The Azure Cloud Sect was never silent. Rumors spread through its halls faster than fire through dry grass, and this time the flames were directed squarely at Kai Lin.“Did you hear? Kai’s rise is no coincidence.”“They say he’s colluding with the Crimson Serpent Sect…”“Trash like him couldn’t possibly rise so fast without outside help.”The words slithered from disciple to disciple like venomous snakes, leaving doubt and suspicion in their wake. By the time Kai stepped into the training courtyard, whispers already chased him every step.At first, Kai ignored them. He had grown used to the sting of insults long before the System awakened in him. But this time was different. His guildmates, those who fought with him against the assassins and those who stood with him in the Iron Fang Hunt now looked at him with unease.“Senior Kai…” whispered Jin, his most loyal follower. “They’re saying you worked with Crimson Serpent all along. That the assassins’ corpses were staged. That you killed

The Black Moon Pavilion has declared us enemies. From this day on, no corner is safe. But hear me well,” his voice thundered across the courtyard, “we will not cower. We will not kneel. The Ascendant Path rises not in comfort, but in defiance of death itself.”The disciples, though shaken, felt their blood ignite at his words. Fear turned into resolve.……….In his chamber, Elder Zhao sipped tea. His smile was as sharp as the blade.“So, the Pavilion has noticed him. Good. Their knives will do what mine cannot under the Sect Master’s watchful eye.”Yet deep in his heart, unease stirred. He had expected Kai to die quietly in the night, not slaughter assassins and live to greet the dawn.“Stubborn brat,” Zhao muttered. “How many storms will it take to break you?”As the sect buzzed with rumors of the corpses in Kai’s courtyard, Kai himself sat cross-legged. The System’s interface glowef before him.“System Directive!Quest Line “Survive the Shadow Hunt” has begun.Optional Path: Seek all

Kai took a move. His Shadow Step amplified his strikes and that helped him cut through the Pavilion assassins with efficiency.Every time they struck, their own shadows betrayed them. Every time they lunged, his counter came faster.“Dragon Fist!” His punch shattered ribs.“Soul Blade!” His sword cut through black qi like sunlight burning mist.Blood splattered across the road. The assassins faltered.The leader growled, forming a seal. “Enough! Shadow Binding!”Dark chains erupted from the ground, snaring Kai’s limbs. The assassins lunged in unison, dozens of blades aiming for his throat and heart.“Ding! Host is in Critical Danger.Host new skill available... the Assimilation. It has the power to absorb and redirect shadow-based techniques.Cost: 50% Qi.”“Activate!” Kai roared.His body dissolved into swirling shadows. The assassins’ chains unravel as if consumed. He reappeared behind their leader. His blade was flashing with golden fire.“Dragon Soul Severing Strike!”The Soul Bla

The training grounds of Azure Cloud Sect were crowded as the disciples stood shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the next duel. The air was tense. Everyone had heard the rumor that Elder Zhao had brought in a wandering genius to deal with Kai.Kai walked into the arena calmly. His guild members stood behind him. They did not say anything, but they seemed worried. A young man dressed in black robes stepped forward. His eyes were sharp and his movements were confident. He was no ordinary disciple.“This is Wu Han,” Elder Zhao announced coldly. “He is a roaming genius. He will show you all the difference between a real cultivator and a pretender.”The crowd muttered. Many already believed Kai’s rise was unnatural. Facing a hired genius seemed unfair, but Zhao’s authority silenced all questions.Kai gripped his weapon. The Soul Blade pulsed in his hands, but he could feel that this battle would be different.The System chimed in his mind."System Alert! Dangerous Opponent Detected: Wu Han

The great hall of Azure Cloud Sect trembled with tension when the messenger from Crimson Serpent Sect arrived. He carried a scroll wrapped in crimson silk, sealed with black serpent wax. The seal was broken in front of Sect Master Liang and all the elders. The contents were read aloud to everyone present. The words were direct and brutal. Crimson Serpent Sect declared Azure Cloud Sect their enemy. They demanded Kai’s head within seven days. If he was not delivered, they promised to wage war until Azure Cloud Sect was destroyed.The hall became very noisy. Elders shouted on the top of their voices. The disciples spoke in fear. Some turned their eyes on Kai with hostility. Others looked at him with a mix of concern.Elder Zhao immediately seized the opportunity. His voice was loud and cold. “You see? This is the result of one reckless boy’s actions. If we hand him over, the matter ends. If we resist, the sect bleeds. What is more important, the life of one boy or the survival of Azure C