His steps were heavy as he approached the Headquarters. of the Righteous Sword Sect, where Master Chen stood waiting.

“You have done great training. Now I have a new mission for you.”

Marcus, still adjusting to being called Yusup, nodded respectfully. “I am ready, Master.”

Master Chen’s expression turned serious. “There have been reports of disturbances in the village of Qingyuan, on valley of Lotus Countryside, these villagers have been complaining, about core formation cultivators disrupting their lives. Rumors say the leader of the gang causing these disturbances is a core formation cultivator, but we’re not really sure of their true strength. I want you to investigate and resolve this issue.”

Marcus felt a surge of excitement. This was his third mission, a chance to prove himself. “I will never fail you, Master.”

Before Marcus departed, Master Chen provided detailed instructions. “The village lies to the countryside of the Valley of Lotus, a day's journey from here. The disturbances mostly occur at night. Be cautious and do not underestimate your opponent.”

Marcus spent the rest of the day preparing. He gathered necessary supplies, formations, and sharpened his lightning sword, As he approached the Gates of the Sect, he set off towards Village Qingyuan.

The path to Qingyuan was peaceful at first, but as night fell, the forest grew eerie. Shadows danced among the trees, and every rustle seemed to carry a hint of menace. Marcus kept his hand on his sword, ready for any threat.

Halfway through the journey, he encountered a group of traveling merchants camped by the roadside. They were wary but offered him some food in exchange for protection. Marcus agreed, sharing their fire and listening to their stories of strange occurrences in Qingyuan.

“The disturbances happen at night,” one of the merchants whispered, his eyes wide with fear. “They steal livestock, and some say they’ve taken woman too. It’s not safe anymore.”

Marcus nodded thoughtfully, his resolve hardening. He assured the merchants of his help before continuing his journey at dawn.

Qingyuan was a small village nestled among rolling hills. As Marcus approached, he could feel the tension in the air. The villagers eyed him with a mixture of hope and fear. He sought out the village elder, a wise old man named Elder Li.

“Welcome, core disciple of the great Righteous Sword Sect,” Elder Li greeted him with deep respect. “I have heard a lot about you and highly admire your talent. We have been expecting you. The disturbances have grown worse with each passing night.”

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Marcus listened intently as Elder Li described the attacks. Livestock mutilated, homes ransacked, and villagers disappearing without a trace. The elder pointed him towards the outskirts of the village, where the attacks were most frequent.

As night fell, Marcus set up a small camp near the edge of the village. He used a formation to create a protective barrier and waited. The night was silent, save for the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustling of leaves. Hours passed, and just when Marcus began to doubt anything would happen, he heard it—a low, guttural growl.

Emerging from the shadows were three figures. Marcus’s heart pounded, but he stood his ground. He drew his sword, the blade gleaming in the moonlight.

The figures lunged at him with terrifying speed. Marcus’s initial strikes felt like hitting solid walls. These were not ordinary bandits; they were well-trained cultivators. The three attackers were qi condensation cultivators. He parried their attacks, moving with precision, striking back with a series of swift, decisive blows. One fell, then another, but the third was stronger, more cunning.

It lunged again, and Marcus barely dodged its attack. Summoning his inner strength, he channeled his qi into his sword, unleashing a powerful strike that cleaved the figure in two. As the last figure fell, a chilling silence settled over the area.

Marcus inspected the fallen gang members, noting the dark energy that still clung to their bodies, has not been gone, These gang turn out not your average ordinary gang; they had been well-trained. His thoughts returned to the whispers of a cultivators gang. He had to find the source as quick as possible.

The next morning, he returned to Elder Li and shared his findings. The elder frowned, deep in thought. “There is an old temple in the forest,” he said slowly. “It has been abandoned for years, but some say it is cursed. Perhaps you should start your search there.”

Marcus thanked Elder Li and set off towards the forest. The temple was hidden deep within, its entrance overgrown with vines and moss. As he stepped inside, the air grew cold, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.

The temple was dark and musty, filled with the remnants of old rituals. Marcus moved cautiously, his sword ready. He felt a presence, a dark energy pulsing from the depths of the temple. Following the source, he descended into the underground chambers.

In the heart of the temple, Marcus found him—the leader of the gang, Xu Feng, a core formation cultivator, who was cloaked in darkness, and a sinister smile played on his lips.

“Oh, aren’t you that deserter child from that village I happily killed?” Xu Feng sneered. “You are no match for me.”

Marcus felt a surge of anger but kept his composure. “I will end your stupid uncultured doings.” He declared, raising his lightning sword.

The battle was intense. Xu Feng and his gang wielded dark sword techniques, summoning shadows and blasts of dark energy. Marcus countered with his training, using his sword techniques and qi to fend off the attacks. The chamber echoed with the clash of their powers.

Xu Feng was flanked by two foundation establishment cultivators and several qi condensation members. Marcus’s training under Master Chen had prepared him well. He moved with agility, his strikes precise and powerful. The cultivators, though formidable, began to falter under Marcus’s relentless assault.

With a final, powerful strike, Marcus shattered Xu Feng’s defenses and plunged his sword into his dark heart. Xu Feng let out a scream of rage and pain before collapsing, the dark energy dissipating.

As Xu Feng lay dying, Marcus stood over him and said, “Even ant desrve a Grave unlike you.”

Exhausted but victorious, Marcus searched the temple for survivors. He found many young women who had been captured, but they were all dead. Marcus felt a pang of sorrow. He gathered their bodies, hoping to bring them back to Qingyuan for a proper burial.

When Marcus returned to Qingyuan, Elder Li asked about the missing women. Marcus somberly informed him that they had all died due to the gang’s actions. He had brought their bodies back so that they could be given a proper funeral.

The villagers held a solemn funeral for the young women, honoring their memory. Marcus watched from a distance, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. The village could now begin to heal, and he had done what he could to ensure that the women were not forgotten.