chapter 6: the shadow sect's warning
The cold night air carried the scent of burnt ashes and blood. The villagers whispered among themselves, still shaken by the sudden attack.
Shen Tian stood unmoved, his eyes gleaming with sharp intensity.
The Shadow Sect.
A name that carried whispers of death across the cultivation world. Assassins without mercy, experts in the dark arts, and most importantly—they never failed.
Yet tonight, they had been wiped out in an instant.
He turned to Elder Yan.
"What does the Shadow Sect want with your village?"
The old man hesitated, then sighed.
"Our ancestors have guarded something for generations—an ancient relic sealed beneath this land. It holds immense power, and the Shadow Sect has been hunting it for centuries."
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of relic?"
Elder Yan's voice lowered to a whisper.
"The Heart of the Primordial Dragon."
A pulse of energy shivered through the air. Even the night breeze seemed to halt for a moment.
Shen Tian's interest sharpened.
The Heart of the Primordial Dragon was rumored to be the core essence of a being that transcended the heavens. A treasure that could grant untold power—or unleash a catastrophe.
"I see." Shen Tian smirked. "No wonder they're so desperate."
Elder Yan looked at him seriously.
"You must leave, young master. The Shadow Sect will not stop. This was just a test. The true calamity is yet to come."
Shen Tian chuckled.
"If they're coming for me, then I should prepare a proper welcome, don't you think?"
Elder Yan stared at him in disbelief. Did this young man not know fear?
The villagers, too, were awed by his confidence.
But before Elder Yan could say more—
BOOM!
The ground trembled.
A dark pillar of black qi shot into the sky from deep within the forest.
The warmth in the air vanished, replaced by an overwhelming chill.
From the depths of the shadows, figures emerged.
This time, they weren't just assassins.
They were elders of the Shadow Sect.
The Shadow Sect's Emissary
Leading them was a tall figure, clad in flowing black robes inscribed with cursed runes.
His skeletal face was hidden beneath a deep hood, but the aura of death around him was suffocating.
His voice was cold, like the whispers of the dead.
"You should not have interfered, boy."
Shen Tian smirked, tilting his head.
"And you should have sent someone stronger."
The Shadow Sect elder sneered.
"You do not know the forces you oppose. The Heart of the Primordial Dragon will belong to us."
Elder Yan stepped forward.
"As long as we live, we will protect it!"
The Shadow Sect elder sighed.
"Then you will not live much longer."
With a snap of his fingers, the assassins charged.
The air trembled as dark energy exploded forward.
The villagers screamed, rushing to defend themselves—
But Shen Tian stepped ahead of them.
"Enough."
He raised his hand.
And slashed the air.
One Slash, One Massacre
A single wave of golden sword energy erupted from his fingertips.
The light cut through the darkness, tearing through the assassins like paper.
Their bodies vanished in an instant—erased from existence.
The Shadow Sect elder staggered back.
"What…?"
Shen Tian vanished.
Then—
BAM!
A fist crashed into the elder's gut, shattering his protective qi like glass.
The elder coughed blood, his body trembling from the force of the impact.
Shen Tian grabbed his throat.
"I'll ask once."
His voice was calm, but the pressure in the air was suffocating.
"Where is your sect hiding?"
The elder's eyes widened in terror.
Even in his worst nightmares, he had never encountered such overwhelming power.
But before he could speak—
A shadowy claw burst from his chest.
His body convulsed, then disintegrated into dust.
From the swirling darkness, a new figure emerged.
A deep voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Impressive."
Shen Tian turned, his eyes narrowing.
A man dressed in black imperial robes floated in the air, his presence suffused with ancient, unfathomable killing intent.
His face was hidden behind a mask carved with demonic runes.
Shen Tian smiled.
"So, the real one finally shows up."
The True Enemy Arrives
The masked man's lips curled into a sinister grin.
"I am Mo Yingtian, Grand Elder of the Shadow Sect."
"You have interfered with our plans, Shen Tian. And for that, you will suffer."
Shen Tian cracked his knuckles.
"Big words."
He took a step forward—and the sky trembled.
Lightning crackled above, as if the heavens themselves reacted to his presence.
Mo Yingtian's eyes narrowed.
"You… what exactly are you?"
Shen Tian grinned.
"The man who will bury your sect."
The battle was just beginning.
End of Chapter 6