There were four great demonic sects and five great righteous sects within the Evermoon Dynasty.
To be recognized as a great sect, having a single Nascent Stage cultivator wasn't enough—at least four were required.
The Demonic Dragon Sect was one of them.
With seven Nascent Stage cultivators, it wasn't the weakest either.
Interestingly, the number aligned perfectly with the sect's seven peaks and the seven unique cultivation techniques practiced within.
It was a fortunate coincidence, as not all peaks always had a master.
Despite its strength, the sect wasn't seen as a major threat to others.
Like most demonic cultivators, its members were selfish and often at odds with one another.
They only united when their shared interests were threatened.
In fact, it was precisely because of such a shared interest that the sect still held together at all.
It was like the attack on the Master of the Green Dragon Peak—none of the fellow peak masters, who had been together with him, dared to stand by his side when things became too dangerous.
In fact, most secretly hoped something would happen to the young peak master.
It would mean more resources and power for them within the sect.
None would admit that they feared the potential of the young Green Dragon, though.
The woman in red was among them—the Master of the Red Dragon Peak.
A Mid-stage Nascent cultivator.
On the surface, she was stronger than Alex, but the scar on her neck told a different story, one known only to a few.
She had arrived because her peak was closest to the Green Dragon Peak, and, having been keeping a close watch, she came the moment she sensed something amiss.
Unlike Evelyn, who felt a vague pressure, Nascent cultivators like her had sharper senses.
She suspected that others would arrive soon, as she wasn't the only one monitoring the Green Dragon Peak.
The reason was clear.
The Seventh Elder had been injured, yet despite attempts from several elders—and even the sect master—to bring him out of his cave, he had made multiple excuses.
It was obvious he was hiding.
But knowing the arrogance of the Seventh Elder, this behavior was completely out of character.
Something was wrong!
The Nascent cultivators of the Demonic Dragon Sect all came to the same conclusion.
However, they weren't concerned about his well-being.
Well, not exactly. They only worried whether his injuries would kill him.
None of the elders would ever go so far as to kill him—not publicly, at least. The image of unity had to be maintained.
If an elder was under attack, another elder was supposed to intervene, setting an example for the rest.
So, it wasn't that Demonic cultivators lacked unity. They did. It was just that it was often fragile.
Alex's case was a perfect example. They tried their best, but only within their own comfort zones.
However, if he truly died, none of them would hesitate to claim his treasures—especially his body.
The body of a Nascent cultivator was a rare and valuable treasure.
The woman in red, Master of the Red Dragon Peak, stood imposingly in the air.
Her gaze pierced through Evelyn like a dagger.
The pressure was suffocating, making it hard for Evelyn to breathe.
However, before the woman in red could act, several figures appeared mid-air beside her.
There were five of them.
Evelyn's heart sank the moment she saw them.
Even though they didn't unleash their aura like the woman in red had, she could instinctively sense that none of them were weaker. Some even gave off a more dangerous presence.
What made her heart freeze was the moment she recognized one of them.
"Junior greets the Sect Master!" Evelyn forced herself to speak up, bowing quickly.
A man dressed in flowing black robes turned his gaze toward her.
Evelyn didn't dare lift her head, but she could feel his terrifying presence bearing down on her.
The only relief she felt was when the woman in red withdrew her aura—likely due to the Sect Master's arrival.
"What are you doing here?"
A deep voice rang out, making Evelyn's knees tremble.
It was the Second Master.
"M-Master told me to remain here," she stammered.
"Master?"
"Y-yes... and M-Master isn't receiving any visitors at the moment."
She braced herself for the backlash, expecting a wave of pressure to slam into her.
But it didn't come.
That unexpected mercy caught her off guard. It frightened her even more, making her press her forehead tighter against the ground, not daring to raise it.
Master... where are you? she cried out internally.
Even though they had barely interacted, Evelyn clung to the belief that her Master was strong—strong enough to shield her now.
Above, the six figures exchanged glances, a flicker of surprise passing between them.
One of the elders spoke through voice transmission.
"That mad lunatic actually took in a disciple?"
Another replied, "Do you think he's preparing a successor... because he's nearing the end?"
The rest of the elders chimed in quietly, voices layered with suspicion and intrigue. Only the Sect Master remained silent.
The woman in red chuckled softly, eyes glinting with amusement.
With a flick of her sleeve, she sent a message to the others.
"Let's wait a little longer," she said, her voice smooth and sweet. "If he doesn't show... we'll act."
The others, save for the Sect Master, nodded in agreement.
*****
Inside the cave, Alex remained unaware of the situation unfolding outside.
He had just finished consuming the last bit of the Empyrean Serpent-Purging Pill.
As he expected, the pill greatly aided his cultivation.
From the early Nascent stage—where his soul avatar resembled a baby version of himself—he had now reached the Nascent Growth stage. His soul avatar looked like his early teen self, marking clear progress.
"I've gotten stronger. A good start," Alex murmured with a satisfied smile.
His thoughts drifted to his disciple.
"I really need to take care of her… For now, she's my cheat, after all."
With that, Alex spread his spiritual sense outward to check on her—but then, his expression suddenly darkened.
A frown creased his face.