The training grounds were located in a secluded valley, surrounded by towering trees, and the only sound was the soft rustle of leaves in the wind and the distant gurgling of a stream. The sky overhead was clear, and the air was cool and crisp. But within the training grounds, an intense atmosphere had settled. The peace outside was in stark contrast to the storm raging within Iris. She had been training relentlessly for weeks, and her power had been growing at an extraordinary rate.
Lian had built the perfect environment for Iris. No distractions, no interruptions, only pure, uninterrupted cultivation. He had created an atmosphere in which Iris could fully tap into the vast potential of her bloodline and power. Yet, even with all the tranquility around her, Iris could not find peace. The fire of revenge burned within her like an unrelenting inferno.
The True Light Sect, the ones who had destroyed her family, her life, and her happiness, were still out there, living their luxurious lives, untouched by the chaos they had caused. They were the reason for her pain, the reason for her endless torment. And now, with the strength Lian had given her, she was ready to make them pay.
Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the training area, Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the power flowing through her veins. Her aura surged as she tapped deeper into her bloodline, her body crackling with energy. Each day, she felt stronger, more in control, and more certain of her mission.
"I've trained enough," Iris muttered to herself, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'm ready."
Lian stood several paces away, his arms crossed over his chest. His sharp eyes observed her, noting the subtle changes in her aura. He could feel the power coursing through her, the dangerous energy that now radiated from her like a beast ready to pounce.
"Are you truly ready?" Lian's voice was calm, almost detached. He had been with Iris through every step of her journey, but he knew better than to underestimate the weight of revenge. It could consume even the strongest of cultivators.
Iris opened her eyes, her gaze sharp and unwavering. "I've waited too long. I've felt the power inside me awakening. My bloodline is stronger than ever, and now, I can finally make them pay. I'm ready to destroy the True Light Sect."
Lian studied her for a long moment before speaking again. "Power brings destruction, but it also brings responsibility. Revenge, especially, will change you. Are you certain this is what you want?"
Iris's eyes narrowed. She had heard the warnings before. She had already made her choice. "I have nothing left to lose. They took everything from me—my family, my future. Now, I'll take everything from them."
Lian didn't argue further. He understood the path she had chosen. All he could do now was guide her and help her harness this power without letting it consume her entirely.
---
The following morning, Iris stood before Lian in the training hall. Her posture was straight, and her aura was calm but undeniably powerful. Her transformation was almost complete. The power within her, her bloodline's true potential, had been awakened. She could feel it in every fiber of her being—she was no longer the weak, helpless girl she once was.
"Are you ready?" Lian asked.
Iris nodded firmly. "Let's go."
Without another word, Lian raised his hand, and the air around them shimmered. In an instant, they were transported to a vast, sprawling fortress in the heart of a mountainous region—the headquarters of the True Light Sect.
The sect's massive walls stretched high into the sky, adorned with powerful energy arrays that shimmered with an ethereal glow. The buildings inside were made of smooth white stone, and the sect's emblem, a radiant sun, hung proudly over the gates. The energy within the sect was oppressive, filled with the unmistakable aura of powerful cultivators.
Iris's eyes narrowed as she gazed upon the place that had brought her so much pain. This was where it had all started—the place where her family had been taken from her, the place where her hopes had been shattered.
Inside the sect, the leaders were gathered in the grand hall, discussing matters of politics and cultivation techniques. The elderly sect master, an imposing figure with long, silver hair, sat at the center of the room, his expression cold and calculating.
But when Iris and Lian appeared in the center of the hall, everything froze. The sect leaders jumped to their feet, their faces pale with shock. They had been told Iris was dead. The reports had claimed that she had died in an accident, the victim of an unexpected calamity. But here she was, standing before them, stronger than any of them had imagined.
"You!" the elder closest to the door gasped. "You should be dead!"
Iris's lips curled into a cold, disdainful smile. "I should have been. But I'm not. And now I'm here to take everything you've taken from me."
Before they could react, Iris's aura exploded, flooding the room with overwhelming energy. Her movements were blindingly fast—she moved like a shadow, her strikes faster than the eye could follow. The elders summoned their powers, but it was clear they were no match for her.
One by one, they fell, their bodies crumpling under the weight of Iris's power. Each strike she landed was filled with the fury and grief of years of suffering. She didn't hesitate. She didn't give them a chance to beg for mercy. They had taken everything from her, and now, they would face the consequences.
"You destroyed my family, my future!" Iris screamed as she wiped out the last of the sect's leaders. "Now, you pay the price!"
The grand hall fell silent as the echoes of battle faded. Iris stood in the center, her chest rising and falling with the exertion, her clothes stained with blood. She looked at her hands, the blood of her enemies dripping from her fingers. But there was no satisfaction in her eyes. Only emptiness.
Lian walked toward her, his face still as impassive as ever. "It's done," he said softly.
Iris's shoulders slumped. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her gaze distant. "It's over. But why doesn't it feel like victory?"
Lian placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression softening. "Because vengeance will never fill the void. It will never bring back what you lost. But now, you are free. You have the power to choose what comes next."
Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had avenged her family. The True Light Sect was no more. But the emptiness within her remained. The pain of loss could not be undone, but now, she had the opportunity to build something new