Kael Draven understood the Starcloud royal family’s intentions almost immediately. Their plan was simple: they wanted to pull him into their orbit. What surprised him was how long this had been brewing—this scheme had started a month ago.“Kael,” his grandfather said, his voice brimming with excitement, “we’ll move all Draven Family affairs to Emberfall Town. With the Starcloud royal family supporting us, there’s no need to keep operations in Thundercloud City.”Watching his grandfather and father exchange those hopeful looks, something inside Kael Draven hardened. No matter what happened, his family had to be protected. Not a single soul could be allowed to harm them.After a brief family council, he slipped away. First, he would see Aria Stormveil. Then he planned to visit the Thundercloud City Lord’s mansion and show the letter to Rowan Valen.He didn’t waste a second. Kael Draven drew the letter from his robe and handed it to Rowan Valen. The older warrior read it quickly, then na

Margaret Drake nagged him until Kael Draven stayed three full days at the Drake household. He hadn’t planned to, but sometimes family pressure wins.Three days later, he was back at the Draven family estate in Emberfall Town.He never once brought up the Cloudveil Sect business. Weirdly, the Starcloud royal family—no one could say exactly why—had ordered another round of reconstruction in Emberfall Town. The town was changing by the hour; new walls, new markets, new people. It felt like waking up in a different place each morning.This visit home wasn’t all training. Sure, he refined the Soul Suppression Seal and practiced the Nine‑Needle Apotheosis. But mostly he just stayed with his parents. Ate with them. Talked. It was the small, human things he’d missed.On the fourth morning, he left.Outside Thundercloud City, he paused, looked back at the high stone walls, clenched his fists, and told himself quietly, “No one—no matter who they are—can hurt my family.”The Cloudveil Sect was t

“Kael Draven, I’ve said it before. Your feud with Elder Edwin Valmar? Not our business. But you’ve caused chaos in Cloudveil Sect—so I won’t stand by.”“Shameless.”Kael Draven already knew what Lucius Ramirez and Cloudveil Sect were thinking. At its core, they weren’t neutral—they wanted to protect Edwin Valmar while making trouble for him.He snorted coldly. Lucius Ramirez’s voice cut through the air, sharp and icy. “Kael Draven, I’ll give you one chance. End your life here.”End his life… here?Kael Draven’s laugh was bitter. Incredulous. “Lucius Ramirez… have you lost your mind?”“Impudent!”“Impudent, my foot!” Anger roared inside him. Cloudveil Sect talked about neutrality, yet they struck first. That alone was shameless beyond measure.“Some people are worthless their whole lives. Some pigs are worthless once cut down. And you… alive, you waste air; dead, you waste the earth. My advice? You might as well die.”Being insulted like that, how could Lucius Ramirez and the others ev

“I’ll be waiting for you.”Kael Draven’s presence had shifted completely. There was nothing human about it anymore. Cold. Deadly. Like the very air around him carried the stench of hell. Every step was dangerous. Every breath, lethal.“Lucius Ramirez,” he said, his voice low and sharp, “the feud between you and Brother Draven isn’t the concern of the royal family or the Protectorate Hall. But cross the Draven family, and don’t be surprised if the royal family wipes out Cloudveil Sect in an instant.”The Protectorate Hall of the Starcloud Royal Family had three fusion experts of its own. Add twenty other seasoned fighters, and taking down Cloudveil Sect would be… quick. Sebastian Vance knew it. He was confident—deadly confident.Edwin Valmar watched Kael Draven and his group fade into the distance. His face darkened. “Sect Leader… what do we do now?”“Do not interfere with the Draven family,” came the reply. “But Kael Draven… I doubt he lives long enough for revenge.”Kael Draven held

Sebastian Vance and Leonard Ward had made their point. Could he really say no?Kael Draven let out a resigned sigh and shrugged. Fine. He would go.“Brother Draven,” Leonard Ward said, “for this journey to the Thunder Empire and the upcoming Thunder Battle, I’ll assign Lucas Grant to assist you.”Lucas Grant, Deputy Hallmaster of the Protectorate Hall, was also a highly evolved martial artist. Within the hall, his status was second only to Leonard Ward.Kael Draven felt a strange mix of unease and anticipation. He had just joined the Protectorate Hall. Normally, Lucas Grant would lead. Yet Leonard Ward had made it clear: for this mission, Kael Draven was in charge, and Lucas Grant was only support. Anyone else might have hesitated—or even refused outright.But Leonard Ward’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. He continued, “Brother Draven, the Thunder War officially begins in one month. We were supposed to depart immediately, but—”“Hallmaster, we leave now. We go to the Thu