The night was still, but the air crackled with the remnants of the Heavenly Tribulation. The once-untouched valley now bore the scars of Kael Varian's ascension—deep craters marred the earth, blackened by the celestial lightning he had absorbed. The scent of scorched soil and ozone lingered in the air, a testament to the defiance he had shown against the heavens. His breakthrough to the Qi Condensation Realm had shaken the world, and while his body still hummed with raw, untamed power, he knew this was only the beginning.
Kael stood at the center of it all, his robes in tatters, his skin carrying faint arcs of residual lightning. He flexed his fingers, feeling the newfound strength coursing through his meridians. This was no ordinary advancement; his breakthrough had pushed the very limits of what was possible, and in doing so, had undoubtedly drawn eyes—both mortal and divine.
Jin Mu, standing at a safe distance, was still processing what he had witnessed. "You… you just—" he stammered, struggling to find the right words. "You took in tribulation lightning. Not just any lightning, but the kind that only appears when someone defies fate itself."
Kael stretched lazily, rolling his shoulders. "And?"
Jin Mu's face twitched. "And?! That's not normal! Do you know what that means? The heavens don't recognize you as a mere mortal anymore. You're an anomaly. Something that shouldn't exist."
Kael smirked. "Good."
Jin Mu felt the urge to throw a rock at his face. "You say that like it's a good thing! You don't understand—things like this… they don't just go unnoticed. If the major sects weren't paying attention before, they sure as hell are now."
Kael's grin widened. "Let them come."
Jin Mu sighed, massaging his temples. "You're going to be the death of me."
Kael merely chuckled before shifting his gaze toward the distant horizon. The storm clouds had dissipated, revealing the vast night sky, yet an oppressive atmosphere still hung over them. He knew the Serpent's Fang Sect wouldn't sit still for long. Luo Yuantang, their sect master, had already been humiliated once when his favored disciple, Luo Qiyan, was cut down like a dog. Then his enforcers had been sent—and subsequently slaughtered. The man's pride was undoubtedly wounded, and wounded men tended to act recklessly.
"We don't have much time," Kael said, his tone turning serious. "Luo Yuantang will send more than just disposable assassins next time."
Jin Mu stiffened. "So what's the plan?"
Kael's crimson eyes gleamed under the moonlight. "We go to him first."
Jin Mu coughed violently. "I'm sorry, we what?!"
Kael's smirk didn't waver. "You heard me. I'm not waiting for them to regroup and plan some elaborate ambush. I'm taking the fight to their doorstep."
Jin Mu paled. "You… you really are insane."
"Insane?" Kael scoffed. "No, I'm just practical. If we keep running, they'll never stop coming. I'd rather end this now and move on to more interesting prey."
Jin Mu rubbed his temples. "More interesting prey? You talk about wiping out sects like it's a casual afternoon stroll."
Kael grinned. "It's only a stroll if they're too weak to fight back."
Jin Mu groaned. "And what happens if they're not?"
Kael's smirk grew wider. "Then it becomes entertainment."
Jin Mu wanted to bang his head against a tree.
Kael turned his attention back to the valley. His Qi had stabilized, but his body was still adjusting to the sudden surge in power. He needed time to refine the energy within him, to temper the chaotic storm that raged inside his meridians. However, time was a luxury he didn't have. If the Serpent's Fang Sect wasn't already on the move, they soon would be.
Jin Mu exhaled sharply. "Alright, assuming I haven't lost my mind by agreeing to this lunacy, how exactly do you plan to take on an entire sect?"
Kael's smile was full of mischief. "Simple. We don't fight them head-on."
Jin Mu blinked. "Come again?"
Kael walked past him, hands casually resting in his pockets. "Sect forces rely on structure. Elders command, disciples obey. If I charge in recklessly, I'll have to deal with all of them at once. But if I break them piece by piece…" He trailed off, glancing over his shoulder.
Jin Mu's eyes widened. "You're planning to destabilize them."
Kael chuckled. "Oh, I'm going to do more than that."
Jin Mu swallowed. "You're planning to make them implode."
Kael's grin was almost feral. "Exactly."
Jin Mu shivered. He had seen madmen before, but Kael was something else entirely. There was a method to his madness, a terrifyingly effective method. And the worst part? He knew it would work.
The Serpent's Fang Sect had ruled their region unchallenged for decades. Their control was absolute, their enemies crushed before they could rise. But all of that was built upon a foundation of fear. And fear? It was a fickle thing. The moment their strength was questioned, the moment they appeared weak, cracks would form. And once those cracks appeared, Kael would tear them open.
Jin Mu took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll regret this, but fine. What do you need me to do?"
Kael's smirk softened slightly. "Spread some rumors. Tell the right people that the Blood Fang Enforcers weren't just wiped out, but that their sect betrayed them. Sow doubt. Make them question their leadership."
Jin Mu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmph. Manipulating information, huh? I can work with that."
Kael nodded. "And while you do that, I'll start hunting their outer branches. Make their people disappear one by one, leave behind corpses that scream of their sect's failures. By the time we reach their headquarters, their own people will be questioning if their sect master can even protect them."
Jin Mu exhaled slowly. "That's… downright devious."
Kael's smirk returned. "You disapprove?"
Jin Mu scoffed. "No. I'm just impressed. You're not just some battle-hungry lunatic. You actually know how to wage psychological warfare."
Kael chuckled. "There's no fun in brute force alone. The real satisfaction comes from watching the enemy break before you even lift a finger."
Jin Mu shook his head. "You're a monster."
Kael's grin widened. "I take that as a compliment."
With their plan in place, the two disappeared into the night, heading toward the first of many Serpent's Fang strongholds. By the time dawn arrived, blood would stain the earth, and the seeds of doubt would take root within the sect.
Luo Yuantang, Sect Master of the Serpent's Fang, had no idea that his downfall had already begun.