A week later, Zhou Jianhong flew above a vast sea of forest, his expression solemn and contemplative
As the dense trees below began to thin, a small city emerged at the heart of the wilderness. His speed gradually decreased as he approached it, his aura carefully restrained
Outside the city walls stood a secluded compound, modest in size yet refined in design. A large residence stood at its center, accompanied by a serene courtyard filled with flowers
Zhou Jianhong slowly descended, and unlike his previous visits, he did not enter directly. Instead, he landed outside the compound gates
Then, without hesitation, he knelt, and a few moments later, the wooden gates opened quietly, revealing a black-clothed masked woman
Without lifting his head, Zhou Jianhong spoke respectfully " This junior greets you. May I request an audience with Lady Zemin? It concerns a matter of great importance "
" Lady Zemin is expecting you in the courtyard " The masked woman replied coldly, stepping aside
Zhou Jianhong bowed deeply toward her " Many thanks, young lady "
She didn't acknowledge him further, yet Zhou Jianhong showed no sign of offense. He rose calmly and walked past her
He was well aware of his place here
After several minutes, he arrived at the courtyard. Though he had visited before, he still felt a subtle pressure the moment he stepped inside
Lady Zemin stood among blooming flowers, her golden hair illuminated by soft sunlight. Petals rested near her feet, yet none touched her robes. She gazed downward at the blossoms with an unreadable expression
Zhou Jianhong approached and knelt several steps behind her, but before he could speak—
" I believe I made myself clear " Lady Zemin said calmly, though a faint chill lingered in her tone " I didn't wish to hear from you again. Yet here you are, disregarding my warning "
Zhou Jianhong stiffened slightly, though his head remained bowed " This junior understands, Esteemed Lady. However… "
" I have no interest in excuses " Her interruption was not loud — but it was absolute. She turned slowly to face him " Even so… I am pleased you returned "
Zhou Jianhong's brows furrowed slightly in confusion, though he didn't dare raise his head without permission
Lady Zemin continued " My plans have shifted once more. That demon has begun to move… and one of ours has fallen "
Zhou Jianhong's eyes widened ' One of hers… is dead? '
Every woman within this compound possessed strength that surpassed his comprehension. To him, they were existences akin to celestial maidens descended from the heavens, and if one had died… Then the threat was even worse than he thought. His fists clenched subtly against his knees
The legacy of the Golden Tyrant was far worse than what he had done in the past; it had turned into a storm waiting to swallow everything he knows
" We cannot act recklessly while he is active " Lady Zemin said calmly " And I am well aware of the reason for your visit "
Zhou Jianhong remained silent
" You wish to ask whether the cultivation method I bestowed upon you may be shared with others "
Her perception was terrifying
Zhou Jianhong bowed deeper " Esteemed Lady's insight is beyond this junior's understanding. It is exactly as you say. I humbly request permission for my disciple… and a few trusted allies… to cultivate it "
Lady Zemin studied him quietly. Then her right index finger glowed with a thin strand of golden light. She stepped forward and gently touched his forehead. Zhou Jianhong felt a warm current enter his mind as he felt the restrictions dissolving
" You may now pass it to whomever you deem worthy " she said calmly
Zhou Jianhong immediately kowtowed " This junior thanks Esteemed Lady for her boundless generosity "
Lady Zemin raised her hand once more, and several white pills appeared in her palm, radiating a pure and magnificent aura. Their fragrance alone stirred Zhou Jianhong's dantian
" Heavenly Dragon Pills " She said casually " They are of no use to me. But to you… And your kin… they are a once-in-a-lifetime treasure. They will greatly accelerate your cultivation "
Zhou Jianhong's breath caught slightly as he saw the eight pills in her hand. He extended both hands respectfully and received them as though handling sacred relics
" Each person may consume only one " Lady Zemin added coldly " More than that… and death will follow instantly "
Zhou Jianhong nodded solemnly " This junior understands " He rose slowly to his feet, and Lady Zemin's gaze sharpened
" Remember this. I require at least one of them dead " Her voice carried no emotion " And if you or your people succeed in killing the one named Dakon… I will reward you handsomely "
Zhou Jianhong's composure wavered for the first time " Dakon…? Esteemed Lady, he is the very individual we are currently in conflict with "
" And that " She replied calmly " Is precisely why I'm asking you to eliminate him " A faint flicker of hatred surfaced in her eyes " If he continues to grow, he will become a demon none will be able to suppress. The bastard must die while he is still young " The air felt colder
" Now leave " she said
Zhou Jianhong bowed deeply one final time " This junior will not disappoint Esteemed Lady. I thank you for your grace "
Without another word, he withdrew from the courtyard, and Lady Zemin watched him depart silently
Then, beneath her delicate veil, a faint smile curved across her lips " Even if you fail me…" she murmured softly " Something far more valuable to the sect is already on its way " Her eyes narrowed slightly " We simply need that girl to deliver it " The flowers around her swayed, though no wind had passed
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In an unknown location, a black-clothed young man with cold green eyes and long golden hair tied in a high ponytail stood silently inside a dim chamber belonging to a sinister sect. The room was adorned with dark jade pillars, flickering soul-lamps that burned with eerie violet flames, and heavy curtains embroidered with serpentine patterns that seemed to twist under the low light
Before him, three masked men knelt on the obsidian floor, their heads lowered in absolute submission
" Who would have thought those old fossils could purge the toxin of the Meridian-Severing Crows so quickly? " The young man said coldly, his tone edged with faint irritation
One of the masked men dared to raise his head slightly " Young Master, should we report this to the Patriarch? Losing six Meridian-Severing Crows is no small matter "
The young man's brows knit together as a trace of displeasure crossed his face. After a brief silence, he replied " You may report it… but make it appear as if they took the beasts without authorization. We cannot afford to shoulder responsibility for such a loss. Those crows were nurtured with rare resources; the father will not tolerate incompetence "
" As you command, Young Master " The three masked men bowed deeply. In the next instant, their figures blurred and vanished into the darkness, leaving the chamber silent once more
The young man remained still, his expression slowly shifting into a thin, unsettling smile " How annoying… " He muttered under his breath " I didn't expect her guards to be of that caliber "
He began pacing slowly across the room, his boots echoing softly against the polished floor
" I was so close… " His green eyes darkened, and an unmistakable hunger surfaced within them, not admiration, not reverence, but raw, covetous desire
Long Zhelan
Her face, her figure, the way her robes clung to her form when she moved, and especially her eyes… the memory lingered in his mind like an intoxicating poison. He didn't care for her lineage, her status, or her will. None of that mattered to him
What he wanted was simple
Her body
To possess it, to break that cold gaze, to see that noble princess reduced to something that belonged only to him
A faint shiver ran through him at the thought " Sooner or later… " he whispered, licking his lower lip unconsciously " You will fall into my hands, Princess. No guards, no elders, no empire will be able to keep you away from me forever "
The obsession in his eyes deepened, turning almost feverish. Then, with a slow exhale, he calmed himself and sat cross-legged on the floor
Dark spiritual energy began to seep from his body, coiling around him like living smoke. The violet soul-lamps flickered wildly as the aura thickened, filling the chamber with a suffocating pressure
" I can wait " He murmured, closing his eyes as he began to cultivate " But when the time comes… You will have nowhere left to run " The black aura surged, swallowing his figure in darkness as his breathing gradually steadied, yet the twisted smile on his lips never faded
---------------------------------
That night, Dakon's group made camp at the foot of a towering mountain whose jagged peak vanished into the clouds. The land around them was uneven and wild, with scattered boulders, wind-bent pines, and a narrow river cutting through dark stone. The mountain loomed like a silent guardian, its shadow swallowing half the valley even beneath the moonlight
The group had grown
Nine elders, men and women, all at the Half-Step Spiritual Lord State, stood as the backbone of the force. Around fifty more cultivators accompanied them, ranging from the Spirit Ocean Transformation State to the Spiritual Body Transformation State. Though they wore different garments, several shared similar patterns and insignias, clearly belonging to the same sect branches
A large campfire crackled at the center. Some of the elders sat nearby, quietly discussing strategy. Others watched in silence
At a cleared stretch of ground near the riverbank, two figures moved like blurs. Dakon and Elder Tao, fighting If one could call it a "fight"
It was, in truth, Dakon attacking relentlessly while Elder Tao defended with infuriating ease
Dakon's fists tore through the air *SWOOSH* *SWOOSH* *SWOOSH*
A right punch. A left hook. A spinning roundhouse kick, all within a breath
The ground beneath his feet cracked from the force, yet Elder Tao merely stepped aside with a faint smile, his sleeves fluttering gently as he deflected each strike with minimal movement
The disparity was obvious and yet…
" It is astonishing " Said a middle-aged man with red hair and sharp blue eyes, watching closely " In only a few days, he has doubled his strength. When we first encountered him, he was not nearly this refined "
His gaze sharpened " This boy's talent is monstrous "
Long Zhelan stood nearby, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Her eyes never left Dakon
His movements were sharper, and his body adapted faster than seemed reasonable
' Why…? ' Frustration twisted in her chest. She had trained since childhood, endured a rigid discipline, swallowed bitter pills, cultivated day and night, yet his progress in mere days rivaled months of effort
' If I had even half of that… ' Her nails dug into her palms
Meanwhile, Long Zan watched with narrowed eyes, his hands clasped behind his back like an ancient sovereign surveying a battlefield
" He is becoming accustomed again " He said, his voice calm and weathered, carrying the weight of centuries
A faint glint flashed through his pupils, and *BANG* The air compressed, and Dakon suddenly stumbled mid-step, his knees bending as an invisible force crashed down upon him
The ground beneath his feet fractured further " Grr—! " Dakon growled through clenched teeth as the gravity around him intensified violently
His spine creaked. His muscles trembled. He refused to kneel
" Once more, child " Elder Tao said lightly as *PAM* With a simple flick of his finger against Dakon's forehead, the young man was sent flying backward, tumbling across the dirt before skidding to a halt
A few of the younger cultivators sucked in sharp breaths. Even the elders watching narrowed their eyes
Dakon lay still for a brief moment, then—
His fingers dug into the earth. His arms trembled violently as he forced himself upright. Every movement looked heavy, yet he stood
Blood trickled faintly from the corner of his mouth
His breathing was rough, but his eyes…
Burned, so he charged again
His strikes were slower now under the crushing gravity, but there was no hesitation in them. Each punch carried stubborn defiance
The red-haired man exhaled slowly " Incredible… " He then turned toward Long Zan " Great Emperor… may this humble one ask, how many times have you increased the gravity upon him these past days? "
Long Zan turned his head slightly as he smiled faintly " At least twenty adjustments over seven days " He replied calmly " And I didn't begin gently "
A ripple of astonishment passed through the youngest ones there ' To endure such constant suppression… and still stand? '
Long Zhelan whispered under her breath, unable to look away: " If only I possessed such talent… "
Long Zan's gaze shifted to her " Young girl " he said slowly, his voice carrying both reprimand and affection " Do not compare yourself to others, especially not to someone like him "
She looked up at her grandfather, confusion flashing across her face
Long Zan continued, his tone deep and reminiscent " That child's body grows stronger through battle alone. Simple training refines him. Conflict tempers him. Every clash becomes nourishment " He paused " He requires no pills. No elixirs. No treasured manuals "
A faint smirk touched his lips " That is simply how his bloodline functions " Long Zhelan's eyes widened slightly
Then Long Zan added, almost casually: " Do you recall the story of that old friend of our family, the one who shook the cultivation world in his era? "
Her breath caught " He…? "
Long Zan nodded faintly " This boy carries that same lineage " His words struck her like thunder, and Long Zhelan's gaze snapped back to Dakon. Her frustration shifted. From envy… To disbelief. To something far more complicated
Long Zan pats her head softly " Tomorrow we will arrive at the Empire, cool your head, take some rest " Long Zhelan just nods as she keeps her eyes on Dakon
Dakon continued throwing punches at Elder Tao, each impact echoing despite the gravity crushing his frame, then he froze mid-strike
His pupils contracted sharply he felt a presence. Far away, yet it felt overwhelming. A pressure so vast it made his blood stir
His heart pounded violently, that energy… It felt distant, impossibly distant, yet as clear to him as if it stood before him
' …Tercres? ' The name surfaced in his mind like instinct. His aura was immense, nothing like before
Dakon slowly clenched his fists, his expression turning serious. The gravity pressing down on him seemed momentarily forgotten
The elders noticed the change immediately. Elder Tao frowned with confusion
Long Zan's eyes narrowed " What is it? " he asked quietly
Everyone present looked toward Dakon in confusion as the night wind howled across the mountain base
---------------------------------
Beyond mountains and valleys, night had settled over a vast bamboo forest
The stalks rose tall and endless, their slender bodies swaying as the wind whispered through them. Moonlight filtered between narrow leaves, casting silver patterns across the forest floor. The sound of rustling bamboo created a constant, hollow murmur, like distant waves against stone
Above the sea of green, a lone figure floated silently. Cado. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable as he gazed downward
Below him, in a small clearing carved into the bamboo grove, Tercres stood at the center of fractured earth. Golden light erupted from his body
His aura flared like a solar storm, violent yet magnificent, spiraling upward in pillars of incandescent energy. The bamboo nearest to him bent away under the pressure, leaves tearing free and scattering in glowing currents
His hair had transformed into radiant gold, each strand standing upright as though forged from living sunlight. His eyes had shifted to a piercing emerald, luminous and sharp
The air trembled even the moonlight seemed pale beside him
Cado watched without blinking; he neither smiled nor reacted outwardly, but his gaze sharpened
Suddenly *SWOOSH* Another presence materialized beside him
" Cado " Fannel's voice carried faint amusement
Cado grunted softly in acknowledgment, not turning his head
Fannel observed the spectacle below with a slight smirk " So he's the first one " He murmured " It took him longer than I anticipated… but even so, he surpasses the others by a wide margin "
They continued watching. After several moments, Tercres exhaled sharply
The golden inferno gradually receded. The lightning faded. His hair returned to black, his emerald eyes softening back to their natural shade. The forest slowly stilled
Then, from the edge of the clearing, a young blonde woman ran toward him
She was beautiful in a gentle way, her movements light, her smile warm. Moonlight brushed against her hair, giving it a soft glow as she approached
Tercres' expression changed instantly. The intensity vanished from his features, replaced by something unguarded. Relief and Affection
He opened his arms without hesitation
She stepped into them, wrapping hers around his waist. He held her tightly, almost too tightly, as though grounding himself through her presence
Then he leaned down and kissed her
From above, Cado's eyes didn't soften " The girlfriend " He said calmly
Fannel nodded faintly " He has mentioned her before "
They watched as Tercres brushed a strand of hair from the woman's face, his thumb lingering slightly along her cheek. His gaze remained fixed on her, attentive, almost obsessive
She smiled and spoke animatedly, but her eyes wandered briefly toward the scorched earth behind him. A fleeting glance. Subtle, but Cado noticed, and Fannel did too
" She still has to prove herself " Fannel said quietly " When the time comes "
Cado gave a small nod. It was not distrust. It was an observation
Tercres' posture around her was different from how he stood moments ago beneath the golden storm, a lot softer and more exposed
He looked at her as though she were something precious, and she looked at him… with fondness but not quite the same fire
Fannel placed two fingers against his forehead " Wait until she leaves " He said to Cado " Remind him what must never be done while in the Super Saiyan state "
Cado nodded once, and Fannel vanished instantly
Below, Tercres and the blonde woman walked hand in hand toward a modest wooden cabin nestled within the bamboo grove. Their fingers remained intertwined the entire way. Tercres kept glancing at her as she spoke, listening intently, his expression softer than it had any right to be
The cabin door closed behind them, and silence returned to the forest
Cado remained suspended in the air for several long seconds, the wind shifting around him. Then he slowly descended toward the clearing, his boots touching the fractured earth where golden energy had recently raged
His face remained unreadable, but his thoughts were not ' Affection could strengthen you, but it could also become your end ' Cado thought as he walked ccalmlytowards the cabin