“Now it makes sense why Shiye had asked about the demonic cultivators earlier. It seems they have bad blood with them, and now, from the way Father’s presence has changed, it seems he is at ease with them now. So he trusts them to a certain degree. After all, demonic cultivators are hated by everyone,” Kyoku thought inwardly as he looked toward Master Soma, who sat before the Blood Roses while speaking calmly to Venak.The mountain breeze continued to flow quietly through the training courtyard atop the peak of Nodoka Village, carrying with it the distant sounds of village life below.Yet within the training grounds themselves, the atmosphere remained solemn and focused.“And don’t get me wrong, kids,” Master Soma continued speaking. His calm eyes moved across every single member of the Blood Roses one by one. “I do not know the orders your sect has given you, and I do not wish to stand against that. But what I am saying is not merely my opinion.”His voice lowered slightly.“It is th

The pressure in the atmosphere intensified unconsciously.Even Hayate swallowed slightly.“And one might ask…” Soma continued calmly, “…what does it mean to protect the mind?”“What exactly does one protect it from?”He raised a finger.“That is simple.”“You protect your mind from the world and yourself.”A strong gust of wind swept across the courtyard.“If your mind is protected, then your heart will remain strong.”“For the mind sees all and governs all based on what it has perceived.”“First…”“Your mind must be protected from the words that dance throughout the world. The words beyond your control.”“Second…”“Your mind must be protected from what your eyes perceive. For if your mind remains protected, then you shall see reality for what it truly is.”“And lastly…”His eyes darkened slightly.“Your mind must be protected from the deception and insanity of the world itself.”The words caused Daku’s expression to shift faintly.Vesta’s golden eyes narrowed ever so slightly as well

Just after the borders of the Kingdom of Aurelion, toward the vast northeastern reaches of the continent, the terrain changed dramatically.The smooth roads and refined stone pathways that belonged to the kingdom gradually vanished behind uneven wilderness trails carved through valleys and rugged highlands.Massive cliffs stretched endlessly across the horizon like the backs of sleeping titans, while enormous valleys split the earth apart in jagged layers that descended into deep shadows far below. Yet despite the roughness of the land, life flourished abundantly here.Towering green trees spread across the valleys in endless clusters, their branches dancing beneath the hot afternoon winds. Thick grasses rolled across the hills like green waves beneath the blazing sun, and the scent of fresh earth and wild vegetation lingered heavily within the air.Above the world stretched a vast, endless blue sky without a single cloud in sight. The sunlight here was harsher than within the inner t

As if they had been waiting for that very command all along, Roben’s henchmen did not hesitate even for a breath. The moment his voice cut through the tension, their bodies reacted like sharpened instincts given form.Martial auras erupted around them in violent bursts, tearing through the air as they launched forward toward Oasis with coordinated precision.They were not disorganized bandits rushing blindly into slaughter. Instead, their movement revealed a practiced, almost military formation—tight, deliberate, and suffocating.Four of them advanced in a clustered assault pattern that sealed every escape route with frightening efficiency.One came straight down the center with his blade raised high, aimed directly at Oasis’s head, the killing intent sharp enough to distort the air itself. Two others moved in perfect sync along Oasis’s flanks, their blades angled to carve through his ribs and shoulders simultaneously, leaving no room for lateral evasion.The fourth stayed slightly be

The moment Oasis felt and realized what was happening within his conscious realm, he paused.Externally, nothing about him changed at first. To anyone looking at him from the outside, he still appeared calm and unmoving within the carriage, seated in silence with his eyes closed.Yet beneath that stillness, something immense was unfolding. It was as if an ancient mechanism hidden deep within his existence had finally begun turning once more after ages of dormancy.Then suddenly—Thin strands of cyan energy began dancing around his closed eyelids.The glow first appeared faintly, like wisps of ethereal flame escaping through invisible cracks, but within seconds the energy intensified. The cyan radiance pulsed rhythmically, illuminating parts of his face and casting shifting reflections across the interior of the carriage.The energy did not behave like ordinary mana. It moved with intelligence, spiraling around his eyelids in intricate currents as if drawn toward something awakening be