The Rise of an Evil Sect Leader

The aftermath of Ye Tian's victory rippled throughout the Jade Serpent Sect like a stone dropped into still water. Discussions and whispers of his strength dominated every corner of the outer disciple courtyard.

"Ye Tian defeated Zhang Wei and forced Lin Yue to yield!"

"Who is this monster? How did someone like him stay hidden for so long?"

"He'll dominate the finals… unless the inner sect gets involved."

While the crowd marveled, darker whispers floated through the ranks.

"Someone like him… he's dangerous. The elders will have their eyes on him soon."

"He won't rise so easily. The strong always attract trouble."

But Ye Tian ignored the buzz around him, walking through the outer courtyard like a king surveying his subjects. To him, their words were meaningless—a fleeting noise from insects beneath his feet.

The Rising Pressure

Back in the Serpent Shadow Division's quarters, Luo Xiang stood near a window, watching Ye Tian with narrowed eyes. Unlike most disciples, Luo Xiang wasn't entirely pleased with Ye Tian's victories.

"Interesting," he muttered to himself. "You're rising too fast, Ye Tian. Do you know how many people will try to tear you down now?"

A shadow flickered behind him. Luo Xiang turned to see a robed figure enter the room silently—one of the Serpent Shadow Division's informants.

"Report," Luo Xiang commanded.

The informant bowed. "Chen Feng is furious after Ye Tian humiliated Zhang Wei. He's been training day and night, preparing to face Ye Tian personally in the finals."

Luo Xiang snorted. "Fools. They think brute force alone will stop him."

The informant hesitated, then added, "There's one more thing, Young Master Luo. The Inner Sect has taken notice of Ye Tian."

Luo Xiang's expression darkened. "The Inner Sect?"

"Yes. Elder Wu has ordered someone to investigate Ye Tian's background."

Luo Xiang fell silent. After a long pause, he smirked. "Good. Let them meddle. Ye Tian's rise will only stir up more chaos—and chaos brings opportunity."

The Inner Sect's Watchful Eyes

Far above the outer disciple courtyard, in the towering halls of the Inner Sect, a group of robed disciples gathered before Elder Wu. Each of them radiated a far stronger spiritual presence than any outer disciple could hope to match.

Elder Wu stood before them, his piercing gaze sweeping across the group. "A disciple named Ye Tian has emerged in the outer sect. His methods are brutal, his strength suspicious. Find out who he is and where he comes from."

One of the disciples, a tall and handsome youth named Jiang Hao, stepped forward. "Elder Wu, I'll investigate personally."

Elder Wu nodded. "Be thorough. If he's a threat to the sect, deal with him accordingly."

Jiang Hao smiled faintly. "Understood."

A Visitor in the Night

That evening, Ye Tian sat alone in his modest outer disciple quarters. The small room was dimly lit by a flickering lantern, the air heavy with silence. He leaned back on his bed, his eyes closed as he meditated on the Heavenly Soul Relic's whispers.

"More… power… rise… devour…"

The relic's voice had grown clearer since the tournament began, feeding off the energy of his victories. Ye Tian could feel it strengthening him, refining his spiritual energy with every battle.

Suddenly, his golden eyes snapped open.

Someone's here.

The faint sound of footsteps outside broke the stillness. Ye Tian rose to his feet, his aura cold and oppressive as he stepped toward the door.

Knock… knock…

The soft sound echoed ominously. Ye Tian didn't bother opening the door. "Who's there?"

"Relax, Ye Tian. I'm not here to fight."

The voice was calm, almost amused. A moment later, the door slid open on its own, revealing Lin Yue standing there, her white robes glowing softly under the moonlight.

Ye Tian's expression didn't change. "What do you want?"

Lin Yue stepped inside, her gaze sharp as she looked him over. "You're quite the enigma, Ye Tian. Defeating Zhang Wei was one thing, but the way you fight… it's different. Ruthless. Efficient."

Ye Tian smirked faintly. "Are you here to praise me?"

Lin Yue ignored the sarcasm. "No. I'm here to warn you."

"Warn me?" Ye Tian's interest piqued, though his expression remained cold.

Lin Yue crossed her arms, her tone serious. "The Inner Sect has noticed you. Elder Wu has sent disciples to investigate you. If they suspect you're hiding something, they won't hesitate to eliminate you—even if you're just an outer disciple."

Ye Tian chuckled darkly. "Is that supposed to scare me?"

Lin Yue frowned. "You don't understand. The Inner Sect operates on a different level. You may be strong for an outer disciple, but compared to them, you're still nothing."

Ye Tian's golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. "Then I'll crush them, too."

Lin Yue stared at him for a moment, stunned by his arrogance. "You're insane."

"Perhaps." Ye Tian turned his back to her, looking out the window into the night. "But the strong don't survive by cowering. If they come for me, I'll send them back in pieces."

Lin Yue sighed softly, a hint of admiration flickering in her gaze. "You really are different."

As she turned to leave, she paused in the doorway. "Be careful, Ye Tian. There's more at stake here than just this tournament."

The door slid shut behind her, leaving Ye Tian alone once again. He stared into the darkness, his lips curling into a cold smile.

"The Inner Sect, huh? Let's see how strong they really are."

A Growing Threat

In the days that followed, rumors of Ye Tian's strength continued to spread. His name became both a beacon of admiration and a target of envy.

Chen Feng, the arrogant genius from the Golden Fang Division, trained relentlessly, vowing to destroy Ye Tian in the finals. Luo Xiang watched from the shadows, plotting his own schemes.

Meanwhile, Jiang Hao from the Inner Sect descended into the outer courtyard, his presence causing a stir among the disciples.

"An Inner Sect disciple… What's he doing here?"

"Is it because of Ye Tian?"

Jiang Hao ignored the whispers, his sharp gaze sweeping through the courtyard. "Ye Tian…" he murmured to himself. "Let's see what you're hiding."

The Calm Before the Storm

Late that night, Ye Tian stood alone atop a hill overlooking the sect. The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light illuminating his figure.

The whispers of the Heavenly Soul Relic filled his mind once again.

"Power… blood… destiny…"

Ye Tian closed his eyes, a surge of dark energy swirling around him as he absorbed the relic's power. The tournament was only a stepping stone. His true rise was just beginning.

"Let them come," he whispered to the night. "The sect, the Inner Sect, the so-called geniuses… I'll crush them all."

As the wind howled through the night, Ye Tian's cold laughter echoed across the hills, a harbinger of the storm to come.