Chapter — The Hunter’s TrapKael had spent most of the afternoon shopping at the Decennial Trade Fair. He had already purchased cultivation resources for Lucy, clothes for his family, several useful treasures, and enough supplies to last them for quite some time.But he still wanted to get something for someone, Nova. His six-year-old daughter had made him promise to bring her something from the trade fair.Kael entered a small shop filled with children's toys, spiritual ornaments, jade carvings, and various harmless-looking treasures. The shopkeeper immediately approached him.“Sir, perhaps you are looking for something? I can assist you.”Kael nodded. “Anything for a little child.”The shopkeeper's eyes lit up. “In that case, I have something perfect.”He reached beneath the counter and brought out a small jade figurine.It was shaped like a tiny winged beast with round eyes and a playful expression. Its body was carved from pale green Spirit Jade, and faint spiritual energy flowed t

The black fog churned violently around Kael.A cold killing intent suddenly swept through the darkness.SHING!Varik's hand moved.A curved scythe appeared in his grasp.The weapon was completely black, its long curved blade reflecting a faint crimson glow. Strange wisps of ghostly energy coiled around the edge as if countless invisible spirits were clinging to it.Varik smiled.“You have good eyes. Let's see how long they can keep you alive.”He disappeared.Kael's pupils contracted.BOOM!The scythe came slicing through the fog.Kael raised his sword just in time.CLANG!The two weapons collided, sending sparks flying.The force behind the attack pushed Kael several steps backward.His expression became serious.So fast.Varik twisted his wrist.The curved blade immediately changed direction and swept toward Kael's neck.Kael ducked.The scythe passed over his head.At the same moment, Kael thrust his sword toward Varik's chest.SHING!Varik tilted his body.The sword narrowly misse

The golden Guardian Energy locked tightly around Kael's soul.The instant the Yin energy tried to pull him toward the Ghost Flag, the balance between the two forces reversed.Varik's expression suddenly twisted.“What…”His voice trembled and he felt something traveling backward through the connection.It was not Yin energy and it was something purer.Something hotter, something that made his soul instinctively recoil.BOOM!Varik's consciousness shook violently. He staggered backward and grabbed his head.“AAAAAH!”His scream tore through the forest.The Ghost Flag behind him trembled violently.The countless skulls surrounding the battlefield began screaming with him.Varik's eyes widened until the veins within them became visible.“What did you do to me?!”Kael remained silent. The Guardian Energy continued flowing. It had already entered the spiritual connection created by the Ghost Flag.Now it was following that connection straight toward its source.Varik's spiritual defenses c

The Ghost FlagKael stood silently beside Varik's corpse.The black Ghost Flag lay on the ground.Its surface still trembled faintly, as though the ghosts trapped within it had not yet accepted their master's death.Kael reached down and picked it up.The moment his fingers touched the pole, a strange sensation passed through his palm.The flag was still filled with terrifying Yin energy.But after what had happened to Varik, it was no longer resisting him.Kael looked toward the approaching figures.Several auras were rapidly closing in.A cold smile appeared on his face.“So they came looking for me.”He raised the Ghost Flag.The black standard suddenly unfurled.WHOOSH!Pitch-black fog exploded outward.The forest disappeared beneath it.The group of cultivators rushing through the trees suddenly froze.The senior brother at the forefront looked around.“What is this?”He immediately sensed something was wrong.“Retreat!”But it was already too late.Countless ghostly figures emer

“Kael!”The moment he stepped into the courtyard, Nora's face lit up.She hurried toward him and immediately grabbed his arm.“You finally came back!”Kael smiled.“I was only gone for a few hours.”“A few hours is still a long time.”Nora looked him up and down before sighing in relief.“You're not injured?”“Nothing serious.”Behind her, Lucy's mother and father walked out.They both nodded when they saw him.But Kael immediately noticed their expressions.They looked grim.Lucy stood beside them, her eyes carrying the same worry.Kael's smile faded slightly.“What happened?”Nobody answered immediately.Lucy finally stepped forward.“The day is getting close.”Kael understood immediately.The matter they had been avoiding.The approaching danger.His expression became serious.Her father looked at him carefully.“We can feel that your spiritual energy has become much denser.”His mother-in-law nodded.“You seem to have broken through again.”Kael remained silent.“But…”Lucy's fath