Chapter 8: The Wolves of the Sect
·Sovereign of Celestial ascent
Chapter 8: The Wolves of the Sect
The cold wind carried the scent of blood and dust as Li Tianming and Jiang Chen pushed forward. The ruins were behind them, but their battles were far from over.
Despite their wounds, they had no choice but to move quickly. They had taken treasures—powerful ones—and that meant enemies would come.
As they reached a secluded valley, Jiang Chen collapsed onto a rock, breathing heavily. He wiped blood from his lips, his sword resting against his shoulder.
"We need to stop here. Even if we keep moving, we won't get far in this state."
Tianming glanced around. The valley was isolated, with high cliffs on all sides. It wasn't the worst place to rest—but something felt off.
Back in the valley, Tianming felt it first.
A shift in the air. Killing intent.
Jiang Chen's sword was in his hand instantly.
Figures emerged from the darkness. Cloaked figures. Assassins.
"Finally found you," one of them sneered. "You should have died in the ruins."
Tianming and Jiang Chen exchanged a glance. They had expected trouble—but not this soon.
"Looks like Mu Qingfeng isn't wasting time," Tianming muttered.
"Good," Jiang Chen smirked, "I wanted to test my blade again anyway."
Their wounds burned, but their fighting spirit remained unshaken.
The battle was far from over.
"We're both wounded, and this is the nearest place to recover," Jiang Chen said, his tone casual but firm. "Besides, Mu Qingfeng challenged me. I won't back down—so take me with you."
Li Tianming and Jiang Chen stepped through the towering gates of a small sect located on the outskirts the Crimison Dragon Sect territory, the weight of their journey still heavy on their shoulders. The ruins had tested them, reshaped them, and now, it was clear—they were no longer the same disciples as before.
But they were not the only ones who had changed.
From the moment they crossed the threshold of this unknown sect, they heard the whispers.
"Li Tianming from the crimson dragon sect survived?"
"Not just survived—he returned with some kind of legacy!"
"They say he obtained power from an ancient Sovereign!"
The sect was buzzing with speculation and in the heart of it all was Tainming.
Jiang Chen scoffed. "Looks like Mu Qingfeng wasted no time."
Tianming smirked. "Let them talk. If they want proof, they'll get it soon enough."
But as they advanced, it became evident—words alone were not the only danger.
---
At the central training grounds of this small sect, a group of elite disciples gathered. Among them stood Wu Yuan, a senior disciple known for his brutal efficiency in duels. His sharp eyes locked onto Tianming the moment he arrived.
"Looks like the star of the rumours has arrived in our sect." Wu Yuan words caused an eerie silence in the training area.
Tianming's gaze swept across the courtyard. Disciples paused mid-training, casting wary or envious glances his way.
"So, the fallen genius returns with newfound power?" Wu Yuan's voice carried across the courtyard, drawing attention. "How convenient."
Tianming met his gaze without flinching. "If you have something to say, say it."
Wu Yuan smirked. "I say we put these rumors to the test."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. A challenge—one that no one could ignore.
"The sects value strength above all else," Wu Yuan continued. "So why not prove yours in a formal duel?"
Tianming's expression remained unreadable, but inside, his blood surged with excitement.
Jiang Chen stepped forward. "This is obviously a setup."
"Perhaps," Tianming said, his lips curling into a smirk. "But I was planning to remind everyone where I stand anyway."
With a single step forward, he accepted the challenge.
The duel was set for the next sunrise.
---
High above, in the halls of the crimson dragon sect, Mu Qingfeng stood in the shadows.
A faint smile played on his lips as he heard about Tainming's whereabouts.
"Good," he murmured. "Let him struggle. Let him fight. The more attention he draws, the more enemies he makes."
His eyes gleaming with cold calculation.
"By the time I'm finished, he will be crushed."
---
As night fell, Tianming stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the moonlit sky.
They found a place to rest and heal their wounds in this small sect known as the white eagle sect. It was filled with welcoming and hospitable people who don't involve themselves with the bigger sects policies but
Tianming could feel it—the storm brewing around him. The duel, the whispers, the growing curiosity. But he did not fear it. He thrived in it.
Jiang Chen approached, arms crossed. "Are you ready for this?"
Tianming exhaled slowly, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.
"More than ever."
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Next Chapter Preview: Chapter 9 –
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As the duel begins, Tianming faces Wu Yuan, a formidable opponent backed by the sect's elites.
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Every move he makes is scrutinized, every strike a statement.
-Tianming is no longer just fighting for himself—he's fighting for his place in the world.
He was not just a survivor.
He was the Sovereign of the Celestial Ascent.