The news spread throughout the Shadowclaw Sect like wildfire.
Within moments, disciples rushed out of courtyards and halls, gathering at the entrance to see the man they had believed dead. Disbelief quickly gave way to excitement and reverence as they recognized the familiar figure. One after another, they knelt before him.
Their former Sect Master, Li Feng, had returned.
Deep within the sect's compound, restrictive formations activated one after another before gradually shutting down. Several powerful auras emerged from the inner halls.
Twenty Core Formation cultivators arrived first, their robes fluttering as spiritual energy gathered around them. They quickly formed a perimeter around the entrance. Shortly afterward, four Nascent Soul elders emerged from the inner sanctum, their expressions solemn as they examined the man standing before them.
At the front stood Mei Lin, dressed in white. As the current Sect Leader and the strongest cultivator remaining in the sect, she faced Xiao Ning without showing the slightest hesitation.
Elder Wu Li narrowed his eyes.
"Impossible. Li Feng was killed. We witnessed it ourselves."
Elder Zhou folded his arms. "Could he be an impostor?"
Xiao Ning merely smiled.
They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. To them, death was final. But for a cultivator, as long as there was a way to survive, even death wasn't necessarily the end.
He didn't bother explaining himself. There was no need to rush.
"Enough."
Mei Lin's voice silenced the surrounding murmurs. She stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Xiao Ning.
"The person standing before you is indeed Sect Master Li Feng."
The crowd erupted into whispers. The Core Formation cultivators exchanged uncertain glances, while the four Nascent Soul elders remained guarded.
Xiao Ning could tell that most of the disciples had already accepted Mei Lin's words. The elders, however, were another matter. They had lived long enough to know that appearances could be deceiving.
"I examined him myself," Elder Wu Li said, stepping forward. "At the time, there was barely any life left in his soul. Recovering from such a condition should have been impossible."
"It was necessary to deceive our enemies," Mei Lin replied calmly. "His death, the funeral rites, and everything that followed were part of a plan to mislead the Righteous Sects Alliance. Sect Master Li Feng survived and recovered in secret."
Her explanation caused another wave of discussion. Some disciples looked relieved, while others were still struggling to make sense of what they had heard.
The elders said nothing further, but Xiao Ning could see that they weren't entirely convinced.
Since words weren't enough, he decided to show them.
He slowly exhaled and released his aura.
In an instant, the atmosphere changed. The ground trembled beneath their feet as dark shadows surged around him. Golden light burst from his chest, illuminating the surrounding plaza and casting shifting shadows across the stone ground.
Several Core Formation disciples staggered backward under the pressure. Even the four Nascent Soul elders stiffened, their expressions changing as they felt the strength of his body.
Elder Wu Li stared at him in astonishment.
"Late-stage Fourth-Stage Body Refinement!"
Xiao Ning opened his eyes, a faint golden glow lingering in them.
"That's right," he said casually. "When my Nascent Soul was on the verge of collapse, I encountered an opportunity that allowed me to reforge my soul and advance my body cultivation to the late phase of the Fourth Stage."
The explanation was brief, leaving plenty of room for speculation. Xiao Ning had no intention of revealing more than necessary.
Elder Zhou instinctively tightened his grip on his sword.
"This is difficult to believe..."
"Do you still doubt me?"
Xiao Ning's voice was calm, but the pressure behind his words was unmistakable.
No one answered.
The elders lowered their gazes, and none dared openly question him again.
Xiao Ning gave a faint smirk. Whether they truly believed him was irrelevant. In the cultivation world, strength often mattered more than explanations. As long as they understood that he was still capable of commanding the sect, their private suspicions would change nothing.
He turned toward Mei Lin.
She met his gaze without speaking. Her expression remained as composed as ever, but her position beside him made her stance clear.
Xiao Ning nodded.
"Come. We have much to discuss inside."
---
The grand hall of the Shadowclaw Sect had once been the place where Xiao Ning issued his commands. After months away, he now sat once again in the Sect Master's seat.
The carved throne had been polished, though the faint scent of incense still lingered in the hall.
Standing before him were the four Nascent Soul elders. None appeared entirely comfortable with the situation.
Xiao Ning glanced over them before narrowing his eyes.
"Only four of you? Where is Elder Jin?"
Mei Lin stood beside the throne. Her eyebrow twitched slightly, but she remained silent.
When no one answered immediately, Xiao Ning's expression cooled. His gaze settled on Elder Qian.
"Qian, have you forgotten who leads this sect?"
Elder Qian's face paled. After a brief hesitation, he stepped forward and bowed.
"There has been an incident. Elder Jin is dead."
Xiao Ning's expression darkened.
"Who killed him?"
"We don't know, Sect Master," Elder Qian replied hurriedly. "It happened during a night patrol. His soul jade shattered, and by the time anyone reached the location, nothing remained."
Xiao Ning sneered inwardly.
Of course they didn't know. He had made certain that no one would discover the truth.
He was the one who had arranged Elder Jin's death, removing an obstacle that could have complicated his return. However, he showed none of his satisfaction and instead shifted his attention to Wu Li, the youngest of the four elders.
"Wu kid, have there been any developments involving the Righteous Sects Alliance or that accursed Azure Dragon Sect?"
Wu Li's mouth twitched at the familiar nickname.
Only Li Feng had ever dared to address him that way. Although the habit still irritated him, he quickly suppressed his reaction and bowed respectfully.
"Reporting to the Sect Master, after your death was announced, the Righteous Sects Alliance spread the news throughout the surrounding regions. They even held a banquet lasting two weeks to celebrate what they considered their victory. Since then, however, there has been no significant movement."
Xiao Ning's eyes narrowed.
"They hate me that much?"
He gave a cold snort.
It seemed the alliance had been rather pleased with his supposed death. That was hardly surprising, considering his past dealings with them.
Ideally, he would have preferred to remain hidden for a while longer. Unfortunately, staying away from the Shadowclaw Sect would mean abandoning its resources, intelligence network, and influence.
He had no intention of returning to the life of a wandering cultivator.
When had he, Xiao Ning, ever been fond of struggling alone for every resource and scrap of information?
Taking control of the sect was clearly the better choice. With its existing foundation, he could cultivate without constantly worrying about his next source of resources. It also gave him a stable identity and a foothold in this unfamiliar world.
In his previous life, he had built a formidable faction in the Inner Worlds, one powerful enough to challenge the great forces and shake the heavens. Yet even such power hadn't been enough to protect him from fate.
He had no intention of repeating his past mistakes.
Xiao Ning leaned back against the throne and looked at Wu Li again.
"Have the Bone Forging Sect or the Crimson Lotus Cult responded yet?"