The Celestial Ascension Tournament had ended, but its aftermath would shake the empire for years to come.
The Wen Clan had not only won—they had dominated. The strength they displayed was no longer that of a declining noble family. No longer could the imperial court, rival sects, or the great clans ignore them.
And yet, Wen Wuxing had no intention of ruling this kingdom.
It was too small.
The Hidden Star Sect had already begun its withdrawal. The Veil of Heaven Pavilion remained, ensuring that the empire remained in turmoil. The Wen Clan's enemies had been marked.
Tonight, blood would flow.
The Night of Cleansing
The capital was eerily silent.
Most of the city still celebrated the tournament's conclusion, unaware that a silent war was already underway.
From the rooftops, black-robed assassins moved unseen, their daggers glinting in the moonlight.
The Veil of Heaven Pavilion had given the order.
One by one, key figures of the Wen Clan's enemies vanished.
• The Zhao Clan's surviving elders—cut down before they could regroup.
• The Black Jade Pavilion's backers—silenced in their sleep.
• Corrupt imperial ministers who had conspired against the Wen Clan—exterminated before dawn.
By morning, the capital awoke to chaos.
The Zhao Clan had fallen. The once-great noble house was now nothing but a ruin, its banners burned, its bloodline severed.
The imperial ministers gathered in secret, their faces pale. "Who will stop them?" they whispered.
No one had an answer.
For the first time in history, the empire itself trembled.
A Silent Departure – The Hidden Star Sect Moves Beyond
Deep within the Veil of Heaven Pavilion, Wen Wuxing stood before Elder Wen Qian and Bai Zheng, the Hidden Star Sect's leader.
"The Hidden Star Sect must leave," Wuxing said. "This kingdom is no longer our battlefield."
Bai Zheng bowed. "We have already begun preparations. The sect will relocate beyond the empire, where we will establish a power unseen by the world."
Wuxing nodded. It was time.
The Hidden Star Sect had grown too notorious. If they stayed, the empire would continue to hunt them. But far beyond the empire's reach, they would become a hidden force unlike any other.
By sunrise, the Hidden Star Sect had vanished.
But the Veil of Heaven Pavilion remained—ensuring that even in their absence, the empire would never escape their influence.
Imperial Retaliation—Denied
By dawn, the imperial court was in uproar.
Ministers, generals, and sect leaders gathered before the emperor, demanding action.
"The Wen Clan has gone too far! They have destroyed noble houses! This cannot be tolerated!"
The emperor sat in silence.
The truth was clear.
The Golden Dragon Guard, the empire's strongest force, had been sent to crush the Wen Clan.
But when they arrived—the Wen Clan was gone.
The estate stood empty, abandoned as if they had never existed.
Only a single jade slip floated in the air. A minister grabbed it, infusing it with qi.
A cold, commanding voice echoed through the halls of the imperial palace.
"The heavens are vast, but the Wen Clan's destiny lies beyond this kingdom. We will not bow to weak emperors and corrupt nobles. Seek us, and you will find only death."
Silence.
The emperor's hands clenched. They had escaped.
And worse—they had left the empire in chaos.
The Veil of Heaven Pavilion remained, hidden within the shadows of the imperial court, ensuring that no ruler, no general, and no minister would ever move freely again.
The empire had not destroyed the Wen Clan.
The Wen Clan had destroyed the empire.
The Portable Realm—Wen Wuxing's Ascension
Far beyond the empire, within the ancient portable realm, Wen Wuxing sat in meditation.
Here, time flowed differently. Here, he would complete his next step.
The final seal on his bloodline shattered, and a surge of pure celestial energy flooded his body. His meridians burned as they expanded, his spiritual core cracking apart before reforming into something greater.
Ding!
Breakthrough Detected – Advancing to the Divine Ascension Realm.
A golden storm of qi erupted around him, warping the space of the realm itself. Ancient runes lit up on the walls, reacting to his newfound power.
His body had transcended mortal limits. His understanding of cultivation had evolved.
When Wuxing opened his eyes, they shone with ethereal light.
The empire had been too small.
Now, he would carve his name into the greater world.