The Endless Bloom Forest stretched before Zhen Hao and Lian Hua, its ancient trees shrouded in a mist that sparkled with faint traces of qi. The forest exuded life, but a tension in the air warned them of something amiss. As they neared the Verdant Pavilion Sect, the serenity of the forest was disrupted by the distant hum of battle.
Lian Hua halted, her sharp gaze scanning the horizon. "Do you sense that? Cultivation techniques clashing. It's close."
Zhen Hao gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. "Let's move."
As they advanced, the treetops parted to reveal a sprawling valley. The Verdant Pavilion Sect stood in its center, a masterpiece of harmony between nature and structure. Wooden pavilions intertwined with living trees and streams wove through its grounds like silver veins. But the idyllic scene was marred by chaos. At the sect's gates, disciples clashed with a group of rogue cultivators, their techniques blazing in bursts of energy.
Lian Hua gripped her weapon. "Should we intervene?"
Zhen Hao raised a hand to stop her. "Not yet. Let's see how they handle themselves."
The disciples fought valiantly, but the rogues' brute force began to overwhelm them. One rogue, a towering man wielding a jagged blade, broke through the defensive line, his weapon crackling with dark energy. He charged toward the inner gates, his intent clear.
Zhen Hao sighed. "I suppose that's enough observation."
With a single step, he vanished, leaving Lian Hua blinking in his wake. A heartbeat later, he reappeared directly in front of the rogue leader, his hand raised casually. The rogue's blade descended, aiming to split Zhen Hao in two, but it stopped inches from his palm. The energy dissipated as if swallowed by an abyss.
The rogue's eyes widened in disbelief. "What—?"
Before he could finish, Zhen Hao flicked his fingers. The force of the motion sent the rogue hurtling back through the air, crashing into his comrades like a boulder through reeds. The remaining rogues froze, their confidence evaporating under Zhen Hao's oppressive aura.
He turned his gaze to the rogues, his voice calm yet commanding. "Leave. Now."
The air itself seemed to ripple with his words, and the rogues dropped their weapons, scrambling to retreat into the forest. The disciples stared in stunned silence as Zhen Hao stepped back toward Lian Hua, his expression as placid as if nothing had happened.
As the dust settled, Elder Mei, the leader of the Verdant Pavilion Sect, emerged from within the gates. Her robes shimmered with a greenish hue, and a crown of blooming vines adorned her head. Despite her composed appearance, her eyes held a mixture of wariness and awe as she approached Zhen Hao.
"You are the one they call Zhen Hao," she said, her tone measured. "The rumors of your power do not do you justice."
Zhen Hao inclined his head slightly. "Elder Mei. Your sect is in disarray. Care to explain why?"
Her lips tightened, but she bowed respectfully. "Forgive our lack of decorum. The Verdant Pavilion has been under siege by rogue cultivators for weeks. They seek to plunder the sacred grove we protect."
"And you cannot handle them yourself?" Lian Hua asked bluntly.
Elder Mei's expression darkened. "Our sect has always relied on balance and restraint, not brute strength. These rogues operate without regard for harmony, and their methods disrupt the natural order. We've held them back, but their leader, Feng, is no ordinary opponent."
Zhen Hao's gaze sharpened. It was the rogue cultivator that he had clashed with. There was some sort of corruption in his energy. "Feng? What do you know of him?"
"He was once one of us," Elder Mei admitted reluctantly. "A promising disciple who believed we were too conservative in our stewardship of the grove. He left after clashing with the elders over his... radical ideals."
Zhen Hao exchanged a glance with Lian Hua. "Radical how?"
Elder Mei hesitated. "He believes the grove's energy should be used to elevate all cultivators, not just the sect. A noble idea, perhaps, but his methods are reckless. If he succeeds in draining the grove, it will be destroyed—and with it, the balance of qi in this region."
"And yet you failed to stop him when he first showed signs of rebellion," Zhen Hao said, his tone cold.
Elder Mei flinched but held her ground. "He was a friend to many here. We thought he would return to reason."
"Clearly, he didn't," Lian Hua muttered.
A tense silence fell over the group. Finally, Elder Mei straightened and gestured toward the sect's inner sanctum. "Please, come inside. There is more you need to see."
The inner sanctum of the Verdant Pavilion was a breathtaking sight. Towering trees with glowing trunks surrounded a central grove, their roots intertwining to form a natural altar. The air was thick with qi, and the very ground seemed to hum with life. But the grove bore scars—several trees were withered, their glow dimmed, and their energy drained.
"This is what Feng seeks," Elder Mei said, her voice heavy with sorrow. "He believes he can harness the grove's energy to create a new age of cultivation. But he does not understand the consequences."
Zhen Hao stepped closer to the grove, his senses attuned to its energy. He could feel the strain, the imbalance caused by the rogue cultivators' reckless harvesting.
"If Feng truly wishes to create a new age, he's going about it the wrong way," Zhen Hao said. "This grove is not limitless. It cannot sustain such abuse."
If that was all these rogue cultivators desired then resolution was not out of the question, but he had a feeling that something more was going on.
Elder Mei nodded. "We have tried to reason with him, but he no longer listens. His followers believe him to be a savior, and their numbers grow by the day."
"Then it's time someone made him listen," Zhen Hao said.
As he spoke, a faint tremor ran through the ground. Lian Hua drew her weapon instinctively. "What now?"
A disciple ran into the sanctum, his face pale. "Elder Mei! The rogues are regrouping at the northern perimeter. Feng is with them."
Elder Mei turned to Zhen Hao. "Will you help us?"
Zhen Hao's expression was unreadable, but there was a steely determination in his eyes. "Feng and I need to have a conversation."