Tianyang's eyes sparkled with intensity. "Did you consume anything unusual, Liè Renwǒ? Anything that might have triggered this poisoning?"
Liè Renwǒ's brow furrowed in thought. "Now that you mention it, I did drink a cup of wine with Grand Master Ryūjin earlier."
Tianyang's expression transformed into one of shock and outrage. "Ryūjin!" he thundered, his voice echoing through the forest.
Liè Renwǒ's eyes widened in surprise. "You know him?"
Tianyang's face darkened, his eyes clouding over with memories. "We were once friends, Ryūjin and I, back in the Stellar Heaven Realm. But then the Guardians of the Realm took him under their wing, and he became their second-in-command. He betrayed us, Liè Renwǒ, selling his soul to an Immortal Foundation Master. Our realm was destroyed, and our immortality was lost."
Liè Renwǒ's jaw dropped. "You were immortals? Wow, how can I become one?"
Tianyang's expression turned somber, and he ignored Liè Renwǒ's question. "Listen, Liè Renwǒ, beware of Ryūjin. He's seen something in you that you haven't even achieved yet, and he'll stop at nothing to exploit it."
Tianyang handed Liè Renwǒ a small, delicate orb. "This is a Blue Sight Veiler. It will help you conceal your cultivation name and level. Keep it safe."
With that, Tianyang sent Liè Renwǒ back to the Moonlit Sect. Xiǎo Wēi and Sect Leader Zhao were overjoyed to see Liè Renwǒ return, but he barely acknowledged them, heading straight to his room to sleep.
Or so it seemed.
In reality, Liè Renwǒ snuck away to cultivate the Blue Sight Veiler, determined to unlock its secrets and protect himself from Ryūjin's sinister plans.
As Liè Renwǒ delved deeper into his cultivation, he stumbled upon a mysterious door. Without hesitation, he pushed it open and stepped inside. Suddenly, he found himself face to face with the ancient Moonlit Sect's Greatest Grand Elder, who had long since passed away.
The elder's piercing gaze seemed to bore into Liè Renwǒ's soul, but he didn't utter a single word. Instead, he vanished into thin air, leaving Liè Renwǒ bewildered.
When Liè Renwǒ returned to reality, he discovered that he had broken through to the Crystal Core Refining tier. Elated by his progress, he was about to drift off to sleep when the mischievous twins, Jiǎo Lóng and Jiǎo Hǔ, appeared once more.
"Hey, look who's finally caught up!" Jiǎo Lóng sneered, his twin brother chuckling in agreement.
Liè Renwǒ tried to ignore them, but the twins wouldn't let up. They began to taunt him, their teasing escalating into outright bullying. Liè Renwǒ's patience finally wore thin, and he unleashed a fierce punch that sent the twins flying out of the room.
The punch was so powerful that it shattered the wall, causing a commotion throughout the sect. Sect Leader Zhao stormed into the room, his face thunderous.
"Enough!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls.
The other sect masters rushed to the scene, eager to see what had caused the ruckus. The twins, still reeling from Liè Renwǒ's attack, pointed accusatory fingers at him.
"He started it!" they chimed in unison.
Xiǎo Wēi jumped to Liè Renwǒ's defense, but Zhao intervened, his expression stern.
"Liè Renwǒ, you will sleep in the solitary quarters from now on. Perhaps some time alone will help you clear your head."
Liè Renwǒ nodded, still seething with anger, but he knew better than to argue with Zhao. As he made his way to the solitary quarters, he couldn't help but wonder what other challenges lay ahead.
The next morning, the sect's siren blared to life, echoing across the grounds. A voice boomed, announcing the latest development.
"Attention, all participants! Prepare yourselves for the upcoming test against the Heavenly Above Faction Sect! This will be a trial like no other, and only the strongest will prevail."
Liè Renwǒ's eyes snapped open, and he sprang out of bed, his mind racing with excitement. He knew he had to prepare, and fast.
Without hesitation, he rushed to the forest, seeking out Tianyang's wisdom. He hoped to find a scroll or some information about the Heavenly Above Faction Sect.
As he flew through the skies on his sword, Ryūjin spotted him from afar. A sly grin spread across his face, and he decided to tail Liè Renwǒ, curious about his destination.
"Where could he be headed in such a hurry?" Ryūjin wondered, his eyes gleaming with intrigue.
He followed Liè Renwǒ from a distance, careful not to be seen. As they approached the forest, Ryūjin's eyes narrowed, his mind whirling with possibilities.
"This could be the perfect opportunity to strike," he thought, his fingers drumming against the hilt of his sword.
As Liè Renwǒ arrived at his destination, Tianyang emerged from his abode, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"What brings you here, young one?" Tianyang asked, his voice low and soothing.
Liè Renwǒ explained the situation, his words tumbling out in a rush. "There's a test against the Heavenly Above Faction Sect, and I need the scroll to prepare."
Tianyang's eyes widened, his expression turning grave. "Heavenly Above Faction..."
Just as he was about to reveal more about the sect, Tianyang's gaze flicked towards a nearby tree. His eyes narrowed, and he sensed a hidden presence.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Tianyang summoned a mental sword and struck at the concealed figure. The sword bit deep into the air, and a figure stumbled out from behind the tree.
It was Ryūjin, his eyes flashing with anger. He caught Tianyang's mental sword and shattered it with ease.
Tianyang's eyes went wide with shock. "Ryūjin!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and wariness.
Ryūjin's smile was cold and calculating. "Tianyang," he replied, his voice dripping with malice.
The air was electric with tension as the two former friends faced off, their eyes locked in a silent challenge. Liè Renwǒ watched, his heart pounding in his chest, unsure of what would happen next.