"Zane?" they all called out in shock.
Zane's eyes narrowed as he turned to face them fully. "Don't call me by my name alone. I've been expelled from the sect, or have you forgotten? I'm no longer your junior."
Zhao Lin's mouth fell open as he stared at him, his eyes struggling to gauge his power level. "Impossible," he whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You're supposed to have lost your cultivation. Your powers should be gone, yet... I can't see through you."
Liam's expression shifted as realization dawned on him. "He's close to entering the golden realm," he said, his voice tight with disbelief.
They all gasped, their faces a mixture of shock and confusion. Zane couldn't help but smile, savoring their reactions. The tables had turned, and he was enjoying every moment of it.
"No way," Soren shook his head vigorously. "This can't be right. You had just built your foundation when you left the sect. How is your cultivation already almost on the same level as Liam's? He's the first senior of the entire sect!" His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You must be using dark magic to enhance your cultivation. There's no other explanation."
Julian didn't miss a beat, quickly seizing the opportunity presented. "I know of a forbidden dark technique," he said, his voice dripping with false concern. "It allows the user to absorb other people's luck to enhance their own cultivation. That must be what Zane has done to achieve such a feat in such a short time."
A smirk spread across Zhao Lin's face as he stepped forward. "How dare you use dark magic," he challenged, his voice rising with each word. "I'm going to purge you out of this world on behalf of the sect." Without wasting a second, he gathered energy around himself, the air crackling with power as he prepared to attack.
Zane smiled calmly, unfazed by his threat. He responded by charging up his own attack, lightning energy forming around his hands.
In a flash, both attacks were fired. The collision of energy lit up the chamber, blinding everyone momentarily. As the light faded, it wasn't Zane who was on the ground – it was Zhao Lin. He lay there, his body smoking from the impact, staring up in disbelief.
No one could believe their eyes. Zhao Lin, the second senior of the Phoenix sect, had been bested so easily.
Zane turned to Julian, his eyes cold. "You're not only two-faced but also shameless," he said, his voice steady. "But don't worry, I won't expose your secrets. I can't wait to see the look of despair on the sect's face when they learn the truth about you on their own."
Soren stepped forward, his face red with anger. "You ungrateful wretch! How dare you hurt Zhao Lin like this after everything the sect has done for you!"
Zane raised an eyebrow. "Why should I fear any of you?" he asked calmly. "In the world of cultivation, the strong reign supreme. Isn't that what he told me on multiple occasions while I was in the sect, Soren?"
The memory came flooding back to him – he had been cornered by thugs who were after an item he had risked his life to get. Zhao Lin had appeared at the last moment, seemingly to save him. But instead of helping him claim his rightful reward, he had simply smirked and said, "The strong reign supreme," as he collected the item himself, taking credit for all his risks and efforts.
Returning to the present, Zane fixed his gaze on Zhao Lin who was slowly getting back to his feet. "Do you remember now, Zhao Lin?" he asked, deliberately using his full name.
"You were nothing when you came to us," Zhao Lin spat, still wincing from the pain of his attack. "We gave you shelter, taught you cultivation. And this is how you repay us?"
"Repay you?" Zane laughed, but there was no humor in it. "What exactly am I repaying? The years of being used? The constant belittling? Or perhaps the way you all stood by while Julian set me up to be killed?"
Liam stepped forward, his face troubled. "Zane, that's not what—"
"I said don't call me by my name alone," Zane cut him off sharply. "You lost that right when you chose to believe his lies over someone who had been loyal to the sect for years."
Julian's face had gone pale, but he quickly composed himself. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I never did anything to harm you."
"Save your act," Zane said coldly. "It might work on them, but I see right through you now."
Soren moved to stand protectively in front of Julian. "Whatever grievances you think you have, they don't justify using dark magic and attacking fellow cultivators."
"Dark magic?" Zane laughed again. "Is that all you can come up with? That I must be using some forbidden technique because you can't accept that I might simply be stronger than you now?"
"Then explain how you advanced so quickly," Liam demanded, his voice calm but firm.
"Hard work," Zane replied simply. "Something none of you would understand because you've always had everything handed to you. While you were enjoying the comforts of the sect, I was out there facing the Heaven's Ordeal alone."
Their eyes widened at the mention of the Heaven's Ordeal.
"You survived the Heaven's Ordeal?" Liam asked, unable to hide his surprise.
"Not only survived," Zane said proudly. "I conquered it. And now I stand before you, no longer the weak pupil you could push around."
Zhao Lin had finally regained his composure, though he still looked shaken. "It doesn't matter how you got your power. You've turned against the sect, and that makes you our enemy."
"I didn't turn against the sect," Zane corrected him. "The sect turned against me when it chose to believe Julian's lies. Soren stepped forward aggressively. "Enough of this. We came here for the Soul Convergence Pill, and we won't leave without it. Julian needs it for his cultivation."
"Julian, Julian, Julian," Zane mimicked. "Always about Julian, isn't it? What about all the other disciples who needed help? Who needed guidance? Did any of you ever care about them?"
"That's not fair," Liam said, his voice softer now. "We've always tried to help all disciples."
"Like you helped me?" Zane challenged.
Liam fell silent, unable to meet his gaze.
Julian moved forward, tears welling in his eyes. "Please, Zane. I know we've had our differences, but I really do need that pill. My cultivation—"
"Save it," Zane cut him off. "Your act might work on them, but not on me. Not anymore."
He turned his attention back to Zhao Lin, who was still glaring at him. "You know, Zhao Lin, I used to look up to you. I thought you were everything a cultivator should be – strong, wise, fair. But now I see that you're nothing but a bully who preys on those weaker than you."
"How dare you!" Zhao Lin growled, energy beginning to gather around him again.
"Be careful," Zane warned, lightning crackling between his fingers. "You've already seen what happens when you challenge me now."
The tension in the air was palpable as they all stared at each other, neither side willing to back down.
"We don't need to fight," Liam said finally, trying to defuse the situation. "Zane, we can talk about this. Whatever happened in the past—"
"The past is exactly why we're here," Zane interrupted. "The past is why I can never trust any of you again. The past is why I will take this Soul Convergence Pill and use it to further my own cultivation, not to help the person who orchestrated my downfall."
He held the pill up, watching their faces carefully. The desperation in their eyes was clear, especially Julian's. For a moment, Zane felt a flicker of satisfaction. This was what he had wanted – to see them helpless, to have power over them for once.