Rise Of Void Dao

As the heavy doors of the Elders' Hall groaned shut behind Shen Yuan, a tense silence settled in the chamber. The elders, still seated at the grand table, exchanged uncertain glances. Each face bore its own interpretation of the encounter: irritation, concern, and, in some cases, outright fear.

"Reckless brat!" Elder Xian Rui spat, slamming his fist against the table. The wood cracked beneath the force of his blow, sending a tremor across the room. "That boy dares to mock us in our own hall!"

"Control yourself," Elder Jian Feng retorted, his voice cool yet sharp. "Your anger only feeds into his schemes. He thrives on chaos, and we're giving it to him."

"Enough," Tian Xu's calm yet commanding voice cut through the growing cacophony like a blade. His gaze swept across the gathered elders, silencing them instantly. "We cannot afford disarray. Shen Yuan is a manipulative creature, and this is precisely what he desires."

The room stilled as Tian Xu rose from his seat, his imposing frame casting long shadows under the flickering light of the jade lanterns.

"Then what do you propose, Tian Xu?" Elder Xian Rui's tone softened, though his resentment lingered.

Tian Xu allowed the moment to hang, savoring the power of their attention. "We will act decisively but not hastily. Shen Yuan is no ordinary foe. His rapid ascent, his cunning, these are signs of someone destined to disrupt the natural order. If we move without precision, we risk falling into his traps. Today might just be the Gui Clan sect but if he is allowed to continue this, who knows, what he might do to the world in the future."

"What are you suggesting?" Elder Jian Feng asked, his curiosity genuine.

A faint smile played on Tian Xu's lips. "We consolidate our forces. Each of you will gather your disciples and strengthen their loyalty to us. Let no whisper of doubt or defection escape your halls. Meanwhile, I will prepare my Nirvana Realm's ultimate skill, a trump card that will ensure our victory when the time comes."

The other elders exchanged glances. Despite their usual rivalries, none dared challenge Tian Xu's authority now. Slowly, one by one, they nodded their assent.

"Good," Tian Xu concluded, his tone firm. "This is no longer a matter of pride or power. This is survival."

Outside the Elders' Hall, Shen Yuan walked with deliberate leisure, his expression deceptively serene. As he reached the entrance to his abode, he paused, tilting his head slightly as though listening to the whispers of the wind.

When he reached the entrance to his abode, he paused. Raising his head, Shen Yuan let his divine sense ripple outward like a silent bell toll. The resonance of his call spread across the sect, carrying an unspoken command to the Heaven Path disciples. The summoning was subtle yet irresistible, pulling disciples like moths to a flame.

Within moments, dozens of figures began to appear, their silhouettes flickering in the evening light. The gathering swelled to over a hundred, with disciples whispering among themselves, some curious, others skeptical, and a few outright hostile.

Standing atop the stone platform at the edge of his abode, Shen Yuan looked down at the gathering. His gaze swept over the crowd, noting the tension in their postures and the cautious glances they exchanged. With a calm but commanding voice, he broke the murmurs.

"Brothers. Sisters." His words carried an unnatural resonance, drawing every eye to him. "I have summoned you here not to demand, but to offer. To present an opportunity that few would dare even to imagine."

An uneasy silence followed. Then, a voice cut through the stillness, a sharp, mocking tone from a disciple in the middle of the crowd. "And why should we listen to you, Shen Yuan? You're nothing but a rogue trying to stir trouble!"

Laughter rippled from a small cluster of disciples, but Shen Yuan didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled softly, a sound so cold it sent a shiver through the gathering.

"Trouble?" he said, his voice sharp as a blade. "Perhaps. But tell me, what has 'peace' brought you? Endless submission to elders who hoard treasures, stunt our growth, and use us as fodder for their ambitions? Do you truly believe they value us?"

The mocking disciple faltered, his confidence waning under Shen Yuan's piercing gaze.

"Look around you," Shen Yuan continued, his arms spreading wide. "We toil endlessly, striving for scraps while the elders sit in their halls of jade and gold. They promise us power, but they fear what we could become. That is why they suppress us, why they will always keep us beneath them. Are you content with this fate?"

More murmurs rose, this time uncertain. Disciples exchanged glances, their skepticism now mingled with unease.

Another disciple stepped forward, a young woman with sharp eyes and a skeptical frown. "And what makes you any different, Shen Yuan? If we follow you, how do we know you won't become just another tyrant?"

Shen Yuan's expression softened, and for a moment, a flicker of something almost genuine crossed his face. "A fair question," he admitted, nodding at the young woman. "The truth is, you don't know. I won't stand here and make empty promises of being better or more righteous than the elders. But I will say this, I don't seek to rule over you. I seek to break the chains that bind us all. I want to shatter the system of not only the sect but this whole world too."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. The boldness of his declaration struck like thunder, and even the skeptics found themselves intrigued.

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" someone else asked, their tone wary but curious.

Shen Yuan's smile grew, sly and conspiratorial. "With an army," he said simply. "An army of those who refuse to bow, who are willing to stand together against the tyranny of the elders. And in return, I offer you power, true power."

He held up a small jade bottle, the light catching the shimmering pills within. "Qi Regulation Pills," he announced. "A single pill can increase your cultivation speed by ten percent. I will provide these to those who join me, ensuring that your growth will surpass anything the elders could offer."

The crowd erupted into whispers, the air thick with greed and doubt.

"Ten percent?" one disciple muttered. "That's impossible!"

"Is he lying?" another whispered.

"Or is he telling the truth?"

Shen Yuan raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. "I understand your doubts," he said smoothly. "So, allow me to demonstrate."

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a pill to a nearby disciple. The young man, startled, caught it and stared at it hesitantly.

"Go on," Shen Yuan urged. "Try it."

The disciple hesitated, then swallowed the pill. A moment later, his eyes widened, and his aura flared. The crowd gasped as they felt the sudden surge in his qi, his cultivation visibly accelerating.

"It's real," the disciple breathed, his voice filled with awe.

The crowd erupted again, this time with excitement. Shen Yuan let the chaos simmer for a moment before speaking again.

"I will not force you to join me," he said, his voice carrying over the noise. "The choice is yours. But know this: the elders see you as expendable. To them, you are nothing more than tools to be used and discarded. With me, you have a chance to change that."

One by one, disciples began nodding, their skepticism crumbling under the weight of their own ambitions.

"I'm in," one called out.

"Me too!"

"Count me in!"

As the disciples pledged their allegiance, Shen Yuan's smile remained calm and composed. But inside, he was reveling in his victory. Everything was falling into place.

From the sidelines, Bai Chen leaned against a tree, smirking. "You really know how to dangle a carrot, don't you?"

"More like a bag of carrots," Feng Yanqing muttered, her arms crossed. Despite her words, a faint smile tugged at her lips.

Shen Yuan turned to them, his expression deceptively innocent. "What can I say? People are predictable."

Feng Yanqing shook her head, though her smile lingered. "Just don't let this army of yours turn into a mob."

"Don't worry," Shen Yuan replied, his tone light and lazy. "I'll keep them in line."

As the disciples took the pill one by one, Shen Yuan stood on the platform, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The smirk returned to his face, sharper and more dangerous than before.

"Let the elders plot all they want," he murmured. "This is my game now. But…. why… do I have this odd feeling of uncertainty…?"