Fallen Heaven Rise of Faizi Tian
**Episode 33 – Shadows Over the Ancient Sect**
The night in the Faizi Syed Ancient Sect was silent, but it was not the silence of peace—it was the silence of a predator waiting in the dark. The moon hung high, its pale light spilling over the sect grounds like silver mist. From a distance, the great stone walls of the sect looked immovable, yet inside, whispers of suspicion had already begun to take root.
Faizi Tian stood alone on one of the high watchtowers, his black robe fluttering gently in the night breeze. His sharp eyes scanned the sect, but his mind was not focused on the empty courtyards. It was fixed on Elder Ren.
Days ago, Elder Yao had hinted that something about Ren felt… wrong. At first, Faizi dismissed it—after all, Elder Ren had guided him during critical moments and even fought beside him against the demon beasts. But the deeper Faizi thought, the more inconsistencies surfaced. Ren always seemed to appear at just the right moment, with just the right information. Too perfect. Too convenient.
Faizi Tian was not a man who trusted easily, especially after his family's death. And now, the seed of doubt had begun to grow.
---
That night, he moved quietly through the inner sect grounds, using his *Shadow Step* technique to merge with the darkness. His goal was simple: observe Elder Ren without being seen. He wanted answers—not rumors, not speculation, but the truth.
He reached the Elder Hall, where Ren's private chambers were located. The lanterns outside were dim, casting long shadows that danced on the wooden floor. From inside, a faint glow leaked through the cracks of the sliding door. Someone was awake.
Faizi pressed his back to the wall and closed his eyes, extending his spiritual sense. His soul power spread out like an invisible net, touching the edges of the room. He could sense Elder Ren's presence—but there was something else. A faint, heavy aura that felt ancient and suffocating, like the breath of an ancient flame.
*That's… not human…* Faizi thought, his brows furrowing.
---
Inside, Elder Ren sat cross-legged before a small, black jade mirror. The mirror's surface rippled like water, and from within, a deep, distorted voice spoke.
> "The seal on the Abyss Gate weakens. You must ensure Faizi Tian does not learn the truth. His growth is dangerous to our cause."
Ren's voice was calm but firm.
> "I understand, My Lord. But his talent is extraordinary. If guided properly, he could be used as a weapon against your enemies."
The voice chuckled darkly.
> "Or against you, if you fail. Do not forget who holds your soul, Ren."
A cold silence followed.
Faizi's fists clenched, and his heartbeat pounded in his ears. *Abyss Gate… My Lord? Who is this voice speaking to him?*
He strained to listen as the conversation continued, revealing fragments about something—or someone—called the "Abyss Flame Monarch." The name alone sent a chill down Faizi's spine, as if the very air had grown hotter and heavier.
---
Before Faizi could hear more, the black jade mirror's glow faded, and Elder Ren slowly opened his eyes. For a moment, his expression was unreadable—calm on the surface, but his aura carried the faint aftertaste of killing intent.
Faizi moved back into the shadows just as Ren stood and walked toward the door. The elder paused briefly, glancing into the night, his gaze sweeping the courtyard. For a second, it felt like Ren's eyes pierced directly through the darkness, searching… sensing.
But Faizi's *Shadow Step* hid him perfectly. He didn't move, didn't even breathe.
---
Once Ren was gone, Faizi slipped silently from the Elder Hall. His mind was racing. The clues were clear—Elder Ren was hiding something, something connected to a greater, more dangerous force.
Yet Faizi wasn't ready to act. Not yet. If Ren was truly tied to the Abyss Flame Monarch, confronting him without proof would be suicide. And besides, Ren's skills and influence in the sect were too deep; moving recklessly would alert the wrong people.
*For now,* Faizi thought, *I'll keep my eyes open. The truth will reveal itself… and when it does, I'll be ready.*
---
The next morning, the sect was alive with activity. Disciples trained in the courtyards, elders discussed the upcoming trials, and the air smelled of fresh incense. On the surface, life went on as usual.
But for Faizi Tian, nothing was the same anymore.
Every glance from Ren felt sharper, every word he spoke carried a hidden weight. Faizi noticed how Ren's eyes lingered on the young disciples, how he occasionally disappeared for hours without explanation. Small things—too small for anyone else to care about—but to Faizi, they were signs.
That night's conversation still echoed in his mind: *The seal on the Abyss Gate weakens…*
He didn't know exactly what the Abyss Gate was, but the name alone told him it was not something good. If the seal broke, something terrible would happen—and somehow, Elder Ren was in the middle of it.
---
Faizi made a silent vow as he watched the training grounds from the shadows.
*I will protect this sect. Even if the threat comes from within… even if it means facing someone I once called an ally.*
And somewhere deep in the abyss, the one known as the Abyss Flame Monarch smiled, unaware that his plans had already caught the attention of the continent's most dangerous rising hero.