In the middle of the night, a blaze reached the heavens.
Coming out of the Main Hall, Xiao Yunshan observed the hellish scenery around accompanied by an endless strings of wails and cries of agony. His heart sighed with disappointment.
Ren Xiaoyun came from behind to stand next to him. He bowed, âHigh Venerable, is it possible that you and Demon Scheming Sectâs High Venerable were friends? Why would you care so much that he died? If you really were friends, whyâŠâ
âKill him?â
Ren Xiaoyun finished his thought then frowned, âWeâre not friends, but the opposite, bitter rivals.â
âRivals?â
âYes, rivals that have been fighting for a thousand years.â
Xiao Yunshan sighed looking at the sky as he recalled those times. âWhen Heaven Trailing Sect and Demon Scheming Sect sent their disciples to compete, I was the best then and had defeated everyone. Even elites would quiver at the mere whisper of my name. In the arena, most of them would lose before they even struck. While I was filled with vigor and power, the Demon Scheming Sectâs team was like a bunch of rats. But then he came.â
âDemon Scheming Sectâs High Venerable?â
âBut he was no Venerable then, not even a normal disciple, just a laborer.â
Xiao Yunshan smiled, âOne laborer actually dared to challenge me. Like anyone else in my position, I looked down on him and mocked him. Only to find out at the end how much trouble he was. Not even twenty years passed and he came challenging me again. I asked him what a laborer was trying to do, while he answered that he would definitely revitalize his sect and keep surpassing his limits. I laughed in his face, saying that I was far beyond his limit and he will never reach me. But he was stubborn regardless, fighting me again and again.
âI first found him amusing so I humored him since he was easy to beat. But then I felt threatened. This kid, this laborer of poor constitution, was gaining on me one step at a time. I did not accept it and lashed out, telling him he was useless, that he couldnât touch a hair on me. In the end, he still came to fight me, I sometimes wanted to kill him. He sensed it as well and urged me in fact. As if by killing him I showed that I was scared of him.â
âHa-ha-ha, how was he worth it? But what came next proved I was indeed afraid he would overtake me. A laborer actually forced me to get serious about training, a genius like me, to reaffirm my position. Sounds like a really bad joke. But thatâs how it was. This is how we became bitter rivals over time.â
Xiao Yunshan gave a sad smile. âOur fights soon evolved to being a comparison of our sects. Who will be the first to take their sect higher? Heâs been High Venerable of the Demon Scheming Sect for years and years, but our fights never stopped. Iâve gotten used to them over the years. Now that heâs suddenly gone, I do feel a sense of loss and loneliness. Now thereâs no one to match my strength.â
âOh, I see. I didnât think Demon Scheming Sectâs High Venerable would have such a story. Truly inspiring!â Ren Xiaoyun nodded.
Xiao Yunshan sighed, âHe was amazing, but failed in the end. For wealth and fame, he tore up his sect. Xie Wuyue, with all his skills, is nothing more than a common man that wonât amount to anything.â
âYes, only with him as Sect Leader can we rest easy, ha-ha-haâŠâ Ren Xiaoyun laughed.
Xiao Yunshan nodded, âAs their adversary, the weaker they are the better. After this, Venerable Shi will have Xie Wuyueâs weakness and will hardly be neutral. Middle-three sect? Ha-ha-ha, itâs way too soon for them. A shame for all the effort Yuan Xinggang put inâŠâ
âIs High Venerable regretful?â
âNo!â
Xiao Yunshan shook his head, âI did not want him to die, but for the sectâs good, I had to step in and do what needed to be done. He wouldâve done the same. This was a kind of promise between us. He understood this the best.â
Ren Xiaoyun sighed.
[These two High Venerables were men among men, looking at the bigger picture and in impressive manner, becoming rivals.]
It wouldâve been a touching story in times of peace, but when the sectâs interests were involved, one of them would end up as a sacrifice. Demon Scheming Sectâs High Venerable did not die, in fact, from Xiao Yunshan, but by Xie Wuyue, his own discipleâŠ
âThe old man said something about having another disciple. He spoke with pride about him. Who is he? Iâm interested to meet him.â
Xiao Yunshan asked.
Ren Xiaoyun shook his head, bowing, âHigh Venerable, the disciple heâs talking about must be Zhuo Fan who took Double Dragon Gathering by storm. Only, you might not see him again?â
âWhy?â
âI heard Xie Wuyue saying that the Universal Righteous Sect went after himâŠâ
âFine, you donât have to say it.â
Xiao Yunshan sighed, âSince men from the superior-three sects came forward, he has no chance. What a shame, I really wanted to see his prized discipleâŠâ
Xiao Yunshan vanished from his spot, leaving Ren Xiaoyun standing there.
Meanwhile, deep in a forest, Gui Hu, Qi Changlong, Yueâer, Kui Lang and other disciples all fell limp on the ground and glaring at the person in front. âLu Xie, you poisoned us?â
âYep, how else would your Yuan Qi get sealed? Ha-ha-haâŠâ
Snickering, Lu Xie mocked them as two inner Ethereal Stage elders came along.
Clenching his fists, Qi Changlong shouted, âLu Xie, why would you do this?â
âYou dare attack us? High Venerable will soon find out and thereâs no escape for you!â Bai Lian threatened.
The three laughed, âHigh Venerable? They can hardly defend themselves and you expect them to save you? Donât you see the chaos and smoke coming from the mountain? Humph, the Labor Office is finished.â
âWhat are you talking about?â Gui Hu shouted.
Lu Xie sneered, âYouâll soon be dead anyway so I might as well explain. In fact, my master and I have planned in detail just for today. The tallest tree catches the most wind. Werenât you showing off with Zhuo Fan? At the Double Dragon Gathering, youâve been looking good, but that meant you earned many enemies as well. I followed masterâs instructions and made contact with all the ones that hated Zhuo Fan, all for today.
âI bet the Universal Righteous Sect mustâve already gone for Zhuo Fan. Heaven Trailing Sect and Mystical Heaven Sect worked with us to destroy the Labor Office, Zhuo Fanâs factions, to avoid any mishap. Such a shame the Beast Taming Sect team at the Double Dragon Gathering was destroyed, or I bet Iâd get them on board too. Well, not that it mattered, ha-ha-haâŠâ
âYou went to get other sects involved?â Qi Changlong roared, âDouble Dragon Manor will interfereâŠâ
Lu Xie waved his hand in derision, âYou think we didnât know about it? Since you guys came up with an excuse to attack Mystical Heaven Sect, why couldnât we as well? Humph, Zhuo Fan has only been a Sect Leader for just one day. Whoâd recognize that? With Heaven Trailing Sect and Mystical Heaven Sect helping us stem the chaos in Demon Scheming Sect, Xie Wuyue would be back as Sect Leader and that made you with Zhuo Fan as traitors. Howâs that for logic? Weâre in the right here, ha-ha-haâŠâ
They all gnashed their teeth in hatred.
They knew as well that Double Dragon Manor would not interfere in a sectâs inner conflict.
âAlso, master had set this plan for a long time, suffering in silence. He figured that Zhuo Fan and Xie Wuyue would at some point butt heads, just as expected. Well, isnât my master much more cunning than Zhuo Fan?â
Lu Xie raised a taunting eyebrow and raised his fist with Yuan Qi, âQi Changlong, I told you, the best disciple in the sect will be me in the end. With you finished, all problems are solvedâŠâ
Bang~
He didnât get to finish as three rays of red erupted.
Lu Xie shook and looked down at the huge hole in his chest. Looking around, he saw the elders looking the same.
Only then he noticed a familiar figure, âY-you⊠Grand Elder⊠whyâŠâ
âLu Xie, you talk too much, or Iâd have struck faster. Ha-ha, still green in the end.â Grand Elder smirked and made a sign. A falcon a hundred meters big came out and struck the two bodies on the ground, ripping their souls apart.
Next, the falcon grabbed the weakened Lu Xie, and he cried, âWait, arenât you part of the inner sect? WhyâŠâ
âYes, butâŠâ Grand Elderâs eyes flashed and roared, âIâm Gui Huâs master first and foremost!â