Gods of Destruction

Chapter 14 The Nether Sect

Half a month later, on this particular morning, Nasser Reza, Abbas, Shirin, and another companion found themselves amidst a lush mountain forest.In the distance, strange and towering mountains stood tall, a continuous range of verdant, sharp peaks veiled in clouds and mist. The shadowy mountains resembled a drowsy goddess, draped in a gossamer-like veil, gazing silently with deep affection.The rays of the morning sun bathed the mountains, and under the sunlight, the distant peaks appeared freshly washed, vividly clear, and lushly green. They seemed to be much closer and steeper than before.Before long, the clouds and mist dispersed, and the towering peaks glowed brilliantly; in an instant, the mist vanished from the forest, revealing a landscape of verdant mountains, resembling a giant dragon winding and coiling through the clouds, rolling and roaring."That must be the Nether Sect," Abbas said, pointing to the distant green mountains.Nasser Reza nodded. "It should be here."Abbas, Nasser Reza, and Hina gazed silently at the majestic mountains before them, their emotions turning complex.Two months ago, the three had left that desolate wasteland with only a small amount of food and water. They had faced many hardships, sleeping rough and enduring an incident in a small town. Now, having finally found the sect, a mix of emotions—bittersweet and everything in between—flooded their hearts."Let's go!" Abbas shouted, raising his arm high as he led the way toward the mountain peak. Nasser Reza, Hina, and Shirin followed closely behind.The green mountains seemed not far away, yet in reality, they were quite distant. After another hour of walking, the four finally arrived at the foot of the mountain.As they reached the base, the grandeur of the peak became even clearer. A staircase made of white jade stones led upward, disappearing into the mist, with no visible end."If we climb these steps, we'll reach the Nether Sect," the four thought to themselves.However, just as they ascended a few steps, the sound of something cutting through the air suddenly reached their ears. In the blink of an eye, two figures appeared, blocking their path.The two figures were starkly different: one tall, one short; one thin, one fat. Their appearances varied greatly, yet they both emanated an overwhelming sense of power that weighed heavily on the four travelers.The two men glanced at Nasser Reza and his companions, noticing their simple clothing. They assumed the group were just children from a nearby village who had lost their way and ended up here. Dismissing them casually, one of the men said, "This is the Nether Sect. Where did you mountain children come from? Hurry back home."Abbas's spirits lifted, thinking to himself, "These two must be members of the Nether Sect." He immediately bowed respectfully, then took out the token given to them by the elder they had encountered earlier and presented it to the two men. "Honored elders," Abbas said, "the four of us were fortunate enough to meet a senior master on our journey, a man of otherworldly grace and wisdom. He guided us here and gave us this token as a sign."The short, stout man took the token from Abbas, letting out a soft "hmm" as he examined it. A puzzled expression crossed his face as he turned to the tall, thin man beside him. "This token looks unfamiliar, but the insignia on it is undoubtedly from our Nether Sect.""Oh," the tall, thin man exclaimed with slight surprise, taking the token for a closer look. After carefully inspecting it, he nodded. "It indeed bears the mark of our Nether Sect, though I don't recall our sect ever having such a token."The two men exchanged looks, discussing the matter among themselves but failing to reach a conclusion. With no other choice, they finally decided to take the token back to the sect to see if anyone else could recognize it."Wait here for now. I'll take this token back to the sect and return with an answer," the tall, thin man said before swiftly heading toward the mountaintop. Within a few quick movements, he disappeared from the group's sight.Seeing such agility, both Abbas and Nasser Reza felt a surge of admiration, and then, along with Hina and Shirin, they waited quietly where they stood.Their wait stretched into half an hour, and just as they were growing impatient, the tall, thin man finally reappeared before them.However, his demeanor was no longer as casual as before. A few beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his expression seemed flustered. He hurriedly said, "Come with me quickly. The sect master and the other seven leaders are waiting in the Heavenly Dragon Hall."The stout man's face suddenly changed. The sect master and the seven great leaders, who rarely gathered even once a year, were now convening in the Heavenly Dragon Hall because of a token he had never seen before. What kind of status and history could this token possibly hold, to warrant such attention for these four youths?The tall, thin man grabbed Abbas and Nasser Reza by their arms, and with a powerful leap, he soared over dozens of steps. Seeing this, the stout man did the same, lifting Hina and Shirin effortlessly as he moved toward the mountaintop.Despite each man carrying two people, they moved as if unburdened, their agility unaffected. Light as a swallow and swift as the wind, they quickly vanished into the mist that enveloped the mountainside.had been required to build it.Beneath the white wall was a massive gate, with two thick wooden doors towering over six zhang high, so tall that one had to crane their neck just to see the top. It was unimaginable where they had even found such enormous pieces of wood.Abbas, Nasser Reza, Hina, and Shirin, having never seen such an imposing gate and wall before, were momentarily stunned.The tall, thin man and the stout man, however, paid it no mind, likely having passed through it countless times over the years, becoming desensitized to the sight. With expressionless faces, they set the four down and proceeded directly through the enormous gate, prompting the group to quickly follow.As they stepped through the gate, the four of them simultaneously held their breath, their pupils slightly dilating as they took in the scene before them with disbelief.To them, it was nothing short of a paradise.Before them lay an enormous square, entirely paved with white marble. The surface gleamed brilliantly, dazzling the eyes and leaving the youth awestruck. The vastness of the square was overwhelming, evoking a profound sense of insignificance.In the distance, clouds drifted like delicate veils, and mountain peaks stretched out like a dragon. The entire square seemed to float among the clouds.Looking up at the sky, it was a revelation—clear and blue, as if washed clean, instantly broadening the mind and lifting the spirits.At each corner of the square stood a massive bronze cauldron, from which wisps of light smoke rose, carrying a subtle, pleasant fragrance that lingered in the air.Noting the awed expressions of the four, the tall, thin man understood their amazement. He smiled slightly, letting them take in the scene for a moment before calling them to continue on their way.After crossing the square, they arrived at an arch bridge. On the other side of the bridge lay the Heavenly Dragon Hall of the Nether Sect.The majestic Heavenly Dragon Hall was perched atop the peak, shrouded in clouds and mist. Occasionally, a few cranes flew by with their long calls echoing through the air, while playful monkeys chattered and leapt around, creating a scene reminiscent of an immortal's realm, evoking deep admiration."Follow me," the tall, thin man said with a smile, stepping onto the arch bridge.As they stepped onto the stone bridge, the four realized that the square and the Heavenly Dragon Hall were situated on two separate mountain peaks, connected by this bridge."Be careful," the tall, thin man warned. "Below is an unfathomable abyss. If you fall, there's no hope of recovery."Abbas, Nasser Reza, Hina, and Shirin were startled but quickly composed themselves and proceeded with caution.The arch bridge was not very long, and soon they reached its end. After ascending a series of high stone steps, they saw a golden plaque in the distance inscribed with the words "Heavenly Dragon Hall" in elegant, soaring calligraphy. The doors were open, revealing a dazzling light emanating from within."What an impressive hall," the four thought to themselves.Upon entering the grand hall, they saw nine wooden chairs arranged inside—four on each side with one in the center. However, only eight of the chairs were occupied, leaving the one at the far right empty.Sitting in the central chair was an elderly man with a long beard, the sect master of the Nether Sect, Amir.The tall, thin man and the stout man bowed respectfully to the seven seated figures, saying, "We pay our respects to Sect Master Amir and the seven esteemed leaders."Amir nodded, signaling for the two men to rise. He then asked, "Are these the four youths you mentioned?""Indeed," the tall, thin man replied."Very well, you may leave now," Amir said.The two men bowed and withdrew, backing out of the hall until they reached the doors, before finally turning and leaving.After the two men left, Sect Master Amir turned to the other seven leaders, holding up the token. His brow furrowed as he said solemnly, "As you can see, this token is the signet of Saeed, the leader of the Nameless Cave. The Nameless Cave has traditionally been a single-line succession, and Saeed, our esteemed great-uncle, is several generations senior to us. However, after he left the Nether Sect two hundred years ago, he disappeared from the world and has not returned since. Despite our efforts to find him, his whereabouts have remained elusive. He was unmatched in martial prowess centuries ago, and his whereabouts have been impossible to track. Furthermore, he did not take any disciples before he left, which is why the position of the Nameless Cave leader has been vacant, and the Nameless Cave has effectively ceased to exist. Now, this great-uncle has given his token to these four youths and sent them to our sect. What are your thoughts on this?"A man sitting to Amir's right, with eyebrows like swords and eyes flashing with a sharp, intimidating light, cast a cold gaze at the four youths. The four of them involuntarily shivered under his stare. The man spoke in a chilling tone, "After a hundred years of absence, it is suspicious that four children with the great-uncle's token suddenly appear in our sect. There may be a deception involved, and it could very well be a plot by a rival faction."