Nestled amidst towering mountains, within the inner sect of the White Cloud Sect, a magnificent vermilion palace stands majestically. Its eaves soar like dragons in flight, while mist swirls around its jade steps, and cranes roam freely. This is the exclusive residence reserved for only a select few among the inner sect disciples.
The hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the light from the jade lamps cast dappled shadows on the carved beams and pillars. Within the deep palace gates, the furnishings exuded a simple yet majestic aura: sandalwood tables, black jade screens, and ancient array patterns engraved on the walls seemed to undulate slightly under the candlelight. Wisps of spiritual mist rose from the ground, enveloping the entire palace in a cold abyss, isolated from the world.
An elderly man in grey knelt on the ground, his hands clasped together, so respectful that he almost blended into the ground. His voice was deep and attentive. "Reporting to Young Master—I have confirmed the facts. The newly added member of the White Cloud Sect's outer sect is none other than Qin Yu from the Cloud-Leveling Hall. Two others, Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng, are also on the outer sect list and have joined the sect along with Qin Yu."
Before the words were finished, the young man on the main seat suddenly reached out and clasped his hands together—the jade cup shattered into powder in his hand with a snap, the fine wine inside exploding into tiny specks of light in mid-air, disappearing silently along with the cup and saucer, as if it had never existed. The sound of shattering echoed in the hall, like an invisible horn, splitting the tranquility of the room in two.
With everything settled, the young man slowly rose. Under the lamplight, his figure was tall and slender, his steps steady, and his eyes held a cold sharpness. That face—once humiliated in the Cloud-Leveling Hall, causing him to appear disheveled in front of Qin Yu —was now as cold as a blade, devoid of the fear and helplessness of the past, leaving only a deep and resolute will.
The young man gathered his sleeves, his voice low and clear, as if talking to himself, yet also proclaiming a destiny. "I never imagined you would dare to go this far, Qin Yu... you actually came to the White Cloud Sect."
He turned around and slowly walked towards the long table in the hall. He tapped the edge of the table lightly with his fingers, making a crisp rhythm. His tone was deliberate yet full of danger. "Now that we're here, it's time to settle those old scores all at once."
The old man quickly bowed and replied, "Young master is absolutely right, I have already made the arrangements—"
"No need for further words," the young man interrupted, his voice flat and cold. "You may leave now. From now on, I will personally handle this matter." After he finished speaking, his gaze swept over the old man, who felt a tightness in his chest and hurriedly retreated, his steps hurried and not daring to look back.
As the palace gates closed again, the hall was so quiet that only the flickering candlelight remained. The young man slowly walked to the high platform, stood before the empty main seat, took a deep breath, and looked past the layers of clouds outside the window, landing on the distant, continuous mountain peaks and the flying spirit boats.
A cold smile played on his lips, his voice low yet penetrating to the bone. "Qin Yu, you think entering the White Cloud Sect is your destiny? No... we won't easily grant you forgiveness and favor. You think defeating me in the Cloud-Leveling Hall will put you invincible? Now that you've established yourself here, it's like sticking your head on a knife's edge. The future is long."
As he finished speaking, he slowly removed the ornament from his chest—hanging at his waist was a mark left from the humiliation he suffered years ago, or perhaps a new vow he forged from the resentment of that day. The candlelight made his eyes seem to flicker with cold flames, and his aura trembled slightly—it was Steady as a Mountain pressure, the profound and deep power of the Great Perfection of the Yuan Transformation Realm.
He lightly stroked the folding fan at his waist, as if toying with a pre-written script, "Very well. In that case, let the White Cloud Sect witness how the humiliation of yesteryear can be gradually avenged."
The young man turned and walked out of the hall, his silhouette growing longer at the end of the corridor. His steps were unhurried, each one like a drumbeat of fate: an undercurrent of grudges and revenge was quietly flowing, and standing at its center was Luo Chuan, who had been defeated but had now regrouped.
Deep in the northwest of the Great Yan Continent, amidst the desolate ancient forest, the once silent world suddenly trembled. A monstrous aura of violence descended from the heavens, causing the entire land to groan. Mountains snapped, ancient trees broke, and countless demonic beasts fled in terror, as if sensing an irresistible pressure of death.
Dark clouds surged, and the sky darkened completely in an instant. Intense spiritual energy, like a raging tidal wave, suppressed all spiritual power from all directions, making even breathing difficult. Then, a curtain of light cleaved the sky, and three terrifying figures strode in.
The first figure, draped in a dark purple robe covered in intricate and ancient patterns, seemed to blend seamlessly with the forest. In his hand he held a scepter topped with an amethyst, within which flowed eerie patterns and black mist, seemingly capable of piercing the soul. His armor was entwined with purple vines and flowers, a tapestry of death and life; with each step he took, the surrounding vegetation withered instantly, only to bloom again the next moment, a microcosm of the cycle of yin and yang.
The second figure wore a platinum and gold star-studded cloak, its robes embroidered with countless glittering stars. Beneath the hood, his face Emptiness, like a vast sea of stars. He gripped a pale greatsword in both hands, its blade surrounded by the cold glow of the moon. Wherever the sword's edge passed, ripples spread through space, like a cascading Milky Way. This man was like a god descending from the moon, his posture upright and aloof, his aura carrying a chilling sense of judgment.
The third figure caused the earth to tremble. He wore magnificent crystal armor, its surface covered in runes, as if embodying the power of an ancient priest over millions of years. He wielded an enormous crescent-shaped halberd, its blade entirely transparent, refracting countless starlight and flowing with a mysterious light that intertwined azure and gold. His cloak cascaded like a silver river, its wind howling with a chilling, murderous whistling. He stood on the earth, yet seemed to reign supreme in the heavens, his oppressive aura enveloping the entire northwestern frontier.
After the three arrived, the forest fell into complete silence. The monsters dared not make a sound, and even the wind seemed to freeze.
Suddenly, the first dark messenger, wielding an amethyst scepter, lowered his hood, and a piercing, eerie sound emanated from the hollow, chilling shadow. The sound seemed to come from an abyss, not human speech, but a twisted shriek and low laughter:
"Heh--heh--heh..."
The laughter was sinister and eerie, carrying frequencies not belonging to humans, causing the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth to become disordered. Even demonic beasts dozens of miles away, upon hearing this laughter, instantly went limp, their blood flowed backward, they let out a miserable howl, then blood gushed from their mouths and noses, and their life force vanished.
The laughter abruptly vanished, and the entire forest seemed to be shrouded in some Dark Will, the sky growing increasingly gloomy. The light at the top of the amethyst scepter suddenly magnified, releasing streaks of purple light like poisonous fire, corroding the earth and air.
Immediately afterwards, the second being in the Star Cloak slowly raised the sword, and a deep, suppressed roar came from his hollow face, like stars exploding.
"The Great Yan Continent... a false peace."
Finally, the giant figure, clad in crystal-gold armor and wielding a crescent-shaped scythe, plunged the blade into the earth. With a deafening roar, the ground cracked, distant mountains collapsed, and billowing dust rose into the sky. His voice, like a divine pronouncement, carried a chilling, suffocating cruelty.
"From this day forward, the prelude to destruction has begun..."
Three terrifying auras enveloped the northwestern frontier, as if silently announcing the coming of a catastrophe.
Meanwhile, all the sects and cultivators on the Great Yan Continent were still immersed in their own cultivation and conflicts, unaware that a true disaster had quietly descended.
The following morning, the sky above the White Cloud Sect was still shrouded in a vast celestial light, with clouds and mist swirling around. Brilliant light descended from the mountain peaks, illuminating the magnificent palaces. Disciples strolled in twos and threes, some walking along the white jade steps, others gathering in the training grounds to spar and cultivate, creating a peaceful scene.
However, beneath this peaceful surface, an undercurrent was quietly brewing.
In a side hall within the inner sect disciples' area, Luo Chuan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, a cold smile playing on his lips. Behind him, several outer sect disciples knelt down, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of fear and fanaticism.
Luo Chuan's voice was cold and suppressed, as chilling as an ice blade slicing through steel:
"No matter how lucky he is to rise through the ranks in Qin Yu Cloud-Leveling Hall, this is White Cloud Sect, not a place where he can act arrogantly."
He slowly turned around, a spirit jade twirling between his fingers, radiating a cold light.
"What I need are people loyal to the Luo Family. Those who are loyal to the Luo Family will surely be given important positions in the future. You, go and provoke him. Provoke him. Make him angry and violate the sect's rules."
The kneeling men exchanged glances, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads, but ultimately responded in unison:
"I will obey the young master's command!"
Luo Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice carrying a hint of cruelty:
"Remember, don't rush to kill him. Just... let him know that the outer sect of the White Cloud Sect is not a place for him to swagger around. Make him lose patience and face, then step by step... destroy him."
At this point, he suddenly crushed the spirit jade in his hand. With a crisp "crack," the jade fragments turned into specks of light and dissipated into the air.
"Go, take him to the first hurdle I've prepared for him..."
Several outer sect disciples Initial Entry into the Yuan Transformation Realm immediately obeyed the order and left, their backs growing longer in the morning light, carrying an ominous chill.
At this moment, Qin Yu was still in his palace, sitting cross-legged to consolidate his cultivation, completely unaware that the storm was approaching step by step.
The outer training ground of the White Cloud Sect. The morning light had not yet faded, and golden rays of dawn shone in the sky, illuminating the entire training ground. At this moment, the place was bustling with noise, and countless disciples gathered in the center, a tense atmosphere permeating the air.
"Qin Yu, what else do you have to say!" A disciple pointed at Qin Yu and held up a fragment that was enveloped in Spiritual Qi. The fragment was the spiritual weapon that had disappeared from the Weapon Hall last night, and its surface still faintly shimmered with gray Soul Seal.
Murmurings arose from the crowd.
"Did he really steal it?"
"If that's the case, wouldn't he be expelled from the White Cloud Sect?"
"That brat from the Cloud-Leveling Hall is indeed of questionable character!"
These whispers pierced my heart like knives.
Qin Yu stood calmly, his gaze cold. His shadow was elongated in the sunlight, making him look like an unshakable stone statue.
Just last night, Luo Chuan secretly arranged for three disciples Initial Entry into the Yuan Transformation Realm to fabricate a triple chain of "witness account," "evidence," and "on-site discovery," intending to publicly destroy Qin Yu's reputation today.
And now, this scene has finally unfolded.
On the martial arts stage, the outer sect elder coldly asked, "Qin Yu, do you plead guilty?"
The atmosphere froze instantly, and thousands of disciples held their breath, awaiting the answer from this prodigy of the Cloud-Leveling Hall.
Qin Yu slowly raised his hand, his eyes remaining completely calm.
"Plead guilty? No."
His voice was clear, carrying a calmness that was truly awe-inspiring. "If we really want to determine the truth, let's start with this fragment."
As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out, and a spiritual light flowed through his palm. The Fate Soul Primordium appeared in his chest, spreading out like a gray ripple and enveloping the fragments of the spiritual artifact.
Instantly, the gray markings on the fragment twisted and peeled off like fake skin being ripped off. The spiritual patterns were no longer smooth, but intermittent, like rough carving.
"This is a fake seal," Qin Yu said coldly.
"A true Fate Soul- binding imprint will retain the warmth of one's destiny, flowing continuously like water. But look at this imprint, it's stiff and rigid, lacking even the most basic flow of destiny."
As soon as he finished speaking, the elder frowned, and the disciples whispered among themselves, some of their eyes beginning to waver.
"Nonsense!" Zhang Peng, a disciple bribed by Luo Chuan, immediately jumped out and shouted, "I saw you loitering near the Weapon Hall last night, and this morning someone found this item outside your room. Don't try to deny it!"
"Yes!" another disciple, Zhang Lin, echoed, "I also saw him carrying something past the training ground! The evidence is conclusive!"
Qin Yu remained calm and did not offer any explanation. Instead, he looked up at the elder in the air.
"In that case, let's retrieve the patrol records from the Weapon Hall last night."
The elder nodded slightly, raised his finger, and a talisman slip flew through the air, projecting onto the sky above the martial arts platform. The image then appeared: at midnight last night, the patrol formation was running perfectly Weapon Hall, except for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, when the monitoring array suddenly fluctuated.
This period is precisely the time when "Qin Yu infiltrated" as mentioned by Zhang Peng's disciple.
"Coincidence?" Qin Yu sneered. "During this period, someone happened to be using a small device to interfere with the patrol formation. May I ask, did you also happen to pass by the Weapon Hall last night?"
Zhang Peng's face stiffened, his lips trembled, but he forced a shout, "Lies! You're the one who interfered with the formation!"
Qin Yu ignored him and continued to approach, "Then let's investigate another point. Last night, the soil Weapon Hall was extremely unusual, containing spirit array dust. I smelled the same scent from under the hem of your robe."
He raised his hand, and a wisp of gray light shot out, lifting the mud splatter from Zhang Peng's boots into the air, contrasting it with the mud Weapon Hall. A flash of light appeared instantly, the two perfectly overlapping!
The crowd erupted in uproar, and the disciples were all shocked.
"How could this be...?"
"So it really was them who did it?"
Seeing the situation crumbling, disciples Zhang Lin and Zhang Jun turned pale, but still tried to hold on. However, Qin Yu's eyes suddenly turned cold.
"Should we continue acting?"
He suddenly opened his palm, Fate Soul Primordium spread out like a gray halo, capturing the auras of the three people one by one. Then, Qin Yu suddenly spoke:
"Last night, the three of you lingered outside my door for about fifteen minutes, and one of you even tried to force the lock open—that's your own scent, there's no mistake!"
As the words fell, gray images appeared in the air, which were the "echoes of aura" that Qin Yu traced with the Fate Soul Primordium: three blurry figures, namely Zhang Peng, Zhang Lin, and Zhang Jun.
Instantly, the entire hall fell silent.
The elder's face turned ashen, and he roared, "You wicked child! How dare you fabricate evidence and frame your fellow disciple!"
The three could no longer hold on and collapsed to their knees, their voices trembling. "It was Young Master Luo Chuan, an inner disciple... He's the one who ordered us to do this! We dared not disobey!"
Boom! This sound was like a thunderclap, causing a huge uproar in the crowd!
"Luo Chuan!"
"So it was him who ordered it!"
Qin Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes as cold as a galaxy. Sunlight shone on him, casting his shadow straight as a sword. He uttered a sentence in a deep voice:
"The White Cloud Sect has stood for a thousand years, with fairness as its foundation. If anyone dares to use power and schemes to frame a fellow disciple, even if they are an inner disciple, they will be dealt with according to the law."
The elder's expression was solemn as he slowly nodded. "I will report this matter to the sect master. Qin Yu, are you truly innocent?"
Among the crowd, the disciples' expressions were complex, their eyes having completely changed from initial skepticism to current awe.
High above, Luo Chuan, dressed in white, heard this and his jade cup shattered silently. His eyes darkened, and he murmured under his breath:
"Qin Yu... do you think you've won just like that? The real scheme is only just beginning."
As the commotion in the training ground gradually subsided, the disciples were still discussing the matter with expressions of shock and complexity. Just then, two figures rushed over; it was Zhao Xinyu and Yang Zheng.
"Brother Yu!" Yang Zheng rushed to Qin Yu's side as soon as he arrived, his eyes filled with anxiety. "We heard that something happened here, so we came here specifically." Qin Yu told the two of them the whole story.
Zhao Xinyu's gaze sharpened as she swept her eyes over the three disciples kneeling on the ground. She coldly snorted, "Hmph, just as I expected, Luo Chuan is still the same treacherous and cunning person he always was! Back in the Cloud-Leveling Hall, he bullied others by abusing his power, and now I never thought he would transform himself into an inner disciple of the White Cloud Sect."
Qin Yu remained calm and slowly explained the whole story. Upon hearing this, Yang Zheng's face flushed red, and he clenched his fists. "Brother Yu, don't be afraid! That brat is only so arrogant because of the Luo Family's influence. We're here at the White Cloud Sect now, let's see what tricks he can pull!"
Qin Yu's eyes darkened slightly, and he said softly, "I'm not worried about what he'll do to me. I'm just worried that he might secretly target you and do something detrimental."
Zhao Xinyu smiled lightly, but her expression was cold. "Senior Brother Qin, there's no need to worry. Even if the Luo Family has some connections and influence behind the White Cloud Sect, this is not a place that Luo Chuan can control on his own. The rules of the White Cloud Sect are far more stringent than those of the Cloud-Leveling Hall."
Yang Zheng chimed in, a determined glint in his eyes. "Exactly! Senior Brother Qin, if he dares to resort to underhanded tricks again, then we brothers and sisters might as well teach him a lesson right here on the stage, in broad daylight!"
Their eyes met, and a sense of shared hatred for the enemy welled up within them.
At this moment, Elder Wang Lin from the outer sect stepped forward and raised his hand to signal the crowd to quiet down.
"Alright, that's enough for today." Wang Lin said in a deep voice, his eyes solemn. "Qin Yu, the matter has been investigated and the facts are clear; you have done nothing wrong."
At this point, his gaze shifted, coldly sweeping over the three disciples still kneeling on the ground. "As for whether it was truly inner disciple Luo Chuan who instigated this, that must be investigated by the sect's Law Enforcement Hall. The Law Enforcement Hall will never tolerate anyone who violates the sect's rules."
His voice was like thunder, echoing throughout the training ground for a long time.
Immediately afterwards, he waved his sleeve and shouted in a loud voice, "Disperse! Those who need to cultivate, go cultivate; those who need to patrol, go patrol. Do not linger here!"
The crowd dispersed with a roar, leaving only a few disciples discussing among themselves, casting surprised or admiring glances from afar. Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng stood side by side, watching the gradually emptying martial arts arena, all understanding in their hearts that this open and covert attack was only the beginning, and a much larger storm was quietly brewing within the White Cloud Sect.
Night fell, and the outer area of the White Cloud Sect was quiet and cold. Inside Qin Yu's palace, candlelight flickered, and a faint fragrance of spiritual energy permeated the air. Qin Yu, Zhao Xinyu, and Yang Zheng sat down, still lingering in the afterglow of the day's events.
Qin Yu frowned and slowly spoke, "Luo Chuan... I originally thought he was just a spoiled brat from the Cloud-Leveling Hall who bullied others, but I never expected him to transform into an inner disciple of the White Cloud Sect. Just what is the Luo Family's background?"
Zhao Xinyu hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with a hint of solemnity, and said slowly, "Senior Brother Qin, I've heard my grandfather mention this matter. The Luo Family is not an ordinary cultivation family; their roots run much deeper. Ten thousand years ago, the Luo Family was originally just a branch of the royal family of the Great Yan Continent, a true member of the imperial family. If it weren't for a fortuitous opportunity, they would probably still be just an ordinary family in power in the secular world."
She paused for a moment, her tone even lower. "It is said that the patriarch of the Luo Family, Luo Tianming, received a magical artifact from a mysterious master by chance. From then on, he embarked on the path of cultivation. Luo Tianming was exceptionally talented, and with the help of that magical artifact, he reached the Major Accomplishment of the Mystic Understanding Realm in just ten years."
"Ten years, and he's reached the Major Accomplishment of the Mystic Understanding Realm?" Yang Zheng couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes filled with astonishment. "In that era of scarce spirit stones and Source Extremity, this was almost impossible! No wonder Luo Tianming caused such a sensation throughout the entire Great Yan Continent back then."
Zhao Xinyu nodded slightly and continued, "That's exactly right. At that time, Luo Tianming was a member of the royal family and had also reached the Major Accomplishment of the Mystic Understanding Realm. With this double advantage, the Luo Family instantly became the most sought-after Lineage on the continent. What's even more terrifying is that, since then, the Luo Family has controlled the selection and training of the royal army. Millions of royal soldiers were selected for their Spirit Root and trained in cultivation techniques under the supervision of Luo Tianming's lineage."
At this point, her eyes turned slightly cold, and her voice was low and sigh-like, "An army composed of a million cultivators, even if they are only the lowest-ranking cultivators, is enough to sweep away everything. The current royal family is almost integrated with the Luo Family. Although the White Cloud Sect is the number one sect on the Great Yan Continent, it still has to be wary of the royal family and the Luo Family."
Yang Zheng slapped his knee hard, his voice low but filled with indignation. "That's right! Even the White Cloud Sect has to consider the terrifying power of the royal army. Not to mention, Luo Tianming's current whereabouts and cultivation level are already a mystery. Brother Yu, your victory over Luo Chuan in the Cloud-Leveling Hall might have caught the attention of the Luo Family, which is why they immediately took him into the White Cloud Sect. It's both to temper his mind and to pave his cultivation path with the sect's protection."
The candlelight flickered, and the mood of all three grew heavy. Qin Yu slowly raised his head, his eyes flashing with a cold sharpness. "So that's how it is... The Luo Family, the royal family... Ha, it seems this battle is destined to be unavoidable."
The candlelight crackled, reflecting the cold light in Qin Yu's eyes. His fingertips lightly traced the table, as if suppressing the surging anger in his heart.
"The Luo Family..." he began in a low voice, his tone carrying a chilling sharpness, "The royal family's number one henchman, the largest aristocratic family on the Great Yan Continent. But no matter how deep their foundation, they cannot crush my Dao heart, Qin Yu."
At this point, he slowly raised his head, his eyes like swords, pointing straight at the sky. "My path, Qin Yu's path, has always been to go against the current. Since they want to use the power of the royal family and the influence of the Luo Family to suppress me, then I will insist on carving out my own place in this White Cloud Sect, in this Great Yan Continent!"
Yang Zheng clenched his fists, his blood surging, unable to contain his excitement. "Brother Yu is right! We'll stand together! Even if the Luo Family has the royal family behind them, so what? My sword, even if I fight to my last breath, will never bow down!"
Zhao Xinyu's eyes shone in the candlelight, and for the first time, a hint of determination and fervor appeared in her usually cool gaze. She said softly, "Senior Brother Qin, you are not alone. Behind you, we are. No matter how powerful the Luo Family becomes, or how prosperous the royal family is, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
The atmosphere inside the hall froze instantly, and the three people's vows seemed to pierce through the night, echoing between heaven and earth.
Qin Yu reached out and placed his hands on the two men's shoulders, his voice low but powerful. "Good! With you two here, I fear nothing. Luo Chuan... Luo Family... no matter how powerful you are, I, Qin Yu, will personally shatter you!"
Suddenly, the candlelight blazed brightly, illuminating the resolute expressions of the three men. At that moment, it seemed as if even heaven and earth trembled at their vow.