Fallen Heaven Rise of Faizi Tian
Episode 35 – Shadows Within Shadows
The ruins lay in an eerie silence, the remnants of the seal's disruption still rippling through the atmosphere. The once stable spiritual currents now twisted unnaturally, swirling into strange eddies that brushed against Faizi Tian's senses like cold, whispering hands. Each faint breeze carried traces of abyssal taint—a corruption that gnawed at the very fabric of the land.
Faizi Tian stood at the edge of a shattered stone platform, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the chaos left behind. Elder Ren stood several paces away, his figure calm, hands clasped behind his back. To anyone else, the man appeared composed—concerned even—but Faizi Tian's instincts whispered something else entirely.
Inwardly, Faizi Tian had begun piecing together the subtle inconsistencies. Ren's timing during the last battle… the strange choice of attacks… the way his eyes lingered just a little too long on the seal before pretending to focus on the enemy. None of it was enough to accuse him openly, but the seeds of suspicion had been planted.
"Elder Ren," Faizi Tian said finally, his tone even, "we should secure the area before any more abyssal energy leaks out."
Ren nodded slowly. "Of course. The others will arrive soon. I'll handle the protective formation—"
He moved to the far side of the platform, away from Faizi Tian, and began weaving his spirit energy into intricate lines over the ground.
But Faizi Tian's gaze was not on the formation—it was on Ren's hands. He was no stranger to formation work; he had seen countless sect elders perform it. Yet here, there was a subtle shift in technique. A flick of the wrist that was slightly too sharp, a sigil drawn in reverse order. These might have been mistakes for a novice… but for someone of Ren's experience, they could only be intentional.
*Is he reinforcing the seal—or subtly weakening it?*
Faizi Tian kept his breathing steady, pretending to inspect the ruins while committing every motion to memory.
---
Later, when the two returned to the temporary camp, the rest of the expedition team was busy tending to the injured and cataloging the artifacts recovered from the ruins. Elder Yao approached with a frown.
"What's the status of the seal?" Yao asked.
"It will hold for now," Ren replied smoothly, before Faizi Tian could speak. "But its core structure is badly damaged. We may need to perform a full restoration soon."
Faizi Tian said nothing, simply meeting Yao's gaze for a brief moment. The old elder's eyes narrowed—he too seemed unconvinced by Ren's calm assurances.
---
That night, under the pale silver glow of the twin moons, Faizi Tian sat alone at the camp's edge, his senses stretched outward. Every rustle in the grass, every faint shift in the air, was noted. And then… he felt it.
A faint, deliberate pulse of spirit energy, coming from the direction of Ren's tent.
Faizi Tian rose silently, moving like a shadow through the darkness. When he reached the tent's edge, he paused, channeling a thin thread of divine sense through the fabric. What he saw nearly made his breath catch.
Ren sat cross-legged, a small black crystal in his hands—its surface swirling with crimson flame-like patterns. Abyssal energy leaked from it in barely visible wisps, which Ren absorbed directly into his body. His expression was unreadable, but the aura around him was wrong—too sharp, too cold, carrying the faintest whisper of killing intent.
Faizi Tian pulled back before Ren could sense him, retreating to the shadows. His mind raced.
*So… it's true. He's been touched by the abyss. The question is—how deep does his loyalty to them run?*
---
The next morning, the expedition resumed its work, but Faizi Tian kept Ren within his peripheral vision at all times. The man's movements were impeccable, his words perfectly aligned with the sect's goals. To the rest of the team, he was a model elder. But now Faizi Tian knew the truth—Ren was playing a longer game.
And if Faizi Tian's instincts were right, that game's end would lead straight to the Abyss Flame Monarch.
---
By midday, the group reached a canyon whose jagged cliffs were etched with ancient runes. This was their next target—a secondary seal site. As the team prepared to descend, Faizi Tian noticed Ren once again maneuvering himself near the central formation point.
This time, Faizi Tian made a choice. He approached Ren openly, his voice low but firm.
"I'll take charge of the formation work this time, Elder Ren," he said. "We can't risk mistakes."
For a fraction of a second, something flickered in Ren's eyes—irritation, perhaps, or challenge—but it was gone almost immediately. "Very well," he replied smoothly. "I'll assist."
Faizi Tian began laying down the formation lines himself, deliberately choosing patterns that would counter any hidden tampering. If Ren tried to interfere, even subtly, Faizi would sense it instantly.
---
Hours later, as the seal's power stabilized, the ground trembled. From deep within the canyon, an unholy roar erupted, shaking the stones loose from the cliffs. The team scrambled into defensive positions as a wave of abyssal beasts poured forth—creatures twisted beyond recognition, their bodies wreathed in dark flames.
Faizi Tian's spear flashed, cutting through the first wave with clean, decisive strikes. The air rang with the sound of clashing steel, roaring beasts, and the searing hiss of spirit energy meeting abyssal flame.
Out of the corner of his eye, Faizi Tian saw Ren moving with deadly efficiency, his sword a blur. Yet every so often, one of his attacks would miss by a fraction—just enough to let a beast slip past toward the seal.
Was it coincidence? Or deliberate sabotage?
Faizi Tian fought harder, forcing the creatures back and keeping the seal intact. But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning. The Abyss Flame Monarch's influence was closer than anyone realized—and Elder Ren was the key to unlocking it.
When the last beast fell, Faizi Tian turned to find Ren watching him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, there was no elder and disciple, no comrades—only two predators measuring each other in silence.
Faizi Tian spoke first. "One day soon, Elder Ren… I'll know exactly where you stand."
Ren's smile was faint, almost imperceptible. "I look forward to it."
The canyon fell quiet once more, but in Faizi Tian's heart, the storm had only just begun.