The Gathering Crowd

The Swamp.

"We... we did it."

"We actually made it through!"

"That girl was right—the Demon Creatures' attack pattern was exactly as she described!"

A handful of martial artists, scattered and battered, gazed at the now-calm swamp with the relief of survivors.

There had been dozens of them before, but now... only a few remained.

"The sect will remember your sacrifice!"

A sect warrior wept as he looked out over the swamp.

Not long ago, martial artists from various sects had volunteered—insisting on testing Bai Lian’s plan. They had willingly taken on the role of bait.

No matter how much the others tried to dissuade them, they couldn’t stop those determined to march to their deaths.

After a fierce internal struggle, everyone had agreed to the plan.

And just as Bai Lian had said—it worked.

Their fallen comrades had not died in vain.

Bai Jun clenched his fists, grief weighing heavily on his heart.

If only he hadn’t been so weak, so many wouldn’t have had to die.

"Brother Bai Jun, don’t be sad. The sacrifices of those warriors were meaningful."

Bai Lian offered comforting words, but inwardly, she sneered.

*Trash like them should be grateful they even had the value to serve as bait.*

Indeed, it had been Bai Lian’s doing—using her innate "Alluring Physique" to manipulate those fools into throwing away their lives.

---

The Altar.

"Tsk! The disciples of Dragon King Mountain are truly terrifying!"

"If given time, Ning Qian will undoubtedly claim a place among the Grandmasters!"

"Indeed. To be so formidable at such a young age—I feel ashamed in comparison!"

The martial artists gasped in awe.

Amidst the scattered corpses of Demon Creatures, all eyes were fixed on the young woman standing untouched—her sword in hand, her robes unstained, her expression cold and resolute.

"Well done, Ning Qian."

Shangguan Miaoyin approached, her face carefully arranged into a mask of sorrow.

"Their deaths weren’t your fault."

"The numbers were just too overwhelming."

Ning Qian shook her head.

Her gaze fell upon the bodies of the fallen sect warriors mixed among the Demon Creatures.

She closed her eyes, weighed down by guilt.

"No... it’s because I was too weak."

Her mind flashed back to a month ago—when the Night King had appeared in Jianghai.

Even with all her strength, she hadn’t been able to land a single blow.

He hadn’t even fought seriously—just toyed with her in a mere swordplay exchange.

*Damn it...*

Her heart was heavy, but it didn’t matter.

She opened her eyes.

*Until I defeat the Night King... I won’t lose again.*

---

The Ruins.

*Gulp.*

"This is insane... absolutely insane."

Liu Jianxing swallowed hard, staring in shock at the shattered remnants of an ancient construct—obliterated by something resembling bone spikes.

The challenge had been to defeat *one* enemy.

But...

He looked at the wreckage strewn across the ground.

*This is way more than one.*

"Brother Murong... you’re... pretty strong."

Liu Jianxing didn’t know what else to say, forcing an awkward chuckle.

*Tsk! Are all the fighters in this department monsters or something?*

*How are they all this powerful?*

*I was one of the top talents in my sect—how am I the weakest here?!*

Murong Ci’s breathing steadied as he surveyed the battlefield.

He gave a slight nod.

"Mn."

Then—

*Hummm!*

The crimson mist surged once more.

And with it, a voice echoed:

*"Heh... amusing humans."*

*"Too long... far too long since I’ve seen ones capable of completing this trial."*

*"Interesting... truly interesting."*

*"You have now earned the right to stand before me!"*

As the voice faded, the red mist swallowed their vision once again.

"Tsk! Are we finally meeting the mastermind behind all this?"

"Wait—weren’t we here for the Primordial Qi?"

"Yeah, where is it?"

"Doesn’t matter. We need to regroup first!"

......

......

The mist shifted, warping their surroundings.

When the scattered group opened their eyes again, they found themselves in another place entirely.

The sight before them sent chills down their spines.

They stood in what seemed like a desolate black desert, the sky choked with twisted clouds. Occasional lightning split the heavens like jagged scars, the faint light doing little to pierce the oppressive darkness.

As the mist dissipated, a suffocating stench of decay filled the air.

Deep fissures split the earth—gaping maws ready to devour anything that dared step too close.

In the distance, shattered stone pillars stood like the remnants of a fallen empire, whispering of a glory long lost.

And in their ears—

The nightmarish shrieks of countless Demon Creatures, so vivid it felt like their souls were being torn apart.

Shadows slithered across the dunes, moving with unnatural purpose, drawn to the scent of the martial artists.

But none of that was the most terrifying part.

Far ahead, an army of Demon Creatures—vast and grotesque—marched toward them.

Some towered like mountains, others twisted into horrors beyond comprehension. Their eyes burned with malevolent hunger, and with every step, the air itself trembled with the promise of death.

"W-what the hell is all this?!"

"You’re joking, right? We’re supposed to fight *these* things now?!"

Some warriors swallowed hard, their throats dry.

But that wasn’t all.

What truly stole their breath was the sight in the distance—

A colossal black pillar, stretching into the sky like a twisted tree.

And at its peak...

A single bud, tightly closed, waiting to bloom.

Ning Qian tightened her grip on her sword, murmuring,

"The aura here... it’s stronger than anything we’ve faced before."

Shangguan Miaoyin nodded, her eyes scanning the survivors.

*Hm?*

*Only this many left?*

*The sect warriors have been mostly cleared out.*

*Only the black-clad department fighters remain.*

*Speaking of which... where’s my master’s man from the mortal world? Didn’t see him earlier.*

*Did he die?*

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she spotted Gu Yan—standing there with the dazed expression of someone who’d narrowly escaped death.

*Ah. Still alive. Good.*