006 : The Path of No Return.

That night, Lin Tian left his residence and walked toward a secluded cliffside within the sect's mountain range. He had no intention of simply waiting for the duel.

If they wanted to kill him, then he needed to strike first.

The cool night wind brushed against his face as he stood at the edge, gazing down at the misty valley below. His senses stretched outward, feeling the currents of qi flowing through the environment.

Then—he felt it.

A presence.

Someone was watching him.

Lin Tian smiled slightly. "Come out."

Silence.

Then, a shadow flickered, and three figures emerged from the darkness.

They wore black robes, their faces partially hidden behind masks.

Assassins.

Lin Tian turned to face them fully, his expression calm. "You couldn't wait for the duel, so you came to kill me early?"

One of the assassins chuckled. "We were told to test you first."

Lin Tian tilted his head. "And?"

The assassin smirked. "We don't see what's so special about you."

Lin Tian exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the cold air. "Then allow me to educate you."

His feet vanished from the ground—

And in the blink of an eye—

He appeared behind them.

The assassins barely had time to react before—

"SHHHHHH!"

Their qi was ripped from their bodies in an instant.

The last thing they heard was Lin Tian's voice—cold and merciless.

"You should have waited for the duel."

A heavy silence settled over the mountaintop, broken only by the sound of the wind whispering through the jagged cliffs. The moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale silver glow over the rocky landscape, illuminating three lifeless bodies sprawled across the cold earth.

Lin Tian stood among them, his robe fluttering lightly, untouched by the blood that stained the ground. His expression remained eerily calm, his golden eyes flickering in the dim light.

The battle had ended before it had even begun.

Three assassins—men trained in the silent art of killing—had fallen without so much as landing a single blow. They had come expecting to take his life, yet in mere moments, their qi had been completely drained, leaving their bodies nothing more than empty husks.

Lin Tian glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers as he felt the remnants of their energy pulsing through his veins. The sensation was intoxicating—a rush of power that burned through his dantian like an unquenchable fire. Each time he absorbed an opponent's qi, he could feel himself growing, evolving.

He exhaled slowly, letting the energy settle within him. The feeling of strength was addicting, but he knew better than to lose control.

"This is only the beginning."

His enemies had underestimated him. They had sent assassins in the dead of night, hoping to eliminate him quietly, thinking him vulnerable.

But they had made a grave mistake.

He was not prey. He was the hunter.

Lin Tian turned his gaze toward the darkened horizon. The sect still lay in slumber, unaware of the events that had transpired on this lonely mountaintop. But he knew that by morning, the news would spread. The ones who had ordered this attack would learn that their plans had failed.

And when they realized their mistake, they would try again.

"Let them come."

He welcomed it.

---

Dawn broke over the Blazing Sky Sect, its golden light spilling over the towering peaks and casting long shadows across the stone-paved walkways. The sect, usually alive with the hum of training and morning rituals, was unusually tense.

Whispers spread like wildfire, carrying the same shocking news from one disciple to the next.

Three bodies had been found at the base of the mountain. Their corpses were dry, their faces twisted in horror, as if something had stolen the very essence of their souls. No wounds. No blood.

Just empty husks.

And there was only one name on everyone's lips.

Lin Tian.

The disciples gathered in hushed groups, their voices laced with unease.

"He killed them. Drained them of their qi. Just like he did in the tournament."

"His power… it's unnatural. It's not normal cultivation."

"He's dangerous. If he keeps growing at this rate, who can stop him?"

Fear. Doubt. Envy.

It all swirled through the sect like a growing storm.

Lin Tian, once ridiculed and cast aside, had become a force no one understood.

And the unknown was terrifying.

Inside the Inner Pavilion, behind closed doors, the elders sat in council, their faces dark with concern. Elder Liu, the one who had taken the most interest in Lin Tian, sat in silence, his fingers tapping against the polished wood of the table.

"This situation is getting out of control," one elder muttered, eyes narrowing. "The boy is too powerful for someone who was considered a failure just days ago."

"Powerful... and unpredictable," another added. "We don't know the source of his abilities. He doesn't cultivate like the others. If we allow him to continue unchecked, he could become a threat to the sect itself."

Elder Liu remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking. His voice was measured, but firm.

"And what do you propose we do?"

The elders exchanged glances. Some looked uncertain, others wary.

Finally, the first elder spoke again, his tone cold.

"We eliminate him. Before it's too late."

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Elder Liu's expression, but he remained silent.

Another elder added, "If we wait any longer, his power will grow beyond our ability to control. We cannot allow that to happen."

The room was filled with nods of grim agreement. The decision had been made.

At dawn, they would act.