Beyond the misty mountains stood a colossal pavilion, wreathed in ever-burning black flames—the headquarters of the Demon Fire Sect, a place where power and ambition met in the void.
The atmosphere in the grand hall was tense. The soft yet heavy footsteps of five Sky-tier warriors echoed as they stepped forward, kneeling in unison before the sect's supreme leader, Yan Zhian—a man with long silver hair and eyes sharp as a beast's.
No one dared speak. Only the sound of wind whistling through the open windows filled the silence.
> "Master… we've found traces of Xuan Di near Xinjing City," reported one of the younger warriors, Kong Mu, his voice trembling under the spiritual pressure emanating from the sect leader.
Yan Zhian closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "Are you certain?"
> "Yes, sir. We've confirmed his aura without a doubt," answered another warrior, Lin Qian.
One of them gathered his courage and asked, "Shall we eliminate Xuan Di, Master?"
Yan Zhian opened his eyes, his gaze razor-sharp.
> "Xuan Di is a formidable force. In such a short time, he rose to Sky-tier with a brilliance I've rarely seen. Losing him was a great blow to our sect… but," he paused, then added, "if he truly has betrayed us, it wouldn't be surprising if he one day stood against us."
> "To prevent disaster in the future… kill him now."
The five warriors bowed deeply. "Yes, Master!"
Yet the eldest among them, Mo Ren, slowly raised his head.
> "Master… we investigated Xuan Di's clash with the allied sects in Duyin City. The results… suggest his power may have already surpassed us all."
Yan Zhian smirked faintly. He raised his hand and tossed a scroll toward them.
> "Use this Soul-Sealing Formation. It will be enough to restrain him."
The five accepted the scroll with solemn respect, then departed at once toward Xinjing City.
---
Rain poured heavily over Xinjing. The sky was a dark gray, broken by flashes of lightning. The wind shook the trees, as though the whole city was holding its breath.
Under a large tree at the edge of the forest, a young man stood, gazing blankly at the sky. His cloak soaked, but he didn't care. Xuan Di—or as he now preferred to be called, Lu Tian—stood still, letting the rain wash over his face.
> "What a beautiful sky… like it's forgetting yesterday's regrets," he murmured softly.
But peace never lasts long.
The sound of hurried footsteps came from the west, along with a sharp spiritual pressure. Xuan Di opened his eyes and instinctively drew his sword.
> "Who's there?" he asked, his voice cold as the rain.
From the shadows of the trees emerged five figures clad in battle gear—faces he once called brothers.
Xuan Di looked at them one by one, then let out a quiet chuckle.
> "Heh~... so you've finally come to your senses, huh? Hahaha!"
> "Die, you traitorous bastard!" shouted Han Yu as he lunged with his spear.
But Xuan Di calmly caught the attack—then struck Han Yu with a powerful blow, sending him crashing into a tree.
> "Hmph… no Master with you? You won't stand a chance."
> "Silence, traitor! How dare you betray Lord Yan Zhian!" yelled Ling Fei, her eyes filled with hatred.
Xuan Di grinned.
> "Betray? Don't make me laugh. From the beginning, all I wanted was the blood and shattered bones of the First Patriarch."
The five warriors froze.
> "That inheritance… it was meant only for Master! How could you—" "I'm a genius, remember? I know everything about this sect!" Xuan Di's laughter echoed through the thunder.
> "Bastard!!" they screamed in unison.
The battle erupted. The five warriors attacked from every angle, forming a deadly formation. But Xuan Di danced through the rain and lightning as if the storm were an old friend.
> "Ughhh!" "Cough…!" "AAARGHH!!"
One by one, they were struck down, wounded and collapsed in the muddy ground.
Xuan Di stood tall in the center of the battlefield, his face lit with a wicked grin.
> "Is that all you've got, my dear seniors? Hahahah! After you, it's your Master's turn to visit hell!"
But suddenly…
THUD! THUD!
Heavy footsteps echoed from the north. The atmosphere shifted. A suffocating dark aura enveloped the entire area. Lightning struck more frequently, and even the wind seemed to halt.
Everyone froze. Even Xuan Di's body tensed as his eyes narrowed.
> "No need, Xuan Di. I've come myself… to end you."
The voice was deep, cold, and final. Yan Zhian emerged from the mist, his robe fluttering with the pressure of spiritual might.
Xuan Di held his breath.
> "So you finally came… Master."
Two great powers—master and disciple—now stood face to face. The clash of fate that would shake the world had begun.
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