The Abyss did not wait for death to come knocking. It carried war to the enemy's gates.
As dawn broke over the Eastern Continent, the Abyssal Sect stood on the brink of its greatest conflict yet. The empire had declared its intent to eradicate Murong Chen's forces, rallying allied sects to their cause. But rather than cower in defense, Murong Chen had chosen to attack first.
Atop Patriarch's Peak, Murong Chen gazed at the map stretched before him, his high-ranking officers standing in silence. The morning wind carried the distant sound of marching troops, the rhythm of an army ready to move.
"The empire gathers its forces at the Verdant Cloud Pavilion," Lin Yue reported, her voice sharp as a blade. "They expect us to hold our ground and fortify."
Murong Chen smirked, his fingers tapping against the table.
"Then we do the opposite."
The council members stiffened. Bai Qingshan's eyes gleamed with approval. "A direct assault?"
Murong Chen nodded. "No walls can stop an enemy that moves before the gates are even locked."
A single word left his lips.
"We march."
Sect System Update: Warpath Expansion Engaged
New Mission Activated: Strike First
Objective: Launch a preemptive attack on imperial forces before they consolidate.
Targets: Verdant Cloud Pavilion's eastern stronghold, Imperial Supply Depot, and Zhao Ren's Vanguard Camp.
Rewards: Sect Influence +15%, Battlefield Upgrades Unlocked, Leadership Growth Event Triggered.
Failure Penalty: Enemy Reinforcements Arrive Faster, Loss of Strategic Initiative.
The March of the Abyss
Before the sun had fully risen, the Abyssal Legions set forth.
Riding atop armored spirit beasts, wielding blades sharpened in darkness, and donning black-forged armor infused with Abyssal Qi, the warriors of the Abyssal Sect moved like an unstoppable tide.
Murong Chen rode at the forefront, his Ashen Blade glowing with a faint, ominous light, the weight of war pressing against his shoulders. Yet, he was unshaken.
Lin Yue rode beside him, her cloak billowing in the wind. "This will be the first large-scale battle where we face an imperial force directly. Are you prepared for what follows?"
Murong Chen's eyes darkened. "I do not prepare for war, Lin Yue." His voice was absolute. "War prepares for me."
She smiled faintly. "Then let's remind them why the Abyss should be feared."
The Battle of Verdant Cloud Stronghold
By midnight, the Abyssal forces arrived at their first target—the eastern stronghold of Verdant Cloud Pavilion. A fortified structure carved into the cliffs, it controlled the flow of resources into the imperial war camp.
Murong Chen raised his hand. His warriors halted.
Infiltrators had already been sent ahead.
Deep within the stronghold's supply warehouses, disguised Abyssal Sect operatives set fire to the provisions. Explosions rocked the fortress as alchemical fire consumed the stored weapons and rations.
The gates flung open as imperial soldiers poured out in a panic, shouting commands.
And that was when Murong Chen struck.
"Charge."
Abyssal warriors rushed forward like a black tide, swords clashing against unprepared enemies. Murong Chen moved like a specter through the battlefield, his blade reaping lives with each step.
The imperial commander, a seasoned war general, roared as he unleashed a spear infused with golden Qi, aiming directly for Murong Chen's chest.
Murong Chen tilted his head slightly, letting the spear scrape past his shoulder. With a flick of his wrist, the Ashen Blade cleaved forward, slicing through the general's weapon—and his throat.
The stronghold fell in under an hour.
Sect System Update: Target Captured
✅ Verdant Cloud Pavilion's Eastern Stronghold Secured
✅ Enemy Supplies Destroyed
✅ Morale Boosted (+10%)
✅ Sect Treasury Capacity Increased
The Second Strike: Cutting Off Reinforcements
Murong Chen did not allow his enemies to breathe.
As his warriors secured the stronghold, he turned to Lin Yue. "How soon before Zhao Ren realizes what we've done?"
Lin Yue's eyes flashed. "By sunrise."
Murong Chen's grip tightened around his sword. "Then we strike again before dawn."
The next target: The Imperial Supply Depot.
Within hours, the Abyssal Sect's elite forces arrived at the fortified depot, where thousands of carts of food, spirit stones, and weapons were stored for the empire's army.
Murong Chen's forces descended like a storm, overwhelming the stationed guards before a single warning could be sent.
Mo Lian and her alchemists spread through the camp, infusing the stored rations with Abyssal toxins—a poison that wouldn't kill immediately, but would weaken every soldier who consumed it.
By the time Murong Chen personally struck down the depot commander, the fate of the imperial reinforcements was already sealed.
Sect System Update: Imperial Supply Depot Destroyed
✅ Enemy Reinforcements Weakened (-20% Combat Effectiveness)
✅ Abyssal Alchemy Upgrade Unlocked
✅ New Tactical Feature: War Poisoning Techniques
The Emperor's Response
Back in the imperial capital, Zhao Ren sat upon his golden throne, his fingers gripping the edges of his armrests.
Reports had arrived.
The Abyssal Sect had not waited for war to come to them. They had claimed the Verdant Cloud stronghold, burned the empire's supplies, and weakened the reinforcements before they could even arrive.
Murong Chen had moved first.
And now, Zhao Ren had no choice but to escalate.
"Summon the Celestial Generals," Zhao Ren ordered, his voice like iron. "Murong Chen wants war? I shall give him a calamity."
The empire would not hold back any longer.
The Abyss Awakens
As Murong Chen stood over the ruined supply depot, Bai Qingshan approached, blood staining his armor. "The enemy will retaliate soon."
Murong Chen wiped his blade clean, his expression calm. "Good."
Lu Fan grinned. "You're enjoying this too much."
Murong Chen smirked. "We aren't just fighting for survival anymore." His eyes burned with an insatiable hunger.
"We are fighting to rule."
Far in the distance, imperial banners were already gathering.
But Murong Chen did not fear them.
For the Abyss had begun its conquest.
Sect System Update: War Progression
Empire Response Level Increased: Celestial Generals Mobilized
New Mission Unlocked: "Rise of the Abyssal Dominion"
Effects: Sect-wide Prestige +20%, War Influence Grows