The sky above the 36th Super Monastery was turbulent, dark clouds churning like the echoes of the battle that had just transpired. Space rippled unnaturally before a sudden burst of light erupted, and from it, figures were violently expelled—Long Chen, the Dragon Blood Legion, and the surviving members of the other Xuantian Monasteries.
They landed heavily on the stone-paved grounds of the monastery, their bodies battered but unbroken. The Jiuli Secret Realm had collapsed, discarding them into the outside world like remnants of a forgotten battlefield. The once-mighty secret realm was now nothing but dust in the annals of history.
The air was thick with tension as disciples and elders of the 36th Super Monastery rushed forward. Some gasped at the sight of their sect brothers, alive but clearly having endured a war unlike any other. Others searched frantically for missing faces, their expressions darkening with dread.
An elder of the 36th Super Monastery, an authoritative figure clad in traditional Xuantian robes, stepped forward. His gaze swept across the exhausted yet victorious warriors.
"What… happened inside?" his voice was hoarse, filled with urgency.
Others soon followed, elders and disciples of various Xuantian Monasteries, their eyes filled with questions. They had not expected the realm to collapse.
A tall, broad-shouldered elder from the 72nd Xuantian Monastery clenched his fists. "The Secret Realm is gone. What caused this? And what of the Corrupt Path? Did they take any revenge for 108th - Xuantian Monastery's actions durkng the last war?"
The air was still for a moment before Long Chen stepped forward. His black robes fluttered slightly as a cold wind swept through the monastery grounds. His eyes, deep and unfathomable, carried the weight of everything that had transpired.
He spoke, his voice calm yet filled with an undeniable authority. "The Corrupt Path is no more."
A stunned silence followed.
Before anyone could speak, one of the surviving disciples from another monastery stepped forward, his voice trembling with disbelief and reverence.
"Long Chen and the Dragon Blood Legion annihilated them all. Every single disciple of the Corrupt Path and every traitor who had betrayed the Righteous Path was erased. None escaped. That's why the Jiuli Secret Realm collapsed—it could not withstand the bloodshed that followed."
Gasps filled the air. Some disciples paled, others clenched their weapons tighter.
An elder from the 24th Xuantian Monastery took a step forward, his expression unreadable. "That can't be possible. Even if you are all powerful, there were tens of thousands of enemies in that realm."
One of the Dragon Blood Warriors scoffed, crossing his arms. "It wasn't a battle. It was a massacre."
The words sent chills down the spines of many present.
Long Chen remained composed. He knew that while the Xuantian Monasteries were part of the Righteous Path, not all of them were truly righteous. Some sects had knowingly harbored traitors, shielding them under their banners. These sects would not celebrate the eradication of the Corrupt Path—they would see it as a threat.
Sect Leader Ling Yunzi, who had arrived alongside the Dragon Blood Legion members who had remained outside the Jiuli Secret Realm, finally spoke. His voice, deep and commanding, cut through the murmurs.
"The war within the Jiuli Secret Realm was a trial of fate. Those who stood against the True Teachings of Righteous Path were purged. That is all that needs to be said for now."
His words were both a warning and a finality. He was making it clear that whatever had happened inside was no longer up for discussion—it was now an irreversible reality.
Yet, despite his firm tone, not all were satisfied. There were those among the elders whose expressions darkened. Some clenched their fists so tightly that veins bulged on their foreheads.
These were the ones who had lost their hidden pawns within the Secret Realm.
Long Chen could feel their hostility, but he didn't care. Instead, he turned to the Dragon Blood Legion, his voice sharp and decisive.
"We return to the 108th Xuantian Monastery immediately."
Without another word, Long Chen, the Dragon Blood Legion, and Sect Leader Ling Yunzi departed. The others could only watch as the victors left, their presence a looming shadow that no one dared stop.
Next day morning, back at the 108th Xuantian Monastery, the storm that had been brewing finally reached their doorstep.
Their robes fluttered violently in the morning wind, but what stood out most was their bloodshot eyes and the overwhelming killing intent radiating from their bodies.
They were not here for diplomacy.
A cold voice rang through the air like a death knell.
"Long Chen. Dragon Blood Legion. Come out."
The voice carried boundless anger, a demand soaked in the thirst for revenge.
The very foundations of the 108th Xuantian Monastery trembled slightly, a testament to the sheer power gathered outside. These weren't mere shrimos—they were the true powerhouses.
Within the monastery, Long Chen stood still, his expression unchanging as he heard their call. Behind him, the Dragon Blood Legion members, their hands resting on their weapons.
They all knew this was coming.
From the side, Leader Ling Yunzi exhaled slowly, his expression calm yet sharp like a sword unsheathed.
The confrontation was inevitable.
But what the fools outside didn't realize… was that they had already lost the moment they had dared to stand against Long Chen.
Outside the towering gates of the 108th Xuantian Monastery, the air was thick with tension. A mass of figures gathered, forming an imposing sea of robes and armor. The leaders of various factions from the Righteous Sects, including those who had long harbored the traitors, had come together. Their faces were marked with fury and confusion, unwilling to accept the annihilation of the Corrupt Path, the very act that had been carried out by Long Chen and his Dragon Blood Legion.
Their eyes locked onto Long Chen, who stood resolute before them. Beside him, the warriors of the Dragon Blood Legion stood as silent witnesses, their eyes scanning the crowd with unblinking focus.
The sect leaders, their robes rustling in the wind, were the first to speak. They accused Long Chen of acting as an unorthodox tyrant, a man who had taken judgment into his own hands. The words of condemnation echoed through the gathering. The leaders of the Righteous Sects, too proud of their titles, questioned why Long Chen had chosen to act outside the so-called bounds of righteousness. Why had he turned against them? And more importantly, why had he chosen to slaughter the Corrupt Path, wiping out their elders, leaders, and disciples with ruthless efficiency?
Their voices, filled with a mixture of outrage and hatred, reverberated across the field. They spoke as if they had a right to demand answers, as if they, the arbiters of righteousness, were above reproach.
Long Chen, unmoved, let the words of his accusers hang in the air for a moment. He then raised his gaze, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd before speaking with a voice that rang out like thunder.
"Righteousness?" Long Chen's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable weight. "Is that what you call yourselves? The guardians of righteousness? How can you, who stand here with righteous robes and titles, ally yourselves with the Corrupt Path? Tell me—what righteousness does harboring traitors bring?"
His words were like a spark to a powder keg, setting off an immediate uproar. The leaders of the Righteous Sects looked at one another, their expressions shifting from arrogance to uncertainty. Long Chen's question hung in the air, sharp and unyielding.
"You call me a tyrant?" Long Chen continued, his voice now rising, "What of you? What of the rules of righteousness that you so loudly proclaim? Are they so easily bent? So easily broken?"
There was a shift in the air, as if the very foundation of what they believed was beginning to crumble. Long Chen's gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes narrowing with a hint of disdain.
"I've seen your hypocrisy, your two-faced nature," he declared, his tone cutting through the murmurs of protest. "You speak of honor and justice, yet you shelter the very people who have betrayed those principles. You protect traitors, you ally with the corrupt, and yet you call me a tyrant?"
He stepped forward, his presence growing even more imposing. "You, the so-called righteous sects, are no better than those you condemn. You preach about rules and codes of honor, but when it comes to your own interests, to your own power, you throw those same rules aside. Where is your righteousness then?"
The words stung, each syllable striking at the hearts of those who had once believed in their own moral superiority. Long Chen's voice was unwavering as he addressed them, his words a direct challenge to their very existence.
"I see no righteousness in your actions," he declared. "You would rather shield traitors, rather protect your own positions, than face the consequences of your actions. And now, you dare accuse me of tyranny?"
He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing with a conviction that left no room for doubt.
"If you truly believe in righteousness, if you truly believe in honor, then swear on your soul," Long Chen continued, his voice dropping to a more solemn tone. "Swear that you will turn away from the path of corruption. Swear that you will abandon the traitors you have sheltered and join the righteous path. Join the Dragon Blood Legion."
His words were like a final judgment, a call to action that none could ignore. He stood there, unwavering, as the crowd fell into a stunned silence. Some of the Righteous Sect elders looked uncomfortable, their faces betraying the internal conflict they now felt. Long Chen's words had struck at the very core of their beliefs, forcing them to confront the choices they had made.
For a brief moment, there was only silence. Then, one by one, a few elders from the Righteous Sects began to step forward, their faces solemn, their expressions grim. These were the ones who still held onto the ideals of righteousness, who had not been corrupted by their allegiances, and they made the choice to side with Long Chen.
But the majority of the leaders, the ones who had been complicit in harboring traitors, stood firm in their opposition. They refused to swear the oath, their pride preventing them from acknowledging the truth of Long Chen's words. To them, joining the Dragon Blood Legion was an insult, a betrayal of everything they had worked for. They refused to acknowledge the corruption within their ranks.
Among the leaders of the Corrupt Path, the situation was even more dire. They had long since lost any semblance of reason, their minds twisted by their desires for power and control. To them, Long Chen's words were meaningless. They had already made their choices, and they would not turn back. The madness in their eyes was undeniable, and they were beyond redemption.
Long Chen's eyes swept across the battlefield, assessing the few who had sworn allegiance to the righteous path and the many who had refused. His expression hardened as he turned to face the remaining leaders of the Corrupt Path. He could see the madness in their eyes, the twisted glee that seemed to radiate from them. These were the ones who had betrayed everything for power, and now they would face the consequences.
With a single, powerful gesture, Long Chen raised his hand and signaled to his legion. The warriors of the Dragon Blood Legion, their faces grim and determined, readied themselves. The battle was about to begin.
"Let the massacre begin," Long Chen declared, his voice cold and filled with finality. "There is no place for traitors in this world. There is no place for those who defile the righteous path."
To Be Continued...