The air inside the Obsidian Moon Sect's chamber was thick with tension. The pact had been sealed, but that was only the beginning. The true war was yet to come.
Shao Xian sat calmly in the dimly lit hall, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering light of the shadow flames that lined the chamber. Across from him, the silver-eyed woman, Xuan Yue, leader of the Obsidian Moon Sect, studied him with an amused yet wary gaze.
"You wish to bring down the Celestial Dragon Sect," Xuan Yue murmured, tracing her fingers along the armrest of her dark throne. "Very well. But how do you propose we begin?"
Shao Xian's lips curled into a cold smile. "We will strike first, and we will strike where they least expect it."
Xuan Yue's expression did not change, but he could sense the flicker of intrigue behind her eyes.
"The Celestial Dragon Sect holds power through fear," Shao Xian continued. "They have ruled unchallenged for centuries. That arrogance will be their weakness."
Luo Qing, standing beside Bai Ren, crossed her arms. "So? Do we attack their stronghold directly?"
Shao Xian shook his head. "No. That would be foolish."
His gaze locked onto Xuan Yue. "You said your sect has infiltrators within the Celestial Dragon Sect."
Xuan Yue smirked. "Of course."
Shao Xian's expression turned sharp. "Then we use them. Spread false information. Make the Celestial Dragon Sect believe that a hidden enemy is moving against them from within."
Bai Ren chuckled. "Playing with paranoia? I like it."
Xuan Yue tapped a finger against her throne. "You seek to turn them against their own."
Shao Xian nodded. "When an empire rots, it does so from the inside first. We will light the spark, and they will burn themselves down."
A Shadowed Message
Within hours, the plan was set in motion. Xuan Yue's spies, already deeply embedded within the Celestial Dragon Sect, began whispering rumors. Murmurs of betrayal, of secret alliances forming within their own ranks. A grand deception, planted like a slow-acting poison.
Shao Xian watched from the shadows as the first signs of discord took root. The Celestial Dragon Sect was vast, powerful, and arrogant—but that arrogance would be their undoing.
Three days later, news arrived.
"The Celestial Dragon Sect has executed one of their own elders," Xuan Yue reported, amusement dancing in her silver eyes. "They believe him to be a traitor."
Shao Xian smiled faintly. "Good."
The seeds had been sown.
But this was only the beginning.
Striking the First Blow
Chaos within the Celestial Dragon Sect was not enough. A real war required blood.
Shao Xian led his group through the hidden valleys of the Higher Realm, moving under the cover of darkness. The target was not the Celestial Dragon Sect's stronghold, but a crucial supply line—one that fed their vast armies.
A caravan of resources was set to pass through the Mistshadow Pass, a treacherous mountain path. If Shao Xian struck here, it would cripple their logistics.
Night fell as they positioned themselves along the ridgeline, hidden among the jagged rocks.
Bai Ren readied his sword, a predatory grin on his face. "Let's have some fun."
Luo Qing's expression was unreadable, but a cold determination burned in her eyes.
Shao Xian raised a hand. "Wait."
Below, the caravan approached. Dozens of armored guards flanked the massive transport beasts, their luminous eyes glowing in the darkness. The convoy was well protected.
But not well enough.
Shao Xian closed his eyes, feeling the energy of the world around him. His power had grown significantly, and now it was time to test it.
A single breath.
Then, without warning, the sky darkened.
The guards below shouted in alarm as an invisible force crashed into them like a tidal wave. The ground split, black energy spiraling outward in chaotic tendrils.
Bai Ren and Luo Qing leaped into action, descending upon the disoriented warriors like specters of death.
Shao Xian moved with calculated precision, his form flickering through the battlefield like a phantom. Each motion was deadly, each strike merciless.
The convoy never stood a chance.
Within minutes, silence reigned.
Shao Xian stood amidst the wreckage, his golden eyes gleaming in the night. Blood stained the rocky path, bodies littering the ground.
Xuan Yue's assassins emerged from the shadows, swiftly securing the supplies.
Luo Qing wiped her blade clean. "They will know this was an attack."
Shao Xian nodded. "Good. Let them wonder who their true enemy is."
This was only the first strike.
And soon, the entire Higher Realm would tremble.