The Rise of an Evil Sect Leader

The group pressed on through the dense forest, their senses heightened by the lingering tension from their previous encounters. Wu Liang and Lin Feng led the way as the vanguard, moving cautiously yet confidently. They were well aware that, with their roles as cannon fodder, they would be the first to face any trouble that arose. Behind them, Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao walked steadily, their eyes sharp and ever-watchful. Ye Tian stayed in the center, his expression unreadable, his mind working through the next steps of their journey.

The path ahead was uncertain, and though Ye Tian had made it clear that they were moving forward with no more unnecessary detours, there was still much to uncover. Their last skirmish with the scattered group of disciples had left them with no tangible reward—just bruises and the frustration of running into too many dead ends. The map they sought had yet to materialize.

"Something feels off," Wu Liang muttered under his breath, glancing nervously into the shifting shadows that surrounded them.

Ye Tian raised a hand for silence. "Keep alert. We're close to something important."

The words barely left his lips when Lin Feng froze, his eyes narrowing. "I see movement."

The group halted, their bodies instantly tensing. In the distance, figures could be seen moving through the trees. At first, they appeared to be nothing more than shadows—misty shapes among the foliage—but as they got closer, it became clear that a group of disciples had made camp not far from their location.

"They're not just passing through," Zhou Lie observed, his voice barely a whisper. "They're planning something."

Ye Tian's lips twisted into a faint smirk. "Then we'll find out what. Stay low."

The group crept forward, silent as the wind, blending with the shadows. As they drew closer, they could make out the conversation of the disciples gathered around a campfire. One of them, a wiry man with a sharp, calculating gaze, was holding a map and pointing at various markings on it. His voice was low but carried a sense of urgency.

"This path," the wiry man said, "is the safest route to the legacy site. We'll avoid most of the deadly traps if we follow it."

"Are you sure?" another voice asked, laced with doubt. "We can't afford to waste any more time. If we're wrong—"

"We're not wrong," the wiry man snapped, silencing the others. "I've seen the map with my own eyes. This is the way."

Ye Tian motioned for the group to stay quiet. He exchanged a glance with Zhou Lie, who nodded in understanding. They couldn't let this map slip away.

Wu Liang and Lin Feng, being the first to engage, stepped forward as if they were just another pair of wandering disciples. Lin Feng put on a nervous smile and called out to the group, "Excuse us, sirs. We're lost. We've heard talk about a safer route to the legacy site. Could you spare us a moment?"

The disciples around the fire looked up, their expressions guarded. The wiry man's gaze immediately fixed on Wu Liang and Lin Feng, a hint of suspicion crossing his face. "Who are you?"

"We're just travelers," Wu Liang said quickly, raising his hands in mock surrender. "We've heard rumors about the dangers ahead and thought you might know a better way."

"We don't have time for distractions," the wiry man replied coldly. "You'd be better off finding your own path."

"But surely," Lin Feng pressed, taking a step forward, "if you've found the best route, why not share it? We're all trying to survive here, right? Maybe we can help each other out."

The wiry man paused, his lips curling into a thin, calculating smile. "What's in it for you? You think you can barter your way through this?"

"Maybe we can assist in a different way," Wu Liang said, his voice smooth, but his fingers twitching as if itching to grab something. "We're... resourceful."

A moment of tension hung in the air, the disciples sizing up Wu Liang and Lin Feng. Ye Tian, Zhou Lie, and Jiang Hao remained hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment. The wiry man studied Wu Liang and Lin Feng carefully, his eyes narrowing as if weighing the options. After a moment, he seemed to relent.

"Fine," he said, reluctantly. "But don't get any ideas. If you want to know the way, it'll cost you."

"What kind of cost?" Lin Feng asked, feigning innocence.

The wiry man smirked, holding up the map. "This is the only copy I've got. You want it, you take it from me."

Lin Feng's eyes gleamed, a flash of ambition crossing his face. But before he could say anything more, Wu Liang cut him off, giving the wiry man a look of acknowledgment.

"Then it's settled," Wu Liang said smoothly, "We'll take that map off your hands."

Without another word, Wu Liang made a sudden move, lunging forward. But before the wiry man could react, Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao sprang from the shadows, their presence overwhelming. The disciples surrounding the fire took a step back, visibly intimidated by the overwhelming aura exuded by the trio.

"What the—" The wiry man gasped, his hand going to his weapon, but Jiang Hao was faster. His sword flickered in the air, and in a single, fluid motion, it was at the man's throat.

"You should have thought twice before making threats," Ye Tian said, stepping into the light. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that sent a chill through the air. "Tell me everything about that map. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

The wiry man swallowed, clearly unwilling to face the wrath of the Inner Sect trio. "Fine," he spat. "Take the damn map. But mark my words—this isn't over."

Ye Tian nodded to Jiang Hao, who stepped back, allowing the wiry man to hand over the map. Ye Tian took it with a calculating look. "I don't plan on making it 'over.'"

With the map now in their possession, Ye Tian's group turned and began to move out, the disciples left to simmer in their frustration. But their journey was far from over. They were no closer to the legacy than they had been before, and time was running out. The path ahead would be fraught with more dangers, but now, with the map in hand, they had a chance.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the map's directions seemed more real than before. Each step forward felt like they were getting closer. They couldn't afford to fail now.

Ye Tian looked up at the darkening sky, his expression unreadable. "We'll find it. And when we do, nothing will stop us."

Ye Tian inspected the map in his hand, his eyes scanning its intricate lines and symbols. The wiry man, who had handed it over so reluctantly, stood frozen a few steps away, his lips curling into a sly, almost imperceptible smirk.

"You got what you wanted," the man said, his voice laced with a hint of triumph. "But you should've been more careful about how you took it."

Before Ye Tian could react, the map glowed faintly, emitting an eerie, pulsating energy. His sharp instincts screamed danger, but the trap activated too quickly. A surge of energy erupted from the map, exploding in a violent flash of light and force.

The blast sent Ye Tian staggering back, blood trickling from a shallow wound on his left shoulder. Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao, reacting in an instant, drew their weapons, their eyes burning with fury as they shielded their leader from further harm.

Wu Liang and Lin Feng, standing at the forefront, bore the brunt of the explosion. Both stumbled to their knees, coughing as dust and debris clouded the air.

The wiry man laughed, his smug confidence radiating across the clearing. "You really thought I'd just hand it over? You Inner Sect bastards think you're untouchable, but out here, you bleed just like the rest of us."

Ye Tian rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his robes as if the explosion was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. His eyes, however, burned with a quiet, unrelenting fury. The faint golden aura of his Sovereign Power shimmered around him like a waking beast.

"You've made a grave mistake," Ye Tian said, his voice cold and calm, yet carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken threats.

His vision blurred momentarily, and then everything sharpened. His usual calm exterior was replaced by an eerie stillness.

"Brother Ye?" Zhou Lie's voice faltered, sensing the shift.

Ye Tian said nothing. In an instant, he blurred and reappeared in the midst of the enemy group. Gravity itself seemed to bend around him as an invisible force exploded outward. The wiry man and his comrades were flung backward like leaves in a storm, crashing into trees and rocks with bone-shattering force.

"W-What is this?!" one of the disciples stammered, clutching his broken arm.

But Ye Tian was far from done. His presence was overwhelming, his movements deliberate as he raised his hand. The enemies, struggling to rise, were yanked toward him as if an invisible hand had seized them. Screams of confusion turned into cries of terror as they were dragged into a tight cluster.

Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao exchanged glances, their own confidence shaken by the sheer dominance radiating from Ye Tian. Wu Liang and Lin Feng, standing on the outer edge of the battlefield, could only watch in stunned silence, their usual schemes forgotten.

With the enemies now helplessly drawn together, Ye Tian extended his other hand. Flames roared to life, black and crimson tendrils licking at the air. This was no ordinary fire—it was an evolved form of the Flame of Nine Hells. The flames spread like a living entity, surging outward and consuming everything in their path.

As the fire raced toward the clustered enemies, their screams filled the air. The flames didn't merely burn; they devoured, spreading rapidly and leaving nothing but ash in their wake. The sheer heat forced even Zhou Lie and Jiang Hao to retreat several steps, shielding themselves.

When the inferno subsided, Ye Tian stood amidst the scorched earth, his breathing steady but his eyes colder than ever. The counter self had retreated as quickly as it had emerged, leaving Ye Tian to face the aftermath.

Aftermath

The silence that followed was deafening. Wu Liang and Lin Feng, visibly shaken, approached cautiously. "Brother Ye…" Wu Liang began, his voice trembling. "That power… it was—"

"A gift," Ye Tian interrupted, his voice calm once more. "And a reminder that strength isn't just given—it's earned."

Zhou Lie nodded, his usual stoic demeanor giving way to a rare look of respect. "Whatever that was, it saved us. But can you control it?"

Ye Tian's lips curled into a faint smirk. "We'll find out."

As the group regrouped, Ye Tian felt a subtle shift in his cultivation. The surge of power had pushed him beyond his previous limits. His qi circulated faster, richer, and more potent than before. He was now on the verge of breaking into the next stage of qi gathering—a milestone that brought both opportunity and peril.

For now, though, they had the map, and despite its earlier sabotage, it was still legible. Ye Tian glanced at it briefly, memorizing the key details.

"Let's move," he said, his tone commanding. "We have what we need."

And as they continued deeper into the trial grounds, Ye Tian couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay dormant within him, waiting to be unleashed.