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Chapter 12 - THE GATHERING STORM.

Fen Jeuchen did not have to wait long upon his throne. The air in the hall stirred as a guard stumbled in, bowing so low his forehead nearly scraped the polished floor.

"Patriarch! The Sect Masters of the Beast Flame Sect and the Sword Spirit Sect request an audience!" the guard announced, his voice trembling.

A flicker of triumph crossed Fen Jeuchen's features before he schooled them into neutrality. "You may leave. Extend to them every hospitality. I will be there shortly," he replied, his voice a dry rasp, as if from long disuse.

As the guard scurried out, Fen Jeuchen remained seated, a sinister light dancing in his eyes. He stood abruptly, a vortex of wind coalescing around him. "Qi Clan," he whispered into the swirling air, his voice dripping with ancient hatred, "your end draws near."

In an instant, he flashed into the guest hall. The two sect leaders were already there, a study in contrasts. He offered them a bland, indifferent smile, quickly masking his disdain.

"Sect Master Hua Yan, Sect Master Hua Piao," he began, his tone slick and sly. "To what do I owe the honor of this visit to my humble abode?"

"Cease your games, Fen Jeuchen!" Hua Yan roared, slamming a fist on the arm of his chair. Beast flames flickered across his skin, and his fiery hair seemed to crackle with his rage. The temperature in the room spiked, making the air waver. "You know why we're here. Spit out what you want before I lose my patience with a sly fox like you!"

Fen Jeuchen merely smirked. Hua Yan's infamous temper was playing right into his hands.

"Patriarch Fen," interjected Hua Piao, his voice a calm, sharp counterpoint to the heat. His hand rested lightly on the sheathed sword at his waist, and his sharp eyebrows were drawn together in a look of serene intensity. "Let us dispense with formalities. You summoned us. Now, speak plainly."

"But what could I possibly have to tell you that you are not already aware of?" Fen Jeuchen teased, his playful gaze deliberately lingering on the fuming Hua Yan.

"THE BEAST CORE, DAMN YOU! I WILL NOT BE MOCKED!" Hua Yan bellowed, the flames around him leaping higher.

Hua Piao sighed, a sound of profound weariness. "Fen Jeuchen, your manipulations are transparent. If you continue to play these games, we will leave. Remember, it is your clan that bears the Qi's greatest enmity, not ours."

The smile finally vanished from Fen Jeuchen's face. Hua Piao's words had struck true. "As expected of the Sword Spirit Sect Master. The years you've spent cultivating your mind have not been wasted… unlike some." He cast a pointed glance at Hua Yan.

"YOU—!" Hua Yan surged to his feet, a torrent of fire ready to erupt.

"Stay down," Hua Piao commanded, his voice a soft yet irresistible force. A wave of his hand dispelled the flames licking at Hua Yan's robes. "Do not let him manipulate you. Remember our purpose."

Hua Yan glared but sank back into his seat with a disgusted "Hmph!"

"I told you not to push it," Hua Piao said, his voice turning cold as frost. He made a show of beginning to rise. "We are leaving."

"Very well, my apologies," Fen Jeuchen said, the mockery finally leaving his voice. He turned and barked at the few elders and disciples lingering near the door, "Haven't you seen enough? Get out!"

They scrambled away in fear, leaving the three leaders in tense privacy.

Fen Jeuchen took his seat, his expression now deadly serious. "You received my message."

"We did," Hua Piao confirmed, his white beard swaying gently. He resembled an immortal sage, utterly unflappable. "The question is not the 'what,' but the 'how.' How do you propose we acquire a treasure from a clan stronger than any one of us alone?"

"We attack. Tomorrow night," Fen Jeuchen stated bluntly.

"That is not a plan; it is madness," Hua Piao retorted, his brows furrowing. "Even with our combined strength, a victory over the Qi Clan would be Pyrrhic at best. Qi Lantian is a peak expert. The three of us might subdue him, but not without grave injury. Furthermore, mobilizing our entire forces by tomorrow night is impossible without raising an alarm. And have you considered the citizens within the Qi estate? Many will be caught in the crossfire."

"WHO CARES ABOUT THE CITIZENS?!" Fen Jeuchen snapped, a flash of genuine madness in his eyes.

Hua Piao's gaze sharpened. "Patriarch Fen… this would not be about a twenty-year-old grudge, would it?"

"No! Of course not," Fen Jeuchen hurriedly composed himself. "That core… think of the talents it could create for my clan! I think of the future."

"Good," Hua Piao said, though a sliver of doubt remained. "Now, explain your recklessness."

"The element of surprise is our only advantage," Fen Jeuchen explained, his voice low and intense. "If we take time to mobilize in secret, the Qi Clan will discover it. They will fortify, or worse, move the core. By acting with shocking speed, we catch them unprepared, minimizing our losses. War is inevitable if we want that core. And if we do not fight it now, the Qi Clan will only grow stronger until they can crush us all. As for the citizens…" He waved a dismissive hand. "…they are collateral damage in any war. But to satisfy your righteousness, Master Hua, I will spare the women and children below the Spiritual Realm and banish them from Floating Cloud City."

Hua Piao nodded slowly, a grim acceptance on his face. "A ruthless but practical concession. But how do we mobilize without them knowing? The commotion will be immense."

"We don't hide it," Fen Jeuchen said, a cunning glint returning to his eye. "We let the Qi Clan see it."

"Why?"

"To sow panic and confusion!" Fen Jeuchen explained. "Let them see our armies gathering. Let Qi Lantian waste the day in a frenzy, trying to ascertain our reason and fortify his walls. The uncertainty will paralyze him. Then, we strike at night, while they are exhausted and bewildered. Their guard will be up, but their spirit will be broken."

A long silence followed. Finally, Hua Piao gave a slow, conceding nod. "A ruthless and clever strategy, Fen Jeuchen. I concede the point."

"But…" Hua Piao's voice grew grave, capturing the full attention of both men. "There is the final, most important matter to discuss."

"And what is that?" Fen Jeuchen asked, though he knew the answer.

"How do we split the Demon Progenitor Core after we have it?"

Fen Jeuchen offered a thin, bloodless smile. "I have no objection to a fair discussion, Patriarch Hua. But let us not count our phoenixes before they hatch. We must secure the core first. Wouldn't you agree?"

The two sect masters exchanged a glance and grunted in admission.

"Then we are agreed," Hua Piao said, standing. "We have no time to waste."

"I will not see you out. Forgive my poor hospitality," Fen Jeuchen said, not moving from his seat.

As the two leaders strode from the hall, Fen Jeuchen's composed mask shattered. A low, dark chuckle escaped his lips, growing into a full, manic laugh that echoed through the empty hall.

"Fools! What eagle core?!" he crowed to the emptiness. "Enjoy being my perfect tools for revenge!" His laughter subsided into a venomous rasp. "Phase two… complete."

---

Meanwhile, at Scarlet Fall Forest…

Hssssss—!

An old man stumbled back, clutching his hand. A vicious, scorched mark blackened his palm. "Miss Luo Chan," he gasped, his body drenched in sweat and agony. "Even with my 3rd-level Xiantian realm cultivation, I could not get within an inch of that wall of fire in the inner region. The power is… absolute."

Luo Chan observed the barrier from a distance, her expression solemn. "Whatever artifact or beast is generating that fire, it is far beyond our current ability to claim."

"Shall we report this to the Young Master upon our return to the sect?" the old man asked, sealing his injury with a trickle of water-attribute qi.

"No need," Luo Chan decided, turning away. "The Young Master has no use for a fire-attributed treasure he cannot possess. This place is remote, its spiritual aura weak. It will remain hidden here, unknown."

"As you wish, Miss."

She nodded, leading the way out of the forest, unaware that her decision to leave this power unchecked would one day unleash a cataclysm upon them all.

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