The freezing water of the Corpse Torrent dragged Lucas down like heavy iron chains. Thick black mud and river rot poured into his torn flesh, stinging the three spear wounds in his chest like boiling oil. He tried to kick his legs, but his body felt heavy and numb, sinking deeper into the sunless deep.Yet the tearing pain in his chest was nothing compared to the agony in his heart. Every time his eyes closed, he saw Morana standing beside Valen on that grand balcony, laughing while his blood pooled on the stone. He had loved her with every piece of his soul, cutting out his own cultivation just to keep her family safe."Brother Lucas, help me!" Clara’s small, terrified cry echoed in his ears like a ghost. He could still see her pure blue eyes turning completely blank after Morana forced that black poison down her throat. They were going to drain her blood like an animal, and he was dying here in the dark, unable to save her.Tears of blood leaked from Lucas’s eyes, mixing with the fo

"I will turn your skull into dust!" Bruce bellowed, his voice sounding like a feral beast. He charged forward, swinging his massive left fist like a falling iron hammer toward Lucas’s head. The force of the punch tore the wooden planks of the stall in half.[Elevated Murderous Intent Detected.][Executing Tenfold Karmic Rupture!]The dark crimson energy around Bruce’s fist suddenly froze in mid-air and turned completely black. Before his punch could land, the dark power shot straight back into his own chest. A terrible cracking sound filled the room as Bruce's entire ribcage caved inward like broken glass.His lungs burst into black ash, and his heart ruptured under the crushing spiritual rebound. The giant enforcer froze on his feet, spitting out huge mouthfuls of dark, clotted blood. The terrible red glow in his eyes died out, leaving him pale, shivering, and completely helpless.Bruce collapsed onto both knees in the dirt, clutching his sunken chest with his broken fingers. He look

The Great Hall of the Azure Cloud Guild was ablaze with the light of three hundred golden chandeliers. Over five hundred noble guests, merchant lords, and guild elders sat around long tables piled high with roasted spirit beasts and sweet wine. At the center of the high platform, Lady Morana sat beside Lord Valen, laughing sweetly as she poured liquor from a silver pitcher.A loud clinking of heavy iron chains suddenly echoed from the entrance of the banquet hall. Two burly guards walked inside, dragging a ragged figure whose hands and bare feet were bound in thick rusted irons. The man’s clothes were dirty rags torn to shreds, and his long, messy black hair hung low over his battered face.A dead silence instantly fell over the grand hall as every single elder froze in their seats. Several guild masters gripped the edges of their tables, their faces turning completely pale with deep terror. They all remembered that towering posture, recognizing the legendary Zenith Dragon who had onc

The space rift sealed shut, leaving the wide stone platform in cold, unbroken silence.Hundreds of clan leaders, wealthy merchants, and sect masters remained pressed flat against the rock. No one dared lift a head beneath the crushing weight that filled the air around Lucas.Beside him, Clara’s bruised little fingers held tight to his torn sleeve. Her thin body shook so hard her teeth rattled."Brother Lucas..." she sobbed, tears washing clean paths through the dirt and dried blood on her cheeks. "Is it real? Am I not going to die today?"Lucas dropped to one knee. The cold anger in his face melted the moment he looked into her red, swollen eyes.He slipped off his worn cloak and wrapped it around her frail shoulders, pulling it snug to keep out the mountain wind."The nightmare is over, Clara," Lucas whispered softly. "I am here. Nobody will ever put chains on you again."Clara buried her face into his chest, weeping as months of dark, starved fear finally broke into ragged sobs.Acro

The Silver Moon Pavilion rose eight stories into the rainy sky above the central market. Its white stone pillars gleamed under rows of glowing crystal lamps, welcoming the wealthiest families in the province.Rich merchants, proud sect elders, and noble ladies in silk robes crowded the grand hall to buy rare healing pills. Lucas walked through the tall front doors with quiet steps, his plain gray cloth robe damp from the afternoon storm.He did not look at the fine gold carvings on the walls, nor did he care about the wealthy shoppers who pulled their robes aside to avoid him. In his mind, he could only see little Clara lying under the wool blanket, her chest cold from House Morana's poison.He needed the Nine-Leaf Phoenix Grass to heal her broken veins before the cold took her breath away. He walked directly toward the polished black counter where rows of locked wooden medicine boxes lined the wall.Behind the desk stood a young shop assistant named Leo, who was carefully stacking sil