The valley ended in a narrow ravine, its cliffs veined with black stone. From above, it looked barren, but as Feng Xieyun and Lian Zhi passed through, a hidden path unfolded: an ancient gate of obsidian, weathered but unbroken.
Across its arch were three characters etched in silver:
Falling Shadow Sect.
Xieyun narrowed his eyes. "I thought this sect was destroyed centuries ago."
Lian Zhi's lips curved faintly. "Destroyed on the surface. Some roots never die. Like weeds, or demons."
As if summoned by her words, the gate shimmered, and a hooded figure emerged. His aura was strange—not sharp like swordsmen, not serene like orthodox cultivators, but heavy, cloaked in shadows.
"Feng Xieyun," the figure said, his voice gravel and dusk. "The sect has awaited you."
Xieyun stiffened. "You know me?"
The man lowered his hood. His eyes gleamed like lanterns in darkness. "We know what you carry. And we know Heaven will not suffer you long. If you wish to grow teeth sharp enough to bite Heaven itself, then enter. If not, leave, and be hunted until death."
Xieyun's flames stirred, black lotus petals flickering faintly. His answer was already decided.
He stepped forward.
---
Inside the sect, corridors were carved into mountain stone, lit not with torches but with ghostly blue lanterns. Murals lined the walls—depicting not heroes, but assassins, demons, and heretics. This was not a place of light.
And yet… Xieyun felt no rejection. His Demon Bone pulsed, as though recognizing kin.
At the central hall, the Sect Master awaited.
He was old, his hair white as frost, but his body radiated power restrained, condensed, waiting. His gaze locked on Xieyun, piercing through flesh and soul.
"So. The crimson child of Feng and Lin." His lips curled into something between a smile and a sneer. "Heaven trembles at your birth. The Lin Clan sharpens its knives. You will not survive without shelter."
"And you?" Xieyun asked coldly. "Would your sect not use me the same?"
The old man chuckled. "Of course we will. But unlike the others, we will not hide it. Falling Shadow Sect thrives on bargains, not lies. You gain our shadow. We gain your flame. Together, perhaps, we survive Heaven's wrath."
Xieyun's fists clenched, but before he could answer, the System's chime split the hall.
---
> [DING—System Upgrade Complete.]
[Heavenly Demon Reincarnation System—Stage Two.]
[New Functions Unlocked.]
Lines of light flickered before his eyes, unseen by anyone else.
> [Faction Integration: Host may bind to sects or organizations. Their resources and reputation are shared, but betrayal increases Corruption drastically.]
[Mission System Activated.]
[Main Mission Issued: Carve your name into the foundation of Falling Shadow Sect. Rise to Inner Disciple within 3 years. Failure: Forced Heavenly Tribulation.]
Xieyun's heart jolted. Tribulation, forced? Even Heaven itself was now tied to his growth.
The System wasn't guiding him anymore. It was driving him.
---
Lian Zhi's gaze flicked to him, sharp. "What is it?" she whispered.
He shook his head slightly. Not here. Not now.
The Sect Master spread his arms. "Decide, boy. Take the Oath of Shadow, or walk out and meet your hunters alone."
Xieyun's crimson aura flared, black petals scattering in the lantern light. His decision rang out like thunder.
"I'll take the oath."
The Sect Master's smile widened. "Good. Then may your shadow deepen, and may your flame never fade."
---
That night, alone in the quarters given to him, Xieyun sat cross-legged, the System's words replaying.
> [Main Mission: Rise to Inner Disciple.]
[Time Limit: Three years.]
[Penalty: Tribulation.]
His hand tightened. "So be it. If Heaven wishes to test me… I'll use its own chains as my stepping stones."
The Black Lotus flame flickered in his palm, sharp and hungry.
For the first time since Mei Lin's death, a new fire stirred in him—not grief, not rage, but ambition.
And in the shadows of the sect, unseen eyes watched, waiting to see if the crimson child would become their savior… or their doom.
---
✨ End of Chapter Twenty-Two ✨