Chapter 2

TWIN: Chapter Two

On that day, the First and Second Elders of the Clear Star Sect were not the only ones overseeing security.

Elders and their disciples from the other two Eighth Heaven Sects had also joined forces in ensuring the safety of the sect. Assigned to various locations within the Clear Star Sect, they worked together to verify the identities of visitors and ensure that none of them behaved suspiciously.

Yuan Shaotian, the Second Elder of the Clear Star Sect, appeared to be a man in his late fifties. His once black hair, along with his full beard, had started to show streaks of gray. He was tasked with overseeing the main entrance, where he and his disciples meticulously cross-checked the identities of those entering.

For the most part, Yuan Shaotian remained calm and composed. He concealed his Nature Essence and blended in with his disciples, watching over the situation from a distance.

Every so often, he would step forward to greet high-status guests, offering warm smiles and exchanging pleasantries. Everything was proceeding smoothly—until he heard one of his disciples shout.

It seemed that one of the potential guests had ignored the no-flight rule.

Despite his laid-back demeanor, the Second Elder had been continuously extending his Spirit Sense throughout the area. This allowed him to monitor the situation and ensure that none of his disciples made a mistake.

However, to his surprise, he had not detected the newcomer's approach. He had not sensed any fluctuations in the Nature Essence or disturbances in the surrounding space that would have indicated the use of a special treasure or secret technique.

At first, he hesitated to intervene. He wanted to give his disciple a chance to handle the situation and explain the rules to the visitor. However, his hesitation was short-lived. Before his very eyes, the disciple who had attempted to approach the intruder with words quickly withered, as if she had aged a hundred years within seconds.

Fury surged through Yuan Shaotian's veins, and he shot into the air, soaring toward the scene. His emotions flared, but he struggled to restrain his rage. He could not afford to act rashly, especially given that the visitor's identity was still unknown.

Although the woman only exuded an aura just below the First Level of the Celestial Stage, her techniques seemed highly mysterious. He had not even sensed any fluctuations in Nature Essence when she killed his disciple, just as he had failed to detect her approach. Who knew whether this woman was someone he—or, even worse, the Clear Star Sect—could afford to offend?

There had been one or two occasions where figures from the Ninth Heaven had descended to visit. Could this woman be one of them? Could she be a True God suppressing her aura to blend in?

"Greetings, visitor," Yuan Shaotian said, attempting to remain calm. "Please pardon me. I am Yuan Shaotian, the Second Elder of Clear Star Sect. May I know your identity so that I may make the necessary preparations and inform the Sect Master to welcome you properly?"

The woman turned her head slightly, and though her face remained hidden by her cloak, Yuan Shaotian could hear the faintest chuckle escape her lips.

"Heh. There's no need for that," she said in a soft, yet unsettling tone. "I'll introduce myself directly to your Si He Ya and the other Sect Masters. For now, there is something I need you to do for me."

Hearing her refer to the Sect Master by name made Yuan Shaotian realize he had made the right choice in holding back. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained composed.

"Of course, Senior. I am at your service. Please give me your instructions."

The woman's lips curled into a sweet smile, but there was something sinister in the air. "That's good. Then, can you tell my Great Grandma that I love her?"

Yuan Shaotian's brow furrowed in confusion. He gave her a puzzled look, unsure of what to make of her words. But after a brief moment, he quickly regained his composure.

"Senior, where might I find your Great Grandma?" he asked, trying to remain respectful.

The visitor's smile never faltered, though her eyes gleamed with something darker. "In the underworld."

Before Yuan Shaotian could even process the meaning of her words, he suddenly felt his body stiffen. To his shock and horror, his cultivation began to plummet at an alarming rate.

Third Level Celestial.

Second Level Celestial.

First Level Celestial.

Spirit.

Sky.

King.

Venerable.

Soul Formation Stage.

Golden Lotus.

Lotus Formation.

As his Natal Lotus was dispersed and his Immortal status vanished, his body began to deteriorate. His appearance, which had been that of a man in his fifties, rapidly aged. His hair turned silver, and his skin wrinkled. Within moments, his once-proud figure became nothing more than a bag of bones.

It took less than half a minute for the Second Elder to go from standing in front of the visitor to crumbling into a lifeless heap on the ground. Not even a scream escaped his lips. The disciples and other visitors who had been watching in shock could only stare wide-eyed, unable to react until they, too, were targeted by her gaze.

Dread. Terror.

They were paralyzed, their bodies frozen in place, unable to move or even scream. As they withered like dried leaves in the wind, the woman turned her attention away from them.

"You all should also help me greet my Great Grandmother," she said, her voice light and mocking. "Don't worry, unlike the nasty stories told about her, my father always said she was a kind soul. But don't get any ideas, though. She was ruthless to anyone who dared to cross her."

The disciples and visitors, like Yuan Shaotian and his disciple before them, had no chance to scream. Their bodies were completely stiffened, unable to do anything as they too withered away.

Not even bothering to watch the process unfold, the woman turned her attention toward the celebration still taking place within the Clear Star Sect. The Heaven's Widow Festival continued in full swing, blissfully unaware of the horrors unfolding just outside.

With a casual motion, she raised both hands high above her head. A massive, blood-red scythe materialized, stretching a full fifteen meters in length. The blade gleamed with an ominous shine as she gripped its handle tightly.

With a single, decisive swing, the scythe slashed through the air, targeting the protective arrays around the Clear Star Sect. The arrays groaned under the pressure, and several cracks appeared in them, weakening their defenses.

The entire sect shook violently as the woman smiled wickedly. She tossed back her hood, revealing her face fully.

She appeared to be around the same age as Bai Zhongxue, though she had a bald head that accentuated her features. Her skin was pale, and beneath her eyes were two teardrop tattoos in a dark shade of blue. Her eyes were equally unsettling—snake-like irises of silver that gleamed with malice.

Despite her exotic appearance, she was undeniably beautiful, and her charm was potent enough to rival that of Elder Bai Zhongxue. Yet the fury in her expression only made her more terrifying.

"Good! Very good!" she shouted, her voice echoing throughout the sect. "All of you are here together, celebrating my Great Grandmother's demise! How convenient! Now I don't have to visit your Sects one by one. Today, I, Ye Gu Du, will let you all go ahead of me and greet her in the Underworld!"

With that, the entire Clear Star Sect trembled, and the air seemed to grow colder as her voice rang out in the stillness. The Heaven's Widow Festival, which had once been a symbol of joy and reverence, now seemed a distant memory in the face of the chaos that was about to unfold.