The **Scarlet Flame Empire**, a bastion of stability and hierarchy for centuries, now trembled under the weight of a single man's actions. The annihilation of the **Azure Valley Sect**, a prominent third-rate sect, was not merely an act of violence—it was an act of genocide. Within days, word of the massacre had spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves through every corner of the empire.
The once-proud Azure Valley Sect was no more. Its towering gates were shattered, its ancestral grounds desecrated, and its disciples slain to the last. The few survivors—servants and workers spared by chance or fleeing in time—described the event with trembling voices.
"Not a single elder could stop him," one survivor whispered to an envoy from a nearby sect. "Not even the Sect Leader could land a blow. He... he didn't even use cultivation techniques. His body... it was like steel, his strength immeasurable."
The devastated remains of the sect became a grim spectacle. Scattered corpses, shattered artifacts, and the lingering aura of death served as a grim reminder of Liang Zhen's wrath.
Amidst this desolation, Zhen Yue and Lian Hua sat together, their faces pale, their eyes hollow. The weight of their regret had not lessened—it had only grown heavier. They hadn't slept or eaten since that day. They replayed his words in their minds, over and over again, the realization of what they had lost cutting deeper with each passing moment.
"Liang Zhen..." Zhen Yue whispered, her voice hoarse. "What has he become?"
Lian Hua clutched her knees, her voice barely audible. "What did we lose? No, what did we *let* go?"
#### **The Ripples of Fear**
News of the massacre reached the surrounding third-rate sects within days. Each of them reacted with fear and confusion.
**Crimson Star Sect**, **Iron Cloud Pavilion**, and **Golden Blade Hall**, all third-rate sects comparable to Azure Valley, scrambled to fortify their defenses. Elders gathered in secret councils, debating whether to reach out to the empire for protection or prepare for war themselves.
"How can a single man destroy an entire sect?" demanded the leader of the Iron Cloud Pavilion. "Is he a monster? A demon? No ordinary cultivator could do this!"
"Shall we ally with the second-rate sects?" asked another elder cautiously. "Perhaps they could stand against him?"
But the second-rate sects, including **Obsidian Moon Hall** and **Silver Frost Sect**, were not eager to intervene. Though their strength far surpassed that of third-rate sects, none wished to provoke a foe capable of such destruction. Their leaders remained silent, watching the situation unfold from afar, waiting for the empire or the first-rate sects to act.
For centuries, the three great first-rate sects had stood at the pinnacle of cultivation within the Scarlet Flame Empire:
**Heavenly Sword Sect**, known for its unparalleled sword techniques and the towering Sword Peak that pierced the heavens.
**Thousand Blossoms Temple**, home to powerful spiritual cultivators and mystical arts revered across the empire.
**Crimson Sun Pavilion**, a sect feared for its fire-based techniques and military might, often collaborating with the empire itself.
The leaders of these sects were cultivators of unimaginable power, each of them at the **Soul Refinement Realm**, far above the reach of the lower-tier sects. Yet even they could not ignore the news. A third-rate sect being obliterated in a single day was unprecedented, and the man responsible showed no clear allegiance or motive. The destruction of the Azure Valley Sect wasn't just a localized tragedy—it was a declaration of chaos.
In the heart of the empire, the **Imperial Capital of Vermillion Crown** stood as a shining beacon of civilization and order. But even its lofty towers seemed to tremble under the weight of this news.
The royal family, the **House of Zhu**, ruled the Scarlet Flame Empire with an iron grip. Emperor **Zhu Chenglong**, known as the "Crimson Sovereign," was a cultivator at the peak of the **Divine Awakening**, a being of almost godlike power. His lineage traced back to the founders of the empire, who had established the delicate balance of power between the crown, the noble families, and the sects.
The emperor's council convened in an emergency session. His eldest son and heir, **Zhu Jianhong**, a prodigy in both politics and cultivation, spoke with concern.
"Father, if we let this man roam free, he wille chaos among the sects. The third-rate sects are already panicking, and the second-rate sects may soon follow. Should we not act swiftly?"
The emperor stroked his beard, his sharp eyes glinting like embers. "A single man destroying a sect of this size... It has been centuries since such power was witnessed. Do not underestimate him, Jianhong. The five great families must also be consulted."
The Five Great Families were pillars of the empire, each wielding immense wealth and influence:
Fang Clan: Renowned for their military forces and control of the empire's armories.
Yu Clan: Masters of alchemy and spiritual medicine, supplying the empire with vital resources.
Shen Clan: Influential politicians, their members dominating the imperial court.
Lei Clan: Guardians of ancient formations and arrays, their knowledge unmatched.
Xiao Clan: Merchants and financiers who controlled trade across the empire.
When news reached the heads of these families, they were stunned. Each began formulating their own strategies, whether to confront the threat or use it to their advantage.
Across the empire, whispers of the name "Liang Zhen" spread like wildfire. A man who destroyed an entire sect alone. A man who left no survivors except for two grieving women and the shattered ruins of a once-proud institution. Some called him a demon; others hailed him as a harbinger of change.
But one thing was clear: the Scarlet Flame Empire would never be the same again.