"Who dares to release such murderous intent at the foot of Shenyue Peak?!"
A thunderous voice broke through the bamboo grove, and moments later, four figures burst onto the scene. The quartet arrived with an air of authority, their initial aggression giving way to hesitation as their eyes fell upon the elder. They froze in place.
The leader among them was a man in his sixties, dressed in a navy-blue robe. His three long, flowing mustaches gave him a scholarly and composed appearance. This was Elder Cangyun, one of the four great elders of the Tianjian Sect.
Beside him stood a fierce-looking man with a fiery red beard and sharp, hawk-like brows that bespoke his unyielding spirit. He was Elder Chiyan, another of the sect's renowned four elders.
Behind the two elders were a young man and woman, both of whom appeared to be in their late teens, around the same age as Nie Feng. The young woman wore a flowing lavender dress, her delicate features and ethereal grace giving her the appearance of a celestial maiden descended to the mortal realm. The young man, clad in a blue robe, exuded an aura of arrogance, his handsome face and noble bearing making him seem untouchable.
A Startling Encounter
"Elder Huo?" Elder Cangyun exclaimed, his usually calm demeanor faltering as he addressed the elder in the tattered robe. "I thought you were in seclusion. What brings you here?"
Huo, the mysterious elder, chuckled, the sound both hoarse and sardonic. "I came out of seclusion some time ago. Lately, I've been wandering around looking for promising disciples. Today, I found quite the gem." His gaze flicked briefly to Nie Feng before shifting to the pair standing behind the Tianjian Sect elders. "Are those your personal disciples? Bring them forward. Let me have a look."
"Qingfeng, Ziyue, step forward!" Elder Cangyun ordered hastily. "This is Huo, the leader of the Shadow Sect—an integral branch of the Tianjian Sect. Pay your respects!"
The two disciples stepped forward immediately, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Sect Leader Huo."
Huo's cloudy eyes gleamed as he studied the pair. "The girl is at the eighth level of the Body Refining Realm, and the boy is at the seventh. Decent enough."
His gaze shifted back to Nie Feng, a mischievous grin forming on his weathered face. "But would you believe me if I said this boy is far superior to both of them?"
Judgment and Contempt
Qingfeng and Ziyue both turned to Nie Feng, their expressions shifting from surprise to disdain as they realized he hadn't even reached the Body Refining Realm. Their scoffing glances made their thoughts clear: How could someone so weak possibly surpass us?
Huo's smirk disappeared, replaced by a cold, piercing glare. With a slight shift of his posture, he released a wave of killing intent that blanketed the area. The young disciples turned pale, their arrogance instantly replaced by fear as they struggled to remain standing.
Elder Cangyun and Elder Chiyan exchanged uneasy smiles, well aware of Huo's temperament. The Shadow Sect leader was not someone to be trifled with.
An Offer Revisited
Ignoring the shaken onlookers, Huo focused his attention back on Nie Feng. "So, boy, you now know who I am. Let me ask you again: are you willing to join me in the Shadow Sect?"
Huo's tone was firm, his offer carrying weight and undeniable allure. Nie Feng's chest tightened. Here was a man whose power could silence even the greatest among the Tianjian Sect, and he was offering Nie Feng a path forward—one that promised strength and revenge.
But Huo's path came with a cost, one Nie Feng was not yet sure he was willing to pay.