In the main meeting hall of the Serene Mist Sect, the tension was palpable. All the elders were gathered, and at the center, the sect master gazed at everyone with a face full of concern.

"Elder, the Green Demon is already at the borders of the sect!" one of the elders shouted, clearly in a panic.

"It’s true! He came personally and is massacring our disciples!" another elder added, his voice trembling.

"We need to act quickly! If we don't, the losses will be irreparable!" a third elder intervened, his hands shaking as he considered the consequences.

"If we can’t fight him, we should at least start preparing an escape route!" suggested one of the older elders, his voice thick with fear.

Panic spread throughout the hall. The thought of facing such a powerful enemy left everyone hopeless. The hall, once a symbol of power and control, was now filled with despair and uncertainty. The sect master observed in silence for a few seconds, trying to remain calm under the pressure.

"Calm yourselves!" His voice echoed through the hall, bringing a brief pause to the chaos. "Elder Mei, were you able to summon Tian Ling?" he asked, a look of desperate hope in his eyes.

Elder Mei Lianhua sighed deeply, as if bearing the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"Master... I went to the portal of the mythical realm where he’s cultivating, but I couldn’t enter. The restrictions there are too powerful. He must be in seclusion, cultivating again. Besides... even if I had found him, I’m not sure he could defeat the Green Demon," she replied, her voice heavy with concern.

"I agree, Master," another elder added, sounding equally helpless. "Elder Tian only defeated Bai Jian because he forcefully broke through to the True Soul Realm, and his foundation was still unstable. Has the ancestor responded to our call?"

The sect master lowered his eyes, visibly disheartened.

"He did... but all he said was that he would return in fifty years..." His voice trailed off at the end of the sentence, revealing his hopelessness.

A heavy silence fell over the hall. The sect's fate seemed sealed.

Meanwhile, in his mythical realm, Tian Ling faced an unexpected choice. Before him floated the options presented by the system, a sight that both intrigued and unsettled him.

[The Green Demon has united the demons and become the Demon King of Nine Stars. As the last battles are taking place near the Serene Mist Sect, he has decided to subjugate this sect as the start of his reign. You have the following options:]

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[1 - Go out and defeat the Green Demon. You understand that you can’t just hide and must protect those around you. Reward: Guardian System upgrades and a Natural Treasure.]

[2 - Flee immediately. Ignore the Serene Mist Sect, which will perish, and become a wandering cultivator. Reward: A Jar of True Soul Realm Pills and a random Mythical Realm.]

Tian Ling, seated in a meditative position, studied the options with a serious expression. He furrowed his brow, deeply reflecting on the situation.

"Another powerful enemy?" he murmured to himself. "The sect master was probably here recently... most likely to inform me, but I was in the middle of a realm breakthrough and didn’t want to interrupt my comprehension."

He pondered for a long moment, feeling the weight of the decision on his shoulders. Each choice seemed to carry enormous consequences. “Should I go out and face him? Can I defeat the Green Demon?” he thought, his brows slightly raised. "He’s in the early stages of the Perfected Soul Realm, and I’ve already reached the fourth level of the True Soul Realm. Maybe... maybe that’s enough."

With a soft sigh, he murmured, "I don’t have many options... I just hope I’m strong enough to defeat him. Otherwise, I’ll have to retreat."

Resolving his mind, Tian Ling chose the first option. As soon as he made his choice, the system blinked, and the options vanished. He rose from his meditative position, feeling the surge of power within his body. As he stepped out of his palace in the mythical realm, he was met by Lian Ziyue, who stood waiting with a visibly impatient expression.

"Sister Lian Ziyue? What’s going on?" he asked, curious, noticing the anxiety on her face.

Lian Ziyue, who always appeared as a powerful and composed figure, now showed signs of nervousness. Tian Ling couldn’t help but think, “That tall, powerful external elder who recruited me back then... now looks like a frightened girl.”

She took a deep breath before replying.

"I don’t know exactly what’s happening... but I suddenly felt a deep unease. Something tells me the sect is in danger..." she said, her voice wavering.

"It’s alright, sister. Let’s go and see what’s happening." Tian Ling’s voice was calm and firm, projecting a sense of security.

Hearing his words, Lian Ziyue seemed to relax. An inexplicable sense of relief washed over her. Though she was an experienced cultivator, Tian Ling’s presence gave her a sense of protection that she couldn’t quite explain.

She nodded slightly, and together, they crossed the portal toward the Serene Mist Sect. As soon as they arrived, Tian Ling narrowed his eyes and frowned. Chaos reigned within the sect. Although nothing had been destroyed yet, the commotion among the disciples was evident. Despair and confusion hung in the air like a heavy cloud.

"Are they all trying to flee?" Tian Ling thought as he expanded his spiritual sense to probe the situation. He quickly realized the disciples were indeed preparing to evacuate.

"It seems the situation is worse than we thought..." he murmured to Lian Ziyue, who watched with wide eyes.

"Do you think they’re running away?" she asked, looking at him with concern.

"Yes... but it won’t be that easy. The Green Demon is at the doorstep. We need to act fast," Tian Ling replied, a determined coldness in his voice.

Without wasting any more time, Tian Ling leapt onto his sword, activated his treasures, and headed toward the sect’s border. His heart was racing, but his mind was a sea of calm. He knew the challenge ahead would be immense, yet he felt a growing confidence in his strength.

As he approached the border, the scene before him was devastating. Although there were no signs of destruction yet, the oppressive presence of the Green Demon could be felt in the air, like a looming shadow ready to consume everything. Tian Ling tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"I hope I’m enough to face him..." he murmured to himself before increasing his speed, disappearing into the horizon, heading toward the impending confrontation.