Elder Xie’s spiritual sense flared in alarm long before her mortal eyes detected the threat. A being of greater strength than her own had trespassed onto Desolate Island. For the first time in thirty years, fear caused her heart to tremble.

  Using a simple technique, her body moved to the edge of her flying carpet, providing her with a better view of the island. A clear line of ruin now marked the previously forested landscape. The damage formed a barren path stretching thirty feet wide, spreading from the island’s southeastern corner to the massive crater in its center. Something had traveled from the distant shore of the Dragon Fang continent, and Elder Xie’s spiritual sense told her that entity now stood on the crater’s edge.

  There aren’t many who would dare to trespass on our sect’s territory, Elder Xie considered. She couldn’t imagine any of the sect leaders from one of the other three Grand Sects taking such action, nor did she think it likely that the intruder was from one of the Great Clans of the empire. A foreigner?

  Elder Xie sighed, feeling her age in the weariness of her bones. In the two decades she’d served as proctor of the Culling, there had never been an intrusion such as this. As much as she dreaded it, it was her duty to greet the sect’s new guest. Nine red-orange arcane runes surrounded Elder Xie’s body before she was transported to the edge of the crater, just forty feet away from the unknown visitor. When the Elder’s body materialized, she was surprised to find who stood before her.

  The unknown visitor appeared to be a rather attractive female dressed in a simple silk pink and white cultivator’s robe with shoulder length straight purple hair and surprisingly had two rabbit ears protruding from the top of her head. Stunned, Elder Xie examined the female more closely. The woman had the appearance of being in her early to mid-twenties, but with the long lifespans that advanced cultivation could grant, she was likely far older. More importantly, Elder Xie noticed that the woman’s feet were bare, and her nose was round and soft, like a rabbit’s.

  She’s either an evolved spirit beast or has a very peculiar martial body. Elder Xie suspected the former.

  Despite Elder Xie’s arrival, the mysterious woman just continued to look at the crater with an expression of deep sadness. Confused, Elder Xie extended her spiritual sense out to the surrounding area. She quickly detected the bisected corpse of an aspiring candidate on the island just 1000 yards southeast. Poor boy must have been in her way.

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  Finding no other details of note, Elder Xie returned her attention back to the woman before her. Curious how there are no stains of blood on her robes.

  “This humble envoy of the Crimson Abyss Sect greets the Honored Senior,” Elder Xie said bowing at the waist. When was the last time she’d been to do this aside from the Sect Master’s rare visit?

  The woman turned her head in Elder Xie’s direction, her somber expression quickly being replaced by one of irritation. “I’m surprised you dare to stand before me,” she said with melodic voice.

  Elder Xie was taken aback. Did this woman know her? She quickly scanned her memories for any recollection of the strange cultivator but couldn’t recall anything. “Honored Senior, I apologize if I have offended you,” Elder Xie strategically began. “I shall do whatever is necessary to earn your forgiveness.” She lifted her head, cautiously. “If you’d like, I will personally escort you back to my sect where I’m certain the Sect Leader will personally see to any needs you might have.”

  The woman only scoffed in response. “I want nothing more from your sect, child.” She took a single step towards Elder Xie, but the moment her foot touched the ground an incomprehensible wave of force echoed across the entire island causing indiscriminate damage. The overwhelming pressure brought Elder Xie immediately to one knee, as though the Heavens themselves had collapsed onto her shoulders. Blood trickled down the old Elder’s lips as she tried desperately to avoid collapsing onto the ground altogether. And then, just as quickly as it had arrived, the dominating power vanished.

  Gesturing at the crater, the powerful cultivator continued. “I am only here to mourn the death of my sworn comrade. 280 years ago, your sect’s founder murdered him. It is only because I am merciful and that none of your current members lived during that time that I will not exterminate your entire sect, even though you bear that murderer’s name and colors!”

  280 years ago? Elder Xie could not believe what she had heard. Glancing at the crater, tales of her sect’s and this island’s history returned to her.

  Gasping in realization, Elder Xie immediately threw herself to the island’s floor, pressing her forehead to the ground. “This one begs your forgiveness honored Zodiac. Please spare this foolish old woman despite her ignorance.”

  Trembling, Elder Xie heard the woman snap, “LEAVE!”

  Elder Xie felt her entire body being flung back through the island’s vast forest at an incomprehensible speed. Images of her surroundings flashed by at speeds that made them effectively unperceivable. She tried her best to resist the force that was causing her to travel now over the straight between the island and the mainland, but she couldn’t perceive any qi or other indicator of a technique. It was only after she was soaring through the air, now over the Dragon Fang Continent mainland, that she realized that the woman must have used a Dao Technique. It was the last thought that Elder Xie had before she crashed into one of the mountains of the Sky Spear Range, finally stopping.