CHAPTER 24 — The Elder at the Door
The sect bells rang again.
Closer.
Heavier.
Not a routine call.
A warning.
Zheng Wen Te's blood had barely dried when Lian's posture changed.
The immortal softness vanished.
Her face became unreadable stone.
"They're here."
Zheng's throat tightened.
"Who?"
Lian did not answer.
The pavilion doors began to vibrate.
Not from knocking.
From spiritual pressure.
A voice thundered outside, wrapped in authority:
"Heart Pavilion Immortal!"
"This old one comes under sect command!"
Zheng's heart lurched.
Sect command?
Even immortals answered to sects?
Lian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Sect command does not reach here."
The voice outside grew colder.
"Then why does Golden Qi flare within your boundary?"
Golden Qi.
Zheng stiffened.
So they felt it.
Lian's gaze flickered toward him.
Sharp.
Warning.
The doors creaked open a finger-width.
A flood of spiritual pressure poured inside like a storm.
Zheng gasped.
His knees nearly buckled.
An old man stepped forward.
White beard.
Purple robe.
Eyes like burning lamps.
An Inner Sect Elder.
His gaze swept the pavilion—
Then landed on Zheng Wen Te.
Instantly.
His pupils tightened.
"…A mortal?"
His voice was disbelief.
Then hunger.
"No…"
"That aura…"
Zheng's skin crawled.
The elder took a step closer.
Golden light flickered faintly around Zheng's chest.
The orb in his hand pulsed.
The elder's breathing deepened.
"Impossible."
"A karmic-grade root…"
"A Golden Thread of Heaven…"
His voice became shaking reverence.
"Such a thing should not exist in an outer disciple."
Zheng whispered:
"I don't understand—"
The elder ignored him.
His gaze snapped to Lian.
"Immortal."
"Hand him over."
The pavilion air froze.
Lian's voice was calm.
"No."
The elder's smile thinned.
"This is not a request."
"This boy will shake the sect."
"He will attract enemies."
"He will attract Heaven's gaze."
"He belongs to the Inner Court."
Lian's aura rose.
The pavilion walls hummed.
"He belongs to karma."
The elder's eyes sharpened.
"Immortal… do not forget."
"The sect shelters you."
Lian's lips curved faintly.
"The sect fears me."
Silence.
Then the elder's voice dropped.
"If you refuse…"
"…Then I will report this to the Ancestor."
Zheng's breath caught.
Ancestor?
Lian's gaze finally turned dangerous.
"Report."
The elder stared.
For a moment…
Even he hesitated.
Then his eyes returned to Zheng.
Like a predator.
"This mortal…"
"…is no longer yours to hide."
Zheng's heart pounded.
The world was closing in.
Above.
Below.
Past.
Present.
Karma.
Sect.
He whispered:
"…Shangdi."
"…What did you throw me into?"