Shao Xian stood on the highest balcony of Blackstone Keep, overlooking the vast expanse of the Northern Wastes. The cold winds howled, but he remained motionless, his golden eyes reflecting the distant storm clouds. The night was silent, yet he could feel the movements in the shadows—the schemes of those who dared to challenge him.
Zhou Fan approached quietly, his expression solemn. "My Lord, our spies have confirmed it. The Jade Celestial Pavilion has begun sowing discord within our newly conquered lands."
Shao Xian did not look away from the horizon. "How?"
"Assassinations. Bribery. Whispers of rebellion among the remaining sects and clans," Zhou Fan reported. "They do not strike directly but seek to rot us from within."
A slow, knowing smile touched Shao Xian's lips. "They fear me."
Zhou Fan hesitated before nodding. "Yes, my Lord. They know they cannot defeat you in open battle, so they attempt to weaken you through subterfuge."
Shao Xian finally turned, his gaze sharp. "Then we shall remind them why fear exists."
In a hidden valley, deep within the mountainous regions of the Northern Wastes, a gathering of rogue sects and disgruntled warlords convened in secret. Their leader, a man known as Elder Fang, stood before them, his aged face hardened by years of struggle.
"We must strike now," Elder Fang declared, his voice firm. "Shao Xian is not a man we can allow to rule unchecked. His rise threatens everything we have built."
A younger man, draped in the dark robes of the Shadow Serpent Sect, scoffed. "Do you truly believe we can challenge him directly? The warlords fell in mere days. The Frozen Spear Sect was eradicated before they could even mount a defense."
Elder Fang's eyes narrowed. "No, we do not fight him in the open. The Jade Celestial Pavilion has provided us with resources, information, and allies. We do not need to defeat Shao Xian—only to turn his empire against him."
Murmurs spread through the gathering. The plan was dangerous, but it was their best chance.
A hooded figure stepped forward, his presence exuding an eerie stillness. "Then let it begin," he whispered.
The first attack came three nights later.
Within the heart of Blackstone Keep, Minister Han sat at his desk, meticulously reviewing reports of grain distribution across the newly conquered territories. The war had left the land scarred, and he worked tirelessly to ensure stability under Shao Xian's rule.
A flicker of movement caught his eye.
Before he could react, a shadow darted through the window. A blade, gleaming with poisoned Qi, sliced through the air toward his throat.
Minister Han barely had time to raise his arm when—
The assassin's body froze mid-strike.
A golden force constricted around him, paralyzing him completely. His eyes widened in horror as his own dagger was wrenched from his grasp by an unseen power.
Shao Xian stepped into the room, his presence suffocating. "Pathetic."
With a flick of his wrist, the assassin crumpled, his body broken beyond repair.
Minister Han exhaled sharply. "My Lord…"
Shao Xian's gaze remained cold. "They will come again. But they fail to understand—there is no escape from my sight."
The retaliation was swift and merciless.
Before dawn, Shao Xian's forces descended upon the rebel hideouts. Entire sects that had aligned with the conspirators were erased overnight. Their leaders were brought before Shao Xian, kneeling in chains within the great hall of Blackstone Keep.
Elder Fang was among them, his face twisted with defiance. "Kill me, but you cannot stop what has begun."
Shao Xian studied him with mild amusement. "You believe this is the beginning?"
He lifted his hand, and golden Qi surged. The chains binding Elder Fang glowed before disintegrating into dust. The old man gasped as an invisible force pulled him to his feet, leaving him suspended in midair.
"You were never anything more than a pawn," Shao Xian continued. "Your existence ends not as a martyr, but as an insect crushed underfoot."
A sharp crack echoed through the hall. Elder Fang's body collapsed lifelessly.
The remaining prisoners trembled, their resistance shattered.
Shao Xian's voice was like ice. "There will be no rebellion."
Yet even as order was restored, Shao Xian knew this was merely the prelude.
The Jade Celestial Pavilion would not cease their interference. He had crushed the first wave, but the true war had yet to begin.
Standing once more upon the balcony, he whispered to the winds. "If you seek to challenge me, then let the heavens bear witness—I shall not be moved."