The Immortal Born from Ashes

Han Wu stood still, staring ahead. He wasn't sad. He wasn't mad. He was just shocked. 

There was Yun Wao's dead body. Cold and still. 

"Why did you do this?" Han Wu whispered. Maybe if he said it enough, things would change. 

He picked up Yun Wao's heavy body and put it on his shoulders. Carrying a dead body is hard, but he didn't complain. 

He ran to his broken shed, the only place no one would bother him. Inside, he grabbed some herbs and stuff he learned to keep a body from rotting. 

"If I can't save your soul, at least I won't let your body rot like old food," Han Wu said. 

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Cut to Bi Jun, the new Grand Elder of the outer sect.She was fighting five strong Golden Core experts. They had a formation because they couldn't just fight normally. 

One of the experts said, "We're not here to kill you yet. We're here to say that Demonic Courtyard wants war." 

Bi Jun wiped blood off his lip and smiled, "Then let's fight." 

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Cut to inside the sect. The strongest elder, just below the leader, was thinking. 

"Demonic Courtyard wants war. But why? They're as strong as us. They don't fight for no reason." 

He said quietly, "There's a spy. Someone told them our leader is old and weak. He only has ten years left. If he dies, they think they can win. They have two elders as strong as me, and a leader as strong as you." 

The leader sat on his throne. He looked old and tired, but his power was still strong enough to scare even strong cultivators. 

The elder said, "Even if we try our best, we might lose. Maybe we should move the sect. Maybe they want our land." 

The leader said loudly, "Do you think I'm dumb? You want to run? They're attacking because of their demon ritual. For thousands of years, they have to sacrifice blood to their demon god or else they'll be killed by it. They're not evil now, but that ritual controls them." 

He shook his head. "Even some of their own people doubt it, but they're too scared to stop." 

"I want you all to run." 

The elder asked, "But what about you, leader?" 

The leader smiled coldly, "I have my own plan. When they come into our sect, they won't leave." 

"Please come with us. There's a special elixir that can make you live longer." 

"I'm staying." 

No one said anything else. 

"And the outer sect?" 

"Let them handle it themselves. If they're smart, they'll survive." 

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Back to Bi Jun. He talked to the others. 

"Run. If you stay, you're dumb. Even if one of you lives, you can rebuild the sect. If all die, it's over. The inner sect is already running, but they won't tell you. They want to waste time." 

"Don't wait. They can attack anytime." 

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Back to Han Wu. His back hurt from carrying Yun Wao's body and his stuff. He grabbed everything he could from his shed and started running. 

After 15 kilometers, he was really tired. Even though he was a 5th level Qi Refining cultivator, he needed rest. He still had at least 30 kilometers to go to leave the sect's land. 

Then he saw a cave. He went inside, careful not to get lost. 

He found a small pond glowing with special herbs. He put Yun Wao's body next to it. 

"Sorry, friend," Han Wu said softly. "I wanted to bury you after 30 days, like my culture says. But I have to leave you here." 

He sighed. "Goodbye, friend."

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Author's Note:

Hey everyone! Sorry for the late upload—this chapter took me a while to write and really think through the story. But hey, I still managed to drop it today, so we didn't miss a beat! Thanks a ton for sticking around and reading Chapter 18. This one got a bit heavy with emotions and big moves for the sect—hope you felt that weight. Han Wu's journey is just starting to get real complicated, and trust me, there's a lot more coming. If you're enjoying the story, please add me to your collection—it really helps out a lot! And if you like what you read, don't forget to leave power stones and reviews. Your support means the world to me. Also, shoutout to everyone who's stuck around since Day 1, you're the real MVPs. Catch y'all in Chapter 19!

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

Alright, readers—what do you think will happen next? Will Han Wu's secret stay safe? What's really hiding in that strange pond? And can the Crimson Moon Sect survive the coming storm?

Stay suspicious. Keep your eyes open. The next chapter will bring answers... and maybe even more questions. 

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