The next day dawned with a muted light, the sun struggling to break through the thick clouds that clung to the mountains around the Azure Cloud Sect. Lin Feng stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching the sect's disciples go through their routines. The air crackled with the energy of cultivators pushing themselves to their limits, but beneath that energy was a tension no one could ignore.
Since Han Shi's death, a palpable unease had spread throughout the sect. Disciples whispered of assassins and traitors, of forbidden rituals and ancient powers stirring. But no one spoke openly, and no one dared accuse anyone outright. It was as though the entire sect was waiting for something to happen—something inevitable.
Lin Feng's mind was not on the training grounds, however. It was on the scroll he and Li Mei had uncovered, and the dark ritual it described. The thought of a faction within the sect trying to summon Voidborn power through human sacrifice sent a shiver through him. They were no longer just fighting an external threat. The real enemy was inside the sect, lurking in the shadows, manipulating events to their advantage.
And the worst part? He still had no idea who he could trust.
"Lin Feng!" a familiar voice called from behind him.
He turned to see Wei Chen hurrying toward him, his usual jovial expression replaced by a more serious look. Beside him was Zhao Kuo, his tall frame casting a long shadow over the training grounds. Both of them had been absent since the previous night, but Lin Feng had assumed they were laying low after Zhao's revelations about the traitor.
"Where have you two been?" Lin Feng asked, a slight edge in his voice. "There's too much happening right now for anyone to disappear."
Wei Chen rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Sorry about that. We've been… investigating."
"Investigating what?" Lin Feng's eyes narrowed.
Zhao Kuo, always more straightforward, stepped forward. "We were following a lead. After what I told you about the faction, I figured we couldn't sit idle. We needed to find out more—figure out who's pulling the strings."
Lin Feng's tension eased, but only slightly. "And? Did you find anything?"
Wei Chen exchanged a glance with Zhao before nodding. "We've been tracking some unusual activity near the outer reaches of the sect. Some disciples have been sneaking out at night, meeting in secluded areas. It's nothing conclusive, but it's suspicious."
"Who?" Lin Feng demanded.
Zhao hesitated for a moment before answering. "Jiang Hao and his group. They're not high-ranking, but they have connections—especially to some of the elder disciples. And from what we've seen, they've been receiving messages from outside the sect."
Lin Feng's mind raced. Jiang Hao was known for his ambition, always seeking ways to climb the sect's ranks. But was he really capable of being part of a conspiracy this deep? Or was he just a pawn in a much larger game?
"We need to confront him," Lin Feng said, his voice low. "If he's involved, he might lead us to the faction's leaders. If not, he might know more than we do."
Zhao nodded in agreement. "But we have to be careful. If we push too hard, he could alert others. We don't know how far this conspiracy goes."
Lin Feng was about to respond when Li Mei appeared, her expression grim. "We need to talk—now."
---
Inside the privacy of Lin Feng's quarters, the group gathered to share what they knew. Li Mei laid out the scroll they had discovered the previous night, her fingers tracing the dark symbols that described the ritual.
"This is what we're dealing with," she said, her voice steady but filled with tension. "A summoning ritual tied to the Voidborn. But it's incomplete—we don't know the full extent of what they're planning."
Zhao's eyes darkened as he read the scroll. "Summoning Voidborn power… This is worse than I thought. If they succeed, they won't just be helping the Voidborn—they'll be bringing their destruction directly into our world."
"We have to stop them," Wei Chen said, his usually light tone now filled with determination. "But how? We don't even know who's behind this."
Lin Feng leaned forward, his mind working through the pieces of the puzzle. "We confront Jiang Hao. If he's part of this, he could lead us to the faction. If not, we'll find out what he knows. Either way, we can't afford to sit and wait for them to make their next move."
The others nodded in agreement. They had no choice but to act. Time was running out, and the darkness within the sect was growing with every passing moment.
---
Later that night, Lin Feng, Li Mei, Zhao Kuo, and Wei Chen made their way to the outer reaches of the Azure Cloud Sect. The moon was obscured by clouds, casting the landscape in an eerie half-light. They moved silently, their senses heightened for any sign of movement.
Jiang Hao had been seen here the previous night, meeting with a group of disciples in secret. If they were lucky, they would catch him again tonight—and finally get some answers.
As they approached a secluded clearing, Lin Feng motioned for the others to stop. In the distance, they could see a faint glow—torches. And there, standing in a loose circle, was Jiang Hao and his group.
"They're here," Zhao whispered, his eyes narrowing.
"We need to get closer," Li Mei added. "We need to hear what they're saying."
The group moved carefully through the underbrush, keeping to the shadows. As they crept closer, Lin Feng could make out the hushed voices of the disciples. Jiang Hao stood in the center, his posture tense, as though he was waiting for something—or someone.
Suddenly, the air around them grew colder, and a strange energy crackled through the clearing. Lin Feng's hand instinctively went to the hilt of Azure Destiny, his senses on high alert.
"What's happening?" Wei Chen whispered.
Before anyone could answer, a figure stepped into the clearing, their face hidden beneath a hooded cloak. The moment they appeared, Jiang Hao and the others knelt, their heads bowed in deference.
"It's him," Zhao whispered. "The leader of the faction."
Lin Feng's pulse quickened. They were so close—finally, they would learn the truth. But even as he prepared to move, something held him back. There was something wrong about the figure, something deeply unsettling.
The figure spoke, their voice low and smooth, like silk sliding over stone. "The time is nearly upon us. The ritual must be completed. You know what is required."
Jiang Hao nodded, his voice trembling slightly. "We've gathered the necessary… sacrifices. The sect is distracted by the investigation. No one suspects anything."
The cloaked figure seemed to smile beneath their hood. "Good. Soon, the power of the Voidborn will be ours, and those who stand against us will fall."
Lin Feng's blood ran cold. They were planning to complete the ritual—and soon. If they succeeded, the sect would be powerless to stop the Voidborn's return.
"We have to stop this," Li Mei whispered urgently. "Now."
Lin Feng nodded, drawing Azure Destiny from its sheath. The sword hummed with power, the blade gleaming faintly in the darkness.
But just as they prepared to move, the cloaked figure turned, as though sensing their presence. Lin Feng froze, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, the figure's gaze seemed to pierce through the shadows, locking onto him.
And then, with a slow, deliberate movement, the figure raised their hand.
A wave of dark energy exploded from the clearing, tearing through the trees and sending Lin Feng and the others sprawling. The force of it knocked the breath from Lin Feng's lungs, and he barely had time to react before the energy surged again, enveloping the clearing in a suffocating darkness.
"Lin Feng!" Wei Chen shouted, scrambling to his feet.
But Lin Feng could barely hear him over the roar of the dark energy. The world around him seemed to blur, the edges of reality warping as the Voidborn's power flooded the area.
Desperately, Lin Feng reached for Azure Destiny, focusing his qi into the sword. The blade responded, glowing brighter as it pushed back against the darkness. But even with the sword's power, the force of the energy was overwhelming.
"Get up!" Zhao Kuo shouted, pulling Lin Feng to his feet.
Together, they staggered back, retreating from the edge of the clearing as the dark energy continued to swirl. In the center, Jiang Hao and his group remained kneeling, untouched by the chaos around them. And the cloaked figure stood at the heart of it all, their hand still raised, directing the flow of energy.
"We can't fight this," Li Mei said, her voice tight with frustration. "Not like this."
Lin Feng knew she was right. Whatever power the faction had tapped into, it was far beyond anything they could handle alone. They needed help—now.
"Go!" Lin Feng shouted to the others, his voice barely audible over the roar of the energy. "We need to warn the sect!"
Reluctantly, Zhao and Wei Chen began to pull back, but Li Mei hesitated, her eyes fixed on the cloaked figure.
"What are you doing?" Lin Feng demanded. "We have to go!"
Li Mei's gaze remained locked on the figure for a moment longer before she finally nodded. "We'll come back," she said, her voice low. "We'll stop them."
With that, the group turned and fled
into the forest, the dark energy still swirling behind them.
---
By the time they reached the Azure Cloud Sect, the night was nearly over, and the first light of dawn was beginning to creep over the horizon. But there was no time to rest. Lin Feng and his companions raced to the inner sanctum, their hearts pounding with urgency.
As they burst into the hall, Sect Leader Feng was already waiting, his expression grim. "What is it?" he asked, his voice calm but commanding.
Lin Feng wasted no time. "We found the faction. They're planning to complete the ritual—and soon."
Sect Leader Feng's eyes darkened. "How soon?"
"I don't know," Lin Feng admitted. "But they're already gathering sacrifices. We have to stop them."
Feng was silent for a long moment, his gaze distant as he considered their next move. Finally, he nodded. "We will prepare. But understand this—if they succeed, the consequences will be dire. We must strike quickly and decisively."
Lin Feng nodded, his resolve hardening. They had no choice. The darkness within the sect had grown too powerful, and now it threatened to consume everything they held dear.
The final battle was coming, and this time, there would be no turning back.