Chapter 37: "Preperation III"

As Qin Lian's figure disappeared beyond the great doors of the Ancestral Hall, a deep silence settled among the remaining elders. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the ancient stone walls, reflecting the heavy burden of the conversation that had just taken place.

The female elder who had remained silent throughout the entire discussion finally shifted her gaze toward the elder seated in the middle. Her expression was unreadable as she finally spoke.

"Was it wise to tell her about the dark forces and… that woman this early?"

Her voice was soft yet carried an undeniable weight as if she had been contemplating the question long before she voiced it.

The middle elder exhaled slowly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the worn surface of the stone tablet before her. "She would have learned about them eventually," she replied, her tone resigned but firm. "When the war begins in earnest, she will see their presence in the shadows, whether we tell her now or not. At least, by revealing this knowledge now, she will focus her mind entirely on the sect's survival. There is no room for uncertainty or hesitation in the battles to come."

The male elder leaned back slightly, his sharp gaze flickering toward the grand doors through which Qin Lian had left. "Hmph. Whether it was wise or not, the truth is now laid before her. The Vermillion Flame Sect cannot afford to be blind to the forces that lurk in the dark. That woman… she does not move without purpose. If she takes an interest in Ye Xiaotian, it will not be for our benefit."

The three female elders exchanged glances before sighing in unison. They knew the weight of what had been set in motion. The balance of power in the Desolate Shadow Continent had already begun to shift.

As the flames in the hall flickered, their glow illuminating the solemn faces of the elders, a silent understanding passed between them.

There was no turning back.

Outside, beneath the vast expanse of the night sky, Qin Lian walked swiftly through the sect's towering structures. Despite the cool breeze that swept through the mountain peaks, a storm brewed within her mind.

So much had changed in just a single night.

The sect would prepare for war. The defenses would be strengthened, the disciples would undergo brutal trials, and Ye Xiaotian…

Her hands clenched unconsciously. He would be sent to the Ashen Soul Ruins.

She had agreed to it and had even voiced her support for the decision with an air of certainty, projecting an image of unwavering confidence. But deep down, a sliver of unease, a nagging doubt, lingered in her heart.

That place… the Ashen Soul Ruins… had swallowed countless geniuses whole, its cursed land unyielding to the weak, its trials beyond imagining. But Ye Xiaotian was no ordinary cultivator, she reminded herself. He was exceptional, his talent undeniable, his potential limitless. If anyone could survive the horrors of the Ashen Soul Ruins, if anyone could emerge from its depths stronger, more resilient, it was him.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that by sending him there, she was throwing him into the jaws of an abyss, casting him into a darkness from which he might never return.

Shaking away her troubling thoughts, trying to banish the images of the desolate ruins from her mind, she moved swiftly through the sect grounds, her steps purposeful, her focus returning to the tasks at hand.

The fires of the Vermillion Flame Sect burned brightly in the night, casting long, dancing shadows across the ancient stone pathways, illuminating the path before her. There was no time for hesitation, no room for doubt. The war had already begun in the shadows, a silent, unseen conflict playing out in the whispers and rumors that spread throughout the continent. And now, it was time to prepare for the battles that would inevitably come to light, the clashes that would shake the very foundations of the Desolate Shadow Continent.

Qin Lian inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

Her footsteps quickened.

She had much to do before dawn.

By dawn, the Vermillion Flame Sect was a hive of activity, a sense of urgency permeating the air. Qin Lian, having worked through the night, had called for an urgent assembly of the sect's senior members. The Grand Hall, an enormous chamber lined with scarlet banners bearing the proud sigil of the Vermillion Flame Sect – a stylized phoenix engulfed in flames – was abuzz with hushed conversations.

Elders, their faces etched with concern, and various division leaders, each responsible for the smooth operation of the sect's various functions, filled the vast space. Murmurs and quiet discussions, speculation, and whispered anxieties, filled the air as they awaited their Sect Master, each individual grappling with the implications of the rumors that had begun to circulate.

Qin Lian, having overseen the initial preparations throughout the long night, finally stepped forward onto the elevated platform at the hall's far end. Her crimson robes, the color of the Vermillion Flame Sect, flowed around her like liquid fire, the movement commanding attention. The murmurs ceased instantly, the hall falling silent as all eyes turned towards her.

Her golden eyes, usually warm and welcoming, now held a glint of steel, reflecting the gravity of the situation. She scanned the faces before her, each one a pillar of the sect's power, each one a vital component of its strength. Then, with a voice steady and filled with unwavering command, she spoke, her words echoing through the vast hall:

"The Black Serpent Sect is moving against us."

A ripple of shock, palpable and undeniable, passed through the gathered elders and disciples. Though whispers and rumors had begun to spread throughout the sect, fueled by hushed conversations and worried glances, none had truly expected their Sect Master to confirm the news so directly, so bluntly. The confirmation, spoken aloud, made the threat feel all too real, all too imminent.

"They have set their sights on Ye Xiaotian," she continued, her voice hardening, the words ringing with a chilling finality. "And they will not stop, they will not rest, until they have claimed his life and trampled our sect beneath their feet, crushing our flames, extinguishing our legacy."

A heavy silence descended upon the Grand Hall, the stillness broken only by the soft rustling of the banners and the barely audible breaths of those present. The weight of her words settled over them like an unshakable mountain, a crushing burden that pressed down on their shoulders, stealing their breath, and filling their hearts with a mixture of fear and grim determination.

"Their Sect Master," she reminded them, her gaze sharp and penetrating, her eyes meeting the gaze of each individual present, "was slain by a disciple of our sect, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator who dared to challenge their authority. Do you believe," she asked, her voice laced with a hint of scorn, "that they will let such an insult stand? Do you believe they will forgive such a humiliation? Do you believe they will simply turn away and forget?"

The Grand Hall remained eerily still, the silence now thick with tension, pregnant with the unspoken understanding of the gravity of their situation.

Then, one of the senior elders, Elder Liu, a man whose face was lined with years of experience, his sharp features betraying no emotion, stepped forward, breaking the oppressive silence.

His movements were deliberate, his posture unwavering, his presence commanding respect. His voice, when he spoke, was firm and steady, reflecting a lifetime of facing adversity. "Sect Master," he said, his words clear and concise, "if war is inevitable, if the Black Serpent Sect has truly set its sights on us… what are our next steps?"

Qin Lian nodded, her expression resolute, as if anticipating Elder Liu's question. "We prepare," she stated, her voice ringing with unwavering conviction. "The Vermillion Flame Sect will not kneel before the Black Serpent Sect.

We will not cower in fear, allowing ourselves to be hunted like prey, picked off one by one. If the Black Serpent Sect desires war, if they crave the taste of our blood, then we shall meet them with flames that will consume them, flames that will reduce them to ashes, leaving nothing but scorched earth in their wake."

The declaration, spoken with such force and determination, sent a palpable wave of energy surging through the Grand Hall. Some elders, their faces alight with a renewed sense of purpose, nodded in approval, their eyes gleaming with a fierce determination.

Others, however, exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions betraying a mixture of apprehension and doubt. The reality of the impending conflict was beginning to sink in, and the weight of it was heavy.

"I will personally oversee the reinforcement of the Vermillion Flame Array," Qin Lian continued, her gaze sweeping across the assembled members, her eyes meeting each one with unwavering intensity. "Every defensive formation in this sect, from the smallest ward to the most ancient barrier, will be strengthened, layered, and made as impenetrable as possible. We will leave no stone unturned, no weakness unaddressed."

Elder Liu, his face grim but resolute, bowed slightly in acknowledgment. "I will personally see to it that our best, most experienced formation masters, those with the skill and knowledge necessary for such a crucial task, are assigned to this undertaking. They will work day and night, without rest, until the Vermillion Flame Array is a shield that no enemy can penetrate."

Qin Lian then turned her attention to Grand Elder Xuan, the head of the sect's combat division, a battle-hardened cultivator with countless victories under his belt, his very presence radiating an aura of strength and unwavering resolve. "Grand Elder Xuan," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument, "it is time to reinstate the Flame Ascension Trials. Immediately.

"Every core and inner disciple, regardless of their current level of training, must undergo the trials, and every elder, without exception, will oversee their training, guiding them, pushing them to their limits. Our disciples will be tempered in fire and blood, their skills honed, their spirits steeled. They must be prepared for battle at a moment's notice, ready to defend the sect with their very lives."

Grand Elder Xuan, a man whose weathered face bore the marks of countless battles, a testament to his experience and his unwavering courage, grinned, a flash of something akin to excitement lighting up his eyes.

"It's about time," he rumbled, his voice booming through the hall, "it's about time we reminded the world, reminded the Black Serpent Sect in particular, what it means to be a disciple of the Vermillion Flame Sect. It's about time we showed them the true meaning of fire."

Murmurs spread once more through the Grand Hall, but this time, the tone was different. The initial shock had given way to a grim determination, a shared understanding of the challenges that lay ahead. There was no fear, no hesitation, only a steely resolve to face the coming storm with courage and fire.

Then, Qin Lian's voice lowered, her expression darkening slightly, the weight of the next decision pressing down on her shoulders. "And Ye Xiaotian," she said, the name hanging heavy in the air.

A tense silence followed the hall once again falling still, the murmurs dying down as the elders and disciples anticipated the Sect Master's next words.

"We cannot keep him here," she stated, her voice firm and unwavering. "Not only for his safety but for the survival of the entire sect. The Black Serpent Sect will undoubtedly focus their initial efforts on eliminating him, on extinguishing the flame that has dared to challenge their authority. And I," she declared, her voice rising with conviction, "will not allow them to bring the battle to our doorstep, to our very halls, before we are fully prepared to meet them before we have unleashed the full fury of the Vermillion Flame Sect."

Elder Liu's eyes sharpened, his gaze intense as he considered the implications of her words. "Then… where will he go?" he asked the question echoing the concerns of many in the hall.

Qin Lian took a deep breath, steeling herself for the reactions that would inevitably follow. "The Ashen Soul Ruins," she announced, her voice carrying a hint of both determination and trepidation.

A collective gasp, a sharp intake of breath, swept through the hall, the sound like a sudden gust of wind. Even Elder Xuan's usual grin faltered slightly, replaced by a look of surprise and perhaps a touch of apprehension.

Elder Xuan, his usual boisterous demeanor momentarily subdued, let out a low whistle. "You're throwing the boy straight into hell, Sect Master," he remarked, his voice laced with a mixture of admiration and concern. "The Ashen Soul Ruins… that's not a training ground, it's a graveyard."

"If he survives," Qin Lian countered, her gaze unwavering, "he will become strong enough to face the storm that is coming, strong enough to protect himself, and strong enough to help us defend the sect. And he will survive," she added, her voice gaining strength.

She wasn't entirely sure if she was reassuring herself or the others, but the conviction in her voice seemed to have the desired effect. The initial shock began to subside, replaced by a grudging acceptance of the necessity of the decision.

Elder Liu folded his arms, his expression thoughtful as he considered the implications. "If he agrees to this, Sect Master," he said slowly, "if he is willing to face the trials of the Ashen Soul Ruins, then this could indeed be the best course of action. It is a dangerous gamble, but the potential rewards… they are undeniable."

Qin Lian's gaze swept across the hall once more, seeking consensus, ensuring that everyone understood the gravity of the situation and the weight of the decisions they were making. "Then we are all in agreement?" she asked, her voice firm.

Silence stretched for a moment, the tension palpable. Then, one by one, the elders nodded their expressions a mixture of determination and grim acceptance.

"The Vermillion Flame Sect stands as one," Elder Liu declared, his voice resonating with a newfound unity. "We will face this threat together, and we will emerge victorious."

Qin Lian gave a single, sharp nod, her eyes gleaming with a fierce resolve. "Then let it be so," she said, her voice echoing through the hall, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Vermillion Flame Sect's long and storied history.

End of Chapter 37