Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character

"By command of the Dark Hall's Lord, Fire Cloud Sect's rebellion ends today. All traitors of Fire Cloud Sect—none shall be spared!"

The sky thundered with the rumble of war drums. The Tribunal Army stood as a towering presence, cloaked in their terrifying aura that cast a shadow over Fire Cloud Sect, each soldier emanating deadly intent. At the front of the formation, Zhong Kui glared coldly at those below, his voice pronouncing Fire Cloud Sect's doom as if it were an imperial decree.

Standing within the ranks of the Tribunal Army, Lin Langtian felt the intense pressure of the Dark Hall's authority and was struck by the sheer domination of their might. It was as if he were witnessing the power of an imperial dynasty: the Dark Hall's orders were absolute, unchallenged. Compared to the looser structures in other regions, the difference was astonishing. For Fire Cloud Sect, escape was impossible.

All fell silent, even Tang Lie, the Fire Cloud Sect leader, too daunted by the Tribunal Army's imposing presence to reply. After a moment, though, Tang Lie bit his lip and stared at Zhong Kui, rage and humiliation flaring in his eyes. The red sword on Zhong Kui's ghostly mask indicated his rank as a battalion leader, with only about four hundred soldiers under his command. This meant that the Dark Hall had only sent a single battalion to crush Fire Cloud Sect.

While part of him seethed at this humiliation, another part felt relieved. The Tribunal Army's reputation was legendary, but if it were only one battalion, there might be a slim chance for Fire Cloud Sect to survive.

"Hmph! The Dark Hall is a tyrant that pays no heed to the lives of smaller sects. For years, it has oppressed and exploited us. The Northern Xuan Domain has suffered enough under the Dark Hall's rule! I killed their branch master as a form of justice—now the Fire Cloud Sect will no longer bow to the Dark Hall. From now on, we'll go our own way!"

Tang Lie's voice was steady, though a flicker of fear lurked in his eyes as he shouted his defiance. But his desire to coexist peacefully with the Dark Hall was one-sided; the Tribunal Army, representing the full might of the Dark Hall, would not forgive such a provocation. His actions had crossed a line from which there was no return.

"The Dark Hall's rule isn't for you to question," Zhong Kui's voice rang out like a steel blade. "The Northern Xuan Domain is the most peaceful of the Four Great Domains because of the Dark Hall's influence. Your challenge to the Dark Hall's authority will be answered with blood. Today, no one in Fire Cloud Sect will be spared!"

With a cold gesture, Zhong Kui raised his hand and ordered, "Attack!"

The sky filled with hundreds of black-clad figures leaping forward, positioning themselves before Fire Cloud Sect's gates. Beneath their ghostly masks, their eyes were icy as they assessed the enemy. Then, without a moment's hesitation, the soldiers stormed into the Fire Cloud Sect.

Lin Langtian moved within the formation, keeping a measured distance from Qing Tan, prepared to protect her if necessary. His duty as her shadow guardian was not something he could take lightly.

Watching the Tribunal Army advance, Tang Lie's face twisted with rage. He hadn't expected the Dark Hall to respond so quickly, nor did he have time to consolidate the forces of the Southern River Region. Now, he had no choice but to fight. If they managed to repel the Tribunal Army, other sects might rally to his cause, and he could carry out his plan to establish a new base in the Eastern Xuan Domain. But if they failed, the Dark Hall would leave no survivors.

"The members of Fire Cloud Sect, hear me! There is no path to survival if we surrender. Our only chance lies in fighting with all our might. Charge!"

With that command, Tang Lie surged forward, charging directly at Zhong Kui. Both of them were experts in the Death Xuan Realm, their choice of opponent naturally obvious.

"The Sect Master is right—fight!"

Seeing their leader charge into battle, Fire Cloud Sect's elders hesitated only for a moment. Then, with a surge of resolve, they joined the fray, leading their disciples in a desperate attack against the Tribunal Army.

Several leaders from the Southern River Region who had previously sided with Tang Lie exchanged worried glances. They hadn't expected that following Fire Cloud Sect's ambitions would bring the Dark Hall's wrath down upon them so quickly. But they had no choice now—retreat was not an option.

The remaining leaders, however, shared a grim smile, realizing that they had been unwillingly dragged into the Dark Hall's suppression operation. Now, their only hope was to remain neutral and beg for the Dark Hall's mercy when the conflict ended.

In the chaos, waves of power collided, filling the air with the thick scent of blood and murder. Even the color of the sky seemed to turn dark red as the two forces clashed. In Fire Cloud Sect's vast square, no words were exchanged as the combatants let their skills do the talking, red eyes blazing as they struck down anyone in their way.

It was a brutal struggle. Though Fire Cloud Sect held a massive numerical advantage, the Tribunal Army was far more skilled, disciplined, and ruthless. Like reapers of death, they cut down the disciples of Fire Cloud Sect without hesitation.

Lin Langtian dispatched two Ninth Yuan Nirvana Realm warriors with ease, casting a satisfied glance at the surrounding battlefield. Zhong Kui, a formidable commander at the peak of the Lesser Death Xuan Realm and a veteran of countless battles, would prove a formidable opponent for Tang Lie. Barring any unforeseen developments, Fire Cloud Sect's defeat was all but assured.

In another corner of the battlefield, a fierce struggle was unfolding.

With two Ninth Yuan Nirvana Realm warriors defeated, a slender figure clad in black stepped forward, wielding an imposing black scythe. It was none other than Qing Tan.

At this moment, Qing Tan's massive black scythe gleamed with a fresh layer of blood. She remained silent, but a cold, sinister black light surged from within her, blanketing her in an aura so intense it seemed to freeze the very air around her.

"What a chilling force… so this is Qing Tan's power?" Lin Langtian observed. Surrounded by this dark light, Qing Tan's energy was vastly different from that of ordinary warriors. Whereas most people's energy flows with a balance of yin and yang, hers was purely and intensely cold.

Qing Tan noticed Lin Langtian's gaze and nodded slightly before her figure shot forward, her scythe flashing as it cut through the air. Two arcs of cold, dark energy swept towards two Fire Cloud Sect elders in the Lesser Life Xuan Realm nearby.

"Hmph, and here I thought you were just an ordinary Tribunal soldier—so eager to die!" One of the elders laughed darkly when he saw the black sword on Qing Tan's mask, signaling her rank. Without hesitation, they both launched themselves at her with the force of a tiger, their palms radiating power as they aimed for Qing Tan.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Despite their fierce attack, Qing Tan didn't back down. Her black scythe glinted with a strange, deadly light, and the next second, she swung it forward.

Slash!

With a single sweep of her scythe, the space in front of her seemed to split open, her blade appearing above one elder's head in an instant, as if her attack had sliced through the very fabric of space.

Clang!

A blade of energy shot out to intercept her scythe, blocking it just in time, though a piece of flesh was still sliced off the elder's scalp, and blood began to pour down.

"Be careful! She's also in the Life Xuan Realm, and that scythe is… unusual!" The other elder warned, now fully alert. He couldn't fathom how an ordinary Tribunal soldier could wield such power, but he was not about to underestimate Qing Tan again.

Qing Tan glanced at the two wary elders without a word. Her scythe swung again, casting a fierce wind around her. Both elders grew tense and steeled themselves to face her full force.

"Taking on two Lesser Life Xuan Realm elders alone, I see," Lin Langtian thought, raising his eyebrows as he watched Qing Tan. Clearly, she was taking her training with the Dark Tribunal very seriously. He couldn't help but sigh—each step on the path to power was no easy journey.

Shaking his head, Lin Langtian found a few opponents for himself, though he avoided unleashing his full strength. After all, his primary duty was to protect Qing Tan, not to defeat enemies.

Boom, boom!

The square at Fire Cloud Sect had become a maelstrom of chaos, full of red-eyed fighters clashing without restraint. Blood flew as Fire Cloud Sect disciples were thrown back, some coughing blood as they fell, their fates uncertain.

The Tribunal soldiers showed no mercy. This was no sparring match but a bloody battle with true enemies.

In front of the hall, leaders of various Southern River Region forces were watching the brutal scene unfold, their faces filled with horror as the bloody conflict reflected in their eyes.

"The Tribunal Army is impressive, alright. Despite being so outnumbered, Fire Cloud Sect barely stands a chance," one leader murmured.

If the Dark Tribunal was the most powerful department of the Dark Hall, the Tribunal Army was its ultimate weapon—a sword that had cut down countless foes. Fire Cloud Sect was just another name on a long list, nothing special.

"The battalion leader is incredibly strong," another commented, glancing toward the battlefield above. "Tang Lie may be in the Lesser Death Xuan Realm, but he's still losing ground."

"Of course, anyone who rises to battalion leader status in the Tribunal Army is no ordinary fighter. That fool Tang Lie dreamed of breaking free from the Dark Hall and taking us to the Eastern Xuan Domain to conquer his own territory. And yet he can't even handle a battalion leader. Let alone the higher-ups!" scoffed one observer, disdain evident in his voice.

"Forget it. We need to worry about our own situation," sighed an elder in yellow robes. "Being caught up in Fire Cloud Sect's rebellion might just drag us down with them."

At this, the leaders fell silent, each one feeling the oppressive weight of the Dark Hall's authority bearing down on them.

Above, violent waves of energy rippled across the sky. Two figures moved with relentless force, tearing through the heavens before colliding with thunderous intensity.

Boom!

The impact roared like a thunderclap, waves of energy spreading across the sky. One figure was thrown back, his feet skidding through the air before he regained balance. The other figure remained standing, dispersing his opponent's attack with a wave of his black robe. He looked toward Tang Lie with a sneer.

"With such strength, you thought you could kill a branch master? Utter foolishness."

"It was done. The Dark Hall's tyrannical ways will only drive people to rise against it!" Tang Lie replied, his face heavy with a grim determination.

"What of it? Anyone who rebels is crushed by the Tribunal Army. Fire Cloud Sect's downfall is neither the first nor the last." Zhong Kui's gaze shifted downward, where the tide of battle showed the Tribunal Army maintaining a firm advantage.

Tang Lie, too, looked down, feeling his heart wrench as he saw his disciples and elders suffering heavy losses. These were the people he had worked so hard to raise. His face darkened as his gaze landed on Qing Tan's direction.

When he saw that an ordinary Tribunal soldier was managing to hold off two elders of the Lesser Life Xuan Realm alone, he felt a flicker of surprise. As he looked at the unusual black scythe she wielded, he recalled rumors from the Dark Hall's recent festival.

"Could she be…?" The thought struck him, and a faint glimmer appeared in his eye. He felt a surge of hope and muttered, "It seems there's still a way out."

He gave a cold chuckle and waved his sleeve, conjuring a blood-red shadow that slowly materialized in front of him.

The figure emitted a menacing aura, and as it raised its head, its crimson eyes gleamed with a terrifying, animalistic bloodlust, devoid of any human emotion. It was a creature driven purely by the desire to kill.

Lin Langtian, sensing the bloodthirsty energy from afar, looked up sharply, his face turning serious as he identified the figure.

"A Blood Puppet… and it's nearly at the Death Xuan Realm!"

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