The night was shattered by a blinding pillar of light erupting from the distant mountains.
Qi roared through the air; heavy and oppressive, the light was so bright it looked like it had turned into day.
"So that's how they plan to gather everyone at the Sive Flower ruins…"
Tianyu narrowed his eyes.
"With a light this bright and Qi this dense,anyone would be drawn to it."
They ran without pause, ascending a tall mountain, with endless stone steps carved into it. Along the way, the remnants of ancient temples, collapsed halls, broken altars, and statues eroded by time were scattered everywhere.
"We're almost there," Momo said quietly, glancing at the map.
"Once we pass the Sword Saint statue, we'll reach the site."
"Stop."
Tianyu's voice came out sharp and hoarse.
They halted instantly, turning toward him.
"There's an ambush ahead," he pointed beyond the statue.
"Five people."
"Oh? Already?"
Shéyǎn's lips curved upward.
"As expected. The older participants must have planned it all out."
He turned to Momo.
"What do you think? Is there another route I would like to avoid a fight for now?"
…
Momo answered immediately, already moving, and she stepped lightly off the stairs.
"Yes," she said, pointing to the mountain's side.
"There's an old training path the disciples used. It runs along the cliff."
They followed her, slipping away from the main road. Hidden among jagged stones was a narrow opening in the mountain wall.
Momo brushed aside debris and pried it open.
"This should be it."
They stepped inside.
Darkness swallowed them whole almost immediately.
The tunnel had been crudely carved, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Every footstep echoed softly as they passed statues of an old, angry demon that were lined against one wall.
Moments later, they emerged on the other side of the mountain.
The very first thing they heard was screaming, desperate cries echoing through the night.
"No! No... please! Why are you doing this?! We'll give you the robes, please, please…!"
Tianyu immediately extended his Qi further.
An image formed in his mind.
A group that had laid an ambush had managed to capture ten newcomers.
"They're caught in some kind of blinding formation," Tianyu said quietly. "They didn't even get the chance to fight back."
Momo's eyes widened as she stepped closer behind him. She pressed slightly on his back.
"Ohhh… you can see all of that from here?" she asked. "How are you doing that?"
"I don't know," Tianyu replied, brushing her off. "I just… can."
He turned away and leapt out of the tunnel.
"That ability of his is truly incredible," Shéyǎn murmured as he followed behind. "But I wonder… can he sense me as well?"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"And Momo…" he continued inwardly. 'If he can sense her fully, that would be far too dangerous. I might have to kill him immediately'
"Brother Shéyǎn," Momo said lightly as she jumped out of the tunnel, glancing back at him.
"You haven't been acting like yourself lately, you know."
"Huu…" Shéyǎn exhaled sharply.
"Damn it… This art is far too corrupting, filling my head with murderous thoughts constantly" His fists clenched.
"If it's affecting me badly, then for Momo, whose constitution is far more unique, it must be even worse."
His expression darkened with realisation.
"No wonder she went on a rampage back then…"
He landed beside them, eyes sharpening with resolve.
"I need to get stronger," Shéyǎn thought.
"And I need to find a way to remove these side effects for her sake."
Ahead of them stood the broken gates,
Sive Flower Sect.
Stepping outside, a powerful wave of Qi washed over them, far denser than anything they had experienced so far.
Still hidden, they caught sight of Shinto-like gates in the distance, wrapped in a heavy blue light that swirled slowly around them like a current. In front of the gates stood a group of people who appeared to be guarding the area. Most of them carried swords, their stances disciplined and alert.
"Brother Kang, how long will it take for the gate to open?"
A woman seated near the gate spoke calmly.
Tianyu's eyes narrowed.
He recognised her.
Huǒ Yànhuā.
She looked slightly different from the last time he had seen her, more restrained, more guarded, but the moment his gaze settled on her, his Frost Qi stirred faintly in response.
"Was she caught as well, ha, she looks a little different now…"
"Ah, Sister Huǒ," a man replied with a practised smile.
"Just a few more hours. When the gate turns orange, the teleportation portal will be fully prepared."
"Would you like to—"
"Oh, I see," Huǒ Yànhuā said flatly, cutting him off before he could finish. She turned away without another word.
"Hahaha!"
"Brother Kang, she didn't even give you face!"
The young men nearby burst into laughter.
Kang's smile stiffened, but he soon laughed along.
"Hahaha, don't worry," he said confidently, turning away from her.
"She'll be mine soon enough. Just wait, you'll see."
But inwardly, his expression twisted.
"That bitch…" Kang thought darkly.
"So ungrateful."
His eyes burned with possessive malice.
"Once we enter the ruins this time… I'll make her obedient."
"Two more groups are approaching," Tianyu Xing said.
"They're much larger this time around, fifty people in each group."
Shéyǎn narrowed his eyes, following Tianyu's gaze.
"Mmm… it seems Yue Xing is among them as well," he said calmly.
"Well then, this is about to get interesting."
"That's perfect," Shéyǎn continued, his eyes locked onto the array gate.
"When they're busy confronting each other, we'll seize the opportunity to slip through."
"Agreed," Tianyu replied.
He spread his Qi, extending it carefully toward the gate, probing the structure of the array as his consciousness brushed against its surface.
The Qi emanating from the gate began to transform.
What had once felt like a calm, flowing river now surged like a raging sea.
"Get ready," Tianyu murmured.
He reached out and tore a vine that was growing next to the mountain walls, condensing his Qi into it. The vine stiffened, its surface turning firm and crude, much like his previous weapon.
In the distance, the two groups finally arrived, converging at the gate.
Zhou Lung strode at the front, leading his people. At last, both groups came to a halt, facing one another before the array.
"Hey, you there!" Zhou Lung called out.
"I didn't see you when we arrived. Who are you supposed to be? And what's this place?"
"Ha… still arrogant as ever," Tianyu thought, watching from afar.
"Who do you think you're talking to?" one of Kang's men snapped, stepping forward.
Before he could go any further, Kang shoved him aside.
"I don't speak to people of no consequence," Kang said coldly.
"I was talking to your leader. Little insignificant beings like you should be Quiet."
"You damn brat!" the man roared.
His skin flushed red as fury overtook him. With a snarl, he launched himself toward Zhou Lung, raising his fist high. Sharp Qi hummed violently around his knuckles, slicing the air as he prepared to strike.
"Die!" the man wailed as he swung.
But the blow never landed.
Zhou Lung dogged, his movement sharp. In the same breath, he struck two fingers, snapping into the man's neck. The moment they connected, the man's eyes rolled back, and his body collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as he hit the earth.
"How did he... Xiao went down in one move…?"
Whispers and murmurs spread like wildfire.
"I'll ask you one last time," Zhou Lung said, his voice arrogant yet steady.
"Who are you, and what is this place?"
"Hahaha!" Kang laughed as he rose to his feet.
"You're so full of yourself… yet you know nothing."
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
"Woaaaa… is that you, Kang?"
"Hah?" Zhou Lung sneered. "It's you? Why would they bother dragging trash like you here?"
"Now talk. Tell me everything you know about this place."
"Hohoho…" Kang chuckled darkly.
"You really think you're still some important young master of the Lung family?"
He spread his arms slightly, gesturing around them.
"Look around you. In this place, your pathetic little status means nothing here."
"So hand over your robes and get lost before I decide to kill you."
Kang's gaze locked onto Zhou Lung. He stood nearly twice his size, his presence bearing down like a looming mountain.
"What? They know each other. And leader Kang, why is Zhou treating him like an insignificant servant?"
Whispers spread rapidly through the crowd.
"I have to kill him, he is making me lose fa—"
Before Kang's thoughts could register, the gate suddenly flared orange.
A violent suction erupted from the array. The air roared as the gate began pulling people in, one after another. Within moments, more than half the crowd had already vanished inside.
"Hey...be careful!"
Tianyu turned, but Momo and Shéyǎn were already gone.
"Ah, damn it…"
Tianyu released the root he was clinging to. A blinding light swallowed him whole. His body twisted and stretched as if being torn apart, dragged and folded again and again, while fragmented visions flooded his mind.
Time lost meaning.
Then there was silence.
…
The pressure vanished. His thoughts cleared.
Tianyu stood alone.
All around him lay emptiness, crumbling ancient buildings, scattered ruins, and countless skeletons stretched far as his eyes could see. They all wore yellow and orange robes with a five-petaled flower on their chest.
"Ahhh... what the...." Tianyu groaned as his eyes opened.