The Storm Approaches

The winds that howled through Void Horizon carried an ominous weight. Though the sect had regained its footing after Wei Jian's departure, the air was thick with unease. Everyone could feel it—the anticipation of something unseen, the creeping shadow of conflict waiting just beyond the horizon.

Yang Yu stood atop the highest peak of the sect, gazing into the distance. The mountains stretched endlessly before him, bathed in the pale glow of the rising moon. Somewhere out there, beyond those ridges, Wei Jian was gathering his forces. And he was not alone.

The storm was coming.

The Gathering of Strength

Over the past week, Void Horizon had undergone rapid transformation. The shock of losing a hundred disciples had left many shaken, but under Yang Yu's leadership, the sect had rallied.

The Martial Division had pushed its disciples to their limits, conducting rigorous training sessions from dawn until dusk. Every disciple, regardless of their previous rank, was made to spar against stronger opponents, forcing them to improve or be left behind. The battle-hardened warriors of Void Horizon trained in relentless cycles—hand-to-hand combat, weapon mastery, spiritual technique refinement. Every weakness was exploited, every flaw burned away through discipline and repetition.

The Resource Division ensured that every warrior had access to the best equipment available—spirit-enhanced blades, reinforced armor, and medicinal pills crafted specifically for endurance in prolonged battles. Every disciple received their fair share, erasing the inequality that once plagued the sect. There were no longer favorites—only those strong enough to claim their place.

The Research Division focused on perfecting the sect's defensive formations. The walls of Void Horizon were now inscribed with layered defensive arrays, each one woven to counter large-scale assaults. These barriers were not just static defenses but adaptable, shifting based on the energy signatures of approaching enemies.

It was a time of preparation, but also of urgency. No one knew when Wei Jian would strike. They only knew that he would.

The Council's Strategy

The grand war room was tense with discussion. Yang Yu stood at the head of the massive stone table, surrounded by the council. Xiao Mei, Ling Feng, Zhang Wei, and Li Xuan sat in quiet contemplation, each lost in their own thoughts.

"It has been seven days," Ling Feng finally spoke. "We cannot afford to be complacent. Wei Jian is gathering allies. We should strike first."

Xiao Mei shook her head. "That would be a mistake. We do not know where he is hiding, nor the full extent of his forces. If we attack blindly, we risk walking into a trap."

Yang Yu's gaze was cold. "Wei Jian does not have the patience for prolonged preparation. He is ambitious, but impulsive. If he is planning to attack, he will do so soon."

Li Xuan, the strategist of the group, leaned forward. "Then we should prepare accordingly. We have two options: fortify our defenses and wait, or take the initiative and force his hand."

Yang Yu considered the choices carefully.

To wait meant giving Wei Jian time to grow stronger. But to strike first meant risking Void Horizon's forces on uncertain ground.

"We will force his hand," Yang Yu finally decided.

The council looked to him.

"How?" Xiao Mei asked.

Yang Yu's lips curled slightly. "By taking what he needs most—his advantage."

Laying the Trap

That night, elite scouts from Void Horizon were dispatched across the neighboring regions. Their task was simple: locate Wei Jian's hideout and confirm his allies.

It did not take long.

By dawn, reports came in. Wei Jian had taken refuge in a valley deep within the Ruincrest Mountains, a treacherous expanse known for its steep cliffs and narrow paths. More concerning, however, was the presence of outsiders.

"The Shadow Fangs," Ling Feng muttered as he read the reports.

Xiao Mei's expression darkened. "Mercenaries."

Zhang Wei frowned. "Not just mercenaries—assassins. The Shadow Fangs are infamous for their ability to infiltrate and dismantle entire sects from within."

Li Xuan tapped his fingers against the table. "That changes everything. If Wei Jian has allied with them, we can assume he no longer intends to return. He is planning to destroy Void Horizon."

Yang Yu's gaze did not waver.

"Then we move now," he declared.

The Assault on Ruincrest Valley

Under the cover of night, Void Horizon's strike force descended upon Ruincrest Valley. Their numbers were small—only three hundred—but every warrior was among the sect's finest. Yang Yu led them personally, his sword gleaming under the moonlight.

As they approached the valley's entrance, the scouts signaled their findings.

"Wei Jian's forces number around two hundred," a scout whispered. "But the Shadow Fangs are unaccounted for."

That was a problem. The Shadow Fangs were known for their ability to move unseen, striking from the shadows before vanishing again.

Yang Yu turned to Ling Feng. "Lead a detachment around the eastern cliffs. If they try to ambush us, cut them down before they can retreat."

Ling Feng nodded and disappeared into the darkness with fifty warriors.

Yang Yu took a deep breath. "Everyone else—move in."

The Battle Begins

The moment the first warrior set foot into the valley, the night erupted into chaos.

Arrows rained from the cliffs above, forcing the Void Horizon disciples to scatter. Shadows moved between the trees—figures clad in black, striking with poisoned daggers before retreating into the night.

Yang Yu's blade flashed, severing the arm of an assassin who had leapt from above. "Hold formation!" he roared.

His warriors regrouped, forming defensive lines as the enemy descended upon them.

Wei Jian's forces emerged from the valley's depths, their battle cries piercing through the night. Unlike the disciplined fighters of Void Horizon, they fought with unrestrained aggression, fueled by rage and the promise of revenge.

Yang Yu moved like a phantom among them, his sword cutting through enemy after enemy. But as he fought, a chilling realization settled in his mind.

This wasn't just an ambush.

It was a trap.

The Trap Closes

A sudden surge of killing intent erupted from the cliffs above. Before anyone could react, the Shadow Fangs struck.

Explosions rocked the valley as hidden spirit arrays activated, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. The formations Void Horizon's warriors had relied on shattered in an instant, disrupting their ranks.

Dark figures flickered through the chaos, their poisoned blades finding exposed gaps in the warriors' defenses.

Yang Yu spun, deflecting a strike aimed at his back, but another assassin was already lunging for him. He barely dodged, countering with a slash that severed his attacker's throat.

But there were too many.

Across the battlefield, Void Horizon's forces were being pushed back. Warriors who had held strong minutes ago were now faltering, their movements sluggish from the poison seeping into their veins.

From the far side of the valley, Wei Jian watched with a smirk.

"Do you see now, Master?" he called out. "Void Horizon was strong because of you! But you have weakened it! You have let the weak thrive, and now, you will pay the price!"

Yang Yu's grip tightened on his sword.

He had underestimated Wei Jian's cunning.

And now, Void Horizon was on the brink of disaster.