The air in the underground chamber suddenly grew heavy.
Li Wei's heart began pounding as a cold pressure spread through the room.
Instinctively, he stepped back from the glowing formation.
Someone was here.
And whoever it was… they were strong.
A faint sound echoed from the tunnel above.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Calm.
Confident.
Li Wei's mind raced.
Did someone see me enter the mountain?
If he was caught inside the sect like this, the consequences would be severe. At best, he would be expelled.
At worst…
Killed.
The footsteps grew closer.
Li Wei quickly extinguished the glowing formation by stepping away from its center.
The symbols dimmed immediately, leaving the chamber cloaked in darkness again.
He pressed himself against one of the stone pillars and held his breath.
A figure emerged from the tunnel.
The man wore the long robes of the Azure Cloud Sect, embroidered with silver patterns that marked him as an inner disciple.
His sharp eyes scanned the chamber slowly.
For several tense moments, silence filled the room.
Li Wei barely dared to breathe.
Then the man spoke.
"Interesting…"
His voice was calm, yet strangely amused.
"I sensed the activation of an ancient formation. But it appears I arrived too late."
The disciple walked slowly around the chamber, studying the old carvings.
Li Wei clenched his fists.
The pendant beneath his robe had started glowing again.
Stop… stop glowing…
But instead of dimming, the warmth only increased.
The inner disciple suddenly stopped walking.
His gaze shifted directly toward Li Wei's hiding place.
"Who's there?"
Li Wei's blood froze.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then the man smiled faintly.
"So there really is someone."
A powerful wave of spiritual pressure surged through the chamber.
Li Wei staggered as the invisible force crushed down on him.
The difference in strength between them was enormous.
He had only just begun walking the path of cultivation.
But this man…
He was already far ahead.
The disciple stepped closer, his expression curious rather than angry.
"Well now… this is surprising."
His eyes fell on the faint glow beneath Li Wei's robe.
"The aura of that object…"
His smile slowly faded.
And his voice became serious.
"Where did you get that pendant?"
Li Wei remained silent.
Because deep inside his mind…
The ancient voice had returned.
And this time it whispered something terrifying.
"Kill him."