Chapter 17: The Heart of Darkness

The creature loomed before them, its form unnaturally still despite the swirling shadows that wrapped around its gaunt frame. Unlike the lesser beings Tianhai had faced, this one radiated an oppressive aura, a suffocating weight that pressed against his chest.

Jian Xuan stood firm, his sword raised, his expression unreadable. But Tianhai knew this was different. His master, usually so composed, was fully engaged—this was a true threat.

The creature's head tilted unnaturally, its glowing red eyes locking onto Jian Xuan. A low, guttural sound rumbled from its throat before it lunged forward.

A Battle of Strength and Shadows

Jian Xuan met the charge with practiced precision, his blade slicing through the air in a clean arc. A flash of silver cut through the creature's arm, severing it at the elbow. But instead of recoiling in pain, the creature barely faltered. Darkness coiled around the wound, tendrils knitting the limb back together in seconds.

Tianhai tensed. Regeneration.

The creature retaliated with a swipe of its elongated claws, but Jian Xuan sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a thrust aimed at its chest. Once again, the wound sealed almost instantly.

Tianhai clenched his jaw. If raw power wasn't enough, they needed a different approach.

The creature suddenly twisted, its attention snapping to Tianhai. A cold shiver ran down his spine as it moved. Faster than before, faster than he thought possible.

Tianhai barely raised his sword in time. The impact sent him skidding backward, his arms numb from the sheer force. Before he could recover, dark tendrils lashed out from the creature's form, wrapping around his limbs and dragging him closer.

Cold seeped into his skin. A terrible exhaustion settled over him, as if his very life force was being pulled from his body.

"Tianhai!" Jian Xuan's voice cut through the haze, and a moment later, a surge of Qi exploded outward. The force shattered the tendrils binding Tianhai, sending the creature stumbling back.

Jian Xuan landed beside him, his expression tight. "It drains Qi. Stay sharp."

Tianhai swallowed and forced himself to stand. His limbs felt heavy, but he wouldn't let this stop him. Not now.

Finding the Weakness

As the battle raged on, Tianhai noticed something strange. Each time Jian Xuan struck, the creature's form wavered, but it always regenerated. But when it had drained his Qi earlier, its body had solidified.

His mind raced. What if its ability to regenerate is tied to its Qi absorption? What if… it has a core, hidden beneath the darkness?

"Master!" Tianhai called out. "I think I see it! We have to expose its real body!"

Jian Xuan gave him a sharp glance but didn't question it. Instead, he shifted his stance, flowing into a different sword technique. This time, instead of outright attacking, he sent bursts of Qi at the creature, forcing it to react defensively.

Tianhai took the opening. He rushed forward.

The creature's red eyes flared as it lunged at him, sensing the shift in battle. Tianhai ducked low, twisting at the last second. His blade gleamed as he slashed upward—cutting through the swirling shadows.

And then he felt it. A solid mass beneath the darkness.

"There!" he shouted.

Jian Xuan moved in an instant. His blade struck with pinpoint precision, piercing the exposed core. A deafening shriek filled the forest as the creature convulsed, its body unraveling into wisps of black mist. The oppressive aura vanished, leaving behind only silence.

Tianhai staggered back, panting. It was over.

The Hidden Truth

Jian Xuan remained still, his eyes fixed on where the creature had fallen. His grip on his sword remained firm, his brows furrowed in thought.

"Master?" Tianhai asked, catching his breath.

Jian Xuan exhaled slowly. "This wasn't just some mindless beast. Something created this."

Tianhai frowned. "You mean... someone?"

Jian Xuan didn't answer right away. Instead, he knelt, brushing his fingers against the lingering traces of dark energy. "It's too refined, too controlled to be natural corruption. Someone—or something—is behind this."

A cold weight settled in Tianhai's stomach. The thought that this creature had been made… that there could be more like it… was unsettling.

Jian Xuan stood. "We'll report this to the sect. But for now, we need to leave. There's nothing more we can do here."

Tianhai nodded, but as they turned to leave, he stole one last glance at the now-empty clearing.

This mission had changed something.

Before, he had simply wanted to grow stronger. But now? Now, he realized strength wasn't just about power—it was about understanding the battles ahead.

And this battle had only just begun.

The eerie silence of the Blackwood Forest remained as Tianhai and Jian Xuan stood in the aftermath of the battle. The darkness that once clung to the trees, thick and suffocating, had lightened—yet the unease in Tianhai's chest did not fade.

Jian Xuan sheathed his sword and turned toward him, his expression unreadable. The usual cold distance in his eyes was softened by something else—approval.

"You did well," Jian Xuan said.

Tianhai straightened despite his exhaustion. His body ached from the fight, but his heart pounded with something else entirely. His master's praise wasn't easily earned.

Jian Xuan studied him for a moment before speaking again. "From this moment forward, you are not just my disciple. You are my personal disciple."

Tianhai's breath caught. He stared at Jian Xuan, barely processing the words.

A personal disciple.

In the sect, personal disciples were rare. They weren't just students under an elder—they were the ones nurtured personally, given direct guidance and resources, trained to rise above ordinary cultivators.

For someone like Jian Xuan, an elder with immense influence, this wasn't just an honor—it was a declaration. A personal disciple was a reflection of their master.

The weight of it settled on Tianhai's shoulders, but he didn't shrink from it. Instead, he clenched his fists and met Jian Xuan's gaze.

"I won't disappoint you," he said, his voice steady.

Jian Xuan gave a slight nod, then turned away. "Good. Now let's go home."

Returning to the Sect

The journey back to the Sky-Severing Sect was uneventful, but Tianhai found himself lost in thought as they traveled.

The battle had changed something within him.

Before, his desire to grow stronger had been a simple one—to prove himself, to never be weak again. But now, after facing a true threat, he realized how little he truly understood. Power alone wasn't enough. If he hadn't figured out the creature's weakness, if Jian Xuan hadn't been there…

He clenched his fists. He needed more than just strength—he needed knowledge. Understanding.

They traveled for days, moving swiftly through forests, mountains, and rivers. Occasionally, Jian Xuan would pause to test his endurance, making him run ahead or spar in the middle of the night. Though exhausted, Tianhai pushed through. He wasn't just any disciple now.

He was Jian Xuan's personal disciple.

By the time the towering gates of the Sky-Severing Sect came into view, Tianhai's body was battered, but his spirit had never felt more resolute.

A New Beginning

The Sky-Severing Sect stood tall against the horizon, its grand halls carved into the mountain itself. Powerful formations shimmered along its walls, and the air was thick with spiritual energy.

As they entered the sect grounds, disciples paused, casting curious and envious glances at them. Word had spread fast—Tianhai, the unknown newcomer, had returned as Jian Xuan's personal disciple.

The moment they stepped into the sect, one of the elder disciples of Jian Xuan's faction approached. He was an older cultivator, his robes pristine, his aura steady.

"Elder Jian, the Sect Master has requested your presence."

Jian Xuan gave a short nod before glancing at Tianhai. "Go to the training grounds. I will find you later."

Tianhai bowed. "Yes, Master."

Jian Xuan left without another word, his figure vanishing up the stone steps leading to the inner sect.

Tianhai exhaled and turned toward the training grounds, but before he could take a step, a familiar voice stopped him.

"So it's true."

Tianhai turned, meeting the sharp gaze of Xue Wei.

His rival stood a short distance away, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His usual arrogance was absent—but his eyes burned with something else.

Tianhai didn't respond immediately. Instead, he simply met Xue Wei's gaze and nodded.

"Yes. I am now Elder Jian's personal disciple."

Xue Wei's jaw tightened, but instead of responding with mockery, he simply studied him. Then, with a scoff, he turned.

"Don't think this changes anything," Xue Wei said as he walked away. "If anything, it just means I have to surpass you now."

Tianhai watched him go, a small smirk forming on his lips.

Good.

Because he had no intention of stopping here.

A New Path Forward

As Tianhai made his way to the training grounds, he thought back to the mission. The battle, the strange creatures, the dark presence that still lingered in his mind.

This was only the beginning.

He wasn't just chasing power anymore.

He was preparing for the battles yet to come.