Lei Chen stood over the defeated body of Elder Lei Han, his breath heavy as he wiped blood from his brow. The Void Valley's shifting energy distorted reality around him, but the battle had finally ended. With Elder Lei Han's death, the immediate threat posed by the Black Veil Sect had been halted—but Lei Chen knew it was only a temporary reprieve.
"You've stopped them, for now," Qing Yuan said, his voice strained. "But the Black Veil Sect's ambitions run deeper than just this artifact. They won't stop until they've engulfed the entire continent in darkness."
Lei Chen nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. His father was still out there, a captive of the sect, and Lei Chen knew he had to find him. But for now, there were other matters that required his attention. The fight in the Void Valley had revealed gaps in his power, and despite his victory, he knew he needed to grow stronger.
As they left the valley, a messenger from the Celestial Sword Sect approached. Lei Chen took the scroll offered to him, his eyes scanning the elegant script inside. It was a summons.
"The Scarlet Moon will rise soon," Qing Yuan said, reading over his shoulder. "That's… unexpected."
The Scarlet Moon was a rare celestial phenomenon that occurred once every few decades, opening the hidden Scarlet Moon Realm. It was a place of immense danger but also unimaginable opportunity. Cultivators from all over the continent vied for a chance to enter the realm and claim its treasures.
Among those treasures was the fabled Scarlet Flame Jade, said to be an ancient artifact that could enhance a cultivator's power to extraordinary levels. The sect had chosen Lei Chen as one of their representatives for this rare event.
But first, he would have to prove himself worthy.