Chapter 17: A Hidden Storm in the Inner Sect
The moon hung high over the Azure Sky Sect, casting a silver glow across the grand palaces and floating mountains of the Inner Sect.
Leon Xian walked beside Qin Yue, her icy-blue robes shimmering under the night sky. The cool wind carried the faint scent of spiritual herbs and fresh dew, but the air between them was thick with unspoken tension.
For the first time since entering the sect, Leon wasn't fighting.
But he wasn't relaxing either.
---
A Conversation Between Two Monsters
Qin Yue led him to a quiet bamboo garden, where a small pavilion rested over a koi-filled pond. The water reflected their images, but Leon was more interested in what was about to be said.
She finally stopped, turning to face him.
"You've caught too much attention," she said, her tone as cool as ever.
Leon smirked. "That tends to happen when you're this amazing."
Qin Yue's eyes narrowed slightly. "Your arrogance will make you enemies."
Leon chuckled, leaning against the pavilion railing. "Enemies? Please, I already have more of those than I can count. If anything, I expected a congratulations."
She remained silent for a long moment, then finally spoke. "I don't understand you."
Leon tilted his head. "Oh? What part?"
"You're reckless, yet calculated. You provoke the strong, yet remain in control. You rise too quickly, yet… no one can stop you."
She took a step closer, her piercing gaze searching his. "What exactly are you, Leon Xian?"
Leon grinned. "That depends. What do you want me to be?"
For a fraction of a second, Qin Yue's cold façade cracked.
It was small. Barely noticeable. But Leon saw it.
Her fingers twitched. Her breath was slightly shallower. And for the first time—her control slipped.
She turned away, her voice softer than before. "Be careful. Not everyone in the Inner Sect will tolerate you."
Leon watched her closely. "And you? Do you tolerate me?"
Qin Yue's lips parted slightly, but then—
She vanished.
The wind carried her final words.
"We'll see."
Leon smirked. Very interesting.
---
The Gathering of the Shadows
While Leon and Qin Yue's conversation remained private, elsewhere in the Inner Sect, a darker meeting was taking place.
Deep within a secluded stone hall, a group of elite disciples sat in a circle, their expressions grim.
The leader, a tall man with scarlet hair and golden robes, tapped his fingers against the table. His eyes burned with resentment.
"Leon Xian…" he muttered. "A nobody from the Outer Sect… and now he walks among us?"
One of the disciples sneered. "He humiliated Jiang Tian in front of the entire sect. If we don't act, he'll only grow stronger."
Another disciple scoffed. "We should have crushed him before he reached the Inner Sect."
The scarlet-haired man's gaze darkened. "We still can."
A shadow moved in the corner of the room, stepping forward. Unlike the others, his presence was unreadable, his aura completely masked.
He finally spoke, his voice smooth yet chilling.
"We won't attack him directly."
The disciples frowned. "Then what do you suggest?"
The shadowed figure's lips curled into a cold smile.
"We'll make the Inner Sect itself turn against him. We'll ruin his reputation, break his alliances, and isolate him. And when he's standing alone…"
His eyes gleamed with malicious intent.
"…we'll break him completely."
The room fell silent.
Then, one by one, the disciples nodded in agreement.
The storm had begun.
---
An Unexpected Invitation
The next morning, Leon woke to find a golden envelope placed at his doorstep.
He raised an eyebrow before tearing it open.
> "Leon Xian, you are invited to the Inner Sect's Elite Gathering—an event reserved for only the most talented disciples."
"This is your chance to prove yourself among the best."
Leon's smirk widened.
"Looks like my welcome party just got interesting."