The Dragon Axe headquarters truly changed after the Soul Nation Council decided to accept Bintang and the Sky Dragon Organization as official allies. Although most of the elders still looked at him with suspicion, they could not deny reality—only the Sky Dragon Organization was capable of matching Kancil Wong’s network.In the underground hall, a large table was filled with maps, photos, and intelligence reports. Bintang stood at the far end, his sharp eyes examining every detail.“Kancil Wong’s main base is at the northern harbor, an abandoned military weapons warehouse,” one of the scouts reported.“It is surrounded by seven-meter-high steel walls, guard towers at every corner, and more than two hundred armed troops.”Qing Nan looked serious. “A direct assault would be suicide.”Bintang smiled faintly. “Who said we’re going to attack from the front?”He stabbed a small dagger into the map, right on the water channel that ran beneath the base. “This is the way. This route has long be

Bintang slowly lowered his sword. His gaze did not leave his disciple’s body, still bound by the remaining chains. Lue Yinan finally managed to remove them completely, and Kiana collapsed weakly into her master’s arms.“Master…” her voice was faint, but her eyes still carried that light of unwavering courage that always reminded Bintang of her indomitable spirit.“You have walked through hell, my disciple,” Bintang whispered. “But remember, suffering is not the end. It is the beginning of your destiny as the Emperor of the Nation of Jiwa. Even I did not expect that you would be the future Emperor of this land…”Kiana fell silent, her body trembling from the lingering sedative poison. Yet her master’s words were like a mantra sinking deep into her soul.That night, the Sky Dragon forces lit torches, guiding the way out of the headquarters that was now beginning to burn. Flames licked the steel walls, illuminating their faces.Qing Nan looked at Bintang’s back as he walked while carryin

Qing Yuan stood in the center of the circle, gripping his staff tightly.“We have accused one another far too much without proof. If you still doubt Bintang, then let him answer for himself. Summon him here.”He glanced at Lue Yinan, who obediently nodded.A low murmur rippled through the chamber. Some agreed, some opposed, but in the end, the decision was accepted.Not long after, the heavy iron door at the far end of the room creaked open. The sound of footsteps echoed softly, yet each step felt as though it pierced straight into the heart.Bintang appeared, dressed in deep black robes with a long cloak trailing behind him. His hair flowed freely, and his eyes were calm like the night sky. The aura he carried was immense, as if a dragon had slipped into that confined chamber.Several elders instinctively tightened their grip on their staffs, even drawing deep breaths. Once again, they felt pressured simply by his presence.The white-haired elder, who had been the most vocal opponent

This was a personal duel. A duel between two rulers of shadow and the Dragon King.Bintang pressed harder, his sword trembling as he whispered coldly, “I don’t need to kill you quickly. I only want to see the face behind that mask.”With a single surge of force, he blasted his opponent backward. The black mask cracked, half of the face beneath it revealed—pale skin and crimson eyes filled with hatred.“Your name…” Bintang murmured softly. “…You’re not a stranger. You resemble Qing Yuan slightly—you come from the bloodline of this nation.”The Shadow Lord fell silent, then burst into loud laughter. “That’s right! I am the rightful descendant—the blood that should have sat upon the throne! But my ancestors were cast aside, discarded, and hidden. Now I return to claim my right, even if I must do so through darkness!”Bintang exhaled slowly. “Then… there is no peaceful path between us.”The battle erupted once more. The dragon sword clashed against the shadow dagger. Each collision unleas

Qing Yuan, who had been kneeling with a pale face, tried to straighten his body. Tia supported him carefully, while Lue Yinan had already prepared a healing pill to suppress the internal injury caused by the severed soul bond.Qing Yuan’s face looked weary. His eyes gazed at the figure of his adopted son who had just resolved a crisis for their nation.“It’s a pity… this battle has also taken half of my soul with it… but I can still stand. What matters is… you have already ended it, Bintang.”Bintang nodded.“No, Father. This is not the end. This is only the beginning of the great reckoning we must face.”They all turned toward the massive altar that had been destroyed. The ancient symbols upon it were beginning to fade, as if the Shadow Lord had been the final key that kept them lit. But that destruction also signaled something else—the secret of the discarded bloodline could no longer be hidden.Juan approached, his face serious.“Dragon King… should we report this directly to the C