Inside the Hua Sect's Main Hall, the air was filled with incense smoke and silence. The sect leader, Lady Hua Lian, a graceful yet fierce cultivator in her early thirties, sat calmly on her jade throne. Around her were the sect's elders, each a respected figure within the last surviving low-tier sect of the city.
Suddenly, the silence was broken.
A breathless disciple rushed inside, clothes still torn from the battle.
"Sect Leader! Elders! We… we encountered a terrifying demonic beast during our mission. We would've all died if not for the intervention of a mysterious senior!"
Lady Hua Lian raised an eyebrow.
"A senior? Who?"
"We don't know his name… but he appeared from nowhere, killed the beast with one strike, and gave us healing pills far beyond our sect's capabilities."
Gasps echoed in the hall. Elder Zhen spoke first.
"A man like that… must be from a hidden sect."
Lady Hua Lian nodded.
"Anyone who protects our people deserves our respect. Prepare a generous gift—high-grade cultivation stones and pills. If fate allows, we shall repay him."
All the elders nodded in agreement.
Far away, deep within the hidden caverns of the Hunter Assassin Clan, a chilling aura filled the war chamber. The leader, a beautiful yet deadly woman named Rui Yasha, sat on a black lotus throne made of bones.
An assassin knelt before her.
"Boss… our five Foundation Level 5 assassins are dead. Mission failed."
Her eyes narrowed like blades.
"Who gave the mission?"
"It came through encrypted channels… anonymous request. Target: Xuan Long. Payment: triple our rate."
She tapped her fingers.
"Then let's test this Xuan Long further. Send twenty assassins—Foundation Level 10. I want his mountain soaked in blood."
The twenty assassins vanished into the skies, black shadows crossing mountains.
They entered the Shadow Mountain Range silently.
But the moment they passed the formation perimeter—
All twenty vanished.
Gone.
No screams. No trace.
Nothing.
Inside the Assassin Clan, Rui Yasha received the news minutes later.
"...What?!"
She stood, eyes wide for the first time in years.
"He's not just powerful… he's not alone. A force like this… is beyond our reach."
She clenched her fist, then turned to her messenger.
"Relay to the client—mission terminated. We have failed."
In Zhou Manor, as the sun set, casting blood-red shadows on the jade tiles, Zhou Liang listened calmly to the report.
"So, the assassin clan failed too?" he asked, sipping wine.
His subordinate nodded.
"Yes, Master. They believe Xuan Long is backed by a powerful force—maybe a hidden sect."
Zhou Liang smirked, his golden fan slowly unfolding.
"Just as I expected. He is not ordinary. He is dangerous."
He stood and walked to the balcony.
"Find out everything happening near those mountains. Cultivators, disappearances, bandits—everything. I want to know if the earth trembles when he walks."
Hours passed. His scout returned, eyes wide.
"Master… We have news."
"Speak."
"He destroyed the Fang Bandits. The entire Heavenly Flying Sect… vanished after entering the mountains. And worse…"
"Go on."
"Human traffickers… wiped out. All their branches near the mountain gone. And the demonic world is in uproar—someone is hunting demonic cultivators. They believe it's someone from the mountain."
Zhou Liang chuckled darkly.
"Perfect. It's time to turn the enemy's enemies into his executioners."
He waved his fan.
"Call the Nascent Soul Elder."
In moments, a black-robed elder with eyes like dead stars entered the room.
"Young Master?"
"Head south. Kill demonic cultivators. Leave behind a message—If you want revenge, come to the mountains."
The elder's lips curled into a grin.
"As you command."
Days later…
The skies burned red as the Nascent Soul Elder descended on a demonic outpost.
Within minutes, dozens of disciples and two Core Formation Elders were slaughtered.
Before leaving, he carved into a blood-stained rock:
"Come to the mountain… if you dare seek revenge."
The Tiger Demonic Clan, one of the six strongest demonic factions in the southern region, received the message.
Their Sect Leader slammed his fist onto the table.
"This bastard dares to provoke us! And worse… he's not even hiding!"
A council of elders gathered.
"What do we do, Sect Master?"
"Simple. We call upon the other demonic clans. We'll form a coalition and wipe out the mountain once and for all."
He raised a jade horn.
"From this day forward… that mountain is our greatest enemy."