In the stillness of the night, the sect seemed calm. The disciples rested after rigorous days of training, as several weeks passed since the duel. The sprawling grounds lit only by the faint glow of spiritual lanterns. Yet, while the night covered the sect in a serene darkness, an undercurrent of dread ran through the hearts of those in power. The elders, cultivators of immeasurable strength, had never felt so vulnerable.
Hidden deep within the inner halls of the sect's core, several Heaven Path realm elders and few Nirvana realm elders gathered. Their robes flowed with faint spiritual energy, their expressions stern, casting glances at one another. They had convened in secrecy, well away from prying eyes and ears. The younger disciples may have idolized Shen Yuan, Feng Yanqing, and Bai Chen for their remarkable abilities, but to the elders, the trio was a source of unease. The three had surpassed expectations, and their growth wasn't slowing down.
"Elder Xie," one elder whispered, glancing toward a tall figure cloaked in dark blue. "You're not truly suggesting we take... extreme measures, are you?"
Elder Xie's eyes glinted coldly, unmoved by the subtle caution in the question. "Extreme? They are children wielding powers that could topple us. Would you prefer to wait until they make us obsolete? Or worse, strike against us?"
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the small assembly. Another elder, Elder Wen, shook his head slowly. "We don't know their intentions. They are young and talented, yes, but not all gifted cultivators turn on their masters. Surely, they deserve our guidance, not our suspicion."
Elder Xie's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Guidance? Have you seen Shen Yuan's eyes? That boy's ambition runs colder and deeper than any river of yin qi. He doesn't look at us with admiration or even respect. If anything, he sees us as obstacles."
A few of the other elders nodded slowly, remembering the power that Shen Yuan had displayed, even in a friendly duel. The memory still lingered, the way he had handled his strength, the effortless way he dodged attacks, his aura suffocating and ominous. It was unlike anything they had seen from someone his age.
Elder Hua, a Nirvana realm cultivator who had been silent until now, finally spoke. Her voice was calm, but a subtle tremor betrayed her unease. "There is another way," she said, glancing at each elder in turn. "Blood pills. Their essence could be refined. Imagine the power their young blood and talent could bring to those of us closer to ascension."
The silence that followed was thick and chilling. The idea was abhorrent, even to those who had already voiced concerns. Yet, the allure of such an option hung heavily in the air. With each elder staring into the possibility, the boundaries of morality grew hazy, obscured by ambition and fear.
"Elder Hua, that suggestion—" one elder began but faltered. His voice held hesitation, but his gaze betrayed temptation.
"Blood pills are an option," Elder Hua continued, unblinking. "But if you lack the resolve for it, there are other methods. We could, perhaps, seal their cultivation, suppress their power until they're more... compliant."
Elder Xie chuckled darkly. "And if they resist? Shen Yuan does not strike me as the obedient type."
A murmur of laughter spread through the room, bitter and tinged with nervousness. The three prodigies were more than just talented; they had the temperament of rulers, not subordinates.
"Restraint will only lead to more problems," Elder Hua continued, her voice cold and measured. "Shen Yuan, Feng Yanqing, Bai Chen—they may be young, but their power is growing too quickly. If we don't act now, they will surpass us. And once they do, there will be no stopping them."
Yet, amid their debate, something invisible loomed, observing every word, every subtle movement of distrust and fear. Gui Zuwang, the founder himself, sat in his remote abode, his divine sense stretching like an all-seeing shadow across the sect. Every murmur, every glint of desperation in the elders' eyes, was laid bare before him. And he did nothing to interfere.
Gui Zuwang let out a quiet chuckle, his hand gently swirling the wine in his cup. "Fools," he muttered to himself, bemused. "You worry so much about your position, yet you fail to see how fear is corroding your spirit."
To Gui Zuwang, the elders' desperation was nothing more than the fulfilment of his plans. Fear was a potent weapon, and he wielded it as effortlessly as one would wield a blade. For years, he had watched over the sect with detached interest, patiently waiting for the right moment, for the right individuals who could incite the discord he desired.
And now, with Shen Yuan's rise, the time was drawing near.
In the secluded chamber, the debate continued. Some elders, now visibly divided, remained determined to consider only more honorable solutions, while others stared darkly at the floor, contemplating methods that edged far past the line of morality. They were so absorbed in their bickering that they never noticed the strange, intangible pressure lingering in the air—a faint yet consuming darkness that seeped into their minds, amplifying every fear, every suspicion.
Another elder, Elder Mo, who had been watching the debate unfold with an unreadable expression, finally spoke up. "All of you bicker and scheme as though we are at war already. Is it so difficult to remember that they are still members of our sect?"
His words were meant to restore a sense of reason, but they had little effect. Instead, the words fell like lead, received by wary gazes and narrowed eyes. To the others, his plea for patience sounded almost naive.
"We cannot sit idle, Elder Mo," Elder Xie replied, his voice sharp. "The Heaven Path realm is the realm just below the Nirvana realm. If they continue to progress at this rate, it is but a matter of time before they reach the Nirvana realm. We may no longer have the luxury of controlling them. They will wield the strength to cast us aside."
"And what if Gui Zuwang chooses to support them over us?" Elder Hua murmured, her eyes narrowing. "We have seen how he looks at Shen Yuan—his interest in the boy is far more than mere mentorship. If Gui Zuwang aligns himself with the trio, what then?"
Her question hung in the air, bringing a palpable silence that bordered on dread. None of them wanted to think about what would happen if Gui Zuwang, the most powerful and inscrutable figure among them, chose to favor the younger generation over them.
But in his isolated chamber, Gui Zuwang smiled, taking a leisurely sip from his cup. This was precisely the reaction he had hoped for. The elders' unease, their gnawing suspicion—it was a delightful prelude to the real turmoil he intended to unleash.
"The time of doom draws near", he thought, savoring the phrase, his gaze distant yet calculating. He knew the fate that awaited them, and he reveled in the irony of watching them, self-assured and oblivious, walk directly into it.
For the elders, each plotting and scheming, each word exchanged in hushed voices, felt like a safeguard for their futures. They believed their discussion was private, unnoticed, contained within these hidden chambers. But to Gui Zuwang, they were merely pawns in a game they could not comprehend.
The gathered elders finally reached an uneasy pause, casting looks at one another with unspoken challenges. They would leave this chamber with the decision to watch closely, but the seeds of fear had been planted, and the rift among them was widening.
As the elders departed, the darkness in the chamber grew thicker, the air heavy with residual tension. Outside, the sect grounds were quiet, the disciples blissfully unaware of the fractures forming at the heart of their world. But the stars above seemed dim, the night carrying a faint, oppressive weight that pressed down on every corner of the sect.
Within the shadows of the chamber, Gui Zuwang's presence lingered, invisible yet undeniable. He watched the elders leave, one by one, his smile deepening as he watched their backs. For all their power, their knowledge, they were blind to the fate he had designed. They had lived too long in the illusion of safety and authority, and now, the walls of that illusion were crumbling, brick by brick.
"Monstrous, all of them," he murmured, amused. "Yet none realize they stand in the shadow of something far greater."
And with that, he vanished, leaving the room empty save for the lingering chill of his divine presence and the silent promise of chaos to come.