"Stop! Show your identification!" barked a guard at the great gate of Azure City.Ravian didn't flinch. He took a deep breath, tasting the city air he hadn't breathed in years. The same air, yet now it felt toxic. Behind his pitch-black mask, his eyes narrowed, staring at the impatient guard."Just a traveler, sir," Ravian's voice sounded hoarse, like stones grinding against sand. He handed over a few dull silver coins.The guard snatched the money, then eyed Ravian's mask suspiciously. "Why the mask? Do you have a contagious disease, or are you just trying to hide your ugly face?""My face is none of your business, is it?" Ravian replied flatly.[Master, your heart rate has increased by fifteen percent. Anger is an unnecessary variable at this moment. Focus on the primary objective.]That cold, mechanical voice echoed inside Ravian's head. It was the Forbidden God System. The only reason he was still breathing after being cast into the Abyss of Soul Annihilation by the people he once

The guard’s body slumped onto the wooden floor of the dock without a significant sound. A thin black vapor still danced over his corpse, which now looked like wood burned from the inside. Ravian released his grip, letting the man’s remaining life evaporate into the cold night air."One nuisance dealt with," Ravian whispered. "System, how many more are left in this northern dock area?"[Scanning area... Complete. Master, there are sixteen energy signatures aboard the main ship, the 'Azure Wings.' Four of them are elite guards at the late stage of the Body Refinement realm. The rest are merely laborers and low-level guards.]"Four elite guards," Ravian muttered, staring at the massive ship resting quietly at the pier. "They’re certainly taking the security of these illicit goods seriously. Can you detect the crates containing my energy fragments?"[Two o'clock, Master. In the ship's lower hold. There are three large crates emitting a resonance frequency identical to your missing Spirit

The crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling of the auction hall began to dim, giving way to a primary spotlight that fell directly onto the center of the podium. The scent of expensive sandalwood filled the room, mingling with the murmurs of nobles and wealthy cultivators seated in red velvet chairs. In the VIP balcony, Kaelan Arkana sat with his legs crossed, his hand gripping a crystal glass filled with red wine that looked as dark as blood."Look at them, System," Ravian whispered from the dimly lit back row. "Faces that feel as though they hold the world in the palm of their hands."[Master, the target is in an unstable mental state. Kaelan Arkana's blood pressure has increased by ten percent from his average. He is attempting to mask his anxiety with arrogance.]"Of course. After losing millions in gold at the docks last night, he has to prove that the clan's coffers remain unaffected. It’s a hole he dug for himself," Ravian said, sipping his bitter tea.The gavel struck the

The warning bells at the Azure Auction House were still echoing, but their frequency was drowned out by Kaelan Arkana’s furious roar piercing the night’s silence. In the center of a stage now scattered with black dust, the remains of burnt river stones, Kaelan stood gasping for breath. His usually arrogant face was now flushed crimson, the veins in his temples looking as if they were about to burst."Find him! Don’t let that rat leave this city alive!" Kaelan bellowed, pointing toward an empty seat in the back row.The previously frozen clan guards immediately moved in a chaotic scramble. They collided with guests who were still stunned, creating a new wave of noise within the luxurious hall. Meanwhile, behind the shadows of a tall pillar outside the building, Ravian stood with his back against the cold stone wall. His black mask reflected the torchlight from a distance."Such beautiful music, isn't it?" Ravian whispered.[Master, Kaelan Arkana’s heart rate is in the danger zone. His

The dawn sun had just peeked over the eastern horizon of Azure City, but the bustle outside the inn already sounded like a swarm of angry bees. Ravian opened his eyes, feeling the stinging cold sensation from the mysterious old man's pill still flowing through his meridians. The usually wild Hell Energy now crouched quietly in the deepest corner of his soul, neatly wrapped by a grey energy membrane impenetrable to any spiritual sense."System, provide a status report," Ravian whispered as he rose from his hard bed.[Status: Active. Aura Suppression Pill Effect: 100%. Remaining duration: two hours and forty minutes. Hell Meridian Energy is stable but isolated. Recommendation: Avoid using high-level techniques to prevent the seal from cracking prematurely.]"Over two hours... enough to see this show through to the end," Ravian muttered. He washed his face with cold water, staring at his reflection in a cracked mirror. That ruined face was now hidden behind a new b