As Kai crossed over to another realm, he found himself standing before a massive fortress carved into the peak of a dark, foreboding mountain. The structure loomed over him, its jagged towers shrouded in mist, banners of deep black and crimson fluttering in the wind. This was the Obsidian Peak Sect.
The grand hall was a vast chamber lined with obsidian pillars, torches casting eerie flickering shadows upon the walls. At the front of the hall, three imposing figures stood, their gazes locked onto Kai. Liu Yue and Liu Yu stepped forward, bowing deeply before them.
“This is the one,” Liu Yue stated, her voice even.
“The bearer of the Celestial Eclipse Manual,” Liu Yu added with a smirk.
The three elders regarded Kai with a mix of curiosity and reverence before stepping forward to introduce themselves.
A towering man with a broad, muscular frame stepped forward, his presence exuded authority. His eyes were sharp like a predator’s, and a long scar ran down his cheek, a mark of countless battles. He was the enforcer of the sect’s laws and the pillar of strength that maintained order. "I am Elder Kong Tianba of the Enforcement Hall also known as the Lion Protector," the Elder spoke in an even voice.
A slender, pale woman, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable glint followed next. Dressed in dark robes, she moved with an eerie stillness, as if she could vanish at any moment. She oversaw assassinations, espionage, and intelligence gathering for the sect, making her the most feared and mysterious among the elders. She smiled as she addressed Kai, "My name is Elder Pu Erniang of the Shadow Hall, my worldly name is the Scorpion Revenant".
Finally, a weathered warrior with fiery red robes took a step forward, his aura radiated intense heat, making the air around him shimmer. A master of flame-based techniques and combat, he commanded the Crimson Hall, the offensive division of the sect. He was both admired and feared for his unmatched battle prowess. "I am Elder Huo Jue from the Crimson Hall, known as the Dragon Sentinel," the Elder said with an air of authority.
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“The prophecy foretold this day,” Elder Kong declared. “The one who holds the lost techniques of our sect, the bearer of the Celestial Eclipse Manual, has returned. By the will of our founder, you shall be inducted as the leader of the Obsidian Peak Sect!”
A murmur swept through the hall.
Everyone knelt.
A sea of black-robed cultivators bowed in unison, their voices echoing:“We pay our respects to the Sect Lord!”
Kai froze in place, his mind blank.“W-wait. What?”
This had to be a dream. Or maybe a nightmare.
One person did not bow.
Elder Huo Jue scoffed. His fiery eyes burned with defiance. “This is absurd. This boy—this outsider—has done nothing to earn the title of Sect Lord!”
He turned to Kong Tianba. “A sect leader must be strong. If he cannot even defeat a mere elder, what right does he have to lead us?”
The crowd whispered in agreement.
Elder Pu Erniang smirked. “It is within your right to challenge him.”
Elder Huo Jue drew his blade, flames coiling around its surface. “Then I, Huo Jue, challenge Kai to a duel!”
Kai’s stomach dropped. “WHAT?!”
Liu Yu clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, this should be fun~”
Liu Yue sighed. “Try not to die.”
Kai was terrified. How could someone like him—who had never fought in his life—defeat a battle-hardened expert?!
The battle began. Blades of fire rained toward him, searing the stone floor as Kai barely dodged. Elder Huo Jue moved like a raging inferno, each strike forcing Kai back.
Huo Jue's voice thundered through the hall. "Let me show you the true might of the Crimson Hall!" He thrust his palm forward, unleashing Scorching Dragon Fang—a blazing Qi construct in the shape of a dragon’s maw snapping toward Kai.
Kai rolled out of the way, sweat dripping down his brow from the sheer heat. He barely managed to gather himself when Huo Jue appeared behind him in a flicker of movement, slashing down with Flame Severance Blade. Sparks flew as the flaming sword cut through the air, grazing Kai’s shoulder and burning through his clothes.
Kai stumbled, clutching his arm. He had no idea how to counter the Elder's moves. Every movement from Huo Jue was calculated, relentless. The elder didn’t just attack—he dominated.
Kai had no strategy. No plan. No clue what he was doing.
Every attack he threw missed or had no power.
And then, Huo Jue’s strongest attack came crashing toward him.
"Burn!" Huo Jue roared, forming a massive sphere of fire overhead. He executed Infernal Sun Descent, a technique that condensed pure, concentrated fire Qi into a miniature sun, ready to obliterate anything in its path.
Kai’s eyes widened in sheer panic. His body refused to move.