Thunder rolled somewhere far behind them as Lin Feng and Xuanyu Ye pushed deeper into the Azure Lotus Marsh. The morning mist thinned into drifting silver threads, revealing a quiet pool surrounded by lotus blossoms so bright they looked painted by a celestial artist.
Lin Feng crouched beside the pool. "This is too peaceful. Makes my skin itch."
Xuanyu smirked. "Peace makes you uncomfortable?"
"When it happens right before something tries to kill me?" Lin Feng replied. "Yes."
As if the world heard him, the water beneath them rippled.
Then it glowed.
Lines of ancient runes lit up beneath the surface like a submerged constellation. The water parted in a slow spiral, revealing stone steps descending into a dark chamber.
Lin Feng blinked. "Please tell me this isn't a trap."
"It is absolutely a trap," Xuanyu said cheerfully, already stepping in.
Lin Feng sighed and followed. "And I'm the reckless one?"
The Azure Sky Inner Hall
The steps led them into a vast underground hall carved entirely of azure stone. Lightning motifs danced across the walls, shifting like living ink. Floating crystals illuminated the chamber with a soft bluish glow.
In the center stood a circular platform, its surface covered in divine script.
The air hummed. Power thrummed in the walls.
It felt like standing inside the ribcage of a sleeping thunder god.
Lin Feng whistled softly. "So this is where the Azure Sky Sect hid their real secrets…"
Xuanyu's eyes gleamed. "A preservation hall. If something survived the sect's destruction, it's here."
Lin Feng approached the platform. The runes beneath his feet stirred, reacting to his lightning qi.
The entire chamber pulsed with awakening light.
Xuanyu narrowed his eyes. "Careful—old sect formations can be—"
FWOOOM.
Lightning shot upward, engulfing Lin Feng in a swirling column. His cloak snapped violently, his hair lifting in the storm's current.
Golden and azure sparks danced around him like twin stars.
Lin Feng gritted his teeth. "I swear, if this is another test—"
Before he could finish, the platform rippled and projected a massive illusionary sigil in front of him.
Lightning Scripture – 'Sky-Shattering Pulse'
A forbidden technique lost for centuries.
Xuanyu breathed out slowly. "Congratulations. You've found something valuable… and catastrophically dangerous."
Lin Feng smirked. "Dangerous sounds about right."
But They Were Not Alone
A faint crunch echoed behind them.
Both men turned.
Shadows rippled from the cavern walls — at least seven figures, wearing black armor and masks etched with Scarlet Veil symbols. Their presence was cold, silent, murderous.
The leader stepped forward, voice dripping venom:
"Lin Feng. You finally stopped running."
Lin Feng scratched his head. "Funny. I don't remember running. I remember walking—and occasionally murdering people who annoyed me."
One assassin growled. Xuanyu hid a small smile behind his jade fan.
"Kill the scholar. Keep the boy alive," the leader ordered.
Xuanyu closed his eyes briefly. "Ah… rude."
The assassins attacked without warning.
Scarlet blades flashed through the air, slicing toward Lin Feng's chest—
He vanished.
A thunderclap exploded above them as Lin Feng dropped from the ceiling, lightning dancing along his fist.
BOOM!
He punched one assassin into the wall hard enough to leave a crater.
Another lunged at Xuanyu.
Xuanyu didn't even move.
He simply flicked his fan.
KRRRT—
A ripple of invisible force tossed the assassin across the hall like a rag doll.
Lin Feng landed beside the scholar, raising a brow.
"You sure you're a scholar?"
"I read books," Xuanyu replied. "I simply prefer when the books don't attack me."
Three assassins charged at Lin Feng at once.
His eyes glowed gold-blue as the Azure Lotus refinement surged through his body. Lightning twisted around him like a living cloak.
He spread his feet, inhaled—
Raged Thunder Strikes: Second Pulse.
He slashed the air with his hand.
Not a sword.
Just his hand.
THWAAAAMM!
A shockwave of lightning blasted outward, flipping two assassins into the air like they were made of paper. The third resisted—barely. Smoke curled from his armor.
Lin Feng grinned.
"This new refinement? I like it."
From behind, the assassin leader leapt with killing speed, blade aimed at Lin Feng's back.
Xuanyu flicked his fan again—
And a translucent jade barrier formed, blocking the strike.
Xuanyu's voice was calm.
"You missed one."
Lin Feng flashed forward like a living spark.
"Thanks."
His fist hit the leader's chest—
BOOM!
The man flew across the chamber, smashing into a rune pillar so hard the ancient stone cracked.
The impact triggered something in the hall.
The runes flared.
The water outside the chamber roared.
Then the ceiling began to tremble.
Xuanyu's eyes widened. "Ah. That's not good."
Lin Feng blinked. "Did we… break the hall?"
A massive glyph burned above them:
INTRUDERS DETECTED. PURGING INITIATED.
Lin Feng swore. "Okay, that's definitely bad."
Xuanyu turned to him slowly. "Lin Feng."
"Yes?!"
"Run."
Lightning began gathering at the ceiling — ancient defense arrays charging with killing power.
Stone pillars cracked.
The floor shook.
The hall's walls split open with blinding arcs.
Lin Feng grabbed Xuanyu by the shoulder. "Too slow — come on!"
The two sprinted up the stairs as bolts of azure destruction rained behind them.
An assassin screamed as lightning vaporized him instantly.
Lin Feng jumped, kicked off a crumbling staircase, and burst through the collapsing entrance with Xuanyu in tow—
The underground hall caved in behind them, sending shockwaves across the marsh.
Lotus petals flew into the air like glowing blue snow.
They landed on the muddy ground outside, panting.
Xuanyu brushed dirt off his sleeve. "That was… educational."
Lin Feng coughed. "I think the hall tried to murder us."
"Well," Xuanyu said calmly, "we did break into a forbidden lightning sanctuary."
Lin Feng stared at him.
"You opened the stairs."
"You walked down them."
The two glared at each other for three seconds—
then burst out laughing.
Somewhere in the shadows…
A lone Scarlet assassin, the only survivor, watched them from behind a lotus tree.
He pressed a bloody talisman to his chest.
"They survived."
"Reporting… now."
The talisman ignited.
Miles away, a roar shook the Scarlet Veil halls.
"LIN FENG!! YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!!"
The real storm had only just begun.