The Heir of the Celestial Diagram

Chapter 21: Whispers in the Darkness

The Sect of the Black Moon was not an ordinary organization. Located in a network of underground caves hidden by rock formations and natural barriers, its structure resembled a dark labyrinth. The environment was hostile and silent, with members moving like shadows, exchanging few words.

Han Feng observed attentively. His goal was clear: to adapt without drawing attention, to grow in the shadows, and to absorb all the useful knowledge of the sect.

After their acceptance into the recruitment, he and the other new members were taken to a large chamber illuminated by bluish torches. There, a middle-aged man, wearing a black cloak adorned with dark runes, stared at the recruits with sharp eyes.

"I am Elder Zhu, responsible for training and supervising the newcomers." His voice was cold and sharp as a blade. "In this cult, only the strongest survive." If they fail, they will die without a trace.

The words were direct and brutal, but Han Feng had already expected something like this. The Black Moon Sect was an organization specialized in assassinations, espionage, and infiltration. Weakness was not tolerated.

The First Challenge

Elder Zhu pointed to a stone door at the back of the chamber.

"You will have your first mission now."

The door slowly opened, revealing a dark corridor. A dense black mist began to emerge from the passage, emitting a sinister aura.

Inside, there are Rank 1 spiritual beasts and hidden traps. Your goal is to survive and bring back a black soul crystal.

The recruits exchanged uneasy glances. It was a survival test.

Han Feng took a deep breath. He would need to maintain a delicate balance between appearing ordinary and ensuring his survival.

Without hesitation, he entered the hallway along with the other newcomers.

The Dark Labyrinth

As soon as they crossed the entrance, a feeling of oppression took hold of Han Feng. The air was thick with a dark energy that obscured vision and confused the senses.

"These mists must contain some kind of illusion formation."

Han Feng subtly activated his Celestial Veil Art, adjusting his perception to avoid falling into mental traps. He moved silently, avoiding drawing attention, while the other recruits advanced cautiously.

The first scream echoed through the tunnel.

A spiritual beast resembling a wolf leaped from the shadows, attacking one of the newcomers. The boy tried to react, but he wasn't fast enough. With a single blow, the beast tore his throat.

Blood spread across the floor. The other recruits were in shock, but Han Feng showed no emotion.

"This is the world of cultivation." Weakness means death.

He kept advancing, skillfully dodging the hidden traps and staying in the shadows. His objective was clear: recover the crystal and leave without attracting attention.

The Survival Test

While exploring the labyrinth, Han Feng noticed that some novices had banded together to increase their chances of survival.

But he didn't need allies.

Using his stealth, he distanced himself from the group and took a different path. His previous experience in survival and combat helped him avoid the most dangerous spots.

After some time, he found a small stone altar with a pulsating dark glow. In the center, lay a Black Soul Crystal, the objective of the mission.

However, he was not alone.

Another recruit, a young man with a pale face and cold eyes, was already there.

"Interesting... you also found the crystal." The young man smiled sinisterly. "But only one of us can go out with him."

Han Feng slightly furrowed his brows. He didn't want to fight unnecessarily, but he realized that the other boy was determined to eliminate him.

"Tsk." He is trying to get rid of the competition.

The Silent Conflict

The young man advanced without hesitation, his black blade shining in the dim light.

Han Feng knew that defeating him would be easy, but he couldn't reveal his true strength.

He dodged the attacks with minimal movements, making it seem like he was barely managing to defend himself. Each blow was calculated to seem more difficult than it really was.

"If I seem too skilled, I will attract attention." If I seem too weak, I will be eliminated.

So, he found a perfect solution.

He took advantage of a small mistake by the enemy and pushed him into a hidden trap.

With a sudden snap, iron spikes shot up from the ground, piercing the young man before he could react. His eyes widened in shock before his body fell limp.

Han Feng observed for a moment, then took the Black Soul Crystal and disappeared into the shadows.

The Return to the Sect

When he returned to the main hall of the sect, Elder Zhu observed him with an enigmatic look.

"Hmph." "Survived?"

Han Feng simply handed over the crystal without saying anything.

The other recruits who managed to get out were injured or exhausted. Only a few returned.

Elder Zhu gave a satisfied smile. "Very well." From today, you are official members of the Black Moon Sect.

Han Feng maintained his neutral expression, but internally he knew this was just the first step.

Now, he needed to keep moving forward without revealing his true strength.

When the right time came, he would emerge from the shadows and dominate everything.