Within the Crimson Cloud Sect the atmosphere had already turned heavy long before confirmation arrived
When the life plate of the Second Elder shattered in the ancestral hall the sound echoed like a funeral bell
No one spoke
A High Golden Core expert was not an outer disciple or an expendable enforcer He was one of the pillars of the sect A figure who could suppress surrounding factions and command respect across regions
And now he was gone
The hall of elders stood in silence as fragments of the life plate were gathered from the stone floor
For the Crimson Cloud Sect this was not merely the loss of a person It was the loss of decades of accumulation
A High Golden Core required years of resources rare pills dangerous expeditions and countless opportunities Few sects could nurture such a figure in a single generation
The Sect Master's expression darkened to the color of storm clouds
"Azure Wind Sect" he said coldly
His aura surged violently shaking the pillars of the hall
"They dare kill my Second Elder I will personally tear down their mountain and erase their inheritance"
His killing intent was not feigned
However before he could give the order to mobilize the Grand Elder raised a hand
The hall quieted instantly
The Grand Elder's voice was calm steady and far colder than anger
"Sect Master please restrain yourself"
The Sect Master turned sharply
"Restrain Myself Our High Golden Core has fallen and you ask for restraint"
The Grand Elder's gaze flicked toward the shattered life plate
"This calamity is not yet over The demonic disturbance is still unfolding Most major sects are watching If we act rashly now we exhaust ourselves while others conserve strength"
He paused "Let the crisis settle first"
The Sect Master's breathing slowed slightly though rage still burned in his eyes
"And then"
A faint smile curved at the edge of the Grand Elder's lips
"Then we settle accounts properly"
His eyes narrowed
"The Azure Wind Sect relies heavily on Lan Qingyun If he dies or disappears their structure collapses on its own"
A subtle glint flashed within his pupils
"The demonic realm is unstable Powerful forces move beneath the surface Many who enter do not return"
His voice dropped lower
"When the chaos reaches its peak Lan Qingyun will naturally vanish within it No evidence No open war"
Silence lingered
The Sect Master slowly sat back down
Rage remained but calculation replaced impulse
"Very well" he said at last
"We wait"
The Grand Elder lowered his head slightly but the faint glint in his eyes did not fade
Crimson Cloud would not forget
And when the storm passed it would strike with precision not fury.
The rupture valley was already crowded when the remaining sects gathered outside the secret realm
Representatives from every major force stood beneath the fractured sky their robes fluttering in turbulent spiritual winds
The portal at the center of the valley flickered unstably
One by one the cultivators who had survived stepped out
Some were injured, some pale others just silently watching.
But they returned Except two
Lan Qingyun had not emerged
Nor had the Second Elder of the Crimson Cloud Sect
Whispers began spreading almost immediately
The Crimson Cloud Sect Master stood at the forefront his expression grim as his gaze remained fixed on the portal
Several elders exchanged looks
"Could it be they encountered the same danger" one sect leader murmured
"If both were struck by misfortune together then this secret realm is far more dangerous than anticipated" another replied quietly
Speculation deepened
Lan Qingyun was no ordinary cultivator
The Crimson Cloud Second Elder was a High Golden Core
If both had fallen within the same calamity then whatever lurked inside was beyond simple regional disputes
The atmosphere grew tense
Some sect masters even began reconsidering future exploration of the demonic rupture
Just as doubt began to solidify into assumption the portal trembled violently
Spiritual light condensed
A figure stepped out calmly Azure robes unmarked aura steady
Lan Qingyun
Silence fell across the valley
Every gaze turned toward him
The Crimson Cloud Sect Master's pupils contracted sharply
The Grand Elder's expression remained composed though his eyes sharpened
There was no trace of injury on Lan Qingyun's body
No visible exhaustion only quiet composure
The surrounding sect leaders immediately began recalculating their earlier assumptions
If Lan Qingyun had survived alone then what had truly happened inside
The Crimson Cloud disciples stared at him with venomous looks unable to conceal their hostility
Lan Qingyun sensed it clearly
But he merely adjusted his sleeve slightly and walked forward without haste
Outwardly his expression remained indifferent
Inwardly a faint smirk surfaced
Let them guess let them suspect
Uncertainty was far more suffocating than truth.
The tension in the rupture valley did not disperse even after Lan Qingyun emerged.
If anything, it thickened.
The Crimson Cloud Sect Master stepped forward, his expression composed but cold. His earlier fury had been pressed beneath layers of restraint. Only those close to him could sense the suppressed storm within.
He swept his gaze across the gathered sect representatives.
"This secret realm incident has already exceeded prior estimations," he said evenly. "A High Golden Core has fallen. Multiple sect disciples suffered losses. The demonic fluctuations remain unstable."
His eyes paused briefly on Lan Qingyun before moving on.
"For the sake of clarity and future action, I propose that all sects return to Crimson Cloud Mountain tonight. Tomorrow, we will convene in the main council hall. Each sect will report what they discovered within the realm."
A quiet murmur passed through the crowd.
This was not a request It was an assertion of dominance.
Crimson Cloud Sect was still the strongest power in the region. Even with the loss of their Second Elder, no one could openly refuse such a summons without consequence.
Several sect masters exchanged looks before nodding.
"That is reasonable."
"We must understand the source of the collapse."
"If the seals are connected, coordination is necessary."
Agreement formed quickly. Fear of the unknown outweighed political hesitation.
Lan Qingyun stood quietly among the Azure Wind Sect members. He understood immediately what this "meeting" truly meant.
It was not merely information gathering, it was probing, Testing.
Measuring responsibility.
The Crimson Cloud Sect Master's gaze returned to him once more.
"Azure Wind Sect Master," he said calmly, "I trust your presence will not be absent."
Lan Qingyun met his eyes without the slightest ripple in his aura.
"Azure Wind will attend." Simple.
Neither submissive nor confrontational.
The matter settled.
As the various sects began departing toward Crimson Cloud Mountain, undercurrents moved beneath the surface.
Some feared the demonic instability.
others feared political repercussions.
And some were waiting for opportunity.
Above them, the rupture crack in the sky pulsed faintly.
Unresolved.
Watching.