The rolling plains stretched out into the distance, vibrant green tall grass susurrating under the presence of a strong gust of wind. Only two men remained standing on a patch of blackened, scorched earth, the grass long having vaporized under the fury of heavenly lightning— Elder Han and Yao Shen.

“P-Patriarch… no, Grand Patriarch, was there really such an agreement between our sects?” The aged man’s expression was one of disbelief, his azure robes bearing the insignia of the Heavenly Sky Sect, etched with threads derived from a golden silkworm that indicated his status as an Elder.

Yao Shen focused his divine sense, envisioning a dome that encompassed both him and Elder Han before projecting it. His newly acquired Soul Emperor level Divine Sense would ensure that the contents of the conversation would remain privy to only them, and any interference or encroachment would be detected well in advanced.

“Of course not, Elder Han,” Yao Shen replied with a light laugh, amusement sparkling in his eyes. ‘I am sure Zhou Hui would be devastated when he receives knowledge of my unexpected success, that I, Yao Shen, am unrivaled now in the Azlak Plains,” he added, with a boisterous laugh, for even he himself was not at all certain of success, knowing the heavenly retribution his human dao domain would summon would be ferocious beyond belief.

“Grand Patriarch…,” Elder Han tried to interject, but Yao Shen cut him off.

“It is fine, Elder Han. You were not the only one that cast doubt upon my chances of success. As a Nascent Soul Cultivator, I was powerful, yes. I could defeat Zhou Hui, indeed. However, that spoke more to my obsession and ingenuity rather than skill. If my talent limited me from reaching mastery in any one Dao, then I would achieve minor success in ten. If ten were not enough, then I would achieve minor success in a hundred! That resolve allowed me to reach today’s heights, frenzied training on the verge of life and death let me become the man I am today. But was it enough?” Yao Shen imbibed a hundred years of pain, jealousy, anger, frustration and even resolve into his words, lacking even a hint of falsity or deception.

Elder Han grimaced, but inwardly he was moved by Yao Shen’s determination. As Patriarch, Yao Shen was an inspiration to even the weakest, most talentless cultivator in the sect, though his existence served as a blot on the reputation of legacy disciples and ancient families that had existed since the sect’s foundation. He shook his head with a weary sigh, knowing that ultimately even if Yao Shen managed to imbibe even a hundred Minor Dao’s into his domain, the Heavenly Dao’s lightning would shatter a lifetime’s effort in a matter of seconds.

Indeed, Yao Shen could defeat Zhou Hui in a fair battle, but that had more to do with his ingenuity and resolve. Yao Shen’s patchwork domain was indeed a fascinating accomplishment in its own sense, cycling between combinations of elements depending upon the type of opponent he was facing. Fire-Water-Earth-Wind combined to form the domain of four elements, which he could immediately switch with the minor Dao’s of Mist-Water-Wind-Shadow to form the Domain of Illusory Shadows. They were not separate domains, but part of a larger whole that had ingeniously formed a rotation system. A domain that incorporated all the elements under Yao Shen’s command, but only actively utilized four at a time.

Ultimately, however, it spoke more to the decline of the Hui family than Yao Shen’s prowess as a cultivator. Of course, the intention was not to make light of Yao Shen’s abilities, but the inheritances, techniques, powerful pills and resources the Hui family had amassed over the years, even after most of it had been exhausted over their long existence, should have been enough for him to defeat the Grand Patriarch.

“Indeed,” Yao Shen nodded when he saw Elder Han shake his head. “Had it been Zhou Hui who applied for ascension, the Council of Elders would have declined his request. There is no shame in admitting that Zhao Hui’s potential is higher than mine, not to mention that my very existence is a polarizing one. They ultimately had faith that Zhao Hui would surpass me, and my death would let the legacy families breathe freely again.”

Elder Han remained silent, a bead of sweat pouring down from his forehead. While he did not belong to one of the legacy families, he was greatly indebted to the ‘Zhu’ family for providing him with assistance early on in his cultivation.

“But all that is in the past, Elder Han,” Yao Shen smiled, patting Elder Han’s shoulder lightly. “As the first Soul Emperor born in the Azlak Plains since the Era of Turmoil, I am not lacking in determination, ingenuity, and now… I can truly say that my talent eclipses Zhou Hui, that no cultivator born in the Azlak Plains can even begin to compare. Are you not curious, Elder Han, to what heights such a leader may take you to?”

“Grand Patriarch…. What was that mystical Dao you used to subdue heavenly lightning? I do not know the significance of the red lightning, but I could sense that my soul would not be able to bear even a sliver of that horrifying energy,” Elder Han finally asked the questions that had been plaguing him since Yao Shen ascended. Had he truly concealed himself so deeply? But why? And now that they had the power to devastate the Sacred Flame Palace and the Divine Mountain Sect, why did he instead invite them to a new sect as if past transgressions were forgotten? He, more than anyone else, understood Patriarch Yao’s ability to hold a grudge in his heart, and he had levelled a small subordinate sect for far more trivial reasons than the offenses of the Sacred Flame Palace and the Divine Mountain Sect.

Of course, the disciples had been off-limits, they were not a demonic sect, but even then…. Was this really the Yao Shen he knew, or had he been possessed by a demon!?

“I am sure you already have your conjectures, Elder Han. Peer through the sect records you shall have your answer. Now let us head back to the sect, I am sure the Council will be awaiting our presence. This is one meeting you do not want to miss, Elder Han.”