Two hours later, deep within the ruins of the Azure Moon Sect.
Beside a side hall that had not yet fully collapsed, the Azure Moon Sect disciples who had scattered in flight were drawn by a scarlet pillar of light and gradually gathered once more.
Shen Huai'an stood atop the ruins, the scarlet demonic aura around him hidden beneath his robes as he looked down below.
In less than an hour, over a hundred disciples had gathered, including several outer sect elders who had survived by sheer luck.
Seeing the young sect master standing unharmed atop the ruins, the surviving disciples immediately lit up with joy and began chattering among themselves.
"The young sect master is alive! This is wonderful!"
"As long as the Heavenly Bone within the young sect master remains, our Azure Moon Sect still has hope!"
"Please, Young Sect Master, lead us in rebuilding the Azure Moon Sect and avenging this blood-deep hatred!" Several outer sect elders hurried forward as well, bowing with clasped fists.
Shen Huai'an watched this frenzied group of sect members, a cold sneer curling across his lips as he snorted inwardly.
He said indifferently, "Follow me somewhere. I will lead you to rebuild the sect."
Upon hearing this, the hundred-plus disciples and elders did not doubt him in the slightest. They immediately followed behind him toward a hidden mountain range at the rear of the sect.
Two hours later, the group arrived within a narrow, shadowy gorge.
Looking at the desolate, deathly silent cliffs around them, an outer sect elder could not help stepping forward and asking in confusion, "Young Sect Master, this place is remote and deserted. Why have we come here...?"
Before he could finish, Shen Huai'an had already bitten his fingertip and begun swiftly carving strange black-red patterns across the