Three moves.That was all it took.Selene—proud, battle-hardened, supremely confident in his own strength—was on the ground. Just three exchanges. He stared at Darian Kaelthorn with disbelief etched into his features. How could a cultivator, barely entering the early Mortal Soul Cleansing Stage, defeat him so cleanly? It was unthinkable. Impossible. And yet, here it was—the undeniable truth.A steady hand reached down. Darian’s.Selene looked up. There was no mockery in Darian’s gaze, no arrogance—only sincerity. Teeth clenched, he took the hand and, slowly, reluctantly, pulled himself up. The storm in his eyes—frustration, shock, helplessness—lingered, but beneath it something deeper stirred: respect.“Darian,” he said, voice low, steady, solemn. “You are strong. I… accept defeat. From this day forward, in the Assault Dragon Battle Formation, you shall be the Dragon Head, Seraphina the Dragon Body, and I the Dragon Tail. In the Battle of the Thousand Realms, I will follow your command

The white jade platform stretched out endlessly under the pale morning sun, each stone gleaming like a frozen wave. It was massive—a thousand paces of pristine brilliance—but all eyes seemed glued to just two figures: Selene Virell and Seraphina Vale. Darian felt their gaze pressing on him, though it barely scratched the surface. Not because he lacked strength—he was merely invisible here. In a sea of cultivators, power was a ladder. Selene and Seraphina? Early Spirit-Refiners, radiating mastery. Darian? Barely at Soul-Refining. Among these prodigies, he was a shadow at the edge of brilliance.And honestly, he didn’t mind. Calm as always, he let his eyes drift across the crowd. The finest young talents from a hundred cities of the Eastern Lands had been handpicked for the legendary Battle of the Thousand Realms. Some strutted like they owned the world, chests puffed, eyes sharp with contempt for anyone who dared breathe near them. Others were quiet, calculating—the kind that could stri

A soft, teasing laugh drifted through the night. Almost like someone enjoying a private joke at someone else’s expense. The sound slithered between the trees, smooth, confident… and wrong. It unsettled the forest, twisting the hair on Darian’s neck.From the southeast, three figures emerged, moving deliberately. Every step measured. Calm. Like the world itself had slowed to watch them.The youth in front wore a deep-blue martial robe. Fox-like eyes glimmered with amusement—and malice. His two companions mirrored his lazy confidence, smirking as they closed the distance toward Darian and his team.“Stop right there!” Selene’s voice cut like steel. “Take another step, and don’t blame us for what happens next.”Darian felt it instantly—the absence of hesitation, the raw hunger radiating from them. Not arrogance. Hunger. Naked. Unmasked.“Well, aren’t you bold?” the man to the left drawled. His words dripped with arrogance. The other just grinned, predatory, sizing up his prey.Darian’s ga

Whoosh!A streak of pale gold tore through the forest. Darian Kaelthorn moved like a living comet, weaving between towering trees so fast it was almost impossible to track him. Every step was calculated, every breath a gamble. Behind him, a massive serpent surged forward—fifteen paces of dark-red scales coiling like molten iron, muscles rippling with lethal intent, eyes burning with pure, unrestrained fury.Clutched in his hand were the three Fire-Spirit Jade Fruits. No time to stow them. No pause. Forward was the only option. Behind him, the Throat-Devouring Flame Venom Python shredded the undergrowth, uprooting ancient trees, snapping branches like paper under its coils.“This beast… insane speed,” Darian muttered through gritted teeth. The roar behind him split the morning air, thunderous, promising death with every vibration. Survival wasn’t about skill now—it was instinct, timing, and endurance.Crack! Bang!A branch toppled. Trees shivered and fell. The serpent surged onward, uns

The basin trembled beneath their presence. Mystic energy surged through the air, crackling and leaping like untamed fire. Every breath felt charged with potential, every step sent invisible currents of power rippling outward. Seraphina Vale and Selene moved like water over jagged stones—effortless, precise. Every strike carried intent. Every step disturbed the energy around them in a rhythm only true cultivators could sense.Nearby, a spoiled young girl squealed, pure delight in her voice. “Big sister!” It rang out warm and clear, like sunlight breaking through a winter window. The gentle girl beside her offered a calm smile, serene and soothing—a perfect counterpoint to her companion’s exuberance.Not everyone shared their joy. A one-eyed man trailing them scowled sharply, his greed and cunning obvious. He had schemed to seize the rare Fragrant Jade Dew, but it had already been consumed. Any chance of striking while the girls were distracted had vanished like smoke. He snarled, sendin