Somewhere far from Wen Ran's location stood a massive mountain range, its peaks towering majestically, shrouded in a mysterious and powerful aura. A dense mist curled around the mountains, veiling them beautifully from the outside world. The early morning light painted the scene in hues of serenity, bringing a fleeting tranquility to the untamed wilderness.
But the peace was short-lived.
Several figures clad in azure robes, adorned with intricate silver dragons coiling along their sleeves, moved swiftly through the mountain range. Their movements were flawless, leaping gracefully from one peak to the next, their bodies gliding through the air like feathers caught in the wind. It was a sight that would leave any observer in awe, a testament to their exceptional cultivation and mastery.
Yet, their faces betrayed their unease. Their expressions were grave, their brows furrowed deeply, as if carrying the weight of an impending disaster. In their hands, they held two broken jade slips, their shattered pieces glowing faintly with remnants of spiritual energy. Inscribed on them were two names—Fang Wei and Lin Yue.
Upon reaching the summit, where a grand palace loomed against the heavens, they dropped to their knees. The palace, a testament to ancient craftsmanship, radiated an imposing presence. Above its magnificent entrance, a shining sign glimmered with bold, powerful characters: Azure Dragon Sky Sect.
Before the kneeling figures stood a group of elderly cultivators, their golden robes shimmering with a potent dragon aura that seemed to coil and twist around them like living entities. The pressure they exuded was suffocating, their piercing gazes like daggers. The kneeling figures dared not even lift their heads, their foreheads nearly touching the ground in submission.
"Speak, juniors," the man in the center commanded, his voice deep and ancient. His long grey hair cascaded past his shoulders, yet his face held a youthful sharpness that belied his years. The four elders around him stood with their hands clasped behind their backs, their expressions cold as they looked down at the trembling figures.
"Sect Master…" one of the kneeling women began, her voice quivering as she extended her trembling hands to reveal two broken jade slips. She didn't dare meet his gaze. His imposing aura bore down on her like a mountain, leaving her gasping for air.
The moment the five elders saw the jade slips, their expressions turned dark.
"Sect Master, if I may," said one of the elders, a man with short silver hair and a long, imposing beard. His pure black eyes betrayed no emotion, making it difficult to discern his thoughts.
"Speak," the Sect Master said, casually swiping his hand through the air to summon the jade slips into his palm.
"Over thousands of years, not once have any of our sect's disciples perished outside of the sect." The elder's tone held a faint trace of pride. "Everyone across the five continents knows the name of our Azure Dragon Sky Sect. Only fools would dare attack even our outer disciples. This suggests we're dealing with a powerful individual. Could it be that someone has been hiding their strength for years, a cultivator our disciples might have unintentionally offended?"
The Sect Master's emerald-green eyes flashed dangerously. Without warning, he crushed the two jade slips in his palm, the fragments turning to dust. His gaze turned to the elder, the air growing thick with killing intent. The pressure was so overwhelming that the four kneeling figures passed out, their bodies slumping to the ground, while the elders themselves fell to their knees in terror.
"You dare imply that our noble disciples would offend someone?" the Sect Master spat, his voice icy and venomous. With a swift motion, the elder who had spoken was yanked into the air, his throat caught in the Sect Master's iron grip. The man's face turned red as he struggled to breathe, powerless against the crushing force.
"Say that again. Do you truly believe that our Azure Dragon Sky Sect would harbor dishonorable disciples?" The Sect Master's expression was wild, his aura feral and unrelenting.
"N-no, Sect Master… I misspoke!" The elder's voice was strained, his words choking out with desperate urgency. He didn't dare resist, even as the life was being squeezed from him.
"Oh? I must have misheard, then," the Sect Master said with a cold grin. "In your next life, should you join my sect, I hope you come with a better mindset, junior."
Panic and despair filled the elder's eyes as the Sect Master's grip tightened. With a loud snap, the elder's neck twisted unnaturally, his body falling limp to the ground.
The Sect Master brushed his hair back casually, turning his gaze to the remaining three elders, whose faces were pale with fear.
"Clean this up," he ordered coolly. "Send someone to investigate. Their last known location was the Fang Clan in the Fenghuang Continent. Make it swift—I want results within a month. And don't touch the Fang Clan or its people. We cannot afford to offend the main clan. They are… quite fond of a certain individual."
"Y-yes!" the remaining elders stammered in unison. They vanished into the mist with the lifeless body and unconscious juniors, leaving no trace behind.
The Sect Master turned his gaze to the horizon, his eyes piercing through the thick mist that blanketed the mountain range. His expression shifted to one of unease, a rare crack in his composed demeanor.
"I wonder… has he awakened already… Wen Jian." His voice dropped to a whisper, laced with fear, as if the name itself was a harbinger of doom.
Far away, back at the Fang Palace, Wen Ran and Fang Jinyao locked eyes. The silence between them hung heavy, unbroken for a long moment before Wen Ran finally spoke.
"You must have a lot of questions, Miss Fang," he said casually, moving toward the corpse of the dead man. With practiced ease, he began searching the body's pockets like a seasoned thief, his actions making Fang Jinyao narrow her eyes suspiciously.
"I told you already, call me Yao'er," she snapped, her voice sharp with irritation. "And you better explain everything in detail. What exactly has changed you so much?" She moved to gather her clothes, dressing quickly without even sparing a glance at Wen Ran, her sense of modesty completely overridden by her curiosity and frustration.
Wen Ran's hand froze as his fingers closed around a pouch hidden in the dead man's robes. His eyes widened briefly before he rushed toward the cave, clutching the pouch tightly. His expression shifted for reasons only he knew, his sharp movements betraying a flicker of urgency.
"Wen Ran, you—!" Fang Jinyao shouted, hastily fastening her clothes as she hurried after him.
But Wen Ran ignored her. A moment later, relief washed over his face as he extended his glowing hand, revealing a small, intricately patterned pill radiating pure energy. The system screen shimmered before his eyes.
[Congratulations!]
[You have completed your quest!]
A slow, satisfied grin spread across Wen Ran's face. "This pure aura… this is my ticket to the next stage!"