The imposing grey fragment crossed the newly opened third ring exactly at two in the afternoon. The entity entered the glowing subterranean channel without stopping its mechanical stride. It bypassed the terrifying celestial mechanics without testing the perimeter or looking at anything on the way past."The creature is moving flawlessly through your artificial energetic corridor, Doctor Melvin," State Auditor Chen reported through the tactical binoculars.The subterranean transit back to the Hidden Boundary consumed exactly fifty-one tense minutes of agonizing silence. The federal sensors tracked the massive energetic signature diving deep beneath the planetary crust."I am officially logging the monstrous arrival at the northern end at exactly three minutes past three," Manager Lin confirmed from her terminal.At precisely four minutes past the hour, Chief Elder Mo's resonance crystal opened a completely unscheduled connection. The fragile acoustic vibration carried a mere two chara

Two of the twenty-two ruling sects had already filed formal motions to have the young physician held indefinitely pending a martial judgment. The hostile political climate required immediate diplomatic intervention from the highest authorities. Melvin refused to wait helplessly for the angry martial lords to breach the secular border."We must open the spatial gates ourselves, Lin," Melvin commanded softly.The damaged Spatial Anchor Pillar desperately needed fresh primordial dragon essence to repair its shattered dimensional socket, requiring a massive energetic catalyst to bridge the dimensional void.The ancient root growing under Spirit Grass Valley was currently carrying exactly twice the celestial energy it did previously, humming with stolen primordial power.Melvin ordered his brilliant systems administrator to calculate the exact geometric angles required to safely cut a new crystalline shard without detonating the volatile botanical structure.Manager Lin transmitted the com

What the vast assembly did was stand up in complete silence, delegation by delegation, demonstrating their ultimate martial submission. The monumental shift started with the representatives of the four eastern peaks, whose elders were seated for three agonizing weeks. They only woke because of a protocol Melvin sent north on a subterranean resonance he could not even hear from the secular crater."The grand committee officially strikes the disciplinary filing from the permanent record and restores your status entirely, Doctor Melvin, acknowledging your supreme sacrifice for our survival," Sect Master Shen declared from the high seat, slamming his wooden gavel down while Elder Ping remained frozen on his feet in absolute disgrace.The committee restored Melvin's standing in full before entering him as a physician of record for all twenty-two sects, cementing his authority across both worlds. That incredible political honor had only been done twice in four hundred years of recorded mart

Departing at the first pale crack of dawn, the stone ship lifted above the eastern terraces and veered sharply toward the jagged northern ranges. The heavy keel plowed through thick banks of freezing mist while the mountain gale battered the vessel's reinforced hull. Melvin stood near the bow railing, wrapping his heavy wool mantle tightly around his aching ribs to ward off the biting chill.Kaelen kept watch beside the mainmast with both iron swords strapped securely across his back. Chief Elder Mo and nine senior sect physicians occupied the sheltered midship deck, carrying rolls of silver acupuncture needles and wooden diagnostic cases. Below the soaring ship, the lush forest canopy withered into barren scree as the vessel climbed beyond the mountain treeline.The northern iron workings occupied a desolate, windswept ridge where the freezing gale never ceased. Heavy ironwood timbers braced the dark mouth of the vertical shaft, encrusted with thick rime that turned the framing dange

"Then whoever slipped through this subterranean opening breached our defensive perimeter weeks ago, boss, and walked straight out of this mountain while we were holding the crater!" Kaelen growled."We must stabilize the living convicts first before pursuing any missing prisoner, because every minute they remain suspended accelerates the collapse of their arterial walls and poisons their remaining marrow," Melvin replied, turning his back upon the shattered wall to face the frozen laborers.Running the holding protocol across a hundred and ninety-nine men in the frigid subterranean shaft consumed the better part of an exhausting day. The icy mountain drafts whistled through the timber collars, freezing the sweat along the sect physicians' brows as they drove silver shafts into stiff meridian channels. By early evening, the nine senior healers collapsed against the damp timber supports, their fingers trembling with severe energetic exhaustion.Melvin worked the final forty convicts ent