The Azure Cloud Sect buzzed with the news of Lin Feng's group's return from the southern border. Word of the breach, the demonic incursion, and the implications of the ancient power had spread like wildfire. In the days that followed, Sect Leader Feng convened an emergency council, summoning elders, core disciples, and representatives from allied sects to discuss the alarming developments.
Lin Feng stood outside the grand hall, waiting to be summoned. Beside him were Wei Chen, Li Mei, and Zhao Kuo, each lost in their thoughts. The tension in the air was palpable.
"Do you think they'll believe us?" Wei Chen asked, his usual humor absent. His eyes darted nervously toward the closed doors of the hall. "I mean, this is bigger than anything we've ever faced."
"They'll have no choice," Zhao Kuo replied, his voice steady as always. "The elders know something is wrong. They've sensed it, just like we have."
Li Mei remained silent, her gaze distant as she fanned herself absently. Lin Feng knew she was thinking about the implications of what they'd learned. The ancient power beneath the seal, the dark presence still lurking—it weighed heavily on all of them.
Before Lin Feng could respond, the massive doors to the hall creaked open. A young attendant stepped forward and bowed.
"Sect Leader Feng and the elders are ready to see you now."
Lin Feng nodded, and the group followed the attendant into the grand hall. Inside, the air was thick with solemnity. The azure banners of the sect hung from the high ceiling, and rows of elders and high-ranking disciples sat on either side of the chamber, their faces serious.
At the head of the hall, seated on an elevated platform, was Sect Leader Feng, his expression unreadable. To his right sat Elder Lei and Elder Jin, both of whom had accompanied Lin Feng and his friends to the southern border. On the left, a few unfamiliar faces—representatives from the Crimson Phoenix Sect and other allied sects—looked on with interest.
"Lin Feng, Wei Chen, Li Mei, Zhao Kuo," Sect Leader Feng's voice was steady, but there was a weight behind his words. "You've returned from the southern border with news that concerns us all. Tell us everything."
Lin Feng stepped forward, his heart pounding. He recounted the events: the weakening of the seal, the demonic breach, and the battle with the greater demon. He spoke of the dark energy they had sensed and the ancient legend Elder Jin had mentioned. The hall was silent as he spoke, every ear attuned to his words.
When he finished, there was a heavy pause. Elder Lei broke the silence.
"The breach was worse than we anticipated," he said gravely. "Lin Feng's description of the demon aligns with what we feared—greater demons, far more powerful than those we've faced in the past, are emerging. And if the legend is true…"
"The legend *is* true," a voice interrupted.
All eyes turned toward the Crimson Phoenix Sect's representative. Elder Feng Zhu, the same elder who had arrived with the Crimson Phoenix delegation weeks before, stood slowly. His crimson robes shimmered in the light, but his face was grim.
"Our sect has also sensed these disturbances," Elder Feng Zhu continued. "For years, we've felt the stirrings of ancient darkness in our territory. Like the Azure Cloud Sect, we believed it to be isolated incidents—rogue demons, dark cultivators seeking power. But now, it's clear that something far more dangerous is at play."
Sect Leader Feng leaned forward. "Do you believe the ancient demonic power is awakening?"
Elder Feng Zhu nodded. "Yes. And I believe that the seals keeping it at bay are failing, one by one. What Lin Feng and his group encountered was just the beginning."
A murmur spread through the hall, the gravity of Elder Feng Zhu's words sinking in. Lin Feng exchanged a glance with Li Mei, who looked equally troubled.
"What do we know about this ancient power?" Li Mei asked, her voice calm but laced with urgency. "If the seals are breaking, what are we truly up against?"
Elder Jin stepped forward, his eyes dark. "The legend speaks of a sect—an ancient, forgotten group of dark cultivators. They were known as the Dark Sect, and their goal was simple: to unleash the primordial demons that were sealed away by the righteous sects in the distant past."
"The Dark Sect?" Zhao Kuo asked, frowning. "I've heard rumors, but I thought they were long gone."
"They were thought to have been destroyed," Elder Jin confirmed. "But some believe they've been working in the shadows for centuries, waiting for the right moment to strike. If they are behind the weakening of the seals, it means they've somehow regained their strength—and they're growing bolder."
The hall fell silent again, the weight of Elder Jin's words pressing down on everyone.
"We need more information," Sect Leader Feng said at last, his voice cutting through the tension. "If the Dark Sect is involved, we need to find them—and stop them before they can break any more seals."
"How?" Wei Chen asked, his voice a mix of awe and fear. "If they've been hiding for centuries, how are we supposed to find them?"
Sect Leader Feng stood, his eyes filled with determination. "There are still records of their existence, hidden away in ancient texts. We'll need to consult the archives of both the Azure Cloud and Crimson Phoenix Sects. We'll also send scouts to investigate any areas where the seals might be weakening."
He turned to Elder Feng Zhu. "We'll need your sect's support. We must act quickly before the situation spirals further out of control."
Elder Feng Zhu nodded solemnly. "The Crimson Phoenix Sect stands with you. We will do everything in our power to locate the Dark Sect and strengthen the remaining seals."
Lin Feng's mind raced. This was bigger than anything he had imagined. The Dark Sect—an ancient group of dark cultivators bent on unleashing primordial demons. And if they were already succeeding in weakening the seals, time was not on their side.
"What about us?" Li Mei asked, her gaze sharp. "What can we do?"
Sect Leader Feng regarded them for a moment before speaking. "Lin Feng, Wei Chen, Li Mei, Zhao Kuo—you've proven yourselves capable and brave. You will be part of the search for the Dark Sect."
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. This was it—their chance to make a real difference in the growing crisis. But with that opportunity came enormous risk. If the Dark Sect was truly involved, they would be walking into the most dangerous situation they'd ever faced.
"We won't let you down," Lin Feng said, his voice steady.
"Good," Sect Leader Feng replied. "The future of the cultivation world may depend on it."
As the meeting concluded and they left the grand hall, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he knew one thing for certain: they couldn't turn back now.
The hunt for the Dark Sect had begun. And with it, the race to prevent the ancient darkness from consuming their world.