Unveiling of the Akashic Records

Amidst the chaos that was breaking loose across the sect, Xing Wuye sat deep within his pavilion, far removed from the destruction outside. He had entered a trance-like state, completely oblivious to the disaster unfolding. The moment he began to cultivate, he felt a powerful surge, not unlike the one he experienced when he broke through to the Dragon Transformation stage. But this time, it was different. The feeling was deeper, more profound. It was as if something ancient and vast was calling to him—something that had been waiting for him for eons.

Suddenly, the Akashic Record revealed itself to him fully.

The Akashic Record, a mystical and incomprehensible entity that Wuye had only glimpsed in fragments, now enveloped him entirely. His consciousness was drawn into a boundless void where stars, memories, and fragments of knowledge swirled like an eternal vortex. The Record itself was said to be the collective memory of a nigh-omniscient being—an entity so powerful that no living creature could comprehend its full extent.

But even more disturbing was the knowledge that this Record had been stolen and refined by a master thief. Wuye's heart quivered in dread. To steal from a being that had infinite knowledge and understanding was an unimaginable feat, one that required an inconceivable level of strength and cunning. How strong must one be to accomplish such a thing?

The thought sent shivers down Wuye's spine, but there was no time to dwell on it. The Akashic Record, sensing his questions, began to answer. Knowledge flooded his mind. He saw images of worlds, of powerful cultivators rising and falling, of civilizations wiped out in the blink of an eye. He saw roads of destiny and endless possibilities stretching before him.

The Record revealed to him a vital truth: when one reaches the stage of Qi Condensation, they must glimpse at their Dao—their future path in cultivation. It was this moment, this act of introspection, that defined a cultivator's life and destiny. The Record had waited until now to reveal this knowledge because Wuye was on the precipice of something far greater than he had yet realized. His Dragon Transformation had only been the beginning.

Now, the Record wrapped itself around him like a cocoon of energy, its vast knowledge shielding and guiding him. Wuye felt himself being drawn back to the source of the call—the same call he had answered when he broke through to the Dragon Transformation stage. He was being pulled toward the very root of his path, the foundation of his Dao. His body floated in an ethereal space, disconnected from the physical world, unaware of the chaos outside his pavilion.

Meanwhile, outside the pavilion, all hell had broken loose.

The once peaceful sect had turned into a battlefield. The outer sect had been decimated by the clash between titanic powers, with countless outer disciples being reduced to dust or crushed into unrecognizable bloody pulps. The protective formations that were meant to shield the outer sect had collapsed under the overwhelming force of the battle, leaving everyone vulnerable.

When the energy from the clash finally cleared, the figure responsible stood revealed—a handsome man clad in black robes tinged with gold. His long black hair flowed in the wind, and his eyes burned with fury as he surveyed the destruction before him.

"How dare you!" the man's voice boomed like thunder, shaking the very foundations of the sect. "Who dared to take my daughter's virginity?"

His words hung in the air, and every disciple, elder, and sect leader present froze in shock. Yu Feng, standing among the disciples, let out a bitter smile. He had been caught in the crossfire of a storm far beyond his control. While he had taken advantage of the situation with the Emerald Radiance Sect disciple, he hadn't anticipated such a terrifying backlash. Now, he found himself at the mercy of this enraged father, a man whose strength radiated like the sun itself.

Sect Leader Yu Tianlong, realizing the gravity of the situation, stepped forward, his face grim but composed. "This is not our fault," he said calmly, his voice measured. "The fault lies with Fan Xian, that old goat. He failed to protect your daughter."

The black-robed man's eyes narrowed, and without a word, he lifted his hand and grabbed at the air. In an instant, Fan Xian, the Emerald Radiance Sect Leader, appeared before him, but the once-proud man was now missing all his limbs. His eyes were wide with fear and pain, his body trembling as blood pooled around him.

"You failed," the black-robed man said coldly. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, a thin strand of qi extended from his fingers and lopped off Fan Xian's head in a single, swift motion. Fan Xian's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, his severed head rolling away into the snow.

A deathly silence followed.

Yu Tianlong's heart sank. He had feared this would happen, but the ease with which the man had executed Fan Xian confirmed his worst suspicions. This was no ordinary cultivator. This man was a legendary Core Formation expert, someone far beyond the level of any elder or sect leader present.

Before anyone could react, the black-robed man raised his hand again, this time gathering a mass of golden energy in his palm. Without warning, he hurled the blast at the defensive formation surrounding the inner sect. The golden energy struck the barrier with a deafening roar, causing it to ripple and strain under the immense pressure. The formation held, but only just.

Yu Tianlong breathed a sigh of relief. The formation had withstood the blow, but it wouldn't last much longer if this continued. Before he could issue his next command, however, a sudden and unexpected betrayal took place.

From within the ranks of the elders, Elder Wu stepped forward with a twisted grin on his face. His hands moved in a blur, and in a split second, he struck out at Sect Leader Yu Tianlong, his palm infused with malevolent qi. The blow landed with devastating precision, piercing through Yu Tianlong's defenses and injuring him severely.

"Elder Wu, you traitor!" Yu Tianlong gasped, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Elder Wu sneered. "I've grown tired of playing the loyal dog. It's time for a change in leadership."

With Yu Tianlong weakened and the formation faltering, the black-robed man seized the opportunity. His eyes gleamed with a cruel smile as he launched another golden blast at the formation. This time, without the sect leader's full power behind it, the barrier shattered like glass, sending shards of energy scattering in all directions.

The once-impenetrable defenses of the Thousand Myriad Pavilions crumbled, and the black-robed man stepped forward, his presence filling the sect with overwhelming dread.

Back inside the pavilion, Xing Wuye remained unaware of the carnage. His body sat motionless, disconnected from the world as his consciousness delved deeper into the Akashic Record's vast repository of knowledge. Time moved differently in this state, and Wuye was still trapped in the cocoon of energy, searching for his Dao.

The pavilion trembled as shockwaves from the battle reached its walls, but Wuye did not stir. His mind was elsewhere, guided by the Record toward truths far beyond his understanding. In this ethereal realm, he saw glimpses of his future, paths he might take, and the consequences of each choice.

But for now, the outside world was lost to him. His body remained inert, unable to sense the devastation that was sweeping through the sect.

And outside, the sect teetered on the edge of annihilation.