Chapter 40: "Departure"

The opening of the Flame Ascension Trial had shifted the entire Vermillion Flame Sect into a whirlwind of activity.

Excitement buzzed through the air like wildfire. Disciples trained harder than ever, eager to test their strength and claim glory within the ancient trial grounds. The once-peaceful sect had transformed into a battleground of determination, where challenges and sparring matches filled the courtyards and training fields from dawn until deep into the night.

With such an enormous focus on the upcoming trial, no one paid any attention to Ye Xiaotian's impending departure to the Ashen Soul Ruins.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the towering red pavilions, the Vermillion Flame Sect basked in the ethereal glow of the moonlight. The sect's grand structures, illuminated by countless lanterns, shimmered beautifully against the night sky, their crimson roofs resembling flames dancing in the dark.

Yet, despite the breathtaking scenery, the battle arenas remained alive with restless energy. Brightly lit by spirit torches, the training fields echoed with the clash of weapons and the cries of disciples locked in fierce duels.

And amid this relentless fervor, one particular silver-haired girl stormed toward the Fourth Pavilion, her expression twisted with disbelief and frustration.

Qin Mei moved like a furious storm, her silver robes fluttering behind her as she all but kicked open the door to Ye Xiaotian's pavilion, the force of her entrance sending a gust of wind through the room

Ye Xiaotian, sitting calmly at the wooden table, sorting through his belongings in preparation for his departure, barely spared her a glance.

She barged toward him and shouted, her voice laced with disbelief and a touch of anger. "You're going where?!" Qin Mei practically shouted. Her silver eyes were wide with concern as she stared at him, her expression a mixture of disbelief and worry.

Ye Xiaotian finally looked up, unfazed by her outburst. His golden eyes reflected the glow of the lanterns, calm and unreadable.

"The Ashen Soul Ruins," he replied smoothly as if he were discussing a simple morning stroll. Then, with an arched brow, he added, "Didn't Big Sister Qin Lian tell you?"

"She did!" Qin Mei snapped, her voice still raised, her frustration evident. She stomped toward him, her movements agitated. "But I didn't think you'd agree so easily!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. "Are you crazy, Ye Xiaotian? Are you completely insane?!"

He smirked, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Depends on who you ask, Miss," he replied, his voice calm and even, seemingly unperturbed by her outburst.

"Don't joke with me, Ye Xiaotian!" Qin Mei nearly growled, her voice rising in frustration. She slammed both hands onto the table between them with a resounding thud, the force of the impact causing the items on the table to rattle. Leaning forward, her silver hair falling over her shoulders like a shimmering curtain, she stared him down, her eyes wide with worry and disbelief.

"Do you even realize what kind of place the Ashen Soul Ruins is?" she demanded, her voice laced with exasperation. "Do you even care that you're willingly walking into one of the most dangerous, most unforgiving battlefields on the entire continent?!"

Ye Xiaotian let out a soft chuckle, his expression unchanged, completely unbothered by her furious interrogation, her display of concern. He leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, his gaze steady as he met her worried eyes.

"I do realize," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "I'm not blind, nor am I stupid. I've heard the stories, I understand the dangers. And that's exactly why I'm going," he concluded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Qin Mei's fingers curled into the polished wood of the table, her nails digging into its surface, leaving faint scratches in the otherwise pristine finish. "But… but…" she stammered, her voice choked with emotion, her mind struggling to form the words to express her fear, her concern, her desperate desire to protect him. She didn't know what to say.

After thinking for a moment, gathering her thoughts, she finally spoke, her voice laced with a mixture of pleading and frustration. "Why… why do you even want to go there?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "It's a place full of dangers, a place where death lurks around every corner. What if… what if something happens to you? What if you don't come back?"

Ye Xiaotian, who had been calmly packing his belongings, paused for a second then, without hesitation, he answered, his voice steady and resolute.

"Because I want power."

The simplicity of his words sent a chill down Qin Mei's spine.

He turned to face her fully, his golden eyes sharp and unwavering, carrying a weight that made her heart clench.

"I know it's a dangerous place," he acknowledged, his gaze unwavering, "but I'm not as weak as you seem to think I am. And a challenging place like this, a place that pushes me to my limits, will force me to reveal my full potential, will draw out the strength that lies dormant within me."

Qin Mei's hands trembled slightly, her grip on the table tightening.

She had always known that Ye Xiaotian was different from other disciples. His ambition, his drive was something more, something beyond what even the most talented cultivators possessed.

But this…

This was reckless.

"You know what's coming," Ye Xiaotian continued, his voice softer now, but no less firm.

"The Black Serpent Sect isn't going to stop." His fingers tightened around the small pouch in his hands before he tucked it into his spatial ring. "The moment they attack, I'll be their first target. Staying here means waiting to be hunted. But if I go to the Ashen Soul Ruins… I'll come back strong enough that no one will dare come after me again."

Qin Mei's throat tightened, her emotions welling up, making it difficult for her to speak.

She knew he was right. She understood the logic behind his decision, the necessity of his actions. But that didn't make it any easier to accept, any less terrifying to contemplate.

"You don't have to go alone," she muttered, her gaze dropping to the table, her voice barely audible.

Ye Xiaotian tilted his head slightly as if he hadn't quite heard her words. "Hmm, What?" he asked gently.

Qin Mei's fists clenched again, her knuckles whitening as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill. "I said," she repeated, her voice louder this time, her gaze lifting to meet his once more, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination, "You don't have to go alone."

For the first time since the conversation began, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed his face.

"You want to come with me?" he asked, his voice carrying a rare note of curiosity.

Qin Mei nodded, her expression unwavering. "Yes, I'm not letting you run off into a death trap by yourself. If you're going to be reckless, at least let me be reckless with you."

Ye Xiaotian stared at her for a long moment before a slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"That's a bold offer," he said, crossing his arms. "But no, you know Big sister Qin Lian won't allow it. The sect needs its strongest disciples here to fight in the war."

Qin Mei scowled. "That's !" She hesitated, exhaling sharply. She couldn't argue against that. As one of the sect's most talented core disciples, she was expected to lead in battle, to fight alongside her fellow sect members when the war broke out.

But still...

"Fine," she muttered, clearly frustrated. "But you'd better not die in that forsaken place, Ye Xiaotian. If you do, I swear I'll drag your soul back and yell at you for eternity."

Ye Xiaotian chuckled. "That's quite the threat."

Qin Mei's silver eyes lingered on Ye Xiaotian's face, searching for some sign some flicker of doubt, hesitation, anything that might suggest he would reconsider.

But there was none

He had already made up his mind

"You don't care, do you?" she muttered, her voice quieter now, the anger fading, replaced by a resigned sadness. "You don't care about the danger, about the risks. You just… charge ahead, without a second thought."

Ye Xiaotian sighed, his expression softening slightly, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "Qin Mei," he said gently, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, "you've known me long enough to understand that I don't back down from things like this. I don't run from challenges, I don't shy away from danger. You should have expected this."

Qin Mei went silent, her gaze dropping to the floor, her shoulders slumping slightly. He was right, of course. She knew him well enough to understand that trying to dissuade him from his chosen path was futile. He was stubborn, and determined, and once he set his mind to something, nothing could sway him.

She sighed heavily, a sound that carried the weight of her concern, her frustration, her affection for him. "...At least take this," she said, her voice soft, almost resigned.

She reached into her spatial ring and pulled out a small, intricately carved jade bottle, placing it gently on the table between them.

"A soul-strengthening elixir," she explained, her voice regaining some of its usual strength. "It won't make you invincible, but it might just keep you alive if things get bad if you find yourself in a truly desperate situation. So… don't die, idiot," she added, her voice laced with a mixture of concern and affection.

Ye Xiaotian chuckled, a genuine smile spreading across his face as he picked up the bottle, the cool jade smooth against his skin. "Thanks, Qin Mei," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.

She huffed a playful gesture that belied the worry in her eyes, and crossed her arms, her expression softening slightly. "Whatever," she said, her voice light. "Just… come back in one piece, okay? That's all I ask."

With that, she turned sharply on her heel and stormed out of the pavilion, her frustration still evident in every step.

Ye Xiaotian watched her go, a small smirk playing on his lips. But as soon as she disappeared beyond the door, his expression gradually grew serious.

He exhaled deeply, his grip tightening slightly around the vial.

"I'll come back in one piece, Qin Mei," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I promise."

Meanwhile, The Grand Hall of the Vermillion Flame Sect was alive with tension. Senior Elders, Core Elders, and even the Sect Master herself sat in solemn silence as they finalized the last of the preparations for the Flame Ascension Trial and Ye Xiaotian's departure.

At the head seat, Qin Lian sat with her hands pressed against its polished surface, her golden eyes scanning the gathered elders. "The Flame Ascension Trial will officially begin at dawn," she announced, her voice firm.

Across from her, Grand Elder Xuan stroked his long beard, nodding. "The younger disciples are eager, but I fear many do not fully understand the dangers of the trial," he said. "We should remind them those who enter may not all return."

"They will learn soon enough," an older elder muttered grimly. "There is no room for the weak in the war that is coming."

Qin Lian's gaze darkened, but she did not disagree.

She then turned to the discussion at hand. "What of Ye Xiaotian's departure?"

"All arrangements have been made," Elder Liu confirmed. "A select group of elders will escort him to the entrance of the Ashen Soul Ruins at sunrise. Once he enters, his fate will be his own."

A heavy silence settled over the hall.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, the Vermillion Flame Sect awakened to a new day a day that would mark the beginning of trials and departures, of challenges that would determine the future.

The Flame Ascension Trial's heavenly stairway loomed in the sky, its destination unknown.

And at the sect's entrance, a lone figure stood, his robes fluttering slightly in the cool morning breeze.

Ye Xiaotian adjusted the strap of his spatial bag, his golden eyes reflecting the rising sun.

Behind him, his escort of elders prepared for their journey.

This was it.

The next step toward true power.

And as he took his first step forward, a single thought echoed in his mind:

"Let's see what fate has in store for me."

End of Chapter 40.