The air reeked of blood and burning wood. Crimson Moon Sect, once a proud force in the region, lay in ruins. The bodies of fallen cultivators littered the stone pathways, their lifeless eyes reflecting the inferno consuming their home.
Shao Xian stood atop the sect's grand hall, his golden eyes surveying the chaos below. His Stormbreakers moved with precision, cutting down any remaining resistance. Those who surrendered were shackled, their cultivation sealed with talismans.
Zhao Feng approached, wiping the blood off his blade. "The sect has fallen, my lord. The last of the elders are gathered in the main hall."
Shao Xian nodded. "Let's see if they understand their new place in this world."
The grand hall's massive doors creaked open. Inside, the surviving elders knelt, their expressions a mixture of fear and defiance. Among them was Elder Mo Qing, the one who had warned about Shao Xian's rise.
Mo Qing raised his head, his voice steady despite the situation. "You have won this battle, but do you truly think the world will submit to you?"
Shao Xian smirked. "It's not a matter of if—only when."
With a wave of his hand, the chains binding the elders tightened, forcing them to bow lower. The pressure of his aura alone made their bones creak under the strain.
"Tell me," he continued, stepping closer, "what is the purpose of your sect now?"
One of the younger elders clenched his fists. "We… we serve the Crimson Moon Sect!"
Shao Xian chuckled, then in a blur of motion, he plunged his fingers into the man's forehead. A pulse of energy erupted, and the elder screamed as his soul was forcibly extracted. The others could only watch in horror as Shao Xian crushed the glowing wisp between his fingers.
"You served the Crimson Moon Sect. Now, you serve me—or you die."
Silence. Then, slowly, Mo Qing lowered his head. "We serve you… my lord."
One by one, the remaining elders followed suit, their spirits broken.
Shao Xian turned to Zhao Feng. "Take control of the sect's resources. Those who are willing to submit may live. The rest…"
Zhao Feng understood. "As you command, my lord."
As the flames consumed what was left of the old order, Shao Xian turned his gaze toward the horizon. There were more sects to conquer, more enemies to crush.
And he was just getting started.