Far beyond Blackstone City.
Far beyond the territories marked on any map.
Far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.
There existed a land forgotten by time.
No kingdoms stood there.
No sects ruled there.
No wars had touched it for thousands of years.
The world called it many names.
The Silent Realm.
The Lost Domain.
The End of Heaven.
But almost nobody knew the truth.
It was a prison.
And at its center stood a single white tower.
Ancient.
Beautiful.
Endless.
The tower pierced the clouds themselves.
Its peak vanished into the sky.
Its foundation disappeared into the earth.
And inside the highest chamber—
A woman stood beside a crystal window.
White robes flowed around her.
Silver hair reached her waist.
Eyes like moonlight gazed across impossible distances.
She looked young.
But the air around her carried an age older than empires.
The moment she stood—
The entire realm reacted.
Ancient formations lit up.
Sleeping spirits awakened.
The tower itself trembled.
A thousand years.
Two thousand.
Five thousand.
Ten thousand.
She had remained seated through all of it.
Waiting.
And now—
For the first time—
She smiled.
"Lin Feng."
His name left her lips softly.
Like a memory.
Like a promise.
Behind her, space rippled.
An old man appeared.
Unlike her calm demeanor, he looked shocked.
Genuinely shocked.
"You felt it too?"
The woman nodded.
"The Throne awakened."
The old man's face darkened.
"…Then the prophecy was true."
She laughed softly.
"The prophecy was always true."
A pause.
"We were simply waiting for it to happen."
The old man approached the window.
Far beyond the horizon, faint traces of golden light remained visible.
Even at this impossible distance.
"Then he has returned."
The woman closed her eyes briefly.
"No."
The old man frowned.
"No?"
Her gaze turned toward the distant sky.
"The First Heir has not returned."
A pause.
"His successor has awakened."
The difference mattered.
Greatly.
Because one represented the past.
The other represented the future.
The old man slowly exhaled.
"And the enemies?"
The woman's smile faded.
Immediately.
The room became colder.
"They felt it."
Not a question.
A certainty.
The old man nodded.
"They'll move soon."
"Of course they will."
Because the moment the Throne awakened—
The balance of the world changed.
Every ancient force would react.
Every hidden power would emerge.
Every sleeping monster would awaken.
The age of silence had ended.
And a new era was beginning.
Meanwhile.
Back in Blackstone City.
Lin Feng had absolutely no idea any of this was happening.
He was currently standing in front of a mountain-sized golden guardian trying to figure out why ancient beings kept bowing to him.
"Seriously."
The giant remained kneeling.
Lin Feng sighed.
"Can somebody explain this?"
Nobody answered.
Again.
At this point, he was starting to think it was a conspiracy.
Su Yao folded her arms.
"I'm beginning to understand why everyone avoids explaining things."
Lin Feng looked at her.
"What does that mean?"
"It means every explanation creates five new questions."
"…Fair."
The giant guardian finally spoke again.
"Guardian Number One awaits instruction."
Its voice shook the city.
The crimson-robed man immediately stepped forward.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
His expression had become serious.
Very serious.
"The guardian cannot remain active."
The giant slowly turned its head.
The movement alone created powerful winds.
The crimson-robed man visibly tensed.
Because despite his strength—
The guardian was stronger.
Much stronger.
The giant's burning eyes settled on him.
"State your authority."
Silence.
The crimson-robed man's expression tightened.
Because he had none.
The guardian looked away.
Completely dismissing him.
Lin Feng almost laughed.
The man's face darkened instantly.
Unfortunately, he noticed.
"You find this amusing?"
Lin Feng considered lying.
Then decided against it.
"A little."
The silver-robed woman turned away quickly.
Possibly to hide a smile.
The black-robed elder simply sighed.
"Enough."
Everyone became silent.
The elder looked at Lin Feng.
"The guardian awakened because of the Throne."
Finally.
An explanation.
"The Throne awakened because of the seal."
Lin Feng nodded.
"So far so good."
The elder continued.
"And the seal awakened because of you."
Lin Feng frowned.
"…That doesn't actually explain anything."
A brief silence.
"True."
At least he was honest.
Then—
The giant guardian suddenly stood.
The city shook violently.
Its enormous form towered over everything.
And for the first time—
Its gaze shifted away from Lin Feng.
Toward the eastern horizon.
Instantly.
Its eyes narrowed.
The golden flames within them intensified.
A deep growl escaped its throat.
"Enemy."
Everyone froze.
The black-robed elder turned sharply.
"What enemy?"
The guardian raised one colossal hand.
Pointing east.
Far beyond the city.
At first—
Nobody saw anything.
Then—
A dark line appeared on the horizon.
Tiny.
Almost invisible.
But growing rapidly.
The guardian's voice became colder.
"Marauders."
The word echoed heavily.
And somehow—
Every ancient cultivator present looked alarmed.
Very alarmed.
Lin Feng immediately noticed.
"…I don't like that reaction."
The crimson-robed man stared toward the horizon.
His expression pale.
"They shouldn't exist anymore."
The dark line grew larger.
Closer.
And then—
Lin Feng finally understood why everyone looked worried.
Because the dark line wasn't a shadow.
It was an army.
An enormous army.
Marching straight toward Blackstone City.
At the front of the approaching army—
A towering warrior rode a massive black beast.
His armor was cracked and ancient.
His eyes burned crimson.
And hanging from his belt—
Was half of a broken golden crown.
The moment Lin Feng saw it—
The mark on his chest reacted violently.
As if recognizing it.