The moment the old man descended from the central peak, the entire sect seemed to freeze in awe. The sky above him shifted, a swirling vortex of clouds forming as his immense aura washed over the tournament grounds. Xing Wuye felt his breath catch in his throat, his heart hammering in his chest as he gazed up at the approaching figure.

Liu Chen, ever composed, leaned slightly toward Wuye. "That," he said in a hushed tone, "is the Sect Leader."

Wuye sucked in a sharp breath of air. He had heard stories of the Sect Leader's immense power, but seeing it in person was something entirely different. The pressure in the air was suffocating, and the very sky seemed to bow to this man's will. Wuye's mind raced, trying to comprehend the power on display. A cultivator of this level was beyond anything he could have imagined.

Yu Feng, the young sect leader, immediately dropped to one knee, bowing deeply. "Teacher!" he called out, his voice filled with reverence.

As if in unison, every disciple present followed suit, bowing low to the Sect Leader. Even the core disciples overseeing the tournament couldn't mask their awe as they knelt. The Sect Leader's presence commanded nothing less than absolute respect.

Hovering in the air, the Sect Leader's gaze swept across the kneeling disciples. His expression was calm, yet there was a distinct sense of majesty in his demeanor. The pressure in the air seemed to intensify for a moment, as if the entire sect was holding its breath in the presence of such power.

From the other peaks, the elders flew out to meet him, their figures cutting through the sky as they gathered around the Sect Leader. Elder Yan, Elder Wei, and the other elders joined the Sect Leader in the air, congratulating him with deep bows.

"Congratulations, Sect Leader, for breaking into the Divine Sense Building stage of Soul Sensing," Elder Yan said, his voice filled with respect.

The others echoed his sentiments, their faces showing a mixture of awe and reverence.

The Sect Leader, however, waved them off dismissively. "There will be no need for a grand ceremony," he said, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of his immense power. "There are more pressing matters at hand."

He turned his gaze to Yu Feng, who was still kneeling below. "Yu Feng," the Sect Leader said, "gather some of the strongest inner disciples. You are to lead them to the opening of an ancient tomb in the Wandering Plane. Now that I have reached the Divine Sense Building stage, we can no longer allow ourselves to be bullied by the Emerald Radiance Sect."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Yu Feng's eyes lit up with excitement, and he bowed even lower. "Yes, Teacher. I will not fail you."

The core disciples, standing tall once more, immediately sprang into action. They began summoning the strongest inner disciples to the tournament grounds, their voices ringing out across the arena. Wuye watched as disciples rushed to gather, their faces filled with anticipation. The air was thick with tension as everyone realized the magnitude of what was happening.

Liu Chen, standing beside Wuye, let out a soft chuckle. "It seems the Sect Leader's breakthrough has stirred up quite the storm."

Wuye nodded, still struggling to wrap his mind around the events unfolding before him. The mention of an ancient tomb and rival sects had stirred something within him—a burning desire to become stronger, to be part of these momentous occasions. But for now, all he could do was watch.

Suddenly, a loud cry pierced the air. Wuye looked up to see a swarm of majestic white cranes descending from the mountains, their wings shimmering in the morning light. The cranes flew gracefully toward the tournament area, and one by one, the inner disciples leaped onto their backs, their movements fluid and practiced.

The Sect Leader descended further, his presence looming over the gathered disciples. He turned to Elder Yan, the Pill Refining Elder. "You will accompany me."

Elder Yan bowed deeply, his usual calm expression breaking into one of mild surprise before he nodded. "As you command, Sect Leader."

With that, the Sect Leader turned to the most mysterious of the elders, the one who had no disciples of his own. This elder stood quietly at the edge of the gathering, his face unreadable.

"You will remain behind and oversee the sect in my absence," the Sect Leader said, his tone brooking no argument. "Ensure that the formations remain secure. I trust you to handle things while we are away."

The mysterious elder bowed slightly, his face betraying no emotion. "It will be done."

Satisfied, the Sect Leader wrapped the cranes carrying the disciples in an enormous wave of Qi, enveloping them in his power. The air hummed with energy, and in an instant, the entire group—disciples, cranes, and elders—was lifted into the sky. With a flash of light, they shot off into the distance, flying at a speed that Wuye could barely comprehend.

Xing Wuye inhaled sharply, his eyes wide with disbelief. The sheer speed at which the Sect Leader and his group moved was beyond anything he had ever seen. It was as if they had disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving only a faint ripple in the air where they had once been.

Liu Chen stood beside him, his arms crossed, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Interesting," he murmured to himself. "Very interesting."

Wuye glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Liu Chen smiled faintly, his eyes still fixed on the sky where the Sect Leader had vanished. "The balance of power among the sects has just shifted," he said quietly. "With the Sect Leader's breakthrough, our sect is no longer the prey—it is the predator. The Emerald Radiance Sect won't know what hit them."

Wuye nodded slowly, his mind still reeling from everything he had witnessed. He could only imagine what this meant for the sect. The ancient tomb, the rival sects, the newfound power of their leader—it was a lot to take in.

But one thing was clear: the future was going to be anything but quiet.

Wuye clenched his fists, determination filling his heart. He had a long way to go, but this was the world he had chosen—the world of cultivation, where strength was everything. And one day, he too would stand among the powerful, contributing to the future of his sect.

For now, though, he could only watch and wait, hoping that his own path would soon lead him to greater heights.

As the other disciples began to stir, murmuring among themselves about what had just transpired, Wuye found himself lost in thought. The sight of the Sect Leader's overwhelming power had sparked something within him—a deep desire to one day reach those heights, to be counted among the truly powerful.

But that day was still far off, and for now, all he could do was focus on the present.

Liu Chen, ever observant, glanced at Wuye and smiled. "It's going to be an interesting time for all of us," he said softly, his gaze drifting back to the distant sky.

Wuye nodded, his mind already racing with thoughts of what was to come. The journey ahead was fraught with challenges And he wouldn't have it any other way.