The forest was silent, but the atmosphere hung heavy with the remnants of the encounter. Xian Di stood rooted to the spot, his mind racing, still processing what had just happened. The mysterious woman who had appeared so suddenly, her overwhelming aura, and then her disappearance had left him in a state of shock. The words she had murmured echoed in his head, though he couldn't make sense of it all just yet.
For a long moment, he stood frozen, unsure of what to do. But as the realization set in that she was gone, Xian Di took a deep breath, calming his racing thoughts. There was nothing more he could do about her now.
"Focus," he muttered to himself, shaking off the unease.
With the woman gone, Xian Di decided to turn his attention to his training. His new Thunder-based spear skill had just reached a new level, and there was no time like the present to test its limits. He needed to channel the shock of what had happened into something productive.
---
Hours Later
In the clearing, Xian Di stood with his spear in hand, his movements precise and powerful. Every strike he made was followed by a crack of thunder, his speed and control far more refined than before. The energy within him surged with every thrust of his spear, lightning-like strikes leaving faint scorch marks on the ground. His footwork flowed seamlessly with the spear, his Serpent's Shadow Maneuver allowing him to move like a blur, striking from unexpected angles.
He trained tirelessly, pushing the limits of his new abilities, until the storm within him was tamed and the energy in his body had settled.
Finally, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Xian Di stopped, his breathing calm, his body thrumming with new strength. His thoughts returned briefly to the strange woman and the ominous feeling she had left behind, but he pushed it aside for now.
It was time to return home.
---
The Next Day
The Tang Clan estate was quiet when Xian Di arrived. The tension in the air was still thick, but there was something different about it now. He headed straight to his courtyard, his mind still focused on the training and his recent breakthrough.
As he neared the entrance, a familiar figure stood waiting for him. His mother, Mei Lin, rushed forward, her expression a mixture of relief and worry.
"Where have you been, Xian Di?" she asked, her voice sharp with concern. "You've been gone for three days. I was so worried."
"I've been training," Xian Di replied calmly, but he could tell by her face that something more was going on. "What's happening?"
Mei Lin sighed, glancing around to ensure no one else was listening. "I've received a message from the Bai family. They've summoned me back, and I have to leave immediately."
"Are we both leaving?" Xian Di asked, his tone serious.
Mei Lin shook her head. "No. You can't come with me. The Bai family has restrictions in place. They won't allow you to return with me. I'm sorry."
Xian Di's gaze hardened, but he nodded slowly. "What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to stay here, in your courtyard," she said softly but firmly. "There are dangerous things happening in the city. You'll be safer here until I return."
Xian Di didn't argue. "I understand."
---
One Day Later
The air around the estate was strangely quiet. Xian Di had spent the entire day meditating and refining his skills, staying within the bounds of his courtyard as his mother had requested. But now, as the evening approached, something strange was happening. The sky above began to darken, not with the natural fading of the sun, but with an unnatural shadow that seemed to spread from the horizon.
A low rumble echoed through the air, growing louder with every passing second. Xian Di's eyes snapped open as he sensed something massive approaching.
Rising to his feet, he moved to the edge of the courtyard. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw four massive floating ships descending upon the city, their dark forms casting an ominous shadow over everything below.
The first ship approached from the east, its hull jagged and grotesque, resembling a monstrous dragon with flames flickering within its hollow eyes. A blood-red banner flew high, emblazoned with the insignia of the Blood Fiend Sect.
The second ship hovered to the south, shaped like a towering skeleton. Black mist swirled around its base as it drifted closer, the banner of the Shadow Grave Sect fluttering ominously above it.
From the west came the third ship, a bat-like vessel crackling with energy, its wings casting long shadows over the city. The banner of the Storm Demon Sect flew proudly above it.
And finally, from the north, the largest of them all—a massive serpent-like ship with scales dark as night, glowing with runes of destruction. This was the ship of the Void Serpent Sect.
Without warning, disciples began leaping from the ships, descending upon the city in waves. Screams echoed through the streets as the chaos erupted, the devil sects unleashing their bloodthirsty disciples to slaughter everything in their path.
Xian Di's heart raced as the city descended into madness.
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System Notification: Updating in progress. The system will be inactive during the process of updating for 24 hours.
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Xian Di's stomach sank as the system's voice echoed in his mind.