The White Crane Sect lay in ruins, its once-majestic pavilions now reduced to piles of rubble. The air was heavy with ash and smoke, while the ground was strewn with the bodies of fallen warriors. The Skull Sovereign and his army stood still, their triumph inevitable. But amidst the turmoil, one man stood unwavering—Tian Hong, the wise leader of the Crane sect.
Tian Hong's robes were torn, his body battered from the relentless assault, but his gaze was as sharp and focused as ever. He knew the situation was dire. Even the Ten Sages of Hell were too powerful to defeat in open combat. His only goal now was to buy time—time for the survivors of the White Crane Sect to escape and live to fight another day.
Mei Ling stumbled through the wreckage, her white robes stained with soot and blood. Her eyes darted frantically between collapsed buildings and scattered debris. The once-pristine training grounds where she had taught countless disciples now a hellish battlefield.
"Lan! Li Shen!" Her voice cracked as she called out. The only response was the crackling of flames and distant screams.
A group of junior disciples emerged from behind a fallen pillar, their faces streaked with tears and ash. "Senior Mei," one of them bowed, his shoulders trembling. "The northern wing is gone. No survivors."
Mei Ling's knees buckled. The northern wing - where her daughter's quarters were located. Her hands clawed at the ground, gathering fistfuls of dirt and ash. The world spun around her as memories flooded her mind: Lan's first steps in the courtyard, her proud smile after mastering the Crane stance, her gentle voice calling "Mother" each morning.
"We need to move, Senior Mei." Another disciple gripped her arm. "Elder Tian Wei awaits at the emergency gathering point. We can't stay here."
But Mei Ling barely heard them. Her eyes fixed on a torn piece of fabric caught on a splintered beam - the same shade of black as Li Shen's training robes. The man who had promised to protect them, who had bound their fates together, was nowhere to be found.
"The White Crane Sect..." one of the younger disciples sobbed as they helped Mei Ling to her feet. "Our home..."
"Please, Senior Mei," they urged, supporting her trembling body. "We must reach Elder Tian Wei before the Skull Sovereign's forces return here."
Mei Ling let them guide her away, her mind fracturing like the broken tiles under her feet. Each step felt like a walk through a nightmare, the weight of loss crushing her chest until breathing became an effort.
Mei Ling's chest tightened with sorrow as she surveyed the scene of destruction around her. The sect had fallen, consumed by the flames of war. In the distance, she could hear the sounds of battle - roaring, clashing, and explosive qi techniques. She knew that the Crane Sage was fighting bravely to protect them.
"I have to find her," she said, her voice trembling with motherly emotion. "I have to find Mei Lan."
The disciple grabbed her arm firmly but gently. "You can't. We'll all die if we stay here. Please… we have to go. We have to honor the sacrifice of the Crane Sage."
Torn between searching for her family and survival, Mei Ling trembled. Though her heart ached to find Mei Lan and Li Shen, she knew staying meant certain death and the end of White Crane's legacy.
Fighting her emotions, she nodded and fled the battlefield, weeping. She could only hope her loved ones had survived the chaos.
Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, only Crane Sage Tian Hong remained upright against the daunting might of the Skull Sovereign and the Ten Sages of Hell. The flickering flames in the distance cast a glow upon his silhouette as he confronted the Skull Sovereign, who now revealed to be clad in black armor with bone layers. The Crane Sage noticed a slight impatience, but it could just be his imagination.
The Sovereign's gaze sharpened as he uttered words that echoed like a doom bringer. "I will hear the Sage's last words."
Tian Hong's eyes were resolute, his tone calm despite the turmoil enveloping them. "I do not seek victory. My purpose is to facilitate their escape and I have served my purpose."
The Skull Sovereign finally revealed a semblance of emotion. He let out a malevolent grin.
The ground trembled as Tian Hong's qi surged, his weathered fingers forming ancient seals. The air crackled with raw power as he channeled energy passed down through generations of White Crane masters. Blue light erupted from his palms, taking shape above him - a massive crane of pure qi, its wings spanning the width of three pavilions.
"Ancient Art: Colossal Crane Blade!"
The qi-crane's wings folded, condensing into a searing edge of energy. The attack cleaved through the air with devastating force, leaving a trail of shattered earth in its wake. The Skull Sovereign raised his dark qi barrier, the air around him distorting with malevolent energy.
The crane blade crashed against the barrier. Dark and light qi clashed in a deafening explosion. Cracks appeared in the Skull Sovereign's defense, spreading like spider webs across the dark surface. For a moment, it seemed the legendary technique would break through.
But shadows moved behind Tian Hong. The Ten Sages of Hell emerged from the darkness, their bone-patterned robes swirling as they struck. Their coordinated attack caught the Crane Sage mid-technique. Multiple hands grabbed his arms and shoulders, forcing him to his knees.
The Skull Sovereign stepped through his cracking barrier, drawing his sword. The blade gleamed with an unholy light as he thrust it through Tian Hong's chest. Blood sprayed across the scorched ground as the Crane Sage's eyes widened in pain.
Blood pooled beneath Tian Hong's body as he collapsed onto the scorched earth. His weathered hands clutched at the sword protruding from his chest, fingers trembling against the dark metal. The legendary Crane Sage's breath came in short, ragged gasps.
The Skull Sovereign yanked his blade free with a cruel twist.
Around them, the last pillars of the Crane Pavilion crumbled to the ground. Centuries of history and tradition dissipated as support beams snapped and walls caved in. The proud symbol of the White Crane Sect - a marble statue of a soaring crane - shattered as it crashed to the ground.
The Ten Sages of Hell spread out across the ruins, their bone-patterned robes billowing in the smoke-filled air. They moved like shadows through the destruction, ensuring no corner of the sect remained standing. Ancient scrolls and precious artifacts burned in the flames that consumed the library. Training grounds where countless disciples had honed their skills lay torn apart, practice weapons scattered like fallen leaves.
Tian Hong's blood soaked into the earth where generations of crane disciples had once trained. The last guardian of the White Crane style had fallen, and with him, centuries of martial arts tradition.
The White Crane Sect, a bastion of virtue and justice in the martial world, was no more.
Elder Tian Wei led the surviving White Crane disciples through the dense forest, his weathered face grim as he guided them deeper into the valley. Behind him, twenty disciples followed in exhausted silence, their once-pristine robes torn and stained with ash. Mei Ling stumbled among them, her eyes vacant and unfocused.
The group picked their way through thick vines, staying clear of well-worn paths where the Skull Sovereign's forces might follow. Branches whipped at their faces, thorns caught their clothes. But they pressed on, driven by the desperate need to survive.
"Keep moving," Tian Wei's voice cut through the darkness. "The valley shrine lies ahead. We'll find shelter there."
A young disciple caught Mei Ling as she tripped over a root. Her qi fluctuated wildly, crackling around her in unstable bursts. The loss of her daughter and the fall of their sect had shattered something inside her.
"Senior Mei," the disciple whispered, steadying her. "Please hold on."
Mei Ling's eyes darted around the forest shadows. "Lan... where's my Lan?"
"Quiet," Tian Wei commanded, raising his hand. The group froze. In the distance, voices echoed through the trees - search parties from the Skull Sect. The elder gestured silently, and the survivors pressed themselves against tree trunks and behind bushes.
Heavy footsteps passed nearby. Metal clinked against armor. The survivors held their breath until the sounds faded into the night.
They reached a hidden valley as dawn approached. Ancient stone steps, worn smooth by centuries of use, led down to a small shrine nestled between towering cliffs. Here, the first White Crane masters had developed their techniques, away from prying eyes.
"This sacred ground will shelter us," Tian Wei said, ushering the exhausted disciples inside. "Here we'll preserve our art until the time comes to rebuild."
Mei Ling collapsed against a wall, her fingers tracing the crane carvings that decorated the shrine's interior. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered her daughter's name over and over.
Li Shen emerged from the cave, the Poison Sisters following close behind. His jaw clenched as he processed the fall of the White Crane Sect.
"Master, where are we heading?" Qin Ru adjusted her daggers, her earlier defiance replaced with submission after their encounter in the cave.
"Purple Lotus City." Li Shen's eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest path. "Your clan's territory."
Qin Feng's lips curved into a knowing smile. "The Viper Clan's stronghold. Bold choice."
"The Viper Clan has what I need. Resources, warriors, territory." Li Shen channeled qi into his feet, preparing for a Shadow Step. "The system showed me the truth. Individual strength isn't enough. I need an army."
The sisters exchanged glances. They understood the implications. Their former clan would become his stepping stone.
"The clan heads won't submit easily," Qin Ru warned, though her tone carried no resistance to his plan.
"They won't have a choice. Every female warrior in Purple Lotus will become my vassal. The men will follow or die," Li Shen answered coldly.
"Through the eastern pass," Qin Feng pointed. "We can avoid the main roads where the Skull Sect's forces patrol."
Li Shen nodded. The system had changed him, stripped away his hesitation. The White Crane Sect's destruction proved that honor and virtue meant nothing against overwhelming power. He would build something stronger, forged through domination and absolute loyalty.
"Keep up," he commanded, channeling qi through his legs. The sisters braced themselves as he grabbed their waists. In a blur of motion, Shadow Step carried them through the forest, leaving only disturbed leaves in their wake.
"Let them think I'm dead," Li Shen muttered with a cold smirk. "It will be their final mistake."
The Skull Sovereign stood amid the smoking ruins, his bone-plated armor reflecting the dying flames. At his feet lay Tian Hong's body, the legendary master's blood soaking into ground that had once nurtured generations of crane disciples. The Ten Sages of Hell formed a circle around their lord, their bone-patterned robes rustling in the ash-laden breeze.
"My lord," one of the Sages bowed. "The sect is destroyed. Shall we pursue the survivors?"
The Skull Sovereign's four-eyed mask turned slowly, taking in the devastation. Collapsed buildings, shattered training grounds, burning scrolls - all evidence of their thorough destruction. Yet something tickled at the edge of his thoughts. Out of all the Crane blood he had spilled today, the Crane Sage had come and dare to challenge him in order to protect that arrogant young man. What meaning could these actions possibly have.
"My lord?" the Hell Sage pressed. "Are we finished here?"
The Sovereign waved his hand. At this moment, he had simply grown too powerful while the clans had weakened. The White Crane Sect sprawling before him in devastation was just another noble heritage crumbled to dust. Their swift annihilation had served as a testament to his might, a warning to any factions contemplating defiance. From now on, he had no time to entertain frivolous thought because his true campaign had just began.