Chapter 82
Chen Ren knew that he was somehow tied up in a conspiracy far above his pay grade. It wasn’t something he liked to dwell on—knowing he was missing crucial pieces of the puzzle only frustrated him—but the truth had been clear for a long time. A dragon lived in his star space.
No one in history had ever carried a dragon in their star space and lived a simple merchant’s life. That just wasn’t how the world worked.
Despite that knowledge, he had stubbornl...
Epilogue 2
A man walked up the stairs carved into the rock of the mountain, his steps silent as torches flickered on the wall. The labyrinth of corridors, each winding deeper into the heart of the cave, had long since become his home. He could smell the scent of ‘home’ in the damp earth and stone. For a century, this had been his sanctuary—a web of stone and shadow. Yet, today, he was not here for comfort. He had a destination, a duty that could not be delayed.
As he ascen...
Epilogue 1
The corridors of the royal palace stretched before King Sullivan. He absentmindedly stared at the golden glow that was illuminated by the torches that lined the walls while walking.
His attendants walked briskly at his side. Behind him, ever watchful, strode his Knight Roderic.
Today, Sullivan’s destination was neither his throne room nor his private chambers. Not even his beloved garden, the one place where he could steal moments of peace, away from judgeme...
Chapter 81
After Tang Yuqiu ordered her maid to get lodging for his disciples, Chen Ren moved with her through the hallway alone. He could see that her steps were hurried and she kept looking back at him to ensure that he was following her.
"What's wrong?" Chen Ren asked, but Yuqiu only shook her head.
"I'll explain once we're inside the room," she replied tensely. He nodded, silently following her.
Once they entered her room and the door closed behind them, Chen R...
Chapter 80
Soot fell on Chen Ren’s face. He reached up to wipe it away, pausing as he leaned against their still carriage. Above, the sky was vast and cloudless, a pale blue that felt too serene for what had just transpired.
They were finally out of the Zhu Clan’s domain.
The road ahead twisted through the mountain pass, leading away from Ashen City and toward Cloud Mist City. From there, they would make their way back to Meadow Village.
As he stood there, the ...
Chapter 189
Funerals were something Kai was well-versed in.
In his past life, death had always been there—and it had been everywhere, it was an inevitability that shaped his existence. By the end of his past life, no one had remained alive. He had to stand by countless graves, offering silent farewells, watching as the final rites were performed with quiet efficiency. There had been no grandeur, no elaborate ceremonies—just the simple acknowledgment of a life extinguished, a...
Chapter 79
The air felt heavy, pressing down on him like an invinsible force of qi suppression. The room around Chen Ren closed around him, making his lungs tighten—
Of course, it was just an illusion—no one in the room was actively using their cultivation against him. But the sheer tension hanging in the atmosphere made it feel like he was being suffocated.
The people sitting inside looked like they had just witnessed their ancestors being cleaved apart by a vengeful...
Chapter 188
Kai rode through the open fields. The banner of Veralt fluttered from one of the horses, its fabric snapping with every gust, a silent declaration of their advance. His small contingent moved in formation behind him—Killian at his side, Gareth a few paces back, their armor dulled with dried grime from battle. The others, those who had emerged with only minor wounds, followed silently, eyes fixed on the horizon.
They moved until Veyrin’s walls were right ahead. Ka...
Chapter 78
As soon as Renjie lunged forward, Chen Ren knew the outcome was already decided. It wasn’t because Renjie was a higher-realm cultivator—far from it. From what Chen Ren had gathered, Renjie was at most in the ninth star body forging realm, a level Feiyu should have been able to contend with, even surpass easily, despite his lack of formal martial training.
But when Renjie’s fist shot forward, Feiyu didn’t move.
The punch slammed into his chest with a dul...
Varzok soared through the evening sky, the fading sunlight painting the city of Veralt in hues of deep orange and crimson. Below, its people carried on with their lives, blissfully unaware of the predator gliding above them. The guards atop the walls stood at ease, their watchful eyes scanning for threats beyond the city’s borders. They never once thought to look above.
Pathetic.
With a smirk, Varzok kept his cloak closer, his form blending seamlessly with the air as he passed...
Chapter 77
When Chen Ren first decided to bring mortals into his sect, it wasn’t just to have them handle merchant activities while the cultivators acted as the sect’s muscle. No, he had bigger plans for them—plans that involved making them stronger.
The problem had been, how?
In a world where even a one-star body forging realm cultivator could slaughter a dozen mortals without breaking a sweat, how was he supposed to bridge that gap?
Worse still, most mortal...
Chapter 186
As soon as the barbarians entered the battlefield, it felt as if the winds of change had finally begun to low.
For a moment—just a fleeting moment—the entire battlefield froze or so it seemed.
The fighters that were on top of the walls, the soldiers that were on the ground, even the archers who had been loosing arrows relentlessly—all of them paused. Allies and enemies alike turned to stare as the barbarian horde roared their war cry, a thunderous sound...
Chapter 76
A wave of heat passed through Chen Ren as he walked towards the forge. Sparks erupted with each strike of the hammer, fire burst into existence before dying just as quickly.
Regardless, Chen Ren walked closer.
The man at the forge didn’t look up from the armor he was working on, utterly absorbed in his craft. But this close, it was unmistakable—he was a cultivator. He could feel the flow of qi radiating from the latter, his realm and star matching Chen Re...
Chapter 185
Kai knew his odds in a direct fight were abysmal. Shakran used blood like a second skin, twisting it into tricks that could cripple even seasoned Enforcers. A straight duel would be suicide.
He had considered options—coordinating an assault with his Enforcers, manipulating the terrain—but none were foolproof. Shakran could fly, and that alone tilted the battlefield in his favor. And he needed his Enforcers elsewhere, fighting where the rest of the blood drinkers ...
Chapter 184
Kai’s spell repertoire was vast. Fire and wind—his primary elements—were his domain, and he had mastered most spells up to the fifth circle, with knowledge that stretched even beyond that. He prided himself on being an all-around Mage, capable of adapting to any situation. But raw power wasn’t everything.
Most spells at his level required a certain level of precision. They demanded either direct contact or careful aim, both of which were nearly impossible aga...
Chapter 75
Heavenly Sleep Inn was a fairly unremarkable place. A middle-tier establishment that catered mostly to merchants and travelers, it saw a steady flow of customers—people of modest means who came and went without drawing much attention.
That was why, on this particular morning, the sight of several extravagant carriages pulling up outside sent shockwaves through the people in the inn.
The moment the first carriage door opened, a hush fell over the common room. ...
Chapter 74
Shen Bao, the leader of the Black Fang Hunting Party and a peak Qi Refinement realm cultivator, scowled as he leaned forward. His nose scrunched up in frustration as he locked his eyes with the Phoenix Tear Tavern's owner, Luo Duyi. He scoffed. He was a man that was used to getting what he wanted, and the response that came from the tavern owner was something that definitely displeased him.
"What do you mean you don't have moonshine?" he demanded, his index finger na...
Chapter 183
Killian. Intruder on the rooftop. Prepare the soldiers on the wall. Enemy forces may be moving.
Killian’s pulse pounded in his ears. He felt his heartbeat thrumming against his ribs like war drums as he froze.
Had he imagined it? Because the sooner the voice came, the sooner it went. But—it couldn’t be an imagination. The voice had been clear, almost as if Lord Arzan was right next to him.
He exhaled loudly, his fingers curling into a fist. No ti...
Chapter 73
Luo Heng's fists crashed against the boulder.
"[Mountain Splitting Strike!]"
A surge of energy coursed through his limbs, filling him with the illusion of boundless strength. His knuckles met stone, the direct impact sent a dull vibration up his arm, and for a small second, he felt as if he could shatter mountains—but when the dust settled, only a minor dent marred the rock’s surface.
He withdrew his hand and unclenched it, feeling the warmth of th...
Chapter 182
Even on the cusp of victory, things felt too quiet for Kai as he remained within Dorn Castle, preparing for the final battle that would mark the end of this fief war.
Everything was moving as he had planned in the war council. Dorn Castle had fallen with minimal casualties, and according to the reports he’d received, the Enforcers had done their job well. They had hunted down the remnants of noble forces, crushing them with carefully planned tactics and the new
Chapter 72
Their whole party took a day to get accustomed to Ashen City.
It was far bigger than any place most of them had ever visited. Even Cloud Mist City, which had once seemed massive, paled in comparison. After all, Ashen City was the third largest city in the entire empire, rich with life, trade, and power.
While they stayed at an inn, Chen Ren wasted no time. He sent his people out to gather every bit of information they could about the local bars, taverns, and cl...
Chapter 181
Shakran looked down at the man crouching on the floor, his eyes wide with terror as he stared up at him. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling with each trembling exhale. The blood drinker tilted his head, curious.
What are you thinking right now?
Was he afraid for himself? Regretful of something he had done? Perhaps thoughts of his family crossed his mind, the realization that he would never see them again? Or had he not yet grasped th...
Chapter 71
After being in this world for a while, Chen Ren had realized that despite there being a royal family at the center of the Empire, the distribution of power in every big city and its nearby region was different, depending on the clans and sects that dominated them. For example, even though Cloud Mist City had a city lord, there was no denying that the Soaring Sword Sect held a much stronger claim to power, being the Guardian sect of the region.
Like Cloud Mist City, ma...
Chapter 180
Feroy felt a rush of power spread through him and his men. It was too bright and powerful.
The aethum core in his chestplate hummed
violently as the Blinding Seals activated. A bright white light exploded across the battlefield, covering everything in its glow.
In the next second, panicked shouts filled the air. Not just that, triggered horses neighed wildly, rearing up as their riders cried out in confusion. Blinded by the sudden light, many soldiers covered the...
Chapter 70
Chen Ren had thought long and hard about how to free Hong Yi from the grasp of the Blood Iron Sect. There were few options available to him.
He could openly poach the young cultivator without a care in the world, daring the Blood Iron Sect to challenge him—an act of arrogance that only someone far stronger could afford. And he very well knew that wasn't going to work. He could attempt to negotiate with Ma Tianhai, pleading his case like a merchant haggling over a pr...
Chapter 179
Yafgar stood in the middle of the carnage, his broad chest rising and falling in slow breaths. Around him, bodies lay sprawled across the dirt, limbs twisted at unnatural angles, their blood soaking into the earth like a final offering to the battlefield. Some had died cleanly—one precise cut, one swift strike—but others had been less fortunate, their bodies bearing the brutal evidence of the Lombards' fury.
Pride swelled his chest, but his mind was occupied. H...
Chapter 178
Lucian’s gaze lingered on the dagger resting on the wooden table in his tent. The constantly flickering lantern light drew shadows across its smooth, dark surface. It was made of obsidian, its black blade swallowing the light rather than reflecting it. His eyes lingered a second longer on the hilt of it—the crest of House Kellius—a mighty Rayan eagle with its wings spread wide, its talons gripping nothing but air, ready to strike.
A condescending smile drew o...
After a night's stay in Black Lotus Town, the group finally set off toward their main destination. However, when they reached a fork in the road, Chen Ren and Yalan separated from the carriage, choosing to travel on foot toward the Blood Iron Sect.
None of the others followed.
Anji and Zi Han remained behind, Whiskey looked tempted to tag along, but a single glare from Yalan made the squirrel reconsider. As for Hong Yi—he stayed in the carriage without hesitation. He had no intent...
Chapter 177
Kai's eyes narrowed at the destructive massive hole that was made by the drones they’d created. Flames from the explosion still flickered even in the middle of the grass and rubble.
For a moment, silence covered the entire battlefield. Even his own forces, despite knowing the drones’ purpose, stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the raw destruction.
The short-term offensive drones had worked exactly as planned, their enchanted cores detonating with devastat...
Chapter 68
Chen Ren didn’t particularly enjoy traveling in this world—at least, not by carriage.
The world itself was great. The air was thick with qi, filling his lungs with a refreshing energy that never left him feeling truly exhausted. Towering trees lined the roads, their canopies swaying lazily in the breeze. Rivers cut through fields like silver threads, their waters clear enough to reflect the sky.
Everything looked like it had been plucked straight out of a pain...