Chapter 4: The Seeds of Betrayal
The Crimson Shadow Sect was a vast network of mountains, caves, and hidden chambers. At its core stood the Blood Summit, the heart of the sect where the most powerful and influential members gathered. The sect's teachings were simple: power, betrayal, and the endless pursuit of strength. Zhao Rui had passed the Trial of Blood with ease, but now he found himself on the brink of something far more dangerous—the game of politics and ambition that governed the true nature of this sect.
Days passed as Zhao Rui was subjected to the harsh realities of sect life. He trained relentlessly, his dark power growing stronger with each passing day. The Abyssal Seed pulsed within him, whispering ancient techniques and forbidden arts. Each day, he fed it with more and more life force, and in return, it made him stronger, faster, and more attuned to the essence of cultivation.
But as his strength grew, so too did the tension between him and the other disciples. The higher-ranking members of the sect watched him with suspicion, and the younger disciples, sensing his power, either feared him or sought to challenge him.
Zhao Rui paid them little mind.
A Bitter Rival
It was in the sect's training hall where Zhao Rui first encountered Zhang Lei, a disciple who had long been favored by the elders. Zhang Lei was a man in his early twenties, tall and muscular, with a fierce countenance and a reputation for cruelty. His cultivation had reached the Core Formation stage, a significant leap compared to most disciples, making him one of the most powerful among them.
Zhang Lei approached Zhao Rui with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "So, the new recruit thinks himself strong, eh?" he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "I hear you passed the Blood Pit trial with little effort."
Zhao Rui barely glanced at him, his crimson eyes flickering. "I did. And I'm not interested in your opinions."
Zhang Lei laughed, his voice booming. "Bold words. But I doubt you'd last a second against me. The elders favor me, and I've crushed every fool who thought they could challenge me."
A ripple of tension ran through the other disciples in the hall, who gathered around, eager to see the confrontation. They knew the outcome was already decided, and the scene promised to be entertaining.
Zhao Rui stepped forward, his expression calm. "I didn't come here for games. But if you want to test me, I'll indulge you."
Zhang Lei's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Very well. Let's see if you're as strong as you think."
Without warning, Zhang Lei lunged, his fists enveloped in a crackling aura of spiritual energy. The force behind his attack was immense, a display of power honed through years of rigorous training. But Zhao Rui didn't flinch. He moved with inhuman speed, sidestepping the strike with ease.
Zhang Lei's expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, spinning and launching a barrage of powerful strikes. Each punch sent shockwaves through the air, but Zhao Rui was always one step ahead. His movements were fluid and effortless, a sharp contrast to Zhang Lei's brute force.
Zhang Lei's frustration grew as he realized he was getting nowhere. His attacks, though powerful, were slow and predictable. Zhao Rui, on the other hand, seemed to anticipate every move before it even happened.
With a sudden shift in energy, Zhao Rui tapped into the Abyssal Seed's power. The air around him crackled as dark tendrils of energy coiled around his body. He blurred forward, faster than Zhang Lei could react, and in an instant, his hand shot out, landing squarely in the center of Zhang Lei's chest.
The blow wasn't lethal, but it sent Zhang Lei flying across the hall, crashing into the wall with a deafening thud.
The room fell silent. The disciples stared in shock, some with awe, others with fear. Zhang Lei, who had always been the undisputed powerhouse, lay motionless on the ground, his breath ragged.
Zhao Rui approached him, his voice cold and calculating. "You were too slow. I'll give you a piece of advice: stay out of my way."
Zhang Lei gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with rage. "You… you think you can just walk into this sect and challenge me? I'll make you regret this."
Zhao Rui didn't respond. Instead, he turned and walked away, leaving Zhang Lei to stew in his anger.
The disciples parted to let him pass, many of them avoiding his gaze. They could sense the shift in the power dynamics of the sect. Zhao Rui had just proved that he was no mere recruit. He was someone who could take everything they had.
The Whisper of Betrayal
That night, Zhao Rui sat alone in his quarters, his mind focused on the Abyssal Seed. The whispers it gave him grew clearer, more insistent.
"The time is coming, Zhao Rui. The sect is weak. The elders are fools, clinging to outdated traditions. You must take it all—control the Blood Summit, crush those who stand in your way."
Zhao Rui's eyes narrowed. He had already sensed the fault lines within the sect—rivalries, jealousy, and ambition were as common as the air they breathed. Zhang Lei's pride and arrogance would be his undoing, but Zhao Rui knew that to secure his place at the top, he would need to be far more subtle.
The sect elders, too, were growing wary of him. His power was undeniable, but they would not allow an outsider to rise above them without paying the price.
One of the elders—Elder Xue, an old woman with sharp eyes and a reputation for cunning—had already begun to observe him more closely. Zhao Rui could feel her gaze on him whenever they crossed paths. She wasn't someone to be underestimated, and in time, he would need to decide whether to ally with her or destroy her.
But for now, he had a simpler goal.
He needed to plant the seeds of betrayal. Let Zhang Lei think he could challenge him. Let the elders believe they had control. All the while, Zhao Rui would wait, watching, feeding the Abyssal Seed, and growing stronger.
The time would come when he would strike—when the sect's power would belong to him.
Until then, he would bide his time and weave his web of manipulation, until the Crimson Shadow Sect crumbled from within.