Loyal Guard

"Tick... tick... tick..." The dim and humid subterranean chamber was permeated with a noxious odor. A few faint rays of the setting sun penetrated the thick stone walls, only to be engulfed by the pervasive darkness without leaving a trace. The man's wrists were firmly shackled by heavy iron chains, suspended in mid-air. His eye sockets were hollow and sunken, his cheeks gaunt, and his parched lips bore a bluish-purple hue from severe blood loss. His torso bore the marks of relentless lashings and prolonged exposure to frigid waters. His lower extremities had lost all sensation, while the tiger-shaped floodgates on either side of the pool continued to fill with water, threatening to submerge his chest. "Click!" A distinct sound echoed from above, followed by the cessation of water flow as the reservoir sealed shut. The intruder was Tian She, commander of the Twelve Palaces Shadow Guard, who had been interrogating the captive for three consecutive days. "Tian Quan, your obstinance persists? Such unyielding defiance. Do you seek to forfeit your life in this wretched place?" Tian She's teeth clenched in frustration. This was indeed a formidable adversary who had remained silent throughout the ordeal. He was torn between admiration and exasperation at his subordinate's unwavering resolve. The captive struggled to open his eyes. "Honored Master... has your meditation concluded for the day?" Tian Quan's labored breathing accompanied his faint murmur, his weakened body causing subtle ripples in the water. "You still seek audience with the Honored Master? In the past lunar cycle, you've slain twelve of our brethren. While seven were confirmed agents of the Guanmu Sect, the remaining five remain unverified. Your continued silence leaves me no choice but to sever our past bonds and execute you." Tian She's disappointment was palpable. Tian She and Tian Quan were not given names but rather designations within the Twelve Palaces Shadow Guard of the Tianyan Sect. The Tianyan Sect stood as one of the four paramount sects of the Western Continent. With the sect master's ascension to the Great Perfection realm, it had surpassed its counterparts. For millennia, the sect had endured relentless infiltration attempts by spies. A century prior, the previous sect master had nearly been overthrown by covert operatives. However, the establishment of the Twelve Palaces Shadow Guard, tasked with eradicating unidentified infiltrators, had ensured the sect's continued prosperity and sanctity. The Tianyan Sect maintained two elite forces: the Twelve Palaces Shadow Guard and the Twenty-Eight Constellations Guard. Both were cultivated under the tutelage of the current sect master's father. Unlike the publicly known Constellations Guard, the Shadow Guard comprised orphans recruited from across the Western Continent. From childhood, they underwent rigorous training in physical conditioning, combat techniques, and internal martial arts. After stringent selection, the chosen were bestowed with their respective palace designations. In their daily lives, they maintained various cover identities. However, any suspicion of treachery warranted immediate execution. They were the unseen assassins, the concealed blades behind the light. As commander, Tian She should not have hesitated. He understood the trials they had endured and recognized that Tian Quan, though not exceptionally gifted, had been the most diligent. Their current status had been hard-won, and Tian Quan's apparent disregard for it only fueled Tian She's indignation. "Commander... I beseech your clemency..." Tian Quan slowly raised his head, his chiseled jawline and abyssal pupils betraying his suppressed agony. As he struggled to articulate his plea, a torrent of blood gushed from his throat. Tian She exhaled deeply and declared, "Very well. In recognition of your past service, I shall endeavor to arrange an audience with the Honored Master." With that, he departed... "Gratitude... and regret..." The whispered words reached Tian She's ears as he hastened away … The dungeon was shrouded in oppressive darkness, with the acrid stench of decaying blood intensifying with each passing moment. Several days had elapsed since Tian She embarked on his quest to locate the sect master. During this interval, the four hall masters of the five assassins slain by Tian Quan had personally conducted interrogations. Despite employing instruments of torment such as whips, branding irons, and torture rods, it was perplexing that these individuals, who held no significant status, warranted the hall masters' direct involvement. Gu Dingcheng, the master of the Thunderbolt Hall, retrieved the copper whip adorned with barbs from behind him. This instrument, known as the Soul-scattering Whip, served as the Thunderbolt Hall's means of disciplining disciples who committed grave transgressions. It was also his cherished artifact, boasting 1,800 barbs, each imbued with azure electricity. The hall master's spiritual energy was essential to wield it, and each strike penetrated deep into the bones, inflicting agony akin to the soul's fragmentation. The whip's whistles echoed through the chamber. After a dozen lashes, Tian Quan teetered on the brink of death. Gu Dingcheng's strikes were both ferocious and precise, targeting the meridians with unerring accuracy. This complemented the golden hooks piercing Tian Quan's shoulder blades, instruments employed by Cao Yuchong, the master of the Gale Hall. "Speak! Who dispatched you? Your precise identification of the spy suggests you may have orchestrated this yourself!" Gu Dingcheng demanded, channeling his spiritual energy. As the whip descended, a withered branch intercepted it, embedding the Soul-scattering Whip into the wall. Gu Dingcheng, startled, unleashed a thunderbolt towards the door with all his spiritual energy. The intent to kill was palpable, yet the thunderbolt dissipated before traversing even an inch. The water dungeon's door creaked open, revealing a figure bathed in a pale golden radiance, their form indistinct. Their complexion was fair, not sickly, and their long hair was casually tied, exuding an air of nonchalance. Their lean frame was neither effeminate nor overly masculine, with a chiseled visage that was striking yet not overtly masculine. Their thick eyebrows arched gracefully, their nose was high and straight, and they wore a black and gold embroidered robe that accentuated their tall, slender stature. As attendants entered and illuminated the chamber with wall lamps, Tian Quan, adjusting to the sudden brightness, exclaimed, "Respected Master!" The water beneath him rippled, and the iron chains and golden hooks barely restrained his knees from buckling. Gu Dingcheng, trembling, knelt in reverence. "I was unaware of the Respected Master's arrival. I am filled with dread," he thought, acknowledging the Respected Master's enhanced martial prowess since emerging from seclusion. Ji Zhiyan, the sect master of the Tian Yan Sect, was among the few on the Qinggang Continent to attain the Great Perfection realm. Within the Tian Yan Sect, a diverse array of magic practitioners and cultivators coexisted harmoniously. Outsiders jested that Ji Zhiyan was both demon and cultivator, a symbol of a demon god within the sect. Ji Zhiyan's obsession with cultivation and martial arts was evident since his youth, as he challenged stronger opponents to refine his skills, reaching the middle stage of the Great Perfection realm and earning the title of Divine Master. In the hearts of the loyal Twelve Palaces and Twenty-Eight Constellations, he was an unparalleled existence, a well-deserved faith. The Respected Master's appearance left Tian Quan breathless. He was akin to the radiant moon in the night sky, and Tian Quan's eyes brimmed with tears of excitement. His heart raced, and the deepest longing within him ached faintly. "I heard you wished to see me," Ji Zhiyan remarked, leaning against the chair provided by the attendant, his gaze fixed on the half-dead shadow guard in the water dungeon with a frown. He then glanced at Gu Dingcheng, kneeling at his feet, with a hint of mockery. "Rise. A mere Shadow Guard of the Twelve Palaces at the Spirit Formation stage is not worth the Thunderbolt Hall Master's personal interrogation. If you cannot extract information, simply execute him!" Gu Dingcheng trembled as he rose and assumed a deferential posture beside Ji Zhiyan, his countenance shifting through a spectrum of emotions. Internally, he lamented, "This is disastrous!" It had been an egregious overstep on his part to interrogate the Lord's Dark Guard. Hastily, he articulated, "My lord, I was merely concerned. Two of my subordinates, for reasons unknown, had offended the Dark Guard and met their demise. The entire Four Halls are now in a state of trepidation, fearful of any misstep. I sought only to ascertain the truth." "Hmm~" Ji Zhiyan emitted a soft chuckle. Rising to his feet, he addressed Gu Dingcheng, "Your concern is noted, but the Twelve Palaces constitute my Dark Guard. It is unnecessary for you to intervene personally. Should this become public knowledge, it might be misconstrued that my authority is waning, and that I cannot even command my own Dark Guard." Ji Zhiyan cast a sidelong glance, and Gu Dingcheng felt an icy shiver traverse his spine. A bone-chilling coldness pressed against his back, compelling him to lower his head. Overwhelmed by fear, he prostrated himself and apologized, "My lord, I humbly beg your forgiveness. I intended no disrespect!" Gu Dingcheng endeavored to articulate a more comprehensive response, but his lips quivered, and his throat and tongue were so parched and rigid that he could not utter a word. His heart pounded so violently that it felt as though his chest could not contain it. He was utterly frustrated. The other three Hall Masters had all come to reprimand him, but why was he so unfortunate as to be apprehended by the Lord himself? The Lord was renowned for his protectiveness of his subordinates. A century ago, the Lord had swiftly quelled the old faction of the sect. The so-called Hall Masters were merely the four guardians of the previous sect leader. During the reign of the sect leader, there were always four guardians, with the old ones perishing and new ones assuming their roles, ensuring no vacancies. Upon the current sect leader's ascension, the four guardians were restructured into the Thunder Hall, the Rain Hall, the Cloud Hall, and the Wind Hall. The Dark Guard and the Wing Guard were elevated, becoming the sect leader's confidants, loyal solely to him. The four Hall Masters were merely remnants of the old guard, their powers fragmented and dispersed, holding no real authority. This time, Gu Dingcheng had indeed overstepped his bounds. "Boom!" Ji Zhiyan raised his hand slightly, and Gu Dingcheng's body was propelled like a withered branch or fallen leaf, crashing into the wall behind him. He immediately expelled a mouthful of blood. Then, there was a "crack" sound, and Gu Dingcheng's Soul-Scattering Whip shattered. The whip handle passed directly over his head, instantly obliterating his hairpin. Consequently, his hair became disheveled, and he appeared utterly disheveled. Observing Ji Zhiyan once more, he reclined lazily in his chair, his aura condensed. He brushed off his sleeves and uttered slowly, "Depart." The pressure emanating from him was palpable. Gu Dingcheng, having received the command, retrieved his hairpin from the ground and slunk away. The pressure of a Great Transcendence was truly formidable. In the blink of an eye, it could reduce Gu Dingcheng, who had already attained the Peak of the Summit, to ashes. There were only a few Great Transcendents in the entire Qinggang Continent. In the Qinggang Continent, the hierarchy of the immortal and demonic realms was: Condensation, Foundation, Core Formation, Spirit Exit, Spirit Transformation, Embryo Transformation, Peak of the Summit, Void Penetration, Great Transcendence, and finally the Tribulation. Upon passing the Tribulation, one could ascend to godhood and attain an endless lifespan. After the Spirit Transformation realm, each subsequent realm became increasingly arduous. Ji Zhiyan's attainment of the early stage of Great Transcendence enabled him to stand tall in the Western Continent!