The Path of No Return

Chapter 17 – The Path of No Return

The rune floating above Jin Wei shimmered ominously, its strange energy pressing down on him. It wasn't hostile, yet it carried an undeniable sense of authority, as if it were a decree from an existence far beyond his understanding.

He took a slow, measured breath, his heartbeat steady despite the weight of what had just happened. His mind, however, was far from calm.

"I've been chosen? But for what?"

Bai Shenshu's gaze was sharp, as though he could read the questions swirling in Jin Wei's mind. The elder's lips curved into a faint smile. "Walk with me."

Without waiting for a response, Bai Shenshu turned and began walking toward the sect's inner courtyard.

Jin Wei hesitated. Around him, the gathered disciples still whispered among themselves, unsure of what they had just witnessed. Some looked at him with awe, others with envy, and a few with deep suspicion.

But one thing was clear. He wasn't just another disciple anymore.

With a deep breath, he stepped forward and followed.

---

A Hidden Truth

The path Bai Shenshu led him through was unfamiliar. They passed by towering pavilions, deep meditation halls, and even areas restricted to most disciples. Jin Wei noticed the subtle shift in the surroundings—the air grew heavier with spiritual energy, ancient formations lined the walkways, and faint echoes of long-forgotten chants filled the silence.

Finally, they arrived at a secluded chamber. The room was vast, its walls adorned with intricate carvings depicting clashes between legendary cultivators and celestial beasts. At the center of the chamber stood an enormous jade pillar, glowing faintly.

Bai Shenshu stopped and turned to face Jin Wei.

"Tell me, Jin Wei. What do you know of the origins of this sect?"

Jin Wei frowned. "The Azure Sect was founded five hundred years ago by Patriarch Qian Long. It has remained one of the top sects in the region ever since."

Bai Shenshu chuckled. "That is what the records say. But the truth… is far older."

He waved his hand, and the jade pillar shuddered.

The carvings along the walls came to life, the figures moving as though reenacting a tale from the past.

Jin Wei watched in silence as the images unfolded before him.

A mighty cultivator, surrounded by golden light, stood atop a battlefield of shattered heavens and broken earth. His robes billowed in the wind, his sword gleaming with power. Opposing him was a monstrous figure, its form shifting between shadows and fire, its mere presence distorting reality.

"Long before the Azure Sect existed, before the mortal world had even grasped the true path of cultivation, there were wars between those who sought balance and those who desired absolute control."

The golden figure clashed with the monstrous entity. The battle shook the very fabric of the world. With one final strike, the cultivator's sword pierced through the darkness, and the monster howled before vanishing into nothingness.

Jin Wei's brows furrowed. "What does this have to do with me?"

Bai Shenshu's expression darkened. "Because the remnants of that battle still remain."

The elder stepped closer, lowering his voice. "And you, Jin Wei, are now part of that struggle."

---

Marked for Something Greater

Jin Wei clenched his fists.

"This isn't just about the sect. This is something much bigger."

His mind raced through the possibilities. Was this why they had tested him so ruthlessly? Why he had been marked with that strange rune?

"What exactly did you do to me?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Bai Shenshu's gaze didn't waver. "We acknowledged you."

"Acknowledged me?" Jin Wei's eyes narrowed. "For what?"

Bai Shenshu sighed. "The world you see is just the surface, Jin Wei. Beyond the mortal realm, there exist forces we do not fully understand. Powers that lurk in the shadows, watching, waiting."

He gestured toward the glowing rune. "That mark is proof that you are capable of stepping beyond the limits of ordinary cultivation. But it also means that your path will be filled with danger."

Jin Wei's heart pounded.

"Beyond the mortal realm? Then does that mean..."

"You're saying… I'm being pulled into something beyond this sect?"

Bai Shenshu nodded. "Exactly."

Jin Wei exhaled slowly.

He could feel it now—a shift in his destiny. The moment he had survived that battle, the moment he had been chosen, there was no turning back.

For better or worse, he had stepped onto the path of something far greater than himself.

---

The Path Ahead

Bai Shenshu stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "I won't force you to accept this path. But understand, Jin Wei, from this moment onward, your fate is no longer just your own."

Jin Wei looked at the elder, his mind still processing everything.

He had trained all these years to grow stronger, to prove himself. But never did he think he would be dragged into a battle spanning centuries.

But…

Wasn't this exactly what he had wanted?

A challenge that would push him beyond his limits?

A slow, determined smile crept onto his face. "I've never been one to turn back."

Bai Shenshu studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Then be ready. Your true journey begins now."

With a wave of his hand, the glowing rune embedded itself into Jin Wei's chest. A surge of energy flooded through him, expanding his meridians, strengthening his body.

Boom!

Jin Wei's aura exploded outward, causing the entire chamber to tremble. The very foundation of his cultivation had shifted.

A notification from his system flashed before his eyes.

> [New Path Unlocked – ???]

His eyes widened slightly.

"A new path? The system… even it is reacting to this."

Bai Shenshu smiled faintly. "We will speak again soon. For now, rest. You'll need your strength."

The elder turned and walked away, leaving Jin Wei standing there, his body still surging with new power.

As he clenched his fists, feeling the immense energy within, a single thought echoed in his mind—

This was only the beginning.