Hei’s words were generally disconcerting. That was the way most of the women interpreted them. He had essentially declared that he would become a dictator who would bend the world to his will. There was nothing comforting about that at all.

Out of everyone present, Ju Li was impacted the most. Unlike the others who could ignore him for the most part, there was something inside of her telling her that he wasn't simply stating his intentions. To her, it sounded as if he were revealing the future. The very real and immutable future. And in that future, he would rule the world, that was without a doubt.

She found the fact that she couldn't disregard his words to be deeply unsettling. Enough so, that she felt compelled to ask him a few questions. But before she could open her mouth to ask, he had already started speaking.

“As I said earlier, you’re all free to go. However, if I could have your attention for a moment, I would like to ask for your assistance.”

He waited for a moment and after seeing that no one was objecting, he continued.

“I'm sure you're all aware that you aren’t the only victims of the Crimson Moon Sect. The truth is, there are many other women in similar situations to yourselves. Are you willing to help me free them?”

Hei waited for a response, but it seemed the previous events were still fresh in their minds. Matriarch Radiant Jade was the one to respond.

“I’m afraid it’s too dangerous for us to move against the Crimson Moon. As you demonstrated, we aren’t powerful enough to oppose their upper echelons.”

“There’s nothing to worry about there. I have a plan in mind to mitigate that problem.”

“Oh?”

“I have developed a dual… a synchronisation technique. It allows others to harness some of my strength. With it, you shouldn’t face insurmountable obstacles within the Crimson Moon Sect.”

“A synchronisation technique? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“It is akin to a battle formation. I can demonstrate if you are willing.”

She thought for a moment before nodding her head and stepping forward. “If there’s any way I can help, then of course I’ll participate.”

“Mm. Fair warning though. There is a small chance that your yin core will be contaminated.”

“…”

“It’s a very small one.”

“…”

“Almost negligible.”

“This... wouldn’t happen to be a dual cultivation technique, would it?”

“... The function is the same but the form is different.”

“I see…”

“You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to.”

“Could you give me an idea of what to expect?”

Hei created a black bracelet out of his qi. It was attached by a thread to his hand.

“By using this bracelet, I can create a direct link between yourself and me. Through this thread, yin and yang essences can be transferred and I can influence your circulation paths remotely. On your side, your circulation paths will shift to mirror my own. All you will need to do is cycle your qi in accordance with the changes. I will focus on making sure our cores don’t get contaminated.”

Seeing the bracelet, the women's brows twitched. They couldn’t help glancing at the shackles on the floor.

“I understand that the form is inconvenient. But this technique requires direct skin contact.”

Matriarch Radiant Jade thought for a moment before extending her arm out.

“I am willing.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

“Very well.”

Hei wasted no time in attaching the bracelet to her arm, and when he did, it shrunk down until it looked like a black band had been painted on her wrist.

After establishing a connection with her circulation paths, Hei began the synchronisation process.

“Don’t resist.”

“Mm.”

“As your circulation paths shift, you may feel a tingling sensation and a warm current. This is normal.”

“Mm.”

Having already experienced this process and fine-tuning it with Xiaoli, Hei already knew what to expect. He proceeded smoothly until the moment just before Matriarch Radiant Jade’s cultivation paths mirrored his.

“The next step will complete the synchronisation, but it will also be the most intense. You may experience some pain.”

“Mm.”

Hei continued the process until their circulation paths were perfectly synchronised. At that moment, Matriarch Radiant Jade felt changes occurring to her body. Unlike Xiaoli who had experienced a lot of strain, Matriarch Radiant Jade was only seeing the benefits. All of a sudden, it felt like the natural qi in the environment wanted to be assimilated by her. She was experiencing passive cultivation. Something that, under normal circumstances, could only be achieved through the use of rare natural treasures.

“Our circulation paths are as one, meaning I can distribute my power directly to you through this thread which links us. As long as that remains the case, then among those within the Crimson Moon Sect, there is none who is a threat to you.”

“But it isn’t as if you’ve suddenly doubled your cultivation. You still have to actively distribute it to me, do you not?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet integrated the use of the other party’s cultivation into the technique.”

“But this sect utilises natural ore in the area to hinder spiritual perception. How will you know when I need your strength?”

“This thread is a qi construct, and it is a conductor of spiritual perception. As long as we’re connected by it, I will be able to see what you can. We'll also be able to communicate with each other, so you can inform me of any problems you may face.”

“Wow.” Matriarch Radiant Jade was truly impressed. Not only was this a whole new class of dual cultivation technique that she had never heard of, but this disciple’s abilities were also extremely versatile. She wondered where her daughter had met such a person. “What are the limits? How many people can you synchronise with at the same time?”

“I would also like to find out.” Hei turned to the other women. “If you’re willing.”

***

“To think we’re being invaded. I almost can’t believe it.”

“Don’t you think you’re being too flippant about this?”

“Not at all. What? Don’t tell me you’re worried about a bunch of small fries.”

“Underestimating your opponent is the surest way to a humiliating defeat.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s the surest.”

“You know what I meant. Even a lion uses its full strength when killing a rabbit.”

“Not so convinced about that myself, but whatever. Better safe than sorry, I guess.”

“Why do you always have to antagonise me?”

“Because it’s fun to-”

“That’s enough, you two. It’s clear that these aren’t opponents who can be handled by the low-level elders. We’re going to need to call the boys out of seclusion.”

“Really? You think the situation is that bad? It’s just a few troublemakers. Five in total from what I hear. None of them are particularly powerful. They’ve all been stopped in their tracks.”

“That may be true, but I just got a report that Gong San and Bing Wan have abandoned their posts.”

“Remind me who they are again.”

“They’re two of the wardens for the yin physiques.”

“The yin physiques!? What the hell were those two thinking? If something happens to the yin physiques…”

“Calm down. I heard Elder Pan went to scout the situation.”

“He’s out of seclusion? Did he break through to the fourth layer?”

“I’m not sure of the details, but reports say he had a smile on ever since he emerged from his cave.”

“Well, that pretty much secures the yin physiques then. But what about these other intruders. Do you really think we need to go all out against them? It looks like the elders are holding them off just fine.”

“That may be the case, but there’s something off about this situation.”

“Oh? Like what?”

“I feel like this is just the calm before the storm. Something even worse is coming.”

“You mean they’re a diversion? A vanguard for the main force?”

“It’s entirely possible. With their strength, it’s ludicrous for them to have thought they could topple the Crimson Moon on their own.”

“That’s true. But what if they were aiming for the yin physiques? We can’t be the only ones going after them.”

“If that were the case, then I feel they would have had a more concentrated effort on that front. But from what we can see ourselves, four out of the reported five of them are in the main sect complex. Only one could have gone after the yin physiques.”

“It’s always possible that our intelligence is false. There could be more of them than five.”

“Can’t Elder Pan confirm that for us? How long has it been since he moved out?”

“Hm. It’s actually been a while. He should have sent back a report by now. Maybe we should-”

A young man barged through the double doors and bowed.

“Your forgiveness, great elders.”

“What is it?”

“We just got an urgent report from the external scouts.”

The young man held out a scroll with both hands, giving it to one of the great elders.

“What does it say?”

“There is a sizeable force headed our way. Ten minute realm cultivators and a hundred in the transcendent realm.”

“Ten? What’s their strength like?”

“All in the initial layer. Newly transcended.”

“Newly transcended? They sent a bunch of greenhorns to deal with us? Aren't they underestimating us just a bit too much? Who is it? The Blood Jade? Celestial Sword? Jin Dynasty?”

“They’re bearing the flag of the Zhu Clan’s Demon Slayer Corps.”

“The Zhu Clan? Come on, be real!”

“Weren’t they one of our pawns?”

“That’s what the report says.”

“How did they get ten minute realm cultivators all of a sudden?”

“Is that what’s important? What matters is that we’re the target of a pincer attack.”

“It’s hardly anything to be too concerned about.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re coming straight at us. Do you think they’re so foolish as to do that without disclosing our location?”

“Ah damn. I guess it’s time to relocate.”

“Ultimately, that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

“Right. But not before teaching these idiots a lesson or two.”

“Now isn’t the time to be thinking like that.”

“You want to just ignore this face slap? To think they would bring a bunch of weaklings after us. Us!”

“It seems like we can agree on some things after all. I say we cut them down on our way out.”

“There’s nothing wrong with squashing a few bugs, is there?”

“Alright, alright. Since we’re moving anyway, the boys will have to come out of seclusion. We may as well strike a blow to these fools before we leave.” He turned to the young man. “Prepare the teleportation formations and send out the order to begin evacuation.”

“Yes sir!”

The three great elders got up and prepared to advance to the battlefield when a booming voice emerged from below the sect, shaking its very foundations.

“The targets have been secured. Feel free to act with impunity.”

The disturbance did not stop there. As soon as the voice finished speaking, two pulses of energy erupted from two different directions within the sect.

Looking over the area, the three elders could see a large crater where two of the intruders had previously been locked in a stalemate with two elders. There, a young woman could be seen, her foot placed firmly on the head of one of the elders.

“Hahahahaha! This is it! Come! Fight me! Bring me your best! I won’t accept anything less!”

On the other side, they could see a pillar of light rising up from the area where another of the intruders had been facing off against an elder. At its centre, a young man stood with two swords drawn. That pillar of light that he was emitting contained countless sword energies which shredded everything in the area to pieces. Including the elder he had been facing.

“Zhu Ning! Zhu Fan! Show yourselves, you filthy traitors!”

The great elders were so shocked by what they were seeing that not one of them could utter a word. But even then, the chaos wasn’t over. That first voice, the one who had set off this series of events, spoke once more.

“Be at ease, Honghuo. She’s safe and sound.”

After those words had ended, another voice could be heard.

“Flame Sovereign!”

A third patch of the sect was lit up in flame. Everything in the area surrounding the fourth intruder was reduced to ash. Not a building or a cultivator remained. Elder or otherwise.

“What…”

“In the world…”

“Is this?”