Within the sacred spiritual river, nestled deep in Shadow Mountain, Xiou Xue and Yue Mei sat peacefully in the clear, shimmering waters. The mystical current sparkled with a bluish hue, the natural energy of the river enhancing cultivation by twentyfold. Birds chirped softly in the distance as the morning sun filtered through the canopy of spirit trees above.
Both girls closed their eyes and focused their breath.
After only an hour, the energy around Xiou Xue stirred and then *Boom!* – she broke through to Qi Refining Level 1. Her delicate frame glowed with a faint light, and her previously dormant potential was finally awakened.
Yue Mei opened her eyes as well, her spiritual energy slightly thicker than before, though she had not yet broken through.
The two girls turned toward Xuan Long, who watched silently nearby.
"Brother!" Xiou Xue cried out joyfully.
"It felt so good! My body feels so light now!" Yue Mei added with her usual fox-like grin.
They ran to him and hugged him tightly, each kissing his forehead.
Xuan Long smiled warmly. "You've both done very well. But remember, you're still children. Rest and play too. Cultivation is a journey, not a race."
The two giggled and ran off toward the garden to play.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hua Sect's main hall, Elder Shen and several high-ranking disciples stood in awe.
"Congratulations, Sect Master Huang Liang," Elder Shen said, cupping his hands. "To jump from Core Formation Level 1 to Level 10 in one month… even geniuses would pale in comparison."
The others murmured in agreement. Their leader had truly risen, and her presence was stronger than ever.
However, trouble loomed on the horizon.
In the city, Hua Sect's explosive growth had disrupted the balance. Their pills were outselling every rival faction, and their influence now dominated the market. This enraged a rival sect known as *Crimson Void Pavilion*, whose influence and pride had suffered immensely.
Unable to endure the humiliation, Crimson Void Pavilion's Sect Master – a powerful cultivator at Nascent Soul Realm Level 7 – declared publicly: "Crush the Hua Sect! We'll burn them to the ground!"
Soon, the Crimson Void Pavilion surrounded Hua Sect's gates with nearly a hundred disciples and five elders. Their leader stood in front, tall and terrifying, his black robe fluttering like a demon god's.
"Hua Sect! Come out and face your death!" he roared.
Inside the sect, disciples trembled.
"We can't win... Their leader is at Nascent Soul Level 7..." one elder muttered.
Even Huang Liang, who had just broken through, turned pale. She bit her lip, her hands shaking slightly.
"Activate emergency beacon. Call Shadow Mountain."
A subtle ripple of spiritual energy soared through the air.
---
On Shadow Mountain, Xuan Long was sleeping when he sensed the signal.
He opened his eyes and summoned Hei Mo and Mu Chen.
"Test your new strength. Go eliminate Crimson Void Pavilion," he said coldly. "Take their talents alive if possible. The rest... are fertilizer."
Hei Mo grinned wickedly. "Finally, a playground."
Mu Chen nodded. "Consider it done, Master."
---
Back at the Hua Sect, the situation grew dire.
The enemy sect leader stepped forward, unleashing a palm strike that sent dozens of disciples flying. Several screamed, injured or unconscious.
He laughed. "This is all you have? Weaklings. Today, your sect will disappear."
Just then—*Boom!*
A spatial ripple emerged, and two figures stepped out of a teleportation portal: Hei Mo and Mu Chen.
Hei Mo's demonic robes swirled in the wind, his dark aura choking the air.
Mu Chen stood calm and composed, but the pressure around him was suffocating.
"Two ants dare to face me?" the Crimson Void Sect Master mocked. "You've come to die too?"
Hei Mo chuckled darkly. "I'll handle the elders and disciples. Mu Chen, the big fish is yours."
"Perfect," Mu Chen replied.
Hei Mo raised his hand. *Shua!* Five demonic puppets burst forth, each radiating Nascent Soul Realm Level 3 aura.
"What the hell... Demonic cultivator!" the enemy screamed.
"Enjoy your death," Hei Mo hissed as the corpse puppets surged forward, tearing through disciples and elders with terrifying precision. Screams echoed through the battlefield as crimson blood splashed across Hua Sect's gates.
Seeing their elders fall, the enemy disciples rushed Hei Mo in desperation. But the Hua Sect disciples, now stronger than ever, encircled them and fought with renewed morale.
Hei Mo personally slaughtered ten enemy elders, his laughter chilling the bones of those who witnessed it.
On the other side, Mu Chen's battle with the enemy leader was brutal.
The enemy unleashed fierce waves of spiritual power, striking Mu Chen repeatedly.
But Mu Chen dodged gracefully, weaving through attacks.
Then he activated a poison art.
The enemy stumbled back, spiritual energy faltering. "How\... How are you weakening me?! You're three levels below me!"
Mu Chen's eyes gleamed. "Levels don't matter... Skills do."
He thrust forward, and a dark-green punch slammed into the enemy's chest. Corrosion erupted instantly.
*Boom!*
The enemy's head exploded into mist.
Silence fell.
The Crimson Void Pavilion had lost its leader.
Hei Mo captured the remaining disciples and elders, feeding them the Child Insect. Their minds locked to loyalty.
He then harvested blood from the dead, creating over a thousand blood pills.
Moments later, Huang Liang arrived, stunned.
"You... saved us again..."
Hei Mo smirked. "Now go. Loot your rivals. The treasures and techniques you find... use them to raise your sect."
She nodded, bowing. "Yes, Elder Hei Mo."
---
Back at Shadow Mountain, Hei Mo and Mu Chen returned with dozens of new disciples and five Nascent Soul Realm Level 2 elders.
They knelt before Xuan Long in the grand hall.
Xuan Long looked them over and smiled faintly. "Good. This time you did well."
He glanced at the captured elders and disciples, now fully loyal due to the insect bond.
"These will strengthen our ranks. With this... we take another step forward."
The mountain buzzed with newfound power.
From the trembling of rival sects to the quiet fear creeping across the cultivation world, one thing was becoming clear:
Shadow Mountain was rising – and nothing could stop it now.