The sword-holding elder has accomplished so much, acted with such integrity throughout. If it weren't for him — if it weren't for his efforts — I doubt this child would even still have you as a father to speak to."Evander could clearly see the true purpose behind this whole affair — testing the sword-holding elder's resolve."Do you believe the sword-holder is truly strong?" Cassius asked suddenly, shaking his head."Extremely strong. I'd guess he has no real equal at the eighth level of Golden Core — aside from you, Father, of course.""No. In truth, he's already advanced to the ninth level of Golden Core!""Oh?" Evander asked, genuinely startled."If he were merely at the eighth level, that would be one thing. But this man's rate of breakthrough outpaces even my own. I suspect he'll achieve Nascent Soul within mere decades.""Isn't that a good thing, though? The stronger the sword-holding elder becomes, the stronger our entire sect grows alongside him. Why deliberately provoke him

On this particular day, Steward Sun sent two more corpse collectors up the mountain. The moment Silas laid eyes on them, he was genuinely stunned.The sword-holding elder himself — Aldous Whitmore!"Fine scenery here." The man surveyed Skypillar Mountain and nodded appreciatively.Silas swept him with his spiritual awareness.His entire cultivation base stripped away — he has only a single year left to live!"Master, let's go." The young man standing behind Aldous spoke."Let this handsome young man lead the way and walk us through Sky Burial Mountain's rules."The sword-holding elder looked at Silas as he spoke."Uh... right this way, both of you." Silas froze for a moment, then quickly responded.Aldous and his companion naturally took up residence in Wes's old courtyard.No need to build anything new.Jasmine, startled by the news, hurried out of her own courtyard to invite the sword-holding elder for a conversation."Never expected the little girl once tortured by frost poison wou

Silas recalled that day and answered, entirely serious: "The tribulation I faced was several times more terrifying than this one. I very nearly died — genuinely came close to failing entirely. Senior Sister might never have gotten the chance to claim me at all, had things gone differently.""Doesn't that just prove how strong Junior Brother truly is?" Jasmine rested her head gently against his shoulder.Above Zenith Peak, Julian's robes hung in tatters, his appearance thoroughly disheveled.His earlier Foundation Establishment tribulation had been suspected by some of being something of a performance — but there was no faking this one.He lost two top-grade spiritual weapons in the process and consumed an unknown quantity of blood-restoring pills along the way."The heavenly tribulation's finally over, and there's a Golden Core sitting in his stomach now. Here's hoping Senior Brother advances all the way to true monarch." A few disciples in the crowd watched with glowing, envious eyes

"Nascent Soul won't intervene, is that so?" Evander glanced back at the two true monarchs standing behind him and sneered."Weathering a tribulation, attempting Nascent Soul?" Kieran had no patience left for further banter, turning his attention instead toward Cassius, still mid-tribulation.The tribulation had already passed its halfway point, and Cassius's condition had reached the point of complete exhaustion.He pulled out a pill — a Greater Restoration Pill, the enhanced version of the Pill of Restoration.Instantly, Cassius's vitality surged back, restored to full strength."Surround them! Don't let anyone behind Kieran make a move!" Evander noticed the three intruders' shared glance and issued the order at once.Across the field, Kieran withdrew his gaze and turned once more toward the assembled true monarchs of the Sky Burial Sect."Do you all know the real reason the sword-holding elder was stripped of his position?"The true monarchs exchanged uneasy glances. Wherever they s

The man bore half the blame for his father's death.And now, even the vast territory Cassius had fought so hard to secure was being swallowed up all over again."Evander Lysander — do you know why I chose not to kill you outright? I want you to watch this sect get devoured, piece by piece. Remember well — this is the price you pay for driving me out all those years ago!And this is only the beginning. You'll continue tasting this bitter fruit for quite some time yet.""What I said yesterday still stands. Anyone who shares my vision is welcome to join me in the Duskfiend Sect. I won't be like Cassius Lysander, unable to tolerate outsiders. The Ten Realms belong to all of you."Kieran stood at the bow of the ship, radiating commanding presence, black robes billowing in the wind, an unmistakable satisfaction written across his face."Julian Crest — do you dare face me!" Suddenly, he shifted his attention, looking toward the young man standing beside Evander.They were, after all, still y