I watched in horror as Dudley Lowell advanced toward the terrified martial artists, his de still wet with Frederick''s blood. My mind raced frantically. Frederick had sacrificed himself trying to warn them, and now they faced execution for their cowardice.
Despite my restraints burning into my wrists, I couldn''t let this massacre happen. Not while I still drew breath.
"Wait," Julianmanded, limping forward with Frederick''s de still embedded in his thigh. "Not here. The blood might activate ancient formations."
Dudley paused reluctantly. "Where then?"
"The outer courtyard," Julian decided. "We''ll make it quick."
The unaffiliated martial artists exchanged panicked nces, finally realizing Frederick had told the truth. But it was toote. They were outnumbered and outmatched.
"Move," Dudley ordered, gesturing with his sword.
My time was running out. Frederick''s broken bodyy just feet away, his sacrifice demanding I act. I needed something—anything—to turn this situation around.
That''s when inspiration struck. I was sitting on the Sect Leader''s throne. This was the Immortal Bane Sect—a name that still struck terror into the hearts of cultivators across the realm.
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and reached deep within myself. When I spoke, it wasn''t with my voice—it was with the full authority of a being far more terrible.
"INSOLENT MORTALS!" I roared, my voice echoing unnaturally through the chamber.
Everyone froze. Julian''s face drained of color as he slowly turned toward me.
"WHO DARES SPILL BLOOD IN MY SANCTUM?" I continued, infusing my voice with dark energy that made the very air vibrate. "WHO AWAKENS THE PHANTOM LORD FROM HIS SLUMBER?"
The effect was instantaneous. Terror washed over their faces. One of the younger martial artists dropped to his knees immediately.
"My lord," Julian stammered, all his confidence evaporating. "We did not—"
"SILENCE!" I thundered. "A THOUSAND YEARS I HAVE RESTED, AND YOU DISTURB ME WITH YOUR PETTY SQUABBLES?"
I remained facing away from them, knowing that showing my face would ruin the illusion. From behind, they could only see the throne and my outline.
"Everyone kneel!" Julian hissed frantically to hispanions. "Now!"
One by one, they dropped to their knees. Even Dudley, his arrogance momentarily forgotten, sank down with visible reluctance.
"Forgive us, Great Sect Lord," Julian said, his voice trembling. "We did not know this throne was still... upied."
I let the silence stretch painfully, enjoying their fear.
"YOUR IGNORANCE DOES NOT EXCUSE YOUR TRESPASS," I finally proimed. "THE IMMORTAL BANE SECT DEMANDS RESPECT. DEMANDS... PENANCE."
Dominic looked up cautiously. "What form of penance, great one?"
I nearly smiled. This was working better than I''d hoped.
"THIRTY KOWTOWS," I dered. "FROM EACH OF YOU. THEN LEAVE MY DOMAIN AND NEVER RETURN."
Julian hesitated only briefly before pressing his forehead to the ground. "As youmand, Sect Lord."
One by one, they began kowtowing, their foreheads touching the stone floor repeatedly. I watched with grim satisfaction as the proud elites of Veridia City debased themselves at mymand.
Ten kowtows. Twenty. The sound of foreheads hitting stone echoed throughout the chamber. Some of the younger ones had tears streaming down their faces.
"We have angered an immortal," one whispered hoarsely. "We''re doomed."
"Silence!" Julian hissed. "Complete the penance!"
Finally, they reached thirty. Julian rose cautiously to his knees. "Great Sect Lord, we havepleted your penance. May we depart with our lives?"
I paused dramatically. "TAKE YOUR WOUNDED AND GO. BUT KNOW THIS—MY EYES FOLLOW YOU. BETRAY ANOTHER IN MY DOMAIN, AND YOUR SOULS WILL FEED MY CULTIVATION FOR ETERNITY."
"Thank you for your mercy," Julian said, bowing deeply. "We will depart immediately."
They began backing away toward the entrance, dragging their wounded. The relief on their faces was palpable.
I had actually done it. My desperate gambit was working. They were leaving.
And then I made a fatal mistake.
As I watched them retreat, pride and relief bubbled up within me, and before I could stop myself, a short, involuntaryugh escaped my lips.
The sound hung in the air, jarringly out of ce.
Dominic froze mid-step, his head tilting slightly. Julian continued moving, so desperate to escape he hadn''t noticed.
But Dominic turned back, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Wait," he said, his voice cutting through the silence.
Julian paused reluctantly. "What is it? We need to leave before—"
"Thatugh," Dominic interrupted, studying me more carefully. "That wasn''t theugh of an ancient sect lord."
I remained perfectly still, hoping he would dismiss it.
"And look at his clothing," Dominic continued, advancing slowly. "It''s not ancient. It''s not even weathered."
Julian hesitated, torn between fear and curiosity.
"An immortal cultivator wouldn''t wear modern clothing," Dominic reasoned, his confidence growing. "And his bindings—why would a sect lord be bound to his own throne?"
Cold realization dawned on Julian''s face. "Could it be...?" <var ss="ref-c1ed93">Thetest chapters are uploaded first on *.</var>
My heart pounded against my ribs. My ruse was unraveling rapidly.
"Turn around," Dominic demanded, his hand beginning to glow with power. "Show us your face, ''Great Sect Lord.''"
I remained frozen, calcting my options—which were rapidly dwindling to zero.
"I said turn around!" Dominic repeated, his voice harder. "Or I''ll st you where you sit."
Julian stepped forward, his own fear transforming into rage as he realized he''d been made a fool of. "If that''s Knight..."
"Oh, it''s him," Dominic said coldly. "I''d bet my life on it."
I heard footsteps approaching from behind. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
"Last chance," Dominic said, now directly behind me. "Turn around, or die where you sit."
I took a deep breath. The game was over.
Slowly, I turned my head.
"Hello, Dominic," I said with a calm I didn''t feel. "Enjoying your kowtows?"
His face contorted with fury. "You miserable—"
"I have to say," I interrupted, "I''ve never seen the mighty Ashworth heir prostrate himself so enthusiastically. Thirty times, was it? You really put your back into it."
Julian''s face had turned purple with rage. "You''ll die screaming for this humiliation, Knight."
I smiled despite the danger. "Maybe. But I''ll die knowing I made the elite of Veridia City kowtow like servants."
"Enough!" Dominic snarled, his hand zing with deadly energy. "I''m going to erase that smirk from your face permanently."
He raised his hand, power crackling between his fingers, aimed directly at my head.
I stared back unflinchingly, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear. If this was my end, I''d meet it with dignity.
But as Dominic''s hand descended toward me, a strange vibration suddenly pulsed through the chamber. The stone beneath our feet trembled slightly.
Dominic paused, his eyes darting around uncertainly.
"What was that?" Julian asked, his voice tight with renewed fear.
The vibration came again, stronger this time. Dust drifted down from the ancient ceiling.
A third pulse, and this time, it was apanied by something else—a low, inhuman groan that seemed to emanate from the very walls.
"What did you do?" Dominic demanded, grabbing my shoulder roughly.
I looked up at him, as confused as they were. "Nothing."
Julian''s face had gone pale again. "We need to leave. Now."
"Not without dealing with him," Dominic insisted, his fingers digging into my shoulder.
The chamber shook violently, causing several of them to stumble. The groaning sound grew louder, more insistent.
And that''s when it happened—the eyes carved into the walls, which I had assumed were mere decorations, began to glow with an eerie, pulsing light.
"The sect..." one of the martial artists whispered in horror. "It''s really waking up!"
Julian stared at me with a mixture of fury and terror. "What have you done, Knight?"
I looked around at the glowing eyes, feeling the hair rise on the back of my neck. This wasn''t my doing.
Something else was stirring in the depths of the Immortal Bane Sect.
Something ancient. Something hungry.
And we were all trapped in its awakening gaze.