At the **main gates of the Li clan estate**, three figures stood beneath the battered archway.
Their robes bore the sigil of the **Cloud River Sect**, and they carried themselves with the restrained confidence of sect disciples—posture straight, breathing steady, eyes alert.
The estate gates loomed half-repaired, spirit wood still scorched in places. Cracks webbed through the stone, scars of violence that no amount of hurried reconstruction could fully erase.
A pair of Li clan guards stood watch.
Their armor was intact, but exhaustion clung to them like a second skin.
One of the Cloud River disciples stepped forward. Tall and lean, with sharp brows and a composed expression, he was clearly the leader of the trio.
"This one greets the Li clan," he said, cupping his fist politely. "I am **Xu Yan**, inner disciple of the Cloud River Sect."
Both Li clan guards went pale.
Without hesitation, they dropped to one knee, foreheads pressed to the cold stone.
Xu Yan advanced a step, gaze calm and distant. He did not return the salute—such courtesy was unnecessary.
"Rise," he said lightly.
The guards scrambled to their feet, heads still lowered, daring not to meet the disciples' eyes.
One of them cupped his fist again, posture respectful but cautious. "Honored guests. May this one know your purpose?"
Xu Yan gestured subtly behind him.
"We are investigating the disappearance of several Cloud River disciples who descended on a mission nearby," he said evenly. "Their trail ended near **White Hollow City**."
He paused.
"Along the way, we heard… rumors."
His eyes flicked briefly toward the damaged walls beyond the gate.
The second disciple—a woman with cold eyes and a sword bound across her back—narrowed her gaze. "Troubling rumors."
The guard's jaw tightened. "Rumors?" he asked carefully.
"That White Hollow City was attacked," Xu Yan continued, voice calm but firm. "That demonic beasts appeared. That the **Li clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators were wiped out**."
Silence stretched for a heartbeat.
The guards exchanged a brief, uneasy glance. One of them swallowed hard before answering, voice low and deferential.
"The rumors… are true, honored disciple."
Xu Yan's eyes sharpened slightly. "Explain."
"The city was attacked during the night by demonic beasts," the guard said quickly. "Our Foundation Establishment elders… all fell in battle."
The third Cloud River disciple, younger than the others, sucked in a sharp breath before he could stop himself.
"All of them?"
"All who were present," the guard replied. "The attack occurred three days ago. It was swift."
Xu Yan's expression hardened, though his tone remained measured. "We request entry. We must confirm the situation directly with the Li clan elders before reporting back to our sect."
Then the female disciple spoke, her voice cool and precise. "Has the Li clan sought external aid?"
The guard hesitated—then answered honestly.
"Yes. Our young lord sought assistance from the **Azure Serpent Sect**," he said carefully. "He returned accompanied by an **Immortal Elder**. You arrived… shortly after that Elder departed."
The three disciples stiffened at once.
"An Immortal Elder?" the woman repeated quietly.
"This one does not know the details," the guard said, bowing deeper. "Only that the Elder left not long ago."
Xu Yan studied the ruined gate, the fractured stone, the faint lingering scent of blood in the air.
"So even the Li clan has alarmed someone at that level…" he murmured.
The moment the words left his companion's mouth, the second guard's heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
*Idiot—!*
Cold sweat broke across his back as his fingers twitched at his side. Speaking so freely—so directly—before **sect disciples**, especially those of the Cloud River Sect, was courting disaster.
He bowed even deeper, voice hurried and strained.
"Honored disciples, please forgive him," he said quickly. "This one… this one is shaken by the recent calamity and spoke without restraint."
From the corner of his eye, he shot his companion a sharp glance.
*Know your place.*
The first guard stiffened, realization crashing down on him. His face drained of color as he immediately followed suit, bowing low, forehead nearly touching the stone.
"This lowly one begs forgiveness," he said hastily. "This one did not intend disrespect."
The Cloud River disciples did not respond immediately.
That silence was worse than reprimand.
The pressure of their presence bore down on the guards like an invisible mountain. Neither dared to breathe too loudly.
After a moment, Xu Yan spoke, tone calm—almost indifferent.
"Relax. We asked. You answered."
Only then did a fraction of the pressure ease, though neither guard dared straighten fully.
Xu Yan's gaze swept past them, toward the interior of the Li estate.
"Take us to someone with authority," he said. "An elder. Immediately."
The guards bowed in unison.
"Yes! At once!"
As they hurried to comply, the second guard could think only one thing:
*If Cloud River disciples are already here… then whatever happened to White Hollow City is far from over.*
"The elders are gathered in the inner grounds," he added hastily. "You may enter—but please be mindful of your words. The clan is in mourning."
Xu Yan inclined his head. "We understand."
As the gates slowly creaked open, the three Cloud River disciples exchanged brief glances.
Whatever they had expected to find in White Hollow City—
It was clear now that the truth was **far heavier**.
The guards had barely taken a single step when—
The air **stilled**.
Not frozen.
Not rippling.
It simply… **stopped**.
Xu Yan's pupils shrank.
The woman beside him felt it first—a pressure so profound it bypassed flesh and struck directly at the soul. Her sword hummed faintly in its sheath—then fell utterly silent.
The youngest disciple's knees buckled.
None of them heard footsteps.
None of them sensed movement.
And yet—
She was there.
Elder **Lianhua** stood before the gate.
No light heralded her arrival. No spatial distortion followed. One moment the space was empty—
the next, it was **occupied**.
The two Li clan guards dropped to their knees instantly, foreheads slamming against the stone with a dull *thud*.
"This lowly one pays respects to the Immortal Elder!"
Their voices trembled violently.
The Cloud River disciples froze.
Xu Yan felt his blood turn cold.
He could not sense her cultivation.
Not because it was hidden—
—but because **it lay beyond the scope of his perception**.
His mind screamed danger. His body obeyed before thought could catch up.
He cupped his fists and bowed deeply—far deeper than sect etiquette demanded.
"Cloud River Sect disciple Xu Yan," he said carefully, "pays respects to Senior."
The woman beside him followed instantly, face pale. The youngest was already kneeling, forehead pressed to the ground, breath shallow.
Lianhua's gaze passed over them like a quiet tide.
Not hostile.
Not curious.
Simply… acknowledging.
"You tracked missing disciples," she said.
It was not a question.
Xu Yan's heart clenched. "Y-yes, Senior."
"You found remnants in the forest."
"Yes."
"And you came here seeking confirmation."
Xu Yan swallowed. "This junior would not dare hide anything from Senior."