High above the clouds, Kael slowly opened his eyes. The wind currents had shifted. Not violently, not loudly — but with intent… ill intent.He didn’t need to look back. Everything moving below was already mapped out in his mind like ripples on water.Six auras. Rough, wild… and drenched in blood.Kael exhaled softly. “They’re not even bothering to hide their killing intent.”He lowered his gaze. On the rocky trail far below, six bandits thundered forward atop spiritual flame-steeds. Patches of blood still stained their clothes and necks — fresh, not yet dried.They had just slaughtered many people. Perhaps an entire village.Kael raised a brow slightly. “Are they trying to rob me? Do they really think I’m just another prey — like the people they just butchered?” he muttered flatly.Tu Feng tilted his head slightly, waiting for the order.Kael gently stroked his neck. “We’re not letting vermin like that continue breathing. Let’s go greet them, Tu Feng.”Tu Feng spread his wings wide an

The four remaining bandits didn’t even get the chance to stand up. Their bodies collapsed one by one — no screams, no resistance — just death so swift their minds didn’t have time to realize they were gone.Kael didn’t spare them another glance. He stepped onto Tu Feng’s back and patted his feathers lightly.“Westward,” he said quietly. “That’s where their blood trail leads.”Tu Feng spread his wings and shot back into the sky.---It didn’t take long for Kael to find it — the village that had been completely destroyed.The roofs were flattened to the ground, some still blackened by fresh burn marks. The dirt road was stained with half-dried blood. Bodies lay scattered everywhere: grown men, elderly folk too weak to even kneel… and small children still clutching worn stuffed dolls in their arms.Kael’s fist clenched slowly. His once calm fingers tensed.“If I had gotten here just a little earlier…” he muttered, bitterness edging his voice.Then he saw the rest.In the middle of the vi

A few minutes earlier —Three spirit horses raced along a dense mountain trail. At the front rode a young woman around twenty-two, dressed in a jade-green robe marked with a silver lotus leaf emblem on her chest — the symbol of the Windtower Jade Sect, a respected mid-rank sect.Her name was Mu Qingya — the only daughter of the Sect Leader, heir to the sect, and one of the young talents invited to the Grand Tournament hosted by the Righteous Dragon Sect.Behind her followed two protectors, both men in their mid-thirties: Qin Ruo — tall, sharp-featured, with the air of a stern guardian, and Jiang Wei — hair tied back halfway, eyes calm yet razor-sharp. They had served her family since childhood and were known as intelligent and powerful escorts.They rode in silence for a long while before Jiang Wei finally spoke.“Lady Qingya, this mountain path is too narrow. We shouldn’t be cutting through the forest.”Mu Qingya sighed softly. “If we take the official road, we’ll be delayed by two m

Kael landed on the hilltop with ease, as if he'd just hopped down from a staircase rather than flying dozens of meters across a devastated forest. A thin cloud of dust swirled around his feet, but there was no heavy impact—just the soft whisper of wind that accompanied his arrival.Mu Qingya, Jiang Wei, and Qin Ruo, who were sitting weakly on the rocks, immediately felt a subtle pressure from the aura surrounding the man—not oppressive, but strong enough to make them acutely aware of the vast chasm of power between them.Kael's eyes went straight to Qin Ruo, who was still lying there weak and deathly pale. His sunken chest rose and fell irregularly, his breathing short and labored. Blood still trickled slowly from the corner of his mouth, and his right hand hung limp—crushed so badly the bones were broken in several places.Kael walked closer without saying a word. Jiang Wei, who was standing beside Qin Ruo, naturally stepped back half a pace, making way. Mu Qingya could only stare wi

Kael walked through the bustling streets filled with merchants and cultivators from all corners. His eyes swept the surroundings calmly, looking for signboards or buildings that looked like inns.The shouts of merchants mixed with the loud chatter of cultivators. Some were showing off weapons, some offering strength-enhancing pills, and there were even those selling secret maps containing treasure locations—all sounding like lies packaged neatly.Kael wasn't interested.He kept walking, passing through the crowds without looking left or right, until—CLOP! CLOP! CLOP!The sound of spirit horses' hooves galloping fast suddenly echoed from behind. People around immediately stepped aside to the edge of the road, making way for the group approaching quickly.Kael stopped walking.Not out of fear, but because the horses stopped right in front of him—completely blocking the way.Six spirit horses with beautiful yet majestic pure white coats stood in a line. Their fur gleamed like snow under