Chapter 36: "Preperation II"

The second female elder spoke, her voice laced with the chill of impending conflict. "Defenses alone will not be enough," she stated, her gaze sweeping across the assembled elders. "Stone and formations can only delay an enemy. We must also prepare our disciples for the brutal realities of battle. The younger generation has grown comfortable and complacent in this era of relative peace. They must now be tempered for war, their skills sharpened, their spirits hardened. The core disciples and elders must be ready to fight at a moment's notice."

Qin Lian nodded in grim agreement. "Then our disciples must be prepared as well," she affirmed. "The younger generation has not witnessed the horrors of true war, but we can no longer afford for them to remain sheltered, naive to the dangers that lie ahead."

The male elder stroked his beard thoughtfully, his eyes reflecting the weight of the decisions they faced. "Then the Flame Ascension Trials must be reinstated," he declared, his voice resonating with an air of finality.

At this, Qin Lian's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise and perhaps a touch of apprehension crossing her features. The Flame Ascension Trials… they had not been held for over a century. Once, they had been the ultimate test for the sect's disciples a grueling, merciless challenge that pushed them to their absolute limits, tempering both body and mind, forging them into the indomitable warriors that had once made the Vermillion Flame Sect a force to be reckoned with. However, after years of peace, a period of unprecedented tranquility, the trials had been deemed too brutal, too… unnecessary. Their memory had faded into legend, whispered about in hushed tones, a reminder of a harsher, more unforgiving time.

Is it wise to bring back the trials so suddenly?" one of the female elders asked, her voice laced with concern. "Many of our younger disciples are talented, it is true. They possess potential, a spark of promise. But they are untested, untried in the crucible of real adversity. Some… some may not survive the trials."

The male elder let out a slow, measured breath, his expression grave. "Those who cannot withstand the coming storm, those who cannot endure the trials that await them, will not survive on the battlefield either. The Black Serpent Sect will show no mercy and offer no quarter. Better they learn their limits now, within the relative protection of the sect, under the watchful eyes of their elders, than face death unprepared, unhardened, when the Black Serpent Sect arrives at our gates, their blades dripping with venom."

Qin Lian clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She understood the necessity, even if it was cruel, even if it made her heart ache for the young disciples who would be forced to endure the trials. War was coming, a storm of unimaginable ferocity, and mercy would not be granted to the weak, to those who were unprepared.

"I will personally oversee the reinstatement of the Flame Ascension Trials," she declared, her voice ringing with resolve. "The disciples must be tempered in fire, their spirits forged in the crucible of challenge before they face the true storm that is brewing on the horizon."

The first female elder gave an approving nod, her expression hardening with a newfound determination. She then shifted the discussion to a matter of equal importance. "What of Ye Xiaotian himself? While our sect prepares for war, while our disciples are tested and trained, what will be done with him? He is the catalyst of this conflict, the spark that has ignited the Black Serpent Sect's fury. His safety is paramount."

The second female elder tapped her fingers against the stone tablet, her gaze thoughtful. "Hiding him within the sect walls will only make him a sitting target. Even with our strongest defenses, even with the reinforced Vermillion Flame Array, there are ways to breach them, ways to infiltrate our sanctuary. We must consider another option, a more… proactive approach."

Qin Lian hesitated, a flicker of unease crossing her face as she remembered the male elder's earlier words. "You suggest sending him away?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of reluctance.

The male elder nodded, his expression grave. "Not as an exile, Qin Lian, but as preparation. The Black Serpent Sect will not launch their attack immediately. They are cunning and patient. They will first observe, probe our weaknesses, assess our defenses, and bide their time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. This gives us a small window, a precious opportunity to act. If we send Ye Xiaotian into the world to places where he can face real challenges, where he can grow stronger under genuine pressure he will return even more formidable, even more powerful than he already is."

The first female elder's voice was calm, yet firm, reflecting her years of experience and strategic thinking. "We must choose carefully where to send him, Qin Lian. Not all places are safe, and not all dangers will contribute to his growth. Some places will simply break him, snuff out his potential before it has a chance to fully ignite."

Qin Lian's mind raced, considering the possibilities. The Vermillion Flame Sect, with its long history and vast network of contacts, had access to many dangerous training grounds ancient ruins imbued with potent energies, forbidden zones teeming with powerful beasts, and hidden domains untouched by time, places where a cultivator could push their limits and emerge stronger, more resilient.

"Then where should he go?" she asked, seeking the wisdom of the elders.

The third female elder, who had remained silent for much of the discussion, finally spoke, her voice carrying an air of quiet authority. "The Ashen Soul Ruins."

A sudden stillness fell over the Ancestral Hall, the silence so profound it seemed to amplify the crackling of the incense burners. Even the male elder's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of concern etching his features.

"That place…" Qin Lian's voice trailed off, the name "Ashen Soul Ruins" conjuring images of desolation and dread. The Ashen Soul Ruins were a legendary training ground, whispered about in hushed tones, but it was also one of the deadliest, most unforgiving locations on the entire continent. Located in the far eastern territories, it was once a battlefield of epic proportions, where countless ancient cultivators had perished en masse, their lingering resentment, their unresolved grudges, twisting the very fabric of the land, transforming it into a place of perpetual torment.

"The Ashen Soul Ruins have claimed the lives of countless cultivators," the second female elder said, her voice laced with caution and a touch of trepidation. "Even Soul Awakening Realm experts, individuals who possess power beyond our comprehension, tread carefully there, their steps measured, their senses on high alert."

The third elder's gaze remained steady, unwavering. "And yet," she countered, "those who survive the trials of the Ashen Soul Ruins emerge stronger than ever, their skills honed to a razor's edge, their spirits tempered in the fires of adversity. The unique, oppressive energy of the ruins forces cultivators to refine their spiritual willpower, to sharpen their battle instincts at an unprecedented rate. If Ye Xiaotian is as gifted, as talented, as you claim, Qin Lian, then he will survive. And if he does…"

"He will become a force that even the Black Serpent Sect will fear," the male elder finished, nodding in agreement. "He will return a warrior unlike any we have seen in generations."

Qin Lian exhaled slowly, her mind torn between her duty to the sect and her genuine concern for Ye Xiaotian's well-being. Could she truly send him into such a perilous place, a place that had broken so many before him? But deep down, she knew the truth. If he remained within the sect, even with their strengthened defenses, he would always be in danger, a target for the Black Serpent Sect's wrath. Only by growing beyond his current limits, only by facing challenges that would forge him into something truly extraordinary, could he truly claim his fate, could he truly protect himself and the sect he had come to call home.

She finally spoke, her voice resolute, all traces of doubt banished. "I will speak to Ye Xiaotian myself," she declared. "I will explain the risks, the challenges, the potential rewards. If he agrees, if he chooses to walk this path, then he will go to the Ashen Soul Ruins."

The first female elder gave her a long, searching look, her eyes filled with a mixture of understanding and approval. She then nodded slowly. "Then it is decided," she said, her voice carrying the weight of finality. "We will prepare the sect for war, strengthen our defenses, and temper our disciples in the crucible of the Flame Ascension Trials. Ye Xiaotian will venture into the world, facing trials that will test his very limits, and hone his strength, preparing him for the battles to come."

Qin Lian hesitated for a moment before speaking. A question had been lingering in her mind, one she could not ignore. Taking a deep breath, she looked toward the ancestors and asked cautiously, "Ancestors… what about the dark forces? Will they also attack us?"

Her voice, though steady, carried a hint of unease.

The female elder in the middle, the one who had spoken the most about the hidden powers of the continent, let out a slow, deliberate breath before shaking her head.

"No."

Qin Lian blinked in surprise. "No?"

The elder leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze steady. "Because they will not attack us."

Qin Lian frowned. "How can you be so certain?"

The first female elder's gaze darkened as if recalling a distant memory. "Because of an agreement. One made in the aftermath of the battle a decade ago."

Qin Lian's heartbeat quickened. An agreement?

The elder nodded. "After the destruction of the Duskborn Clan at the hands of the Whispering Shadow Lake, a realization dawned upon the forces of the dark."

The second female elder took over. "The dark factions are terrifying because they do not follow the rules of the righteous sects. However, after that battle, they reached an understanding. If they continued fighting amongst themselves, they would only weaken their influence. And so, a pact was formed."

The first female elder's voice was steady as she explained, "An agreement was made between the most powerful hidden factions. They decided that no dark force would attack another sect or clan unless provoked first. It was a mutual agreement of non-aggression. And so long as we do not strike first, they will not move against us."

Qin Lian took a moment to absorb this. "So… as long as we do not provoke them, they will not target us?"

The male elder nodded. "Precisely. The dark forces have their own rules. They do not act without reason, nor do they waste their strength on conflicts that do not benefit them."

The third female elder, who had remained silent for much of the discussion, finally spoke again. "That woman, the leader of Whispering Shadow Lake… She is not a mindless killer. She crushed the Duskborn Clan to make an example. Since then, none of the dark forces have dared to break the agreement. If they had, they would no longer exist."

Qin Lian exhaled slowly. This was a revelation she had never expected.

"So… the true war we must prepare for is not against them, but against the Black Serpent Sect and the righteous factions who seek Ye Xiaotian."

The male elder nodded. "Yes. The dark factions will watch from the shadows, but they will not interfere. At least, not unless we give them a reason."

Qin Lian realized that the righteous sects fear the dark forces because of their unpredictability. But in truth, they have unspoken laws just as rigid as ours.

It was ironic. The righteous sects saw the dark forces as unrestrained, lawless monsters. Yet, their balance of power was upheld not through treaties or politics but through sheer, undeniable dominance.

She took a deep breath, her heartbeat finally slowing.

"So… the true war we must prepare for is not against them, but against the Black Serpent Sect and the righteous factions who seek Ye Xiaotian."

The male elder nodded. "Yes. The dark factions will watch from the shadows, but they will not interfere. At least, not unless we give them a reason."

Qin Lian closed her eyes for a brief moment, gathering her thoughts. This changes everything.

At the very least, they did not have to fear an attack from both sides. They would not have to fight the Black Serpent Sect while constantly looking over their shoulders for hidden assassins from the underworld.

This was no small relief.

She exhaled, a rare moment of tension easing from her shoulders.

"We may have just gained a crucial advantage," she murmured.

A final silence filled the hall, heavy with the weight of the decisions made. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with danger and bloodshed, but the Vermillion Flame Sect had chosen its course.

As Qin Lian left the Ancestral Hall, the flames of preparation had begun to burn. The war was coming.

And the Vermillion Flame Sect would be ready.

End of Chapter 36