Carefully tucking the jade piece into his robes, Elder Zhong let out a long breath, his eyes gleaming with newfound confidence. With a slight wave of his hand, a shadow appeared before him, matching his own height. Slowly, the shadow began to solidify, morphing into an image of Elder Zhong in his pre-Xiantian prime. With a faint tremor, the figure grew younger, gradually resembling his current appearance.
At forty years old, Elder Zhong had inexplicably shed the years. Though he previously appeared in his fifties, a single night with the enigmatic Lady Zi Xun had inexplicably rejuvenated him, returning his visage to that of a man in his prime.
Gazing at the shadow, a mirror image of himself, Elder Zhong exhaled once more.
"A shadow clone? It's exactly like me—two of me, two bodies," he murmured with a sly smile.
This was the extraordinary ability he had mastered through his traversal of dimensional realms—the power to control two physical forms. The shadow body could transform back into an intangible form, slipping through the narrowest of cracks or hiding within another's shadow, an astonishing skill beyond comprehension.
Of course, while this ability was remarkable, the interplay of light and shadow meant that both Elder Zhong and his shadow body could still cast visible shadows. Yet this clone was far from ordinary—akin to the avatars described in Earth's ancient novels or the mythical second soul of legends, yet far more wondrous.
Elder Zhong assigned each body a title: the True Body and the Shadow Body.
"The Shadow Body shall remain in Zhong Manor. If those old fools from the Kaiyang Sect discover anything amiss, it would be troublesome. The Red Luan Sutra cannot be cultivated by the Shadow Body, so I'll have to find another technique later. For now, as long as the True Body remains alive, the Shadow Body is indestructible. The red pearl will stay with the Shadow Body while the True Body heads to Kaiyang Sect," he decided, outlining his plan.
The two bodies embraced briefly before parting ways. The True Body stamped the ground, revealing a hidden underground passage. Straightening his robes and clutching the jade piece, Elder Zhong descended. The entrance sealed behind him, while the Shadow Body remained seated on a meditation cushion, continuing its cultivation. With the True Body's breakthrough to the Xiantian stage, the Shadow Body's restrictions had eased, and it too would soon achieve the same advancement.
Below ground, Elder Zhong navigated a concealed railway. A prudent man with many secrets, his foresight rivaled the fabled cunning of the proverbial three-burrow rabbit. Ten days of travel by train brought him to another estate, this one nestled near a vast mountain range. The Kaiyang Sect resided deep within these treacherous peaks.
Elder Zhong rested two days at the estate, ensuring all preparations were in place. Then, with a bundle on his back and a blade in hand, he embarked on foot toward the mountains. These endless peaks were scarcely traveled, teeming with venomous creatures, toxic vegetation, and miasma, with fearsome beasts and even demonic entities lurking within. Without the strength of the Xiantian stage, even Elder Zhong would not dare venture alone.
The mountains stretched endlessly, their towering summits piercing the clouds. Leaping from crag to crag with newfound agility, Elder Zhong deftly avoided poisonous threats along the way. Yet, the journey to Kaiyang Sect was long, and as night fell, he sought refuge.
By dusk, he discovered a relatively safe valley—simple foliage, minimal toxins, no miasma, and devoid of large predators. A small alcove within the valley provided shelter, just large enough to shield him from the elements. After scattering a special concoction to repel insects, Elder Zhong settled inside to meditate.
Starting a fire was out of the question. Here, even flames could attract peril. Earthly beasts feared fire, but the creatures here—beasts and demons alike—might be drawn to it instead.
Hours passed, and deep into the night, a piercing howl shattered the silence.
"Ah-wooo…"
The eerie cry resonated through the valley, jarring Elder Zhong from his meditation. His eyes snapped open, scanning the moonlit surroundings.
High atop the mountain, illuminated by the silvery glow of the full moon, stood a colossal silver wolf, its height exceeding three meters. The beast tilted its head back, howling toward the heavens as moonlight bathed its shimmering fur.
"It's absorbing lunar essence… a demonic beast!"
Elder Zhong's heart tightened as his pupils shrank. Even the weakest of demonic beasts rivaled a Xiantian-stage cultivator, and he had only just ascended, lacking the combat techniques to match his raw power. Fighting it was not an option—survival hinged on remaining undetected.
He activated his Breath Concealment Art, suppressing his presence to the utmost. Yet the wolf's senses were far keener than mere mortal perception. As it concluded its howling, its piercing eyes locked onto the valley below.
The silver wolf leaped down in a blur, its movements swift and calculated. Within moments, it reached the valley floor, its gaze fixed on the alcove where Elder Zhong was concealed. The repellent herbs and unnatural scent betrayed his presence.
Panic surged through Elder Zhong as the wolf lunged. Clutching his blade, he met the beast's onslaught head-on.
Clang!
The wolf's massive claws struck the alcove's rocky entrance, its immense frame unable to squeeze through the narrow space. It snarled, pawing furiously at the barrier while pressing its colossal head inside, jaws snapping mere inches from Elder Zhong.
The alcove trembled, stones falling as the wolf's relentless attacks threatened to breach the walls. Desperation mounting, Elder Zhong poured his qi into his blade, striking at the wolf's exposed forelimbs.
Slash!
A shallow wound marred the beast's silver fur. Enraged, the wolf howled, its claws smashing the blade from Elder Zhong's grasp.
With no weapon, and the alcove collapsing around him, death loomed near. The wolf's foul breath filled the space as its jaws edged closer. In a final act of desperation, Elder Zhong summoned the power of the Red Luan Sutra.
A pink mist surged from his palm, filling the confined space with an intoxicating haze. The wolf faltered, its movements slowing as confusion overtook its fury. The beast's blood-red eyes glazed over, consumed by illusory visions of female wolves.
With a final, frustrated snarl, the silver wolf retreated, vanishing into the depths of the forest.
Elder Zhong, trembling, retrieved his fallen blade and fled into the night. This valley was no longer safe. His journey to Kaiyang Sect continued, but his heart bore the weight of the encounter, the memory of a beast he had narrowly escaped.