“Hm?”Lucian Draven stopped in his tracks. His brows lifted, surprise flickering across his face before he turned back, studying his opponent like he’d just found something amusing. “So,” he asked with a faint smile, “what exactly are you planning to do now?”“Lucian Draven, the only reason you dare humiliate me is because you’re hiding behind the name of the Draven family from Thundercloud City!”“And what if I am?”The corners of Lucian’s mouth curled into a cold sneer. His tone dripped with mockery. “Kael Draven, maybe ten years ago, you had some potential. But a cripple? A cripple is still a cripple. Even without my family, I’d crush you under my heel. Tell me—do you actually believe otherwise?”Kael Draven’s eyes didn’t waver. His voice came out like iron striking stone. “What I suffer today, I will repay twice over.”Lucian gave a low laugh, his words sharp as a blade. “Brave talk. But remember—dreams and spirit mean nothing without power. Fate is written by strength, not ambiti

“Good news?”Kael Draven tilted his head as he walked into the courtyard, curiosity flickering in his eyes.“What on earth could make you this happy?”Aria Stormveil only gave him a sly little smile, tugging him down to sit beside her. The servants set down two cups of tea, bowed, and slipped away. As soon as they were gone, she leaned closer, her voice trembling with excitement.“Kael Draven, you’re not going to believe this. Yesterday, a peerless master passed through Emberfall Town. By sheer chance, I ran into him. I don’t know if it was luck or fate, but… he wants me as his disciple.”Kael Draven blinked. “What kind of master are we talking about?”“I don’t know for sure,” she admitted, biting her lip. “But he promised that within three months, he could raise my cultivation straight into the Innate Realm.”Three months? Straight to the Innate Martial Realm?Kael Draven froze. That wasn’t something a wandering teacher could casually promise. To push someone across realms in such a

Kaelen Draven and Evelina Drake stayed at the Draven family estate for three days. Then, without fuss, they finally set off for Thundercloud City.For the days that followed, Kael Draven barely stepped outside the main hall. No one dared disturb him — not for any reason.Word had already spread across Emberfall Town about Kael Draven’s determination. Over the past month, no one really paid him much attention. Still, the Draven family threw themselves into cultivating him, to the point of buying a rare elixir just for him.A month passed.The Draven family’s martial training ground was huge. It could hold over a thousand people. Today was the annual internal test — a time-honored tradition where every disciple stood on the stone platform to prove the fruits of their year’s cultivation.The rule was simple: one-on-one combat.Below the stone platform, whispers buzzed, mixed with laughter.“Did you hear? The family spent a fortune this month just to buy some elixir for that useless brat.

The study was quiet. So quiet, it almost felt unnatural—like even the air had stopped breathing.“Kael, my boy… that just now… was that an innate martial art?”Serath Draven’s voice broke the silence. There was a trace of disbelief in it. Innate martial arts weren’t just rare—they were practically legends. And in all of Emberfall Town? Not a single one existed. He blinked slowly, staring at his nephew as if trying to see through him.Kael Draven looked away for a moment. Truth didn’t need dramatic pauses—it simply couldn’t be hidden anymore. He gave a faint nod. “Yes, Grandfather. The technique I am using just now… It’s called the Profound Heaven Finger. I found it by chance.”Ardyn Draven’s lips curled into a slow smile. “Good. Very good. With your talent… and this technique, there may be hope yet for the life-and-death trial next year. Kael… like I said before, the family will stand with you.”“Thank you, Grandfather.”Family. No matter what happened. No matter how storms blew. Bloo

“Brother Roderic… what happened here?”Serenya Valen and her maid exchanged uneasy glances. They were young, inexperienced, and the sight before them was unlike anything they’d ever seen—hundreds of spirit beast corpses scattered across the clearing. Blood stained the earth. The air smelled metallic and sharp. It was gruesome.Roderic Valmar shook his head, his face darkening. “This isn’t normal. We should grab the bodies and leave—fast—before something worse happens.”They weren’t fools. The corpses spoke for themselves. Spirit beasts carried great value. Whoever claimed them could sell them for a small fortune.But before they could even move, a wave of cold, murderous intent crashed over them. It hit like a physical blow, wrapping them in a suffocating presence. Roderic Valmar’s face changed instantly. His voice was steady—but with a trace of tension. “We mean no offense, Senior. Please, forgive us.”“No offense?” The voice was slow, mocking. “You just said you wanted to take those