The hunting valley no longer resembled a trial ground.

  Cracked earth stretched for miles. Entire sections of forest had collapsed, leaving scorched trenches where heavenly lightning had struck. The air still carried faint traces of destruction, heavy enough to silence even the boldest disciples.

  No one spoke loudly anymore.

  Fear lingered.

  And at the center of every whispered conversation was one name.

  Shen Yu.

  Outer sect deacons moved swiftly through the valley, escorting survivors back toward the sect gates. Injured disciples were carried on stretchers; others walked in stunned silence, unable to forget the massive eye that had stared down upon them.

  Shen Yu walked among them unnoticed.

  Or rather — avoided.

  Disciples unconsciously kept their distance, forming an empty circle around him as they moved.

  Lin Mei finally approached, her expression pale.

  “You were closest to it,” she said quietly. “What happened?”

  Shen Yu hesitated.

  How could he explain something he barely understood himself?

  “It… recognized me,” he answered simply.

  Her steps faltered.

  “That’s not comforting.”

  He almost smiled.

  At the valley entrance, several elders waited.

  The moment Shen Yu crossed the boundary, Elder Han’s gaze locked onto him.

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  “Shen Yu,” the elder said calmly, though his tone carried undeniable authority. “You will remain.”

  The rest of the disciples were dismissed immediately.

  Dozens of curious eyes lingered before being forced away.

  Soon, only Shen Yu stood before three elders — and the pale inner sect envoy dressed in white robes.

  Up close, the envoy’s aura felt vast yet restrained, like a blade hidden in silk.

  “So,” the envoy said, studying him openly, “you are the one who stirred the sealed relic.”

  Shen Yu met his gaze without bowing too deeply. “I did nothing intentionally.”

  A faint smile appeared on the envoy’s lips.

  “Intent matters little. Fate rarely asks permission.”

  Elder Han stepped forward. “During the incident, multiple monitoring Gu recorded abnormal resonance between you and the sealed entity.”

  He paused.

  “Explain.”

  Shen Yu remained silent for several breaths.

  Revealing too much would invite danger.

  Revealing too little would invite suspicion.

  “It reacted when I approached,” he said carefully. “I don’t know why.”

  The elders exchanged glances.

  The envoy suddenly laughed softly.

  “Honest… but incomplete.”

  Shen Yu’s muscles tensed slightly.

  The man’s eyes sharpened.

  “Relax. If we intended to kill you, this conversation would not exist.”

  He turned, hands behind his back.

  “The outer sect cannot house variables beyond its control. Therefore, I bring a decision from the inner sect.”

  A jade token appeared in his palm.

  “You are hereby granted provisional promotion.”

  Elder Han’s brows rose slightly.

  “Inner sect trial candidate,” the envoy continued. “You will bypass standard promotion and undergo evaluation directly.”

  Shock flashed across Shen Yu’s face despite himself.

  Inner sect.

  A place outer disciples spent years struggling to reach.

  Lin Mei and others would barely believe it.

  But Shen Yu felt no excitement.

  Only danger.

  Attention from above meant scrutiny… and scrutiny meant discovery.

  “What if I refuse?” he asked.

  The surrounding air grew quiet.

  The envoy turned slowly, amusement flickering in his eyes.

  “You misunderstand,” he said gently.

  “This is not a reward.”

  “It is protection.”

  His gaze deepened.

  “Because after today, other factions will begin investigating what awakened beneath our valley.”

  A cold realization settled over Shen Yu.

  The sealed creature.

  The heavenly reaction.

  None of it could remain hidden forever.

  “The inner sect,” the envoy said, handing him the jade token, “is the only place you might survive long enough to understand what you are becoming.”

  Shen Yu accepted it.

  The token felt warm — and heavy.

  As if marking the true beginning of his path.

  That night, deep beneath the valley, cracks slowly reappeared along the ancient seal.

  Golden runes flickered weakly.

  In the darkness, countless eyes opened once more.

  And a faint thought echoed through the prison:

  He grows.

  Soon… the Devourer will return.

  To be continued…