Chapter 695: Shattered Peace

A chilling gust swept through the mountain peaks, carrying with it the scent of blood and the whisper of approaching doom. Below, the remnants of the once-proud Azure Cloud Sect trembled, their banners torn, their faces etched with despair. Above, in the swirling vortex of crimson qi, a figure stood, bathed in malevolent light, radiating an aura of utter annihilation.

“Shattered peace…” The figure rasped, his voice like the grinding of stones. He extended a hand, wreathed in dark energy, towards a lone talisman hanging precariously amidst the ruins. It was a peace talisman, one that had purportedly protected the sect for centuries, warding off calamity and ensuring tranquility. Now, its faint glow flickered weakly against the oppressive darkness.

With a casual flick of his wrist, a bolt of crimson lightning erupted from his fingertips, striking the talisman dead center. A sickening crack echoed through the ravaged landscape as the talisman shattered into countless fragments, each piece shimmering with a fleeting, fading light before disappearing into the dust.

A collective groan rose from the survivors below. The shattering of the talisman was more than just the destruction of an artifact; it was the symbolic end of an era, the final crumbling of hope. With its destruction, any semblance of safety, any illusion of protection, vanished, leaving them utterly vulnerable to the encroaching darkness.

The figure chuckled, a cruel, mirthless sound. “Shattered peace indeed. Now, let the true chaos begin.”