Secrets Beneath Azure Skies

Chapter 8: Secrets Beneath Azure Skies

Gasp.

Gasps were heard throughout the silent hall of the Hua Family. The words "Supreme Elder" echoed in everyone's mind—a figure revered as an existence even above the sect leader. Becoming the disciple of such a person was akin to ascending to heaven in a single step.

Although most of the cultivators gathered had never seen the Azure Sky Sect in person, its prestige was undeniable. As the top sect in the entire Qinglong Dominion, it was a symbol of hope for rogue cultivators dreaming of greatness.

Aerich raised an eyebrow at the mention of the Supreme Elder. He didn't know much about the Azure Sky Sect, but its position as the top sect in Qinglong Dominion for centuries spoke volumes. Still, he couldn't help but remember how he had died at the hands of the villain long before he even settled in the outer sect.

"...Supreme... Supreme Elder." Hua Mei-Ling stuttered, her voice trembling. To the Hua Family, the Supreme Elder was a figure as untouchable as the ruler of the Qinglong Dominion.

Elder Shang Tian wore a proud expression as he addressed the room. "These gifts are sent by the sect to the Hua Family."

With a wave of his hand, items began appearing in front of everyone. Pills, cultivation manuals, and rare treasures formed a pile, their presence radiating an aura that made everyone's hearts pound with greed. Elder Shang Tian, however, remained indifferent to the covetous stares.

"These pills and manuals are for your family," Elder Shang Tian said calmly.

Aerich's curiosity was piqued. The sight of the elder summoning items seemingly from thin air left him astonished.

'Could this be the legendary storage ring?' he wondered.

Yet something felt off.

Why was the Azure Sky Sect presenting such grand gifts to the Hua Family? It felt less like a reward and more like a calculated gesture to sever ties with them after taking Hua Lian away.

"Why don't you rest here for the night? You've come a long way," Hua Mei-Ling suggested.

As the elder nodded, the atmosphere in the hall grew lively again. People began shamelessly flattering Elder Shang Tian and pushing their children and grandchildren forward, hoping he might take notice of them.

Hua Lian stood silently beside her father, her expression as cold as ice, as though the discussion had nothing to do with her.

Sensing that the main event was over, Aerich decided to slip away quietly before his father returned. Yu Zhong was still deep in conversation with other family heads, congratulating Hua Mei-Ling on her family's rise.

Aerich was almost at the hall's exit when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.

He nearly screamed in fright but calmed down when he heard a familiar voice.

"Where are you going?"

Turning, he saw his father standing behind him.

"Come with me. I'll introduce you to Elder Shang Tian of the Azure Sky Sect." Before Aerich could protest, Yu Zhong dragged him back toward the center of the hall.

Aerich frowned. He had tried his best to leave unnoticed, but his father's sharp instincts had foiled his plan.

"Elder Shang Tian, this is my son, Aerich Yu. He has awakened an Earth Fate talent. Can you also take him to the Azure Sky Sect?" Yu Zhong cupped his hands and bowed slightly, his tone unusually deferential.

Aerich's frown deepened as he watched his proud father lower himself like this.

"You know, Yu Zhong," Elder Shang Tian began with a chuckle, patting Yu Zhong's shoulder, "as a former disciple of the Azure Sky Sect, your talent wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either."

The hall fell into stunned silence.

None of the gathered villagers had known this about Yu Zhong. Even the family elders were shocked. From the beginning, the Yu Family had been somewhat of an enigma, suddenly announced as a new noble family by the Qinglong Dominion.

Yu Zhong had arrived in Yinhe Hollow Village as the Family Head, and no one knew his origins. The family had no other elders, and its history was a blank slate.

Aerich, too, was stunned. In the novel, this information hadn't existed. The author hadn't mentioned Yu Zhong's background because Aerich, as the protagonist, had been a highly talented individual who never needed his father's recommendation to join the sect.

Shortly after entering the sect, however, the original Aerich had met his demise at the hands of their Holy Son.

Elder Shang Tian led Yu Zhong and Aerich to a guest room in the Hua Family residence, guided by a nameless servant.

"Yu Zhong, do you know how shocked I was to find you in this rural village?" Elder Shang Tian began, his tone tinged with both anger and disbelief. "Why did you leave the sect so abruptly, without even saying goodbye? You left only a note, claiming 'family matters' as your reason for leaving permanently."

Elder Shang Tian's words carried the authority of a senior brother scolding a junior.

"Senior Brother..." Yu Zhong began but stopped when he noticed Shang Tian's glare. Bowing his head slightly, he corrected himself, "Elder Shang Tian, I left the sect without informing you or Master because I no longer had the right to call you my Senior Brother."

"It's not up to you to decide whether you can call me Senior Brother," Shang Tian retorted, his expression softening slightly.

Shang Tian pressed Yu Zhong with questions, but Yu Zhong only said, "I cannot reveal the reason. I swore an oath, and breaking it would invite the punishment of the Heavens."

Shang Tian sighed but shifted his gaze to Aerich.

"You look just like the younger version of your father," Shang Tian remarked.

Aerich felt his heart race at the unexpected compliment. The truth of his father's past had shaken him. Reality diverged more and more from the novel's storyline, making it clear that the author might have ignored many details just to kill off the original protagonist early.

"Elder..." Aerich hesitated, unsure how to address him.

"You can call me Martial Uncle," Shang Tian said with a kind smile. "Let me ask you—do you wish to join the Azure Sky Sect with me?"

"Martial Uncle, to be honest, I don't want to go to the sect," Aerich admitted. "I couldn't refuse when my father insisted on sending me."

Shang Tian studied him carefully, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"I understand what you're saying," Shang Tian said. "And I understand what you're not saying."

Aerich tried to keep a blank expression, but inwardly, he was startled.

"Haha! Kid, you think you can fool my senior brother?" Yu Zhong laughed, clearly enjoying his son's flustered reaction.

As powerful cultivators, both men could sense Aerich's quickened heartbeat and the flow of blood in his veins. His honesty—or lack thereof—was an open book to them.

Aerich could feel the pressure emanating from Elder Shang Tian and his father. These two were clearly in a league of their own, but he had no intention of bending entirely to their expectations.

He maintained a calm demeanor, even though his heart raced at the prospect of leaving his comfortable life behind. He had no desire to enter the Azure Sky Sect—a place he knew from the novel to be filled with intrigue and deadly competition.

Shang Tian observed Aerich with a calculating gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're a peculiar one, boy. Most children would jump at the chance to enter a sect like ours, yet you hesitate. Either you're wiser than your years or more foolish than I anticipated. Let's hope it's the former."

Aerich bowed slightly, trying to appear humble. "Martial Uncle, I simply feel I have much to learn here before venturing into a larger world."

Shang Tian let out a low chuckle. "A diplomatic answer. Very well, Yu Zhong, I'll honor your son's choice for now. However, if his talent truly matures, the Azure Sky Sect will always welcome him. For now, it seems his path lies here."

Yu Zhong nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I will guide Aerich myself until the time is right."

Shang Tian waved his hand dismissively. "Do as you see fit. But remember, Yu Zhong, destiny often finds a way to drag even the unwilling into its fold. Keep an eye on him—fate may call sooner than you think."

With those cryptic words, the conversation ended. Elder Shang Tian stood, his robes billowing as he turned to leave.

Later that night, Aerich sat alone in his room, staring at the ceiling.

His thoughts swirled with everything he had learned about his father's past, the Azure Sky Sect, and the strange twists in this world compared to the novel.

"This world really is different from the story," Aerich muttered. "I need to tread carefully. The real danger starts when the Azure Sky Sect's Holy Son appears... and I can't let myself become just another stepping stone."

He clenched his fists. No matter what, he had to grow stronger. His system was his greatest asset, but he still had no idea what challenges awaited him.

"I'll carve my own path," he whispered, his determination solidifying.

And as the moonlight poured into his room, his gaze drifted toward the mountain beyond the estate—a place where his instincts whispered an opportunity awaited.

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