The morning march was tense, every step heavy with suspicion. Whispers spread like fire on dry grass, Zhou Ren's poison blooming in the minds of the desperate.
"He hoards elixirs.""He only saved his own circle.""Without him, the poison wouldn't have struck so hard."
Eyes turned toward Lin Xuan, sharp and resentful. Even the injured, hobbling on crude crutches, muttered curses under their breath.
Wu Ming whispered nervously, "Senior Brother… they're all staring at us like we're roast duck. And not in the friendly family-feast way."
Chen Yu's hand rested on his sword. Li Mei's gaze was hard, ready.
Lin Xuan walked calm, his spear balanced against his shoulder. The more they whisper, the weaker their blades. And the weaker their blades, the stronger the beasts become.
It began suddenly. A disciple, pale and trembling, stepped forward, voice cracking with anger.
"Lin Xuan! You saved your pets, but what of us? Where are the pills you hoard? Where are the herbs you hide?"
Others shouted in agreement."He must hand them over!""If he won't share, we'll take them!"
Wu Ming squeaked, clutching his staff. "Senior Brother, this is the part where they eat us alive, isn't it?"
Zhou Ren smirked from the side, his arms folded. He said nothing—he didn't need to. His whispers had already sharpened into blades.
Chen Yu stepped forward, fury in his voice. "You fools—he's the reason you still draw breath!"
But blades were already being drawn, disciples closing in.
And then the ground shuddered.
At first, a low rumble. Then the forest exploded. Trees splintered as a colossal serpent burst from the undergrowth, scales black and glistening with qi, its maw wide enough to swallow a man whole.
"The Devouring Serpent!" someone screamed.
Panic tore through the disciples like wildfire.
The serpent struck, jaws clamping around a fleeing disciple, lifting him into the air before swallowing him whole. Screams echoed, blood spraying. The column broke instantly—disciples scattering, some throwing down weapons to run.
Even as the serpent devoured, the poisoned whispers still lingered. One disciple, eyes bloodshot, shrieked, "This is his fault! He drew it here!" and hurled a blade at Lin Xuan's group.
Li Mei deflected it with her sword, sparks flying. Chen Yu cut down another who lunged, face twisted in fear and rage.
Wu Ming screamed, swinging his staff wildly. "Why are we fighting both?! Senior Brother, please say this isn't normal sect life!"
Lin Xuan's spear swept, not to kill but to disarm, knocking weapons from grasping hands, pushing enemies back without wasting force. His voice rang calm and cold over the chaos:
"Scatter, and you all die. Fight together, or none survive."
But few listened. Fear and suspicion had already carved the sect into fragments.
The serpent's body coiled, smashing through trees and disciples alike. Its scales shimmered with qi, blades bouncing harmlessly from its hide. Its tongue lashed out, sweeping three men into the air like insects.
Lin Xuan's circle tightened. He stepped forward, spear gleaming, his voice low. "Formation. Now."
Li Mei struck at its eyes. Chen Yu slashed at its softer underbelly. Wu Ming—screaming—swung his staff wildly, somehow cracking a fang just enough to deflect its strike.
Lin Xuan anchored them, his spear flashing with the new hybrid flow. Flowing Wind Cut sliced across its maw, leaving a shallow wound that bled dark qi. The beast roared, enraged.
Nearby disciples gasped."He wounded it?""His group is holding—while we scatter like sheep!"
From the edge of the chaos, Zhou Ren watched, his grin sharp.
"Perfect," he muttered. "The serpent will bleed them dry. And if it doesn't, the others will. Either way, Lin Xuan falls."
But even as he said it, unease flickered in his chest. Lin Xuan stood in the storm like a stone, his circle unbroken, his spear steady. Why does he never falter?
Amidst the chaos, the System pulsed.
[Hidden Quest Progression: Anchor in chaos.][Fusion Potential: 18%.][New Hybrid Expansion: Compatibility broadened.][Notice: Technique pathways aligning. Unique creation nearing threshold.]
Lin Xuan's eyes glinted faintly. So every storm is another step forward.
The serpent reared, qi surging around its body like a storm. Its maw opened wide, ready to swallow a dozen disciples at once.
The survivors screamed, scattering in every direction. Some still turned hateful glares toward Lin Xuan, even as death loomed.
Wu Ming's voice cracked. "Senior Brother, unless you've got a spear technique called Serpent-Be-Gone, we are all finished!"
Lin Xuan lifted his spear, eyes calm, voice low but cutting through the chaos.
"Then we make one."