The Royal Battle ended not with a whisper—

  —but with a roar that shook the heavens.

  The barrier slowly dissolved as the final echoes of qi detonations faded into drifting smoke. Cracked stone, scorched earth, and shattered formations told the story of the geniuses of this era.

  At the center of the battlefield stood one man.

  Kaelaric Ashborne.

  The Demon of Execution.

  His blade rested at his side, stained not with blood—but with inevitability. Around him lay the last few competitors who had fought until their cores were nearly exhausted. None had surrendered easily. None had disgraced their sects.

  But only one remained standing.

  The overseer descended from the sky platform, robes fluttering as his voice carried across the arena.

  “The Royal Battle has concluded!”

  A thunderous wave of applause erupted from the stands.

  “In first place—Kaelaric Ashborne of the Heavenly Demonic Sect!”

  The ground itself seemed to vibrate with the crowd’s reaction.

  “In second place—Ardent Vale of the Heavenly Martial Sect!”

  Though unconscious earlier, Ardent had recovered enough to stand upright with assistance, his gaze steady despite his injuries.

  “Third, fourth, and fifth place—step forward!”

  Three battered cultivators limped forward from different sects—each one a genius in their own right.

  The overseer raised a jade tablet.

  “As decreed, rewards shall now be distributed!”

  Golden light shimmered as spatial rings appeared before each victor.

  “For fifth place—2,000 spirit stones.”

  “For fourth place—3,500 spirit stones.”

  “For third place—5,000 spirit stones.”

  “For second place—8,000 spirit stones.”

  A pause.

  Then—

  “For first place…”

  The crowd held its breath.

  “12,000 spirit stones.”

  A massive spatial pouch materialized before Kaelaric.

  Even some sect leaders inhaled sharply.

  Twelve thousand spirit stones was no small sum. For Golden Core cultivators, it was a treasure capable of pushing cultivation forward by leaps.

  Kaelaric accepted it calmly.

  He bowed—not out of humility.

  But acknowledgment.

  Then stepped aside.

  The overseer continued.

  “All participants of the prior rounds shall receive a bottle of Golden Core Condensing Pills—capable of aiding breakthroughs and stabilizing cultivation.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Assistants moved swiftly, distributing jade bottles to the remaining disciples.

  Cheers rippled across the arena once more.

  Above it all—

  Jin remained seated.

  Esdeath rested in his lap, silent but faintly resonating, as if content with the spectacle.

  He rose slowly.

  The air shifted.

  Even without releasing his aura, attention gravitated toward him.

  “It seems our time here has concluded,” Jin said calmly.

  Elder Wu and Lysandra stood behind him.

  “Yes, Sect Leader,” Lysandra replied.

  Kaelaric glanced up at Jin briefly.

  Their eyes met.

  A faint nod passed between them.

  Recognition.

  Approval.

  Jin turned slightly, preparing to leave—

  —but something moved through the crowd.

  A figure broke formation.

  Running.

  Desperate.

  Ren Kai’s head snapped to the side.

  His face drained of color.

  “No…”

  Lian Yue stumbled forward.

  Her hair was disheveled. Her eyes red and swollen.

  Before anyone could react—

  She fell at Jin’s feet.

  Kneeling.

  Her forehead struck the ground.

  “I—I’m sorry!”

  Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face.

  The arena fell silent.

  Jin stopped walking.

  He looked down at her.

  She trembled violently.

  “I was manipulated… I was influenced… I didn’t mean to betray you… I didn’t know what I was doing…”

  Her fingers clenched into the fabric near his boots.

  “They used my doubts… they twisted my fears… I never meant to hurt you…”

  Ren Kai took one unconscious step backward.

  Panic flooded his veins.

  Jin’s expression did not change.

  His gaze was steady.

  Calm.

  Cold.

  “I know,” Jin said.

  Lian Yue froze.

  “You… know?”

  “I knew you were influenced.”

  Her shoulders shook harder.

  “Then—then why—”

  Jin’s voice cut through her words.

  “But the reason you were influenced…”

  He crouched slightly, lifting her chin with two fingers so she was forced to meet his eyes.

  “…was because you never fully trusted me.”

  Her breathing stopped.

  They had been lovers.

  They had shared secrets, warmth, promises.

  Trust was supposed to be absolute.

  “If you truly trusted me,” Jin continued quietly, “you would not have been swayed so easily.”

  Her lips parted.

  But no words came.

  She understood.

  Influence only takes root where doubt already exists.

  And doubt—

  Was her own.

  Jin stood again.

  “From that day,” he said, voice devoid of emotion, “I cut all ties with you.”

  Her world shattered.

  “And with him.”

  At that moment, Jin’s eyes flicked toward Ren Kai’s previous position.

  Empty.

  He was gone.

  Jin had noticed long before.

  Lian Yue collapsed forward again.

  “Please… please…”

  “There is no going back,” Jin said flatly. “You cannot undo what you did. You will live with that.”

  The weight of those words crushed heavier than any blade.

  Jin turned away.

  But paused.

  Without looking back, he added:

  “If you wish to live—run far away from the Verdant Sect.”

  A ripple of shock passed through nearby listeners.

  “And if you don’t…”

  His voice lowered slightly.

  “I don’t mind killing you on sight.”

  Lian Yue’s sobs echoed softly across the quiet arena.

  Jin stepped forward.

  As he did—

  His eyes closed briefly.

  A technique activated silently.

  Desires.

  Far away, in a secluded forest beyond the sect grounds—

  Ren Kai froze mid-step.

  A voice echoed inside his mind.

  Calm.

  Inevitable.

  Prepare yourself.

  Ren Kai’s heart pounded violently.

  Because death is coming soon.

  The mental link severed.

  Ren Kai staggered, sweat pouring down his back.

  He had chosen his path.

  And now—

  The consequences approached.

  Back at the arena—

  The sky darkened suddenly.

  A massive shadow passed overhead.

  A colossal mythical beast descended from the clouds.

  Kun Peng.

  Wings vast enough to eclipse the sun.

  Its descent stirred hurricane-force winds that sent robes and banners whipping violently.

  Gasps filled the stadium.

  Jin stepped lightly onto its back.

  Esdeath vibrated faintly in his grasp.

  Elder Wu and Lysandra and also the five demons followed without hesitation.

  Kun Peng’s wings unfurled.

  With a single beat—

  The arena vanished beneath them.

  They soared across mountains, rivers, and endless forests.

  Silence settled in the sky.

  Jin stood at the edge of Kun Peng’s back, gazing forward.

  Elder Wu stepped closer.

  “Sect Leader?”

  Jin didn’t turn.

  “When you arrive,” he said calmly, “make sure the sect is in order.”

  “Yes, Sect Leader.”

  “The Five Demons are to patrol unseen.”

  Lysandra bowed slightly. “Yes, Master.”

  The wind howled around them as the Heavenly Demonic Sect came into view in the distance—vast, dark, magnificent.

  Jin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  He stepped forward.

  And simply floated off Kun Peng’s back.

  He remained suspended midair as Kun Peng descended toward the sect.

  Jin raised his hand slightly.

  “System.”

  A faint interface flickered before his eyes.

  “Where is Wonderland?”

  Coordinates appeared instantly.

  Deep within a hidden region beyond mapped territories.

  A forbidden zone.

  Jin smiled faintly.

  Esdeath began vibrating in his hand—

  Not violently.

  But eagerly.

  Hungry.

  The blade of the First Heavenly Demon resonated with anticipation.

  Jin’s eyes gleamed.

  “Good.”

  The wind carried his words into the darkening sky.

  “It’s time to see what Wonderland truly is.”