The first rays of dawn painted the Heaven's Gate Sect in gold and crimson, but Su Chen saw none of it.
His gaze remained fixed on the map Lin Xuehai had left behind—etched with strange glyphs that shimmered faintly in the morning light. At its center: Jadefall—a ruined city lost to time.
> [Mission Tracker Updated: Travel to Jadefall Ruins. Retrieve the Third Origin Fragment.]
But the path would not be simple.
The ruins lay beyond sect borders, deep within territory controlled by wandering cultivator clans and roguesects. More dangerous still were the ancient wards of Jadefall itself—time anomalies that could trap the unprepared in eternal loops.
"I need to move quickly," Su Chen murmured. "Before the others catch wind of it."
He packed only what he needed: spirit stones, a few potent talismans, and the two Origin Fragments already in his possession—each bound with layers of spatial seals.
Just as he reached for his cloak, a loud knock shook his door.
Knock. Knock.
Su Chen frowned. His spiritual sense swept out—then sharpened.
A strong presence. Familiar.
He opened the door.
There stood Zhao Yan—one of the sect's top-ranked core disciples. Tall, broad-shouldered, with piercing amber eyes and a blade strapped across his back that radiated killing intent.
Wordless tension filled the air.
Zhao Yan gave a thin smile. "Going somewhere, Su Chen?"
Su Chen's eyes narrowed. "That's my business."
"Oh, but it's the sect's business too," Zhao Yan replied smoothly. "You see… Elder Li has concerns. About your… recent activities."
So it had begun.
"They sent you to stop me?" Su Chen asked, voice calm.
"Not stop," Zhao Yan chuckled. "Just… remind you of your place."
The courtyard outside was already drawing eyes. Disciples gathered along the edges, sensing the rising confrontation.
"Or perhaps you've forgotten it," Zhao Yan added, stepping forward.
Su Chen met his gaze evenly. "If you think I'm afraid of you, you're mistaken."
Zhao Yan's smile faded. His aura flared—a surging tide of Qi that made the very stones of the courtyard tremble.
"I don't need you afraid," Zhao Yan said coldly. "I just need you on the ground."
Without warning, he struck.
The blade on Zhao Yan's back flew into his hand in a single motion—a flash of crimson steel aimed straight for Su Chen's chest.
But Su Chen was already moving.
A ripple of void Qi coiled around him as he sidestepped, fingers tracing a sigil in the air.
Spatial Rend.
The space before him shattered—a jagged tear erupting toward Zhao Yan.
The older disciple twisted mid-strike, barely avoiding the full force of the rift—but a portion of his sleeve vanished into nothingness.
His eyes blazed.
"So… it's true. You've gained new tricks."
He surged forward, blade flashing again—this time cloaked in golden flame.
Su Chen's movements remained precise, almost lazy. With each strike, he deflected just enough to divert, his own counterattacks swift and unpredictable.
Void against flame.
Speed against raw force.
The courtyard became a blur of motion, gasps echoing from the watching disciples.
"This… this isn't normal!" one whispered. "Su Chen was an outer disciple not long ago!"
"Look at his Qi flow! It's… unnatural—like it's evolved."
Zhao Yan heard them too—and it only fueled his rage.
With a roar, he launched his strongest technique:
Blazing Phoenix Cut.
A massive arc of flame shot toward Su Chen, searing the very air.
Su Chen's gaze sharpened.
"Enough."
Both palms thrust forward, channeling the Spatial Rend at full power.
The rift expanded—swallowing the phoenix-shaped flame mid-flight.
Gasps erupted.
And when the space mended itself… Su Chen stood unharmed.
Zhao Yan staggered, sweat dripping from his brow. His blade wavered.
Su Chen stepped forward, voice cool as ice. "You've proven your point. Now step aside."
But Zhao Yan's pride refused surrender.
"I… won't… yield!"
Su Chen's eyes flashed.
In an instant, he appeared before Zhao Yan, one finger pressing lightly to the man's forehead.
A pulse of Void Qi surged inward—not to kill, but to suppress.
Zhao Yan's knees buckled as his Qi flow locked, his body unable to respond.
He collapsed to the ground, panting.
Silence blanketed the courtyard.
The gathered disciples stared in shock.
Su Chen had defeated Zhao Yan—one of the sect's elite—without drawing his blade.
Slowly, Su Chen turned to the crowd.
"I do not seek conflict," he said evenly. "But if any would stand in my way, they will fall."
With that, he strode past Zhao Yan's prone form, cloak billowing behind him.
No one dared stop him.
Later, as he approached the outer gates of the sect, Su Chen allowed himself a faint smile.
"They're afraid," he murmured. "Good."
But fear alone would not be enough.
Jadefall awaited—and with it, the third fragment.
He glanced once more at the map.
"The true path begins now."
And with a final step, Su Chen vanished into the wilderness—shadow and purpose guiding his way.