯s muscles screamed in protest as he pushed himself up. Even with his defenses, that attack had rattled him. Liu Yue coughed, brushing blood from her lips. ¡°His Qi flow is insane. He¡¯s using stolen energy like it¡¯s infinite.¡± Wu Jiang laughed. ¡°I am infinite.¡± And then he moved. Faster than a man of his size had any right to. He appeared before Liu Yu in an instant, his hand coated in golden energy. His palm lashed out¡ªshe barely ducked in time, his strike carving a deep crater into the stone behind her. Liu Yu¡¯s eyes widened. One hit would¡¯ve shattered my ribs. Kai moved to intercept, but Wu Jiang twisted, his other hand snapping toward Liu Yue. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. She reacted, forming a shimmering Qi barrier¡ª CRACK! The barrier shattered like glass. Wu Jiang followed up with a kick, sending Liu Yue hurtling backward. Kai¡¯s eyes burned. He was too strong. Too fast. No¡ªnot just strong. Overloaded. His Qi was too abundant, too chaotic. He wasn¡¯t just using stolen power¡ªhe was leaking it. Kai¡¯s mind raced. If we keep going head-on, we¡¯ll lose. He took a deep breath. Time to outthink him. The Distraction Strategy Kai¡¯s eyes flicked toward the twins. ¡°We¡¯re switching tactics,¡± he murmured. Liu Yue wiped the blood from her lip, nodding. ¡°Tell us.¡± Kai¡¯s voice was calm despite the chaos. ¡°We need to keep him distracted. You two keep him engaged.¡± Liu Yu grinned. ¡°While you do what?¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Find an opening.¡± Liu Yue¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding. ¡°Understood.¡± Without another word, the sisters moved. Liu Yu went on the offensive, darting toward Wu Jiang with lightning-fast footwork, her blade slicing through the air in a deadly arc. Wu Jiang deflected with ease, but in that instant, Liu Yue struck from the other side, her hands weaving a complex formation. ¡°Phantom Chains!¡± Silver Qi tendrils lashed out, wrapping around Wu Jiang¡¯s limbs¡ªbinding him momentarily. Wu Jiang sneered. ¡°Pathetic.¡± A single burst of Qi¡ªhe shattered the bindings. But the twins weren¡¯t trying to hold him¡ªjust to make him waste energy. Liu Yu struck again¡ªWu Jiang countered, his Qi surging in violent bursts each time he deflected their blows. It¡¯s working, Kai thought. His Qi is burning faster. Kai moved behind Wu Jiang, preparing for the perfect strike. Kai struck, his palm slammed against Wu Jiang¡¯s back. A direct hit. Something unexpected happened next. The moment Kai made contact, a strange pull surged through his body. His Qi¡­ wasn¡¯t just attacking Wu Jiang. It was absorbing. He could feel Wu Jiang¡¯s Qi flooding into him¡ªrushing through his meridians, overwhelming, intoxicating. Wu Jiang snarled, his body trembling. ¡°W-What¡­ what is this?!¡± Kai¡¯s eyes widened. What the¡­ ? A memory flashed¡ªhis battle with the Ghoul of Lightness. Back then, he had unknowingly absorbed a fragment of the Ghoul¡¯s absorption technique. He was using the Absorption technique now, without even trying. Wu Jiang stumbled forward, his overwhelming Qi supply bleeding into Kai. His once boundless energy¡­ was draining. Kai¡¯s heart pounded. He had the advantage. He knew he could only contain that much Qi. This Qi had to be released. Wu Jiang gritted his teeth, trying to reestablish control. But Kai wasn¡¯t giving him a chance. He raised his hand, his Qi surging into formation. Darkness rippled through the chamber as a crescent-shaped void formed around his palm, flickering between black and golden light. ¡°Celestial Eclipse: Obsidian Moon Reversal.¡± The technique activated. Wu Jiang¡¯s own Qi, now absorbed into Kai, was turned against him. The energy compressed¡ªthen detonated outward. A crescent of pure destruction ripped through the air, slamming into Wu Jiang full force. BOOM. Wu Jiang screamed as his own power obliterated his body from within. His Qi, unstable, imploded¡ª And he collapsed. The Aftermath The dust settled. Wu Jiang¡¯s body lay still. His Qi, once an overwhelming storm, had vanished. Kai exhaled, his legs unsteady as the surge of stolen energy gradually dissipated. His meridians, overwhelmed by the influx of Qi, worked frantically to stabilize. It became clear¡ªhis current cultivation level couldn¡¯t retain such an excess of energy. His Qi circulation system lacked the capacity to store what he absorbed, forcing the excess to disperse. If he wanted to wield this ability effectively, he would have to use any absorbed Qi immediately, lest it slip through his grasp like water through cupped hands. Liu Yue and Liu Yu slowly approached, breathing heavily. Liu Yu nudged Wu Jiang¡¯s body with her foot. ¡°Is he dead?¡± Kai shook his head. ¡°No. But his cultivation is ruined. His meridians have been severed.¡± Liu Yue exhaled. ¡°Good. He deserves worse.¡± Kai looked around. The mindless disciples were stirring, their vacant expressions clearing. With Wu Jiang¡¯s energy gone, his hold over them had broken. Wu Jiang''s evil hold over Ironwood Chapter was over. Kai exhaled, rolling his shoulders. ¡°Now,¡± he muttered, glancing at the subdued disciples and prisoners, ¡°let¡¯s clean up this mess.¡± Chapter 29: A New Law The underground chamber had fallen into silence. The weight of the battle still lingered in the air¡ªthe shattered stone, the fading echoes of Qi bursts, the unconscious form of Commander Wu Jiang, now stripped of his power. Kai stood over him, chest rising and falling as his body adjusted from the overwhelming energy he had absorbed and released. His limbs still trembled from the aftereffects, but something heavier pressed on his shoulders. It wasn¡¯t exhaustion, it was responsibility. The room was filled with the faces of those who had suffered¡ªprisoners freed from their cages, former disciples regaining their senses, people who had been used and discarded for the sake of power. Their eyes were filled with fear, uncertainty¡­ and hope. Kai clenched his fists. This had to stop. He turned, his voice ringing through the chamber. ¡°Listen well.¡± Everyone looked up. Kai¡¯s gaze was sharp, unyielding. ¡°From this day forward, the Obsidian Peak Sect will not harm the innocent.¡± A murmur rippled through the crowd. Some of the freed prisoners looked stunned. The disciples still standing exchanged wary glances. Kai¡¯s voice grew colder, filled with something absolute. ¡°If any chapter under my rule continues these atrocities¡ªif they exploit, enslave, or torture the weak¡ªthere will be no mercy.¡± Silence. Then, one of the former Ironwood disciples stammered, ¡°B-But, Sect Lord¡­ the way of our sect has always been¡ª¡± Kai¡¯s glare cut him off. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°This changes.¡± His words echoed like a commandment. ¡°No more mindless cruelty. No more slaughtering the weak just because we can. No more stealing lives to gain power.¡± His chest burned with anger, not just at Wu Jiang, but at the system that allowed this to happen. At the people who stood by and let it continue. For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Liu Yu grinned, cracking her knuckles. ¡°I like this new rule.¡± Liu Yue nodded, folding her arms. ¡°It¡¯s about time someone fixed this mess.¡± Kai exhaled, the last shred of doubt slipping away. I didn¡¯t choose to lead this sect, I didn¡¯t want this power. But if I leave now, nothing changes. And too many people have already suffered for that reason. His fingers curled. I can¡¯t abandon them. Kai turned toward one of the surviving Ironwood disciples¡ªone who hadn¡¯t taken part in the atrocities. ¡°You,¡± Kai said, pointing at him. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The young man swallowed. ¡°Shen Rui, Sect Lord.¡± Kai nodded. ¡°You¡¯re my envoy now. You and a handful of others will travel to every chapter of the Obsidian Peak Sect.¡± Shen Rui¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°W-What? Me?¡± Kai¡¯s gaze was unwavering. ¡°You are now the Sect''s envoy. Spread my decree. Any chapter leader who continues these twisted practices¡ªanyone who refuses to change¡ªwill be dealt with. Personally.¡± A hush fell over the room. Shen Rui hesitated before bowing deeply. ¡°It will be done, Sect Lord.¡± Kai nodded. ¡°Good.¡± He turned toward the rest of the freed prisoners, many of whom still looked lost, broken. ¡°You¡¯re free now,¡± Kai said. ¡°No one here owns you anymore. What you do next is up to you.¡± Some of them collapsed in relief. Others simply stared, disbelieving. Kai clenched his jaw. They¡¯ve been broken so badly they don¡¯t even know how to react to freedom anymore. The thought filled him with rage. He turned back to Liu Yue and Liu Yu. ¡°We¡¯re not done. We need more envoys to spread the new rules to all the Chapters.¡± Liu Yue studied him. ¡°You seem¡­ different¡± Kai drew in a slow, measured breath. He didn¡¯t want to. His old life still called to him¡ªthe quiet days of reading, of sorting books, of living far away from this brutal, blood-soaked world. But he couldn¡¯t leave, not yet. Not while the Obsidian Peak Sect was still filled with monsters like Wu Jiang. Not while there were still people who needed someone to stand against them. Liu Yu smirked. ¡°I thought you were always looking for an excuse to run away.¡± Kai exhaled. ¡°¡­I was.¡± He looked down at his hands. For the first time since he had arrived in this world, he wasn¡¯t afraid of his own power. He was afraid of what would happen if he didn¡¯t use it. ¡°I¡¯m staying, for now,¡± Kai said quietly. Liu Yue gave a rare smile. ¡°Good.¡± Liu Yu threw an arm over his shoulder. ¡°Guess you¡¯re stuck with us, Master.¡± Kai chuckled, shaking his head. Chapter 30: The Girl who Vanished Han sat on the worn wooden steps of the hut, staring at the empty space where she had once been. The girl was gone. He had nursed her back to health, staying silently at her side, watching as the miraculous flower sap worked its magic. Day by day, her lifeless eyes had regained clarity, the cloudy film fading into the warmth of recognition. He had not spoken to her throughout the entire period, he did not know her name nor her origins. He had just been staying quietly by her side. And then, one day¡­ she was just gone. No note. No farewell. Just a lingering emptiness that gnawed at the edges of his thoughts. Han wasn¡¯t a sentimental man, but something about her departure unsettled him. Had she been taken? Or had she simply chosen to leave? His only clue had been her faint footprints in the damp soil, leading away from the hut and disappearing into the thick underbrush. Her tracks had been faint but not impossible to trace. He followed the subtle impressions of her steps¡ªdisturbed grass, broken twigs, and the lightest of prints in the soft earth. The trail led him through the forest, across a shallow river, and toward Clearwater Village, a quiet settlement nestled in a valley. Smoke from cooking fires curled lazily into the sky, and the sound of merchants haggling in the square carried through the crisp morning air. Han had entered the village unnoticed. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Clearwater was the kind of place where news traveled swiftly, so he had asked casual questions, never too direct. A young girl? About this tall? A few villagers had seen her. They said she had passed through. No one could say where she had gone. Han felt a twinge of irritation. He had half a mind to scour the entire village, but he had already learned that some things, some people¡ªdid not want to be found. Still, he didn¡¯t leave immediately. That was when he ran into a most irritating young man who challenged him to a drinking contest. Han didn¡¯t like him immediately. The young man carried himself with an easy, careless arrogance, his expression always hovering between a smirk and a look of mild amusement. His laziness, his lack of worry, his irritating self-assurance. Han had spent years training, surviving, enduring¡ªyet here was a man who looked as if he had never known a day of hardship in his life. And so, before he even realized it, he had accepted the challenge. One jug. Two jugs. Three jugs. By the time they reached six, Han barely remembered why he had come to Clearwater in the first place. The last thing he recalled was the fool pounding the table, slurring something about destiny, and then promptly passing out face-first into his own drink. When Han awoke, the girl¡¯s trail had gone cold. Frustrated, he returned to the hut, hoping¡ªperhaps foolishly¡ªthat she would come back. But days passed. And she never did. Han had convinced himself to move on when the pendant flashed again. A familiar pulse of energy surged from the small, ancient object hanging from his neck. Then, a whisper¡ªnot spoken aloud, but embedded into his thoughts. Recover the five Foundation Stone Rings. Han frowned. Rings? The pendant had led him to the Twilight Spirit Bloom before¡ªan item whose purpose he still did not fully understand. And now, it spoke of rings. Five rings. Worn by five highly skilled cultivators, the Guardians of the Void Realm. Each ring represented one of the five elemental forces Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Han didn¡¯t ask why. The pendant never explained itself. It simply gave a direction. He turned his gaze to the worn-out hut one last time, his fingers tracing over the doorframe as if committing it to memory. The girl was truly gone, there was nothing left for him here. He tightened his pack, adjusted his cloak, and took his first step toward the unknown. The first ring. The first guardian. Han didn¡¯t know why he was collecting these things, nor did he particularly care. The pendant had led him this far. And it had never been wrong. Time to move. Without hesitation, he stepped into the unknown once more. Chapter 31: The Girl Who Followed The journey back to headquarters had been uneventful¡ªuntil Liu Yue abruptly stopped. ¡°We¡¯re being followed,¡± she said, her voice calm but certain. Kai halted mid-step, his senses sharpening. ¡°You sure?¡± Liu Yu grinned, stretching her arms. ¡°Oh yeah. Been trailing us for a while now. Thought it was some assassin at first, but¡­¡± she trailed off, glancing over her shoulder. Kai¡¯s eyes narrowed. He wasn¡¯t in the mood for more surprises. ¡°Let¡¯s catch them.¡± The three of them disappeared in an instant, their figures flickering as they leaped into the trees, moving swiftly and soundlessly. They weaved through the branches, circling around to cut off their pursuer. Kai landed silently, his fingers flexing as he prepared to grab whoever it was. Then¡ª A small, startled yelp broke the tension. A girl stumbled out from behind a tree, her hands raised in surrender. ¡°W-Wait! Don¡¯t kill me! I¡ªuh¡ªplease don¡¯t hurt me!¡± Kai blinked. His breath caught for a moment. He recognized her. She was the good-looking young lady with the large, soulful eyes¡ªthe one who had been harassed by that big man back in Clearwater Village. Kai had stepped in, helping her subdue that burly brute, and somehow that whole mess had led him into a big drinking contest with a robotic guy. At the time, he had thought nothing of it. Just another random event in his chaotic life. But now¡ªshe was here. Following them. Kai was pleasantly surprised. They had expected an enemy, maybe a spy or rogue cultivator. Instead, they got a completely normal, innocent girl who had somehow wandered into the chaotic world of cultivators. Kai rubbed his temples, sighing. ¡°You¡­ followed us all the way from Clearwater Village?¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The girl nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes! I saw you there, and I thought¡ª¡®Wow, what an interesting group!¡¯ Then I saw you again after that huge battle, and I figured it must be fate!¡± Liu Yu burst into laughter. ¡°You think it¡¯s fate? You must be crazy.¡± She pouted. ¡°I am not crazy! I just¡ªum¡ª¡± she fidgeted before blurting out, ¡°I want to go with you! I¡¯ll take care of you!¡± Kai froze. ¡°¡­What?¡± The girl beamed. ¡°You¡¯re a big, important Sect Lord, right? You probably don¡¯t eat well or sleep properly! You need someone to take care of you! So¡­ I¡¯ll be that person!¡± Kai¡¯s brain short-circuited. Liu Yue gave a small chuckle. ¡°How¡­ sweet.¡± Liu Yu smirked and elbowed Kai. ¡°Ohhh, look at that, Master. She wants to be your personal caretaker.¡± Kai glared at her. ¡°Shut it.¡± Meng Yao clasped her hands together. ¡°Please let me stay in your sect! I¡¯ll cook, I¡¯ll clean, I¡¯ll¡ªuh¡ªdo whatever normal people do for strong cultivators like you!¡± Kai chuckled softly. He had never expected to see her again, much less like this. Kai studied her for a moment before finally asking, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The girl blinked, then smiled brightly. ¡°Meng Yao!¡± He sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Meng Yao. Do you know what kind of place my sect is?¡± Meng Yao tilted her head. ¡°A big, scary sect where people fight and stuff?¡± Liu Yue sighed. ¡°She¡¯s clueless.¡± Kai exhaled. ¡°Exactly. And you want to live there? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is?¡± Meng Yao nodded seriously. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s why I¡¯ll stay close both big sisters and you! You guys will protect me, right?¡± Kai massaged his temples. ¡°This girl is insane.¡± Kai sighed. ¡°Look, I get it. But you can¡¯t just stay in a sect for fun. It¡¯s not a place for people like you.¡± Meng Yao pouted. ¡°But¡ª!¡± Before she could argue, Liu Yu stepped in. ¡°She can stay.¡± Kai whipped around. ¡°What?¡± Liu Yue nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll watch over her.¡± Kai scowled. ¡°You¡¯re encouraging this?¡± Liu Yu grinned. ¡°Of course! It¡¯s rare to find someone so¡­ normal. It¡¯d be fun.¡± Meng Yao beamed. ¡°See? Even they agree!¡± Kai groaned. Liu Yue smirked. ¡°Besides, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s refreshing? A normal person who isn¡¯t trying to kill us, betray us, or manipulate us?¡± Kai grumbled. ¡°¡­Fine.¡± Meng Yao cheered. ¡°Yay! You won¡¯t regret this!¡± Liu Yu nudged Meng Yao teasingly. ¡°Ohhh, look how happy she is. Meng Yao, are you sure you¡¯re just here to ¡®take care of Kai¡¯? Or do you like him?¡± Meng Yao froze. Her face turned bright red. ¡°W-WHAT?! NO!! I¡ªTHAT¡¯S NOT¡ª¡± Liu Yue chuckled softly. ¡°Adorable.¡± Meng Yao flailed her arms. ¡°You guys are horrible! I just want to be helpful!¡± Kai shook his head, sighing. ¡°This is going to be a headache¡­¡± Returning to the Sect When they finally returned to the Obsidian Peak Sect headquarters, the sight was almost overwhelming. The sect disciples had already heard rumors about Kai''s exploits at Ironwood Chapter. When Kai entered, they bowed deeply, a rare sight, considering many still didn¡¯t know what to make of their new Sect Lord. Liu Yue and Liu Yu walked beside him, Meng Yao trailing behind, wide-eyed. ¡°Wow,¡± Meng Yao whispered. ¡°This place is huge¡­¡± Kai ignored her, scanning the sect grounds. It was time. He had already sent envoys to deliver his new law¡ªa law forbidding cruelty against the innocent. But laws weren¡¯t enough. He needed to change the very foundation of this sect. He needed to rebuild it. As his disciples bowed, Kai stood at the center of his sect, watching the people who now followed him. This place, this den of cruelty, ambition, and power, was now in his hands. He wanted nothing to do with it. Yet, he couldn¡¯t walk away. What was the next step? Reforming an evil sect won¡¯t be easy. Since he had ended up here, he would do it his way. Chapter 32: Uncle Wood Yin Shuang sat on the cold stone bench inside her chamber, the soft glow of lanterns casting flickering shadows across the walls. Despite her recent promotion within the Heavenly Radiance Sect, she felt an emptiness that gnawed at her soul. Respect came with status, but never companionship. She clenched her fists. ¡°Why does it feel lonelier the higher I climb?¡± There was no one to confide in, no one she could trust¡ªnot the elders, not her so-called comrades. The only place where she could truly be herself was deep within the sect¡¯s dungeons, a forgotten, isolated area where an old prisoner remained locked away. Uncle Wood. That was what she called him. A silent man, imprisoned long before she had even entered the sect. His presence was still as stone, his body unmoving like a tree that had taken root in the depths of the earth. When she was younger, she had stumbled upon his cell and, in her loneliness, had begun speaking to him. She never knew if he truly listened, but it didn¡¯t matter. He never judged, never responded, he merely existed. And somehow, that was enough. The dim torchlight flickered as Yin made her way down into the dungeon, her boots barely making a sound against the rough stone. The air was damp, filled with the musty scent of age-old confinement. ¡°At least Uncle Wood is always here,¡± she thought bitterly. She stopped in front of his cell, as she always did. ¡°I¡¯m back, Uncle Wood,¡± she whispered, leaning against the cold iron bars. ¡°I had another rough day.¡± As always, he did not reply. His head remained bowed, his hands resting on his knees. She exhaled deeply and was about to continue when¡ª A sudden pinpoint force of Qi pressed against her back! Before she could react, her body was immobilized, her limbs unresponsive, her Qi completely locked down. It was as if invisible chains had wrapped around her. ¡°What¡ªwho¡ª?!¡± A shadowed figure moved past her with calm, deliberate steps. A young man. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. His eyes, a deep steel-gray, hold an unwavering focus, always scanning his surroundings, always watching. His presence was composed yet powerful, his aura completely restrained yet carrying an underlying storm-like intensity. He wears simple, practical clothing, a dark tunic and loose-fitting pants, bound at the waist with a plain sash. His boots are well-worn, the leather scarred by the miles he has walked. There are no unnecessary embellishments, no flashy insignias¡ªonly function over form. Around his neck hangs a pendant, a piece of dark metal etched with ancient markings, its surface smooth. He walked toward Uncle Wood¡¯s cell and, without hesitation, struck the rusted lock with a single precise motion. CRACK. The iron lock snapped, the cell door creaking open. The man took a step inside. ¡°My name is Han Long,¡± he said in an unwavering tone. ¡°I have come to challenge you for the ring.¡± Yin Shuang¡¯s eyes widened. Challenge? She had never heard anyone address Uncle Wood before. To everyone else, he was just a forgotten prisoner, an old relic that had long lost meaning. But this stranger¡­ he wanted something from Uncle Wood. For the first time in all the years Yin had visited him, Uncle Wood moved. Slowly, deliberately, his fingers twitched. His head lifted ever so slightly, and his dull, lifeless eyes focused for the first time in what seemed like eternity. And then he spoke. ¡°So¡­ someone has finally come for this ring.¡± Yin gasped. ¡°He can talk?¡± Her mind reeled. She had spent years talking to him, pouring her heart out, and not once had he ever spoken a word. Yet now, he was looking at this Han Long¡ªthis intruder¡ªwith a gaze that was neither kind nor cruel. It was¡­ knowing. He lifted his right hand, and for the first time, Yin saw it clearly. A ring. Simple in design, but upon closer inspection, the silver band was embedded with tiny wooden engravings¡ªdelicate carvings of ancient symbols. As Uncle Wood spoke, the ring began to glow faintly, pulsing with an earthy, Qi-infused light. ¡°I have stayed here for many years to ensure that this ring never falls into the wrong hands.¡± A brief silence. Then his voice dropped into a threatening growl. ¡°If you want it¡­¡± His fingers clenched into a fist. The air within the dungeon trembled. ¡°You will have to pry it from my dead body!¡± Uncle Wood lunged forward with a speed Yin never thought possible. ¡°What¡ª?!¡± The old man, who had spent decades sitting still, moved like a blur, his hand striking toward Han Long¡¯s chest with unimaginable force. BOOM! The very air cracked, the dungeon walls shaking from the impact. Yin barely managed to roll away before being caught in the shockwave. Han Long¡¯s feet skidded back, but he didn¡¯t waver. His stance remained steady, his expression calm. With a flick of his wrist, a golden aura surged from his ring¡ªan energy unlike anything Yin had ever sensed before. ¡°Show me what you are capable of!¡± Uncle Wood bellowed. The battle had begun. As the two warriors clashed, Yin could only watch in shock. This entire time, she thought Uncle Wood was just a forgotten old man. Someone left to rot in the depths of the dungeon. But in reality¡ª He was a guardian of some sort, a protector of something far more important than she had ever imagined. And now, Han Long wanted that ring. ¡°What exactly is that ring? Why does he want it?¡± She gritted her teeth. She had been ignorant this whole time. Talking to a prisoner like he was just some broken soul¡­ But now¡ª She needed to know the truth. As the battle raged on and it terrified her. Chapter 33: Guardian of the Wood Ring The dungeon trembled. The moment Uncle Wood moved, it was as if the entire underground chamber had come alive. The very foundation of the Heavenly Radiance Sect seemed to awaken beneath their feet, responding to the old prisoner¡¯s will. Han Long lunged forward with a swift strike, his blade aimed directly at Uncle Wood¡¯s chest. But before his steel could reach its target¡ª BAM! A thick pillar of wood erupted from the stone floor, slamming into Han¡¯s stomach like a battering ram. He barely had time to react before¡ª CRACK! Another sharp wooden spike shot from the side, forcing Han to twist his body mid-air to avoid being impaled. Yin Shuang gasped. ¡°This isn¡¯t just some old prisoner¡­ he¡¯s a monster.¡± She had never seen such raw control over wood-based Qi techniques. The dungeon itself had become Uncle Wood¡¯s weapon¡ªa labyrinth of twisting roots and brutal wooden formations, all obeying his command with perfect precision. Han hit the ground hard, rolling as another wooden column crashed down where he had just been standing. The shockwave sent dust and loose stone flying in all directions. ¡°Tch.¡± He wiped a streak of blood from his lips. His body was already aching from the last hit, but there was no time to dwell on pain. He dashed forward again, his palms reaching toward Uncle Wood¡¯s shoulder¡ª But wooden tendrils erupted from the walls, lashing out like whip-like vines, forcing him to parry wildly. SNAP! A thick root wrapped around his ankle, yanking him backward with brutal force. CRASH! Han¡¯s back slammed against the ceiling, the impact momentarily knocking the breath from his lungs before he came crashing down. He barely caught himself before his head hit the ground, rolling onto his feet once more. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Damn¡­ he¡¯s fast for someone who¡¯s been locked up for decades!¡± Uncle Wood¡¯s Unmatched Control Unlike Han, Uncle Wood barely moved. He remained standing with his arms folded behind his back, his expression unreadable. He was not rushing forward, not dodging, not even raising a weapon¡ªonly commanding the battlefield itself with ruthless efficiency. ¡°The arrogance of youth,¡± he muttered. ¡°Rushing in without understanding your enemy.¡± He raised a single hand, and in an instant¡ª Thick wooden spikes exploded from the floor. Like sharpened spears, they erupted from beneath Han¡¯s feet, forcing him to leap backward. But before he could land¡ª A thick wooden pillar shot out from behind, striking him mid-air. BOOM! Han was launched across the dungeon, his body slamming into a wall with a dull, sickening thud. ¡°No way¡­¡± Yin Shuang whispered, her heart pounding in disbelief. She had never seen anyone control wood Qi techniques like this before. Uncle Wood didn¡¯t just grow wood from the earth¡ªhe commanded it like an extension of his body. The very foundations of the dungeon were his limbs, his weapons, his armor. This wasn¡¯t a battle between two warriors. This was a fight between a man¡­ and an unbreakable force of nature. Han coughed, shaking his head as he tried to push himself up. Blood dripped from a cut on his forehead. His vision blurred for a moment, he was losing. No¡ªmore than that. He had never been at such a disadvantage before. Every time he attacked, the battlefield itself would fight against him. Every time he tried to move, roots, vines, or wooden spears would block his path. It was not just Uncle Wood¡¯s power that overwhelmed him¡ªit was his absolute control over the terrain. ¡°This old man¡­ He¡¯s turning the entire battlefield against me.¡± Uncle Wood sighed, shaking his head. ¡°You are reckless. You come here demanding my ring, yet you lack the power to claim it.¡± He stepped forward, and the ground beneath him rippled like the surface of a pond, more wooden roots rising in response to his movement. ¡°This is why I have stayed imprisoned. To keep this ring away from unworthy hands.¡± He lifted his arm, and suddenly¡ª The wooden floor rose up like a tidal wave, crashing toward Han Long with the force of a landslide. ¡°He¡¯s going to be crushed!¡± Yin Shuang couldn¡¯t breathe. She had seen powerful cultivators before. She had witnessed the grandmasters of the Heavenly Radiance Sect wield blazing light techniques, cutting down entire armies. But this¡­ This wasn¡¯t just strength. This was absolute, terrifying mastery. ¡°Who¡­ who is he really?¡± She had spent years talking to him, thinking he was just a silent old man locked away in some forgotten cell. And now, before her very eyes, that same silent man was turning the dungeon into a battleground of destruction. Han Long''s mind was racing. ¡°If I don¡¯t do something now¡­ I¡¯ll be buried alive.¡± The massive wooden tidal wave loomed over him, ready to crash down and end the fight. His normal techniques were useless. Every move was countered, every path blocked. There was only one way left. Chapter 34: Wood vs Beast Han Long staggered back, his breathing ragged. His arms burned with pain, his body bruised and battered from the relentless assault of Uncle Wood¡¯s merciless techniques. The dungeon had become a battlefield of chaos¡ªwooden beams, roots, and shattered debris littered the floor, the air thick with dust and Qi residue. Yet despite all this, Uncle Wood stood firm, his presence as unshakable as a mountain. He had taken barely any damage, while Han was reaching his limit. Han gritted his teeth. If this fight dragged on any longer, his body would give out before his spirit did. And another attack came. Uncle Wood thrust a hand forward, and a massive wooden beam erupted from the ground, roaring toward Han like a battering ram. Han raised his sword, ready to deflect¡ªbut he knew it was futile. He was outmatched. He needed something more. Something primal. The moment the wooden beam was about to crash into him¡ª Something awoke deep within Han¡¯s Core. A roar¡ªnot from his throat, but from his very soul. A surge of untamed, ferocious power erupted from within, overwhelming his senses like a wildfire. His Qi flared violently, but it was different. It was no longer just a refined aura¡ªit was a Qi manifestation. The wooden beam rushed toward him, but instead of dodging¡ª Han¡¯s Qi manifested into the form of a massive, spectral wolf, its translucent fangs gleaming like polished steel, its eyes burning with a deep, emerald glow. This was no ordinary beast¡ªit was born for destruction, its very essence designed to shred and devour wood with merciless efficiency. Whenever it lunged, its spectral fangs sank into the wooden beams, chewing and tearing through them like brittle twigs. With each attack, the creature''s claws tore into the wood, shredding it apart as if it were nothing but paper, sending splinters flying in every direction. Han unlocked the Feral Beast Technique! It was wild, unrestrained and primal, the very essence of destruction. Yin Shuang gasped. ¡°What¡­ what kind of technique is that?!¡± Uncle Wood¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing the shift in power. But before he could react¡ª Han charged. Now, every wooden assault that Uncle Wood hurled at him was shredded apart instantly¡ªtorn, crushed, and devoured by the relentless fury of Han¡¯s newfound power. A massive root as thick as a man¡¯s torso lunged at him, twisting like a serpent ready to ensnare its prey. The Timberfang Wolf manifestation lunged, its spectral fangs clamping down with a sickening crunch, severing the root in a single bite. The remains fell lifelessly to the ground, gnawed and useless. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. A colossal wooden beam¡ªthick as a temple pillar¡ªdescended from above, threatening to crush Han where he stood. BOOM! The Qi-beast snarled and leapt, its claws slicing through the beam mid-air, reducing it to a rain of splinters before it could even reach him. A final desperate wall of bark and vines erupted between them, a last-ditch effort by Uncle Wood to slow his advance. The beast¡¯s claws ripped through the barricade like a rabid predator, shredding vines, splintering bark, and reducing it all to nothing more than mulch beneath Han¡¯s feet. Yin Shuang could only watch in awe, her breath caught in her throat. ¡°This¡­ this is no ordinary Qi technique. It¡¯s¡­ wild. Untamed. A force of pure destruction.¡± Before this battle, Uncle Wood had controlled the battlefield with absolute dominance. But now? It was Han Long¡¯s turn to gain the upper hand. Each time Han attacked, his Qi-beast tore through the obstacles, its fangs and claws rending everything in its path. Uncle Wood¡¯s once unbreakable battlefield was now being torn apart. But this power came at a cost. Han could feel his Qi draining rapidly. His cultivation level was not yet strong enough to sustain such a high-level manifestation technique for long. His vision blurred slightly, his limbs growing heavier with each movement. ¡°I need to finish this now!¡± His eyes flickered toward the wooden beams still scattered across the battlefield. That¡¯s when an idea struck him. Han suddenly stopped attacking and did something unexpected¡ª Instead of cutting down the next incoming wooden beam, he redirected his Qi, grabbing it mid-air and twisting his body. Han gritted his teeth as the massive wooden beam hurtled toward him, a force of nature meant to crush him into the dungeon floor. Instead of dodging, he planted his feet firmly, twisting his body at the last moment. His Qi surged, raw power rippling through his muscles as he caught the beam¡¯s momentum and let it carry him into a spinning arc. The air howled around him, dust and debris spiraling from the sheer force. With a roar, he hurled it back! The colossal beam tore through the air like a battering ram, flipping end over end as it hurtled straight toward its master. Uncle Wood¡¯s eyes narrowed¡ªa flicker of recognition, the first trace of shock he had shown in this battle. And then, impact! The wooden projectile slammed into the walls of his own creation, triggering a chain reaction as beams, roots, and shattered debris came cascading down upon him. The very battlefield he had shaped was now collapsing upon him. Yin Shuang gasped, eyes wide as the dust settled. ¡°No way¡­ he turned Uncle Wood¡¯s own attack against him!¡± The force of his counterattack sent the beam flying, smashing into another set of wooden pillars, causing a chain reaction of collapsing debris. Uncle Wood¡¯s eyes widened slightly¡ªthe first sign of surprise he had shown in the entire fight. For all his control over wood, he hadn¡¯t expected his own battlefield to be used against him. By the time he tried to counter¡ªit was too late. CRASH! A massive wooden structure collapsed on top of him, beams and roots intertwining, burying Uncle Wood beneath his own technique. For the first time since the fight began¡ªthe dungeon fell silent. Han stood still, panting, watching for any signs of movement. Nothing. Uncle Wood lay unconscious beneath the wreckage. Han stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he approached Uncle Wood¡¯s body. His heart was still racing, his blood still burning from the intoxication of battle. His fingers curled around the hilt of his sword. One final strike, that would be the end of it. He raised his palm¡ª ¡°Please, spare him!¡± A desperate voice cut through the tension. Han¡¯s focus broke as Yin Shuang spoke out, her eyes wide with urgency. ¡°You¡¯ve already won! Please¡­ don¡¯t kill him.¡± Han hesitated. His mind was still clouded with the high of battle, the taste of victory, the rush of conquering a strong opponent. But as he looked into Yin Shuang¡¯s eyes¡­ Something in him snapped back to reality. His grip loosened. His mind cleared. Han knelt down beside Uncle Wood¡¯s unconscious form. The ring was still on his finger, glowing faintly. Han reached forward, gripping it firmly¡ª And pried it off. As soon as he did, the Qi within the ring pulsed, a strange energy briefly flowing into his hand before settling. Yin Shuang watched silently, relieved yet wary. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± she asked quietly. Han turned away. ¡°I got what I came for.¡± Without another word, he started toward the dungeon exit, his newly acquired ring glinting under the torchlight. And with that, Han Long vanished into the shadows.