An hour later, the quiet, ultra-luxurious neighborhood of the Windgate estate was thrown into absolute chaos.Dozens of federal police cruisers, tactical vans, and government black SUVs roared up the winding driveway of the massive villa. Sirens wailed, their red and blue lights flashing against the pristine white marble walls of the mansion.Mr. Windgate stood in his grand living room, staring out the massive glass windows. He was dressed in a tailored silk robe, a glass of expensive scotch in his hand. But his hand was shaking so badly that the ice cubes rattled against the crystal glass.Beside him, Leo Vance was pacing frantically, sweat dripping down his forehead. "They're here, Uncle! The federal marshals, the local police—everyone! The school board already signed the confessions! They gave up everything! The offshore accounts, the bribes, the Kate kidnapping—everything is out!""Shut up, Leo," Mr. Windgate snapped, though his voice lacked its usual commanding power. He looked r

The final week of the spring semester at Tuntadel University was usually a time of celebration, but the air on campus felt heavy, like the stillness before a massive thunderstorm. The summer break was just days away. Students were already packing their bags, eager for the one-month vacation to escape the dramatic memory of the Windgate family's public downfall.But a new shadow had already crawled into the vacuum left by Matt.His name was Donald. To the rest of the campus, he was just a quiet, wealthy transfer student from the elite institutes of East Asia. But Donald didn't care about classes, and he certainly didn't care about the student social hierarchy. He was there for one person.It was midnight. Baron stood on the roof of the highest campus laboratory building, his eyes closed. He was pushed to the absolute limit of his training, hitting the highest height of his Qi.A blinding, majestic vortex of violet energy swirled around him, cracking the concrete beneath his feet and m

The rhythmic clack-clack-clack of the train wheels against the steel tracks was the only sound cutting through the quiet morning. Baron sat by the window, watching the towering skyscrapers of the city gradually shrink into rolling green hills and dense forests.For the first time in months, his eyes weren't glowing violet. They were a calm, deep brown. The intense pressure of Tuntadel University, the corrupt board of trustees, and the looming threat of the Windgates felt like a distant memory.He was going home.To the rest of the world, this was just a standard summer break—a university student returning to his small hometown for a month of rest. But to Baron, this journey was a bridge across a century. One hundred years ago, in the heat of a brutal summer during his past life, his family had been slaughtered by Matt and his rival clans, his father had been imprisoned by Windgate. He had spent his final days in that era drowning in regret, a warrior who could protect empires but coul

Back in the luxury district of the city, far away from both the peaceful countryside and the dark provinces, the summer break was being spent in a completely different way.Inside a high-end, multi-million-dollar penthouse apartment overlooking the central plaza, Kate stood in front of a massive, three-panel gold mirror. She was holding a tailored silk dress against her frame, her face set in a cold, critical expression.The apartment was littered with designer shopping bags, luxury shoe boxes, and advanced skin-care equipment. With the Windgate family currently facing federal prosecution, Kate’s family had rapidly moved to secure their own position, and Kate was determined to return to Tuntadel as the undisputed queen of the student body."No, this color is too dull," Kate snapped, tossing the expensive dress onto a nearby leather sofa. "Margret! Where is the red velvet piece I ordered from Paris? The resumption is in two weeks, and I will not look ordinary when I walk through those

The screaming multi-headed hydra of jet-black Qi roared across the plaza, its gaping jaws inches away from slamming into Baron’s violet shield. The terrified students covered their faces, bracing for an explosion that would level the entire courtyard.But the explosion never came.Instead, a frail old man wearing a faded blue janitor’s jumpsuit casually strolled right into the direct path of the oncoming dark monster. He held a rusty mop in one hand and a plastic bucket of soapy water in the other. He looked like he was completely lost, minding his own business as he pushed his squeaky cleaning cart across the cracked concrete."Hey! Old man, get out of the way!" Samuel screamed from the sidelines, his voice cracking in pure terror. "You're going to get vaporized!"The janitor didn't run. He didn't even look up. He simply stopped his cart right between Baron and Matt, let out a tired, heavy sigh, and slammed the wooden handle of his mop down onto the brick floor.THUD.A strange, comp