Prologue:
As Li Jue's influence grew, he began to form alliances with other outcasts, those who had been cast aside by the system of cultivation. The Vengeful Ghosts, a group of cultivators who had been betrayed by their sects, and the Cursed Ones, cultivators whose roots had been corrupted by forbidden arts, became his closest allies. Together, they formed a dangerous alliance aimed at tearing down the sects that had dominated the world for millennia.
The leader of the Azure Dragon Sect, Sect Master Yun Tian, who was known as a just and noble figure, soon became aware of Li Jue's growing influence. His eyes burned with disdain as he heard whispers of the False Immortal, a being who was twisting the very essence of cultivation. Yun Tian had a deep-rooted hatred for Li Jue, seeing him as a threat not only to his sect but to the entire order of the cultivation world.
Li Jue, however, saw Yun Tian as a mere puppet of the old order, and he had no intention of allowing someone like him to stand in his way. The stage was set for a confrontation that would shake the heavens.
Li Jue stood at the edge of a cliff, the moonlight casting a cold glow over the barren landscape. Ming Xian leaned against a nearby tree, his expression skeptical as he watched Li Jue.
"Do you really think they'll come?" Ming Xian asked, his voice low.
Li Jue didn't turn to face him, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse before them. "They will. The broken always come when offered a chance to fix what's been taken from them."
A sudden rustle in the underbrush drew their attention. Moments later, a figure cloaked in tattered black robes emerged. The man's face was gaunt, his eyes hollow yet burning with hatred.
"You must be the False Immortal," the man said, his voice rasping with years of bitterness.
Li Jue nodded. "And you must be one of the Vengeful Ghosts."
The man stepped closer, his hand resting on the hilt of a jagged blade. "We've heard of you, Li Jue. A rootless cultivator defying the heavens. Why would someone like you care about us?"
Li Jue's lips curled into a faint smile. "Because you and I share the same enemy. The sects that betrayed you, cast you aside—they are the same sects that seek to destroy me. Together, we can bring them to their knees."
Another voice cut through the darkness, sharp and mocking. "Bold words for someone who hasn't faced Yun Tian yet."
A woman emerged from the shadows, her silver hair shimmering in the moonlight. Her aura was wild and unpredictable, marking her as one of the Cursed Ones.
"And you must be from the Cursed Ones," Li Jue said without missing a beat. "I assume you're here for the same reason."
The woman crossed her arms, smirking. "I'm here because I'm curious. What makes you think you can unite a bunch of misfits like us?"
Li Jue turned to face her, his expression calm but unyielding. "Because unlike the sects that abandoned you, I see your potential. I don't care about your past or your curses. I care about your strength. And together, we can reshape this world."
The woman narrowed her eyes. "Big talk. But words won't win a war."
Li Jue's smile widened. "Then let me show you what actions can do."
---
By dawn, the makeshift camp was buzzing with activity. Ming Xian walked among the gathered Vengeful Ghosts and Cursed Ones, his brows furrowed as he observed their motley group.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked, approaching Li Jue, who was meditating near a flickering fire.
Li Jue opened his eyes, his gaze steady. "Doubtful already, Ming Xian? I thought you believed in me."
"It's not doubt," Ming Xian replied. "It's caution. These people aren't exactly trustworthy."
"They don't need to trust me," Li Jue said, standing up. "They only need to hate the sects enough to follow me. And they do."
A shout rang out from the other side of the camp. One of the Vengeful Ghosts, a burly man with a scar running across his face, was arguing with a Cursed One, their voices rising.
"You think you're better than us because of your fancy curses?" the scarred man sneered.
"And you think you're stronger because you survived betrayal?" the Cursed One shot back.
Li Jue strode over, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Enough."
Both men turned to him, their anger momentarily replaced by surprise.
"If you want to fight, do it outside this camp," Li Jue said coldly. "But if you're here, you fight for one purpose—to destroy the sects that wronged you. Is that clear?"
The two men exchanged tense glances before nodding reluctantly.
"Good," Li Jue said, his voice firm. "Now save your anger for our enemies."
---
By the time the sun reached its peak, the leaders of the Vengeful Ghosts and the Cursed Ones had gathered in Li Jue's tent. Ming Xian stood by his side, his arms crossed as he observed the tense atmosphere.
A skeletal man with piercing eyes, the leader of the Vengeful Ghosts, spoke first. "You've got our attention, Li Jue. But what's your plan? Yun Tian isn't just some sect leader. He's a symbol. Taking him down won't be easy."
Li Jue's eyes gleamed. "Symbols can be shattered, just like men. Yun Tian relies on the system of cultivation to maintain his power. We'll strike at the foundation first—cripple his resources, his alliances, his trust. Then, when he's weak, we take him down."
The silver-haired leader of the Cursed Ones leaned forward, her expression skeptical. "And what happens after? If we win, what's to stop you from turning on us like the sects did?"
Li Jue met her gaze without flinching. "Because I don't need to control you. I'm not building an empire. I'm building chaos. The sects thrive on order, on rules. If we break that, the power shifts to those strong enough to seize it. You'll be free to do as you wish."
She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But if you betray us, I'll make sure you regret it."
Li Jue's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
---
As the meeting ended, Ming Xian pulled Li Jue aside. "Do you really trust them?"
Li Jue shook his head. "Of course not. But trust isn't necessary. Fear and hatred are far stronger motivators."
Ming Xian frowned. "And what about Yun Tian? He's not just going to sit back and let us come for him."
Li Jue's expression darkened. "I'm counting on it. Let him come. The more desperate he becomes, the easier he'll be to break."
---
That night, as the camp settled into an uneasy quiet, Li Jue stood alone on a hill overlooking the valley. Ming Xian joined him, his expression thoughtful.
"You've changed," Ming Xian said after a long silence.
Li Jue glanced at him. "Have I?"
"You were always ambitious," Ming Xian replied. "But now... it's like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Li Jue's gaze returned to the horizon. "The world needs to change, Ming Xian. And if that means carrying its weight, so be it."
Ming Xian studied him for a moment before nodding. "Just don't forget why you started this in the first place."
"I won't," Li Jue said softly. "I promise."