Shadows of the Past

The battle against the Li Clan was over, but Ye Chen knew this was just the beginning. The ancient clans would not sit still after such a loss. They would regroup, scheme, and strike again. There was no time to celebrate.

Back at the temple, the atmosphere was tense. The disciples had seen victories before, but they knew how quickly things could turn. Elder Zhang sat at the head of the great hall, his face lined with worry. Mei Ling, Lin Xia, General Wu, and Zhao Ming stood beside Ye Chen, waiting for him to speak.

Ye Chen placed the scroll from the Li Clan on the table. "We won this battle, but the war isn't over. The ancient clans won't let this slide. They'll retaliate."

Elder Zhang sighed. "The Li Clan was the most secretive. If they fell this easily, it means they were weaker than we thought… or someone else wanted them gone."

Lin Xia's eyes narrowed. "You think the other clans let us destroy them?"

"Or pushed them into the fight," General Wu added. "The Zhao Clan and Wang Clan might have used them as pawns."

Zhao Ming shook his head. "No. My clan wouldn't sacrifice an ally so carelessly. But the Wang Clan? They specialize in deception. They might have set this up to weaken both us and the Li Clan."

Ye Chen clenched his fists. "Then we need to act before they do."

Mei Ling looked at him, concern in her eyes. "We've been fighting non-stop. Our people need rest."

He nodded. She was right. "Fine. We take two weeks to recover. But we must prepare for what's coming next."

Days passed, and the temple was filled with the sounds of rebuilding. Disciples trained harder than ever, refining their skills. The walls were repaired, traps were set, and new formations were engraved into the stone. Ye Chen personally guided the strongest disciples, teaching them techniques to counter the styles of the ancient clans.

One night, as Ye Chen stood alone in the courtyard, a gust of cold wind swept through the temple grounds. He turned, sensing something… off.

A shadow flickered at the edge of his vision. He moved instantly, appearing at the temple walls in a flash. But there was nothing there—just the endless darkness of the forest beyond.

Then he heard it. A whisper.

"You shouldn't have interfered."

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed. He activated his spiritual sense, scanning the area. The whisper was gone, but the feeling remained. Someone had been watching him.

The next morning, a scout rushed into the temple, panting. "Senior Ye! A group of cultivators is approaching from the south!"

Ye Chen immediately gathered his allies. Mei Ling, Lin Xia, and General Wu followed him to the temple gates.

A dozen figures stood outside. They wore dark robes with golden embroidery—a symbol of the Wang Clan.

A man stepped forward, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. "Ye Chen. My name is Wang Tian. I am here to talk."

Ye Chen crossed his arms. "Then talk."

Wang Tian smiled slightly. "The Li Clan was foolish. They acted recklessly and paid the price. But the Wang Clan is different. We don't fight without reason."

Lin Xia scoffed. "You mean you don't fight unless you're sure you'll win."

Wang Tian ignored her. "We have no interest in a meaningless war. But we do have one condition."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "And what is that?"

"Leave the city. Abandon your sect. Disappear." Wang Tian's voice was cold. "If you do that, the Wang Clan will not pursue you."

Mei Ling's face darkened. "You expect us to just walk away?"

Wang Tian shrugged. "It's the best offer you'll get. The alternative… is annihilation."

Ye Chen's lips curled into a smirk. "If you think a few threats will scare me, you don't know who you're dealing with."

Wang Tian sighed. "I had hoped to avoid bloodshed. But I see you've made your choice."

He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, Ye Chen moved. In a flash, he appeared in front of Wang Tian, grabbing him by the collar.

"You walk in here and think you can dictate terms?" Ye Chen's voice was like ice. "If you want a war, I'll give you one."

For the first time, Wang Tian's mask of calm cracked. He tried to move, but Ye Chen's grip tightened, a surge of energy pressing down on him like a mountain.

The Wang Clan's cultivators stepped forward, but Zhao Ming and General Wu drew their swords in response.

The air was thick with killing intent. One wrong move, and blood would spill.

After a long pause, Wang Tian forced a smile. "I underestimated you, Ye Chen."

Ye Chen released him. "Don't make that mistake again."

Wang Tian adjusted his robes, stepping back. "Very well. Since you refuse our offer… prepare for what comes next."

With that, he and his men vanished into the mist.

Mei Ling exhaled. "That was reckless."

Ye Chen shook his head. "No. That was necessary. If we had backed down, they would have attacked anyway. Now, they know we won't be pushed around."

Lin Xia smirked. "I liked it. About time someone put them in their place."

General Wu's expression remained serious. "But now they'll come with full force."

Ye Chen nodded. "Then we'll be ready."

The temple became a fortress overnight. Defenses were reinforced, formations strengthened, and the disciples trained harder than ever. Every cultivator was given a role, whether it was patrolling, refining weapons, or gathering intelligence.

Lin Xia used her clan's connections to acquire rare materials for strengthening their weapons and armor. General Wu led combat drills, ensuring that even the weakest disciple could hold their ground.

Zhao Ming provided information on the Wang Clan's fighting styles. "They rely on strategy and deception. They'll try to weaken us before attacking directly."

Ye Chen listened carefully, then made a decision. "If they want to weaken us, we'll do the same to them."

He called for a team of elite disciples. "We're striking first. Before they're ready."

Mei Ling's eyes widened. "You want to attack the Wang Clan's base?"

Ye Chen smirked. "No. I want to burn their supply lines, cut off their resources, and make them suffer."

Lin Xia chuckled. "I like the sound of that."

General Wu nodded. "A war isn't won in a single battle. It's won by breaking the enemy before the fight even begins."

That night, Ye Chen and his team moved like ghosts through the Wang Clan's territory. They struck fast and hard, burning supply caches, destroying spirit stone reserves, and leaving behind chaos.

By dawn, the Wang Clan's forces were in disarray. Their strongest warriors had no supplies, their formations were disrupted, and fear spread through their ranks.

Ye Chen stood at the edge of a burning outpost, watching the flames rise into the sky.

"This is just the beginning," he muttered.

He turned to his allies. "When the Wang Clan attacks, they'll already be half-defeated. And when they fall, the Zhao Clan will be next."