“Who dares to release such murderous intent at the foot of Divine Moon Peak?!”

  A furious voice thundered through the bamboo forest, shaking the air.

  Before Ling Tian could react, four figures burst through the foliage, landing with powerful force.

  But the moment their eyes fell upon the old man, they immediately froze in their tracks.

  The one in the lead appeared to be in his sixties. He wore a dark blue robe and had three long strands of beard that gave him an air of refined wisdom. This was none other than Elder Cang Yun—one of the four elders of the ethereal Misty Sword Sect.

  Standing beside him was a man with a flaming red beard and sharp eagle-like brows. His eyes held an arrogant gleam, revealing his fiery nature. He was Elder Chi Yan, another of the four grand elders.

  Behind the two elders stood a pair of young disciples, around the same age as Ling Tian. One was a graceful girl dressed in a flowing violet gown of sheer silk. Her delicate nose and cherry-red lips gave her an ethereal beauty, as though she had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.

  Beside her was a tall, handsome young man in a sky-blue robe. His chiseled features and proud bearing gave him an aura of nobility that felt almost unapproachable.

  “Elder Huo?” Elder Cang Yun was the first to break the silence. His brows furrowed in confusion. “Why is it you? Weren’t you in seclusion? What are you doing here all of a sudden?”

  The old man, Elder Huo, chuckled softly.

  “I’ve already ended my seclusion,” he said. “Thought I’d stroll around and see if any good seedlings have appeared. Turns out I really did find an interesting little rascal.”

  He squinted at Ling Tian, then glanced back at the group.

  “Hmm? Are those two behind you your personal disciples? Bring them forward. Let this old man take a look.”

  Elder Cang Yun didn’t hesitate.

  “Qingfeng, Ziyue, come greet Elder Huo. He is the leader of the Hidden Sect within the Misty Sword Sect—our Dark Division!”

  The two young disciples quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

  “Greetings, Sect Master Huo!”

  Elder Huo swept his gaze across the two.

  “The girl’s at the eighth level of Body Tempering,” he murmured. “The boy is at the seventh. Average.”

  Then he laughed softly, eyes narrowing in amusement.

  “Would you believe me if I told you that this little brat over here is stronger than both of them?”

  His words made Han Ziyue and Lin Qingfeng turn their heads sharply toward Ling Tian.

  But the moment they noticed that Ling Tian hadn’t even stepped into the Body Tempering Realm, their expressions twisted into sneers of contempt.

  A talentless fool?

  They couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

  Elder Huo saw their mocking expressions. His eyes turned cold.

  A sudden wave of murderous intent erupted from his body and slammed into the two youths like a mountain.

  Their faces went pale in an instant. They staggered under the pressure, their knees nearly buckling.

  Even Elder Cang Yun and Elder Chi Yan could only force out wry smiles. They dared not intervene.

  Elder Huo turned back to Ling Tian and fixed him with a deep gaze.

  “Boy,” he said quietly. “Now do you understand who I am?”

  Ling Tian clenched his fists. The pressure was overwhelming, but he refused to show weakness.

  “I’ll ask you one more time,” Elder Huo continued. “Will you come with me to the Dark Division?”

  Lingtian didn’t hesitate for long. He gave a firm nod in response to Elder Huo’s offer. Opportunities like this didn’t come often—especially not ones this grand. And since it didn’t conflict with his principles, how could he refuse?

  “Hahaha! Good! A man with principles is admirable, but a man who knows when to seize a chance—that’s the kind of person who survives and thrives! You’ve got potential, boy!” Elder Huo burst into hearty laughter. His booming voice echoed through the surrounding jade bamboo forest, making the bamboo leaves rustle violently.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Roughly half a year ago, Elder Huo had emerged from secluded cultivation. By chance, he stumbled upon Lingtian, who was training with an aura of pure killing intent.

  At first, Elder Huo merely found Lingtian’s bloodlust curious—there were plenty of people in the Dark Sect with deadly auras. But after watching him closely, he realized this youth was different. Lingtian’s dedication bordered on obsession.

  Talent was common. True discipline? Rare.

  Over time, Elder Huo had kept a close eye on him. The boy’s persistence had impressed him. And when he learned Lingtian carried a grudge soaked in blood, Elder Huo knew he’d found someone worth grooming.

  A man with vengeance in his heart wouldn’t hesitate to walk the path of strength—even if it led into darkness.

  Today was the final test. And Lingtian had passed with flying colors.

  With the boy’s agreement to join the Dark Sect, Elder Huo was ecstatic.

  As his laughter faded, Elder Huo abruptly turned, his eyes glowing with violent light. He swept his gaze across Han Ziyue and Lin Qingfeng.

  The moment their eyes met his, both young elites stiffened.

  They were used to admiration and deference back in Misty Sword Sect. With their natural talent, noble backgrounds, and the title of personal disciples of the Four Great Elders, they had always stood at the top. Even the Sect Master treated them with kind smiles and gentle words.

  But now?

  Now they were staring into the eyes of a true master of the Sect—one whose presence alone made their hearts tremble.

  Neither dared to meet Elder Huo’s gaze. And watching this unfold, both Elder Chiyan and Elder Cangyun shrugged as if this were perfectly natural.

  A little humility might do the young ones some good.

  “You two,” Elder Huo said, withdrawing the light from his eyes and casually patting Lingtian on the shoulder. “Looked down on this boy earlier, didn’t you?”

  Han Ziyue and Lin Qingfeng didn’t respond, their faces pale.

  “Well then, hear me clearly.” Elder Huo’s voice turned cold. “Three years from now, at the Sect Assembly, this boy will stand before you and defeat you both, fair and square. That’s my promise.”

  He glanced at everyone in the clearing.

  “Prodigies? Hmph.”

  With a flick of his wrist, he grabbed Lingtian’s hand. In a flash of light, the two vanished.

  “…That old bastard’s still the same,” Elder Chiyan sighed, shaking his head as he watched the sky where they’d disappeared. “The kid agrees to join his sect, and he immediately starts stirring up trouble.”

  Elder Cangyun chuckled bitterly. “Ziyue, looks like you’ll need to work even harder now. When that old man says someone will rise in three years, he means it.”

  Han Ziyue scoffed.

  “Him? A mere level-nine body refiner? He hasn’t even entered the Tempering Stage yet.”

  Lin Qingfeng nodded, just as dismissive.

  Their disdain was written all over their faces.

  Elder Cangyun opened his mouth, then closed it again. What was there to say? Truth be told, even he couldn’t believe someone like Lingtian could rise high enough to challenge his disciples in three years.

  “…Master,” Lin Qingfeng suddenly asked, changing the subject, “that Sect Leader—Elder Huo—how strong is he compared to you?”

  Chiyan Elder chuckled. “Compared to me and Cangyun? If we teamed up… maybe a thirty percent chance of escaping with our lives.”

  Their eyes widened in shock.

  Without another word, the elders wrapped both disciples in a golden light and soared toward the peak of Divine Moon Mountain.

  In the air, Elder Cangyun sent a soundline transmission to his companion. “Aren’t you overestimating him? Talking as if we’re not worth much…”

  Elder Chiyan gave a wry grin. “Oh? You didn’t feel it? That old monster’s strength has grown again since his last retreat. And you saw those kids’ attitudes—they’re not taking him seriously. Let them know what kind of man Huo really is. That lunatic… is best left unprovoked.”

  Elder Huo carried Lingtian through the fierce winds above the clouds as if walking through a peaceful garden. The protective aura around Lingtian hissed as it resisted the pressure of the gale.

  After about ten minutes of flight, the clouds thinned, revealing a truly miraculous sight.

  Beneath them was a massive valley encircled by mountain ranges. In its center rose a mountain like no other—straight and tall, piercing the sky at a perfect ninety-degree angle. It looked like a divine pillar holding up the heavens.

  At the summit was a flat land, lush with greenery and flowing water. Buildings stood in harmony with nature. This was the hidden domain of the Dark Sect.

  At its center stood a colossal stone tower, like the hilt of a sword plunged deep into the earth. From afar, the entire structure resembled a gigantic sword stabbed into the world. The mountain peak was the blade, the flat land the guard, and the tower its hilt.

  Lingtian stared in awe.

  The mountain’s surface was formed from jet-black stone that radiated a strange, oppressive aura. Thick iron chains, black as night, wrapped tightly around the mountain. These chains extended outward, entangling the surrounding mountains like a web. Wisps of unnatural white mist floated around the peaks, giving the entire scene a dreamlike, eerie quality.

  “This,” Elder Huo said proudly, “is Divine Sword Peak—the hidden headquarters of the Dark Sect. One of the twin Spirit Spring nodes of the Divine Moon Spirit Realm.”

  “Spirit Spring node?” Lingtian’s heart skipped a beat.

  Spirit Springs were where heaven and earth’s energy, compressed and refined over countless years, erupted from beneath the surface. Even a single breath of this energy could cause breakthroughs for cultivators—though reckless absorption without proper cultivation could cause instant death.

  Most powerful sects were built around Spirit Springs.

  “Surprised?” Elder Huo smirked. “You should be. Divine Moon Realm is rare—one of the few places with two Spirit Springs. One is beneath Divine Moon Peak. The other… is right here.”

  He paused.

  “But this one is far more potent. Divine Moon Peak’s spring is split among seven outer branches. Ours? All of it stays right here, on Divine Sword Peak.”

  The pride—and the dominance—in his voice made Lingtian shiver.

  It wasn’t a bluff. Elder Huo had already shown his terrifying strength back in the bamboo forest. Even the infamous Elder Chiyan, known for defying the Sect Master himself, had bowed his head to this man.

  Soon, the two arrived at the platform atop the Divine Sword Peak.

  Four figures in black robes approached swiftly.

  “Greetings, Sect Leader,” they said in unison, bowing.

  Each wore silver-trimmed robes and emanated killing intent so thick that Lingtian felt his hairs stand on end.

  “This is Lingtian,” Elder Huo said flatly. “He’s one of us now. Remember that.”

  “Yes, Sect Leader!”

  Satisfied, Elder Huo turned to Lingtian. “Come with me. I’ll show you to your cultivation chamber.”