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Chapter 18: The Hidden Circle Strikes Back
Tian Mo's empire had solidified itself across multiple domains—his temples flourishing, his harem ever-growing, and his power expanding beyond his wildest ambitions. But as his influence spread, so did the shadows that threatened to swallow him whole.
From the beginning, Tian Mo had expected retaliation from those who ruled the Hidden Circle—a faction that operated in secrecy, manipulating events behind the scenes. Though they had been cautious, now, they were preparing for their strike. They knew Tian Mo's rise couldn't be ignored forever.
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A Quiet Threat
The Hidden Circle was a conglomerate of influential families and sects, all of whom held sway in both the low-grade and mid-grade cultivation realms. Their members consisted of powerful cultivators in the Void Shattering and Heaven Merging realms, as well as prominent figures among the elite of Earth. To them, Tian Mo's growing influence was an abomination—a corruption that had to be eradicated before it infected the entire cultivation world.
Unlike the open confrontations Tian Mo had fought before, the Hidden Circle was patient, calculating. They didn't rely on brute force alone; they had learned the subtle art of manipulation, using infiltration, poison, and disinformation to break down even the most solid of foundations.
As Tian Mo's empire grew, so did the schemes they wove in secret. They targeted his weakest links, hoping to expose flaws in his carefully constructed house of cards.
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A Familiar Face: The Return of Xian Wu
Among the many who now watched from the shadows, one figure stood out: Xian Wu. Once an ally of Tian Mo, his betrayal had been a sharp wound, one that had cost Tian Mo dearly. Wu had tried to undermine him, playing both sides to his benefit, but Tian Mo had seen through him in the end, executing him with ruthless precision.
Yet, it seemed that even death had not been enough to silence Xian Wu.
Unknown to Tian Mo, Wu's family—one of the leading members of the Hidden Circle—had used forbidden cultivation techniques to resurrect him. His body, now a vessel for a mixture of dark Qi and unholy resurrection arts, returned with a thirst for vengeance and a much stronger desire for power than before.
Xian Wu, now a puppet of the Hidden Circle, was sent to infiltrate Tian Mo's empire. His charisma was still intact, his understanding of Tian Mo's inner workings invaluable. He would return, not as the betrayed traitor, but as a man reborn with a singular mission: to destroy everything Tian Mo had built.
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The Hidden Circle's First Move
It was in the dead of night when the first strike came. Yin Hua, Tian Mo's most trusted strategist, had foreseen the potential threat from the Hidden Circle and had instructed the spies within the House of Night Serpents to be extra cautious. Yet, even she was caught off guard by the magnitude of the assault.
At the Grand Temple of Sanguine Blossom, one of Tian Mo's largest temples, the air was thick with an unfamiliar, heavy energy. The cultivators that had gathered there began to tremble, their Qi being drained as if it were being absorbed by an external force.
Tian Mo, alerted by the disturbance, rushed to the scene. His eyes burned with cold fire as he surveyed the damage.
Xian Wu, standing at the heart of the chaos, was surrounded by a cloud of dark mist, his figure now warped by the resurrection arts that had been performed on him. His eyes glowed with a sickly, violet hue as he bowed mockingly to Tian Mo.
"You've grown strong, haven't you?" Xian Wu's voice was hollow, laced with venom. "But you still haven't learned the first rule of power: never leave your back unguarded."
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A Battle of Wills
Tian Mo's heart beat with a cold rhythm. His Qi surged, crackling around him like an infernal storm. The force of his will clashed with the dark energies around Xian Wu, causing the very air to tremble.
"You think you can destroy me?" Tian Mo sneered, his voice carrying an undertone of amusement. "You're already dead, Xian Wu. The Hidden Circle's efforts are futile."
With a single motion, he summoned the Primordial Chaos Mirror—the object that had brought him his vision of fate. Its golden veins glowed, projecting images of his empire's rise, and he began to manipulate the space around him, turning the tide of the battle with the force of his will alone.
But Xian Wu's resurrection had granted him powers beyond the norm. As the former betrayer drew upon the dark Qi of the Hidden Circle, his cultivation began to shift in an unnatural way. The dark energy swirled around him, increasing in intensity.
"Power has no mercy," Xian Wu said with a twisted grin. "This is your fate. I'll enjoy watching you crumble."
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Tian Mo's Counterattack
The battle intensified, both cultivators testing the limits of their powers. For a moment, it seemed as though Xian Wu might have the upper hand—but Tian Mo had already anticipated this. His dual cultivation techniques had not only increased his power but also fortified his body against foreign Qi.
Tian Mo's chaos-infused Qi lashed out, obliterating the dark mist and sending shockwaves through the temple grounds. The temple's foundation began to crack, but Tian Mo held nothing back. With a swift motion, he launched a devastating strike, tearing through Xian Wu's defenses.
The resurrected cultivator's dark aura shattered, his body disintegrating into nothingness.
But Tian Mo didn't stop there.
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The Hidden Circle Revealed
As the battle subsided, a deep, ominous presence lingered in the air. The Hidden Circle had shown their hand, and their fingers were not just playing with Xian Wu—they had moved their pawns.
As Tian Mo stood amidst the wreckage, his thoughts raced. He had won this round, but the Hidden Circle's resources were far from depleted. Xian Wu's resurrection was just a small taste of the chaos that they could unleash.
In the end, Tian Mo knew that to truly ascend and secure his place in this world, he would have to face the Hidden Circle head-on. This wasn't just a battle of strength—it was a battle of wills, a test of who would dominate the world's future.
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Status Update:
Tian Mo: Nascent Soul (Peak Stage) | Chaos-Yin Hybrid Qi | Absolute Control Over His Empire
Xian Wu: Defeated | Resurrection Crushed | Hidden Circle's First Puppet to Fall
Hidden Circle: Behind-the-scenes manipulation | Shrouded in mystery | Preparing for the next phase of their plans
Anna: Oversees the political landscape | Continues infiltration of high society
Yin Hua: Strengthening the network | Cultivating spies and assassins for the empire
Luo Yanyue: Master of dual cultivation | Preparing for the next battle
Seraphina: Struggling with internal conflict | Watching Tian Mo's growing power
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