The air in the sect felt different.

Lin Xuan walked through the Inner Sect grounds, his steps steady but his mind restless. The confrontation with Wei Shen had been brief, but the message was clear—he was being watched.

He had barely returned from the valley, and already, the tides of the sect were shifting around him.

Zhao Feng walked beside him, his expression unreadable. “You think Wei Shen will make a move soon?”

Lin Xuan exhaled. “He’s not in a rush. He’s testing me first.”

Zhao Feng nodded. “Then we better be ready.”

They had barely reached the training grounds when a voice called out.

“Lin Xuan, Zhao Feng.”

A female disciple stood before them, her long black robes bearing the insignia of the Elder Council. Unlike most disciples, she carried no sword—only a jade token hanging from her waist.

“You are to report to the Infinite Pagoda immediately,” she said, her voice calm but firm.

Lin Xuan exchanged a glance with Zhao Feng. The Infinite Pagoda—where only the most important sect matters were discussed.

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This wasn’t normal.

Without another word, they followed her.

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THE SECT’S DECISION

The Infinite Pagoda was vast, its towering walls lined with ancient scrolls and glowing talismans. Elders sat in a semi-circle, their gazes unreadable. At the center, Sect Master Yan watched them in silence.

Elder Mo was the first to speak. “You have returned from the valley. Tell us what you saw.”

Lin Xuan hesitated. Should he mention the glowing runes? The strange energy that had entered his body?

“We saw an altar,” Zhao Feng said first. “It was… alive. The runes were glowing, and the energy in the valley felt unnatural.”

Sect Master Yan remained still. Then, he finally spoke.

“The altar is a relic of our sect’s past,” he said. “A reminder of the battles fought long before you were born.” His gaze sharpened. “But something has changed. It should not have awakened.”

Lin Xuan clenched his fists. “Then why send us there?”

Elder Qin spoke next. “Because we needed to know. And now, we have our answer.”

A long pause. Then Sect Master Yan stood.

“From this moment onward, you are no longer just ordinary disciples.” His voice carried a weight that sent chills down Lin Xuan’s spine. “The path before you will be dangerous, but it will also define you.”

Lin Xuan and Zhao Feng exchanged glances. They had stepped into something far greater than themselves.

And there was no turning back.

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A LOOMING THREAT

Far from the pagoda, beyond the sect’s walls, a storm gathered on the horizon.

A lone figure in dark robes stood atop a mountain peak, watching the hevenly origin sect from afar. The wind howled around them, but they remained unmoving.

“The altar has awakened,” they whispered. “It begins again.”

From the shadows, more figures emerged.

The sect wasn’t ready.

And soon, they would realize the true meaning of fear.