NOVEL NEXT Chapter 196: New Sect
The former Sect Master's voice echoed across the entire mountain.
"I… acknowledge your victory! From this moment onward, the Iron Sky Sword Sect belongs to Tian Lei!"
Silence fell.
Every disciple was frozen. No one dared breathe too loudly.
Tian Lei nodded calmly.
"Good."
Then his expression changed—becoming cold, sharp, and merciless.
He looked down at the Sect Master and the gathered elders.
"Now… there is one more thing."
The Sect Master blinked, confused.
"W-What…?"
Tian Lei turned around and pointed at the crowd.
"All of you who have committed crimes… step forward."
A tense murmur spread through the disciples.
"Crimes…?"
"What does he mean?"
"Is he going to punish them?"
Tian Lei raised his voice.
"I don't want criminals in my sect. Rapists, murderers, thieves, corrupt elders—none of you will stay."
Gasps filled the courtyard.
Some disciples went pale. Some elders trembled. A few even tried to run.
Tian Lei flicked his fingers.
Golden flames shot out, moving like living serpents.
FWOOOSH!
Screams filled the air as the flames wrapped around dozens of elders and disciples — the worst of the worst, the ones who had abused their power or committed unspeakable acts.
The fire burned them cleanly, leaving no ashes behind.
The Sect Master collapsed to his knees, shocked.
"What… what are you doing…?!"
Tian Lei looked at him with flat eyes.
"You were corrupt. Weak. You let criminals do whatever they wanted. You are not needed either."
Golden flames coiled around the Sect Master, swallowing him instantly.
In just a few seconds — he was gone.
The courtyard was silent again.
Not a single person dared to move.
Tian Lei looked at the remaining elders — the ones who had not committed crimes.
"You are spared. But from today onward, things change."
He raised the Sect Seal.
A wave of power spread across the entire sect.
"From now on, this place will no longer be called the Iron Sky Sword Sect."
He paused.
"This sect will now be known as the Fantasy Life Sect."
Some disciples looked confused. Others relieved. And many — honestly — felt grateful.
After all, many of the worst elders had just been erased.
Tian Lei continued:
"In this sect, no one will commit heinous crimes. No corruption. No abuse. No filth."
He looked over the thousands of disciples staring at him.
"If you follow the rules, you can stay. If you don't… I will remove you myself."
The remaining elders bowed deeply.
"We understand, Sect Master!"
And for the first time in years…
the sect felt clean.
Tian Lei stood at the center, lightning crackling faintly around him, golden fire still dancing at his feet.
The new Sect Master of the Fantasy Life Sect.
Feared.
Respected.
And unstoppable.
Within a single week, the entire region changed.
Word spread everywhere — a new Sect Master had risen, a Heaven Rank genius who killed the Iron Sky Sword Sect's Ancestor and wiped out the corrupt elders in one night. By the time the mountain stopped shaking, the world had already reacted.
On the second day, three nearby sect leaders arrived at the new mountain gate. They didn't dare act proud. All three bowed immediately.
"Sect Master Tian, we came to congratulate you and establish friendly relations."
"We hope there will be no conflict between our sects."
They only wanted one thing — to avoid provoking Tian Lei. A 1st-stage Heaven Rank who killed a 3rd-stage Ancestor was not someone they could afford to anger.
Tian Lei simply nodded.
"As long as you don't cause trouble, we're fine."
The leaders bowed again and left quickly.
By the fifth day, larger sects sent their elders.
Some brought gifts.
Some came to talk of allegeaince.
Some came only to show respect.
No one dared to cause trouble.
Tian Lei accepted everything calmly. He had no interest in fighting innocent sects — only the corrupt ones.
On the seventh day, black-and-gold robed officials descended from the clouds, landing before Tian Lei. The disciples straightened immediately — the Empire itself had sent evaluators.
The leader stepped forward.
"Sect Master Tian Lei, we are here to evaluate the current state of your sect."
They inspected every courtyard, formation, and elder. After an hour, the lead evaluator finally spoke.
"The former Iron Sky Sword Sect was a Three-Star Sect. But after the destruction from the takeover, the foundation is unstable. It should be downgraded to a One-Star Sect."
The disciples stiffened, expecting the worst.
Then the evaluator continued.
"However… due to Sect Master Tian Lei's strength and the sect's strict obedience to Imperial Law, the Empire will not treat it as weak."
He bowed deeply toward Tian Lei.
"As long as you remain here, Sect Master Tian Lei, this sect will be respected as if it were still a Three-Star Sect."
The entire mountain fell silent. Even Imperial Evaluators bowed.
Tian Lei nodded.
"Write it that way."
"Of course," the evaluator said immediately.
"That will be all," Tian Lei said.
The Imperial Evaluators bowed and left. Soon after, disciples changed the mountain gate's name plaque.The words Iron Sky Sword Sect were removed and replaced with:
Fantasy Life Sect
Some lower-ranking disciples gathered around, whispering in confusion.
"Sir… what does this name mean?" one of them asked carefully. "I've never heard the word Fantasy before."
The elder beside him shrugged.
"I don't know either," he said. "But I do know one thing… the Empire will not poke this hornet's nest. Not anymore."
He nodded toward Tian Lei in the distance.
"With a man like him leading us, no one wants trouble."
The group silently agreed as the new plaque shone under the sunlight.
The Iron Sky Sword Sect was gone.
And the Fantasy Life Sect had begun.
Tian Lei sat down in the Sect Master's chair, looking around the grand hall that was now completely his. The banners had been changed, the jade plaque above the door now read Fantasy Life Sect, and the air still held traces of the golden flames he used earlier.
He nodded to himself.
"Alright… this is a good start," he muttered.