Stepping across the threshold, I found myself in a small, softly lit chamber. Faint incense smoke curled through the air, giving the room a gentle haze. My gaze settled on a single low table near the center, behind which sat Elder Lu, robed in his dark robes accented with violet embroidery that marked him as an elder. An aura of calm authority clung to him—though I felt no overt pressure, I sensed a command in the way he regarded me.
I approached with measured steps. For a moment, neither of us spoke. His eyes flicked over me, as if confirming the difference Li Xue had noted. But if he was surprised by my elevated cultivation, he gave no outward sign.
He broke the silence in a level tone. "You've come, Ayanokoji. I trust you realize I summoned you here, not out of whim, but for something important." His voice carried a subdued weight.
I inclined my head slightly, giving nothing away. "I gathered as much when Li Xue vanished and I was invited to this room."
A corner of his mouth twitched, though it failed to become a real smile. "Yes, well... Li Xue can wait. This matter transcends typical administrative tasks." He tapped the tabletop with a single finger, each tap deliberate. "I want you to participate in the external mission the sect will soon dispatch."
The proposition was direct, yet hardly unexpected. "I heard something along those lines." My voice remained calm. "But by standard criteria, I don't qualify, do I? Disciples typically need to be at least an Apprentice Alchemist or at the fifth stage of Qi Condensation."
Elder Lu's gaze sharpened. "You are not a typical disciple." He let the words hang. "We've seen the business in the outer sect, your mid-grade Qi Condensation pill, and the speed at which you cultivate. Some eyes might dismiss you as a Novice Alchemist. I am not so easily misled."
I allowed a small exhalation through my nose, acknowledging his insight without confirming anything. The sect knows even more than I anticipated.
He inclined his head. "This mission requires more than run-of-the-mill novices. If you can do half of what the rumors claim, your presence would be a boon to the main squad."
"And if I refuse?" I asked, tone level.
A flicker of amusement passed over Elder Lu's face. "I wouldn't recommend that." He paused. "But let's set aside coercion. This is an opportunity for you, too. The mission leads beyond sect territory—there may be resources or knowledge you won't find locked in the Alchemy Department. And the rewards themselves will benefit you greatly."
I studied him quietly. "Hence the invitation."
He nodded, leaning forward slightly. "Precisely. Though if you truly had no interest, I doubt you'd have accepted Li Xue's offer." His voice softened, yet maintained a tinge of confidence. "Most novices only dream of an assignment that puts them side by side with the main squad."
I gave the mildest shrug. "I'll need more details. Where exactly does this mission go, and what does it entail?"
Elder Lu's dark eyes flicked with a hint of approval. "Your caution is apt. Rest assured, the external assignment isn't a 'trap.' We rarely encounter hostilities with the other powers. The Shadow Monastery is hegemonic in Nocturnis Vale, after all. Conflicts are minimal."
His confidence didn't entirely soothe my doubts, but he continued anyway. "We need skilled alchemists on the squad, not just for forging pills during the expedition, but also for handling unforeseen circumstances. A simpler mission for most—yet it becomes a valuable chance for someone of your capabilities."
I considered his words. Unknown resources and knowledge were tempting indeed. "I see." My answer was noncommittal, but my tone signaled I was listening.
Elder Lu let the silence breathe for a moment, then said, "You were personally named by at least two elders—Sun Min and Mo Hong—both praising your 'talent' and 'potential.' If they see fit to mention you, that speaks volumes."
My mind flickered to past interactions with Elder Sun Min and Elder Mo Hong. "So they're behind this invitation?"
He shrugged. "They nudged it along. I merely formalize the offer." A half-beat passed. "If you'd kept a lower profile, maybe no one would have recommended you. You did quite the opposite."
I met his gaze. "It was never my intention to garner notice. But I suppose that no one can hide from the sect."
A faint half-smile appeared on his lips. "Indeed. And the sect leadership can read between the lines. You can't hide behind the mask of a mere novice forever."
I paused, then asked, "So why the urgency from you specifically?"
He settled back in his seat, arms folding across his chest. "Because I'm tasked to recruit fresh blood for this mission. Yes, typically we pick Apprentice Alchemists or cultivators at Qi Condensation stage five, but I have the leeway to add exceptions." A single nod. "You're that exception."
A short silence followed. The incense curled in lazy spirals, accentuating the tension. "All right." I glanced at him. "I'll consider it. But I'll need thorough details. Duration, objective—"
"You'll have them," Elder Lu interjected, lifting a hand. "I'll relay a formal briefing within the day. For now, I wanted your tacit acceptance." He paused, eyes keen. "Are you in?"
I exhaled slowly, measuring the potential benefits: an external quest might indeed net me rare ingredients or knowledge. Politically, refusing might rouse suspicion; acceptance might tie me deeper into sect affairs—both a risk and an advantage. "I'm in."
Elder Lu inclined his head in acknowledgment, satisfaction flickering in his gaze. "I'll have Li Xue provide you with the final mission overview."
I bowed lightly and took my cue to leave, stepping out of the incense-laden chamber. As the door whispered shut behind me, the corridor's cooler air greeted me, and my thoughts turned to the mission ahead. Already, I weighed how to leverage it for my own ends—no matter how beneficial it was to the sect, I'd ensure it served my advancement.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
A day later, I found myself standing at the main gates again—those very gates I'd passed only a few months ago. This time, I was gathered alongside twelve other disciples for an expedition to the Veil Caves. At a glance, the majority wore insignias tied to medicine or smithing; the only other from Alchemy was a haggard-looking youth whose name I didn't catch. Around us, the early morning light cast long shadows on the polished stone walkway.
A broad-shouldered disciple in a sleek black robe, embroidered with midnight accents, stood at the center of the group. His confident posture and his robes indicated his status as a core disciple—much like Yin Yue's rank. Judging by the density of Qi around him, he was likely at the eighth stage of Qi Condensation, a prime candidate for leading missions. As I approached, I heard a few female disciples—four or five—clustering around him, giggling and addressing him by name: "Senior Brother Shen Lei, you're definitely the best choice to lead us!" "Shen Lei, don't overwork yourself for our sake..." It was clear that Shen Lei relished the attention, though his gaze occasionally wandered, calculating who else might be paying him any mind.
Aside from him, two other different students had a strong aura surrounding them. By my guess, they would be 'late-stage' cultivators, but not yet at the peak of Qi Condensation.
Everyone, aside from another lone disciple, were inner sect disciples, meaning the lone disciple and I were the outcasts. However, his status was a bit more special as he was known for some accomplishments in his department and was on the brink of reaching the next rank, a rank that would be equal to Apprentice Alchemist in the Alchemy Department.
I kept to myself, scanning the faces. Aside from the gaggling group, there were several men from the smithing department, each with heavy frames and strong arms, plus a single slender, doe-eyed female from the medicine department who stood quietly off to the side. Sensing my gaze, she glanced my way. In the next moment, she walked over.
She offered a polite nod. "I'm Ren Liqin of the Medicine Department," she introduced herself. A faint smile lit her expression. "Stage six Qi Condensation. I do a lot of healing-based tasks and I'm hoping to gather special herbs from the Veil Caves. And you?"
I returned the nod, speaking succinctly. "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, from the Alchemy Department. Fourth stage. A pleasure to meet you." It was enough to convey my position. My short answers didn't deter her; she carried on with genuine curiosity.
"I see," Ren Liqin replied, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not often we see a fourth-stage cultivator on a mission like this." She laughed, not in a mocking way, but light and airy. "You must be special in some way."
I offered no real response, simply acknowledging her words with a neutral hum. It only seemed to amuse her further. Ren Liqin proceeded to chat about her department's aspirations for the trip—searching for shadow-infused herbs or studying unique toxins. Even though my replies remained clipped, she seemed delighted by the exchange.
Suddenly, the two burly cultivators strode over, both sporting smithing department badges. They were likely brothers, as they each called the other "Brother Gao," referencing their clan's shared surname, and occasionally patted each other's shoulder in a comradely way. One was Gao Chen, with a shaved head and thick forearms, and the other was Gao Wei, wearing a trimmed beard and equally robust arms.
Gao Chen stepped forward first, squinting at me with clear disdain. "Oy, pipsqueak, move aside. We were hoping to speak with her," he said, jerking his chin at the female disciple.
Gao Wei joined him, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, beat it. You're out of your league. She doesn't need some puny fourth-stage cultivator pestering her, little Alchemist."
I stood unmoving, face impassive. Ren Liqin sighed, crossing her arms. "Gao Chen, Gao Wei—I've told you two repeatedly—I'm not interested in either of you. And he's not causing me any trouble, so leave him be." A flicker of annoyance crept into her tone.
Gao Wei, sporting a short beard, added, "Look, we're just watchin' out for you. Some outsider who's only fourth stage, meddling here..."
Ren Liqin glared. "I've already rejected you two multiple times. Stop this. I'm talking with him of my own accord."
While they bristled, uncertain whether to escalate, Shen Lei finally noticed. He approached, five female admirers in tow, all wearing varying expressions of amusement or disdain. The girls behind him shot Ren Liqin heated looks—some brand of rivalry lingered there. With a casual flick of his hand, Shen Lei defused the situation, telling the smithing brothers to "remember we're all part of the same mission." The pair scowled but backed off.
Relieved, Ren Liqin offered a polite nod toward Shen Lei. "Thank you, Senior Brother Shen Lei," she said, though her words carried minimal warmth. She then left, returning to her previous spot, annoyed by the interruption.
Shen Lei's gaze flicked to me when no one else was watching. Smiling broadly as though nothing were amiss, he reached out and clasped my shoulder in a friendly manner, yet his eyes conveyed a different sentiment. "Try not to get too chummy with Liqin, hmm?" he murmured quietly. "We wouldn't want any misunderstandings." A glint in his look implied a clear warning: Don't push your luck.
I met his gaze without reaction. This was clearly a personal claim. He gave my shoulder a light squeeze before releasing me, stepping back with the same easy grace. The female cultivators around him scarcely noticed, fully occupied with vying for Shen Lei's attention. The Gao brothers cast me one last sneer before drifting back, muttering under their breaths. I just watched, unruffled by their theatrics.
So this was the group I'd be traveling with: a leader fixated on dominance—perhaps seeing Ren Liqin as his or a potential conquest—and two sworn smithing brothers competing for her attention as well. She, for her part, wanted none of it, while the gaggle of female admirers to Shen Lei's right eyed any rival suspiciously. The other men and that lone haggard Alchemist stood in the background, either indifferent or quietly sizing each other up. The only calm disciples were the two 'late-stage' cultivators. Our group dynamic seemed ripe for complications. If politics or petty rivalries broke out, I would remain unaffected—unless it hindered the mission.
Inwardly, I sighed.
Why is everyone so sexually focused here? Until now, the people I've met in the sect weren't nearly this arrogant or preoccupied with rivalry and attention. Is it my luck? I already have a bad feeling about this mission.
In the distance, a sect attendant called us to form up near the carriages. The Veil Caves awaited. Whether these new comrades proved more trouble than help, I was about to find out.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
For several hours, we rode in the cramped confines of a Qi-fueled carriage known as the Nightwind Cruiser—a sleek, midnight-hued vehicle shaped more like an elongated palanquin than a typical wagon. Its sides were etched with faint runes that fed on the sect's Qi arrays, allowing it to hover lightly above the uneven terrain and travel at speeds of nearly a hundred kilometers per hour. A shield barrier shimmered around us, deflecting stray rocks and gnarled roots, but the interior felt more claustrophobic than protective.
"This trip will take us a week," our leader, Shen Lei, announced from his seat near the front. Five female disciples clustered around him, one leaning on his shoulder, another gripping his arm. "We'd normally use a flying ship, but the turbulence in this region—the swirling shadow Qi—makes flight too risky. So we rely on the Nightwind Cruiser." He let one of the admirers open the cabin's small window, revealing the accelerating blur of the Nocturnis Vale outside. Shadows cloaked the forested hills, deepening as we ventured further from the sect.
I stayed in a corner, shoulders slightly hunched to avoid brushing up against the haggard alchemist dozing by the cabin's rear. Next to me sat Ren Liqin, who had drifted over here again after an awkward start outside the gates. She tilted her head, studying the passing scenery with genuine interest.
"This carriage is incredible," Ren Liqin said brightly. "No animals needed. Just Qi fueling everything. I never thought it could maintain such speed on these uneven roads."
I inclined my head. "Practical design. I'd like to own one someday."
She smiled at the notion. "A personal Nightwind Cruiser? That's quite the ambition."
Suddenly, a coarse laugh erupted from the other side of the cabin. Gao Chen and Gao Wei, the two burly smithing disciples, had overhead my comment. "Hah! Owning a Nightwind Cruiser?" Gao Chen sneered, leaning forward. "You couldn't afford its nails even if you sold yourself into slavery."
Gao Wei joined in, their voices echoing in the confined space, drawing glances from the few other disciples dozing or quietly observing. "We can tell, you're from some backwater—talking big without a coin to your name."
I exhaled, unimpressed, letting the mockery slide. The tension in the carriage thickened, but no one else interceded. Ren Liqin's eyes flashed annoyance, and she parted her lips to defend me, but I shook my head lightly, urging her to ignore them. My silence only seemed to provoke the Gao brothers further, yet they ultimately lost interest when Shen Lei, overhearing, cast them a cold glance.
Minutes turned to hours. The skies outside deepened from a somber gray to a near-black gloom. Nocturnis Vale lived up to its reputation: thick clusters of skeletal trees and jagged rock formations dotted the horizon. Occasionally, strange silhouettes flickered at the edges of our vision. Most of the disciples retreated into their own thoughts. Some dozed, while others whispered among themselves.
All at once, a prickle grazed my consciousness. I sensed an oppressive Qi presence—but Shen Lei acted first, bristling like a hawk.
"Stop!" he barked, voice cracking through the carriage. The Nightwind Cruiser lurched to a violent halt, screeching in protest. People jolted in their seats; one disciple tumbled forward onto the floor with an angry grunt.
It was Gao Chen who took the worst of it. He had been standing to reach for a water flask when the carriage halted, so he toppled face-first into a row of seats. A muffled thud resounded, followed by a yelp of pain. Rising with a scowl, he glanced around indignantly—and caught a glimpse of Ren Liqin still sitting calmly by my side. She wore a bemused grin that quickly turned into full laughter, evidently amused by Gao Chen's humiliating fall. He flushed a deep red, casting a resentful look my way, but I remained focused on the sudden hush that descended.
Shen Lei held up a hand. "Quiet!" he hissed. "All of you—shut up!"
The carriage cabin fell silent, tension thick. Outside, the ground began to quake, a low rumble swelling into a thunderous vibration. The shield barrier wobbled, sparks dancing across its surface. An ominous pressure pressed into the air, making each breath feel like inhaling liquid lead.
Something—monstrously strong—was approaching. The aura was powerful, unleashed, and savage in a way not like the elders—but less refined, more bestial. The other disciples went pale, retreating behind minimal aura signatures, hoping not to attract attention.
Shen Lei swallowed audibly, his face losing color as he stared through a sliver in the carriage's window. A monstrous shape emerged from the darkness, a giant beast towering at least 50 meters, thickly furred, with twisted horns protruding from its back. Its steps pounded the earth, each stomp launching tremors that nearly toppled the Nightwind Cruiser. Glowing red eyes scanned the surroundings. The entire world seemed to recoil at its presence. It resembled a mutated bear of colossal size, its fur matted and dripping with what might have been leftover gore.
Fascinating, this is the first time I've encountered such a creature in this world, and one capable of ending us all. How interesting.
A hush of horror spread through the disciples. Ren Liqin clutched my sleeve reflexively, her knuckles white. Gao Wei and Gao Chen crouched low, eyes wide. Some of Shen Lei's admirers nearly whimpered in terror. Shen Lei himself stared grimly, sweat lining his brow. Outside, the mutated bear trudged past our halted carriage. For a moment, it seemed to turn its head in our direction, sniffing the air. The aura it radiated felt like jagged knives slicing through one's Qi sense.
I quickly compared it in my mind to elders like Sun Min or Mo Hong. It was weaker than them, yes—but it was completely unrestrained, raw, and violent. If it decided to charge, we would suffer total annihilation. I suppressed my Qi as far as possible, leaving no hint of my presence.
The beast snorted, exhaling a fog of steam from its massive nostrils, then continued lumbering off into the gloom, each step rocking the ground. Not until the last echo of its footfalls vanished did anyone dare breathe properly again.
A female disciple clinging to Shen Lei broke down, her voice shaky. "What in the world was that...? Beasts that strong shouldn't roam the outskirts..."
Shen Lei nodded, face still bloodless. "I—I don't know," he admitted. Usually, he wore confidence like a badge. Now it bled away, replaced with stark dread. Another disciple near the rear said, in a trembling tone, that maybe we should turn back. Shen Lei squared his jaw, forcing resolve. "We continue," he declared, his voice regaining some authority. "We've come too far to give up now."
None of the disciples argued further, though worry etched their faces. Soon the Nightwind Cruiser lurched forward once more, forging deeper into the gloom as though chasing oblivion.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
A week passed in tense travel. We paused periodically, keeping watch at night with uneasy group rotations. Fortunately, no further incidents struck. Eventually, the Veil Caves came into view. Rising from the dark terrain were multiple hills of varying sizes, each rumored to host labyrinthine tunnels beneath the surface. Some had visible entrances, others hidden. The true scale extended far below ground, forming a massive honeycomb of twisting paths, caverns, and—presumably—countless undiscovered secrets.
I disembarked from the carriage last, taking a careful look around. The wind carried a hint of stale, cool air from the caverns. Shen Lei stepped down, exhaling relief as he studied the labyrinth's rumored entry. Ren Liqin cast me a quick glance, her earlier cheer somewhat dampened by the unnerving experience mid-journey. The two Gao brothers hopped out, glaring at the expanse with matching scowls.
Without preamble, Shen Lei withdrew a rolled parchment from his robes—a map. It was difficult to see from my angle, but I assumed it indicated the tunnels we would need to take. "Follow me," he commanded, taking the lead with an air of certainty. As the five female admirers flocked around him, the rest of us fell into an uneven line behind. The environment was eerily quiet, only the rustle of our clothes breaking the hush.
We trekked for ten minutes, navigating winding pathways among the hills. Many of the slopes looked the same, dull brown and pocked with shrubs. Finally, we paused at an unremarkable slope that blended smoothly with the rest of the terrain. Shen Lei rested his fingers on one section of the hillside, releasing a ripple of Qi. In quick succession, he struck several hidden nodes.
The earth shuddered beneath us, a low rumble resonating, and an entrance opened where there'd been only solid stone. Some disciples stood unperturbed—perhaps they'd seen this method before—while others gaped in shock at the sudden transformation. I kept to the rear, watching quietly.
Shen Lei nodded to everyone. "Let's go." He marched into the newly revealed passage, the aura from his eighth-stage cultivation lighting the way. Each disciple followed in turn, single file. I was last. As I passed through the threshold, a shiver raced down my spine, as though a pair of hidden eyes marked my every step. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw nothing. But the feeling remained, like a shadow at my heel.
No one else seems to notice. I noted to myself. Either they're oblivious, or I have imagined things.
...
A few minutes after stepping into the narrow corridor of the Veil Caves, tensions reached a breaking point. Gao Chen and Gao Wei, still visibly annoyed, picked up their pace, prompting Ren Liqin and Lin Hai, the lone disciple from the Medicine Department, to try reining them in.
Ren Liqin said in a clipped tone that carried her underlying frustration, "We shouldn't hurry blindly. There could be hidden pitfalls at every turn. These caves are notorious for their traps."
Gao Chen responded with a dismissive grunt. "Been here enough times to know it like the back of my hand," he said. "No need to tiptoe. Every wasted minute is one more batch of good ore someone else might claim."
Lin Hai quietly backed Ren Liqin, shaking his head at the smith's arrogance. "Ren Liqin's right," he said. "We're here to gather essential herbs and resources, not sprint through. A bit of caution could save us all a lot of grief."
"That's your problem," Gao Wei put in, crossing his arms with a smug grin. "You're both so bent on picking every rare leaf you see that we'll never make decent progress. We can circle back for the minor stuff, but the high-grade veins don't wait."
Ren Liqin stood straighter, her voice tightening. "Minor stuff? So you know exactly what grows where, do you? If we pass a rare shadow-veined root, how will we find it again in this maze?"
"Don't lecture us," Gao Chen snapped. "You forget we've come here repeatedly—and never needed some flimsy warnings. Besides, why don't you keep your friends under control..." He flicked a pointed glare toward me. "Your new pal looks pretty idle for an Alchemist."
I stood off to one side, offering no comment. My presence clearly bothered them for reasons beyond logic. They grumbled in low tones, occasionally shooting me disdainful glances.
Ren Liqin, exasperated, appealed to the one with actual authority. "Senior Brother Shen Lei," she said, turning her gaze onto the leader, "could you weigh in? It's dangerous to rush."
Shen Lei, who was busy bantering with the five female disciples around him, half-listened before offering a flippant response. "We're not novices who can't handle ourselves," he said. "If the Gao brothers are confident, let's speed up a bit. We can afford to look for herbs on the way."
Ren Liqin's knuckles tightened, but she forced herself to remain polite. "Understood," she managed, voice resigned.
Gao Chen and Gao Wei exchanged smug looks, evidently pleased they had Shen Lei's support. They led the group deeper into the winding passages at a brisk pace, ignoring Lin Hai's murmured warnings. I, along with the other Alchemist and the two medicine disciples, followed in silence. Shen Lei's entourage stayed at the center, giggling among themselves whenever Shen Lei tossed them a charming quip.
Eventually, the path opened into a huge cavern brightened by faintly luminescent crystals high overhead. Gao Chen and Gao Wei stopped dead in their tracks, their eyes lighting up at the sight of mineral deposits. Without further ado, they hurried forward to inspect likely ore veins.
Lin Hai spotted a cluster of strange mushrooms near a dark corner and went to investigate. Ren Liqin called after him to be mindful, moving to join him. Meanwhile, Shen Lei—still entertaining his little crowd—lingered by the cavern's entrance. As for me, I hovered at the edges, scanning the walls and floor. Something felt wrong, though I couldn't pinpoint what and why.
Ren Liqin sounded slightly breathless when she spoke again, returning briefly to my side. "There's plenty of precious fungus and lichen," she said. "Not sure if they're all suitable for our needs, but it's promising. We just can't let the others barge in recklessly."
"I doubt they'll listen," I said quietly, eyeing Gao Chen and Gao Wei swinging pickaxes with hearty laughter. Shen Lei was far too distracted to maintain discipline.
Ren Liqin let out a short sigh, nodding her agreement. "They're so eager to hoard everything. And the mood since we left the sect feels... tense, doesn't it?"
While I half-listened to her, my attention strayed to the shadows stretching across the cavern floor. I felt that intangible sense of being watched. "Yes," I said. "Tense in more ways than one."
Ren Liqin gave me a questioning look, but I didn't elaborate. In the distance, Gao Chen raised a triumphant cheer at the metallic clang that suggested he'd struck a promising vein. Nearby, Gao Wei joined the clamor, jeering about how "this haul will make the trip worthwhile."
Shen Lei half-turned, gave them a lazy thumbs-up, then resumed laughing with his admirers. The tension remained, thick beneath the outward bustle. I reminded myself to stay alert.
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
In a separate corridor of the sprawling Veil Caves, not far from where Ayanokoji's group had set up its expedition, another party advanced with far more discipline and unity. Their numbers matched Ayanokoji's band in size, but their strength seemed leagues beyond. At the head of this formidable group walked a man in his early thirties, his black robes embroidered with bloody red sigils. A cold and strong aura radiated from him, he was beyond the Qi Condensation Realm—a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Disciples trailed behind him in well-ordered rows. One look at their faces betrayed iron resolve, and the fluctuations of Qi around them suggested multiple cultivators at or above the seventh stage of Qi Condensation. Indeed, near the front stood a disciple exuding eighth-stage power, capable of crushing most Qi Condensation fighters. Yet, even he inclined his head respectfully toward the leader.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator halted in the middle of the dim, rock-strewn passage, turning to address his subordinates with a cold precision. He gripped a slender saber at his waist, the blade faintly shimmering with dark runic marks.
A tall, stern-faced disciple took a step forward—Luo Ming, at the eighth stage—and bowed respectfully. "Elder," he said, voice echoing lightly off the cavern walls, "we have located the group of Nightshade Monastery disciples in an adjoining tunnel." A slight smirk tugged at his lips. "We are ready to eliminate them at your command."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed the elder's face—Elder Wang, as some quietly addressed him. He let out a low hum of approval. "Excellent, Luo Ming," he murmured. "This is the moment for the Bloodmoon Dynasty to break free from the Nightshade Monastery's control." His gaze hardened, sweeping over the rest of his disciples. "No errors allowed. If we fail, we all die—there would be no tolerance from their side. Understand?"
The disciples nodded in unison, and in that synchronized motion lay the difference between their troop and Ayanokoji's disjointed faction. The men and women behind Elder Wang had trained for months—if not years—to coordinate their efforts precisely. Here was a well-drilled squad. One might even wonder who truly was the ruling sect here.
Elder Wang's eyes narrowed, and the gloom of the cave seemed to deepen around him. "We claim the inheritance hidden within these tunnels," he said, voice edged with fierce determination. "No survivors from the Monastery. No witness to our operation. You catch any disciple, you kill them."
His disciples responded with a low chorus of agreement. Among them, a cluster of stage-seven cultivators exchanged eager glances, anticipating glory and reward. Meanwhile, Luo Ming's Qi flared in a silent, savage vow.
Elder Wang lifted a hand in a decisive gesture. "Then... let's go," he ordered softly, the words carrying the weight of an avalanche. "Attack."
With that single command, the unit moved like clockwork. Each disciple drew weapons suited to their style or prepared to use their Divine Abilities. Quiet as phantoms, they set forth, deeper into the Veil Caves, intent on collision with the unsuspecting Monastery disciples... and the possibility of rewriting the power balance in the Nocturnis Vale forever.