The Righteous Annihilation Sect was a living storm of righteous madness, its seven valleys a vibrant mosaic of glowing peaks, cratered plains, and chaotic qi. Alex and Jin Hao wandered through the sect grounds, their eyes wide at the sheer liveliness of it all. Disciples sparred with explosive techniques, sending fireballs, water torrents, and lightning bolts flying, only to laugh when they missed and hit a tree, which promptly caught fire or sprouted flowers from stray qi. Others meditated on cliffs, only to be pranked by Senior Brother Gu Shan's illusions, tumbling into qi-cushioned nets with gleeful shouts. The sect felt like a festival of righteous lunatics, united by a passion to fight injustice with unorthodox flair, and Alex, despite his curse, couldn't help but feel a spark of belonging.
Their first stop was Thunder Salvation Valley, where Senior Brother Lei Zheng, a towering man with a sparking beard, was hurling lightning bolts at disciples who dodged with acrobatic flips and cheers. "More chaos!" he roared, his Core Formation Late Stage aura crackling. Spotting Alex, he grinned like a storm god. "Disaster boy! Your lightning-struck vibe fits my valley perfectly!" A disciple named Chen, his robe singed from a stray bolt, gaped at Alex, his eyes wide. "You survived real lightning? Join us! We need your chaos!" Alex ducked a spark that zapped his basket, muttering, "I get enough lightning, thanks." Jin Hao laughed, tossing Chen a spirit coin that glinted in the sun. "He's a walking storm, but I'm the thunder!" Chen caught the coin, awestruck, and the other disciples crowded around, begging for stories.
"Tell us about the cliff fire!" a girl named Yan demanded, her hair still damp from training. Jin Hao, ever the showman, launched into a tale of "battling a thousand flaming boars," his fan waving dramatically. Alex rolled his eyes. "It was one boar, and I tripped." The disciples roared with laughter, and Yan tossed Alex a qi-infused candy, which he fumbled, sending it bouncing into a rune that sparked a harmless thunderclap. The crowd cheered, and Chen clapped. "That's the spirit!" The moment felt peaceful, the valley's stormy energy blending with the disciples' camaraderie.
Next, they visited Inferno Redemption Valley, where Senior Brother Huo Guang was teaching disciples to "dance with flames," his red hair blazing as he set a training dummy ablaze. A disciple named Li, her robe slightly charred, stared at Alex like he was a deity. "You burned a cliff by accident? You're a fire god!" Jin Hao fanned himself dramatically, grinning. "Told you, brother, you're famous!" Alex dodged a stray ember, groaning. "It was a mistake!" Li tossed him a fire-resistant charm, her eyes sparkling. "Mistake or not, you're a legend!" The disciples started a mock "fire dance" around Alex, chanting his name until he hid behind Jin Hao, who was laughing so hard he nearly dropped his fan. "You're stealing my spotlight, brother!" Jin Hao teased, tossing a spirit coin into the air, which Li caught with a squeal.
The group paused for a quiet lunch under a flame-resistant canopy, sharing roasted spirit yams and qi tea with other disciples. Mei joined them, her scar crinkling as she smirked. "You two are turning this sect into a circus," she said, passing Alex a yam. "I'm stealing your tripping trick next time." Liang, still sulking, muttered, "I should've fallen into a treasure too." Bao, munching a yam, added, "Tell us about the labyrinth dragon!" Jin Hao spun another exaggerated tale, making the disciples laugh until tea sprayed from Yan's nose. The peaceful meal, filled with banter and the scent of roasted yams, grounded Alex in the sect's warmth.
In Flood Redemption Valley, Senior Sister Shui Bing's domain, the air was serene yet chaotic, with qi-infused rivers winding through glowing willows. Disciples swam through rapids to "cleanse their hearts," laughing as they splashed each other. A disciple named Fang, drenched and grinning, spotted Alex and splashed him. "Heard you flooded a market! You're one of us!" Alex, already soggy, sighed. "It's not a talent." Jin Hao, splashing back, declared, "It's art!" The disciples started an impromptu water fight, their laughter echoing as they dodged qi waves. Shui Bing appeared, her silver robes pristine, and froze the river's surface with a glance. "Focus, or I'll drown you all," she said, her voice icy. But she tossed Fang a drying talisman, her warm heart peeking through. The disciples cheered, and Fang tossed Alex a spirit lotus, which he fumbled, sending it floating down the river. "Classic Chaos Boy!" Mei laughed, diving to retrieve it.
The sect's lively chaos continued at a training ground, where disciples held a "Righteous Prank Contest" inspired by the Chaos Duo. Bao tried an illusion of a dancing boar, only for it to backfire and chase him, making everyone collapse in laughter. Mei tossed Alex a spirit candy, grinning. "You two started this madness," she said. Alex fumbled the candy, triggering a rune that sprayed harmless sparkles, earning more cheers. The peaceful evening, with disciples swapping prank ideas under a starry sky, felt like a family gathering, easing Alex's worries about his curse.
Their final stop was Medicine Valley, under Senior Sister Shui Qing, a lush garden of glowing herbs and bubbling cauldrons. Shui Qing, a Nascent Soul Early Stage woman with a serene yet chaotic aura, was brewing elixirs that occasionally exploded in colorful puffs. "Chaos refines the soul," she said, smiling at Jin Hao. "Your wit suits my valley." Jin Hao's eyes lit up, his fan snapping shut. "Pills, potions, and explosions? I'm in!" He turned to Alex, grinning. "Brother, I'm a merchant at heart. I'll brew elixirs that'll make the heavens jealous. You go swing swords with Scary Sister and the Sect Leader."
Alex frowned, surprised. "You're picking Medicine Valley? Not the sword path?" Jin Hao clapped his shoulder, his grin warm. "We'll still shake the heavens together, brother. Just from different valleys." They shared a fist bump, their friendship solid despite their parting paths. The disciples around them—Li, Fang, and Yan—cheered, tossing spirit herbs that Alex fumbled, triggering a harmless puff of qi smoke. "Chaos Duo forever!" Yan shouted, and the group laughed, the moment peaceful and full of promise.