Tarian Lysand’s face twisted into a mask of fury. Every memory, every clash with Kaelen Viremont, fed the fire raging inside him. He roared—a sound that split the air like a thunderclap.“Kaelen Viremont! You dare speak such outrageous words in front of everyone? Your arrogance—your ignorance—is astounding!”Kaelen didn’t even look at him. Not a flicker of hesitation. Not a shadow of fear. His steps were slow, deliberate, unstoppable. And then—he charged. Every inch of him radiated a storm of energy.“Vital Energy… and blood—burn with all your might!” Kaelen’s voice tore through the battlefield.Crimson power surged in him, each heartbeat amplifying his strength. Since stepping into the Martial Venerable Realm, his Vital Energy and blood had grown beyond imagination. No longer mere energy—it was an ocean, a tidal force raging inside, swelling with every pulse. His combat strength shot higher and higher.Buzz!The energy hit a fever pitch. Behind Kaelen, a Primordial Divine Halo shimme

Kaelen Viremont walked through the ruins with the Shadowfang Sect disciples at his side. Calm. Almost unnervingly calm. Around him, the air still hummed with the echoes of awe and fear from the recent battle. Hundreds of thousands of Black Demon Army soldiers—once fierce, ruthless—stood frozen, trembling in silence. Not a single one dared meet his gaze. Even their generals, men who had never known fear, looked pale, fists clenched tight.They had come chasing Tarian Lysand, the Empire’s golden prodigy, hoping to claim glory for themselves. Yet here he was—dead. Gone. Obliterated by a single youth from the Shadowfang Sect. And Kaelen? Walking untouched, unshakable, the living embodiment of absolute power. Their hundred thousand troops? Rendered powerless. Humiliated. All of it under the watchful eyes of the Eldravan Empire.Kaelen’s calm wasn’t arrogance. It was the quiet assurance of experience. He knew the countless nights of blood and sweat, the dangers faced and survived, and the p

“This time, we may have finally held our heads high,” one elder said, his voice low but heavy with worry, “but we’ve also angered both the Royal Martial Academy and the Heavenly Poison Sect. If they decide to act, Kaelen Viremont will face the consequences.”The Shadowfang Sect—renowned as the greatest power in the Eldravan Empire—had never before provoked even a single top-tier force. And now? Two. Just imagining them joining forces sent shivers down the spine, even for a sect as powerful as theirs. A united front of those two alone could crush the Shadowfang Sect if it came to war.Another elder’s eyes narrowed. His tone was cautious, almost fearful. “They’ll pressure us, surely. Kaelen Viremont might be demanded… handed over. Executed. Without hesitation.”“That will never happen.”The Sect Master’s voice cut through the hall like a blade, calm yet undeniable, echoing with authority. The air seemed to tremble around him, as if mountains themselves might quake at his words. “Even if

Kaelen Viremont hadn’t expected Kael to insist on coming along. He’d planned to explore this strange, illusory world alone, hoping to encounter a soul beast and absorb its energy in secret. But now that Kael was tagging along, refusing outright would raise suspicion.A secret hunt—if Kael or, worse, the Sect Master found out—would mean trouble. Resigned, Kaelen shelved his plans for the moment. Exploring this realm with Kael wasn’t the worst thing in the world.The two moved quickly over the undulating terrain, crossing mountains that shimmered as if lit from within. Eventually, they reached the edge of the mystical world. Ahead yawned a massive abyss, so dark that even the faintest glimmer of the bottom was swallowed by shadow.Kael’s eyes flickered with awe. “They say…” he murmured, “a gigantic soul beast once emerged from the depths of this abyss…”Boom!The ground trembled violently before Kael could finish. From the darkness below, a massive claw, forged entirely of soul energy,

The instant Kael vanished, a streak of black light shot from Kaelen Viremont’s brow, slicing through the still air like a bolt of darkness. It twisted, spiraled, and climbed until it towered above the abyss—a colossal black dragon, a thousand meters long, scales gleaming like polished onyx in some unseen light. The sheer presence of it made the abyss itself shiver.It was Talan.The dragon blinked, massive eyes narrowing, ancient confusion etched into its features. “Kaelen Viremont,” Talan rumbled, his voice like distant thunder, “by all logic… after what you’ve done, this ancient soul beast should have been furious. And yet… it hasn’t moved. Could it… be dead?”“Dead?” Kaelen murmured, a faint twitch on his lips. If Talan was right, luck had kissed him in a way no mortal—or immortal—could ever expect. A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, but he stopped it. Not now. Not when the stakes were this high.Talan spread his wings, gusts tearing through the cavern walls. “I’ll go down