The sky above the central region boiled.

Black clouds spiraled in jagged circles, dragged inward by a older force. The ground vibrated with living pulse — every heartbeat of the realm echoing through earth and stone. The air was suffocating thick, as if holding its breath.

The castle towered ahead.

Not built — but risen.

Massive spires, cracked walls, ancient runes humming faintly across its surface. The shadow aura gathered around it like a storm, swallowing hope.

And every step closer made the world feel colder.

Sanatan Flame Sect stood at the edge of the battlefield — formation tight, gazes sharp, flames within their eyes burning brighter than fear.

Shaurya walked at the front, Lin Shu beside him, Elders following, disciples forming a spear-like shape behind them. The wind whipped robes and hair back, carrying dust, broken branches, and the metallic scent of spiritual pressure.

But they weren't alone.

Across the shattered land were other forces — hundreds of cultivators moving toward the castle like floodwaters converging toward a single point.

To the left, three Royal Palaces marched — the thunderous footsteps of armoured elites. White Tiger Kingdom, Jade Kingdom, Crimson Mist Kingdom. Their banners fluttered, their leaders wrapped in arrogance and killing intent.

To the right, sect forces scattered in clusters like wolves — Saber Mountain Sect, Serpent-Fang Sect, Seven Brilliance Sect, Iron Blood Sect. And many rogue cultivators had joined these sect making alliance.

Howling Abyss Sect and Moonlight Pavilion had also arrived there.

Ahead, the land shook again.

CRACK… BOOM…

A line of jagged fissures split the soil, glowing faintly violet. Spiritual pressure thickened until it felt like walking through liquid iron.

Yan Chen exhaled slowly. "This aura… is suffocating."

Xiao Rui cracked his fingers. "Good. Means something worth taking is inside."

Zong Bu squinted at the castle. "Or something worth running from."

Cheng Fang slapped his back. "Bro, you spent half your life running. Not this time."

Lu Fang's eyes hardened. Jun Hua nodded beside him. Determination pulsed.

The Sanatan flame sect disciples were fired up — no hesitation.

Behind them, Elder Feng Yu closed his eyes, sensing the spiraling energies. His expression sharpened even further.

"This castle," he muttered, "is not a structure. It is a living trial."

Elder Wan sighed. "Well, we've already survived may trails. What's a castle?"

Elder Liya smacked his arm lightly. "Don't jinx us."

Shaurya stepped forward, his voice calm but carrying across the field.

"We move. Everyone, stay alert."

The disciples straightened instantly.

As they advanced, the sky twisted — reflective like a mirror bending under pressure. Lightning crackled, streaking violet across the black clouds. The ground trembled violently under the pressure of hundreds of cultivators converging toward the same point.

Tension rippled like storm tide.

Then—

A roar.

A battle cry.

A clash of weapons.

Chaos erupted.

The First Clash

The quiet died in an instant.

Iron Blood Sect struck first — their sect master screaming a command as fifty of his disciples lunged for the castle entrance.

But like hungry wolves, Serpent-Fang cultivators intercepted them. Poisonous qi and steel collided midair, swords and spears clanging, cries erupting.

BOOM!!

Explosions shook the air as White Tiger Palace cultivators unleashed thier blades, slicing across the battlefield like silver arcs. Dozens fell in seconds.

Moonlight Pavilion appeared from the west — Meng Liyu leading them, robes drenched in dried blood, eyes colder than ice. She raised her hand; a silver crescent of qi slashed through ten enemies at once.

Chaos spiraled outward like wildfire.

The earth was no longer ground — it was a battlefield of desperation, greed, vengeance, and glory.

Thousands of spirit beasts suddenly erupted from cracks in the ground — grey wolves with six legs, shadow vultures with violet feathers, skeletal bulls with burning horns.

The battlefield became a storm of claws, blades, spells, screams.

But Sanatan Flame Sect did not budge.

They moved like a single flame — controlled, steady, unbroken.

Elder Feng Yu drew his sword, slicing down three shadow vultures that dared fly near them. Elder Hua blasted three beasts aside with spiritual pressure. Elder Wan flexed his fingers, seedlings of fiery qi spiraled from him like burning petals.

Lin Shu, sword drawn, eyes razor-sharp, stepped just a little ahead of Shaurya.

The disciples followed — not frantic, not panicked.

Focused.

Xiao Rui pointed ahead. "Master, look."

A massive group of rogue cultivators formed a wall across their path, killing intent blazing.

Lu Fang tightened his grip on his blade. "They're blocking us."

Zong Bu cracked his neck. "Guess we'll unblock ourselves."

Jun Hua whispered under her breath, "Together."

Shaurya nodded, calm. "Clear the path. Don't waste time."

His voice was not loud — but every disciple heard it like thunder.

Elder Wan grinned. "He said it. Time to show these rats what flame truly means."

And the disciples unleashed hell.

Sanatan Flame Sect's Assault begins.

Xiao Rui dashed forward using Aerial Steps — his footwork was smooth, rhythm perfect, like he is dancing in wind. His sword cut through the first enemy throat before the man even lifted his weapon.

Sheng Lu followed, using his boulder-crushing fists — punching a rogue cultivator so hard his ribs cracked and he was thrown ten meters back.

Zong Bu swung his Gaint hammer downward smashing a cultivator face. Blood spread as his face completely crushed.

Lee Bie flipped, his speed explosive — a blur of motion. He appeared behind a man, slashed his legs, then elbowed him in the neck.

Yan Chen thrust his palm forward — using Blazing Palm. A spritual palm of flame shot out. Two enemies screamed as they were engulfed.

Cheng Fang, finally realizing what his body was capable of post-training, grabbed a giant wolf by the jaw and slammed it to the ground.

Lu Fang and Jun Hua fought side by side — Lu Fang's heavy style forming a wall, Jun Hua's swift strikes piercing through openings.

Xiao Lian's ice aura froze a whole cluster of enemies — her cultivation rising rapidly made her presence impossible to ignore.

Within minutes—

The entire group of enemies was wiped out.

Sanatan Flame Sect didn't struggle.

They dominated.

Meanwhile...

Shaurya walked silently through the battlefield. Hands tugged in pocket.

Not rushing. Not panicking.

His mere presence made enemy cultivators hesitate.

A rogue tried to strike— Shaurya raised two fingers. The man flew back instantly, unconscious.

A beast lunged— Shaurya stepped aside— Its skull shattered into sand under gravitational force.

Two elites soldiers from Jade Kingdom Royal Palace tried to ambush— Shaurya flicked his wrist— his immortal fire errupted turning into Both soldiers into ash.

Calm.

Precise.

No wasted motion.

Lin Shu fought close beside him, her strikes fierce but elegant. She slashed down two enemies with one arc.

"Shaurya," she murmured softly, her eyes sharpening as another beast lunged at them.

He raised his hand — golden aura flickered — the beast exploded into particles.

"Yes?" he asked.

"It feels… like the realm is pushing everyone toward the castle."

Shaurya's gaze swept across the battlefield.

She was right.

Every faction was fighting — not just each other, but something unseen. The land itself seemed eager, dragging everything like a giant current toward the central fortress.

"Whatever is inside," Shaurya said slowly, "it's calling everyone."

"Calling us," Lin Shu echoed.

Their steps continued.

Slowly, the distance closed.

The castle loomed larger, runes glowing now like pounding hearts.

The gates were not iron or stone — but shadow.

A swirling void, like a mouth waiting to swallow every soul.

Dozens tried to rush.

Dozens died.

Shadow blades slashed outward from the gate's surface, carving bodies apart like paper.

Xia Coco, on a distant ridge with Howling Abyss Sect, watched with narrowed eyes. Her grandmother Elder Xia Xu murmured:

"The final inheritance… it thirsts."

Zia Bailey stood on a boulder, swords drawn, eyes burning.

"Then we must bleed before we take it."

The battlefield roared louder.

Final Charge

Sanatan Flame Sect reached the last stretch before the gate.

More enemies blocked their path — frantic, desperate, trying to push everyone aside so they could reach the inheritance first.

Shaurya lifted his hand.

"Don't kill unnecessarily," he said. "But don't hold back."

"Yes, Master!"

The disciples roared.

They surged forward — their strikes clean, swift, brutal, but without cruelty. They fought to win, not to gorge. Untill it required.

Shaurya, Lin Shu, Elders…

All moved as one flame — cutting through chaos — until they stood directly before the swirling shadow gate.

The entire world stilled.

Wind ceased.

Light dimmed.

From inside the void, a voice echoed — deep, ancient, commanding:

> "ENTER."

A violent suction force pulled at every cultivator.

No one escaped.

Shaurya exhaled slowly.

"All of you. Stay close."

"Yes, Master!"

The disciples' voices shook the air in unison, burning with resolve.

Sanatan Flame Sect moved toward the gate as one — steady steps, united pace, unwavering formation.

The darkness expanded.

A black vortex tore the air open.

The entire battlefield tilted — bodies lifted — the world inverted.

Hundreds of cultivators screamed as they were dragged into the void.

Shaurya grabbed Lin Shu's hand.

"Stay close—!"

Before he could finish — the vortex swallowed them.

Light disappeared.

Sound vanished.

Gravity broke.

Everything fell into darkness.

And then—

Nothing.

To Be Continued…

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