The heavens rumbled, and an eerie silence spread across the Celestial Dragon Sect's territory. The revelation that the Dao Sovereign had returned sent a ripple of unease through the sect's upper echelon. It was something they had dismissed as an impossibility—an enemy that should have perished in the annals of time. And yet, here he was, tearing apart one of their strongest foundations with nothing but sheer, overwhelming power.
Xie Tianlong's face remained impassive, but beneath that cold exterior, calculations raced through his mind. If Shao Xian had truly returned, then their plans, their control over the realm, and even their very existence could be threatened. He turned his gaze toward Han Wu.
"How many survived the Azure Vault?"
Han Wu clenched his fists. "Barely any, Grand Elder. The few who did were left crippled, their cultivation destroyed. They were only allowed to live so they could deliver his message."
The weight of those words settled upon the gathered elders. It was a declaration. Not just of revenge—but of absolute dominance.
Another elder, Lin Zhou, scowled. "If he is back, then he has likely recovered some of his former strength. The Azure Vault was no simple outpost—it housed one of our sect's sacred grounds. For him to obliterate it so effortlessly means he is far beyond our previous estimations."
Xie Tianlong remained silent for a moment. Then, his voice, sharp as a blade, cut through the tension.
"We must not allow fear to cloud our judgment."
The elders turned their eyes toward him, their expressions tense but focused.
"Shao Xian was formidable, yes. But let us not forget—we defeated him once." Xie Tianlong's eyes gleamed with ruthless certainty. "And if we could kill him before, we shall do so again."
Han Wu, despite his earlier doubts, nodded in agreement. "We should act immediately. If he is still in the lower realm, we may have a chance to eliminate him before he grows even stronger."
Xie Tianlong's lips curled into a thin smile. "Exactly. He may have returned, but he is not invincible. Not yet."
He turned toward Lin Zhou. "Summon the Black Dragon Guards. Deploy our most elite forces into the surrounding regions. I want every sect, every clan, every faction to know that the Celestial Dragon Sect will not tolerate defiance."
Lin Zhou bowed. "It shall be done."
Han Wu then stepped forward. "Shall we alert the Supreme Elders?"
A heavy silence followed. Even among the high-ranking members of the sect, the Supreme Elders were a force of nature—entities that had long surpassed the mortal understanding of cultivation. They were rarely disturbed unless the sect itself faced complete destruction.
Xie Tianlong closed his eyes briefly before exhaling. "Not yet. If we summon them prematurely, it would only prove that we fear him. We will handle this ourselves."
His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.
"But if he forces our hand… then we shall call upon them, and his fate will be sealed."
---
Far from the looming shadows of the Celestial Dragon Sect, Shao Xian stood upon the ruins of the Azure Vault. The winds howled around him, carrying the lingering cries of those who had perished. Blood stained the ground, seeping into the very earth as if nature itself wished to bear witness to his vengeance.
He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes for a brief moment. The first step had been taken.
He could already sense the ripples spreading across the realm. His enemies would soon react, and that was precisely what he wanted.
As he stood there, a presence approached from behind. A shadowy figure emerged, draped in dark robes, his face hidden beneath a hood. Despite his efforts to mask his aura, Shao Xian sensed his arrival long before he even set foot within the ruins.
"Master," the man spoke, kneeling before him. "The Celestial Dragon Sect has begun mobilizing. Their forces are spreading across the realm, searching for you."
Shao Xian's expression remained unreadable. "As expected."
The man hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Should we evade them for now? Or strike before they can gather their full strength?"
Shao Xian chuckled softly, though there was no warmth in his laughter. His golden eyes gleamed like twin suns in the darkness.
"Evade?" he repeated. "No. I will not run."
He took a step forward, his aura subtly shifting. The air itself seemed to tremble, as though the very fabric of reality struggled to contain his existence.
"Let them come."
His voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of absolute authority.
"I want them to gather. I want them to think they have the upper hand. And when they do…"
He turned his gaze toward the heavens, his expression utterly serene.
"…I will remind them why they once feared my name."
The man kneeling before him felt a shiver run down his spine. Even after all these years, even after all the battles and bloodshed, Shao Xian's dominance remained absolute.
He bowed his head. "As you command, Master."
Shao Xian did not reply immediately. Instead, he gazed into the horizon, where storm clouds were beginning to gather.