The sound that cut through the atmosphere seemed to come from a distance, but it was approaching with terrifying speed, reverberating throughout the space. The murmurs of the Ye Clan members were quickly replaced by a heavy silence, as if the very air itself was waiting for something.
Ye Tian, still lying on the altar, stretched his neck with curiosity. His eyes, shining with an unusual intensity for a two-year-old child, observed the movements around him closely. The room was tense, and even the most experienced cultivators seemed uneasy, as if they were feeling a threatening presence.
Old Li Feng, the elder responsible for the test, was also unsettled. His eyes scanned the room, searching for the source of the sound. However, with each passing second, the feeling of discomfort grew, as if something were about to crush them all right there.
"— What is happening?" — whispered Patriarch Ye Zhentian, watching the surroundings with a wary and suspicious look.
Suddenly, the sound stopped. But this did not bring relief. On the contrary, a deeper tension settled in the air. The atmosphere was charged with something that could not be described by common words. The feeling of imminent danger hung, almost tangible.
It was then that the door to the hall opened with a loud bang, and a hooded figure, wrapped in a black cloak, entered with firm steps. The new visitor made no sound, but their presence seemed to dominate the space instantly.
Elder Li Feng instinctively recoiled, his eyes now alert, and even Patriarch Ye Zhentian was momentarily paralyzed. It wasn't just the aura of the visitor, but the way they moved through the space, almost like a fluid shadow.
"— Who dares interrupt the Ye Clan ceremony?" — Patriarch Ye Zhentian's authoritative tone, now filled with distrust, cut through the silence. His posture of pride was undeniable, but the presence of this being challenged it directly.
The visitor slowly raised their hand, making a movement so gentle that it almost seemed delicate. However, the power behind their gesture was palpable. The air around seemed to compress, and the pressure increased once again. The breath of everyone in the room grew heavier.
"— I come only to deliver a warning." — The voice of the hooded being was deep and full of power, making the entire room vibrate with its timbre. "The Ye Clan... has no more time."
The sound of those words made everyone fall silent instantly. Ye Tian, who had been observing with curiosity until then, narrowed his eyes.
"— What does that mean?" — asked Patriarch Ye Zhentian, his expression grave. But before the visitor could answer, a gust of wind swept through the room, and the already tense atmosphere grew even denser.
The visitor took a step forward, causing everyone in the room to instinctively step back. They didn't seem to care about the reactions of the cultivators around them, and that only added to the mystery surrounding them.
"— What do you want from us?" — asked Elder Li Feng, his voice trembling, but full of determination. He knew this person was beyond any ordinary power, and facing them without preparation would be suicidal.
The visitor, without rushing, extended their hand toward Ye Tian, who was still on the altar. The small child looked fixedly at the extended hand, and suddenly, a wave of energy spread through the space. It was the same kind of energy Ye Tian knew well: pure and refined, but also dense and oppressive.
"— He will be the key." — The visitor spoke in a low tone, but one that reverberated throughout the room. "His awakening is more than expected. However, he will no longer be the only one."
Ye Tian felt the wave of Qi invade his body, but unlike the others, he was not stunned. His eyes shone with a cold, intelligent light. He recognized the energy being released there. It was not just spiritual — it was something deeper, more primal.
"— Are you saying that I... am the key?" — Ye Tian murmured to himself, in an expression that no one else could understand.
The visitor smiled beneath the hood, as if aware that the small child had already comprehended more than the others. Their hand slowly fell.
"— The fate of many is now tied to yours. His spiritual awakening is not just a blessing, but a portent."
At that moment, something strange happened. The environment began to tremble, and the room was engulfed by an intense wind that seemed to come from all sides, even though the doors and windows were closed.
Ye Tian felt the Qi around him distort. He couldn't see the origin of it, but he knew that this visitor had something to do with the change.
Patriarch Ye Zhentian, with a worried look, finally spoke:
"— Leave now! This behavior is unacceptable in our land."
The visitor looked at him with disdain, and then, without another word, turned around and walked toward the door, leaving everyone in a state of absolute shock.
Before leaving, they cast a direct glance at Ye Tian.
"— Prepare yourself, little one. Time is running out for everyone. There's no more time to lose."
When the door closed behind them, the air in the room returned to normal, but the feeling that something had changed remained in the air. Ye Tian, now aware that there was more to his awakening than he had imagined, remained silent, reflecting on the words of that mysterious being.
The atmosphere in the Ye Clan had changed forever. And, in some way, Ye Tian knew that the game had begun. But he still didn't know exactly what his next move would be.