Core life gilded the mundane: private grottos for cultivation, access to the sect's Arcane Library—tomes of forbidden Daos. But peace fractured with the Crimson Flame envoy's arrival. Led by Patriarch Huo Liang—Huo Yan's uncle, a tyrannical Layer 9 with phoenix heritage twisted by ambition—the delegation demanded her return for the betrothal.
In the grand hall, tensions crackled. Sect Master Yun Hao, a Nascent Soul elder, mediated: "Alliances strengthen us against rifts."
Huo Yan stood defiant, flames coiling. "I choose my Dao, Uncle. Not your politics."
Liang's eyes narrowed, dialogues venomous: "Ungrateful chick. Blood demands obedience." His backstory: exiled from Azure for treachery, now clawing back via marriage.
Lin Feng, in core robes, observed from sidelines, system scanning: Liang's qi demonic-tainted—spy ties?
Post-meeting, Huo confided: "He'll force it. Rift chaos is pretext for war."
Lin Feng: "Then devour the pretext. Infiltrate?"
Zhao, overhearing, joined: "I'm in. Owe you."
Trio reformed, plotting in Lin Feng's grotto. Ally Scan revealed loyalties: Huo pure, Zhao wavering but true—his arc bending toward redemption.
[Quest: Uncover Crimson Spy Network. Reward: Betrothal Nullifier Artifact.]
They struck at midnight, Ghost Steps veiling through sect alleys. Zhao's contacts—black market remnants—pointed to a hidden pavilion.
Infiltration: Lin Feng's Veil cloaked them. Inside, Crimson disciples met a cloaked demon— the same from Zhao's temptation.
Eavesdropping: "...the boy's system—key to rift control. Kidnap Yan as bait."
Lin Feng's blood chilled. Plot converges.
Ambush initiated. Zhao's Tempest burst doors; Huo's flames lit the room. Lin Feng pounced on the demon, Grasp latching.
It shed cloak—a mid-tier abyssal cultivator, Layer 6. "Fools! The Void Lord rises!"
Battle raged: demon's shadow tentacles lashed. Lin Feng dodged, Dragon Breath countering with fire-void clash. Devoured a tentacle: [Void Tendril (Basic).]
Zhao tanked hits, bruised but unyielding: "For once, I fight for more than me!"
Huo incinerated minions, but Liang burst in—alerted. "Traitors!"
His phoenix blaze dwarfed hers, qi suppressing. "Nephew, yield the system."
Lin Feng veiled Huo away, clashing with Liang. Cloud Sword met flame claws, sparks flying. Liang's power overwhelmed, palm scorching Lin Feng's guard.
[HP 70/150. Burn Debuff.]
Zhao intervened, Vortex disrupting. "Not today, old bird!"
Liang laughed: "The bully reforms? Pathetic." But the distraction allowed Lin Feng's Storm—blades devouring flame qi.
Liang retreated, wounded: "This war's just begun."
They seized documents: proof of spy network, rift manipulation for invasion.
Confronting Yun Hao, evidence presented. "Crimson betrays us."
Sect mobilized defenses; betrothal annulled. Huo free, hugged Lin Feng: "My Dao's mine—thanks to you."
Zhao clapped backs: "Trio's unbreakable."
But fallout: Liang fled to rifts, allying deeper with Void Lord—antagonist evolution, from schemer to harbinger.
Lin Feng fused Void: [New Skill: Abyss Grasp—Corrupt/Devour Enemies.]
His progression: Layer 4 (30%). Thoughts: Bonds strengthen, but betrayal's shadow lingers.
Scouts reported: massive rift opening. War council formed; Xuan Fei: "Frontlines call. Ready?"
The world setting expanded—sects allying against abyssal threat, ancient Daos awakening.
Lin Feng sharpened sword: Devour the void itself