The inner area of the sect seed to breathe a different air that day.
The cutting wind coming from the sword formation felt denser. So thought so.
Mo Xia walked quickly, his hand firmly gripping Kyrian’s arm, pulling him forcefully.
Behind them, Yanyu followed with short steps. Her eyes filled with worry.
Kyrian remained silent. His expression was serene, but his green eyes reflected a shadow of unease.
When they finally climbed to the top of the staircase, the central area opened before them.
The great hall of the sect stood at the top. A gigantic pavilion with jade columns and curved green roofs.
In front of the doors, i Ran awaited.
She also wore a green robe, while her two swords were still present at her waist. Her face looked more serious than usual.
"Enter. The leader is already waiting for you." She said bluntly, opening the door.
Mo Xia took a deep breath, gave Kyrian a look, and then moved forward. Yanyu drew closer until she was almost glued to Kyrian’s side.
i Ran went ahead, clearing the path, leading them inside.
As soon as they arrived, Kyrian noticed. The hall was fuller than usual.
All the central disciples were already there, lined up. In the central seats were all the main elders of the sect, n and won whose hair was almost gray, their faces marked by ti and the sword.
Each one radiating a presence slightly greater than i Ran, yet still far below Feng Yuan.
The restrained tension in the hall was broken by the sound of Kyrian, Mo Xia, and Yanyu’s hurried steps.
At the center, elevated on his seat, sat Feng Yuan, waiting. The sect leader did not speak, but his presence today kept everyone silent, in absolute quiet.
Feng Yuan, seated on his elevated seat, opened his eyes when he saw Kyrian enter the hall.
The intensity in his gaze did not change, but there was sothing that resembled approval.
"You arrived in ti. Now we can begin." He said with a grave voice echoing through the hall.
The eyes of all the central disciples and elders turned to Kyrian.
He only slightly inclined his head, remaining calm, greeting the leader and the elders. Yanyu was close by, and i Ran assud the position of elder, sitting in her seat.
Feng Yuan then raised his hand.
"Wu Jian, co forward and report what happened."
From the left side of the hall, a young disciple stepped forward. Wu Jian was tall, large, and strong. But his face was marked with exhaustion. His steps seed heavy.
He shrank in the center of the hall. Sothing completely contrary to his personality, always direct and walking upright like a heavy sword.
He then began to speak, his voice slightly trembling.
"Leader... elders... the truth is bitter. Long Xue truly ended up... dying on the mission."
Everyone in the room avoided murmuring, but all were filled with anger after hearing the confirmation.
"Explain." The leader ordered.
"We completed the mission successfully and were preparing to return. We were already near the border. That was when... it appeared."
He stopped for a mont, trembling.
Mo Tianhai, who was on the side, stepped forward, his face contorted with anger.
"That what? Don’t play with words, Wu Jian! Long Xue was one of the strongest among us! She wouldn’t be defeated by just anyone! Explain properly!"
"Tianhai, step back." Feng Yuan said calmly, but still with the weight of an order.
Tianhai clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and returned to his place. But still without taking his eyes off Wu Jian.
Wu Jian then continued. Even more nervous.
"When... when we looked. We saw a young man. He wore the robes of the Scarlet Sun Sect. But his cultivation was only at the initial stage of the Liberation Realm. I... I felt it clearly."
"Then he couldn’t be a central disciple. It can’t be him. Long Xue would crush soone at that level with a single strike." Tianhai retorted, still furious.
"I thought so too. But... behind him, or perhaps above him. There was sothing. It was like... a black mist... dense, alive. It was a darkness that made the forest beasts flee in panic."
"Even the flying beasts of the sect seed to grow afraid."
The entire hall fell silent. The elders and the leader furrowed their brows.
Wu Jian took a deep breath, his voice faltered.
"It was as if all the hostility of that young man had taken form. A weight... a burden that fell upon our minds as we looked at him. I myself felt as if I was being crushed, unable to breathe."
Yanyu, at Kyrian’s side, grew pale, rembering sothing from Misty City. Imdiately, she pulled Kyrian’s hand, trying to remind him.
Wu Jian then continued.
"Long Xue advanced to fight. She cut through that mist, but... as soon as her blade touched the darkness, she staggered."
"It was as if all her strength vanished in an instant. The shadow enveloped her... and then threw her aside as if she were trash. When I tried to help her..." His voice broke. His eyes filled with tears.
"When I touched her, she was already cold. Her eyes are empty. Lifeless."
Wu Jian fell slightly to his knees. Bowing, his knees trembling. Ashad of himself for fleeing afterward.
The room sank into heavy silence. So central disciples gripped their swords tightly. Others averted their eyes, uncomfortable.
Feng Yuan leaned slightly forward, asking.
"And this young man? Did he say anything?"
"No. He seed in a trance. His eyes... lifeless. As if he wasn’t aware of himself."
At that mont, Kyrian stepped forward.
All gazes turned to him.
"Wu Jian." He began, his voice firm.
"In the center of that mist. That young man did not say a single word, correct? He only advanced like a puppet, with no sign of stopping."
Wu Jian stared in surprise. Then nodded several tis.
"Yes. Exactly that."
A slight murmur spread through the hall. Feng Tuan slightly furrowed his brows and fixed his eyes on Kyrian.
"Kyrian. You know what this is." Feng Yuan asked.
"More or less. I have faced sothing similar." Kyrian replied, taking a deep breath.
Everyone’s attention heightened. Even the elders straightened in their seats.
"Explain." Feng Yuan said.
Kyrian hesitated for a mont. But he spoke clearly.
"Before coming to the sect. I encountered a beast possessed by this sa darkness. The shadow does not seem like ordinary energy."
"But it seems to affect willpower, which is why, even with low cultivation, it can still affect those stronger. It seems like a stain of hostility upon the world."
"I believe the young man from the Scarlet Sun Sect was not himself. He was out of control."
One of the elders scoffed.
"You an Long Xue fell to a re lackey possessed?"
Kyrian did not avert his gaze.
"No. I only an you must believe her death was not caused rely by the hands of an ordinary enemy."
"If you bla the Scarlet Sect imdiately, more lives will be wasted in vain." Kyrian continued speaking about what he thought about the case.
His words made so disciples grit their teeth. But Feng Yuan raised his hand, asking for silence.
"Continue."
Kyrian exhaled deeply once again.
"I possess sothing that can disperse this mist." Kyrian revealed.
"If Wu Jian takes to the place, I can confirm if it is indeed the sa as I witnessed. We may also recover Long Xue’s body... or, if there’s any chance she still lives, save her."
A heavy silence fell.
"A treasure?" One elder asked suspiciously.
Kyrian only nodded, not hiding it. After all, the book was sothing kept in his mind.
"Yes."
Feng Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
"Are you certain of what you are saying?"
"I am." Kyrian said, looking firmly.
The sect leader remained silent for a few monts, evaluating the young man before him. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded.
"Very well. It will be as you said. But you will not go alone." The leader said, Already decided.
His eyes turned to the presences in the hall.
"i Ran will go with you."
i Ran’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she inclined her head in acceptance.
"Understood."
"Very well." Kyrian also nodded.
Feng Yuan then rose.
"The eting is over. Prepare yourselves, soon the truth of all this will be revealed."
The elders stood up, the disciples bowed, and slowly the hall began to empty.
Kyrian returned to his room in silence. Yanyu followed him. Her light steps behind him. The sky was already tinged orange-red by the setting sun.
When they arrived, Kyrian stopped in front of his room’s door.
"I will cultivate tonight, so I will not leave." He said, turning to her.
"Very well. I’ll stay nearby... taking care of the fox."
He did not reply, only waved his hand and entered the room.
Night fell, and Kyrian sat on the bed, placing a pile of spirit stones before him.
His green eyes glowed, and then he began. Absorbing stone by stone into his eyes.
For an entire hour. He did not move. The Qi of the stones vanished completely, like smoke entering his eyes.
Purified and stored in his dantians. Causing them to expand.
Then, after exactly an hour. A wave of power expanded smoothly. Dense and stable.
The dantians expanded. Kyrian had advanced.
To the 8° and final stage of the Qi Accumulation Realm.
The limit had disappeared that morning. And now, he would have to wait several days before cultivating again.
But he would not be bored since he had things to do and discover.
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a few monts. The next morning, he would depart.
He would go to the place of Long Xue’s death.
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