The arena had forgotten what an execution ground was supposed to feel like.Only hours ago, the stone had been surrounded by swords.Families had screamed behind the formation. Hundreds of their loved ones had lain motionless beneath the morning sun, waiting to be declared dead.But now, around us, the world was putting itself back together. Mothers sobbed as they pulled their children into their arms, their tears washing away the grime and residual dark Qi on their cheeks. Husbands held their wives so tightly it looked as though they were afraid letting go would turn them back into vessels. Physicians scrambled across the blood-stained stone, their spiritual light flickered as they checked pulses and administered warming pills, while soldiers stood paralyzed between duty and awe.Everywhere I looked, the same name vibrated through the crowd in terrified, reverent whispers.Long Chen. The sovereign. Some citizens still pressed their faces flat against the cold stone as Chen passed

Shuyin only gave us so much time to relax. Later, when the laughter faded, Shuyin asked quietly,“What happened at the Long Clan ruins?”The room became still. Chen’s eyes lowered.“A lot.”Wei glanced toward him. Chen shook his head slightly.“Not tonight.”Wei nodded.There were things they weren’t telling us. But I didn’t care that much. I was glad they were back and so is the empire. Chen finished his food. Then frowned.“This tastes terrible.”I stared at him. “You ate the entire bowl.”“I was forced to.”I burst out laughing and so did the rest. The final strategy meeting lasted deep into the night. Maps covered the central table. The Sun-Shattering Pagoda stood at the center of every discussion.The strategy was set for dawn. The outer forces would hold the perimeter and seal the city with mass formations. The Spirit Guards and elite cultivators would purge the remaining Wraiths, while Chen, the Coalition, and our core group would push directly into the Pagoda to confront Ma

I extended my hand. Dark energy gathered around my fingers. Beside me, Lin Xue’er stood unwavering. She remained silent throughout the entire process. Her spiritual energy flowed steadily into the core. At the same time, another stream of energy came from a chamber nearby.The Long daughter. Her pure energy was carefully balanced with Lin Xue’er’s. Three forces. Mine. Lin Xue’er’s. The Long daughter. And now… the Sovereign’s.I guided the energy toward the core Nothing happened. One heartbeat. Two. Three. The egg remained still.My expression didn’t change. But somewhere deep inside me, uncertainty stirred.Had the sovereign’s energy been insufficient? Has the Solar Apex not reached its true apex? Had Chen somehow failed to release enough Sovereign authority?Or did he find out? Another heartbeat passed.Then, the egg pulsed.I opened my eyes.Thump.It pulsed faster. The red light intensified.THUMP.The chamber shook. The pulse became frantic. The blue light beneath the shell

The tremor rose.Out of the smoke, the tide rose. Shapes emerged.At first, I thought they were Wraiths.Then I realized they weren’t.These creatures were different.Almost transparent. Their bodies flickered between existence and nothingness. One second you could see the ruined buildings right through their chests, the next, they were solid enough to cast a shadow.SWOOSH!A cluster of Wraiths phase-shifted straight through the air, reappearing directly inside our front ranks. A soldier swung his broadsword with all his spiritual strength, but the blade passed cleanly through the Wraith's neck as if cutting through morning fog.The creature didn't even slow down. It reached out, its translucent hand passing straight into the soldier's chest.He didn’t bleed out. He only screamed and gassed befire his heavy body collapsed. “Enemy!”The battlefield exploded. The Coalition surged forward. Spiritual techniques tore through the smoke. Formation barriers ignited. Swords flashed.I swung

“It’s time.”The words hung in the air, cold and definitive.There wasn’t fear but something about the words made the temperature plummet. Nobody moved. The battlefield, just a few minutes ago a roar of steel and panic, fell into silence. My eyes traced every of Malphas’s movement and expression. He didn’t look angry or excited. He didn’t even look eager for blood. He simply stood there with one hand resting loosely at his side, his dark robes shifting around his ankles.Hung in his cold eyes was certainty. That was what made him dangerous.Then, he slowly raised his hand.Two fingers extended forward then he curled them downward, like a puppeteer pulling an invisible thread.I felt the shift before I saw it.The spiritual pressure surrounding the battlefield suddenly dropped.Not weakened. Suppressed.My eyes narrowed.Then, CRACK.A sharp, violent fracture echoed beyond the battlefield.I turned my head.Another crack followed.CRACK.Then another.CRACK.The earth beneath my f