Rien Kinohutsu followed behind the Tian Master in silence.
"We need to leave soon for the meeting with the other four higher clans," the Tian Master said seriously. "The Soul Organisation can make a move at any time."
Rien stepped inside the aircraft and glanced at Miss Yin and Lan Xia.
"You're coming with us too," he said calmly before taking a seat.
Lan Xia sat across from him, her face glowing with excitement.
"Of course! After all, I'm going to become the empress of this empire," she said, clapping her hands happily.
Rien leaned back in his chair.
"Where's Kuto?"
Miss Yin answered softly, "He's heading to Ren Senior Academy with Master Shuan. That academy is famous for its powerful elders and divine techniques."
The Tian Master sat at another table and opened a floating map.
"We're heading to the Xiya Clan. That's where the meeting will be held."
Ren Senior Academy – Another Path
Inside another aircraft, Kuto stared down at the sky through the window.
"So… how long until we reach Ren Senior Academy?" he asked, turning toward Master Shuan.
Shuan Master studied the map and pointed ahead.
"We're already close. Maybe twenty minutes at most."
Kuto stood up and began pacing around the cabin.
"What are you doing, Kuto?" Shuan Master asked, confused.
Kuto stopped and frowned.
"I don't feel right. It's like… someone's watching us."
Shuan Master chuckled lightly.
"That's impossible. We're already within Ren territory. No one can interfere without permission."
Kuto raised an eyebrow.
"Not even Rien?"
Shuan Master rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"For Rien, interference is as easy as breathing. If what you told me is true—about him killing the Asura God—then his power is far beyond conventional understanding."
Suddenly, the aircraft slowed and entered a massive spatial portal.
"That's incredible," Kuto muttered, staring at the enormous floating sect below.
Shuan Master nodded proudly.
"Ren Senior Academy. The strongest sect in the entire Northern Continent."
The aircraft landed smoothly. Shuan Master stepped out and greeted several elders waiting outside.
Inside the grand meeting hall, one elder spoke calmly,
"Shall we begin?"
"Yes," Shuan Master replied, taking a seat. He then turned to Kuto.
"Why don't you explore the academy while we're in the meeting?"
Kuto nodded eagerly and stepped outside.
A New Encounter
While wandering around, Kuto suddenly bumped into someone.
"Hey! Can't you see?" Kuto snapped.
Both boys rubbed their foreheads and looked at each other.
"Are you a new student?" the boy asked.
"Nope. Just visiting," Kuto replied cheerfully. "I'm Kuto Haraki from the Xia Clan."
The boy smiled.
"Yan Zhuo Fujimaro, from the Zhuo Sect."
Kuto grinned.
"Mind showing me around?"
"Of course. Follow me."
Yan Zhuo enthusiastically explained every hall, tower, and cultivation chamber. After a long while, Kuto collapsed onto a chair.
"This place is huge…" he said, breathing heavily.
Yan Zhuo laughed.
"You haven't even seen half of it."
Kuto sighed.
"It's at least a hundred times bigger than my school."
Yan Zhuo suddenly clapped his hands.
"So—what's your cultivation rank?"
Kuto thought for a moment.
"Tian Huang, fourth star."
Yan Zhuo froze, eyes wide.
"That's insane! I've never seen someone that strong at your age!"
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed from Yan Zhuo's ring.
"Tian Huang? Such a small rank. Nothing special."
Yan Zhuo flinched and whispered urgently,
"Master, don't mock him!"
Kuto looked up.
"Did you say something?"
Yan Zhuo shook his head quickly.
"N-no! Let's keep exploring."
The Xiya Clan Meeting
Rien arrived at the Xiya Clan and entered the grand hall. His cosmic energy spread silently across the room, causing several clan leaders to stiffen.
This boy… terrifying, they thought.
The Tian Master gestured for Rien to sit.
"Today, we gather to break the Soul Organisation's dictatorship," he announced. "We are grateful for your presence and contribution."
As the meeting began, Lan Xia leaned closer and whispered,
"What if something happens to Kuto?"
Rien stood up calmly.
"I'm going to the washroom."
The moment he exited the hall, he vanished.
The Immortal Realm – Rien's Paradox
Rien appeared inside a vast palace within the Immortal Realm. The atmosphere itself felt different—heavier, deeper, beyond reality.
He walked upstairs calmly.
"Nothing's changed."
He opened a door.
Inside was an infinite space. A long, endless table stretched beyond sight, covered with countless black spheres glowing with cosmic energy.
"Everything seems stable," Rien muttered.
A beautiful woman sat nearby, turning her chair toward him.
"My Lord… you finally came," she said with a pout. "I thought you forgot me."
"How could I forget you, Erlin?" Rien replied calmly.
She pointed at the spheres.
"These things are boring. I've been watching them since existence began. Do you know how annoying that is?"
Rien picked up one sphere. Inside it were infinite layered boxes, endlessly repeating.
"These aren't ordinary spheres," he explained.
"They're cosmic containers—each holding infinite hypothetical boxes. This structure is known as Rien's Paradox."
Erlin sighed.
"I know. But the boxes already contains infinite omniverses and realities. Why make these cosmic sphere too?"
Rien placed the cosmic sphere back gently.
"That's the paradox. Something that already contains everything… exists inside something even greater. This Immortal Realm is infinitely larger than the containers within it."
Erlin rubbed her temples.
"My head hurts."
Rien smiled faintly.
"I have a task for you."
Her eyes lit up.
"Finally! I get to leave this place?"
"You must protect my friend Kuto," Rien said.
"He's being targeted by the Holy Realm and the Divine Realm of the Eleventh Universe."
Erlin stood up excitedly.
"Leave it to me!"
Rien began to fade away.
"Don't lose control. And leave a duplicate behind to observe the spheres."
"Yes, my Lord."
Rien vanished completely.
Erlin whistled happily as she created a duplicate of herself.
"Go sit on the throne and observe everything until I return," she said energetically.
The duplicate nodded and seated herself on the throne, gazing down at the cosmic spheres.
"…This is incredibly boring," the duplicate muttered.
Erlin rolled her eyes.
"I can't even blame you. You are me," she said with a tired sigh.
The duplicate looked up.
"How long will you be gone?"
Erlin tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"I should be back soon. But you know—I'm not Rien."
She smirked slightly before turning away.
"I can't edit the story. That part depends entirely on the writer… and how long they take to finish the battle."
With that, Erlin stepped out of the room, her laughter echoing faintly as she vanished.