"What... what happened?" The voice of a Dark Sect disciple echoed across the battlefield, his tone filled with disbelief.

"Why can't I feel Master Bai Jian's aura?" another disciple murmured, trembling with fear.

"Is the Master... truly dead? That's... impossible!"

The members of the Dark Sect, who had once held absolute confidence in their victory, now stood paralyzed in terror. They had invaded the Serene Mist Sect with arrogance, relying on Bai Jian's unparalleled power. But without him, their strength had vanished like a flame extinguished by a gale. Now, bereft of their greatest weapon, despair gripped their hearts.

"Don't lose hope!" shouted one of the elders of the Serene Mist Sect, his voice cutting through the panic in the air. "They’ve already suffered many losses! Forward, attack them with everything you've got!"

The battlefield, which had fallen into a brief silence, erupted once more into chaos. The warriors of the Serene Mist Sect, invigorated by their elder's words, charged forward with renewed ferocity.

Tian Ling, sword in hand, watched the scene unfold with sharp eyes. Despite the calm expression on his face, his body was exhausted, feeling the toll of the previous battles.

"These damn Five Judgment Swords... they drain an absurd amount of energy," he thought, tightening his grip on the sword as he felt his Qi depleting rapidly. "I can't keep fighting much longer..."

Even with his cautious thoughts, Tian Ling knew there was no time to hesitate. He drew his sword with a swift motion, ready to join the fray.

"All disciples and elders of the Serene Mist Sect, the Dark Sect’s master is dead! This is our chance! Attack without mercy!" The Sect Master's voice thundered across the sect, his determination evident, and every word emboldened the hearts of his followers.

Meanwhile, on a distant island, Elder Shen, Jin Yu, Jiang Zenhai, Zhao Xun, and other disciples gathered hastily. They had just received the news of Bai Jian's death and were trying to comprehend what it meant.

"Master of the Dark Sect is dead?" Jin Yu asked, her expression perplexed.

"What was that terrifying pressure just now? I could barely move!" Zhao Xun said, still visibly shaken.

"Yeah, my legs are still trembling..." another disciple added, his voice quivering.

"Who could have defeated him? Wasn't Bai Jian in the Perfected Soul Realm?" Jiang Zenhai questioned, his mind struggling to grasp what had happened.

"Could it be that the Serene Mist Sect’s Master broke through to a new realm as well?" a disciple suggested, trying to find some logical explanation.

Incredulity hung in the air, but with it came a growing sense of excitement. The death of Bai Jian represented an unexpected turning point.

"Who cares who did it? The important thing is he's dead! Let’s take this chance and attack with everything we’ve got!" Jiang Zenhai exclaimed, his enthusiasm evident in every word.

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Jin Yu, however, was thoughtful. "Could this have been Tian Ling's doing?" she wondered, furrowing her brow. "Impossible... He's strong, but not strong enough to defeat someone in the Perfected Soul Realm... right?"

These doubts lingered as she advanced alongside the other disciples, her concerns still unresolved.

Back at the central palace of the Serene Mist Sect, Tian Ling and the elders wasted no time eliminating the remaining members of the Dark Sect. Without Bai Jian, the Dark Sect no longer held any advantage. Their members, who once fought with arrogance, now found themselves cornered and hopeless. The defenses of the Serene Mist Sect were formidable, and without Bai Jian's superior cultivation to protect them, they fell one by one, like leaves in the wind.

As the last of the Dark Sect's elders fell, Tian Ling took a deep breath, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over him. He had expended an immense amount of Qi, and the battle had drained him in ways he had never experienced before.

"These battles... they’re so different from the arena simulations," he thought, feeling a weariness that went beyond the physical. "The pressure, the uncertainty... everything is real."

As he tried to catch his breath, Mei Lianhua approached, her eyes filled with curiosity and slight confusion.

"Tian Ling... when did you break through to the True Soul Realm?" Her voice was soft, but her mind was racing. "Why didn’t he come to me? I should’ve known this sooner," she wondered.

Tian Ling, still breathing heavily, gave a slight smile and replied, "It’s been a few months, Master."

Mei Lianhua raised an eyebrow, surprised by the direct response, but before she could continue with her questions, the Sect Master approached, interrupting her.

"Elder Mei, don’t trouble Fellow Tian. I’m sure he had his reasons for keeping this a secret," the Sect Master said, a cryptic smile on his lips. Internally, he was deeply impressed. "A genius like him... defeating someone in the Perfected Soul Realm while still in the True Soul Realm? If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never believe it."

"Sect Master, please don’t worry. Elder Mei Lianhua is still my master and always will be, no matter my cultivation level," Tian Ling responded respectfully, his voice firm and sincere.

Mei Lianhua, touched by Tian Ling’s loyalty, felt a mix of pride and affection for her disciple. She allowed a small smile to grace her lips.

"Hmph, that’s the way it should be, Tian Ling. But for now, let’s leave this conversation for later," she said, nodding slightly.

The Sect Master, however, glanced around, his eyes assessing the reactions of the elders and disciples present.

"Everyone here has witnessed Tian Ling's strength, and I believe you all agree with him becoming the tenth principal elder, correct?"

Tian Ling, on the other hand, remained serious. He knew what this meant, and he wasn’t willing to accept such responsibility so soon.

"Sect Master, I’m honored by your trust in me, but I believe becoming an elder is already more than enough," he said, his voice laden with seriousness.

He wanted to avoid additional responsibilities that might hinder his cultivation. Becoming a principal elder came with immense burdens, and Tian Ling wasn’t willing to carry that weight, especially now when his main focus was still on cultivation.

The Sect Master pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"Very well, since you prefer it that way, we’ll respect your choice. However, we will still grant you an island near Elder Mei’s. Is that acceptable?"

Tian Ling nodded. There was no reason to refuse the generous offer. He knew the island would offer him a place of peace where he could continue his cultivation undisturbed.

Despite the victory against the Dark Sect, the battle wasn’t entirely over. Small groups of Dark Sect remnants managed to escape and hide. The war against them continued for several days until all members were eliminated, save for a few who managed to flee.

Far away, in a vast forest, miles from the Serene Mist Sect, a mysterious figure watched from the shadows. Xin Miang, the master of the Firmament Sect, observed silently, his eyes fixed on the battlefield.

"They managed to survive the imminent destruction, hmm... That boy... is he a destiny anomaly?" Xin Miang murmured, watching with growing interest.