Sect Teachings and the Wrath of Madmen

The sun hung high over the Heaven Sundering Sect, casting long shadows over the jagged mountain peaks. The air was thick with the sound of brawling disciples, the occasional explosion of Qi techniques, and the ever-present laughter of battle-hardened warriors.

Jiang Chen sat cross-legged on a stone platform in the central training grounds, his body still thrumming with residual energy from his battle with Xiao Dong. His muscles ached, but it was the satisfying ache of progress. His newfound brother-in-arms sat beside him, equally battered but grinning like a lunatic.

"You're adjusting quickly," Xiao Dong commented, stretching his arms. "Most newbies take a few months to even figure out how to survive here."

Jiang Chen smirked. "Guess I'm just different."

Xiao Dong snorted. "Cocky bastard. I like it."

The two of them watched as Elder Zhao Yan walked toward them, his presence drawing the attention of nearby disciples. He was grinning as usual, but Jiang Chen could see the sharp glint in his eyes.

"Alright, brats, now that you've beaten the shit out of each other and earned some respect, it's time for your real training to begin." Zhao Yan folded his arms. "The Heaven Sundering Sect isn't just about brute force—well, mostly it is—but our techniques are built upon a foundation of absolute destruction. If you don't refine your strength, all that power will be wasted."

Jiang Chen leaned forward. "So, what's the next step?"

Zhao Yan smirked. "Simple. You've already learned the Heaven Sundering Palm, one of the sect's core techniques. Now, you need to develop your own method of integrating it with your Chaos Qi. We don't do cookie-cutter cultivation here. Every warrior in the Heaven Sundering Sect personalizes their techniques, refines them into something uniquely their own. That's how our sect produces monsters instead of puppets."

Jiang Chen nodded. It made sense. Unlike most sects that enforced rigid martial styles, the Heaven Sundering Sect encouraged its disciples to carve their own paths.

Xiao Dong grinned. "For example, I merged my Heaven Sundering Fist with my bloodline's innate strength, making my attacks hit even harder. You, on the other hand, have that freakish Chaos Qi. If you can integrate it into your strikes more effectively, you might even surpass me sooner than expected."

Jiang Chen's smirk widened. "That sounds like a challenge."

Zhao Yan clapped his hands. "Enough talk. Go find a boulder and practice. If the mountain doesn't tremble from your strikes, you're doing it wrong."

Jiang Chen exhaled, rolling his shoulders before stepping toward an isolated cliffside. He closed his eyes, channeling his Qi through his meridians, guiding it through the unique pathways he had discovered when mastering the Heaven Sundering Palm.

His Chaos Qi coiled like a serpent, merging with the raw destructive force of the technique.

BOOM!

He thrust his palm forward, and the cliffside imploded—not just shattered, but outright erased, as if it had never existed.

Xiao Dong whistled. "Yeah… You're definitely different."

Jiang Chen flexed his fingers, feeling the raw power settle into his limbs. He could feel it—this was just the beginning.

He pondered. What if I tried to integrate my innate ability into the Heaven Sundering Palm? The Chaos Qi is extremely adaptable and does a lot of the work for me, but this might be a real challenge. 

He stepped back channeled his Starshadow Body, his appearance gaining a more ethereal feel and the mysterious blue diamond mark appearing on his forehead. 

Xiao Dong was gaping it Jiang Chen. "Divine Constitution!?" He yelled. "Which one though..."

This brother of mine is really a monster, not only does he have this mysterious and terrifying Chaos Qi, but a divine constitution on top of it? What a freak, looks like I lucked out, he's going to be a real challenge to surpass.

Jiang Chen could feel his meridians pulsing with pain as he channeled the Heaven Sundering Palm along with the Starshadow Burst. They were both extremely domineering techniques, trying to combine both moves into one would normally be next to impossible, as they each wanted to claim control over his Qi channels. 

Suddenly, the Chaos Qi in Jiang Chen's body flowed into his meridians, Qi channels, and directed the energy of the Starshadow Burst and the Heaven Sundering Palm Technique and guided it slowly.

Jiang Chen felt like he was about to burst, he needed to release this move immediately or he would explode to pieces.

He pulled his arm back and roared.

"HEAVEN"

"SUNDERING"

"PALM!!"

A mass of multicolored energy flew out of his palm, and towards a large mountain in the distance.

BOOOM!

The vibrations from the blow could be felt from where Jiang Chen and Xiao Dong currently stood, and the massive mountain in the distance had a faintly discernible palm imprint etched onto its side the size of a massive boulder!

Xiao Dong's jaw had already hit the floor and he stared at Jiang Chen. "What the FUCK was that?!" "You nearly obliterated that mountain!"

"A new experiment," Jiang Chen smirked. 

Although he could definitely not use this technique in battle yet, as he was not proficient in releasing and controlling such a vast energy, he could vaguely sense a new direction for his practice. 

Jiang Chen smiled. 

In the distance, elder Zhao Yan glanced at Jiang Chen. What the Fuck?! I know the Old Man said something about this brat having the Starshadow body, but I thought his eyes must have gotten foggy. I didn't notice a damn thing until now. This brat...

This kid is really too talented. Zhao Yan thought.

If those old fogies from those righteous sects of the Daoist Path saw this kid, I bet they would start drooling. HAHAHA! Our Heaven Sundering Sect has really picked up a treasure this time!

The training grounds were alive with activity when a sudden shift in atmosphere sent a ripple through the sect. The chaotic, jovial energy of the disciples dimmed slightly, replaced by a tense undercurrent.

A group of figures had arrived at the base of the mountain.

Zhao Yan narrowed his eyes as he sensed their presence. "Looks like we have some uninvited guests."

Jiang Chen glanced toward the entrance, his expression unreadable. He had a feeling he knew who it was.

Moments later, a delegation of figures in white robes, embroidered with a silver wolf insignia, entered the sect grounds. Their leader was a middle-aged man with sharp, predatory eyes and a composed demeanor. Though he maintained a facade of politeness, Jiang Chen could see the calculating glint in his gaze.

The WhiteFang Family.

Behind the man stood a familiar figure—Yun Menghao, the young master Jiang Chen had humiliated not long ago. Though his injuries had mostly healed, the hatred burning in his eyes was unmistakable.

Zhao Yan stepped forward lazily, his grin sharp enough to cut. "Well, well, well. To what do we owe the pleasure of hosting the WhiteFang Family today?"

The middle-aged man clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Elder Zhao, I am Bai Yunfeng, an envoy of the WhiteFang Family. We have come today with peaceful intentions."

The gathered disciples snorted at that.

"Peaceful intentions? From a bunch of scheming bastards?"

"I smell bullshit."

Bai Yunfeng ignored the murmurs, keeping his tone measured. "We merely wish to ask a few questions regarding a recent incident involving one of our young masters and a disciple of your esteemed sect."

Jiang Chen stepped forward, his expression bored. "Let me guess. You mean the part where he tried to forcefully take a princess as his wife, and I handed his teeth back to him?"

Yun Menghao seethed but remained silent.

Bai Yunfeng sighed. "We do not wish for conflict between our forces. We only request that we be allowed to speak with this disciple in private."

Silence.

Then—

BOOM!

A powerful force erupted from one of the elders standing nearby, his eyes gleaming with unrestrained aggression.

"Speak in private?" the elder sneered, stepping forward. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to, mutt?"

Bai Yunfeng's expression stiffened. "Elder, we mean no offense—"

"Offense?!" The elder's Qi surged violently, shaking the ground. "You walk into our sect and demand to question one of our disciples, and you think you haven't already offended us?!"

The disciples of the Heaven Sundering Sect erupted into laughter.

"These bastards really thought they could come here and ask for OUR brother?!"

"Do they have a death wish?!"

Zhao Yan sighed dramatically, rubbing his temples. "Ah… Here we go again."

Bai Yunfeng's composed facade cracked slightly as he took a half-step back. "Elder, please, this is a simple diplomatic—"

BOOOOOM!

The elder didn't let him finish.

A single palm strike sent Bai Yunfeng flying backward, crashing into the ground with enough force to create a crater.

The WhiteFang guards behind him immediately reacted, drawing their weapons—but before they could even lift them, half a dozen Heaven Sundering Sect disciples surrounded them with maniacal grins, fists raised.

Jiang Chen smirked. "You idiots really thought you could come here and make demands?"

Bai Yunfeng coughed blood, staggering to his feet. His eyes flashed with rage and humiliation, but he did not dare retaliate.

Because standing above him now were not just one, but two elders, both exuding pressure that made it clear—if they fought, the WhiteFang delegation was not leaving alive.

Zhao Yan grinned. "I'd suggest you take your men and crawl back home, envoy. Before we start getting mad."

Bai Yunfeng wiped the blood from his lips, his expression twisting with barely contained fury. He turned to Yun Menghao, who was trembling with rage and humiliation.

"We're leaving."

"But—!"

"We're. Leaving."

Yun Menghao clenched his fists but obeyed.

The WhiteFang Family retreated, their faces dark with humiliation.

As they disappeared from sight, the training grounds erupted into cheers and laughter.

Jiang Chen chuckled. "That was fun."

Zhao Yan stretched. "Heh. I almost feel bad for them. Almost."

The elder who had attacked snorted. "Next time, I won't hold back."

Jiang Chen grinned. "So… When do I get to be an elder?"

The group burst into laughter.

But deep inside, Jiang Chen knew—

The WhiteFang Family wouldn't forget this.

And that was just fine.

Because neither would he.