EPISODE 16: RIPPLES ACROSS THE QI DYNASTY II
Part One– The Demon Sect's Countermove and the qi dynasty clans councils meeting...
Far away from the ruins of Jade Willow Village before Xiao Kai and his friends set off to get back to the sect, deep within a labyrinth of caverns laced with crimson mist, the Demon Sect's inner circle gathered.
At the heart of the cavern stood an obsidian's throne, carved with runes that pulsed like veins. Upon it sat Elder Hei Xuan, a gaunt man draped in black robes who is on the breakthrough to a dou zong 9 star semi saint level(a level even though a dou zong is said to be more powerful than a normal peak 9 star dou zong). His hair hung long and unkempt, his face pale as death, but his eyes burned with a sickly light—like coals smoldering in ash.
Before him knelt a dozen shadowed figures, their cloaks fluttering though no wind stirred the cavern. These were the Sect's executioners—the Silent Blades, 5 star dou zongs assassins who had ended dynasties with nothing but whispers and poisoned daggers.
Hei Xuan raised one skeletal hand.
> Hei Xuan: "The Crimson Alchemist has fallen. The Association King is dust. And yet… Xiao Kai lives."
His words echoed across the stone walls, weighted with venom.
A murmur rippled among the kneeling figures. The Crimson Alchemist had been their terror in the south, his mastery of forbidden blood flames nearly unrivaled. To imagine that a boy—just a boy who was rumored to be a qi cultivator—had undone him… it sent unease through even the hardened killers of the Sect.
Hei Xuan's lips twisted into something between a smile and a sneer.
> Hei Xuan: "Do you understand now? He is not a pebble in our path. He is the path. Every plan, every chain we've forged… leads to him. The power he carries is unknown and beats in rhythm with the heavens. Left unchecked, it will destroy everything we've built."
One of the Silent Blades dared to lift his head. His voice was like sand scraping glass.
> Silent Blade: "Then we strike. Tonight. We send blades, beasts, curses. Let him drown in shadows before he grows any further."
Hei Xuan's fingers tapped once on the arm of his throne and the whole environment they are feels eith pressure. The cavern itself seemed to hum in answer.
> Hei Xuan: "You think blades are enough?(Talking in a low voice) No… Xiao Kai has walked through fire, drowned in blood, and risen from coffins. He will not die so easily."
(Down among the assassins is that is the leader also scared of Xiao Kai)
From the side chamber, chains rattled. Something moved in the dark, a shape too large to fit the space it occupied. Eyes opened—dozens of them, glowing a sickly green. A low growl reverberated, shaking dust loose from the ceiling.
Hei Xuan gestured toward the beast.
> Hei Xuan: "Release the Hundred-Eyed Devourer. Let it hunt him. Let the boy learn that even fire cannot burn away endless hunger."
(The hundred eyed beast is so mysterious and it's one of the demons secret weapon back in the days and it is said to rival 5 star dou zuns...)
The Silent Blades bowed deeply, fear and reverence mingling in their silence.
And so, orders spread like poison through the Demon Sect. Not just assassins this time. Not just puppets. But beasts bred in darkness, curses written in blood, and killers who had never once failed a mission.
The hunt for Xiao Kai had begun in earnest.
Back in Jade Willow Village
The night was deep when Xiao Kai and his friends finished burying the dead. Every grave was marked with simple stones, the names etched by Cheng Xiao's steady hands. They had saved kingdoms, destroyed sects, but tonight the weight of failure pressed down heavier than ever.
Li Han Xiao sat apart, sharpening what remained of her halberd. Each scrape of stone on metal was a promise of vengeance.
> Li Han Xiao: "They'll pay. Every last one."
(Said in a very breaking voice...)
Du Fan stood silently by the well, eyes fixed on the horizon as if searching for something only he could see.
> Du Fan: "They won't stop. If we move east, they'll strike east. If we move west, they'll strike west. Wherever we all goes, the knives will follow especially you Xiao Kai."(said with pity on his eyes)
Cheng Xiao looked at Xiao Kai.
> Cheng Xiao: "And what about you? You haven't said a word since we found Elder Ming. What are you thinking?"
Xiao Kai stood among the graves, his gaze on the stars above. His hand brushed against his chest, feeling the orb's faint thrum.
> Xiao Kai (quietly): "I'm thinking… the more they come, the closer we get to the heart. If the King remembers, then somewhere, the true King still stirs. Every assassin, every beast they send is proof they fear what we carry. Proof we're moving in the right direction."
He turned, his golden eyes sharp despite the exhaustion etched into his face.
> Xiao Kai: "So let them come."
As his golden eyes glowed sharply he releases a suppression of a powerful dou zong...
And back to what the demons are preparing because the shadows are already moving,
That same night, across the Qi Dynasty, doors opened where no doors had ever been. Silent Blades slipped from rooftops like rain, their faces hidden, their steps leaving no echo. The Hundred-Eyed Devourer was unchained, its many gazes piercing through stone and soil as it crawled toward the village. And in cities far and near, whispers began to spread—rumors of a boy whose fire defied death, whose name made even demons tremble.
Xiao Kai had become more than a target.
He was becoming a legend.
But legends, the Demon Sect vowed, could be broken.
The vast wilderness of the northern frontier stretched endlessly, a frozen canvas where jagged mountains pierced the sky like broken fangs and the howling winds carried whispers of forgotten wars. The snowfall thickened, layering the world in white silence, but amidst this desolate beauty, figures moved—warriors, scouts, and shadows carrying banners of their respective clans.
The news of the Branched Demon Association King's final fall had already rippled across the great lands like wildfire. From the remote temples of the Nine Heavens Abbey to the martial peaks of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect, word spread that one of the ancient calamities had been extinguished. Yet instead of relief, an air of unease gripped the realms.
Xiao Kai stood alone on a cliff overlooking the frozen wasteland, the storm's fury battering against his black robes. His eyes, sharp and unwavering, tracked the distant horizon where a dark stain seemed to pulse—an ominous scar left behind by the king's passing. The others had returned to their clans to regroup, but he remained, sensing something deeper. The death knell of the Forgotten King was not an ending. It was the toll of an opening.
Far away, within the halls of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect, the elders convened in the Hall of Ancients. The chamber was lit by dragonfire braziers, their golden flames dancing across carved murals depicting the sect's glorious past. Patriarch Long Tian's voice boomed:
> "The world celebrates the fall of a king, but do not be deceived! When such a power fades, another stirs. Balance never permits a vacuum. Our scouts whisper of sealed ruins in the west beginning to tremble—ruins tied to the Primordial Beasts."
The mention of those beasts drew sharp intakes of breath. Even the most arrogant of elders lowered their gazes. The Primordial Beasts were said to be entities that walked before the clans themselves, born when heaven and earth were still raw, their spirits older than time.
Meanwhile, the Moonshadow Spirit Hall Sect was embroiled in its own storm. Within its obsidian sanctum, lit by moonlight filtering through stained crystal, High Priestess Yue Xin knelt before the altar of silver flame. Her prayers whispered like threads of fate, weaving visions into her mind. She saw a child born under twin eclipses, carrying bloodlines of two ancient clans—destined either to unify or destroy.
Her voice trembled as she revealed the prophecy to her disciples:
> "The death of the Forgotten King is not the end. It is a summons. The heirs of the clans will converge, and from their clash, a path shall open… either to ascension or annihilation."
Back in the northern frontier, Xiao Kai's solitude was interrupted. A soft crunch of snow announced the arrival of Mei Lian, her figure wrapped in a crimson cloak, eyes burning with determination.
> "You stayed behind," she said, breath clouding in the cold.
"Because I felt it," Xiao Kai answered without looking at her.
"Felt what?"
"That something else stepped into the world the moment the demons association King fell."
Before Mei Lian could respond, the earth quaked violently. Cracks spidered through the ice below, glowing faintly with azure lightning. The frozen ground itself seemed to roar, and from its depths, an ancient horn's echo bled into reality.
The two exchanged a knowing look. Whatever was coming next was not man, nor demon, but something far older.
In the distant Qi Dynasty, chaos ruled. The Demon Association Headquarters, already in ruins from the battle, was abandoned by most. But beneath its rubble, sealed chambers stirred. Old scrolls burst into flame, chains rattled, and in the deepest vault, a single eye opened, gleaming with malice.
A shadow muttered:
> "So… the king is gone. Then the feast may begin."
Last part:
The snowstorm raged across the frontier, but in the heart of the continent, in the neutral lands of the Celestial Concord Arena, the banners of the great clans and sects fluttered in the wind. This ancient arena had been dormant for centuries, only convened when calamities threatened the balance of the world. Its pillars rose like mountains, engraved with runes that shimmered faintly under the light of twin suns, while its central dais pulsed with immortal qi.
From every direction, carriages drawn by spirit beasts thundered toward the arena. Some came on swords riding the clouds, others descended in phoenix-drawn palanquins, while a few simply tore through space itself. The Council of Clans was assembling.
Arrival of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect:
A deep roar split the sky as a colossal dragon manifestation wound through the heavens. From its back descended the delegation of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect. Patriarch Long Tian led them, his aura calm yet suffocating, as though the weight of mountains pressed on every soul present. Behind him walked disciples clad in azure robes, their qi harmonized like a flowing river. Among them was Xiao Kai and others who have been picked up by patriarch long tian, head unbowed, stride unbroken.
Whispers spread like wildfire through the assembly.
> "That's him… the youth who cut down the Forgotten King's generals."
"He looks no older than eighteen, yet his presence… it eclipses even seasoned elders."
"Is he the Azure Dragon Sky Sect's hidden card?"
Xiao Kai ignored the stares, his mind fixed not on politics but on the scar in the northern ice he had left behind. Yet here, he knew he would have no choice but to play the game of clans.
Arrival of the Moonshadow Spirit Hall Sect
From the east came the Moonshadow Spirit Hall Sect, their procession cloaked in silver mist. High Priestess Yue Xin emerged, veiled in moonlight, every step resonating with the cadence of fate itself. Her disciples followed in perfect silence, their faces hidden behind spirit masks, exuding an air of mystery that unsettled even the boldest warriors.
Yue Xin's gaze swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on Xiao Kai. Beneath her veil, her lips curled ever so slightly. The prophecy weighed heavily on her heart—the youth before her might well be the child of eclipses she had foreseen.
Arrival of the eagle clan
The ground shook as iron-clad legions marched in formation, their armor gleaming crimson under the twin suns. The eagle clan had arrived, led by Grand Marshal Qin Zhao, a giant of a man with a scar across his throat and eyes burning with martial fury. Behind him came princes and ministers, their presence heavy with imperial ambition.
The Qi banner unfurled—a black solitaire huge eagle flying around a blood-red sun. To many, it symbolized power. To others, oppression. Yet none dared mock the dynasty, for its armies stretched farther than any clan's reach.
Arrival of Other Clans
From the far south, the Blazing Vermilion Clan descended on wings of fire, their young prodigies radiating heat that melted the snow upon landing.
From the west, the White Tiger Iron Sect thundered in, their warlords clad in beastbone armor, each carrying halberds taller than men.
And from the north, cloaked in shadows, the Black Tortoise Hidden Clan slipped silently into the assembly, their very presence an omen.
All four great beast clans were present, ensuring no decision would be taken lightly.
The Gathering:
When all had assembled, the central dais lit up, ancient runes burning with golden light. A voice older than time echoed across the arena, emanating from the Concord Stone itself:
> "The association demon King has fallen. His era is ended. Yet the scars of his reign open doors long sealed. The Council must decide: shall the clans unite against the coming storm, or shall they fall divided?"
The elders, sect masters, and sovereigns began to argue, their voices clashing like thunder.
Patriarch Long Tian spoke first, his tone calm but firm:
> "We must not mistake this as peace. Already, my sect's scouts have seen ancient seals stirring. The Primordial Beasts will rise if balance is broken."
Grand Marshal Qin Zhao sneered:
> "The Azure Dragon Sky Sect fears shadows. The Qi Dynasty does not tremble at old tales. With the king dead, the world belongs to those who seize it. Our armies will secure the ruins of the west and east. Those who resist shall be crushed."
High Priestess Yue Xin's soft laughter cut through the din, chilling many to silence.
> "Spoken like a man who knows nothing of fate. The stars themselves shift. One life, one choice, one heir—these shall decide the future, not your legions."
Her veiled gaze flicked toward Xiao Kai again.
Rising Tension:
Xiao Kai, who had remained silent until now, suddenly stepped forward. His voice, steady yet carrying an edge that cut deeper than steel, reverberated across the arena:
> "The association King's death should have been an end. Instead, it is the beginning of something far worse. You waste breath fighting over who rules, when none of you understand what is stirring. If you continue this path, there will be no clans left to rule."
The arena fell into stunned silence. That a youth would speak so boldly before emperors and patriarchs was unheard of. Murmurs erupted. Some laughed, others bristled with killing intent.
The Grand Marshal's eyes narrowed.
> "And who are you, boy, to speak so arrogantly before the Council of Clans?"
And the grand marshal releases a dou zong suppression on Xiao Kai attacking with soul attack directly
Xiao Kai met his gaze unflinchingly and confronted with his soul power also.
> "I am Xiao Kai of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect. And I was there when the association King fell."
The murmurs swelled into a storm.
At that moment, the Concord Stone pulsed violently. Golden runes flared, and from its heart a vision projected into the sky: endless oceans of fire, mountains collapsing, and titanic silhouettes of beasts with eyes like suns breaking through the horizon.
Gasps echoed across the arena.
The vision's final image froze on the youth's silhouette standing alone against the beasts, cloaked in dragonlight.
The Council was thrown into chaos. Some demanded Xiao Kai's execution as an omen of calamity. Others called him the destined savior. And amidst it all, the youth himself remained silent, staring at the vision of his own fate burning above.
That's where we leave the Council scene mid-chaos, with Xiao Kai now at the center of destiny's storm.
Thus, Episode 16 entered a deeper phase of descendents of the clans: the world no longer united in relief, but divided by fear, ambition, and the promise of awakening forces long thought impossible.
And at the center of it all, Xiao Kai felt his path narrowing. Every clan, every sect, every dynasty would soon stake their claim on the era to come. He could no longer stand as a lone wanderer. The time to choose allegiance—or defy them all—was drawing near.
Episode 17 intro: still at the scene where it all ended but demons invasion is becoming more nearer... What happens next👇👇👇