As Kai crossed over to another realm, he found himself standing before a massive fortress carved into the peak of a dark, foreboding mountain. The structure loomed over him, its jagged towers shrouded in mist, banners of deep bd crimson fluttering in the wind. This was the Obsidian Peak Sect.

  The grand hall was a vast chamber lined with obsidian pilrs, torches casting eerie flickering shadows upon the walls. At the front of the hall, three imposing figures stood, their gazes locked onto Kai. Liu Yue and Liu Yu stepped forward, bowing deeply before them.

  “This is the one,” Liu Yue stated, her voice even.

  “The bearer of the Celestial Eclipse Manual,” Liu Yu added with a smirk.

  The three elders regarded Kai with a mix of curiosity and reverence before stepping forward to introduce themselves.

  A t man with a broad, muscur frame stepped forward, his presence exuded authority. His eyes were sharp like a predator’s, and a long scar ran down his cheek, a mark of tless battles. He was the enforcer of the sect’s ws and the pilr of strength that maintained order. "I am Elder Kong Tianba of the Enfort Hall also known as the Lion Protector," the Elder spoke in an even voice.

  A slender, pale woman, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable glint followed . Dressed in dark robes, she moved with an eerie stillness, as if she could vanish at any moment. She oversaw assassinations, espionage, and intelligehering for the sect, makihe most feared and mysterious among the elders. She smiled as she addressed Kai, "My name is Elder Pu Erniang of the Shadow Hall, my worldly name is the Scorpion Revenant".

  Finally, a weathered warrior with fiery red robes took a step forward, his aura radiated intense heat, making the air around him shimmer. A master of fme-based teiques and bat, he ahe Crimson Hall, the offensive division of the sect. He was both admired and feared for his unmatched battle prowess. "I am Elder Huo Jue from the Crimson Hall, known as the Dragoinel," the Elder said with an air of authority.

  “The prophecy foretold this day,” Elder Kong decred. “The one who holds the lost teiques of our sect, the bearer of the Celestial Eclipse Manual, has returned. By the will of our founder, you shall be inducted as the leader of the Obsidian Peak Sect!”

  A murmur swept through the hall.

  Everyone k.

  A sea of bck-robed cultivators bowed in unison, their voices eg:“We pay our respects to the Sect Lord!”

  Kai froze in pce, his mind bnk.“W-wait. What?”

  This had to be a dream. Or maybe a nightmare.

  One person did not bow.

  Elder Huo Jue scoffed. His fiery eyes burned with defiahis is absurd. This boy—this outsider—has dohing to earle of Sect Lord!”

  He turo Kong Tianba. “A sect leader must be strong. If he ot eve a mere elder, what right does he have to lead us?”

  The crowd whispered in agreement.

  Elder Pu Erniang smirked. “It is within yht to challenge him.”

  Elder Huo Jue drew his bde, fmes coiling around its surface. “Then I, Huo Jue, challenge Kai to a duel!”

  Kai’s stomach dropped. “WHAT?!”

  Liu Yu cpped her haedly. “Oh, this should be fun~”

  Liu Yue sighed. “Try not to die.”

  Kai was terrified. How could someone like him—who had never fought in his life—defeat a battle-hardened expert?!

  The battle began. Bdes of fire raioward him, searing the stone floor as Kai barely dodged. Elder Huo Jue moved like a raging inferno, each strike f Kai back.

  Huo Jue's voice thuhrough the hall. "Let me show you the true might of the Crimson Hall!" He thrust his palm forward, unleashing Scorg Dragon Fang—a bzing Qi stru the shape of a dragon’s maing toward Kai.

  Kai rolled out of the way, sweat dripping down his brow from the sheer heat. He barely mao gather himself when Huo Jue appeared behind him in a flicker of movement, sshing down with Fme Severance Bde. Sparks flew as the fming sword cut through the air, grazing Kai’s shoulder and burning through his clothes.

  Kai stumbled, clutg his arm. He had no idea how to ter the Elder's moves. Every movement from Huo Jue was calcuted, relentless. The elder didn’t just attack—he dominated.

  Kai had ny. No pn. No clue what he was doing.

  Every attack he threw missed or had no power.

  And then, Huo Jue’s stro attack came crashing toward him.

  "Burn!" Huo Jue roared, f a massive sphere of fire overhead. He executed Infernal Sun Dest, a teique that densed pure, trated fire Qi into a miniature sun, ready to obliterate anything in its path.

  Kai’s eyes widened in sheer panic. His body refused to move.