Kael stood looking at the Eternal Darkness Phoenix that was still releasing that terrifying scream.And suddenly...From various directions...Four shadows appeared moving at incredible speed.WHOOOOSSHHH!!!The Black Steel Chimera appeared from the east—its body full of wounds from the battle with Long Tianyun and Jian Wuhen, but its eyes looked at the Phoenix with a very strange gaze.The Eternal Ice Hydra appeared from the west. Two of its heads were already severed, blue ice blood still flowing, but the five remaining heads looked at the Phoenix with the same gaze.The Heavenly Thunder Gargoyle appeared from the south. Its lightning wings were cracked, wounds all over its body, but its glowing purple eyes also looked at the Phoenix with a strange gaze.The Eternal Steel Titan appeared from the center. Its giant gorilla body trembled, its breathing labored, but its glowing yellow eyes also looked at the Phoenix.The four high-level spirit beasts stood surrounding the Phoenix—formin

ONE HOUR LATER.The thick fog in the Eternal Shadow Forest still shrouded the area, but now it was darker in color, mixed with black smoke from fires, creating a very oppressive atmosphere.The remaining scene was very horrifying.The ground was destroyed into giant craters, trees burned to nothing, some areas still blazing with fires that wouldn't go out, ash flying in the air.And in the middle of that destruction...The Eternal Darkness Phoenix lay—its body covered with very severe wounds. Its wings were torn, the ten snake heads on its tail were all severed, its blood-red eyes no longer glowing.Dead.But this victory... came at a very high price.Five senior elders lay on the ground. Their bodies weren't moving, blood flowing from their wounds, their breathing had stopped.Elder Chen from the Holy Sky Sword Sect—fourth-level Eternal Realm—dead.Elder Wang from the Eternal Ice Moon Sect—sixth-level Eternal Realm—dead.Elder Liu from the White Cloud Palace Sect—fourth-level Eternal

Kael fell silent for a moment, his face showing a complex expression. He clenched his hands, then raised his head looking at his grandfather."Grandpa," he said in a quiet yet firm tone. "I... I don't want to reach the Eternal Realm."Yao Tianming furrowed his brow, slightly surprised."Why? The Eternal Realm is every cultivator's dream. Power, longevity, extraordinary abilities. Why would you refuse it?"Kael smiled bitterly, then answered in a tone full of emotion."Because I want to live and die together with Evelyne."He looked at his grandfather with a very serious gaze."If I'm in the Eternal Realm, I'll live long. Hundreds of years. Maybe thousands of years. But Evelyne... she's just an ordinary human. She'll grow old, then die, while I'm still young."His voice began trembling."I don't want that, Grandpa. I want to grow old with her. I want to see our child grow up. I want to experience every moment of my life with her. Not live hundreds of years alone after she's gone."Yao

Yao Tianming suddenly remembered something, then looked at Kael with a curious expression."By the way, are you a participant in this Grand Tournament, Kael?"Kael nodded."You're right, Grandpa. I'm using the alias Li Xin."Hearing that, Yao Tianming widened his eyes slightly, then nodded with satisfaction."So you're the one the elders have been talking about so much," he said in a slightly surprised yet proud tone. "I heard several elders discussing a young man named Li Xin who defeated Wei Longhen in three moves. So that was you."He smiled widely."I'm not interested in this Grand Tournament. I prefer to spend my time meditating, painting, and concocting medicine, rather than watching battles of the younger generation. But if I had known you were among them, I definitely would have watched."He patted Kael's shoulder warmly."Alright, now rest. We'll meet here again tomorrow morning. Prepare yourself well."Kael nodded in understanding, then bowed respectfully."Alright, Grandpa.

And in the blink of an eye...WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!Kael disappeared.No explosion sound.No bright light.Just a silver shadow moving at incredible speed, leaving a series of silver shadow trails behind it, like lines of light stretching through the air.The four people from the Eternal Shadow Sword Sect didn't even have time to react.Their eyes didn't even have time to follow Kael's movement.And suddenly...Kael had already appeared in front of one of the senior disciples.The middle-aged man who had been laughing arrogantly now widened his eyes, his face turning pale instantly."How—"Those words hadn't even fully left his mouth.KRAAAASSSSHHH!!!Kael's hand pierced the man's chest at full speed, penetrating his ribs like paper, tearing flesh and muscle easily.SQUELCH!!!The sound of torn flesh was heard clearly—very horrifying.Blood spurted out, soaking Kael's white robes, but he didn't care.And in a very quick movement...Kael gripped something inside the man's chest.His hea