Immortal Drunkard: Volume 4

by Mortykay

Table of Contents

Immortal Drunkard: Volume 4

Table of Contents

V.4 Chapter 365: Two Brothers

V.4 Chapter 366: Old Acquaintances

V.4 Chapter 367: Changes in Figure

V.4 Chapter 368: Missed a Lot

V.4 Chapter 369: Long-Awaited Meeting

V.4 Chapter 370: Fulfilled Promise

V.4 Chapter 371: Second Life of the Refuge

V.4 Chapter 372: Map of the Holy Empire

V.4 Chapter 373: Land of Monks

V.4 Chapter 374: Return from the Abyss

V.4 Chapter 375: Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment

V.4 Chapter 376: Kai's Mischief

V.4 Chapter 377: Sect Conflict

V.4 Chapter 378: Do Not Offend the Goddess

V.4 Chapter 379: Gathering of Regions

V.4 Chapter 380: Rulers of the Heavenly Continent

V.4 Chapter 381: First Fight

V.4 Chapter 382: Shuo's Battle

V.4 Chapter 383: Astounding Events

V.4 Chapter 384: Kai's Bluff

V.4 Chapter 385: Imperial Beast

V.4 Chapter 386: Ancestor

V.4 Chapter 387: Spiritual Source

V.4 Chapter 388: Hermit's Crucible

V.4 Chapter 389: Smith Braman

V.4 Chapter 390: Black Star

V.4 Chapter 391: Reckless Actions

V.4 Chapter 392: This is Ridiculous!

V.4 Chapter 393: Thousand Faces Technique

V.4 Chapter 394: Development of Movement Technique

V.4 Chapter 395: Waiting for War

V.4 Chapter 396: Domains of Abaddon

V.4 Chapter 397: Whom Do You Serve?

V.4 Chapter 398: Masters of the Core Sphere

V.4 Chapter 399: Tool of Abaddon

V.4 Chapter 400: Cunning Spy

V.4 Chapter 401: Let's Begin the Hunt

V.4 Chapter 402: Your Clan End!

V.4 Chapter 403: Wounded Girl

V.4 Chapter 404: Superior Work

V.4 Chapter 405: Timelines of War's Beginning

V.4 Chapter 406: Faces of Demons

V.4 Chapter 407: Calm Before the Storm

V.4 Chapter 408: Demon King

V.4 Chapter 409: The Beginning of War!

V.4 Chapter 410: Will Suppression

V.4 Chapter 411: Torture of the Old Man

V.4 Chapter 412: Throne Room Defense

V.4 Chapter 413: Fierce Battle

V.4 Chapter 414: Willful Attack

V.4 Chapter 415: World Chronology

V.4 Chapter 416: Story of the Demon King

V.4 Chapter 417: Shocking Warning

V.4 Chapter 418: Going Against the Universe

V.4 Chapter 419:Heart of Flesh

V.4 Chapter 420: Ancient Reality or Illusion?

V.4 Chapter 421: Core Sphere

V.4 Chapter 422: New Power

V.4 Chapter 423: Merciless March

V.4 Chapter 424: Livestock Pen

V.4 Chapter 425: Golden Toad Mirror Technique

V.4 Chapter 426: Incredible Destruction

V.4 Chapter 427: Debt Collection

V.4 Chapter 428: Wrath of the Heavenly Continent

V.4 Chapter 429: To War! — End of Volume 4

V.4 Chapter 365: Two Brothers

Kai moved slowly through the rather dense jungle. The only thing on his mind was the hope that he had returned to the Heavenly Continent! Although he understood that there couldn't be another unknown continent, the negative experiences from the past kept intrusive thoughts constantly creeping into his head.

For now, he had not strayed too far from the spatial rift. Looking back, one could see the wasteland formed by destructive energy.

"The most important thing is to find some settlement and determine my location. Depending on the power of the territory I am in, my plans may change..." Kai thought, keeping an eye on his surroundings.

At this moment, there were several essential nuances...

Firstly, he needed to report to the Patriarch about the Unholy Continent and the demons' impending attack. Only someone of his level could connect with other masters of the Core Sphere. Kai understood that it was they who must decide and plan the future actions of the entire Heavenly Continent. If they couldn't unite, it would lead to incredibly dire consequences...

Secondly, Kai wanted to satisfy his selfish desire and meet with Master Mo. He was even ready to ignore the problems of the entire continent and do this first.

However, if his location was inconvenient, making a detour would be foolish! But if the forest of Master Mo was on the way, then Kai would head there first!

After about a day's journey, the jungle began to thin until it completely turned into dry plains, where there was almost no vegetation. This environment seemed familiar to Kai, yet there were some differences...

"It seems I already know where I am..." Kai thought to himself and instantly summoned Sop.

Presently, he saw no settlements nearby. It was much more convenient to scout the surroundings from above...

And, as it turned out, Kai was right. As soon as he flew high enough, the outlines of a city began to appear in the distance. He barely noticed it, as it blended with the desert around.

Thus, Kai descended back to the ground and dashed forward at full speed. He still thought that showing Sop to anyone was not the best idea. Well, at least on foreign territory...

The closer Kai got, the larger the city walls seemed... At one point, Kai thought they were similar to those of the Border Beast City. Only here, such walls enclosed the entire city! Moreover, the length of the walls was colossal!

"Wow... This is definitely not a minor settlement..." Kai thought to himself, and at that moment, he noticed a caravan in the distance, "I need to hurry!" He added and again used the Shadow Seal.

Kai decided he needed to catch up with the people ahead quickly to scout the situation before visiting the city itself. Perhaps it would be better not to visit it at all...

From behind, it was not clear who these people were, as they were almost entirely covered in loose white clothing, even their heads and necks were covered. Although Kai understood that his attire stood out significantly from the general picture, he was no ordinary master. It was unlikely that someone would want to start a fight with him without reason.

When Kai was a hundred meters from the caravan and saw the appearance of those ahead, his location became completely clear... The people ahead were riding on large beasts, and some beasts were carrying loads. And these were definitely not some mindless animals...

"I'm in the Wasteland of Savages... And most likely somewhere near the Beast Dominion Sect! Only they can cooperate with the beast race." Realizing what was happening, Kai thought to himself.

Although he had never been in this region, its unique feature was too obvious to mistake. This understanding brought Kai great relief. Now he was sure he had returned home!

The men riding on large animals, resembling hairy bulls, were actively discussing something and laughing. The bodies of the masters themselves were also more massive than those of the inhabitants of the Mysterious Sea Region. But at that moment, a voice from the side interrupted them:

“Hello, gentlemen! Excuse me, can you spare me a moment?” Kai said politely.

“Gentlemen? Boy, where did you come from?” One of the men asked, raising an eyebrow.

Only his eyes and a small part of his nose bridge were visible now. Their clothing was made to cover even the face. This exposed area only confirmed Kai's suspicions, as the skin of these men was noticeably darker.

“As you can see, I'm not from around here and got a bit lost on your lands... Could you please tell me where I am?” Kai asked with an awkward laugh.

“Ah... I see…” the man said, understandingly, “You're near the city of Adridor. This is the western dominion of the Wasteland of Savages.” He explained calmly.

“Western... Sorry, do you happen to have a map?” Kai murmured thoughtfully.

The western border of the Wasteland of Savages was too long to orient himself instantly. Right now, he could be at the border with three different forces. If lucky — it would be the Spirit Fire Sect or the Shadow Sect. If not — then the Wild Beasts Steppe...

“If you treat us to a drink, then I'll show you.” The savage replied with a smile.

“No problem! I've never tried the local alcohol, so I hope you recommend something good!” Kai laughed in response.

“You've missed a lot, boy! Follow us, we'll enter the city soon.” The man said calmly and winked.

Kai's first impression of the savages was positive, as they turned out to be straightforward and simple people, which Kai liked. But one cannot judge by the first people met, perhaps the general situation was different.

As they approached the large gates, Kai managed to get acquainted and chat with two savages named Baho and Salman, though so far, the only distinguishing feature was their different voices...

Both were at the intermediate stage of the Cloud Sphere and were responsible for the caravan's security. Their bulls, in turn, were at the initial stage of the Cloud Sphere. Overall, this was a rather impressive force for secondary powers.

Baho and Salman were blood brothers and representatives of the tribe that originally founded the city of Adridor, so they were very proud of this fact...

The caravan entered the city without any problems, they weren't even registered or asked about their identity. It seemed that the savages were much more relaxed about security... Or maybe their traditions were just completely unique.

“Wow... Your city... It's unusual!” Kai murmured, assessing the surrounding environment.

It felt like all the buildings were carved directly out of some white rock. But the material seemed strange... As if it was heavily compressed sand from which the entire frame of the building was poured. Furthermore, unusual patterns were carved directly onto the facades of all the buildings.

“Strangers often marvel.” Baho replied calmly and finally revealed his face by removing that strange piece of clothing.

It turned out that his face was covered with a thick beard of medium length, and his head was completely bald. It must be said that his appearance looked quite stern...

Salman did the same, revealing a similar appearance, only with short hair. It was immediately obvious that they were brothers, as they were very similar.

After this action, they stared at Kai, as if expecting something in return. But at that moment, Kai somehow froze and stared at the savages in confusion.

“Our traditions require revealing the face of everyone who enters.” Salman explained calmly.

Only at that moment did Kai remember that his face was covered by a mask! Because of this, he laughed out loud and said:

“Sorry, guys! I totally forgot about it!”

Kai also removed his mask and the hood that had been covering his head. This time, he didn't use a large hat, but simply hid in a cloak.

“You have such a delicate appearance. You look like a woman.” Baho said with a smile.

“What can you do, not everyone is lucky to be born savages. He-he.” Kai replied carefreely.

“Pay no mind, Kai. My brother doesn't understand that you have different notions of humor,” Salman sighed heavily. “Actually, you sounded quite rude,” he added, glancing sideways at his brother.

“No problem, I like straightforwardness. As long as you're not planning to seduce me because of my looks, then it's all good. Ha-ha.” Kai winked at Baho with a smile.

He also decided not to skimp and teased the savage in return. It's always better to adopt the traditions and behavior model of the locals. This way, you can get closer to them much faster.

“What?! No, of course not! Tsk!” Baho spat on the ground, exclaiming indignantly.

“What about you, brother? Maybe you'll reconsider? Kai is really a handsome guy!” Salman teased his brother in return.

“Go to hell! Let's just drink!” Baho said irritably, quickly changing the subject.

“Agreed, I can't wait to try your alcohol!” Kai responded with a smile.

“Alright, but first, we need to take Jichi and Shichi home. They also want to rest, don't they?” Salman said sincerely, addressing the beast beneath him.

“Mmmm…” The bull issued a deep sound and nodded.

They weren't strong enough to fully gain intellect and communicate fully, but they understood their partners well. In the Shadow Sect, Kai read that savages and beasts form a blood contract, binding their souls. Now, it seemed that this method allowed them to understand each other without words.

This was the first time Kai saw the methods of the Beast Dominion Sect. Although these savages didn't seem like members of the sect itself, the methods of their Wild Region were similar.

"I wonder how strong the masters of the Beast Dominion Sect itself are. Essentially, you have to fight two opponents at once. And very coordinated in battle..." Kai analyzed while walking to the brothers' home.

Only after all the preparations did they finally head to an outdoor venue. At that moment, there were whole crowds of savages there! All of them were laughing and drinking from large stone mugs! Kai was immediately surprised that these cups were the size of his head!

But what surprised him most were the savage women... All the men were huge and hairy, but the women were different. They were also noticeably taller, but overall their figures were incredible! Each of them had clearly visible musculature, but their femininity was not lost.

“Where are you looking? You already have my brother! Aha-ha-ha!” Salman teased Kai, looking at him.

“Indeed... Forgive me, Baho…” Kai apologized theatrically, sounding sad.

“Go to hell! Just buy us drinks, as you promised!” Baho yelled irritably. It seemed he was ready to throw punches at Kai and Salman because of their jokes.

V.4 Chapter 366: Old Acquaintances

Kai had previously taken part in major drinking bouts, but the revelry among the savages seemed to be on an entirely different level... The amount of alcohol consumed was simply unimaginable. Thankfully, it wasn't as strong as demonic wine, and even seemed lighter than the wine of the Shadow Sect.

Some savages would step outside the establishment and start brawling. To Kai's surprise, they did not use energy, only physical strength! According to Baho, it was a certain tradition of their lands. Even in the event of a conflict, they would not kill or maim each other within the city's limits.

Indeed, as soon as one of the participants lost, they immediately admitted defeat and did not resist. Everyone proudly endured both victory and defeat.

Interestingly, both men and women took part in such brawls. There were even fights between different genders, which Kai found a bit strange. But considering the statistics of the fights he had seen, the savage women and men seemed equally matched.

"You drink well, Kai!" Baho exclaimed, praising him.

By this time, both brothers were drunk and began to slur their words slightly. But looking at Kai, they saw perfect sobriety! This greatly surprised them…

In reality, this city was not considered first-class, so the alcohol couldn't be perfect... Although Kai liked its taste, it had no intoxicating effect on him.

"Of course, I drink well. Actually, my nickname is the Immortal Drunkard!" Kai replied with a laugh.

"If you had said that a few hours ago, I would have laughed at you! Hic!" Salman hiccuped, "But now it's obvious to me that you really are a drunkard!" he added with a smile.

"By the way, when will you be setting off?" Baho suddenly asked.

"Well… Thanks to you, I've already rested a bit…" Kai said thoughtfully, "So, as soon as I get a map — I'll leave." He added calmly.

Previously, Kai thought to learn more about the situation and observe the society of savages. He didn't know whether it would be appropriate to immediately ask the brothers for help with the map and other things. But after a day with them, Kai understood that there would be no problems.

Savages often roamed and moved from city to city, so they were quite welcoming to strangers. It seemed they perceived Kai as a fellow traveler.

"So that's how it is... Quick, you are." Baho murmured, nodding, "Let's drink until it gets dark, and then you'll come home with us. We'll give you a copy of the map, and you can set off in the morning!" He sincerely offered.

"That would be wonderful! Thanks, guys!" Kai thanked them with a smile. This turn of events was definitely favorable for him.

"Thank you! We've been feasting at your expense all day!" Salman laughed in response.

The trio drank until evening, when a savage approached Kai to test his strength against the stranger. He thought he could quickly take down the soft, in their opinion, young man without using energy. But alas, Kai instantly slammed the savage into the ground... This turn of events greatly surprised the onlookers, and they began to sit closer to him. Kai's body couldn't be considered human. Even without using energy, it was terrifying...

By the end of the evening, some savage women began to show interest in Kai. Fortunately, Baho and Salman were quite drunk and, under the pretext of taking them home, Kai quickly left the establishment…

"So... Here... Hic! Here's the map..." Salman barely articulated, "You can stay in that room." He indicated with his hand.

"Thanks again. But I'd rather not impose any further and leave now." Kai thanked them with a smile.

"I see you're rushing... Therefore, I won't try to persuade you..." Salman said heavily.

"Give my regards to Baho when he wakes up. He-he." Kai added with a laugh and glanced at the snoring body lying nearby.

After exchanging a few more short phrases, Kai quickly left the brothers' house and the city's territory. He didn't even look at the map, wanting to summon Sop and immediately head in the right direction.

Half an hour later, Kai had traveled quite a distance from the city and flew high into the sky. It was now midnight, so it was nearly impossible to see him. And even if someone did, they might think it was some kind of flying beast…

"So..." Kai murmured, unfolding the map in front of him and lightly illuminating the surroundings with fire, "Oh... So this is where I am... He-he." He was pleased and laughed out loud.

As he had been told earlier, the city of Adridor was located near the western borders of the Wasteland of Savages. Only, it was a bit north of the Shadow Sect territories. Thus, it was close to a massive mountain range that acted as a natural divider between three territories.

"If it weren't for Sop, I'd have to go around the mountains forever... I wonder how Fatty is doing?" Kai said with a smile and placed his hand on the dragon tattoo.

Kai already knew exactly where he was headed! If he plotted a straight route to the Shadow Sect on the map, he would have to fly close to the Border Beast City. Therefore, Kai decided that he simply must visit his brother! He hadn't seen Diso for many years, so he couldn't ignore this opportunity!

Sop flapped its wings and shot forward with lightning speed! Having such a mode of transportation, Kai greatly increased his speed. All he needed was to occasionally infuse the dragon's body with energy to keep all systems working properly. Although Araklin hadn't mentioned it, Kai noticed this tendency in the spatial rift. Fortunately, for him, as a master of the Star Sphere, this wasn't too tiring.

Kai knew he wouldn't stay long in the Border Beast City. Even one day would be enough just to talk with his brother. At this moment, Kai couldn't afford more. The time on the Heavenly Continent was quite limited!

Thus, the flight continued for about a week, until Kai noticed a large wall in the distance. He was now approaching from the direction of the Wild Beasts Steppe, so he remembered the moment he returned from the Astral City. It seemed as if it had happened so long ago that it was difficult to believe!

"Familiar sights..." Kai said with a smile, feeling a slight nostalgia.

Kai didn't delay and quickly landed in a place where no other masters were visible. Storing Sop back in the ring, he calmly headed towards the wall. At this point, he didn't know if he would encounter any problems entering the city or not. But considering all the nuances, Kai didn't believe they would deny him entry.

The wall was about ten kilometers away, Kai deliberately stopped quite far... Moving through the desert, he was accompanied by a sense of nostalgia. But suddenly, he heard strange sounds a bit further away...

"Hm? What's that? Someone fighting?" Kai thought to himself.

Since it was on his way, he didn't waste time going around the crowd. Besides, he had nothing to fear now...

A few minutes later, he saw two groups of people fighting ahead. Although Kai had not participated in such a situation in the past, he knew well that it was the norm for these places. Numerous forces and organizations fought in the Endless Wasteland to secure valuable resources.

"Rats of the Blood Commonwealth, one day we will finish you off for good!" A man with a two-handed sword shouted combatively!

"You resolve everything with money — just trash!" The head of the opposing group sneered disdainfully.

"Blood Commonwealth? Oh... I know these guys..." Kai thought with a malicious smile.

He didn't say anything, but slowed his pace, literally starting to walk towards the fight. Kai smiled carelessly and watched as several dozen people threw threats at each other, simultaneously exchanging attacks!

"It seems the group with the two-handed sword is pushing back the Blood Commonwealth... Looks like these bastards are still using dirty methods." Kai thought with interest, looking away from the battlefield.

Just then, a small explosion went off, raising a large cloud of dust! As soon as this happened, it was as if another group of people appeared from underground! Kai had already noticed that they were well camouflaged and were waiting for the right moment.

"Damn! It's Tandu! What the hell?!" The swordsman suddenly shouted and jumped back.

As the dust settled, a man appeared in the distance. He looked very much like one of the types Kai had seen in the past... It was the guy who, along with Fashur, had caused him trouble!

"Can't be! What a coincidence! Aha-ha-ha!" Kai said cheerfully and laughed.

At this moment, there were about fifty people from the Blood Commonwealth, twice as many as the swordsman's group.

"Hey, scum! Surrender and come with us quietly." Tandu shouted with a smile, "You'll be a nice bargaining chip, we just need the money. I'm sure the fatso will pay well for you... Khe-he." He sneered maliciously.

But the swordsman wasn't scared, he became even more serious! Turning to his group, he said:

"We can't let down Chief Diso! Retreat! Try not to die!"

Although this seemed very brave, such a retreat would cost them most of their group. Apparently, they didn't want to cause trouble for their chief so much that they were ready to sacrifice their lives!

But as soon as Kai heard the swordsman's words, the fate of all participants in the battle was already decided... The swordsman hadn't had time to retreat, and Tandu to attack, when a white-haired guy appeared between their groups! And he was facing the people of the Blood Commonwealth.

"Long time no see! He-he." Kai said with a smile and carelessly laughed.

As soon as Tandu saw the face of the newcomer, he broke out in a sweat! He simply couldn't believe what he was seeing! This person definitely shouldn't be here! He was a problem of the distant past that had been resolved!

"How are you... What are you... What are you doing here?!" Tandu shouted in panic, starting to freak out.

With such a sudden change in the situation, all the people present were greatly surprised! They simply couldn't believe that one of the strongest people from the Border Beast City was so scared of an unknown master!

Ignoring Tandu's words, Kai turned to the swordsman and asked:

"Hey! You're from the Trade-Research Union?"

"Y... Yes, sir! Exactly!" The swordsman replied warily.

"Well then, as one of the advisors, I simply must help my subordinates! He-he." Kai cheerfully replied and turned back to the Blood Commonwealth.

"What are you planning, scum?! Think we're afraid of you?! Everyone, attack!" Tandu screamed in fear, gesturing forward!

But at that moment…

"Boom!" An explosion sounded and a terrifying wave of black energy swept over everyone in its path! The mere aura of this attack made the hearts of all present momentarily stop!

As soon as the surroundings calmed down, there wasn't even a wet spot left from the people of the Blood Commonwealth... Everything happened so fast that no one even had time to react!

V.4 Chapter 367: Changes in Figure

The swordsman and his people stood in complete shock, unable to grasp how to react to the situation… They couldn't even comprehend what had happened. Who was this guy? Where were the Blood Commonwealth people? What terrifying technique had he used just a second ago?

But before they could utter a word, Kai turned around with a smile and asked:

"Guys, how's Fatty Diso doing? He-he."

It seemed that the members of the Trade-Research Union didn't appreciate their chief being called names, but now they didn't dare object. As the shock somewhat subsided, they began to realize the wildness of the event that had just occurred!

"Sir… Are Tandu and his people dead?" the swordsman asked cautiously.

"Well, yes. What did you think I did to them?" Kai responded nonchalantly.

"But… Who are you? And why did you help us?" one of the group members stammered in astonishment.

They had already understood that Kai possessed unimaginable power, moreover, they had never heard of him before. These facts made his persona mysterious and dangerous…

"Didn't you already get an answer to that question, or were you not listening?" Kai said with a sly smile.

As these words were spoken, everyone present pondered what had been said before the attack…

"He said he was one of the advisors?"

"But which advisors?" The crowd began to whisper amongst themselves and discuss what had happened.

At that moment, the swordsman, and a few others thought of something incredible… Their expressions instantly changed to more respectful and simultaneously shocked. It seemed they couldn't believe their own judgment...

"Could it be… Are you Advisor Kai?" the man asked tentatively.

"So I haven't been forgotten! That's good!" Kai laughed in response.

Kai's answer made the entire crowd fall silent in an instant! None of them knew exactly what to say at that moment. And from the crowd's reaction, it seemed not only the swordsman knew of his identity.

After a moment of confusion, the entire group kneeled in unison and chorused:

"Welcome back, Advisor Kai!"

"What's with you guys?" Kai asked in surprise, "Stop this nonsense and take me to the headquarters. As sad as it may be, I don't have much spare time…" He added somewhat sadly.

"Understood! Everyone, fall in, we're ending today's outing!" the swordsman shouted authoritatively and gestured towards the wall.

"Take Tandu's ring. Maybe you'll find something useful for the Trade-Research Union." Kai suddenly said.

Although none of the destroyed had spatial rings, as they were considered incredibly expensive in these parts, Tandu was still the leader of one of the powerful forces of the Border Beast City.

After all preparations were complete, the group quickly headed towards the wall. Some problems arose at the entrance because Kai's badge was outdated. But when Kai revealed a bit of his aura and stated that he was a personal disciple of the Shadow Sect, the guards were terrified! They didn't dare to detain him even for a second. However, they warned Kai that they had to report this to the city's chief, so he might be contacted soon…

As Kai walked through the familiar streets, various memories flashed through his mind…

"Funny… It feels like I was just here recently… But how much time has passed? I was fourteen when I left the Border Beast City… So, I was here about six and a half years ago?" Kai thought with a touch of melancholy.

"Advisor Kai…" a timid voice said from the side, "Is it true that you're the best friend of Chief Diso? And true that you were one of the founders of the Trade-Research Union?" a pretty girl asked with interest.

It seemed the swordsman was about to scold the girl for such questions, but Kai beat him to it. He smiled and calmly replied:

"Diso is not just my best friend; he's my brother! I was there at the beginning, but all the union's affairs were mostly managed by the fatty."

"Funny… But in our union, they say something else about you…" pondered a young man walking beside the girl who had asked the question.

Now, everyone present listened attentively to every word Kai said. It seemed to them he was some legendary character they never expected to see. Everyone knew he had been sent to the Shadow Sect on the city chief's recommendation. Such an achievement was the dream of any master from the Border Beast City.

"Oh? And what do they say about me?" Kai asked with interest.

"Well… That you provided the initial capital for the Trade-Research Union. Also, that your strength and skills helped Chief Diso secure influential allies. Even some noble families agreed to cooperate…" the girl quickly replied.

"Aha… Chief Diso often mentions you." the young man nodded, adding, "Especially at large banquets… You're like some mythical creature to us. I can't even believe you're real. Ha-ha." He added and laughed awkwardly.

"Is that so… I've heard something like that before." Kai muttered with a smile, recalling his return from the Astral City.

Back then, he decided to play a prank on everyone and caused quite a stir… This time, he decided to act more modestly. After all, he didn't want Diso to die of a heart attack.

Kai wasn't surprised when their route turned out to be different from the past… Obviously, the location of the headquarters had changed. They were heading towards the Tower of Origin, which was the most elite area of the entire city!

"It seems Diso has managed things well if he's moved the entire headquarters to the tower…" Kai thought approvingly.

"By the way, how's the union doing?" Kai suddenly asked.

"Great! We're currently ranked seventh among all the forces of the Border Beast City! Like during your time, our main strength lies in resources and wealth. But our combat power has also increased significantly in recent years." the swordsman reported promptly.

"Don't downplay it, captain!" the girl said with a sweet smile, turning to Kai, "We may not be the strongest in combat power, but we have far more money than any other force. Almost all the top craftsmen and traders in the city work for us. Also, Chief Diso has opened trade routes across all four empires, which helped generate income outside the Border Beast City!" she explained enthusiastically.

"Wow… So that's how it is… It seems Diso has become even more skilled in his craft! His grandfather would be proud of him. He-he." Kai joked and laughed.

But it seemed no one got the joke, so they just smiled awkwardly. At that moment, the group entered the Tower of Origin. The interior was as it had been before. Kai still felt that strange sensation of slight dizziness.

The group split into several smaller groups and dispersed into different elevators. Naturally, the swordsman, who assured he would lead Kai directly to Diso, accompanied Kai.

"The chief is probably in his office now. He might be in a meeting, so we'll have to wait." the man explained calmly, "You understand, if you show up in the middle of negotiations… Ha-ha…" He added and laughed awkwardly.

"I wouldn't mind such a spectacle, but I guess I'll wait." Kai said with a sly smile and also laughed.

The elevator descended quite deep, indicating the strength of the new headquarters. The swordsman had already told Kai that Diso had bought an entire floor, allowing every union member to visit it. Because of this, even traders who were not forceful in cultivation could compete with ordinary masters.

As soon as the elevator door opened, Kai immediately said:

"Seems like the fatty's tastes haven't changed…"

Everything around was decorated with gold, red carpets, and other decorations. Literally, everything inside screamed of the owner's wealth. Apparently, that was Diso's style…

The swordsman quickly led Kai to large golden doors and left him there. He bowed and did not linger. He only warned Kai to wait until the first visitors left before knocking.

Kai didn't object, so he calmly waited near the entrance. With his perception, he already felt that there were three people inside. Kai even assessed the arrangement of items in Diso's office.

"Did he do this on purpose, or did it just happen?" Kai thought with a smile.

The new office was very similar in structure to the old one. A table in the center of the room and sofas around it. And at the very end, opposite the entrance, was Diso's large desk. Only the current room seemed several times larger…

"I can't just knock like this…" Kai thought, a sly smile appearing on his face…

At that moment, he felt that two of the visitors were moving and headed towards the door. Diso also followed them to see them out… And while this was happening, Kai created a Shadow Seal right behind Diso's desk… The door was not protected by any arrays, so Kai's perception easily passed through.

As the door opened, Kai instantly moved inside the room, hiding behind the desk. Peeking around the corner, he saw a large man about twenty-five years old standing near the door! The standing figure was quite robust, and a noticeable belly stood out. But at the same time, his arms and shoulders were very muscular, with prominently defined muscles!

"Holy… Is that Diso?!" Kai exclaimed in shock.

Diso was now a head taller than Kai, moreover, his figure resembled that of a savage rather than a human. Now the fatty had ceased to be a fatty in the usual sense of the word… Rather, he was massive!

"Mr. Diso, I greatly appreciate your help! We will discuss everything with our master and respond as soon as possible!" one of the visitors said politely.

"No problem. We're not in a hurry, so take your time to consider my proposal." A measured and deep voice sounded.

At that moment, Kai was a bit taken aback… Diso now seemed like a completely different person! From him truly emanated an impressive and authoritative aura! Such an aura caused awe among ordinary people...

"Alright, no time to be surprised! Time to stun Diso!" Kai thought with a sly smile.

And as soon as Diso closed the door, Kai instantly sat in his chair and looked at him with a pompous face. Diso, in turn, lazily sighed, simultaneously stretching his neck... He leisurely turned towards his workspace...

But as soon as his gaze fell on the strange man sitting at his desk — Diso instantly froze! He already knew who this person was, but he just couldn't believe it!

"You've really grown up, Fatty! Aha-ha-ha." Kai cheerfully said and laughed.

At that moment, tears rolled down Diso's face, which starkly contrasted with his current appearance… Obviously, he was incredibly happy to see Kai!

"Brother Kai, is it really you? I can't believe it!" Diso asked with a smile on his face, "Today we'll drink till morning!" he added, sniffling and wiping away his tears.

"That's only if you can keep up, brother Diso! I have alcohol that even the rulers of the Heavenly Continent haven't tasted! He-he." Kai replied with a mischievous smile.

V.4 Chapter 368: Missed a Lot

After many years, the two brothers finally met again. They immediately sat down to feast right in Diso's office! Kai spared no expense and brought out the best demonic wine, which he had stocked up on in the Demon King's Palace.

When Diso tasted this strange beverage, his head spun from just a few sips. After all, demonic wine even had an effect on masters of the Star Sphere. In turn, Diso was only at the high stage of the Cloud Sphere, which overall was a decent achievement for these parts.

Diso's tears quickly passed and were replaced by unabashed delight! As they began to talk, it seemed as though they had never been apart. Of course, it felt like they had noticeably grown up and were no longer the children they once were, but their essence remained unchanged!

"Well… You're still as handsome as ever…" Diso jokingly said with a sour face.

"I can't say the same about you, but you've certainly become more manly." Kai teased back.

The first minutes after their reunion, they threw jokes at each other and hugged more than they discussed anything specific. Only after sitting down and drinking a bit did the atmosphere begin to calm down.

"So, what brings you here? Were you on a mission from the Shadow Sect, or how does it work for you guys?" Diso asked with a smile.

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me…" Kai said with a wry smile and drained his glass to the bottom.

"There's no one in the world who trusts you more than I do! So spill it!" Diso proudly said and thumped his chest with his fist.

"Well… Let's start with the fact that I'm now in the Star Sphere…" Kai said, glancing at his brother.

"What?! Don't lie to me!" Diso exclaimed in shock and shook his head in disbelief, "Though I'm a simpleton by the Shadow Sect's standards, I'm not that gullible!" he chuckled.

"I don't know if you can feel it, but here." Kai said calmly, and covered the tip of his index finger with energy.

As soon as this happened, Diso's entire body instantly broke out in sweat! Although Kai didn't want to scare him, such pressure was terrifying. The fatty wasn't a strong master, but as a skilled trader, he had crossed paths with masters of the Star Sphere several times. And somehow, he felt that Kai was stronger than them…

"Hell… What a brother I have…" Diso mumbled in astonishment, looking at Kai's energy, "So you're now an Elder?!" He suddenly realized the implications and exclaimed.

Diso didn't know such details before, but now things were different. According to the swordsman, their chief had managed to establish trade routes across all four empires. Considering this, it wasn't surprising that he learned more details about the Shadow Sect.

"Ah… If only it were that simple…" Kai said, shaking his head wearily, "Most likely, for the last six years, I've been considered dead." He added with a wry smile.

"Wow… This sounds familiar…" Diso said sarcastically, glancing at Kai.

"Brother Diso, you've become so heartless…" Kai said with feigned offense, "You didn't even ask what happened to me…" He said even more pitifully.

Probably, the fatty was the only person in front of whom Kai could be so uncharacteristically himself. After all, they understood each other with half a word, so Kai wasn't worried that his jokes would be misunderstood.

"Come on, stop your nonsense. I won't fall for that anymore!" Diso replied with a smile, reaching to pour more wine for Kai.

"Man, you're boring…" Kai said, dissatisfied.

"You're acting like a capricious girl right now." Diso teased back.

"I just haven't seen you for a long time, so I want to tease you a bit. He-he." Kai said sincerely and patted the fatty on the shoulder.

Subsequently, Kai began to tell how he ended up on the Island of Reincarnation and fell into the Abyss. Naturally, he omitted the details about the destructive energy and such. He said that he accidentally found a loophole in the structure of the Abyss, which is why he survived.

Next came a modified story about the Temple of Inevitable Destruction. Kai told how he found the corpse of an ancient master and, thanks to his legacy, was able to break through to the Star Sphere. Although all this sounded like a fairy tale, the result was right before Diso's eyes... In such a situation, it was difficult to deny Kai's words...

But when Kai began to tell about the Unholy Continent, Diso's eyes bulged! Only now did he realize what wine he had been drinking! That's why Kai said that even the rulers of the Heavenly Continent hadn't tasted it… They simply didn't have the opportunity!

The longer Kai spoke, the more serious Diso became… The last part of the story even made him tense up. According to Kai, a great war would start in the coming years that would engulf the entire Heavenly Continent!

At that moment, Diso sat as if in a trance, unable to utter a word... It seemed he needed time to digest everything Kai had said. Although he trusted his brother unconditionally, such a thing was simply unbelievable. This idea was rejected by all of Diso's knowledge and understanding, as if his entire past life had been an illusion...

"So, the demon race… I think Fabian would be incredibly pleased to hear all this." Diso mused thoughtfully.

"If you want — you can tell him. Just don't cause panic... Though even if you tell everyone, it's unlikely anyone will believe you." Kai added frankly.

He had already explained to Diso that he wouldn't be meeting with other union members, as he was rushing. He stopped by the Border Beast City just to see him. Therefore, Fabian would only hear a retelling from Diso himself.

"And what are your plans?" Diso asked seriously, looking at Kai.

"At dawn, I'll head straight to the Shadow Sect and pass on all the information to the Patriarch. I think he'll be better able to handle this… Although I can't make such decisions, ideally, convening the rulers of all the continent's forces..." Kai said, stroking his chin with a solemn face.

"Well… To be honest — it all looks pretty grim…" Diso responded in the same somber atmosphere.

Both understood that whatever happened, a huge number of people and probably even beasts would die. Such things simply couldn't be ignored. Considering that the passage from the Flame Archipelago led to the Wasteland of Savages — the first strike would hit them and the beasts!

"Alright… Let's just drink!" Kai said, lightening the heavy mood, "I came here to see my favorite brother! Let the old folks deal with global problems! He-he!" he added cheerfully and laughed.

"I agree with you, brother Kai! Let's drink carelessly, just like in the good old days!" Diso also laughed and raised his glass high!

After these words, the duo began to drink carelessly as they once did. They talked about everything and nothing, as well as about their experiences. Not only Kai had adventures in recent years. Diso also went through several wars with other forces of the Border Beast City, suppressing them. He also had conflicts with bandit groups outside the city. Because they attacked trade caravans, Diso hired people to track down and completely annihilate the group!

At one point, Diso began to mention Tandu and the Blood Commonwealth, which was still around and constantly interfering with his business. He even compared them to weeds that couldn't be eradicated. No matter how much you destroy them — they always come back and cause trouble!

When Kai told about the recent situation in the wasteland — Diso laughed so hard he couldn't stop for several minutes in a row! For some reason, this situation seemed incredibly absurd to him!

Thus, the two brothers drank deep into the night, constantly laughing and having fun. At this stage, they had already chewed over everything that happened to them in the last few years, so all that was left was to joke.

Kai also began to dump mountains of various items in Diso's office, which he had accumulated over the last few years. Many of them were completely useless to Kai, and he also didn't want to bother selling them. And he didn't need the money...

Effectively, all this was mere junk to him, unlike for the people of the Border Beast City. Considering Diso was a trader, these gifts could bring him incredible benefits. Moreover, there were items that didn't exist on the Heavenly Continent, as they belonged to nature's children or demons.

Diso didn't play coy or refuse, as their relationship was on a completely different level. He understood that Kai wasn't doing this out of the blue and just wanted to help him.

The duo planned to drink until dawn, but suddenly someone knocked on their door...

"Hmm… Who has come to my office?" Diso asked with interest, quite tipsy.

But Kai wasn't so surprised... He already had certain suspicions about this. Perhaps this turn of events was even beneficial...

And as soon as Diso opened the door, Kai's suspicions were confirmed. There stood a maid, next to whom was an old man familiar to Kai — it was General Lukius!

"Good evening, Diso. Did an important guest come to you today?" the man asked directly.

Diso hadn't even had a chance to reply when Kai appeared next to him! He smiled and politely answered:

"Long time no see, General Lukius! Does the city chief want to see me?"

"Kid… What the hell? You're at the Star Sphere?!" He exclaimed upon seeing the incredible scene before him! The man's face was incredibly shocked!

Earlier, the guards had already reported such a situation... A master of the Star Sphere, claiming to be one of the advisors of the Trade-Research Union, had come from the Endless Wasteland. This was simply nonsensical, but the city chief had ordered this information to be verified.

"As you can see, that's the case. He-he." Kai replied nonchalantly, "Diso, I'll go to the city chief, as I also need to clarify some things." He said, turning to the fatty.

All the way there, General Lukius simply remained silent... It seemed he was so shocked that he decided just not to talk about the situation. After all, this was a man who always kept his emotions under strict control.

But when Kai saw the city chief, a verbal torrent of curses began! It seemed the old man was quite annoyed that such a young man was already equal to him in cultivation!

"It's good that I sent you out of my city! If you weren't in the Shadow Sect, the Border Beast City would have been destroyed by now!" the old man exclaimed indignantly.

Naturally, all this was a result of the eccentric character of the chief, but he wasn't greedy or a bad person. After a minute, he finally calmed down and asked:

"Did you come from the Endless Wasteland because you were on a reconnaissance mission?" He asked seriously.

"No... I was trapped in a forbidden area for the last few years." Kai replied, shaking his head, "Why do you look so tense? Did something happen?" Noticing the old man's tension, Kai asked.

"So that's how it is... It seems you've missed quite a lot..." The chief said heavily, looking intently at Kai.

V.4 Chapter 369: Long-Awaited Meeting

Hearing the old man, Kai immediately realized that something bad had happened... If people like Diso could be in the dark, then those close to the top of the Shadow Sect should know more. After all, the city chief was a member of the Shadow Sect and a master of the Star Sphere!

"Missed a lot?" Kai asked warily, "Could you tell me more in detail?" He quickly added.

"Hm... I don't know much, but now the entire upper echelon of the Heavenly Continent is in a certain turmoil. Many forces are actively investigating changes in their territories. And the greatest attention is focused on the forbidden lands…" the old man said heavily.

These words might sound frightening, but they only pleased Kai! It meant that people also noticed something and began to prepare. It was just unknown how much they had managed to find out… Considering that Kai freely left the spatial rift and there was no one even nearby — at least the savages weren't particularly worried!

"Listen… Has anything been found out yet?" Kai asked grimly.

"The Mysterious Sea Region couldn't figure out anything specific. But it's said that the Samsara Temple has gotten some leads…" the old man seriously replied, "In any case, a continent-wide meeting will soon be held, where everything will become clear…" He murmured, stroking his beard.

"What? A continent-wide meeting?! When will it take place and where?!" Kai exclaimed in shock.

This was precisely the idea he wanted to push the Patriarch towards! Only by joining forces could they oppose the demons. Kai just didn't know if it was at all possible to implement such a thing…

"Why are you so agitated? This is a matter for the Core Sphere masters, not ours. And especially not for a youngster like you…" The old man calmly replied, but then looked strangely at the area of Kai's Energy Center.

Apparently, he still couldn't believe that Kai was already in the Star Sphere. It seemed like some kind of trick or joke…

"You don't understand… The forbidden land where I was imprisoned... It's on the other side of the Abyss of the Island of Reincarnation!" Kai said seriously.

At that moment, it was pointless to hide anything. He had intended to pass this information to the entire upper echelon anyway. One could say that every inhabitant of the Heavenly Continent is now his ally.

"What do you mean? Or did I hear you wrong?" the old man asked in confusion.

"What Abyss?" Lukius also asked.

But Kai didn't explain further and simply continued:

"There exists another continent, inhabited by two other races. But the threat comes only from the demons. Right now, they are actively trying to find a way to our lands…" Kai said seriously, "Chief, tell me where and when the meeting is, I must get there! I possess information that not even the Core Sphere masters have!"

The old man's head spun, and he staggered slightly. Believing such a thing was very difficult, but considering everything that had been happening recently and Kai's own personality… He allowed that all said might be true!

"In that case... How bad are our affairs?" Lukius asked with a complicated expression.

He didn't quite understand what was happening, so he asked a truly obvious but important question. Even without knowing the nuances, Kai's answer would immediately clarify the overall situation for him.

"The power of the demons is likely equal to or even greater than the combined forces of the Heavenly Continent. But the problem is that demons are a unified race and much more cohesive than us." Kai quickly replied.

Thinking in such terms and scales was something extraordinary. Lukius usually dealt with affairs of the Border Beast City and sometimes traveled to the Moonshine Empire. But the unification of forces across the entire continent... Such a thing just didn't fit in his head!

Listening to all this, the old man even stopped stroking his beard, his hand just froze gripping it. He looked intently at Kai and said:

"Boy, you need to hurry… The meeting is in a month and a half, somewhere on the territory of the Samsara Temple. But even if you set off now… You have no chance of making it." he murmured as if not wanting to disappoint Kai, "Returning to the Shadow Sect also makes no sense… All the main elders and the Patriarch must have already set off."

"Don't worry, I have some methods… The endeavor isn't entirely hopeless." Kai reassured and stood up from his chair.

After exchanging a few more words, Kai relayed some information and left the city chief's office. Originally, the old man just wanted to inquire what Kai had learned on his reconnaissance mission, but reality turned out to be much grimmer…

Entering the elevator, Kai mentally analyzed the situation…

"This is very good! If all forces gather and we manage to prepare… Moreover, with Sop's help, I can get there in about a month…" Kai thought with a smile.

This time, things were turning out much better than he had initially anticipated! Fortunately, the rulers of the Heavenly Continent weren't fools and also noticed oddities with the forbidden lands. Given the mysterious nature of the Samsara Temple, they might already know some information…

Kai had already decided what he would do next… Considering he had a bit of time to spare, he would head straight to the forest! Specifically, to the forest where his journey as a martial arts master began!

"Even hard to keep oneself in check…" Kai thought and smirked.

Half an hour later, Kai finally returned to Diso, and they continued drinking and laughing. He wanted to dedicate tonight to his brother, not to thoughts about something else. Since time was short, it needed to be used wisely!

Only at dawn, when another barrel of demonic wine was finished, did both brothers stand up. They understood it was time to say goodbye…

"Brother, I was overjoyed to see you…" Diso began, nearly starting to cry, drunk, "I hope you'll drop by at least once every few years. Mainly, so that we're not exterminated by then. Ha-ha." He added, lightening the mood and laughed through tears.

"Don't worry, Fatty. We'll have another drink! He-he." Kai cheerfully said, but his face also showed slight sadness.

It was obvious that given the chance, he would spend much more time here. One day was not enough, but now was not the time to give in to sentiments — the stakes were too high!

"Glad I was thrown not far from the Border Beast City…" Kai said with a light smile, "I missed you, you know."

"Alright, alright… Go on now! The faster you finish your business, the quicker you can return to drink with me again." Diso said, spreading his arms.

"So be it. By my next arrival, you better become even more influential! Don't forget to use the pills I gave you. They'll boost your cultivation in no time!" Kai said seriously and also spread his arms.

After a firm hug, they exchanged a few more friendly jokes, and Kai finally left!

"An unpleasant feeling… But then again, life in general isn't all that pleasant…" Kai thought with a smile as he moved towards the exit of the Border Beast City.

At that moment, he felt a strange sense of longing but understood everything clearly with his mind. This created a certain dissonance of feelings… Fortunately, it passed as soon as Kai moved far enough away from the city.

Summoning Sop, Kai flew into the air and headed south, with a slight deviation to the west. He decided to fly to Master Mo! After a long time, he would finally meet his grandfather!

"Considering the speed and distance, I'll arrive at the cave in about ten days… To the Samsara Temple about a month… Thus, I'll be able to spend a few days with my grandfather!" Kai thought happily.

Although he had just taken off, anticipation he had suppressed all these years began to blossom in his heart. When the desired goal was so close, resisting emotions became very difficult…

Kai was even surprised by such a reaction… Usually, all his desires, thoughts, and emotions were under full control. He did not expect such a reaction from himself.

"Apparently, I'm not as unshakeable as I thought earlier…" Kai thought with self-deprecating smile.

And the longer he flew, the stronger the feeling grew. When he had only a few hours left, the emotional burden became unbearable. It was very difficult to endure…

"Damn… What should I say to the old man? How should I greet him?" Kai thought with light anxiety.

At that moment, just as the sun was rising, illuminating the forest that once seemed huge to Kai. Just a little more, and he would arrive at the destination! Realizing this — Kai's heart literally began to leap out of his chest!

"Okay, need to calm down and land…" Kai thought to himself and touched the dragon tattoo on his back.

As soon as Sop landed on the ground, Kai quickly stored it in the ring and moved along the river. Although he had only seen these landscapes a few times in his life, they were forever etched in his memory! Here, almost fourteen years ago, he first felt energy and discovered the Sphere of Essence!

This simply could not but touch Kai's soul... Although he almost never remembered it, but when he saw the familiar setting — the memories flooded him like a wave! These thoughts made him realize — how long a journey he had traveled over these years!

"It's even a bit scary… What lies ahead?" Kai thought with a smile, but then shook his head and rushed forward!

Kai moved swiftly, reaching the cliff near the cave in just half an hour! He even deliberately began to climb it, to recall how he trained exactly in this place. Back then, he needed to train only his body, not even using energy!

He didn't want the old man to notice him, so he completely concealed his aura and moved absolutely silently. Although Master Mo was at the peak of the Star Sphere, his cultivation was impaired. Therefore, he used energy very cautiously. In such conditions, Kai could easily approach him…

At that moment, Kai's perception swept through the cave, but he noticed no one there… So he immediately headed towards the nearby lake. If not there — then the old man was hunting, and he would have to wait!

But as soon as Kai peeked around the corner — his heart clenched! He finally saw his grandfather!

Master Mo was calmly standing bare-chested and washing his face with the icy water of the lake. At the same time, he was cheerfully whistling and even dancing.

"Seems the old man hasn't been too bored here… He looks quite merry on his own…" Kai thought with a crooked smile.

He had thought long about what exactly he should say and how to greet Master Mo, but no good option came to mind…

In that second, Kai's body and mind decided to act instinctively. He didn't even realize how he unconsciously used the Shadow Seal and appeared three meters away from Master Mo.

Immediately after, Kai fell to his knees and bowed until his forehead touched the ground!

"Disciple Kai greets his Master!" Kai shouted loudly and respectfully.

Such a sudden turn of events made the poor old man jump, almost flying into the icy waters of the lake! Kai had approached so skillfully that the old man didn't even notice it! But rather, he had simply gotten used to the idea that nothing in these parts could threaten him anymore! That's why he had let down his guard!

"What the hell?! Who are you?!" the old man screamed in shock, immediately summoning some of his energy and turning towards the voice!

But the moment he saw the twenty-year-old man kneeling before him — Master Mo's heart skipped several beats... Although the face of the one bowing was not visible, the long snow-white hair already said everything. Moreover, Kai had clearly stated he was greeting his master a second ago!

"Pup, is that you?!" The old man exclaimed in confusion and shock!

At that moment, Kai's head rose, and he looked at Master Mo with a smile. Unknowingly, tears rolled down his face. Earlier, he himself hadn't realized how much he had been longingly expecting this moment...

"Hello, grandpa! I've finally returned! He-he." Kai said with a sincere smile.

V.4 Chapter 370: Fulfilled Promise

Watching Kai, who now looked like a twenty-year-old man, the old man literally froze in place. It was evident that Kai's sudden appearance greatly shocked him! For a moment, his face twitched as if he was deeply moved... But then Mo quickly recovered and irritably exclaimed:

"Boy, were you trying to kill me?! Why the hell did you appear so suddenly?! And sneaked up on me, no less!"

"Well, the main thing is I managed to sneak up. He-he." Kai cheerfully replied, beginning to stand up.

Due to the turmoil in his heart and his emotions, Kai stopped concealing his aura, and it started to seep out. As soon as this happened, Master Mo's face twisted!

"What the… How the hell are you at the Star Sphere?! Is this some kind of joke?!" the old man irritably said.

Though he grumbled displeased, his eyes shone! It was visible that Mo could hardly believe it, but he definitely liked what was happening! His disciple had turned out to be an incredible genius!

"A lot has happened over the last few years…" Kai replied with an awkward smile.

"Yeah, I see… Let's go find some game and cook something! You can tell me all about it then!" the old man grumbled, walking past Kai and giving him a smack on the back of the head so loud that the sound echoed around the area! "That's for scaring your master shamelessly! He-he." He added with a malicious smile.

"By the way, master… I've been hinted a few times that my laugh is kind of strange. Any idea who I might have picked it up from?" Kai teased.

"Do you give a damn about others? Just don't think about it!" Mo shrugged off carelessly in response.

Master and disciple calmly headed towards the forest to prepare their meal. Kai insisted on doing it himself, but the old man rejected the offer. According to Mo, it was his routine, and Kai shouldn't take it away from him!

"Master Mo, how's your health?" Kai cautiously asked, strolling through the familiar surroundings.

"Hmm… Well, I'll last another year or two. Now that I've seen you, I can go to the ancestors. He-he." the old man replied carefreely.

It was obvious he wasn't joking… In such matters, this old man was frank and straightforward. At that moment, Kai couldn't help but compare his thoughts in the Abyss and his master's behavior. Apparently, Mo had long ceased to fear death, hence he spoke of it so calmly…

"Could you stop?" Kai suddenly said.

Master Mo's life had long been a concern to Kai... And now that he had finally met the old man — Kai couldn't delay any longer! Though outwardly he appeared calm, his soul was anything but! Kai was incredibly anxious and concerned right now!

"Hmm? What is it, Kai?" the old man asked, turning around, not understanding.

"The thing is… I want to help you live a longer life. I know you're not afraid of death, but you've already accepted my promise. So you don't have the right to refuse. Do you understand?" Kai asked seriously.

Hearing such a determined tone, the old man was slightly surprised. He understood Kai was worried, but that's the natural order of things. Death is inevitable… If it's his time to die — nothing will change that!

"My boy, you can forget about that promise. It's unattainable, so drop this unnecessary burden off your shoulders." Mo replied kindly.

Deep down, he was pleased to hear such things… Kai's actions already spoke volumes. Such behavior greatly warmed the old man's heart, who had never had his own family.

"I've already solved part of the problem." Kai replied seriously, "You can easily live another fifteen years. During this time, I will find a real way to heal you! Believe me, I can definitely do it!" He declared with full confidence.

Kai's words momentarily threw the old man off balance. He was ready for death and had long accepted this fact. In recent years, he didn't even attempt to heal his meridians and just peacefully enjoyed life.

But still, Master Mo was a person devoted to martial arts! If there really was a chance to recover — he would never miss it. At that moment, long-forgotten feelings of ambition began to rekindle in his heart...

"Are you mocking me, pup?" the old man said with a slight displeasure.

It was quite difficult to believe, so Mo left room for disappointment. If he misunderstood Kai's words, then it would be a bitter outcome for him…

"I'll tell you everything once we start eating…" Kai said with a complicated expression, "But to put it briefly, I'm an incredibly skilled alchemist and array master. With the help of demon technologies, I've created numerous Gifting Pills for you, each extending life by a month. Take one every thirty days, and living another fifteen years won't be a problem!" Kai spilled all the information quickly.

Hearing all this, Master Mo was nearly agape! Everything Kai said was wildly incomprehensible. Even piecing it all together seemed difficult…

"You're an alchemist? Demons… What are you talking about?" Mo babbled in astonishment.

"Here's one of them." Kai said, tossing a pill to the old man, "Please, take it, and you'll understand everything." He quickly added.

Naturally, Master Mo immediately recognized the pill as a high-class item. He popped it into his mouth right away, knowing the impermissibility of letting the precious healing essence evaporate.

As soon as the pill entered his mouth, it seemed to turn into liquid and rushed straight to his stomach! Following this, a revitalizing energy swept through his entire body, giving it vigor and freshness! Even the old man's appearance slightly changed…

"Old man… You seem to have gotten a bit younger…" Kai said in astonishment, forgetting to be polite.

He had never seen a Longevity Pill in action before, so he didn't quite know what to expect. But now it seemed that it not only extended life but also rejuvenated the body! This pill was indeed incredible!

Feeling strange changes in his body, Master Mo looked at the skin of his palms, noticing the disappearance of age spots and most of the coarse wrinkles… And these were not just cosmetic changes; he truly felt younger!

Most likely, if he stopped taking the Gifting Pills, his previous appearance would return. But as long as they were available — the old man could continue to live and feel much better.

"What in the world… Where did these pills come from?" Mo babbled in astonishment, "I've searched the entire continent, but no one could make something like this. Has a new genius appeared?" He continued in shock, still processing the information.

Although Kai had already explained everything, due to such an unbelievable turn of events, the old man's thoughts were jumbled. When he felt the strength in his body, the desire for life and the urge to progress returned to him. But he still needed to fully grasp this reality...

"Calm down, old man. I've already said, these are demon pills, not human." Kai approached Mo and patted him on the back, "Let me finish preparing the meal." He smiled and disappeared in a blink.

Master Mo, in turn, continued to stand in place, staring at his palms…

"Could this scoundrel really fulfill his promise?" He mumbled as if in a trance and slowly headed towards the cave.

Half an hour later, Kai returned to the cave with a butchered animal resembling a boar. He smiled at the old man sitting in the distance and said:

"The weather's nice outside, let's eat by the lake?"

"Not a bad idea, I'm in." The old man smiled and began to stand up.

It seemed that in this brief time, he had already made the necessary conclusions and decided on his course of action. After all, he was an old and wise man, whose resilience was nearly unshakable.

Passing by Kai, he smiled and said:

"I'll take your pills. I hope you can indeed heal me."

"Don't worry, healing is just the beginning. If I don't die along the way, then you'll have a chance for a breakthrough! He-he." Kai winked in response.

"Tell those stories to your girls, not to me." The old man grimaced and gave Kai a smack on the back of the head.

Kai often received scoldings from his master before. But now, such an act looked a bit comical, as Kai had grown slightly taller than his master. The scene now seemed a bit absurd...

"Well, we'll see…" Kai shrugged carelessly.

"Better tell me what happened to you all this time." Mo changed the subject, "Honestly, I'm terribly curious about what happened to my grandso… Uhm... disciple!" He stuttered a bit, correcting himself.

When Kai heard this slight slip and the slightly embarrassed expression on Mo's face, he was greatly pleased. It seemed he wasn't the only one who viewed their relationship as familial! Kai had no idea how best to approach this issue, but now was the perfect time to take a risk!

"No problem. First, we'll cook, and then I'll tell you everything, grandpa." Kai sincerely replied and smiled slightly.

"P… Pup… You didn't have to emphasize that…" The old man muttered a bit red-faced and quickened his pace.

Although deep down, Master Mo was happy that Kai addressed him in such a manner, he still felt awkward about it… After all, he had never had a family and wasn't skilled in such matters.

After a short preparation, they cooked a large meal and sat down by the lake. Kai, in turn, took out demonic wine, which intrigued the old man with just its scent.

"To you, boy!" The old man cheerfully said.

"No. To you and your health, master!" Kai shook his head in response.

After a few glasses and teasing each other, Kai finally began to tell everything that had happened since he left the forest…

He talked about avenging Lord Flick and arriving at the Border Beast City with Diso. Kai didn't hide even the fact that he found ancient ruins and obtained the legacy of an alchemist who lived before the apocalypse.

The longer Mo listened — the more amazed he became… There were many moments he himself had pondered but never found confirmation. But now, his disciple was telling him all the details!

The only things Kai decided not to talk about were the Sphere of Essence and the ability to see energy, as well as Kessia and the Overlord. Each of these aspects was incredibly mysterious and strange. It's better if such secrets remain solely in Kai's possession. After all, there are things not even the closest people should know…

Master Mo laughed a lot and praised Kai, especially when he talked about the Shadow Sect and the astonished Elders. Somehow, this part amused him the most... Especially the moment when Kai declared himself a disciple of the Shadow Elder Mo.

But the story of the Abyss and its other side brought the greatest shock… When words of another continent, weakening spatial rifts, and an army of demons were mentioned — Master Mo deeply pondered and began stroking his beard. He wasn't a fool, so he understood the situation perfectly.

Kai slightly altered the part of the story about the Temple of Inevitable Destruction. He simply said he ended up in ancient ruins connected to the Invisible King's Torture Technique. Because of this, he managed to obtain a legacy that helped him make incredible progress in cultivation.

Old Mo was pleased with such an outcome and didn't intend to question Kai about every detail. He simply took his words as truth!

"What will you do next?" Master Mo asked seriously.

"I need to attend a meeting. I possess information that even the rulers of the Heavenly Continent don't have." Kai seriously replied.

"Right… I won't just sit around either. I think I'm needed in the Shadow Sect…" Mo nodded.

V.4 Chapter 371: Second Life of the Refuge

Kai did not expect Master Mo to decide to return to the sect after so many years of absence, so such words slightly surprised him.

"Why do you want to go back?" Kai asked, puzzled.

"I was preparing for death before... But since I'm destined to live longer, I cannot leave the Shadow Sect in trouble," the old man seriously replied, "Although my strength is now limited, I still have vast experience. If a war starts, I can be useful just by being there." He candidly added.

These words made sense, as Master Mo was a free man who had survived countless life-and-death situations. His life experience could not be ignored. If all the elders leave the sect to go to battle, someone with authority and understanding of how to run things must stay.

"I see... That would be a good support for the others," Kai mused thoughtfully, "When do you want to leave?" He quickly asked.

"And you?" Mo asked in return.

"I'd like to loaf around with you a bit longer, but the meeting is in a month... I have at most a few days," Kai seriously replied.

"In a month?! You said it's on the territory of the Samsara Temple! Poor child... Do you really not know how to calculate distances?" the old man looked at Kai as if he was simple-minded.

He understood perfectly that Kai didn't just lack a few days; he was seriously late! Master Mo could hardly believe his disciple miscalculated so badly!

Hearing such a condescending tone, Kai rolled his eyes and calmly replied, again forgetting to be polite.

"And how do you think I've survived all this time if I'm that stupid? Of course, I know how far the Samsara Temple is! Look here!" Kai exclaimed loudly and waved his hand!

In the next moment, a massive figure, coiled up like an egg, appeared in the air. And as the dragon assumed its usual pose, Master Mo's jaw dropped…

"What the hell is this, boy?!" the old man asked in shock.

"Something amazing... I took it from the demons," Kai said with a wicked smile, also looking at the dragon, "It's not alive. This is an enhanced and tempered dragon corpse, operated through arrays and artifacts." Kai quickly explained.

Without saying a word, the old man used Shadow Seal and instantly teleported onto the dragon's back. He placed his palm on its back and sent his perception inside. He was eager to understand what this creature was...

With each passing second, Master Mo's brows furrowed more deeply... Apparently, he was exploring an entire network of arrays, realizing how skillfully the demons had worked. After all, he himself was a high-class Array Master.

"Incredible! This is just unbelievable!" the old man exclaimed, shaking his head in shock.

"When I first felt this, I wanted to scream too. But at that time, I needed to keep quiet..." Kai reminisced about the events in the spatial rift with a smile.

For the next few hours, Master Mo stayed close to the dragon, constantly studying every inch of its body. One could say he had a personal research interest...

"Apparently, demons are terrifying opponents..." Mo said with a complex expression.

Admiration is good... Until you realize that the object of your admiration is your enemy!

So far, only Kai had seen the demons and only he had a more accurate picture of what was happening. Meanwhile, Mo pondered something else... What if an entire army of such dragons attacked?

"They are terrifying, but not in everything..." interrupting the old man's praise, Kai said, "For instance, they are terrible at alchemy. And such dragons are very difficult and expensive to create... Things are bad, but not as bad as they seem at first glance." Kai briefly explained.

The next two days, Kai and Mo spent in constant conversations, jokes, and drinking. It was magical, as Kai had previously been much more foolish and did not understand much. He also couldn't just drink with his old man because Mo wouldn't allow it.

But now, things were different... It seemed that this change opened up new aspects of their relationship. Over these few days, they became even closer to each other. Master Mo even called Kai grandson a few times when he was quite drunk. Mostly, it was phrases like: "Well done! Clearly, you're my grandson!" and so on. But even so, Kai was very pleased to hear such things...

Their conversations became much deeper and more interesting. If previously the old man only taught Kai and explained different concepts, now he himself could learn something new from a conversation with his grandson. Both enjoyed this state of affairs.

Only after two days, Kai and Mo gathered and went to the lake. They had agreed that today they would set off. Kai had already given the old man all the Gifting Pills and explained how to use them properly. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to produce more pills...

He also gave him some other things, like demonic wine and useful ingredients. And some notes about demons that could be disseminated in the Shadow Sect.

There was no usual melancholic atmosphere of parting in the air. Each understood that soon devastating events might start, where each of them would play a significant role! Now was not the time for sentiments; it was time to set off!

"Kai, I'll go first. I'll wait for you in the Shadow Sect," Master Mo said seriously.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Let your grandson hug you!" Kai said with a smile, starting to approach the old man.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Mo said, slightly flustered, and instinctively stepped back but then sighed heavily and continued, "Stop teasing me, or you'll get a scolding!"

After these words, however, he spread his arms and hugged Kai, patting him on the back. Although he was still a bit uncomfortable, it was evident that Mo was not at all against it.

"Alright, grandpa, I'm also off! Take the pills and take care of your health! He-he," Kai said with a smile and vanished!

"Tch! Rascal!" the old man said with a happy smile and also instantly disappeared.

The place where they met and where Kai began his journey as a martial artist was finally empty...

It was supposed to become the grave of an old, lonely master, but instead, it radically changed its purpose. No one will ever know that such incredible events happened in such a remote place… The only oddity that remained was the unnaturally cold lake with a waterfall!

Kai moved quickly through the dense forest, not summoning Sop to avoid scaring the local residents. He was not yet heading towards the Samsara Temple. There was one more place he simply couldn't skip visiting…

After a few hours, Kai finally emerged to familiar landscapes where he spent all his difficult childhood. To Kai's surprise, a new building stood in the distance… It was built in a similar style to his previous shelter, only the materials seemed fresher.

"Oh? What's this?" Kai said in surprise and walked forward.

As he approached, he heard the joyful laughter of children, which made his heart skip a beat for a moment. This feeling brought back long-forgotten memories…

"They built a new shelter… It's been quite some time, so it's not surprising," Kai thought to himself, looking ahead.

There, indeed, children were frolicking, and an old woman with a stern face but kindness in her eyes stood nearby. It was evident that she treated the children as if they were her own.

Kai smiled and walked forward, watching the thin but cheerful children. More and more memories flooded his mind. He used to be one of those abandoned children...

Suddenly, the old woman spotted Kai and became slightly wary… She said something to the children, and they quickly ran inside the shelter. Apparently, she expected nothing good from Kai's visit...

"Hello! Do you need something here?" the woman called out from a distance.

But in the next moment, Kai vanished and appeared just two meters from her! At this, the woman literally froze in place! Before her eyes, miracles were happening!

"Don't worry, I'm not here to cause you trouble," Kai said with a kind smile. Somehow, in the woman's face, he saw Sister Frida.

Hearing Kai's words, she composed herself and asked a bit apprehensively, "Then why are you here? Please, just don't harm the children," she added slightly scared.

"Ah... The thing is, I used to live in this shelter... I mean, in the old shelter that was located here," Kai said somewhat heavily.

"The old shelter?" the woman asked in astonishment, "But I was told that everyone died back then..." she said with a heavy voice. She could easily imagine herself and her orphans in a similar situation.

"Yes. Everyone but me," Kai sighed heavily, "Once, I wanted to go into the outer world and earn money. I wanted to improve the shelter and the lives of my brothers and sisters. But when everyone was killed and the old building burned to the ground... Well, it's sad that my childhood dream was trampled," Kai said with a wry smile.

The old woman listened to Kai and didn't say a word. But tears began to well up in her eyes. This small detail perfectly demonstrated what kind of person she was... Now, she saw Kai as one of her own orphans...

"I'm glad the shelter has a second life. And I hope it will be much happier," Kai honestly replied, "I understand it might sound selfish... But will you let me help you?" Kai suddenly asked.

"Help?" the woman asked in surprise, "If it's for the children, then of course!" she replied joyfully.

Somehow, due to the flood of memories and emotions, Kai remembered sitting by the river and thinking about helping the shelter. He thought he would grow up and become an adventurer who would earn a lot of money. And all this mass of emotions he finally wanted to release.

"This will be my final farewell. I just wanted to visit you, but I didn't expect to be able to fulfill such an old wish," Kai thought to himself with a smile.

For the next half-day, Kai drew a massive array around the shelter. It not only covered the building itself but also about a hundred meters around it! Although the scale was incredibly large, the array itself was basic. There's no need to defend against cultivators of the Gravity Sphere or even the Cloud Sphere. Even encountering a cultivator would be a miracle... So, implementing this was not difficult for Kai.

Moreover, after that, he drew another array inside. It was similar to the one Kai drew in the Border Beast City for growing herbs. It would allow the planted crops to grow much faster and be infused with energy. This would definitely greatly help the orphans...

When he called the matron and all the children, they were very surprised. They had been carefully watching all of Kai's actions for the last day and didn't understand what he was doing.

"Try to go out, but do it slowly. Don't run!" Kai explained with a smile, winking at the children.

One of the little boys, taking the initiative, confidently walked forward! But the next moment…

"Thud!" A dull sound echoed from hitting an invisible wall.

This made all the children start laughing and run towards the invisible wall to knock on it themselves. Kai, in turn, handed the matron a strange round object made of white stone and said:

"Only those whose blood touches this stone will be able to enter and exit the barrier. There's a place for a garden outside, from which very nutritious crops will grow. And here, I found some gold." Kai said with a smile, handing the woman a heavy pouch. "Goodbye, I hope your future turns out well!"

As soon as Kai said these words, his figure vanished. He didn't explain anything further or take responsibility for the shelter's life. As he said, he helped them out of certain selfish motivations. How they use his help is their own destiny's matter.

V.4 Chapter 372: Map of the Holy Empire

Kai didn't linger near the shelter and quickly used the Shadow Seal after completing the arrays. He did all this not so much out of sympathy or kindness but for himself. Although he had long come to terms with his past, somewhere deep down, unfulfilled aspirations tormented him.

When he saw the opportunity to correct this, albeit in a slightly different manner, he immediately seized the chance. He gave the orphans protection and food, as well as enough money to improve their shelter.

Of course, everything would depend on the matron and her actions... If the gold is misused, it could only harm. But if used wisely, these children could grow up strong and healthy. Perhaps each of them would be equal to a Warrior, and the especially talented ones could become Cultivators!

All these issues no longer concerned Kai, so he quickly left the shelter's territory…

Kai stood quietly by the river, looking at the spot where the Sphere of Essence appeared in his memories. He deliberately probed everything around him with his perception and even the Eyes of Essence. But he found nothing unusual…

"Apparently, it's more complicated than it seems… What are you, Sphere of Essence?" Kai thought to himself.

After that, Kai quickly summoned Sop and jumped onto its back. His journey to the lands of the Samsara Temple finally began!

"Although I've been delayed by a day, I don't think it will significantly affect the overall situation," Kai said with a smile as the dragon gained altitude.

At that moment, he felt incredibly satisfied! Kai had accomplished almost everything he had dreamed of in recent years. But most importantly, he managed to extend Master Mo's life, and Mo didn't even resist!

This couldn't but please Kai; in fact, he wasn't too worried about the war and the impending catastrophe at the moment. He wanted to enjoy this brief moment of lightness and freedom!

"It's a pity that the Sphere of Essence remains a complete mystery… But it definitely is something unimaginable. Its laws seemed utter nonsense at first, but now, at least three of them are becoming obvious…" Kai mused, watching the vast lands below him.

As if in a trance, he aloud repeated three of the last laws of the sphere:

“The Law of Flesh is the fifth law. Everything begins with flesh, the flesh of the living and the non-living, the flesh of the material and the spiritual, even the manifestations of nature have flesh.”

“The Law of Energy is the sixth law. The development and activity of everything generates myriad variations of energy, its combinations, and forms.”

“The Law of Spirit is the seventh law. Given enough time, everything gains its spirit and its consciousness, which is the manifestation of the highest form of being.”

As Kai pondered this, he couldn't help but make the obvious associations of body, energy center, and spiritual sea. And the Sphere of Essence spoke of them long before Kai learned of them himself.

"But the first three could mean anything… Are laws like the Law of Inevitable Destruction the same as the Laws of the Sphere of Essence? Or is the concept of law just a coincidence?" Kai thought deeply.

Throughout his short life, Kai had already learned an incredible amount of information. His understanding of the world was much deeper than the vast majority of living beings… Perhaps he was the most knowledgeable among those currently alive. But even in such a situation, he felt like a tremendous revelation was hidden right under his nose!

"Damn... It feels like I'm just a little bit away from understanding something monumental…" Kai muttered slightly irritated.

He felt as if he couldn't reach a spot that he desperately wanted to scratch. And it drove him crazy!

"I can't come up with anything sensible. But judging by my experience, sensible assumptions don't work anyway… Reality always turned out to be far wilder than one could imagine…" Kai pondered, "I can speculate that the Overlord and Kessia are beings from another world altogether. Or beings from different worlds? After all, the scripts of their energies are different… Then maybe only Kessia is from another world? Are the Heavenly and the Unholy Continent just part of the world or was I swept somewhere else and things are completely different?" Kai's mind was flooded with dozens of questions he couldn't piece together into a coherent picture. While there were some logical similarities, there were plenty of contradictions too…

Because of all this, Kai's worldview began forming a strange concept… Although it seemed cumbersome and heavy, Kai somehow liked it!

"Strength and knowledge provide the opportunity to touch the boundaries of the world. And as soon as this touch occurs — the boundaries expand, revealing previously unknown areas. Is such a process infinite, or can one eventually reach the end?" Kai wondered.

"At first glance, it seems logical to give up the pursuit of expanding the boundaries, as it seems futile… But that's the way of the weak! I, on the other hand, want to move forward until I find the answer," Kai affirmed to himself, "Continuous improvement to uncover all the mysteries of the world... Sounds naive, but I don't care! The methods to achieve this don't concern me either…"

Only by doing so could he slowly untangle his thoughts, bringing them into order. Slowly but surely, the aspirations he wanted to pursue began to emerge.

At this moment, almost all debts to others had been repaid. And when he becomes strong enough and fully heals Master Mo — then only his own desires will remain!

One could say that only now his true independent journey begins. When he first left this forest, much was unknown to him. One could say he didn't even realize what world surrounded him… The general direction of his movements was dictated by Master Mo, namely joining the Shadow Sect. And then he strove to become stronger to help the master and satisfy his interests along the way. But now his actions are dictated only by personal motives!

Realizing this, Kai felt an unprecedented sense of freedom. Although he had not been burdened by too much before, the current level of freedom seemed qualitatively higher!

"I'll tell about the demons, and we'll see from there… In principle, the war will be very productive for me. Absorbing rivers of blood will definitely be beneficial to me," Kai said with a malevolent smile, "Then I need to search for those damned Seals of Destruction…" Suddenly remembering this fact and slightly grimacing, Kai said.

But after all the previous reflections, such an action no longer seemed pointless to him. If he can find all the seals and hand them over to Seth, then he will definitely learn much more… This will be a new so-called "touching the boundaries"!

Thus, Kai's month-long journey flew by quite quickly. He didn't enter the Asura Hell, only cultivating by absorbing external energy. To Kai's surprise, the heavens were also inhabited by various creatures, some of which were forceful. Although this was obvious, Kai had never thought about it before…

The landscapes constantly changed; he had already seen several regions he had never encountered before. The most astonishing were the endless fields covered with various flowers that intoxicated even in the sky. And also a whole network of strange mountains, which looked more like countless spires sticking out of the ground.

As Kai flew into the territory of the Holy Empire, he began to feel the quality and density of energy slowly increasing. This change was an obvious advantage for the local residents.

Kai landed near a small town and quickly infiltrated it. He wanted to get a map of the Holy Empire to avoid flying near large cities. Although he didn't know how things were managed here, it was better not to take risks.

To his surprise, the architecture of the Holy Empire was somewhat similar to that of the demonic. The same sharp roofs and many angular details on the facade, only in white and light gray colors. Moreover, even the buildings of such a small town were decorated with gold, beautifully matching the general colors of the buildings.

The locals' clothes were more formal and less flamboyant than in any of the places Kai had been. They had minimal details and were also primarily white and gray.

"The level is noticeably higher… One could say qualitatively higher…" Kai thought, observing simple traders at the stages of Warrior and Cultivator.

Although they were only at the very initial stages of cultivation, it didn't seem they had ever engaged in its development. Only the external environment and derivatives from it gave such a result. After all, even food grown here would be more beneficial and rich in energy.

Kai calmly observed the situation, entering a large store with various goods for travelers and traders.

"Welcome, visitors!" Two men cheerfully shouted.

One was older, the other quite young… Most likely, they were father and son, running this shop.

"Hello, I would like to buy a map of the Holy Empire," Kai politely said, approaching the counter.

"Of course! Cecil, run to the warehouse!" the man quickly directed his son and continued, "You must be one of those heading to the monks! But where are you from? Your clothes are unfamiliar to me…" the man said with a smile.

It was immediately clear that this person was well-educated and well-read, as he quickly identified the oddities in Kai's appearance. Now, he was wearing one of the suits purchased in the Evergreen City, which was spontaneous. After bathing in the lake, he simply decided to wear it…

Naturally, the style was different, as no one on the Heavenly Continent wore anything like it!

"Oh, you are quite attentive to details," Kai replied with a smile, "I'm from the Shadow Sect, but the clothes were a gift from an acquaintance. They're strange, but also not bad," Kai casually said.

"Wow… So that's how it is… You know, they are quite skillfully made. As a trader, I'd even purchase such items..." the man muttered, assessing Kai's clothes.

"Sorry, but I only have one set," Kai politely declined.

He didn't need money, so there was no point in selling anything. So, he just started making small talk with the shopkeeper.

"Plenty of foreigners lately?" Kai asked with a smile.

"You already know the answer, why ask? Ha-ha," the man laughed, "Too bad no one tells why you all are flocking to the monks. Would you sell me that information?" he asked with a sly smile.

"Sorry, but I can't. I don't know much myself," Kai calmly replied.

"Everyone says that… Oh, here's the map!" the man said, hearing footsteps behind him.

After Kai paid, he hurriedly left the town and continued his journey to the Samsara Temple. He didn't waste time idling in this place...

"So, talking about the purpose of the journey to the Samsara Temple is a secret… I see," Kai thought to himself.

There could be two reasons for this. Either only the top echelons knew and didn't tell their subordinates, or they feared widespread panic. If the common people of every force on the Heavenly Continent learned about the impending catastrophe, or even just suspected it… Such a situation could cause quite a chaos!

"Not much longer… Maybe in a week, I'll finally arrive at my destination. But where exactly is that place?" Kai thought to himself.

All the information he had was that the meeting would be held on the territory of the Samsara Temple. But he needed to find out the exact information on the spot. Depending on this, the time of arrival could change...

"Something interesting is about to begin… Do the elders of the Core Sphere know anything, or do they only have assumptions, like with the demons?" Kai said with interest, calmly looking at the horizon.

V.4 Chapter 373: Land of Monks

After several days of flight, the landscape beneath Kai changed significantly, with the density of energy increasing once again. Though not as dense as in some forbidden lands, it was considered first-rate!

Wherever Kai looked, there were mountain ranges covered with dense vegetation, a mesmerizing sight as if huge green waves covered everything to the horizon.

"Hmm… What's this?" Kai murmured.

On closer inspection, he noticed buildings of strange shapes atop some of the mountains, hard to spot as they blended in with the thick greenery.

"I'm in the territory of the Samsara Temple!" Kai realized instantly.

He quickly flew to the nearest of these buildings and landed a few kilometers from it. As soon as he hid Sop, he immediately set off up the slope.

He was now in a dense forest of monstrous trees, each trunk tens of meters in circumference and dizzyingly tall. From the side, a person seemed like an ant in comparison to them.

They weren't as large as the tree in the Evergreen City, but this place was distinct from a regular forest. The slope also showcased that he was indeed in the mountains. It would be incredibly difficult for an ordinary mortal to climb in such terrain.

Kai didn't delay and continued to use Shadow Seal, moving through suitable outcrops. In some places, the mountain still showed itself through the soil, breaking through with stone platforms.

An hour later, he saw buildings made of gray stone through the trees. Their style was very simple but carried a mysterious aura, as if each of these structures was thousands of years old!

Initially, Kai thought these might be abandoned ancient ruins... But as he got closer, he saw people! It was an inhabited city!

"It seems that the building seen through the tree canopies is something like the main temple…" Kai thought as he approached the small city walls.

In the distance, a high structure appeared, as if carved directly from the peak of the mountain, covered in various figurines, patterns, and statues from top to bottom. Even considering the power of martial arts masters, creating something like this would take decades! The ancient atmosphere added even more mystery...

No one stopped Kai at the city entrance; there wasn't even a conventional guard. There were plenty of people around, but a distinctive feature became immediately obvious…

Silence! It was incredibly quiet here!

The city's roads and buildings were also made of stone slabs, which looked very organic overall. It felt as if one had stepped onto the territory of some ancient sanctuary.

All residents wore modest and loose gray clothing. Almost no one talked, simply walking in silence… A characteristic trait of the local men was shaved heads, while women gathered their hair in tight, neat buns.

Kai moved forward and didn't rush to start a conversation with anyone. First, he wanted to understand the local customs and what was happening. It was better to scout the situation a bit before seeking information.

"Damn… If I didn't know where Shuo came from, I'd think he was born here…" Kai thought with a crooked smile.

Even when approaching the shopkeepers, locals communicated quite reservedly and quietly. Moreover, no one tried to bargain as if such a thing was not part of their culture. Everything sold already had a fair and just assessment!

"The overall level of cultivation is even slightly higher than in the Holy Empire. Now it's clear why the Samsara Temple is considered the strongest… And this isn't even one of the main cities…" Kai continued to observe and reason.

After an hour in this small city, Kai managed to walk around it and roughly understand the general behavior patterns within it. Therefore, he approached an elderly man of the Cloud Sphere sitting on one of the stone squares and bowed in greeting.

In turn, the old man shifted his gaze to Kai and also silently bowed. All his movements exuded tranquility and calm.

"Excuse me for disturbing. I think you've already realized I'm not local," Kai spoke calmly, "I need to attend a meeting of the forces of the entire Heavenly Continent. Do you know anything about this?" Kai asked politely.

Hearing this, the old man remained silent for a moment and then responded in a calm, unhurried voice:

"I haven't heard of such, but two days ago, foreigners passed through a neighboring temple."

"I see… Do you know where they were headed?" Kai asked with interest.

"I assume the Temple of Pure Gold," the old man replied calmly, "If by your account — it's the largest city in the vicinity." He added immediately and nodded.

"Excuse me for one more question," Kai said with a smile, "And in which direction should I head to get there?" Kai asked quickly.

"To the west. Over there," the old man replied nonchalantly and pointed in a clear direction.

"Thank you very much," Kai said politely, bowing and smiling.

After that, he didn't bother the old man any longer and quickly headed to the indicated point. As soon as he could, he summoned Sop, resuming flight.

Asking ordinary residents about the meeting would have been futile. But if he could find representatives of one of the other forces heading there… Then he would definitely find the right direction!

Considering that the group had passed near here just two days ago, Kai would quickly catch up with them. After all, moving through slopes and forests takes much longer than flying directly through the air.

Thus, Kai traveled west for about ten hours until he saw a whole cluster of treetops sticking out from the forest in the distance. Clearly, this was the Temple of Pure Gold. The scale of the buildings already indicated a city much more impressive than the one Kai had previously visited.

"I'm curious if the atmosphere there will be similar…" Kai thought to himself.

He had assumed that the first city he encountered might just be an anomaly. It wasn't necessary that all cities of the Samsara Temple would be so serene. After all, the more people there are, the noisier it gets!

And as it turned out, Kai was partially correct. When he entered the Temple of Pure Gold, he heard a more familiar noise to other cities. Although it was still much quieter and more peaceful overall, some hustle and bustle were felt.

The level of masters also seemed quite impressive. Many people were at the Cultivator and Cloud Sphere stages. Occasionally, Gravity Sphere masters were seen, which was considered peak development in some societies.

"So… What next? Where should I look for so-called foreigners?" Kai thought to himself and headed to the first establishment that looked like an open-air restaurant.

As Kai walked past the tables, he saw that most were drinking water or fragrant tea. No table had alcohol…

"I feel Shuo would like it here… He must've been born here and just dropped off at the Territory of the Shadow Sect!" Kai joked to himself, assessing his surroundings.

"Hello! Can I find or purchase information here?" Kai asked politely, addressing a young man near the open kitchen.

Several people were busy cooking various dishes skillfully and actively at the stone kitchen counters, which had holes for large flames to burst through. The kitchen itself radiated heat, filling the area with warmth and aroma.

"Welcome! Order something to eat and ask whatever you want," the man replied with a smile.

"I'm not hungry, but could I order your best tea?" Kai replied amicably.

"We have several. Do you prefer sweet, tart, sour, or nutty aftertaste?" the man replied quickly.

"Let's go with tart… Actually, I changed my mind about food... Make some suitable snacks for it," Kai replied with a smile and headed to a free table in the corner.

A few minutes later, the man came over and placed several dishes on the table, then put down a stone teapot with utensils. He didn't leave but calmly sat opposite Kai and began to pour tea into Kai's cup.

"What did you want to find out from us, sir?" the man asked calmly.

"I'm interested if any foreigners like me have visited the Temple of Pure Gold?" Kai replied with a smile, lifting his now filled cup.

The tea had an incredibly bright and distinct aroma. Just its smell relaxed and brought a pleasant wave of warmth through the body.

"Aaa… So that's what you're interested in," the man said unperturbedly, "Are those swordsmen your friends?" he asked calmly.

"Swordsmen? Could it be the Sword Sect?! If so, that's just perfect!" Kai mentally exclaimed without showing his joy outwardly.

"If they were dressed in silver clothes, then yes. They're the ones I'm looking for," Kai nodded and took a sip of tea, "Wow… This taste is incredible!" he praised sincerely.

"I like it the most too, so I understand you," the man replied with a smile, slightly veering off topic, "So… Your friends arrived just a few hours ago. As far as I know, they settled in the northern part of the city, closer to the central temple. If you go there, you'll definitely find them," he explained quickly.

"I see… Well, I'll finish this delightful tea first and then head out to find them. Thank you very much," Kai thanked him politely.

"Enjoy. If you have more questions — just call!" the man said, standing up and heading back to the kitchen.

After this, a satisfied smile spread across Kai's face… Now he was sure that representatives of the Sword Sect were in the Temple of Pure Gold! This was excellent, as they were from the Mysterious Sea Region. Kai could definitely get the necessary information from them.

"If there's someone I know there, then I can even continue the journey with them… That would be the most favorable outcome…" Kai thought to himself.

On Island of Reincarnation, he had already crossed paths with many swordsmen. With some of them, he even formed quite good relationships. If it had been representatives of the Spirit Fire Sect, Kai wouldn't have been as pleased…

After sitting in tranquility for about half an hour, Kai finished his tea and snacks. He immediately set off for the northern part of the city. Considering the similarity of all residents of the Samsara Temple territory, identifying the swordsmen wouldn't be too difficult...

When Kai arrived at the central temple and the large square around it, he simply began to wander around and assess the people. And his search didn't last too long… Within an hour, Kai finally spotted two swordsmen casually strolling.

"Maybe I'll follow them, see where they live… Might find someone I know?" Kai thought to himself, but at that moment, he froze…

Suddenly, he saw Aoki walking from the opposite side of the square, accompanied by several unfamiliar people!

"He-he… There are familiar faces! Diso and Master Mo didn't know about my death, unlike this guy… This could be very fun!" Kai thought with a mischievous smile and immediately set off after the swordsmen.

V.4 Chapter 374: Return from the Abyss

Although Kai wasn't overly concerned about what others thought of his death, or whether they remembered him at all, he couldn't ignore the potential for a dramatic reappearance. He had done something similar once before, and it had been quite amusing!

Kai didn't immediately head towards Aoki. Instead, he quickly put on a mask he had found in the Temple of Inevitable Destruction and a cloak that concealed the rest of his body. His hair was also meticulously hidden.

He moved towards the swordsmen and began to follow them at a distance. But he did so not entirely discreetly... After all, he wasn't trying to track or spy on Aoki.

As expected, after a few minutes, Aoki sensed something was off and changed his route several times. Eventually, the group of swordsmen split up, each heading in different directions. Apparently, they wanted to figure out who the mysterious masked figure was following...

Naturally, Kai followed Aoki, who methodically moved to secluded and dark places within the Temple of Pure Gold. It seemed the swordsman was ready for a fierce confrontation with his pursuer!

"Hmm… Looks like he's made a breakthrough recently," Kai thought to himself, noting Aoki's cultivation level.

Back on Island of Reincarnation, this guy was at the peak of the Gravity Sphere. Also being older than Kai, he had managed to break through to the Star Sphere. But even so, this was still an impressive achievement! Aoki was definitely a genius of the younger generation of the Sword Sect. Possibly even the best in the last hundred years…

After a quarter of an hour, not only had they moved away from the center but had also left the city limits! At one point, Aoki stopped and calmly turned around. He seriously looked at Kai and asked:

"Who are you? Why are you following me?"

At that moment, Aoki was cautious, as he couldn't gauge the cultivation level of his opponent. Kai was too good at hiding it…

"Oo… I just wanted to know the purpose of your visit to the Samsara Temple," Kai asked in a croaky old man's voice.

"Strangers are not privy to that information, so please forgive the rudeness," Aoki replied calmly.

"Perhaps I should force that information out of you then? He-he," Kai laughed.

Hearing this, Aoki didn't hesitate; he understood this meeting wouldn't end well. His sword quickly left its sheath, and a wave of green energy flew towards Kai!

This attack felt as if it contained an immense amount of life force! If Kai's energy relentlessly destroyed everything in its path, Aoki's energy seemed to continuously grow, gaining strength in the process.

Kai, in turn, smiled and simply covered his body with a dense layer of energy mixed with Astral Flame of Sacrifice. He had already realized that Aoki didn't know how to properly use the power of the Star Sphere. Apparently, he had broken through just a few months ago. Against such an opponent, Kai didn't even need to fight seriously…

"Boom!" The wave of green energy hit Kai's body and scattered in all directions. Aoki couldn't even budge him...

But as soon as the swordsman saw his opponent's energy and felt a familiar sensation, his face instantly contorted! Even a calm master like him lost his composure for a moment…

"Who are you?!" Aoki demanded seriously, gripping his sword hilt tighter.

"See, you've repaired it… A good weapon, isn't it? He-he," Kai responded in his usual voice.

At this, the tip of Aoki's sword trembled, displaying his astonishment! An overwhelming answer had formed in his mind, one he couldn't believe!

"But how… You were dead!" Aoki exclaimed in shock.

At that moment, he didn't even care that Kai shouldn't have been able to block his attack so easily. Compared to resurrection, that was trivial!

After Aoki's words, Kai calmly removed his mask and cloak, instantly sending them to a spatial ring. He smiled and cheerfully replied:

"Well, as you can see, I didn't die. I just managed to return home now," Kai replied nonchalantly and smiled.

The instant Kai said this, Aoki immediately fell to one knee, bowed sincerely, and said:

"Thank you for saving my life! The only thing I regretted all this time was that I didn't have the opportunity to express my gratitude to you!"

"It's nothing… Actually, my goal was different. I didn't expect to be dragged into the Abyss…" Kai replied with a wry smile.

As these words were spoken, Aoki instantly looked up. Shock and disbelief still marked his face…

"Kai, did you really fall into the Abyss?! But how did you escape?!" Aoki shouted, uncharacteristically for him.

"It's a long story, Aoki… I need to get to the meeting. There's information that all the masters of the Core Sphere must know. Can you help me?" Kai asked seriously.

"Of course… You're a member of the Shadow Sect, so you can enter. You can come with us…" Aoki muttered, still in disbelief.

The swordsman had just seen a long-dead person he deeply respected come back to life. In the last few years, he periodically remembered Kai and was incredibly saddened by the thought that such a master with colossal potential had perished… But now, it turned out he was alive! Moreover, the events of their brief encounter began to make sense…

"Kai… Are you also in the Star Sphere now?! You're only…" Aoki exclaimed in shock, then paused for a moment, "Twenty years old…" he said in disbelief.

On Island of Reincarnation, Aoki didn't know Kai's exact age. After the end of the expedition to the forbidden lands, much became known. He learned Kai's real age and was amazed at how much he had underestimated him initially… But even so, he couldn't believe that Kai was now at the initial stage of the Star Sphere. Moreover, he had broken through much earlier than him!

"As you can see, you're right," Kai replied with a smile, not hiding anything, "I see you've also done well." He added with praise.

"Coming from you, that sounds like mockery…" Aoki replied, shaking his head sadly.

He was still kneeling, too shocked by the events to stand.

"Come on, get up! Let's go sit somewhere, and you can tell me what's happening here," Kai said with a smile and winked at the swordsman.

Only then did Aoki realize he could stand up. He awkwardly smiled, got to his feet, and dusted off his clothes. Afterward, Aoki approached Kai and sincerely said:

"I'm incredibly glad to see you alive and well, Kai."

"The feeling is mutual, Aoki," Kai replied with a smile and extended his hand. Only when he noticed Aoki's puzzled expression did he laugh and add:

"Sorry... That's a habit that doesn't exist on the Heavenly Continent. He-he."

The nature's children and demons often extended their right hand and shook it as a greeting, but on the Heavenly Continent, a slight bow was simply a sign of respect.

Hearing Kai's words, the swordsman's expression changed slightly… He was no fool and immediately caught the oddity in that phrase. The possible conclusions were elementary but too wild to believe…

"Where did that habit come from?" Aoki asked skeptically, warily.

"It comes from the Unholy Continent, located beyond the Abyss, inhabited by the so-called race of nature's children and demons. That's where I've been missing for the last five years," Kai replied, further bewildering Aoki.

Thereafter, Aoki seemed to enter a trance and froze for a few seconds. He breathed evenly, pondering something in his head. His expression changed several times, as if unable to decide on his emotions… And only then did he look at Kai, heavily stating:

"So, that's why this meeting is happening… Could it be the Samsara Temple noticed something and thus called all forces together..."

"Damn… I thought there might already be some suspicions among all the forces of the Heavenly Continent…" Kai said a bit apprehensively. "Is the Supreme with you?" He quickly asked.

He had hoped that everyone would notice something odd with the spatial rifts and start investigating them. But considering the Island of Reincarnation opens only every few years, perhaps no one from the Mysterious Sea Region even noticed the anomalies…

"No… He's currently dealing with sect affairs. Masters of the Core Sphere will only arrive for the official opening of the meeting. There's no reason for them to trudge along with the group of main disciples and Elders. After all, they can cover this distance much faster. And since the elders value their time greatly – they couldn't afford to waste it," Aoki replied, shaking his head, "Kai… How strong is this Unholy Continent? And is it a threat to us?" He quickly understood the threat and clarified.

It was logical that sect heads wouldn't travel with the entire group of disciples and Elders. After all, they could traverse the distance much faster. And as the elders highly valued their time, they could not afford to waste it needlessly.

"They pose a direct threat. Moreover, they're actively exploring ways to breach our continent… I managed to sabotage their plans a bit, so I think they'll be delayed for some time…" Kai answered honestly, "But if all the forces of the Heavenly Continent don't unite, we won't be able to stand against them…" He added seriously.

Kai intended to share all of this at the meeting anyway. So, telling Aoki now wasn't a problem. Moreover, he could trust Aoki, so he didn't hide anything.

"Too much information to process… Let's go have some tea. I need to get used to the fact that you're real…" Aoki said, smiling wryly.

Thus, the duo calmly headed back to the city. Aoki slapped Kai on the back every ten minutes, saying how glad he was to see him alive. It was as if he feared he had gone mad and Kai was just a figment of his imagination.

Aoki began to tell about the events that occurred after the incident near the Abyss. When everyone recovered from the battle with that griffon, they realized what had happened. There were many bodies of the most promising students around, which was a huge blow to the three sects.

Shuo was incredibly concerned about Kai's fate, so he decided to search for him. But alas, the destructive energy quickly sobered him up… Everyone remembered how Kai drew the enemy's attention and led it towards the Abyss.

It was only after a few days that the elders began to return, also significantly battered from fighting the monsters… When they saw the state of the camp, the expressions on many of their faces were indescribable…

This expedition was ultimately considered very successful, as they managed to clear out most of the monsters! But the losses were also significant…

Especially grieved was the Patriarch of the Shadow Sect… When he investigated the vicinity of the Abyss, he immediately understood that the Shadow Sect had lost an incredible genius! This was indeed a huge loss for the sect's entire future…

But undoubtedly, the most grieved was Shuo, who lost his brother!

V.4 Chapter 375: Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment

According to Aoki, the last expedition to the Island of Reincarnation took place two years ago. Generally, nothing strange occurred with the Abyss. The sects of the Mysterious Sea even managed to reap an unprecedented harvest since many dangerous monsters were killed last time, significantly easing research efforts.

The Core Sphere masters tried to understand the Abyss but achieved nothing. This was unsurprising, as it wasn't some kind of repository as they had speculated. All their attacks simply vanished into oblivion...

Calculating the time frames in his head, Kai realized that the legacy and the Seal of Destruction hadn't been obtained yet at that time. Apparently, as soon as everyone left the Island of Reincarnation, the destructive energy began to weaken. Thus, the Mysterious Sea Region remained unaware.

Aoki shared a lot, but essentially, nothing unusual happened in the last five years. After the massacre on the Island of Reincarnation, the three sects became more cohesive and closer. A joint tournament among the younger generation was even held last year. As it turned out, Aoki won, and a rare prize coupled with an ancient sword gave him the chance to break through to the Star Sphere.

According to the swordsman, Shuo was still at the peak of the Gravity Sphere but lacked just the final step. Likely, he will also break through soon.

As soon as they entered one of the establishments in the city center, it turned out that several concerned swordsmen were already sitting inside. Seeing Aoki, they quickly stood up and respectfully said:

"Welcome, Guardian."

"Guardian?" Kai asked with a smile.

"I can no longer be a disciple. So, my status in the hierarchy has changed a bit," Aoki replied calmly and smiled.

"Guardian Aoki… And this is…" One of the three swordsman of the Gravity Sphere began to inquire from afar.

"As it turns out, he is not an enemy. He's my old friend," Aoki explained with a smile.

Only at that moment did the swordsmen remove their hands from the hilts of their swords. Earlier, they had split up at Aoki's signal, so they didn't know who the pursuer would follow. Then they simply lost sight of their Guardian.

"Wow... Welcome," the swordsmen said with a slight bow.

"Is the elder already said when we are leaving?" Aoki quickly asked and headed for a table.

Kai followed carelessly. Overall, he was in a good mood. He was glad to have met Aoki. Although they weren't too close, they had survived a life-and-death situation together. If they had been members of the same sect, they definitely would have become good friends.

"The Guardian Maru said that tomorrow at dawn we set off again. In a few days, we will finally arrive at the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment," one of the swordsmen replied calmly.

"The Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment?" Kai inquired with interest.

"Yep… It can be considered the accessible capital of the entire Samsara Temple territory," Aoki explained while pouring tea for Kai.

"Accessible capital? What do you mean?" Kai asked, not understanding.

"Basically, the main territory and sanctuary of the Samsara Temple is the Spiritual Source. But only a limited circle of people can enter there. The Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment is as close to it as possible. That's where the meeting of the entire continent will take place," Aoki explained calmly without going into unnecessary detail.

"I see… Listen, is there any action plan for the meeting? What exactly was announced in the invitation?" Kai asked with interest.

He didn't quite understand how the conversation about other lands should start. And why were the best students dragged along. Couldn't the Core Sphere masters negotiate on their own?

"It's not exactly known… Although there has been a conditional peace on the Heavenly Continent for several hundred years, there are many contradictions. Apparently, as always, everything will be decided through the younger generation," Aoki said heavily and shook his head.

"Guardian Aoki, what's troubling you so much? Don't worry, we'll show everyone the strength of the Sword Sect!" one of the swordsmen cheerfully shouted.

The guy looked at the whole situation naively, but Aoki had already learned the true reasons for the meeting and the potential future. Because of this, he couldn't calmly look at his subordinates. While the enemy is united and actively preparing, the forces of the Heavenly Continent continue to engage in internal strife…

"Yes, guys… You must show all your skills," Aoki replied with a light smile.

At that moment, Kai, slightly ignoring the enthusiastic swordsmen, looked at Aoki and said:

"As far as I understand, no one realizes the true threat. If the Samsara Temple did warn about something, every sect leader decided they could easily protect their lands. Apparently, the creation of an alliance was perceived by many as the Samsara Temple's desire to subdue other forces," Kai said vaguely.

"Probably so… After all, an alliance must have a leader," Aoki mused, "There will be negotiations, but before that, everyone wants to shine with their younger generation to show the future prospects of their sect," he quickly added.

The swordsmen, sitting quietly aside and listening to all this, didn't quite understand what the conversation was about. Their Guardian Aoki was unnaturally somber at these moments...

Although everyone respected the Samsara Temple and knew that it had not participated in the disputes of the Heavenly Continent for millennia, its sudden activation surprised everyone. From the perspective of the sect leaders, it's understandable why they were so wary...

Agreeing to an alliance, especially with a force much more powerful than you... Such a decision could quickly lead to the loss of sovereignty and independence!

"It all seems rather gloomy… We're wasting time. We'll need to convince the elders of the reality of the threat," Kai mused thoughtfully.

"Fortunately, you managed to return..." Aoki added thoughtfully.

The atmosphere at the table wasn't the best... But soon Aoki exhaled and started smiling again. He decided that today he wanted to celebrate Kai's return. Kai, in turn, also stopped thinking about the impending war and supported his friend.

The swordsmen were very surprised that their strict Guardian Aoki was now so calm and friendly. They were very curious about who this white-haired man was.

Although Aoki had only recently become a Guardian, he could not be considered an ordinary person... Now his combat power might not compare with the old Guardians, but his prospects were terrifying! Some rightly believed that in the future, Aoki would occupy the highest positions in the Sword Sect!

Seeing such a character recognize an unknown master as an equal... Moreover, it seemed that he even considered himself lower! It was a very strange sight!

The group of people calmly sat enjoying tea and snacks for several hours. Even Aoki's subordinates relaxed a bit and joined the conversations.

"Listen, sir... Which sect are you from?" one of the swordsmen asked cautiously.

"I'm from the Shadow Sect," Kai replied calmly and smiled.

"Really? Why don't we know about someone like you? Guardian Aoki would hardly be so respectful to an unknown master," the swordsman asked with interest.

"I've been considered dead for about five years now, so everyone has long forgotten about me," Kai replied carelessly and laughed.

Such an answer somewhat bewildered the swordsmen... They couldn't understand if this was such poor humor or the real state of affairs... But suddenly, Aoki himself spoke up and calmly said:

"This is the Immortal Drunkard. I think you must have heard something about him."

"The Immortal Drunkard..." one of the swordsmen muttered, as if rummaging through memories, "Right! Are you the one who led a group of the younger generation through the entire forbidden zone of the Island of Reincarnation?!" he exclaimed in shock.

"Yep... Though in the end, almost everyone died, so it's not much of an achievement," Kai said with self-irony.

He couldn't exactly say that he deliberately killed half of them to absorb their blood... Kai decided that since there were some good rumors about him, let them stay that way...

"Well, it's a forbidden zone! Normally, no one below the Star Sphere survives there!" the swordsman exclaimed in admiration.

"Wait...," interrupting the conversation, the third guy said, "You're our age! But you're already on the..." he stammered in shock.

Only at that moment did the others realize that Kai was already on the Star Sphere and was much younger than Aoki! What level of genius was he?! They finally understood why Aoki treated Kai as someone of higher status!

Thus, the gathering continued for several more hours, and the swordsmen kept asking about various events on the Island of Reincarnation. They were incredibly interested in what exactly happened to Kai and what decisions he made to save the group of the three sects.

Kai, in turn, sparingly described those events, not giving them much significance or romance...

The next day at dawn, a group of more than a hundred swordsmen set off for the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment. Aoki explained that Kai was his old acquaintance from the Shadow Sect, who went directly to the meeting from a mission, hence he was separate from his sect.

They decided not to tell others about the Unholy Continent, demons, and the rest for now. It's better if each force is on equal footing and receives all the information simultaneously. It's still unclear how anyone will perceive such information...

Aoki immediately believed Kai because he fully trusts him, but others might be skeptical...

The group calmly moved through forests of giant trees and steep slopes. And three days later, when they reached another mountain, a huge lake stretched out before their eyes! Only upon closer inspection could one see the opposite shore...

"Beyond it lies the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment," Aoki said with a smile, pointing ahead.

"Just don't tell me we're going to circumnavigate it..." Kai said with a wry smile.

If Aoki responds positively, then Kai would simply summon Sop and fly there himself. He didn't want to waste a bunch of time on foot...

"Don't worry. Although the lake's waters usually don't disturb boats, an exception was made for the duration of the meeting. They should already be waiting for us," Aoki reassured him, patting Kai on the shoulder.

When the group of swordsmen finally descended from the mountain to the lake's shore, there were many small boats. Near the shore stood many bald monks in light-green loose clothes. Counting their number, Kai already understood why they were there...

No sooner had the swordsmen approached the shore than a monk in the Star Sphere appeared beside them and respectfully said:

"Welcome, honored guests. Please, distribute yourselves among the boats."

Immediately, all the monks began to disperse, pulling out long straight sticks, which they then leisurely lowered into the water. Their destination was just a stone's throw away!

V.4 Chapter 376: Kai's Mischief

The monks propelled the boats skillfully with long poles, moving them so expertly that not even a ripple marred the water's surface.

"Seems like they hold this lake in high regard…" Kai mused, watching their actions.

As they drew closer to the far shore of the vast lake, the walls of a majestic city became increasingly visible. It was so large that the trees could no longer conceal it!

The architectural style and overall atmosphere matched those of other cities in the Samsara Temple. However, this one was dotted with many tall buildings interconnected by wide bridges. Some buildings were covered in moss and greenery, while others remained bare and untouched.

All this created an air of ancient mystery. Kai felt something similar in the Astral City, but here, it was bright and bustling with life.

"Some researchers of the Heavenly Continent believe that civilization spread from the Samsara Temple… Considering the antiquity of these buildings, perhaps they were created even before the Overlord's breakthrough," Kai pondered, taking in the scene.

He became curious about the monks' breadth of knowledge. Could it be that they had preserved some knowledge, as was the case with the demons? If so, they should have a better understanding of the overall situation and suspect something…

The walls of the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment loomed larger and larger. Naturally, this was just a visual effect as they approached.

Half an hour later, the entire Sword Sect group finally arrived at the dock, where a few similar boats were already moored. It seemed this dock wasn't used very often in these parts.

A monk of the Star Sphere leaped from the boat and solemnly announced:

"Once again, we welcome our guests to the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment. Follow me, and I will show you where you will be staying."

"Are we the last ones? Sir…" One of the Sword Sect's Guardians asked but paused, unsure of the monk's name.

"My name is Prakhat," the monk replied calmly, "You are not the last; the Beast Dominion Sect is expected to arrive soon." He quickly added and nodded amiably.

Considering the map of the Heavenly Continent, the beasts and savages had the longest journey to the Samsara Temple.

"I wonder if the Savage of the Core Sphere and the Imperial Beast from their sect will come. And are the Imperial Beast and the savage allies, or not?" Kai suddenly thought, following the group.

The Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment was truly impressive… The level of masters here was significantly higher than in the Shadow Sect. Many young monks were in the Gravity Sphere, and among the middle-aged people, there were sometimes masters of the Star Sphere.

Now, the words that the Samsara Temple was stronger than the entire Mysterious Sea Region didn't seem empty. If they were to form a unified army, they could easily defeat any of the other sects… Kai wasn't sure about the Holy Empire, but even so, the impression was quite impressive.

"Will you go to yours? Or stay in the shadows for now?" Aoki suddenly asked.

"Although the Patriarch isn't here yet, I need to meet at least with Shuo… It would also be good to see some of the elders," Kai nodded in response.

"Come with us for now. When we're done settling in, then you can ask for directions to the Shadow Sect members," Aoki suggested leisurely.

"Uh-huh… That makes the most sense," Kai nodded again.

Kai keenly observed his surroundings. Now, in the city, one could see other people who stood out among the multitude of monks. Kai even spotted one of the Shadow Sect disciples, wearing the characteristic black uniform...

Apparently, the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment had slightly changed its usual atmosphere for the duration of the meeting. But it didn't seem to bother the monks too much. It seemed as if they treated the event as something inevitable, so they weren't worried about the foreigners.

Kai was also surprised that there weren't many arrays in this place. More common were various forges, where, as Kai noticed, they mainly cast special staffs.

"Apparently, the monks have their understanding of the path of martial arts. Their most common weapon is staffs? Interesting…" Kai thought, lightly touching his ring.

He couldn't help thinking about that strange material from the spatial rift… If the Samsara Temple was good at weapon making, could they help him craft suitable blades? Such an outcome might make Kai stay here a bit longer…

When the swordsmen arrived at their designated place, it turned out they were allocated an entire multi-story building. This was even too much for a group of their size.

Before the monk named Prakhat left, Kai quickly approached him and asked:

"Excuse me, where are the masters of the Shadow Sect staying?"

"Oh… I was wondering why you didn't look like a swordsman," the monk replied with a smile, "Do you see the peak of that building over there?" He asked, pointing somewhere in the distance.

In the direction of his hand was another tall building, about a kilometer away. Only its roof was visible...

"Thank you very much!" Kai quickly thanked him and bowed.

Although the monk didn't fully answer, it was already clear. He exchanged a few more words to clarify how many people from the Shadow Sect had arrived and whether the Patriarch had shown up. But the answer was as expected — the Patriarch was still on his way.

After saying goodbye to Aoki and the swordsmen, Kai calmly left them and headed towards the Shadow Sect's lodgings. On the way, he took out a strange pendant from his ring and quickly put it around his neck.

It was a gift from Ayame from the Aquamarine Bay. When Kai went to the Border Beast City, he took it off to make his progress easier. If those around you understand how dangerous you are, they won't cause unnecessary problems...

But now, he wanted to somewhat conceal the fact of his cultivation… After all, many in the Shadow Sect knew him, so it was better not to shock everyone outright. But most importantly, Kai didn't know what would happen at the meeting. If there was a fight among the younger generation, it was better to keep a surprise for them in the form of himself…

As for the Sword Sect masters, there was no need to worry about them...

Firstly, they were not enemies of the Shadow Sect and would not deliberately cause problems.

Secondly, they did not perceive Kai as a representative of the younger generation. Rather, he was a friend of Guardian Aoki, which automatically made him equal. Of the three swordsmen who had tea with Kai and Aoki, he took their word for silence. Therefore, rumors did not spread at all, as swordsmen strictly monitored their honor and reputation. They simply dared not break a promise!

Kai calmly walked forward, meeting more and more members of the Shadow Sect. He had seen many of them once, during the expedition to the Island of Reincarnation.

Previously, Kai also tied his hair in a tight bun to not stand out too much from the crowd. Considering his clothes, he didn't look like a member of the Shadow Sect at the moment. Therefore, he could not be easily spotted in the crowd...

"Oops… He-he…" Kai muttered with a sly smile.

At that moment, he saw Elder Ovian standing near a small stall, examining various items. He was also talking to the shopkeeper about something...

Kai simply couldn't miss such a coincidence... The situation was just perfect!

He calmly approached the stall and stood next to the elder, who was intently examining a purple stone. It seemed he was quite interested in making a purchase...

"Do you not mine these here... Would it be suitable for artifacts?" Ovian asked the shopkeeper.

"Hmm… To be honest, I'm not sure. We use it as one of the catalysts in weapon creation," the shopkeeper replied thoughtfully, nodding, "No, it wouldn't work for blades. This stone makes metal more flexible and elastic. I don't think blades need to bend," he explained quickly.

In turn, Ovian continued to look at the stone and didn't pay attention to Kai. Apparently, he was really interested in this purple mineral...

Watching such a scene, Kai decided not to drag things out and took the initiative into his own hands. After all, he was also eager to chat with old acquaintances...

"Elder Ovian, have you aged so much that you want to create a suitable walking stick for yourself?" Kai joked with a smile.

"Hmm?" Ovian grumbled and slowly turned his head toward the speaker.

Such words were quite impolite, especially considering the elder's status. He was even curious — who could be so arrogant to say something like that?

But as soon as Ovian saw Kai's face, the stone dropped from his hands directly onto the counter... The elder froze in the same pose he had been in...

"Maybe I shouldn't have greeted you like that; you might have a heart attack. He-he," Kai teased, laughing.

Without responding, Ovian reached out and began to feel Kai's shoulders, then his face. His look was somewhat wild...

"Elder Ovian, don't scare me... Have I really shocked you that much?" Kai said with a crooked smile.

At that moment, the elder firmly grasped Kai and instantly moved away from the crowd, leaving the shopkeeper in complete bewilderment...

Staring at Kai in astonishment, Ovian took a deep breath to calm down... But eventually, he couldn't hold back and shouted:

"What is going on here?! You're alive?! How? What?" Clutching Kai's shoulders in one breath, he exclaimed!

"As you can see, I survived. Though I've only just managed to return to the Heavenly Continent," Kai quickly replied, patting the elder on the shoulder.

Now that they were of equal height, it looked quite amusing from the side... Kai deliberately ignited energy on his hand and showed it to the elder.

Although he wore an amulet that hid his aura, if he manifested his energy outwardly, the concealment became useless. Therefore, Ovian immediately sensed Kai's cultivation level!

"What?! The Star Sphere?!" Ovian shouted even more shockingly.

"Beyond the Abyss lies another continent... Anyway, that's where I've been for the past few years. I need to meet with the Patriarch urgently and pass on important information," Kai replied calmly.

As soon as these words were spoken, Ovian seemed to be doused with cold water... His fervor and shock slowly began to fade away. Apparently, Kai's words were not incredibly shocking to him; rather, they confirmed some very unpleasant assumptions...

"The Patriarch isn't here yet; the meeting will only start in a few days..." Ovian frowned. "Come with me... You need to tell me in detail everything that happened to you over the last few years. I will also call the Shadow Elders, do you mind?" Still in a mix of emotions, he asked.

"That's exactly why I rushed to this meeting," Kai nodded affirmatively.

V.4 Chapter 377: Sect Conflict

Ovian ordered that today Kai should not contact anyone else. The duo immediately headed to the current dwelling of the Shadow Sect but didn't enter through the main entrance to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

The realization that Shuo might be nearby slightly accelerated Kai's heart rate. Although their relationship was a bit different than with Diso, Kai still wanted to see the taciturn monk…

Ovian told Kai to arrive at a certain room in two hours. He needed to find and summon all the present Shadow Elders. Thus, Kai calmly sat in wait, taking no unnecessary actions.

About an hour and a half flew by…

"Knock-knock." The sound at the door was heard, followed immediately by Elder Ovian's entrance.

"Did you manage to finish quicker than expected?" Kai asked with a smile.

"Yes. Honestly, I'm glad you're here… I thought I'd come in, and you wouldn't exist." The old man said sadly, shaking his head.

"Don't worry, I'm not a ghost." Kai laughed, "Let's get going."

They didn't delay and quickly moved to a room located at the top of their dwelling. To get there, one had to leave the building and climb a staircase that jutted straight from the walls.

As they nearly reached the top, the voices of several people began to carry over. To Kai's surprise, there was also a female voice…

"Which of the Shadow Elders are present here?" Kai asked quietly, interested.

"You already know Elder Traen… There's also Elder Alora and Elder Giliant." Ovian replied calmly.

At that moment, the rooftop was alive with argument. A woman and a man were constantly bickering with each other.

"Alora, calm down… If Ovian called us in such a hurry, it means something really significant has happened." A pleasant male voice sounded.

"I am calm, it's you who's irritating me. Hmph!" The woman retorted discontentedly.

"Silence, the reason for our meeting is approaching. To us comes... A mortal?" Traen paused in surprise, frowning.

Due to Kai's pendant, he couldn't discern the level of cultivation. At that moment, Traen became even more intrigued by what was happening. But as soon as Ovian and Kai's heads appeared, he instantly jumped from his chair!

"Traen? What's with you?" Alora asked in surprise, casually shifting her gaze to the young man in front.

"Greetings to the esteemed Shadow Elders!" Kai said respectfully and bowed.

"The boy is alive?! But how?!" Traen exclaimed in bewilderment.

"Who is this young man? Won't you enlighten us?" Giliant asked, turning to Traen.

Kai, in turn, quickly glanced at the strangers and assessed their appearance. To his surprise, Alora didn't look like an old woman; she appeared more like a beautiful woman in her forties, with long silver hair neatly falling down her back and shoulders.

Giliant also didn't seem like an old man… He had long, dense black hair. The man's face was smoothly shaved, and he appeared in the prime of life.

"These two are very particular about their appearance… Without special pills, maintaining such looks would be impossible." Kai thought to himself.

But at that moment, Traen's deep voice answered the question posed to him.

"This is Mo's personal disciple. He perished near the Abyss... About six years ago."

"Dead? But how…" Giliant muttered in surprise.

"Wait… Is it because of him that the Patriarch was so annoyed last time?" Alora said, as if recalling something.

"Exactly. This is the Immortal Drunkard – the lost genius of the Shadow Sect." Traen answered seriously, turning his gaze to Kai.

It seemed that after the massacre on the Island of Reincarnation, Kai's identity had become quite popular… Apparently, the Patriarch wasn't lying when he said he counted on him in the future.

At that moment, Kai laughed and said with a smile:

"I'd like to be modest, but in my case, it would be foolish."

As soon as he spoke, his body began to be covered with black energy, releasing an overwhelming aura around! The faces of the three Shadow Elders instantly contorted!

"The energy of the Abyss? The Star Sphere?!" Alora asked in astonishment, raising one eyebrow.

"It seems we're in for a long conversation…" Traen said with a heavy face, looking at Kai's revealed cultivation. Without saying another word, he quietly sat down.

Obviously, the situation was far from ordinary… And such events usually didn't bring anything good...

"After the accident, I was thrown directly into the Abyss. But as you see, I managed to pass through it, thanks to my affinity with its energy." Kai quickly replied.

"To pass? And what lies beyond it? I hope for a treasury…" Traen said heavily, already understanding he was wrong.

"Beyond it lies the so-called Unholy Continent…" Kai said seriously.

Thereafter, he began to detail everything that had happened to him in the last years. Naturally, he omitted important moments in his cultivation and stuck to the legend he had told Master Mo.

Before these Shadow Elders, Kai focused more on the details. He talked about the political structure of the Unholy Continent, the hierarchy of nature's children and demons, their nature, strengths, and desires.

And when the conversation turned to demons and their overall combat power, the elders visibly tensed… What Kai was telling them was incredibly valuable information! Not only did they learn about an impending attack, but they also gained a lot of information about the structure of the enemy forces!

Although it all seemed too wild and fabricated, Traen understood well that Kai would not lie. Moreover, he would be one of the key elements in the upcoming war, and thus — in the fate of the entire Heavenly Continent!

When Kai finished his story, the elders continued to be silent... Only after a few minutes did they come to themselves and began to speak.

"The Patriarch will have to reconsider his views…" Traen said heavily.

"Definitely…" Giliant also said thoughtfully.

"Are there any problems, esteemed elders?" Kai asked cautiously.

It seemed that the Patriarch had a different view of this meeting. Moreover, now everything looked as if he had greatly misunderstood…

"Yes. The heads of the Mysterious Sea Region believe that the era of truce between the forces of the Heavenly Continent is ending. They interpreted this meeting as the Holy Region's desire to suppress all the others." Traen said, frowning.

"Moreover, we already have a coalition with the Wild Region…" Alora murmured, "They also noticed oddities in some forbidden zones. The Beast Dominion Sect believes that the Holy Region has discovered unprecedented benefits from this situation and thus wants to subdue everyone else and take everything into their own hands." She added seriously.

"The problem is that the Wild Region is unlikely to listen to the words of an unknown boy." Giliant said, shifting his gaze to Kai, "They might think we've been bribed by the Samsara Temple." He said frankly.

It was already clear that the situation was not unfolding as well as Kai had initially assumed. The forces of the Heavenly Continent had misinterpreted the weakening of the spatial rifts. Most likely, this was due to a difference in the understanding of history…

After all, demons remembered the existence of humans and the ancient world, making it easier for them to assume the existence of other lands. But in the consciousness and daily life of humans, if demons appeared at all, they were something mythical and nonexistent.

"So what's the plan?" Kai asked seriously.

"Everyone agreed that the weight of each Core Sphere master's voice will be decided based on the strength of the younger generation. Although it may seem illogical… Otherwise, they would never come to a consensus." Traen said, stroking his beard.

Each Core Sphere master was a ruler of an entire part of the continent. These were the strongest beings in the world, who would not allow anyone to suppress them. To think that about a dozen such individuals would gather in one place and communicate peacefully was foolish… Each of them was unshakeably confident in their rightness and their path. Indeed, it was this that had brought them to their current level!

In such a case, the only way out was to introduce a certain regulator. And so, the tournament of the younger generation became just that. Perhaps among them were future rulers…

"But we shouldn't worry…" Giliant said with a sly smile, looking intently at Kai.

"I think you're right. I don't know how strong the disciples of the Samsara Temple and the Holy Empire are… But I've already killed Star Sphere masters, so the younger generation shouldn't be a problem." Kai responded frankly.

"Don't jump to conclusions. Those who are a decade older than you are still the younger generation. In the Samsara Temple, Holy Empire, and the Beast Dominion Sect, there are their trump cards." Traen hinted, referring to Star Sphere masters, "Apparently, this century can be considered a generation of geniuses. In all forces, sprouts have appeared far exceeding the level of past centuries. The last time something similar happened was during the youth of the Patriarch." The old man added sternly.

Sometimes in history, it happened that within a short period, many remarkable individuals were born. Several decades provided a push for future rulers of the entire Heavenly Continent.

And considering Traen's words, besides Kai, there would be three more Star Sphere masters. Although they were older than him, they fit snugly into the definition of the younger generation. It's better to say that they were on the verge of transitioning to a status similar to that of an elder.

"It seems many agreed to this tournament only because they have a promising younger generation in their hands. Strange, of course, that the Mysterious Sea Region also agreed… Aoki has already entered the status of a guardian…" Kai thought to himself.

"Besides me, is there anyone else?" Kai suddenly asked.

"No, but we have more Core Sphere masters… Even if we don't take the leading places in the tournament, we have our pressure on the final decision of the council. We didn't initially count on winning." Elder Traen honestly answered.

"Until now, we hadn't hoped…" Giliant corrected the elder's words.

"Exactly… Kai, now you'll have to demonstrate what you've achieved in recent years. And perhaps it's better to hide your appearance until the tournament itself." Traen said thoughtfully. "It would be better for you to appear unexpectedly, astonishing even the Patriarch. That way, we can't be accused of conspiracy and bribery. The Core Sphere elders are skilled enough to understand the authenticity of emotions on the Patriarch's face." He quickly added and looked at the other two elders.

"I think you're right, Traen… Let the boy talk about the Unholy Continent openly. Such a revelation will astonish even the rulers of the Mysterious Sea Region, after all, they must learn and understand who the Immortal Drunkard is." Alora said thoughtfully.

"I agree with you. Let's act exactly like that." Kai nodded in approval.

V.4 Chapter 378: Do Not Offend the Goddess

A group of five people discussed the situation for about two more hours. They were trying to decide the best course of action under the current conditions. If handled carelessly, it could only exacerbate the situation on the Heavenly Continent. And as a result, it could lead to grievous consequences in the future…

They decided not to inform the Patriarch about Kai's sudden resurrection. It was better if only a few people knew about it. Then, the element of surprise would work in their favor!

If Kai appeared during the tournament and took a stand for the Shadow Sect at a critical moment, something might come of it… Certainly, everyone would want to know the story of the genius who came out of nowhere. Moreover, the Patriarch's reaction would be genuine. In such circumstances, Kai could take the floor and talk about the impending disaster.

The idea of first telling the Patriarch was also discussed… But in that case, at the moment of truth, even the Holy Flame and the Supreme might suspect something fishy. What if the Patriarch had somehow hidden and secretly extracted Kai from the Island of Reincarnation? Had he been raising him in the shadows all these years, fooling everyone? Why didn't he present him at the recent tournament of the Mysterious Sea Region? What were Kai's story's aims? Could the Shadow Sect be in collusion with the Samsara Temple?

Such questions could not only harm the general alliance but even destroy the trust within the Mysterious Sea Region. Because of this, the Shadow Elders firmly settled on Kai's unexpected return.

After the discussion ended, Traen approached Kai and said:

"I don't know whether you are a disaster or salvation... But I'm glad you're alive." he mused, "If you continue to develop at the same pace… The next Patriarch is already decided." He stated and patted Kai on the shoulder, disappearing instantly.

There was no pretense in these words… In a few months, Kai would only turn twenty-one. But already, he confidently stood at the Star Sphere, and even discussed plans with the Shadow Elders. Moreover, they unconsciously talked to him as an equal, not even perceiving him as a disciple.

Kai was more of a phenomenon, incredibly useful in many aspects. And to think, he achieved all of this on his own! It could be said that he hardly used the resources of the Shadow Sect...

"Hmm… Should I now change how I address you? Heir?" Ovian joked.

He was the only elder who hadn't left. Traen's last words didn't escape him. And if such a thing is said by one of the most authoritative Shadow Elders, it means it's not to be taken lightly.

"Stop joking, Elder Ovian. I'm far from that level." Kai brushed off, "Besides, with my lifestyle, I should first live to see that moment." He added with a smile.

"If the Abyss didn't kill you, I doubt anything else will." the elder winked in response.

"Alright, let's get serious." Kai shifted the topic, "I think I shouldn't stay here or anywhere near the disciples of the Shadow Sect. I'll sneak into the tournament as a bystander to avoid suspicion." Kai quickly continued, then paused thoughtfully… "By the way, can you get me a new outfit?

"There's no need. Such a thing might also indicate preparation. Better it looks as though you've come directly to the meeting in a hurry." Ovian calmly replied.

"That's true… Alright, then I'm leaving. See you at the tournament!" Kai said with a smile, and a strange mask appeared in his hand.

After he put it on along with a long cloak, his figure instantly vanished. Elder Ovian stood for a while longer, took a deep breath, and then headed towards the exit.

According to the elders, the meeting would open with a tournament of the younger generation, starting in two days. That's when Kai would reveal himself to the world… Knowing he still had time, Kai pondered what to do.

"It's a pity I can't find brother Shuo… I'd like to meet him sooner." Kai thought to himself, strolling around the area.

Even if he found the Lone Buddha and spoke with him, there should be no problem. But the Shadow Elders had ordered not to contact other disciples of the Shadow Sect or show himself anywhere...

Kai couldn't go to any nice establishments either, so he just jumped onto the roof of a tall temple and pulled out some demonic wine from his ring. There was no rush, so he decided to enjoy these two days in peace.

"Say what you will, but their alcohol is exquisite!" Kai savored, speaking aloud.

With each passing day, the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment became louder and more bustling. Everything indicated the approach of something grand… By the end of the last day, a group from the Beast Dominion Sect appeared in the city.

At that moment, Kai was in the crowd, watching the spectacle attentively. About a hundred savages moved along the road, each accompanied by various beasts. Some were quite large, but some didn't seem bigger than a dog. Obviously, the beasts' strength didn't depend on their body size…

"Oh? That's…" Kai thought to himself, surprised as he looked at the front of the column.

There were savages of elder level… But Kai was surprised not by them, but by the anthropomorphic beasts walking alongside! Some of them had many human features and only a few beastly ones. Each of them had animal ears and various tails... It was somewhat reminiscent of the nature's child.

"I've seen something similar in the Overlord's trial…" Kai remembered, recalling a scene where the Border Beast City was destroyed.

"Where's the Imperial Beast?" a whisper was heard from the side.

"The rulers of the Heavenly Continent will arrive separately… What kind of stupid questions are you asking?" a girl responded, rolling her eyes.

As Kai was in the crowd, he was now surrounded by various individuals. But surprisingly, the attire of these two seemed familiar… They were dressed in shiny white clothes with not many extra details.

"Representatives of the Holy Empire? Interesting…" Kai thought, lingering his gaze on them.

Noticing this, the girl grimaced and hissed at the boy beside her:

"See?! Now we're being looked at like idiots!"

Hearing this, Kai laughed and decided to ease the duo's tension. After all, he was the one in the wrong. Listening in on others' conversations was indeed bad manners...

"Sorry for butting into your affairs. Actually, I was just curious about your appearance." Kai politely said, "I haven't encountered disciples from the Holy Empire before, so I was pondering." He added, smiling.

"Oh? You don't look like a monk either. Which force did you come from?" the boy asked, showing interest.

Both the boy and the girl had long blond hair and blue eyes. Also, on their foreheads was a small symbol of a quadrilateral star. Kai had read that in the Holy Empire, the bloodline of descendants is a key factor in cultivating the Empire's main technique.

Kai thought this concept was somewhat similar to his own lineage. In essence, that's what it was, just how strong it was still unclear. But there seemed to be significant differences... It seemed the Holy Empire's technique was based on energy, not body enhancement, as in Kai's case.

"I'm a wandering master and don't belong to any particular force. But hearing about such a grand event, I decided to visit as well." Kai replied carelessly.

"I see… Your life must be interesting…" the boy mused, "By the way! I'm Lanel, and this is Arin!" Coming to his senses, the boy introduced with a smile.

"My name is Kai." Kai introduced himself in response. Hiding his name was pointless, as it was unlikely anyone from the Holy Empire had heard of him.

"Kai, would you like to join us for a meal?" Lanel asked with sparkling eyes.

But at that moment, Arin interrupted him and apologetically said:

"Sorry, my brother has been obsessed with traveling and exploring distant lands since childhood… So, he's a bit too excited. Please don't mind him…"

"No problem. If you like, I can tell you about various things." Kai cheerfully replied, "But in return, tell me a bit about your homeland. I think after the Samsara Temple, I'll head to the Holy Empire." He quickly added.

Although his face was hidden by the mask, Kai's tone was friendly. Just from that, one could tell he was smiling.

"Really?! We're definitely interested! Come with us!" Lanel exclaimed quickly, making his way through the crowd.

"Let's go. But let's choose a less crowded place; I'm not fond of noise." Kai replied calmly.

"So that's why you're currently in the midst of a crowd? Aha-ha-ha!" Lanel joked.

Arin clearly didn't approve of such behavior but couldn't influence her brother… So, she just smiled awkwardly and followed.

To the eye, these two were about eighteen years old, but they were already in the Gravity Sphere. They were definitely not the weakest in the young generation of the Holy Empire. But most likely, they weren't the strongest either…

An hour later, they sat in an establishment located away from the center, in a rather secluded spot. The tables were set under the open sky, creating a pleasant and serene atmosphere.

Kai talked almost the entire way about different zones of the Heavenly Continent. Though he hadn't visited every corner, he could share some information. Even about the territory of the Shadow Sect, there was something to tell. Moreover, Kai had read about various territories, so he could easily talk about what he hadn't seen.

All this greatly inspired the cheerful boy. At some point, even Arin showed a slight interest, occasionally asking rare questions…

"So… What about the Holy Empire? I've noticed that the entire Holy Region is inhabited by rather restrained and calm people." Shifting to the topic of his interest, Kai asked.

"Hmm… Although we're quite different from monks, we do share some similarities. Not all of us are as restrained as you think, though. The entire Holy Empire is ruled by the imperial family. They are direct descendants of the Goddess who bestowed her power on them." Lanel replied thoughtfully, "The direct descendants are quite arrogant and authoritarian. I wouldn't exactly call them restrained…" He calmly added.

"Lanel! Your words insult the Goddess!" Arin immediately exclaimed, starting to scold her brother.

"Why is that?! We also have a part of the Goddess's blood in our veins! Why can't I speak the truth?!" Lanel retorted, dissatisfied.

"What truth? One that insults the Goddess?! Do you want to invoke her wrath on yourself?!" Arin continued, getting worked up.

At that moment, the duo realized they had gotten a bit heated and showed themselves in a somewhat bad light... Because of this, they fell silent, and Lanel guiltily said:

"Sorry… You shouldn't have had to listen to all this…"

"It's alright. Believe me, I've seen too much to be surprised by such things. Every force has its own order and internal issues." Kai replied carelessly.

V.4 Chapter 379: Gathering of Regions

Kai wasn't very knowledgeable about the Holy Empire, as the books only offered superficial information, mainly concerning the imperial family.

"So, you are all united by a common faith?" Kai asked with interest.

The brief spat between the brother and sister had already given him some food for thought. Now, he was curious about this Goddess…

"The Holy Empire was founded under the patronage of the Goddess. It is her blood that gives us all strength and the ability to cultivate the Star Goddess Technique," Lanel nodded in response, "She always watches over us and aids in our achievements. Without the Goddess, there would be no Holy Empire!" he added seriously.

"Does that mean you all cultivate the same technique?" Kai asked with interest.

He was curious about many things, but it was better not to push too hard. Delving too aggressively into someone else's affairs might lead to suspicion…

"Not everyone… Only those in whose veins the Goddess's blood flows," Arin shook her head in response.

"What about you then?" Kai asked with interest, slightly lifting his mask to take a sip of tea.

"Of course, we also cultivate the Star Goddess Technique. Though we are from a collateral branch of the family, we are still descendants of the Goddess," Lanel replied proudly.

Seeing Kai's confusion, Arin smiled and explained, "Almost half of the Holy Empire are descendants of the Goddess. Each of them is entitled to cultivate the Star Goddess Technique. However, the final outcome largely depends on the quality of your blood."

"Quality of blood? Sounds a bit strange. Heh," Kai replied carelessly.

"Maybe for residents of other regions, but not for us," the girl smiled back.

"Hmm… The concept seems similar to the Invisible King's Torture Technique. Without Kessia's lineage, I likely wouldn't have been able to progress beyond the second level. Their empire, too, descendants of a similar master?" Kai thought to himself.

It seemed like the Holy Empire was founded by a woman of incredible strength. Perhaps she was a peak Core Sphere master who survived the apocalypse. Through her cultivation technique and blood, she began to revive her sect. But over thousands of years, the story got somewhat twisted…

If indeed the situation was as such, it's no wonder the Holy Empire holds such faith. From their perspective, such a woman could indeed be considered a Goddess.

Naturally, with Kai's level of knowledge and understanding of the world, he couldn't believe in the existence of any deity… If one were to use such concepts, the Overlord of Inevitable Destruction would be much closer to such a status. His breakthrough nearly destroyed the world, so it's unlikely the ancestor of the Holy Empire could match such a feat…

"I see… Your history is fascinating…" Kai murmured, ceasing further inquiries about their traditions, "By the way, who will represent the Holy Empire? Who is the strongest among the young generation?" Kai suddenly asked.

"Well, we didn't come here for nothing. We will also participate!" Lanel replied with a smile.

"Only we are the weakest of the strong," Arin said with a wry smile, "Most likely, everything will be decided by the best disciples. No offense to the other forces, but I'm confident Prince Cecil will be among the top." She added proudly.

"Though I don't like him, I agree with my sister…" Lanel mused, supporting Arin, "He's at the initial stage of the Star Sphere, plus the concentration of the Goddess's blood in him is incredible! He uses the Star Goddess Technique at an unbelievable level! It's unlikely anyone from the younger generation of the Heavenly Continent can stand against him…" he added seriously.

"Don't forget about the Samsara Temple…" Arin shifted her gaze to her brother.

The Holy Empire was the only one that shared borders with the Samsara Temple. They were even designated as a separate region of the Heavenly Continent. Therefore, it's natural they knew much more about the internal affairs of the monks.

"Probably their young generation is also remarkable?" Kai asked casually, swirling the tea in his cup.

Although he asked calmly, this information was incredibly important to him. If he could learn more in advance, it would be very useful during the tournament.

Kai was fully confident in his abilities, but who knows what the strongest of the major forces might pull out... Although they were only novices in the Star Sphere, their heritage was also terrifying. Perhaps they would be stronger than the elders at the initial stage of the Star Sphere of the Amanozaku Clan.

Hearing Kai's question, Lanel pondered for a moment, sighed heavily, and said, "Honestly, I don't even think they can be called the young generation… They should have lost the status of disciples by now. And all of them are about thirty-five years old…" he expressed with a hint of reproach.

"But they can't be called old either. So better not start this topic again. Our weakness is our own fault," Arin replied sternly, "And as usual, you didn't answer the question, starting to talk about something else! You need to learn to listen to people, Lanel!" she added slightly annoyed.

These two seemed like good people and immediately caught Kai's liking. Considering they made it to this meeting, they were definitely considered the elite of the young generation of the Holy Empire. But they didn't exude arrogance… They aspired to higher achievements, so they didn't focus on suppressing the weak.

"Sorry… Ha-ha." Lanel laughed awkwardly and finally began to answer Kai's previous question, "The Samsara Temple also has an incredible master… I don't know much, but his name is supposed to be Mitra. Though there's no specific information about him…"

"Wow… No wonder they say a whole generation of geniuses has been born," Kai said enthusiastically, "I heard that the Beast Dominion Sect also has a terrifying master." He added casually.

Though he didn't expect the duo to know about this, he decided to try anyway. To his surprise, Arin nodded and replied, "Supposedly her name is Kashira… Rumor has it, she's the daughter of the Imperial Beast himself!"

"Hmm… And what does she look like? Who's her partner?" Kai asked with interest.

After all, they had recently observed those arriving from the Beast Dominion Sect. Therefore, Kai was curious about who among them was this Kashira. He hadn't seen anyone particularly impressive among the young ones...

"Honestly, I don't know about her appearance. She's supposed to arrive with the Imperial Beast. So, we'll probably see her only at the tournament," Arin shook her head in response.

But Lanel quickly interrupted her and exclaimed in admiration, "Rumor has it, the successor to the Imperial Beast has no partner! Beasts have a separate legacy that can be cultivated by very few. Their numbers are so scarce that such beings are born only once every few decades!"

"Brother is right, I've heard about it too. This tradition has been around for thousands of years. Beasts predisposed to this legacy develop through a separate system. They are also members of the Beast Dominion Sect but do not have a partner. Sometimes, savages and beasts develop separately," Arin quickly added.

"Although each force of the Heavenly Continent can be summarized under a certain template, there are exceptions everywhere... Not all in the Sword Sect are swordsmen, just as not all beasts form a spiritual contract with savages…" Kai thought to himself, listening attentively to the girl's narration.

Each force had its traditions and orders. Each boasted a distinctive trait possessed by the majority of their disciples. But as many masters there are, there are just as many paths in the martial arts...

After a brief conversation with this duo, Kai learned quite a lot of useful information. By his estimates, there would be only three opponents worth noting at the tournament: Cecil, Mitra, and Kashira!

Though Kai knew Shuo was quite strong, it was obvious he was no match for these three. Even if Aoki participated, he wouldn't stand a chance against them.

The trio casually chatted for about two more hours, discussing various things. Only after that did they finally part ways, having exchanged pleasantries. Overall, Kai was pleased to have diversified his leisure on the last day before the tournament.

Tomorrow would be a critical day not only for him but for the entire Heavenly Continent! Even the battle of the young generation didn't have much significance… The most important thing was to create the right atmosphere with his appearance and to say the right words at the right time. In that case, he could convince a larger number of people and beasts!

The night passed in the blink of an eye, and by dawn, Kai was fully prepared. He changed into loose black clothes, somewhat resembling the uniform of the Shadow Sect. He put on his mask and tied his hair into a tight bun at the back of his head.

"Well then… Let's begin!" Kai said confidently and headed to the main temple, where the tournament was to be held.

As an outsider master not belonging to any sect, Kai was supposed to take his place in the spectator stands. The most important thing was for his Shadow Seal to reach the center of the arena, allowing him the possibility to move to it.

Therefore, Kai removed the pendant given by Ayame to demonstrate his level of cultivation to everyone. He certainly wouldn't be the only Star Sphere master among the spectators, but this way, Kai could definitely secure a seat in the front rows.

In the current situation, Kai didn't dwell on any pretense of morality and chose the easiest path — intimidation! Of course, some had been waiting for several days to secure their spot. But alas, they would have to make some room…

The streets of the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment were unnaturally noisy this morning. Many masters and even ordinary people were heading to the main temple, but none of the major forces of the Heavenly Continent were visible. Apparently, they would arrive at a different time, after all, they didn't need to queue or secure places.

Kai didn't wait either… When he approached the vast complex of buildings, he discreetly entered. At that moment, masters at the peak of the Gravity Sphere were on guard. Though they were immovable pillars for some, Kai could simply ignore them…

People had only recently started being let inside, with kilometer-long queues outside that had formed since the previous evening. Therefore, there were plenty of seats available. Kai calmly walked to one of the front rows and took his seat.

"Not a bad setup…" Kai thought, appreciating the ambiance.

The temple's space was vast... At the center of the ceiling was a huge hole, through which the interior and the arena were perfectly illuminated. It even seemed that this temple was slightly dilapidated, with an air of antiquity emanating from its walls…

Ahead was a huge platform, to which there were no visible stairs. That's where seven incredibly beautiful stone tables now stood. And behind each one hung a huge canvas, painted with equally majestic hieroglyphs. They were so large that they couldn't be missed even from the far corners of the temple!

Each announced the name of the force whose ruler would sit at the table! The Samsara Temple, Holy Empire, Sword Sect, Wasteland of Savages, Shadow Sect, Wild Beasts Steppe, and Spirit Fire Sect!

They were specifically arranged so that each force was positioned separately, rather than in their own coalition, like the Mysterious Sea Region or Wild Region.

Though most savages and beasts were directly united, at this moment, their rulers appeared separately. From the perspective of the assembly of forces of the Heavenly Continent, this was quite logical!

V.4 Chapter 380: Rulers of the Heavenly Continent

Kai sat calmly, observing the waves of arriving people. With each passing hour, their numbers grew. Naturally, the overwhelming majority were from the Samsara Temple. Even having learned of such a grand event, not many had the opportunity to travel so far to the distant corner of the continent. Even groups consisting of the best people from their sect had to travel for several months…

Though Kai stood out noticeably among those present, he still quickly blended into the crowd.

His neighbors actively discussed the upcoming fights and various candidates. But no one dared to approach Kai or strike up a conversation with him. At that moment, he radiated the aura of a Star Sphere master and, in general, seemed like a dangerous person…

Below the high platform, where the seats for the rulers of the Heavenly Continent were located, were seats for their subordinates. But at the moment, none of them had arrived yet.

"Do you think Mitra will come out on top?" Three men to the side were discussing.

"I'm not used to being so categorical, but logically - there are no other options," the second nodded in response.

"Still, there are rumors that this friendly tournament pursues deeper goals…" the third mused thoughtfully.

It seemed that some rumors had already spread within the Samsara Temple's territory. After all, the sudden assembly of all the continent's forces looked quite suspicious. No one could even recall if anything like this had ever happened before…

Usually, each region had minimal contact with the others. Or they even had small local conflicts, as was the case with the Border Beast City, which was sometimes attacked by unintelligent beasts.

"It will be interesting to watch the fights of the best from the young generation of the Heavenly Continent… I used to think I had no rivals among them. It's somewhat pleasing to realize I was wrong…" Kai thought to himself.

In reality, Kai had only judged based on the young generation of the Mysterious Sea Region and the Aquamarine Bay. But he knew nothing about the beasts and the other forces of the Heavenly Continent. It turned out that besides him, there were several other prodigies, although significantly older than him.

As Kai pondered various things, time slowly approached noon. At some point, all the spectator stands were filled to capacity. The noise was such that it spread throughout much of the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment.

Suddenly, a clear, almost hypnotic sound rang out!

“Dong!”

At this sound, many involuntarily took a deep breath and closed their eyes. Some felt a pleasant dizziness, experiencing complete relaxation of their bodies.

"What's this?" Kai wondered, feeling a pleasant wave of energy entering his body. Even he felt the influence of this sound!

As Kai looked up, he saw a monk in light-green robes. He had a smoothly shaven head and a serious, ordinary face.

The monk's hands were hidden in the wide sleeves as if he had joined his palms at chest level. A strange glowing aura emanated from him, calming at mere sight. No one even noticed how, after this sound, the entire crowd fell silent. There was not a single conversation or whisper. Everyone looked attentively at the monk in the air!

"Is this the ruler of the Samsara Temple? What an unfathomable aura…" Kai thought.

But at that moment, the monk took a deep breath and began to speak!

"Firstly, I welcome all foreigners. I hope you have found no problems in the Samsara Temple, only opportunities. Secondly, I ask you to assess the tournament calmly and not to disturb the harmony of this place," the monk's voice sounded measured and calming, "Today might mark the beginning of a new era in the history of the Heavenly Continent. But what it will be — that remains a mystery, the results of which we can only accept." He said somewhat vaguely.

For everyone around, these were just strange philosophical teachings of the monk. But considering the status of this being, everyone tried to understand the in-depth meaning of his words…

"Apparently, the Samsara Temple indeed suspects something about the Unholy Continent… They will be on my side!" Kai confidently thought.

If others tried to interpret the monk's words in their own way, Kai definitely understood what he was talking about. Most likely, these words were addressed to other Core Sphere masters, who were definitely watching this event attentively…

"The tournament is not created for competition, but to establish connections and demonstrate the combined strength of the young generation of the Heavenly Continent. Sometimes new challenges require a reevaluation of established traditions," the monk also stated ambiguously, "And now, I will introduce our guests. But please, no loud reactions, maintain silence." The monk warned again and, spreading his arms, pointed with one of them towards the high platform.

At that moment, on one of the thrones appeared the beautiful Holy Flame, and below, disciples and elders of the Spirit Fire Sect began to emerge, heading to their places.

"The Spirit Fire Sect, led by the Holy Flame!" The monk solemnly introduced.

Immediately following, savages began to emerge, walking at this moment without beasts. And on one of the thrones appeared a huge man, taller than two meters. Old torn scars adorned his face, and a veil covered his right eye. His head was covered with long blond hair, and he was dressed in leather armor that left his torso bare…

It seemed that such armor was worn not so much for protection but rather to display the wild nature of this man…

"The Wasteland of Savages, led by the Tyrannical King!" Pointing at the huge man, the monk announced.

But he didn't stop there and immediately continued to announce the next ruler:

"The Holy Empire, led by the Holy Emperor!"

Representatives of the Holy Empire were dressed in the same clothes as Lanel and Arin. Almost every one of them bore that strange symbol of a four-pointed star on their foreheads. It was a mark indicating their lineage to the Goddess.

In turn, a man in his forties appeared on the platform in white clothes, partly covered in armor. His face was adorned with a small gray beard, harmoniously matching his white hair and blue eyes. Only, the star on his forehead seemed to be hidden, leaving his skin clear…

"The aura of the Holy Emperor is almost imperceptible… His appearance is majestic, but what he represents is entirely unclear…" Kai analyzed in his mind.

If the Tyrannical King radiated an aura of fierceness and danger, the Holy Emperor seemed like a holy statue, inspiring worship and admiration.

"The Shadow Sect, led by the Patriarch of the Shadow Sect!" Instantly piquing Kai's interest, the monk announced.

Though Kai knew well what the Patriarch looked like and it wasn't as interesting as seeing the other rulers. But now, he couldn't hide a slight tremor in his heart…

A familiar middle-aged man with short black hair and the same black eyes appeared on stage. He radiated complete confidence in himself, but his gaze betrayed a slight, unmistakable displeasure…

"Apparently, the elders weren't lying when they said the Patriarch was skeptical of the actions of the Samsara Temple…" Kai thought.

And at that moment, his heart skipped a beat, for he finally saw Shuo stepping onto the stage! The representatives of the Shadow Sect calmly moved to their places, emitting an aura of hostility.

"Shuo looks so serious… He must understand that today will be a difficult day for him." Kai thought with a slight smile.

He understood that Shuo was one of those who would have to represent the Shadow Sect at the forefront. The final distribution of power would be decided by the results of the strongest disciples. The first fights were just a warm-up!

Immediately after, the members of the Sword Sect and the Supreme, who also radiated a light aura of hostility, emerged onto the stage. Amusingly, the old man had decided to grow a beard over the past years…

After that, Kai eagerly awaited the moment when the Imperial Beast would finally be introduced… Ever since he read the Kar Yorma book, he had been interested in this being. It seemed that he also had some knowledge of the past that he never revealed to the continent's explorer…

But the monk didn't make them wait long and solemnly announced:

"The Wild Beasts Steppe, led by the Imperial Beast!"

“Boom!” With an unmistakable pulsation of energy, an anthropomorphic beast appeared on one of the seats!

Such an appearance caused slight disdain among the other Core Sphere masters. This appearance was somewhat provocative…

It was a man, not differing in size from the Tyrannical King… His appearance was notably distinct, as he had two beastly ears on his head, and his hair seemed more like fur! His torso was completely bare, and a tail could be seen hanging behind. In all other aspects, his body was similar to a human's…

But Kai's reaction was even more vivid! The aura of the Imperial Beast surprised him greatly! He felt something familiar in his energy…

"The echoes of the Law of Inevitable Destruction! What's going on here?!" Kai mentally exclaimed, almost rising from his seat in astonishment!

But then, his reaction changed even more dramatically! When anthropomorphic beasts began to emerge onto the stage, among them appeared a girl Kai had not seen earlier among the beasts. And considering her appearance, everything pointed to her belonging to the lineage of the current Imperial Beast!

"Where is this dense atmosphere of the Law of Inevitable Destruction coming from?! Wait… It's not emanating from her body, as in the case with the Imperial Beast… Then, what's happening..." Kai suddenly realized a terrifying fact.

In that instant, an obvious but astonishing answer came to him…

"She possesses one of the Seals of Destruction! So, that's what is required from a successor?!" Kai mentally exclaimed.

The Overlord of Inevitable Destruction had mentioned spreading several Seals of Destruction before his death. It was done so that someone capable of comprehending the Law of Inevitable Destruction at a sufficient level would find them and visit the Temple of Inevitable Destruction.

Now, it was clear that one of these seals was possessed by the beast race. That's why the Imperial Beast also radiated a familiar aura! He too had once tried to comprehend the Seal of Destruction! After all, even Seth had said that when the seal is filled with power, it becomes an incredible aid in cultivation.

"Becoming a successor, this girl acquired the seal in her hands! That's why she's considered a genius! She's capable of using it, hence her rapid progression!" Kai thought, shocked by this turn of events.

He had not expected to stumble upon such an incredible discovery during this tournament! Previously, he had no idea where to start looking for the Seals of Destruction, but unexpectedly for himself, he had already found one of them!

V.4 Chapter 381: First Fight

At that moment, Kai was in utter shock… He wondered how long the beasts had possessed the Seal of Destruction. But considering the aura of the Imperial Beast, it had to be at least a thousand years ago! Perhaps they had it since the apocalypse itself!

"Incredible… Over so many years, they still couldn’t comprehend the Law of Inevitable Destruction at a sufficient level? Or simply couldn’t find the path to the Temple of Inevitable Destruction?" Kai thought with interest and began to scrutinize the energy of the father and daughter more closely.

Although it indeed contained hints of the Law of Destruction, it was only some of its aspects. It couldn’t be said that they grasped it even on a basic level.

"No… Apparently, without the proper cultivation technique, you can't develop this law deeply enough…" Kai mused mentally.

Only with the help of the Invisible King's Torture Technique, Kai managed to cultivate the terrifying Asura Reaper Law. Even considering it a so-called parallel law, it was far better than the situation with these beasts…

But even so, the Seal of Destruction contains a tremendous amount of energy and power! If you can interact with it even a little — the benefits would be incredible! This trait was valued among the successors of the Imperial Beast, namely — the ability to interact with the Law of Destruction!

The seal stored in Kai's ring was almost completely depleted since it previously supported the barrier of the entire Temple of Inevitable Destruction. Therefore, Kai didn’t use it in cultivation, as there was no special sense. In such a state, it had no noticeable effect on the development process.

But the one in this girl's hands… This seal was definitely a good support!

"Damn… If one of the seals is in the hands of the Imperial Beast… How can I acquire it?! And what will they think when they see my energy?" Kai thought mentally...

This situation created unforeseen circumstances… Now it was unclear how the further action of the tournament would unfold...

"Anyway, if the Imperial Beast wants to acquire my body, the entire Mysterious Sea Region will stand by my side. The main thing is that this does not cause a conflict of even larger scale… Such would be a complete failure of our entire plan…" Kai pondered with a heavy expression, hidden under a mask.

Kai's reflection was interrupted by the voice of a monk, who also moved to his place on the platform. Sitting down, he said in the same calm voice:

“The Samsara Temple, under the guidance of the Monk of Karma.”

After his words, disciples of the Samsara Temple also began to enter the stage, dressed just like the Monk of Karma. Almost all had smoothly shaved heads, even some girls did not wear a tight bun of hair and were also bald.

As soon as everyone was seated, the Monk of Karma calmly announced:

“From this moment, the friendly tournament is open. If you want to participate — come out to the arena and introduce yourself.” after that, the monk paused briefly and continued, “Demonstrate the power of our young generation, upon which the future of the Heavenly Continent depends!” He solemnly added and finally, the opening of the tournament was completed.

This whole presentation and even the end of the monk's words were not accompanied by loud ovations and the roar of the crowd. Everyone kept complete silence, but at the same time, the eyes of all were literally shining! Anyone in the crowd couldn't wait to see this grand spectacle!

In turn, Kai was examining the disciples of all the forces of the Heavenly Continent. He had already seen a girl named Kashira, now he wanted to find the other two…

Slowly scanning the disciples of the Holy Empire, Kai finally saw a young man at the initial stage of the Star Sphere. He looked very much like the Holy Emperor, only younger. But remembering that Arin called him a prince, everything fell into place…

"Just like with the Holy Emperor, you can’t tell anything just by the aura…" Kai thought mentally and shifted his gaze to the places of the Samsara Temple. "And there's Mitra... Reminds me of Shuo. Though here, everyone reminds me of Shuo... He-he." Kai smiled to himself in thought.

The monk named Mitra was not very tall, but at the same time, his body was quite muscular. This was evident even through the loose clothes of the Samsara Temple. His gaze was serene, but at the same time serious.

Kai immediately understood that this was a rather dangerous opponent… But not only him, the other two also caused concern.

Looking around a bit, Kai realized that the rumors were not lying. The other forces did not have such representatives. The savages also did not have a disciple of the Star Sphere. The only thing that was interesting to Kai, were the savages going to perform together with the beasts or not?

But just at that moment, a loud voice came from the side of the arena! While Kai was thinking, he hadn't noticed how a savage came out to the stage together with a beast.

“The Beast Dominion Sect! Ramul and Panb!” The savage announced proudly.

“Our souls are united, and we are one! To represent our power separately — is a disgrace!” The beast also roared proudly from its mouth, two tusks resembling those of a boar protruding.

All the elders of the Core Sphere remained silent, not objecting to what was happening. After all, only a small part of savages and beasts developed individual techniques. Most work in pairs. To forbid them to perform together would mean introducing personal restrictions against their power. With such logic, one could forbid the Spirit Fire Sect to use fire, and the Sword Sect — swords.

“Use the Body and Soul Fusion.” Suddenly, the bass voice of the Imperial Beast sounded.

Hearing this, the Tyrannical King also nodded approvingly, looking at the savage. It was clear that these two had no conflicts and worked together. After all, their peoples were very close.

“The Technique of Body and Soul Fusion!” The duo on the stage shouted simultaneously!

And in the same instant, there was a red flash and they seemed to turn into one shining figure! The bright light slowly subsided, and after a few seconds, there remained a two-meter tall savage with burgundy skin and tusks protruding from its mouth.

“Wow… This is the first time I’ve seen something like this…” Kai muttered in surprise.

Kai's neighbor was about to make a remark to him, but when he remembered his level of cultivation, he simply kept silent and looked away...

Such a technique raised many questions in Kai's mind. Previously, he had not assumed that there could exist a technique that literally allows one to merge with another being…

Previously, each of these two was at a high stage of the Gravity Sphere. But now, they had reached the peak of the Gravity Sphere! It can be said that this was a certain analog of the Torture King Mode.

Of course, such a judgment is too far-fetched, but still. Such a sharp increase in power was a serious move!

At the same moment, a familiar guy to Kai appeared on the stage… It seemed that he understood the lack of his powers, and therefore he wanted to perform even on the warm-up.

“The Holy Empire! Lanel!” He declared calmly.

"Ooh… Apparently, the first fight will be quite interesting…" Kai thought with a smile.

In the very first fight, he would already be able to see new methods of fighting. At this moment, the fight of the Gravity Sphere was not interesting to Kai, but it was useful, purely for the sake of expanding the understanding of the paths of martial arts.

As soon as Lanel introduced himself, a long two-handed sword appeared in his hands! In turn, the savage pulled out one-handed axes!

“Bang!” There was a simultaneous explosion of two energies!

From Lanel's side — emanated white shining energy, and from the savage's side — dense red. At the border of their collision, small explosions constantly occurred, demonstrating their fierce struggle. And they hadn’t even started yet!

“I won't drag it out. If you used fusion, I will also show my trump card!” Becoming serious and losing all his cheerfulness, Lanel declared.

In the same second, the star on his forehead began to blaze with silver flame, and the color of his energy also slightly changed!

As soon as this happened, the border of the energy collision instantly shifted closer to the savage, and Lanel's sword was covered with flaming silver energy! He immediately raised his sword and attacked!

Instantly, he was already near the savage! But the latter did not stand still, he instantly crossed two axes, blocking Lanel's attack.

“Boom!” A strong explosion of energy resounded, sending chaotic waves around!

The first clash of these two was already quite serious!

“Move aside, pup!” The savage growled, and his eyes began to redden as if he was entering a state of ferocity! And behind his back, a figure of a three-meter boar began to condense out of dense energy!

It seemed that he had not yet shown all his power and was preparing for a counterattack!

“Sorry, but you're too weak.” Lanel suddenly declared and slightly turned the hilt, freeing his sword from the grip of the axes. But immediately after that, a new attack followed!

“Bam! Bam! Bam!” Lanel attacked non-stop, not giving the opponent even a chance for a counterattack.

And the strangest thing was that each subsequent attack was stronger than the previous one! As if he was gaining power in the process! Apparently, this was part of the cultivation technique of the Holy Empire!

At some point, spectators watched in horror as Lanel's palms began to redden from his own blood, as if they could not withstand the force of his own strikes!

“You bastard!” The savage shouted, unable to fully recreate his Energy Manifestation. Lanel interrupted every attempt at the outset!

“Give up!” Lanel shouted seriously, and behind his back, the silhouette of a four-pointed star flared up!

“Go to hell, pup!” The savage proudly shouted, showing a defiant smile.

But in the same instant, Lanel's sword blazed even more intensely, and a huge arc woven from silver energy flew towards the savage! Its power was incredible! The density of this attack almost approached that of a person who had just entered the Star Sphere! Any master of the Gravity Sphere, receiving such, would be severely injured!

“Doom!” An explosion resounded, sweeping away all the red energy of the savage and sending him flying.

Already at this moment, it was possible to see a huge cut across his chest! But everything happened so instantly that the blood did not even have time to appear on the outside!

"Pity… Apparently, this savage was too weak…" Kai thought mentally.

In fact, this Ramul and Panb didn't even manage to show anything interesting. Naturally, this was because they were against a strong opponent. Lanel did not give them even a chance to use their techniques!

At that moment, the blond guy had already hidden his sword, and blood constantly dripped from his palms. He was also breathing heavily, trying to calm the energy in his body. Apparently, the fight was not easy for him...

“Lanel from the Holy Empire wins.” The calm Monk of Karma voice announced.

Immediately after that, there was a red flash, and the bodies of the defeated separated, and on the chest of each was an identical cut. Fortunately, monks had already rushed to them, who sprinkled some powder on the wound and began to help them.

V.4 Chapter 382: Shuo's Battle

The battles continued at a similar pace, gradually increasing the strength of the combatants. However, at this stage, the masters of the Gravity Sphere did not particularly interest Kai. After all, he could defeat any of them, even the strongest like Shuo, in the blink of an eye.

Yet, observing this tournament still had some benefits...

Firstly, the coalitions of the Wild Region, the Holy Region, and the Mysterious Sea Region were clearly visible. The disciples of these forces hardly fought among themselves, competing only against the two other regions.

As described in the books, the representatives of the Holy Empire and the Samsara Temple most often emerged victorious. Until beings like Kashira entered the fray, the Wild Region was equal in strength to the Mysterious Sea Region.

Secondly, Kai was able to discern patterns in the techniques of each force.

The disciples of the Holy Empire often used two-handed swords or a sword with a shield. Each of them at some point employed a technique similar to that shown by Lanel. With each subsequent attack, they became stronger and stronger. At some point, they attacked with a force almost surpassing their own by a small step in cultivation. Perhaps, if Prince Cecil were to use it, then his attack would be equal to the middle of the Star Sphere!

In turn, the disciples of the Samsara Temple universally used staves made of strange resilient steel. They had no common technique, and almost every one of them showed something new. But as Kai noticed, their main specialization was terrifying defense and reflecting the damage back to their opponent. Sometimes, a powerful attack from their enemy only benefited the monks...

The last of interest were the disciples of the Beast Dominion Sect. The so-called Fusion of Soul and Body was the main skill in their arsenal. Only the stronger disciples were able to demonstrate it at a completely different level. The power of their attacks and defense soared to new heights, and the density of energy allowed creating almost realistically looking manifestations of energy.

This was very strange, as it was primarily a beast projection. That is, they first merged into one body to enhance their characteristics but at the same time created an Energy Manifestation identical to the beast. And as Kai understood, this manifestation was controlled by the beast's mind, allowing it to be used much more effectively...

The elders of the Core Sphere sat calmly and observed all this. No one said anything, not even exchanging rare phrases. From the side, it didn't seem like a friendly gathering. Rather, a real confrontation!

Thus, the fights went on continuously for several hours straight. As soon as a winner was determined, a new pair of competitors took the stage. Everyone in the stands was so overexcited that during intense moments, they literally screamed inside themselves! Since the Monk of Karma prohibited making noise, no one dared to make even an extra sound!

At one point, Kai thought some heads would explode from the pressure... Their faces and eyes had already noticeably reddened.

Fortunately, they had a small discharge... During something very exciting, they turned to their friends or neighbors, nodded with a smile, and gestured vigorously.

This caused strange feelings in Kai's heart... He felt that the tournament in the Shadow Sect was far more thrilling due to the ovations and screams of the crowd. In such an atmosphere, even fighting was somewhat more interesting. But apparently, the traditions of the Samsara Temple differed significantly... This was especially evident in the behavior of the locals, who acted much calmer than the outsiders.

"Jaran from the Holy Empire has won!" announced the Monk of Karma.

It was slightly surprising that this legendary master controlling the strongest force of the Heavenly Continent personally announced each of the participants...

"It's time to restore the honor of the Mysterious Sea Region..." Kai thought to himself, seeing a beaten disciple of the Spirit Fire Sect being carried away.

When this happened, a stronger disciple from one of the three sects came out to definitely defeat the next opponent.

But a problem was looming... The fights had reached such a stage that it was time for the best disciples to enter. And logically, either Shuo or a swordsman from the Sword Sect should come out.

"The tournament has reached its climax... One of the trio will come out against them..." Kai mentally said, looking at Shuo with some anxiety.

Alas, Kai's assumption came true, and a monk calmly walked onto the stage. But he was dressed in the black robes of the Shadow Sect, which made him stand out among the others...

"Shuo. Shadow Sect." He stated calmly.

Over the past years, Shuo had hardly changed, except that his aura had become denser. It was noticeable that he was close to breaking through to the Star Sphere. He was just missing the final push!

For Aoki, such a stimulator was an ancient sword, which prompted him to some reflections and resources from winning the tournament of the Mysterious Sea Region. If Shuo had something similar, he might already be in the Star Sphere.

"It's unfortunate that Aoki lost his disciple status... If they had known about this meeting in advance, perhaps our region could have presented itself better..." Kai analyzed, waiting for an opponent for his brother.

And at that moment, a girl with silver ears appeared on stage, her face very proud. Obviously, she did not see Shuo as a worthy opponent...

"Kashira, from the Beast Dominion Sect!" the girl proudly declared, "Better to surrender, or I'll cripple you. You're not worthy to fight in the upper echelon. You should have come out a bit earlier." She said arrogantly, stunning everyone in the stands.

Many of those present were not deeply versed in the affairs of the Heavenly Continent and did not know who she was. But those who understood did not find her words strange... Overall, even Kai understood that Shuo was no match for her.

"Since I've come out, I must do at least something." Shuo replied calmly.

And in that instant, six points on his forehead shone with golden light, and a large statue of Buddha with ten hands appeared around him! It was felt that his power had greatly increased over the years. Such defense could even be compared with the disciples of the Samsara Temple!

Generally, many of them now looked at Shuo as a lost son of the family... Shuo found his technique near the remains of an unknown master. So who knows, maybe it originates precisely from the territory of the Samsara Temple.

It seemed that even Mitra was surprised by such a turn of events...

Looking at the large Buddha statue, Kashira simply smiled, and black-blue lightning flashed on her hand!

"Bam!" With incredible speed, she crashed into Shuo, knocking him back several meters!

But to the crowd's surprise, he didn't lose instantly and even continued to stand on his feet! Of course, it was a careless strike, but still belonging to a master of the Star Sphere!

But as it may sound, Kai was interested in something else... He carefully observed this attack and analyzed it.

"The lightning itself is her innate attribute or the result of cultivation technique. But her black cloak definitely has hints of the Law of Inevitable Destruction... Apparently, the beasts didn't quite understand why this seal is there, or they lost knowledge about its true purpose..." Kai mentally said.

It all looked as if, over thousands of years, the beasts had devised a cultivation technique that would interact with the Law of Inevitable Destruction, but not based on it. Because of this, even the appearance of this law changed...

"Do you surrender?" The girl said with a malicious smile and delivered another lightning strike. And then another, and another!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Thunderous strikes sounded one after another, constantly pushing Shuo back.

Though he tried to hold on with all his might, he couldn't even make a counterattack! The gap in strength was just too great!

Shuo stood on one knee, breathing heavily... Kashira, in turn, smiled contentedly. She opened her mouth again and said:

"It seems the Mysterious Sea Region is too weak... Are you really worthy of being at the meeting of the main forces of the Heavenly Continent?" She arrogantly said.

The faces of the Patriarch, the Supreme, and the Holy Flame slightly changed at these words. They weren't bothered by such cheap provocation, moreover, Kashira wasn't addressing them, but the disciples of the Mysterious Sea Region. But they understood that they did not have the advantage to refute these words. Therefore, in this situation, they had to endure and then act as a united front in negotiations...

Shuo didn't respond and slowly began to rise... Overall, it was a foolish endeavor, but Kashira specifically did everything to make the opponent verbally surrender! She wanted to humiliate him!

"Oh? Rising? Do you want me to cripple you?" She maliciously said and instantly spread her arms to the sides!

In the same second, a huge tiger head woven from black-blue lightning was created in front of her! And as soon as she waved her hands, it literally shot towards Shuo! Such an attack was definitely no joke! It could even kill the monk!

"Boom!" A loud explosion sounded, blinding everyone in the stands and obscuring the view for the audience.

Such a turn of events even made the Patriarch feel outraged. And this is called a friendly tournament? A tournament where they kill the best of the young generation?! But until now, no one interfered, so he didn't have the right to... Such an act would only disgrace the Shadow Sect!

But at the same instant, as the tiger head was about to touch Shuo, the Patriarch suddenly stood up!

"Who dared interfere in my disciple's fight?!" He shouted angrily!

Though he was grateful to whoever saved Shuo, if he didn't react, it would put the Shadow Sect in a bad light. He felt compelled to reprimand the one who intervened.

As the light from the lightning dissipated, a figure in a mask and black garments appeared on stage, with Shuo standing behind him, breathing heavily. The residual energies from the tiger head had still inflicted significant damage on him...

Everyone closely watched the newcomer, not fully understanding who he was... An outsider's intervention in such a grand event was a grave offense and a sign of disrespect to all the forces of the Heavenly Continent!

But at that moment, the figure formed a fist and palm at chest level and bowed towards the rulers. And as the man slowly rose and straightened up, a cheerful and carefree male voice sounded:

"Apologies, esteemed Patriarch! I was slightly delayed on a previous assignment, hence my late arrival! From this moment on, I will represent the Shadow Sect and the young generation of the Mysterious Sea Region!"

As soon as this happened, Shuo's face twisted in disbelief! He knew exactly to whom this voice belonged! And considering the color of the hair hidden in a tight bun...

"It can't be..." Shuo muttered in shock.

But in that instant, the figure leisurely brought his hand to his face and calmly removed the mask, revealing his visage to all present!

"Kai — a disciple of the Shadow Sect! He-he." He cheerfully declared, watching the stupefaction of those who immediately recognized him!

V.4 Chapter 383: Astounding Events

At the moment when Kai's face was revealed, many people were in complete disbelief! Only a few of those present eagerly anticipated his appearance...

The Patriarch of the Shadow Sect instantly froze, slightly opening his mouth. But at that moment, his eyes literally sparkled! He didn't know the whole backstory, but he definitely understood who this guy was! And most importantly, he had effortlessly blocked an attack from the Star Sphere before!

It was impossible to know what exactly was going through his head, as he didn't utter a sound... But this was not only about him. The Holy Flame along with the Supreme also rose from their seats! They had previously met Kai and knew of his demise, so they fully understood the impossibility of the current situation!

"Asai, have you been hiding him?" Holy Flame asked unwittingly.

"Does it look like I was expecting his arrival?" The Patriarch muttered without even turning his head.

All other rulers of the Heavenly Continent closely watched every action on the stage and among the three leaders of the Mysterious Sea Region. Each of them was already making some assumptions based on the reactions of those around...

"Patriarch, is this boy your disciple?" The Monk of Karma asked calmly.

"Indeed. Except he's been considered dead for about five years now." Asai answered seriously and honestly, barely believing his own words.

He understood that Kai had disappeared on the Island of Reincarnation and hadn't emerged from it when the forbidden zone was closed. In such a case, there were no chances for him to have survived... And considering that his remains were never found — he was definitely consumed by the Abyss! All this instilled complete confusion in the Patriarch's mind...

"Since he's your disciple, he has the right to participate. The young ones have too hot blood, so we can forgive his pompous appearance." The monk said, shaking his head.

But at that moment, an entirely different scene was unfolding in the arena...

"Who are you?! And how dare you interfere with me?!" Kashira arrogantly demanded, looking straight at Kai.

"Shuo, go to the stands. I will explain everything to you later." Kai quickly said, without divulging any unnecessary details.

The Lone Buddha seemed to want to ask something, but then simply nodded and quickly ran to his place.

Seeing such a situation, Kashira became enraged and roared as she launched another attack directly at the fleeing Shuo! Another thunderous tiger head flew forward!

"Calm down, we are not enemies here." Kai's calm voice sounded, suddenly appearing in front of the attack and easily waving his hand.

"Bam!" The sound of an explosion echoed, and Kashira's attack literally disintegrated into tiny particles of energy!

For the first time, the spectators didn't manage to react or understand what exactly happened. But now, they clearly saw how easily Kai blocked the girl's attack!

Moreover, Kai did it so quickly that no one even managed to catch his energy. No one, except for the Imperial Beast!

"Not enemies? You must be living in illusions, boy." Kashira spitefully said. It was clear she was displeased with how easily her attack was blocked.

"Stop." A thunderous voice of the Imperial Beast echoed, stunning everyone present.

At that, Kashira literally jumped and immediately straightened her back. Obviously, she was raised in quite strict conditions... Her father's words were law to her!

"Maintain the order of the tournament. Your fight has not yet been announced." The huge beast added calmly, looking intently at Kai.

"Forgive me, Imperial Beast. And I apologize to all the rulers of the Heavenly Continent!" Kai shouted loudly and bowed towards the platform.

In his actions, there was no arrogance, only the deepest respect! This slightly surprised the elders of the Core Sphere... It seemed as if Kai was not at all interested in the fights, but came here with a different purpose...

Although he didn't exchange even a few blows with Kashira, these elders already saw that Kai was on a completely different level… If Kashira seemed like a green master, just stepping into the Star Sphere — Kai felt like someone already tempered in battles! The difference in energy control was obvious!

"Monk of Karma, you decide." The Imperial Beast said calmly, but then his gaze lingered on Kai and added, "I want you to fight my daughter. Refusal is not an option. Since you interrupted her previous fight, kindly make amends."

Hearing such words, Kai immediately understood the reason for this order... He wants to take a closer look at his energy!

"He will sense my law anyway... Isn't it better to just give him what he wants? Then perhaps I can build some trust with him. I'll hint that I also understood their connection with the Law of Inevitable Destruction!" Kai quickly analyzed the situation.

He didn't know where this action would lead, but if revealing their connection was inevitable, better to try and derive some benefit from it! If he could pull this off, then he would gain conditional trust among all forces! He would be able to speak, and at the very least, they would listen!

Respectfully looking at the Imperial Beast, Kai bowed again and calmly responded:

"I understand the reason for your request... But the internal strife of our continent's forces is too dangerous right now." Kai said ambiguously, "There's no need for Kashira and me to fight. Look." Kai calmly added, his hand covered in black energy, which specifically manifested only the Law of Inevitable Destruction.

As soon as the Imperial Beast saw this, his face changed instantly! He even glanced at the Patriarch, trying to understand how the boy had a similar heritage to theirs... Moreover, he was far more skilled in it than even the Imperial Beast himself!

Kashira also opened her mouth in surprise and looked at the burning black energy. From such power and concentration of the Law of Inevitable Destruction, fear woke in her heart. She instinctively felt as if Kai was a predator far more dangerous than herself. Even her desire to fight vanished in an instant!

At that moment, everyone in the stands was slightly lost in what was happening... Some even forgot about the prohibition on noise and began whispering to each other...

Suddenly, a strange guy appeared who shocked half of the rulers of the Heavenly Continent. Moreover, he claims that there's no need to fight, disrupting the entire purpose of the tournament. And somehow, everyone continues to listen to him, without even scolding him!

But unnoticed by all, the most interested was the Monk of Karma... He clearly caught the meaning of Kai's first words. The phrase "our continent" led to strange thoughts. Such a statement definitely wasn't made by chance...

"Dong!" Suddenly, the sound of a bell rang out again, instantly calming everyone inside the temple!

But that wasn't the end of it, a golden barrier began to spread from the center of the arena, expanding until it isolated the members of all the forces of the Heavenly Continent from the spectators in the stands.

The Monk of Karma rose from his seat and looked attentively at Kai. He also managed to assess the energy burning on his hand. If the Imperial Beast associated what was happening with his heritage, the monk thought of spatial rifts. Not only the Mysterious Sea Region had lands with such forbidden territories!

"As the ruler of the Samsara Temple, I ask not to interrupt this young man. I wish to hear him. I believe you have something to say?" Becoming much more serious, and slightly losing his composure, the monk said.

With such a turn of events, even the other rulers were slightly taken aback. They didn't understand why such a fuss was made over the appearance of a young man. The strangeness of the energy was noticed by everyone, but it meant nothing; after all, the world is full of wonders... But no one knew exactly what the discussions after the tournament should be about. In turn, the monk was almost certain that Kai could help him convince the others!

Most likely, the Monk of Karma also realized that the very manner of his appearance and behavior overall pursued a similar goal to his own! Surprisingly, this boy had now become his main ally!

"Your wisdom is incredible, Monk of Karma." Kai sincerely said and bowed again. He understood that in the society of such beings, showing politeness was never a bad idea... "I thought I would have to take many unnecessary actions, but let's get straight to the point!" Becoming serious, Kai said.

At that moment, the spectators observed some conversation happening behind the huge golden barrier. But what exactly was happening was unclear... The faces of those speaking were instantly distorted, preventing lip reading!

"As the Patriarch said, I should have been long dead..." Kai said, pausing for effect, "If I hadn't managed to break through a spatial rift with destructive energy!" Stunning everyone with his statement.

"All the details are irrelevant. Only one thing is important — the existence of another continent! And while we are busy with internal squabbles, the inhabitants of the Unholy Continent are fully preparing for war!" Kai added, shocking everyone even more, "By the way, the passage through which they intend to invade us leads to the Wasteland of Savages! To that spatial rift near the city of Adridor!" Announcing a specific location and shifting his gaze to the Tyrannical King, Kai added.

Hearing this and seeing how Kai acted, the eyes of the Monk of Karma shone! Although the news was incredibly dire, his action had drawn the last doubting region, namely the savages, into his circle of trust. In turn, the Holy Empire, in coalition with the Samsara Temple, would definitely heed their words! Now, each force would take the looming threat seriously!

Currently, all the rulers were puzzled... The only one who could be accused of fabricating facts was the Samsara Temple. But there was absolutely no sense in that! Any of the rulers of the Mysterious Sea Region could confirm Kai's death. And this meant that he really had passed through the Abyss and returned!

"Esteemed guests... This is exactly why we convened the council." The Monk of Karma suddenly said, turning to the masters of the Core Sphere. "We noticed problems with spatial rifts, and our ancestor sensed life on the other side. But we had no idea things were this bad... I swear on my honor that my words are true!" He seriously added.

Hearing this, each of the elders was stunned! Some slightly opened their mouths to object, but then simply stopped... They couldn't come up with anything sensible. Although the situation seemed incredible, there was nothing to cover it with...

"Kai, how much do you know?" The Patriarch asked seriously, instantly moving to Kai's side and then back to the stands in the blink of an eye!

In a second, he was surrounded by the most legendary masters of the Heavenly Continent, who were attentively looking at him! Some were puzzled by his words, but some continued to look skeptical...

Seeing all this, Kai took a deep breath and began to speak:

"On the other side exists the Unholy Continent. It is inhabited by the race of nature's children and the race of demons. In fact, the demons are the true rulers, and the first are under their command. Fortunately, in their invasion, they do not plan to use nature's child." Kai quickly said, "But even so, the demons seem stronger or equal in strength to us..." Kai said with a heavy face.

"They are a monolithic force and are governed by a single master, making them much more cohesive than us! But we have two advantages!" Raising two fingers, Kai said.

"First — They cannot transport all their forces at once!”

"Second — We know where they will appear and can prepare in advance!" He added with a malicious smile.

V.4 Chapter 384: Kai's Bluff

Spectators watched in confusion as a suddenly appeared young man conversed with all the rulers of the Heavenly Continent behind a massive golden barrier. This was no brief chat... The discussion had already lasted over half an hour!

Though this might seem disrespectful to those present, the status of these individuals was too high to be concerned with such matters.

Realizing they were cut off from the main action, everyone finally began to talk amongst themselves. Maintaining silence was no longer sensible.

"What's happening?"

"Who the hell is that guy?"

"Is something bad happening, or are we missing something?"

"I'd say it's all quite strange… He said we need to unite, not fight each other…"

Rumors and speculations proliferated throughout the temple. Among the crowd were many intelligent people who began to construct various theories. Some, pointing at the sky, almost guessed the real situation based on Kai's words. Naturally, any theory was not taken seriously, as they sounded too far-fetched...

At this moment, Kai had almost fully disclosed all nuances of the Unholy Continent, as well as the information he had managed to learn. His words simply couldn't be made up, and the elders understood this perfectly!

The Monk of Karma was so inspired by the unfolding events that he couldn't hide his ecstatic expression. He had previously mentioned that the Samsara Temple noticed oddities in spatial rifts and suggested that the Heavenly Continent needed to become more unified. If another civilization exists, it could lead to a new era in history. Unfortunately, expecting a positive outcome was futile… History showed that invasions almost never bore good intentions!

Without Kai's appearance, things could have ended much worse! Now they had a chance to get ahead of the enemy! It was like a blessing from above!

"Therefore, I deceived them, killed them, and took their means of transportation. The exit led right into your lands." Turning to the Tyrannical King, Kai said respectfully.

"Hmm... We just guarded the rift zone before... Rarely did we find anything interesting there, nothing more. This rift wasn't as useful as other forbidden zones, so we weren't too worried about it..." The large barbarian with scars on his face pondered thoughtfully.

"But how did you manage to survive inside the Abyss? According to your words, the demons use Heretical Barrier Pills, plus, the intensity of destructive energy has significantly decreased. But initially…" The Holy Emperor asked skeptically.

Hearing such a question, Kai pondered how best to respond... If he started to fabricate a strange story, it would immediately seem ludicrous. Deceiving these elders would be too difficult, especially since they knew much more than other masters...

Taking a deep breath, Kai respectfully said:

"My answer will involve many of my secrets, so I prefer not to answer directly." He openly cautioned, "You all must know about the Apocalypse or at least have heard of it. It was that which once split the common continent... But it wasn't a natural phenomenon, it was the result of a powerful master's actions! It was he who, at his death, created these spatial rifts! And it so happened that in my youth, I acquired a tiny part of his legacy..." Kai reluctantly shared.

Hearing this, the Patriarch had already grasped where Kai was heading. Shadow Elder Mo had acquired some technique on the Island of Reincarnation and passed it to Kai. It turned out that its origin was much deeper than previously thought...

But others were greatly surprised, even the Monk of Karma seemed to hear of it for the first time...

"My energy was initially very similar to that in the rifts. I was lucky to find an item in the Abyss that helped me better understand my attribute." Kai added and looked oddly at the Imperial Beast, "I suppose you have something similar?" Suddenly, Kai said, pulling out the Seal of Destruction from his ring!

At that moment, Kai was no longer seen as just a child or disciple. He was a master with incredible potential, contributing to the future of the entire Heavenly Continent! He was even willingly sacrificing his secrets to help all forces... Such an act commanded respect only!

Kai's Seal barely contained energy inside; it was slowly replenishing reserves. But considering the lifespans of the highest masters, a mere five years was but a moment. The Seal simply hadn't had time to recover yet; it needed much more time...

Kai wanted to prepare the ground for possibly borrowing or even taking the seal from the beasts in the future. If he demonstrated that their incredible legacy wasn't unique, accomplishing this would be much easier.

Indeed, the eyes of the Imperial Beast instantly widened! He was too shocked by what he saw... He possessed a similar item! But for the beasts, it was something sacred!

"How… Where did you get this?!" The beast exclaimed in shock.

"They're not that rare. In spatial rifts, you can sometimes find similar things. It's like energy stones, just a different format." Kai said nonchalantly.

"I find that difficult to believe... Since you're sharing secrets, I'll tell you something too." The beast replied seriously, "Our race preserved certain memories of the catastrophe that happened thirty thousand years ago. And during that calamitous period, it was this very thing that saved us!" Saying this, the Imperial Beast waved his hand, and a pendant flew off his daughter's neck, landing in his hand.

The Seal of Destruction was neatly inlaid right in the center, creating a massive pendant. From it emanated a concentrated aura of the Law of Inevitable Destruction. But it seemed the pendant slightly contained it, not allowing too much to seep out. Apparently, this was done, so Kashira could slowly absorb the energy.

Hearing these words, Kai's expression didn't change, and he confidently responded:

"Nothing surprising. That was one of its functions."

"Wouldn't you elaborate? Because you seem to know too much..." The beast said, frowning.

"I've already told you too much. But out of immense respect, I'll hint at something..." Kai said calmly, "The one responsible for the Apocalypse decided to atone for his guilt. He made sure that at least some life would be preserved. Indeed, many such stones got lost in spatial rifts..." Kai vaguely replied.

He didn't know that initially, this seal protected the beasts from the collapse of energy. But considering that the Overlord wanted to find a successor, it made sense! For such a successor to emerge, someone had to survive!

Understanding all this, Kai came to a deeper understanding of where to look for the Seals of Destruction... Likely, they weren't in forbidden zones but in the hands of ancient civilizations or territories from which these civilizations emerged!

Because of this, he couldn't help but glance at the Monk of Karma. But the monk, in turn, looked with interest at the two strange items. It didn't seem like he had ever seen anything like it.

Hearing Kai's words, the Imperial Beast deeply pondered, staring somewhere into the floor...

But at that moment, a voice from the beast sounded in Kai's mind!

"Don't worry... I've already understood that your grasp of this attribute is at a much higher level. You could say you've perfectly recreated it... I want to make you an interesting offer, so find me after the tournament ends..." The Imperial Beast mysteriously said.

In response, Kai just stood and watched the Imperial Beast, waiting for his words in reality. He didn't even show that he had received the mental message from this terrifying being...

Each of the seven beings surrounding him perfectly controlled their power, not to harm Kai with their aura. But if they stopped doing so... The pressure of energy would simply suffocate him! Therefore, Kai was always on alert and didn't allow himself to relax too much.

At that moment, the Supreme spoke:

"I think we need to continue the tournament. It's not good to delay it this long... Let's finish, and then we'll discuss everything at the council. The boy has already told us enough." The swordsman said seriously.

"Then I excuse myself. Thank you for allowing me to speak." Kai said respectfully and bowed to all the rulers. Then, he used the Shadow Seal to return to the battlefield.

Each ruler now had their own thoughts, but all converged on the common idea of unity! The threat was imminent, and they were eager to start the council and discuss all nuances!

As everyone resettled in their seats, the golden barrier began to disappear, letting in the crowd's noise! But as soon as they noticed what was happening, they quickly quieted down... They were all too afraid of the Monk of Karma's wrath...

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to hold a brief meeting. Now, the fight between Kai from the Shadow Sect and Kashira from the Beast Dominion Sect will continue!" The monk announced solemnly.

But as soon as this happened, Kashira broke out in a sweat! Now she definitely didn't want to fight this monster! Though she and the other disciples hadn't heard what Kai discussed... He had calmly spoken with all the rulers of the Heavenly Continent! This guy was undoubtedly not normal!

But suddenly, Kai's cheerful voice surprised all spectators and even the ruling sect members:

"Apologies, but I concede defeat. Although I blocked the first few attacks relatively easily, it was just for show... I acknowledge Miss Kashira's strength." Kai said with a smile and respectfully bowed to her.

Immediately after, he used the Shadow Seal to move to the Shadow Sect disciples' stand, leaving Kashira standing in astonishment...

"Kashira from the Beast Dominion Sect wins!" The Monk of Karma announced solemnly.

At that moment, all the rulers didn't care about the tournament's results anymore. It had completely lost any meaning... In any case, it was already nearing its end, with just a few fights left...

Though the spectators were no less shocked than Kashira, knowing the whole truth was not granted to them. Therefore, all they could do was accept or theorize. But neither Kai nor the rulers were concerned about this...

"So... You're alive." Looking at Kai, Shuo said calmly. But his eyes expressed sincere joy, which he simply couldn't and didn't want to hide.

"It turns out... I did tell you, I'd outpace you, making you eat my dust. He-he." Kai joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Ha-ha... No worries, the main thing is that you're alive. Good to see you, brother Kai." Shuo said with a smile and spread his arms wide.

Kai didn't respond but simply hugged the monk, patting his back. They were genuinely happy to see each other. Shuo was the kind of person who wouldn't pry into Kai's internal affairs. Even now, he didn't bombard him with questions and just sincerely greeted him.

"After the tournament, I have something else to do... Then we can drink, like old times! Maybe you'll even drink wine to celebrate the occasion?" Kai said, winking.

"Your attempts to get me to drink are as pathetic as always." Shuo responded with a smile and patted Kai on the shoulder.

"Even the monks of the Samsara Temple drink sometimes... And you... Ahh..." Kai rolled his eyes, muttering.

Immediately after, under the collective gaze of the crowd, the duo of brothers took their seats and watched the tournament's conclusion. Cecil and Mitra were up next. Considering the strength of these two, this would be the final fight of the tournament!

V.4 Chapter 385: Imperial Beast

The final battle was spectacular, reigniting the spectators' enthusiasm and delight. They watched every move and strike of the opponents with bated breath.

In the end, Mitra proved to be slightly stronger than Cecil. When a bright star ignited on the latter's forehead, bright four-pointed stars began to form in the sky above the arena, falling directly onto the monk one after another. It seemed as if the attack symbolized the night sky collapsing!

But, to the crowd's surprise, Mitra withstood it! He was protected by a barrier in the shape of a golden bell, which completely shielded him from the attack, and then he counterattacked instantly! Each of his staff strikes resonated with the sound of a bell, plunging the opponent into light illusions. At one moment, a fatal blow was delivered, brutally knocking Cecil off the stage!

These two were indeed forceful martial artists. It seemed they both had every chance to become masters of the Core Sphere in the future. Yet, considering his Torture King Mode, Kai understood he could definitely defeat them. And that was despite these two having about a fifteen-year head start...

As the fight went on, Kai and Shuo talked calmly. They had this strange feeling as if they hadn't been apart for five years. The Lone Buddha was still as unflappable, and Kai was still constantly joking. Meanwhile, the rest of the Shadow Sect disciples watched Kai with astonished looks...

After returning from the Island of Reincarnation and the huge losses, Kai's story became quite famous. Especially when rumors about the Patriarch's displeasure spread. Some elders were also in distressed spirits. After all, Kayus and Traen had warned Kai that he was too young to visit the Island of Reincarnation!

"Alright, then I'll wait for you at the residence." Shuo said with a smile and nodded to Kai.

At that moment, the tournament officially ended, and after the solemn words from the Monk of Karma, people began to disperse. Now, the silence that reigned during the fights was gone... As soon as the seven rulers disappeared from the stage, the stands erupted in ovations and the shouting of their favorites' names!

The spectators had been holding these emotions almost all day, and finally, they had the chance to release them! This day would definitely become legendary in the minds of every spectator! Not only did they witness the fights of the best martial artists of the young generation, but they also saw legendary beings of the Core Sphere!

Kai quickly said goodbye to Shuo and didn't follow him to the Shadow Sect's residence because he still had matters to attend to... Apart from the Imperial Beast, two others had sought him out. The Monk of Karma and the Patriarch... And each of them wanted to meet with him!

"Good that the Monk of Karma asked to find him only after the council ends... It's supposed to start only tomorrow, right?" Kai thought to himself, heading towards the temple's exit, but through the one used by the contenders, not the spectators.

He hadn't stepped into the inner corridors when everything before his eyes blurred!

"Whoosh!" A sharp wind sound! Someone grabbed his clothes and whisked him away over a great distance!

But in an instant, the Patriarch appeared before him, greatly calming Kai. Thankfully, at least now he hadn't caused trouble out of nowhere...

"What a surprise you sprung, you scoundrel..." The Patriarch said seriously.

"Forgive me... As soon as I returned to the Heavenly Continent and learned about this assembly, I came straight here! But I decided it would be better to do everything just as I did." Kai bowed respectfully, responding.

"I think you arrived here a few days earlier... Who advised you to skip meeting me?" The man asked, raising an eyebrow, "You know, I was quite surprised... In such a state, I could have shown myself in a bad light." The Patriarch added seriously.

"I think you understand that this was exactly what I expected from you." Kai replied with a wry smile, but he dodged the question about his informants...

Kai understood the Patriarch wasn't serious. This man had lived for hundreds of years, his level of wisdom and understanding high enough to immediately grasp the reasons for Kai's sudden appearance. Now each force of the Heavenly Continent was taking the looming disaster seriously.

"Well... I'm indescribably glad you're alive." The man quickly changed the subject, "But I must admit, your appearance and resurrection resemble the beginnings of a legend. And I hope that in the future, such a character will be perceived as a representative of the Shadow Sect..." The Patriarch hinted.

His words essentially acknowledged Kai as a successor to the position of Patriarch! Naturally, this couldn't happen now or even in a hundred years. But considering Kai's current power and his terrifying potential — he would definitely ascend to the Core Sphere someday!

Understanding where the Patriarch was heading, Kai didn't deny or express joy. He just smiled and calmly replied:

"I will do everything in my power."

"Good. Now I need to consult with the elders before the council starts, so we can continue our conversation another time. I just wanted to welcome you again, that's all." The Patriarch said, suddenly smiling slightly, "Besides, another elder is waiting to meet with you." He said ambiguously, as the Imperial Beast appeared out of thin air!

"Our lifespans differ from your race. So, I'm not really an old man, just mature." The beast's deep voice sounded.

"As you say. Now is the time to forget old disputes... So, I won't even joke back at you in response." The Patriarch calmly stated and vanished.

Although a conditional peace had been maintained on the Heavenly Continent for the last thousand years, local disputes still occurred. The mountains between the Beast Dominion Sect and the Shadow Sect were such a place... A bloody conflict erupted there every few decades, precisely in the area of Border Beast City. Therefore, the relationship between these two titans of the Core Sphere was not the best...

"Greetings once again, Imperial Beast!" Kai said politely and bowed.

At that moment, he was no longer perceived as just a simple person... Even in the minds of these Core Sphere elders, Kai was a valuable asset to their Heavenly Continent. In the face of a common enemy, old grievances were instantly forgotten... Likely, after the council, the entire younger generation would become "common," as well as the combat power of all forces.

"Your understanding of this item's attribute is on a different level. You said you received the legacy of its creator?" The beast said calmly, showing the pendant in his hand.

"That's right. But I can't fully display it yet, as my powers are still limited." Kai answered seriously and honestly.

"Previously, I would never have offered this, but... Now, my daughter's strength is utterly irrelevant... In the impending catastrophe, it's crucial for me to become stronger." The beast began indirectly.

His words made sense, as the decisive factor would be the Core Sphere masters. If they won their battles, then even an army of Star Sphere masters would be a joke!

"Do you need this item? I can lend it to you." The beast said calmly, looking at Kai.

Hearing this, Kai's eyes lit up! He couldn't have imagined such luck falling into his lap! Such an outcome would be incredible; moreover, this seal was imbued with the energy of the Law of Inevitable Destruction!

"I won't lie, I require it badly. It will help me achieve greater heights." Kai said, looking at the pendant, "But nothing comes for free... What do you want in return?" He asked cautiously, cooling his enthusiasm.

"This pendant has been with me for hundreds of years... Everything I could learn from it has long been learned! But it seems you might become a far more valuable source of information." The beast stated openly.

"Sorry, but could you explain that better?" Kai asked with a crooked smile.

"It sounds absurd, but I need your help in cultivation... Specifically, the demonstration of your energy and its effect on my body. This way, I can better understand its nature and improve this element in my technique." The Imperial Beast stated plainly.

Hearing this, Kai almost dropped his jaw… A legendary Core Sphere master was asking for his help? What in the world was happening?!

But upon deeper reflection, Kai realized the reality of the situation. His energy was imbued with the concept of the Law of Destruction! Moreover, he received this knowledge from a being far more formidable than a Core Sphere master. If you look into the essence, Kai's energy indeed was something far surpassing the understanding of contemporary cultivators.

Since the Imperial Beast was also trying to comprehend the Law of Inevitable Destruction and integrate it into his technique, such an opportunity would be incredible for him! If he could understand a bit more, then his combat power would also reach a new level!

"I'll get the seal, he gets a chance to cultivate strength... It's a good deal!" Kai mentally exclaimed.

He wasn't worried that the beast could fully grasp the Law of Inevitable Destruction, as he had already embarked on his path, mixing it with other concepts. Moreover, the beast's cultivation technique wasn't suitable... Therefore, Kai took a deep breath and said:

"I agree. But we have a problem with..."

"Don't worry. Given everything that's happening, we won't be leaving the Spirit Enlightenment Temple anytime soon." Interrupting Kai, the beast said ambiguously.

Kai was concerned that he would have to go to the Beast Dominion Sect, which he didn't want to do. Counting on the Patriarch allowing the Imperial Beast to stay in the Shadow Sect was foolish. But if they were to remain on the territory of the Samsara Temple...

"Then I see no reason to refuse." Kai responded politely, nodding.

"Take care of it. Someday I'll ask for it back!" The beast said and tossed the pendant to Kai.

It seemed the nature of the beasts was quite peculiar... They didn't dwell too much on sentiments. A relic of their race was tossed so casually that even Kai was surprised!

"Of course! It couldn't be otherwise!" Kai said gratefully and bowed respectfully.

But at that moment, different words echoed in his mind...

"I need to offload all these seals to Set... Since I'm giving it to you, old man?"

Now this question remained open, creating an obvious dilemma, but on the other hand, Kai didn't possess the complete set of seals. Therefore, for now, he would use it solely for cultivation! This was also an important factor! Likely, this would help him achieve tremendous progress in the near future!

"After the council, I'll find you. While we have the chance, we'll practice daily!" The Imperial Beast said calmly, vanishing just like the Patriarch...

Kai, in turn, was left standing in the middle of a room unfamiliar to him... He didn't even know where he was...

"Well... Where's the exit?" He murmured, starting to look for a door.

Externally, he appeared completely unfazed... He deliberately tried to maintain such an image, as he didn't fully understand the limits of the Core Sphere masters' powers. Who knows, maybe they were still watching him? In that case, it was better not to show true emotions and not reveal the value of the Seal of Destruction!

But inside his head was a storm of emotions! Just by touching the pendant, he had already felt enormous volumes of energy pouring through his hand! Moreover, this was the perfect energy for him! All that remained for Kai was to split half of it and "rewrite" it under the Asura Reaper Law!

"Things are taking too sharp a turn... But at least now I've shared my knowledge with the elders, so the war is no longer solely my problem. You could say I can finally take a step back..." Kai thought to himself and headed towards the door at the end of the hall.

V.4 Chapter 386: Ancestor

Deep within, Kai understood that he was the catalyst for the onset of all these events... All spatial rifts weakened as soon as he received the legacy of the Overlord of Inevitable Destruction, although it was done unwittingly — this very act stirred the demons!

Therefore, Kai decided to contribute to the future matters of the Heavenly Continent, but overall, this was the extent of his usefulness for now. There were other things he simply couldn't influence... Yes, he started this chain of events, but it wasn't he who prompted the demons to prepare for war. Without the demon factor, no one would have worried about changes in the functioning of some forbidden zones...

Thus, Kai found his way out of the building and headed directly to the Shadow Sect's residence. Fortunately, he had already spoken with two of the three Core Sphere elders, and the third would only be free after the council.

The next week flew by rather quickly… During this time, Kai spent his days with Shuo, and they crossed paths with Aoki several times. Shuo even asked Kai for a sparring session, for which Kai took a symbolic fee. This was a sort of joke from Kai, harking back to the times of their first meeting. Only this time, Kai won overwhelmingly…

The Lone Buddha listened with interest to Kai's adventures and even showed expressions of surprise. This was uncharacteristic of him, but now he wasn't holding himself back. After all, he had thought for years that his brother had died! Moreover, he died saving him and other masters!

The martial arts world is cruel and intolerant of sentiments, but there always remained a part of human nature that cared for loved ones. Therefore, Shuo often remembered Kai and even openly told him about it.

A week later, all disciples and representatives of the regions were called to one place. Upon entering, there was no longer any separation into different areas. All disciples were intermingled... Moreover, the atmosphere had become much friendlier.

Of course, some conflicts remained, but the disciples couldn't develop them in front of the Core Sphere masters.

The seven rulers also sat calmly and observed the best of the Heavenly Continent's younger generation. Their faces were very serious and focused...

"It seems they've discussed a lot over the past week…" Kai thought to himself, carefully assessing the situation.

At that moment, the Monk of Karma stood up again and with a serious voice declared:

"It has happened that another continent has been discovered, and its forces are not inferior to ours. Moreover, they are fully preparing for an invasion. Exactly when this will happen is unknown! But! — emphasizing his point, the monk declared, — We definitely still have some time to do everything right! Therefore, the Heavenly Continent Alliance was created, encompassing all our forces!" He solemnly announced.

Such words immediately stirred a storm of emotions among the representatives of the younger generation! Although many of them had heard part of Kai's conversation with the elders and rumors were already swirling, no one knew the real scale of the catastrophe!

"From now on, all the younger generation will stay in the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment, and we will develop you with combined efforts." The monk declared, pausing briefly, "The situation with the elders and the Star Sphere masters is different... Almost all of them must go to the Wasteland of Savages! All Core Sphere masters will similarly head to those lands. We need to plan a few more things, so all actions will start in a month!" He added and calmly sat down, leaving everyone shocked.

But at that moment, one by one, each of the rulers began to stand up, confirming the words of the Monk of Karma. Thus, they were like giving an order to their subordinates. Now, they must work for the good of the entire Heavenly Continent!

The Tyrannical King, who spoke last with his deep voice, said:

"According to our data, the invasion will start on my territory. Therefore, do not treat your development lightly! Your safe cultivation may be secured at the cost of thousands of lives of the Heavenly Continent's inhabitants!"

Right after this statement, enthusiastic shouts and ovations erupted from the crowd. The consecutive speeches of each of the rulers greatly influenced everyone. Each person felt that something momentous was approaching!

"So, it looks like you're off again soon?" Shuo asked calmly.

"Who knows... Honestly, I'd rather stay here. I'm tired of traveling…" Kai said with a smile, stretching his neck a bit.

"Bad luck for you... I'll be developing here, thanks to the combined resources of all the continent's forces. And you'll have to fight…" Shuo joked.

It was evident that over the past few years, he had become more talkative and lively. He wasn't as stoic and stiff as before...

"That's why I've long since outpaced you!" Kai joked back.

"It's more believable that you're just too lucky." The monk said calmly, showing a slight smile.

"It's impossible to catch the causes and effects of the universe's manifestations, as if everything is decided by the throw of a die with infinite faces, creating the most incredible patterns." Kai said, recalling one of the laws of the Sphere of Essence.

"What was that just now?" Shuo asked with a bit of confusion. Kai's words seemed too sudden...

"Just something... It's my personal prayer! You once told me about your religion, so I thought I needed to come up with my own mantra!" Kai teased Shuo, laughing.

"That's not how it works. You can't just make something up and believe in it." The monk shook his head.

"Really? I thought that was precisely the principle at the foundation of faith..." Kai shrugged, carelessly responding.

Until the end of the assembly, the duo kept joking with each other, but the form of these jokes was more complex. It wasn't the kind of humor used between Kai and Diso...

As soon as it was announced that people could disperse, a familiar, steady voice sounded in Kai's head:

"Come to the central temple of the city. I await you."

"Oh? It's the Monk of Karma… Looks like it's time to meet with him too?" Kai thought, intrigued.

As they left the assembly, Kai said goodbye to Shuo and left. After all, they each had their personal matters; they couldn't spend all their free time together…

As Kai walked to his destination, he pondered the reason for the meeting. Why would a being like the Monk of Karma want to talk to him?

"Strange… I mean, I've already told everything… Maybe he wants to thank me? After all, I've been a great help to them." Kai thought with a smile.

Naturally, these were just jokes, but there was a grain of truth in them... If not for his timely appearance, it would hardly have been possible to unite all forces, let alone create the Heavenly Continent Alliance!

Kai didn't dawdle and quickly approached the entrance to the main temple. As soon as the monks guarding it saw him, they immediately bowed. One of them politely said:

"You are expected, Immortal Drunkard. Please, enter."

"Thank you. And where exactly should I go?" Kai immediately asked.

"In the center of the hall, there's a platform. Just stand on it." The monk smiled, pointing in the direction.

"Seems they're skilled not only in smithing…" Kai thought to himself and silently proceeded to the platform.

As soon as he stepped on it, everything before his eyes blurred! He instantly appeared in a vast hall, entirely made of green jade! At its center was a small lake from which a beautiful tree with mesmerizing red leaves grew...

Besides, an incredibly dense energy was felt inside… Activating his Eyes of Essence, Kai began to examine his surroundings, noticing some peculiarities. A tremendous concentration of a specific attribute was present...

"Wow… I've never seen anything like this... Good thing it's well written..." Kai murmured involuntarily, analyzing the "script" of energy around.

"Welcome, Immortal Drunkard." The serene voice of the monk, who appeared near the lake, sounded.

"Thump!" Kai immediately felt his heart skip a beat!

"Something's wrong!" He exclaimed, feeling dizzy and under serious pressure!

But since his Eyes of Essence were activated, he suddenly realized that there was someone else near the Monk of Karma! However, Kai couldn't see him with his normal vision! And this someone had incredible power!

Not knowing how best to proceed, Kai instantly fell to one knee and respectfully said:

"I, the junior, do not know who you are, but I acknowledge your incredible power! Greetings, elder!" He respectfully clasped his hands at his chest and shouted.

Kai didn't believe that the Samsara Temple had plotted anything bad. Otherwise, they wouldn't have tried to create a universal alliance… Although the current situation was strange, this approach seemed the most prudent to Kai!

"Ho-ho…" Suddenly, a wheezing laugh echoed in the distance…

And at that moment, near the Monk of Karma, the figure of a strange old man began to materialize... Only, he was much shorter and thinner than the Monk of Karma. Moreover, his body bore age spots, showcasing his terrifying age!

"Damn it... Who is this terrifying old man?!" Kai exclaimed in his mind instantly.

He was shocked at first, but after taking a closer look, he began to calm down... The old man's head was also bald, and his green robes identified him as a monk of the Samsara Temple. Now, he held a long golden staff, which he calmly leaned on.

"I didn't think you'd notice me so quickly…" The old man muttered emotionlessly.

"Forgive me, elder. It's just that your aura is too oppressive." Kai quickly responded.

"Ah? Is that so... Seems I forgot…" The elder said, glancing at his palms, and at that moment, the pressure began to dissipate.

The Monk of Karma just smiled awkwardly and ignored the incident. Apparently, the elder simply forgot to hide his aura…

"This is the Ancestor and the former ruler of the Samsara Temple! I'm not exaggerating when I say he's currently the strongest on the Heavenly Continent!" The Monk of Karma seriously introduced the elder.

"I would be the strongest if I could fight long enough… If we look at things realistically, then it's not quite like that." The elder casually said and began walking towards Kai.

"If there is an opponent who can withstand a few of your strikes." The Monk of Karma said respectfully.

"Let's stop these pointless conversations and get to the matter at hand." The elder said, shaking his head calmly.

Approaching Kai, he grabbed his forearm and began helping him stand… After all, he was still kneeling...

"Oh? Thank you, elder." Kai said, slightly wary.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. Ho-ho…" The elder laughed with some childish playfulness. "But, my boy… There is significant information for you. Whether it's bad or good — that's for you to decide… Any situation depends only on your perception and view of it…" The elder philosophically muttered.

"Enlighten me, elder." Kai said cautiously and respectfully, waiting to hear what the old man would reveal...

V.4 Chapter 387: Spiritual Source

It was quite strange that such a character wanted to meet with him. Kai had made a significant contribution during the negotiations and helped the Samsara Temple convince everyone of the need for unity, but for the Ancestor himself to appear before him…

"And what news is that, elder?" Kai asked respectfully.

"Have you ever pondered what time is and what we mean by the concept?" The monk suddenly asked.

It was a rather odd question, considering their previous topic... Kai thought for a moment and answered:

"Yes. It's one of the questions that definitely intrigued me..." He sincerely said.

"Oh?" the elder expressed with some surprise, "And what conclusion did you reach?" He asked with interest.

"Time is directly related to space, it's elusive and intangible. It seems as if it has always existed and will continue to exist forever." Kai paraphrased the first law of the Sphere of Essence.

The first law was one of the most enigmatic... Therefore, Kai didn't fully understand the concept of time, though he had often pondered it. After the elder's question, Kai decided to develop this topic a bit. Maybe in this way, he could learn something new for himself…

"Hmm… So what do you think…" the elder muttered, gazing into the distance as if trying to comprehend what Kai had said, "Time is related to space… And there's sense in that…" He slowly repeated.

"And why did you ask, elder?" Kai inquired, wary, pulling the elder out of his thoughts.

"The thing is, my cultivation technique is very ancient… I've heard your story about the splitting of the common continent and the causes of the events that happened thirty thousand years ago." the monk digressed, "So, my technique predates that. It is because of it that the Samsara Temple exists…" The elder spoke, lost in thought.

It was evident that his age was so great that even a terrifying level of cultivation couldn't help. Many aspects of his behavior were identical to mortal elders, whose minds gradually fade…

"Forgive me, but I don't quite follow your point." Kai said cautiously.

"The Samsara Temple was formed from the remnants of an even more ancient force. It was called the Temple of the Time-Detached. And I cultivate the technique of its last ruler… Thanks to it, it's possible to feel some threads of time's flow. That's how the last ruler of the Temple of the Time-Detached knew which areas of the Heavenly Continent would be safe during the final chaos of energy." The elder slowly narrated, monotonously continuing his story.

He paid no attention to how Kai opened his mouth several times to ask a question. The monk just kept talking, ignoring this…

"By the way, our lands were safe for a similar reason to the beasts…" the elder casually mentioned and continued, "The thing is, I've also touched upon some curious threads of time recently… And they're related to you…" Having said this, the monk finally looked up at Kai.

The Monk of Karma was no less surprised than Kai himself! Obviously, he knew the history of his temple but didn't expect the Ancestor to tell all this to Kai. Moreover, it was the first time he heard that the elder saw something related to this boy… Therefore, he was initially clueless as to why the Ancestor requested a meeting with such a youth!

"These threads are related to me?" Kai asked, slightly changing his expression.

"Indeed… I don't know the details and can't give you any specific advice. I only know that I must help you now." the elder said seriously, "You will not go to the Wasteland of Savages like the other masters of the Star Sphere." He suddenly stated, further puzzling Kai and the Monk of Karma.

"Um… Then, what should I do?" Kai asked, somewhat disconcerted.

On one hand, he himself wasn't too keen on embarking on another journey. But on the other hand, this frail elder looked slightly insane… It was even unclear whether his words should be taken seriously or if they were just the ramblings of his fading mind…

"I'm not sure… But I vaguely saw someone like you in a strange city… All its buildings were red…" the elder muttered, as if rummaging through memories, "Not exactly, I'm sure it was you."

"Red buildings? Is he describing the Demon King's Palace? Just a coincidence, or did he really see something?" Kai thought in mild shock.

"Have you ever seen such a city? According to my knowledge, there's nothing like it on the Heavenly Continent… So…" The elder looked at Kai strangely.

"Yes. You're talking about the main city of the demon race." Kai exhaled heavily. He already understood that it was better not to hide anything from this peculiar monk...

"Then that's where your place in history lies. If you are there, it will make a significant contribution to the future battle!" the elder candidly stated, "But you are too weak now… You will become stronger…" He muttered this and turned to the Monk of Karma.

The latter, in turn, looked at the Ancestor warily, waiting for his instructions…

In turn, Kai was completely taken aback by such a turn of events! He didn't even fully understand how to properly react to the elder's words!

"I have to return to the Unholy Continent?! What the hell?! I just got back!" Kai mentally cursed, daring not to show his emotions outwardly.

The situation was such that he was practically ordered to go to the so-called Spiritual Source. He didn't even have the right to refuse! And as soon as he uses it — he will be obliged to fulfill the tasks of this old lunatic! Everything was further complicated by the fact that he didn't understand how exactly he was supposed to help in the war!

"Maybe sabotage? If the main army of demons heads to the Heavenly Continent… Expecting an attack from nature's children is definitely not worth it… But my strength…" Kai reasoned chaotically, trying to gather all his thoughts together.

Even if Kai could strike the enemy in the rear, his strength would be utterly insufficient! He needed to become much stronger! But on the other hand, war is not something that flares up and ends instantly... Considering the research on spatial rifts and the production of necessary pills, it's still unknown when the demons decide to attack…

And then the Monk of Karma suddenly said, interrupting Kai's thoughts:

"I cannot dispute the Ancestor's orders. He might seem a bit off, but that's not the case. The Reading Flow Technique slightly changes a master's thinking, so the Ancestor appears somewhat eccentric.

"But you don't seem eccentric... Don't you inherit it as the head of the Samsara Temple?" Kai changed the topic to lighten the mood.

"No. The Reading Flow Technique can have only one successor, but the Ancestor has yet to find anyone suitable..." The monk answered sadly, shaking his head.

It seemed like a uniquely powerful cultivation technique… Kai had never heard of anything like it before. Even from the descriptions, it sounded mighty and mysterious. Kai even wondered if it came from beyond? For instance, from the abode of the Lord and Kessia…

"In about a month, all masters of the Star Sphere and Core Sphere will head to the Wasteland of Savages. And the disciples will begin joint training… You will leave with the first group." Emphasizing the word "leave," the Monk of Karma stated.

Obviously, this meant that Kai would simply disappear from everyone's view and go to the Spiritual Source. The younger generation would think he was in the Wasteland of Savages, and the elders, that he was cultivating in the Samsara Temple. The plan was simple but quite effective!

"It seems I've unwittingly become part of something important and grand..." Kai muttered, unconsciously expressing his assessment of the situation.

"Had the Ancestor been here, he would say you've always been part of it. Such is the flow of time." The monk stated calmly.

"Sounds a lot like the concept of fate, which I definitely don't adhere to." Kai replied with a slight smile.

"You're a bit confused about the terms. Fate and time are different things. In your current situation, time indeed seems very much like fate. As if you were just meant to be here and such an event was preordained. But what if you now simply turn around and run away? What if I decide to kill you?" The monk rhetorically asked.

"Fate is static, and time is changeable? Is that where you're leading?" Kai asked thoughtfully.

"Fate is your future relative to the actions taken. Time is the road to your fate, where these actions are made. But if actions change — so does the road, and consequently, the point you arrive at!" The monk philosophized.

The man hinted that the very concept of fate is meaningless because it's simply a result. Only the path you take and the decisions made on it truly matter! You have direct influence over these aspects only!

"And that means our actions change fate as well. Can we then claim that fate exists at all?" Kai stated seriously and continued, "My answer is no. We alone are the creators of our fate; nothing is preordained." He added openly.

"Nevertheless, the truth is not for us to know…" the monk replied with some serenity, "Alright... I'll expect you in a month." he concluded their philosophical conversation, "You'll go to the Spiritual Source, and from there, decide for yourself what to do and which fate to choose." He added with a smile.

"Creating what doesn't exist? Shall we also discuss the concept of existence? Heh-heh." Kai joked and respectfully bowed.

As Kai bid farewell to the Monk of Karma, he leisurely headed towards the array that would transport him to the exit...

A new, unexpected stage in his adventures begins in a month! But given that he will have access to both the Seal of Destruction and the Spiritual Source, he should definitely achieve impressive results!

V.4 Chapter 388: Hermit's Crucible

After speaking with two ancient monsters of the Core Sphere, Kai leisurely strolled through the streets of the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment. His head was swirling with a variety of thoughts that he was, at the same time, not quite able to structure.

"Elder Sushen said that sometimes you just need to go with the flow of life and not resist. Perhaps this is one of those situations?" Kai muttered to himself, recalling the blacksmith with whom he had traveled all the way to the Demon King's Palace.

He understood that currently, it was best to fully immerse himself in cultivation. If he utilized all the resources at his disposal, then the result might even surprise him! He may not have known what the Spiritual Source was, but considering how highly the Samsara Temple valued it, it was definitely something legendary!

But as soon as Kai thought of Elder Sushen, he stopped in his tracks!

"Damn! How could I forget about this?!" He exclaimed inadvertently, attracting surprised glances from the crowd.

While he was still here, he needed to find a suitable blacksmith! Kai didn't require some legendary weapon or anything like that... He needed someone who could process that strange stone from the spatial rift! If he had sturdy blades that could also perfectly channel his energy... That would be a significant aid in battle!

For instance, in the fight with the elders in the Rotten Forest, Kai used only his hands. If he had had sufficiently durable and good weapons, the wounds he left would have been much more severe!

Realizing this, Kai immediately headed to the first forge he came across to inquire about the best masters in the city. He entered almost every shop he found to gather as much information as possible. And to his surprise, he received the same information everywhere!

"So, I need to go to this so-called Hermits' Crucible?" Kai thought to himself, heading towards the pointed location.

In every forge, he was told about a cave on the outskirts of the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment. It led deep underground, where the best blacksmith masters of almost the entire Samsara Temple resided. If he wanted a custom weapon made, it could only be done there!

According to other residents' stories, the Hermits' Crucible was more of an organization than a place. If Kai had enough money, he could definitely have what he desired made. He didn't need to seek opportunities to meet or gain an audience with some legendary blacksmith; he just needed to pay! This realization eased Kai's mind…

As he approached the entrance resembling a huge cave in a small mountain, Kai saw many masters entering and exiting. Apparently, many utilized the services of these blacksmiths... But those who came just to look were even more numerous…

The crowd included many masters of the Cloud Sphere, who definitely could not afford anything from these blacksmiths…

As Kai entered and walked through the extensive tunnel, everything fell into place… He emerged into a vast underground space, more like a small village beneath the earth! Inside, a scorching heat pervaded, and everything was lit by flames burning everywhere!

“Bang! Dong! Click!” Loud sounds of metal being struck and tools clanking filled the air!

The very atmosphere of this place was unique. Many seemed to come here just to watch the process of weapon creation!

"Amazing… Even mesmerizing…" Kai murmured, moving through the "streets" of the village.

Bald monks were seen working with glowing materials everywhere. Although almost all of them were at the Gravity Sphere level, they were drenched in sweat! The materials they worked with were not ordinary iron, and the fire was significantly hotter! Kai immediately sensed that each blacksmith was using a type of Earthly Flame, which, although far inferior to Heavenly Flame, was still...

Also, on both sides of the road were shops displaying already finished goods. Almost all the weapons on display were staffs of various types. Occasionally, there were spears and halberds, but swords, daggers, and other weapons were almost non-existent...

People who were avidly watching the monks bathed in fire tried not to disturb them. They simply pointed out certain nuances and whispered among themselves. But given the general noise in this village, such conversations didn't even reach the blacksmiths' ears.

Kai walked calmly, trying to find someone impressive. His strategy was simple — he wanted to find a blacksmith whose cultivation was the highest among those present! Perhaps it wasn't the most brilliant strategy, but it was at least logical...

Suddenly, a gruff voice called out to Kai from behind:

"Hey, lad! Are you here to gawk or for business?" He asked directly.

As Kai turned around, he saw a strange middle-aged monk standing before him. His head was bald, but his beard fell almost to his waist. Moreover, he didn't seem very old, appearing more like a man in his fifties…

"Mid-stage of the Star Sphere… He's strong…" Kai immediately noted the blacksmith's cultivation level.

Seeing that Kai remained silent and did not respond, the monk opened his mouth again and added:

"I saw your appearance at the tournament. You're definitely someone important, so you can offer something interesting. That's why I called out to you." He explained openly, "So, are you here for business?" He asked again.

"For business. I just don't know who can handle my order." Kai replied without a trace of arrogance.

He truly needed help, ideally, a consultation from a good blacksmith!

"Perfect! I've been bored out of my mind for the last few weeks. Come to my workshop, and you can tell me there." The monk said enthusiastically and led the way.

Kai, in turn, did not hesitate and followed his new acquaintance. Surprisingly, this blacksmith did not work in public view like the others in this village. He owned a square-shaped two-story building that stood out markedly from the rest.

As they walked through the corridors, they entered an inner courtyard, completely enclosed by the square building. Naturally, this was where all the tools and the blacksmith's working area were located.

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Braman." The monk said, turning around, "I don't like to boast, so don't take this the wrong way... But I am indeed one of the best blacksmiths in the Samsara Temple." He quickly added, surprising Kai.

"Oo… And I…" As Kai was about to respond, the monk raised his hand and quickly interrupted him.

"I already know who you are. Let's not waste each other's time." He said calmly, "I have only one condition! Give me an order that interests me! Otherwise, I won't lift a finger!"

Hearing these words, Kai thought for a moment and decided to clarify everything right away:

"An order that interests you? Sorry, but I'm not familiar with the prices... Please state the price directly."

This question made the monk raise an eyebrow and respond somewhat irritably:

"Do I look like someone who needs money? Tell me what you need! I'm only interested in what you want to achieve and what material you're willing to provide!" He practically shouted.

Realizing his previous question had slightly offended Braman... This was a man pursuing the pinnacle of his craft. Now, he was only interested in something unusual… Something that would make even him exert effort!

"Excuse me, Mr. Braman, I misunderstood you." Kai quickly said and bowed slightly, "But I think I can make it up to you!" He said with a sly smile and snapped his fingers.

And in the next moment…

“Boom!” A huge black stone fell to the floor of the workshop, bringing with it a very strange atmosphere! Although Kai had absorbed all the reserves of destructive energy, the aura of destruction remained until now!

As soon as the blacksmith saw this — his eyes lit up with joy! He immediately flew to the stone and placed his hand on it! This action caused him even more excitement!

"What is this?! What a strange material!" The man shouted in shock.

"Most likely, this is the only material that can properly conduct my energy." Kai said with a smile and showed his power.

Braman quickly glanced at Kai, then back at the stone. This repeated several times until he sat on the ground and closed his eyes. It seemed that the blacksmith had fallen into deep thought... Occasionally, he even mumbled something incoherent under his breath…

Kai did not rush the blacksmith, understanding that this process had its purposes… Given Braman's reaction, he was definitely interested! So, it was just a matter of waiting for his verdict!

After half an hour, the man opened his eyes and quickly asked Kai:

"What do you want to achieve? What shape?!" He said with a somewhat maniacal look.

"Previously, I had these blades." Kai answered, pulling out the daggers given by Master Mo, "I would like something similar, but made from this strange stone." He quickly added.

"Ke-he… That's good…" The monk chuckled contentedly, "The material's structure is suitable! It's brittle and sharp, so it's good for cutting tools! But not only that…" He continued to chuckle, muttering to himself.

This behavior even slightly disconcerted Kai… Initially, Braman seemed quite balanced. But apparently, first impressions were deceptive... When it came to his craft, he turned into an eccentric maniac obsessed with his goal!

"Can you do it?" Kai asked with interest.

But at that moment, Braman suddenly leaped at Kai and screamed right in his face! It was so abrupt and unexpected that Kai didn't even have time to react!

"Done! Get out of here and don't bother me while I work! Come back in two… No, three weeks!" Braman said, poking Kai in the chest with three fingers and shouting!

"Erm… What about the payment? Maybe I can't even afford your services... He-he." Kai joked awkwardly.

Then! Braman suddenly grabbed Kai's clothes and with incredible strength threw him into the sky! Everything happened so quickly that Kai was sent flying out of the blacksmith's workshop in a second!

As Kai flew past small buildings, signaling that he was rapidly moving away from Braman, he literally threw him out like a puppy!

As soon as Kai stabilized his body in the air, he quickly created a Shadow Seal on the roof of one of the buildings and teleported there! Landing on his feet, Kai unwittingly said:

"What an interesting man… He-he…" He murmured with slight shock and laughed. Immediately after, he jumped off the roof and headed for the exit of the Hermits' Crucible.

Braman was clearly a lunatic, but he definitely wasn't joking about his craftsmanship… Although Kai's order was accepted in a rather strange manner, for some reason, he felt that he could trust this monk. And it was unlikely Kai could take his stone back now. The blacksmith was too fond of it...

"Well… I hope you surprise me in three weeks, Braman!" Kai thought with a smile, adjusting his clothes slightly.

V.4 Chapter 389: Smith Braman

Ever since the breakthrough in the Temple of Inevitable Destruction, the blades gifted by Master Mo had become useless. Kai hadn't used them for over five years! He had long wanted to upgrade his weaponry...

Due to issues with finding suitable materials, attempting to forge something of quality was futile! Suitable weapons simply couldn't be made... But everything changed after the journey through the spatial rift!

Time flew rapidly forward, and all the forces of the Heavenly Continent were actively preparing. Command levels were being developed, entire armies organized, control distributed among them, and more. Envoys were sent to their sects to warn others about the war preparations. The younger generation began to get to know each other better, awaiting the start of joint training sessions.

For ordinary mortals, who lived in ignorance, nothing changed... But the entire upper echelon of the Heavenly Continent was abuzz! No one expected such staggering news from the assembly!

Kai, for his part, spent almost every day with Shuo and Aoki. He also regularly met with the Imperial Beast to demonstrate his energy. Sometimes the beast asked him to strike it or directly channel energy into its body. From it, Kai learned about the state of the Heavenly Continent's forces' readiness.

Once all forces arrive in the Wasteland of Savages, they would set up multi-layered defenses and create as many opportunities for counterattack as possible. This way, they could anticipate and repel the first wave of demons!

According to the Imperial Beast, it was unlikely that the demons would attack immediately. Before an assault, scouts would at least be sent to gather general information about the Heavenly Continent. Attacking head-on without knowledge of the opponent would be a foolish decision.

If they killed all the scouts, not allowing any to return... Perhaps, the demons would even think that they failed to find a way through the spatial rift! Such a strategy would definitely buy time! But alas, it would not be salvation...

Kai had already told that the demons were waiting for their king. As soon as he returned from closed cultivation, he would personally venture into the spatial rift. It was unknown if the forces of the Heavenly Continent could instantly suppress him…

After three weeks, it was time for Kai to visit Braman, but he was currently standing in the main square of the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment. Nearly a thousand-strong army, consisting of masters of the Star Sphere and led by seven masters of the Core Sphere, was assembled! This was the united power of the Heavenly Continent!

Naturally, if you added those who were in sects or on missions, this army would grow several times. But here was only the elite, only the strongest martial arts masters!

"The demon army is still larger… Fortunately, they have a problem with transporting forces. Otherwise, we would have huge problems!" Kai thought to himself, watching the scene unfold.

Suddenly, the calm voice of the Monk of Karma rang out:

"Train harder and join us as soon as possible. Remember, your opportunity for development is secured by the bloodshed of your elders! Be worthy successors!"

As soon as this was announced, the entire army turned and began to move towards the city's exit. At that moment, even the usually quiet residents of the Samsara Temple shouted and whistled. They did not know all the nuances, but they understood that something terrible was approaching… And this army would stand against that threat!

But just then, Kai heard a familiar measured voice in his head:

"In a week, the Ancestor will meet you. Good luck."

Kai had grown accustomed to the idea that he would enter the sacred zone of the Samsara Temple, but he was still surprised every time he was reminded of it. And this moment was no exception…

"Is everything okay, Kai?" Seeing his brother's strange reaction, Shuo asked.

"Ah… Yes, everything's fine. I was just informed that I won't be staying here for long…" Kai said with a wry smile.

"What do you mean?" Shuo asked with interest.

"It turns out I'm not meant to cultivate in peace. I have another task, and in a week, I too will leave the Temple of Spiritual Enlightenment." Kai revealed without going into details, "But this is a secret; everyone should think that I stayed here for cultivation." He added seriously.

Hearing such an answer, Shuo pondered for a moment and then put his hand on Kai's shoulder.

"I understand, brother Kai. Then we need to fully enjoy the remaining time." He said with a light smile.

"Definitely!" Kai replied, patting his interlocutor on the back.

In reality, all of this was a deception… Of course, he would rather not manipulate Shuo, but the situation required it. Some must think he stayed, others must know he left. Such a maneuver needed to be executed very carefully, yet in a way that the false information spread... Kai deliberately did not shield his words with energy, allowing some surrounding people to hear him...

If three people know, everyone knows! This was exactly what Kai aimed for!

After the ceremonial departure of the army, Kai agreed to meet Shuo in the evening and went somewhere. Naturally, this was to visit the Hermits' Crucible. According to his estimates, his blades should now be ready!

Kai would be lying if he said he wasn't anticipating it. He really wanted to receive his new weapon! If Braman managed to do what was needed — Kai's combat power would significantly increase! Naturally, it wouldn't be a qualitative leap in strength, but it couldn't be called insignificant either…

Therefore, Kai quickly entered the colorful village of blacksmiths and headed straight for Braman's workshop. At that moment, there was a decent crowd near it. Loud bangs were coming from the yard!

"Is blacksmith Braman creating something unique?" a young man asked with interest.

"I heard he rarely works... But if he does, it's only with rare materials! I wish I could have something of his creations…" a girl said wistfully.

"You can only dream… He's not just any blacksmith, he made staffs for almost the entire upper echelon of our Samsara Temple! Do you think you're worthy of such?" the young man candidly cooled the girl's enthusiasm.

"Wow… Seems I really didn't make a mistake…" Kai thought to himself and smiled.

Kai didn't bother to inquire further with the crowd or waste time; he calmly stepped aside and sequentially used several Shadow Seals! This way, Kai found himself on the roof with a view of the inner courtyard.

And what he saw pleasantly surprised him… Braman's working process was majestic! In the middle of the courtyard stood a huge anvil, and in the blacksmith's hands was a massive hammer! The hammerhead was almost as big as Braman himself, and the handle resembled a crude staff!

"Bam! Bam!" The resounding blows from the hammer striking the anvil echoed!

The spectacle was truly mesmerizing! It was the first time Kai had seen such an action at such a high level of craftsmanship. Although the blacksmithing craft was very different from alchemy or the art of arrays, it had its own charm and beauty!

Kai didn't interrupt Braman and simply watched quietly... The strange process, whose intricacies Kai didn't understand at all, continued for about two more days... Only after this time did the monk gather all his power, and the hammer began to glow with silver energy! And as this action reached its peak — he struck the anvil!

"Ba-bam!" A wave of black energy spread around, slightly pushing Braman back!

"The Law of Inevitable Destruction!" Kai exclaimed mentally!

On the anvil now lay a black blade, whose edge resembled black glass! Kai even remembered that in the mortal world there was a very similar material called obsidian!

Immediately after, a long black strip of fabric, somewhat resembling bandages, appeared in Braman's hand. At the monk's command, it flew straight to the dagger, completely wrapping it! Then he moistened it with something and threw it back into the fire!

"Shhhh!" A loud hissing of fire and fabric ensued!

Only a few minutes later, he grabbed the blade with his bare hands, pulled it out, and nodded contentedly...

The appearance of the blade was tyrannical and slightly wild... The curved blade seemed incredibly sharp, and its hilt was also covered with various protrusions. It seemed that Braman very well captured the sensations from Kai's energy, selecting a corresponding appearance for his weapon!

"Well, what do you think?!" Braman exclaimed in admiration and pulled a similar dagger from his spatial ring, also throwing it onto the anvil!

Apparently, he had noticed Kai's presence long ago, just didn't distract himself from work. Now, when everything was finished, he wanted an assessment of his creation!

Kai quickly used a Shadow Seal, teleporting next to Braman! He immediately picked up the daggers and channeled energy into them!

As soon as he did — Kai's eyes widened! His energy flowed perfectly! It seemed as if these blades became a part of his body!

"Incredible! They suit me perfectly!" Kai exclaimed in genuine admiration. He was thrilled to be able to use weapons again!

"I would offer you to test them, but my workshop is too dear to me." The monk said, eyes blazing as he looked at the daggers, "By the way, that's not all!" As if he had a trump card up his sleeve, Braman shouted.

It seemed that this man loved to surprise and was no less fond of receiving admiration for his work!

"Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!" As soon as his words sounded, the sound of black objects falling onto the huge anvil followed. They seemed to be mixed with black fabric… Kai didn't immediately understand what the blacksmith had pulled from his spatial ring...

"What is this?!" Kai exclaimed in shock.

Naturally, a second later, he himself understood what was before his eyes, he just couldn't believe it! By a funny twist of fate, Braman had made something Kai had never had before! It was a full set of armor!

"Could it be…" Kai continued to mutter.

"A lot I couldn't do because the material was limited… But even these will be a huge advantage!" Braman proudly declared.

Before Kai lay light woven armor, on which lay elements made from the black stone and other alloys. Kai's bodily protection was terrifying, but if he were to also use energy channeled through this armor…

"Put it on! I want to see the fruits of my labor in action!" Braman almost commanded.

Kai didn't play coy and quickly began to don the new armor. It wasn't a full suit of armor from head to toe. But there were bracers, shoulder guards, and a chest piece that protected half the torso, leaving the abdomen and lower back open, and the finishing touch was leg protection. There was also a belt and other useful elements. It seemed that in addition to elements from the stone, the fabric was also of the highest quality!

"They're very light, and the dimensions don't hinder… It seems even the fabric has traces of the black stone… An indescribable work, Braman!" Kai exclaimed in admiration. As soon as he summoned his energy, the entire armor literally began to blaze, enveloping Kai in a thin barrier, as if uniting into a common system!

Kai felt that his energy flowed perfectly even through the fabric. Apparently, Braman used some methods to imbue even it with the stone!

"Ooo… How smoothly it distributes… Good work…" Praising himself, Braman said contentedly.

"Not just good, it's excellent! How can I repay you for this?!" Kai immediately asked. He really wanted to thank this blacksmith who made him such an unexpected gift!

"Leave me the unprocessed parts of this terrifying mineral. Although it's not enough for a full weapon or armor… But if I use it as an addition to other weapons… Who knows what I'll end up creating…" Braman said with shining eyes, obsessively.

V.4 Chapter 390: Black Star

The black stone that Kai had acquired in the spatial rift was utterly unique. Finding anything similar on the lands of the continent was impossible, and one of the best blacksmiths understood this perfectly! Just three weeks ago, it took him only one glance and a slight touch to realize the full value of this mineral!

It seemed that Braman already had ideas on how to use the remnants of the stone. After all, it could even be used as an additive in the composition of the primary metal. Sometimes there were attributes for which it was almost impossible to find suitable materials. Now, the monk contemplated the idea of adapting weapons for some such masters...

This was why he was so interested in these remnants.

"You can take them, I don't need them... But are you sure it will be enough?" Kai asked, slightly puzzled.

After all, he was already satisfied with his new gear, even though he hadn't used it in battle! The work was done so well that a mere glance was enough. Therefore, Kai sincerely wanted to thank Braman!

"I understand your thoughts, but I'm accustomed to working honestly. What do you think is the value of a mineral that no one has ever seen? Moreover, it's not decorative, but withstands incredible loads of destructive energy. Even I found it difficult to work with it..." the monk said, stroking his beard, "This stone was tempered under incredibly harsh conditions. If added to the alloy of other weapons or armor, their durability will increase manyfold. And if a master also has a tyrannical attribute and is lucky enough to work with this mineral... In short, the value of these remnants is already incredibly high. You could say priceless." Braman explained candidly.

"I see..." Kai murmured thoughtfully, "Well then, I won't refuse such a payment. The remnants are of no use to me, so for me, it's a beneficial deal." He added with a smile.

"Aha-ha-ha! Excellent!" The monk immediately laughed and clapped his hands! It was evident he was very pleased with this turn of events! "If you find something similar again — I'll be waiting! Now, don't disturb me and leave as soon as possible!" Returning to his manic state, Braman shouted.

Seeing this, Kai didn't linger. After all, he didn't want to leave his workshop as he had last time...

As Kai left, the monk didn't even turn towards him. He just walked around, gathering some stones and ingots, moving everything into one pile. Apparently, he was about to start crafting a new item right away...

"This monk truly loves his work..." Kai thought to himself, moving through the Crucible.

At that moment, he was fully examining his bracers and breastplate. They were neither too ornate nor too bulky. Yet, they possessed their own atmosphere of danger and allure… There were angularities and asymmetries in some places. Their combination with black clothes was very harmonious. Kai also noticed that there was a spacious fabric hood at the back, which could be used to conceal one's appearance...

"Can't wait to try them in battle, but that will be some time away... In a week, I have to meet with that strange old man..." Kai pondered, mentally preparing for a new phase of secluded cultivation, "I'm curious about what I can achieve... Considering the elders and how much time they've spent — it's blasphemous to think that I can make another breakthrough so quickly. But evaluating the pace of my development... In any case, my task is to enter the so-called Law Sphere, so thinking within the bounds of normality is already abnormal!" Kai continued to philosophize.

He was now heading to Shuo, as they had agreed to spend more time together before the start of joint training. Essentially, in a week, Kai would once again leave his circle of acquaintances...

"I will leave the Heavenly Continent again... But this time, I don't need to hurry back... How long will I stay there, and what exactly will I be doing there?" Kai questioned himself.

The fact that the Elder of the Samsara Temple "saw" him in the Demon King's Palace was, of course, good. But without details, it sounded more like ordinary senile delusion. If Kai didn't realize that this old man was a master of incredible level, he would have completely ignored this situation. He would have just played along with the monks and boldly made use of their sacred zone...

But considering that they were the main factor in uniting the Heavenly Continent, Kai couldn't deny feeling only respect towards them. And during his time on their territory, he didn't see any overtly negative traits in them. These people could definitely be trusted!

The next week flew by rapidly… Almost all days, Kai and Shuo wandered around the city's outskirts, enjoying the views of the gigantic forest, mountains, and the vast lake.

"Will you leave at dawn?" Shuo asked with interest.

"Yes, so we'll say goodbye today. He-he." Kai replied cheerily.

"I think you'll be gone even longer this time. Fortunately, at least it'll be clear that you're alive..." Shuo replied with a light smile.

"That's a debatable statement. If I die on the mission, how will you know? To me, it's even worse… A lot of time will pass, and in your head, I'll be both alive and dead simultaneously. An amazing concept, isn't it?" Kai joked with a smile.

"Considering how resilient you are, I hardly think I'll assume you're dead..." Shuo replied serenely, shaking his head.

"Can't even make a joke… You're boring." Kai said, patting his brother on the back.

"Alright then. Let's say goodbye." Shuo stopped.

Though they both needed to return by the same path, Shuo decided to say goodbye now. Kai, in turn, wasn't opposed to it either.

"I hope that by the time you return, you'll finally catch up to me. He-he." Kai laughed in response.

"That won't happen, but I'll try." Shuo replied candidly.

Understanding Kai's rate of progress and his current strength, the monk fully realized that competing made no sense. But that didn't mean he shouldn't aspire to reach the heights! One could say that Kai would not be a competitor, but a benchmark to strive for!

"Who knows, maybe the joint training will be extremely beneficial. I won't be attending it, though." Kai joked.

"You yourself understand the futility of your words. So, stop mocking me." Shuo replied with a light smile, shaking his head.

After exchanging a few more phrases and friendly parting words, the duo hugged and then vanished simultaneously! From this moment on, they returned to the path of solitude. This was what united all true martial arts masters. If you wish to reach true heights, you won't have time for friends and family! Such carefree days were an exception, which is only occasionally allowed to enjoy.

After saying goodbye, Kai visited an open hot spring that offered an incredible view of the mountains and greenery around. He understood that he needed to fully enjoy this moment and get himself in order.

As dawn broke, Kai, dressed in his new armor, made his way to the central temple! The Elder should already be waiting for him, so he had no right to be late!

Kai moved rapidly, so in half an hour, he was already standing at the transfer array. No one stopped him at the entrance, as the monks knew about his visit. Stepping into the boundaries of the formation, everything before Kai's eyes blurred, and he found himself in a room he was already familiar with.

"Ooh... You're on time." The leisurely voice of the elder sounded.

"Greetings, Elder!" Kai quickly said, dropping to one knee and clasping his fist.

"Enough, get up." the elder said nonchalantly, "I see you've acquired new items..." He added with a smile.

"Yes, all thanks to your blacksmiths!" Kai replied politely, beginning to rise.

"This aura is just like your energy. I won't ask where you found the materials, as that's obvious." The elder nodded in assessment.

In turn, Kai just smiled and didn't respond. This Elder had lived long enough to know a lot about the forbidden zones and spatial rifts with destructive energy. Considering Kai's story, the old man understood everything perfectly.

"Before sending you to the Spiritual Source, I must tell you one more thing. Even Vishnu doesn't know this." the elder said, addressing the Monk of Karma by name, "It's about the time of the energy collapse and the demise of the previous civilization..." He added calmly.

As Kai heard this, he was immediately surprised! Why did the elder want to tell him something that not even the top of the Samsara Temple knew?

"Elder, but…" Kai wanted to object, but the monk immediately stopped him.

"According to your words, you're directly related to the one who is complicit in the catastrophe that occurred thirty thousand years ago. Fate is a strange thing... Though he destroyed much, he also tried to save some..." The elder said vaguely.

Hearing this, Kai didn't fully understand where the elder was going... So he didn't interrupt, just continued to look at the monk.

"The stone that the Imperial Beast gave you is not the only one of its kind. These artifacts, sent by that master to save life, saved not only the beast race but also the human race." The elder said calmly.

"Are you saying that…" Kai muttered, slightly taken aback.

"The last ruler of the Temple of the Time-Detached predicted the fall of a black star onto their territory. This black star was supposed to save them, so the people of the Temple of the Time-Detached didn't seek salvation from the catastrophe... Although many perished, at the critical moment, the star indeed fell... However, it also fell in the lands of the beasts..." the elder continued, not paying attention to Kai's stunned expression, "It's not a legend that the current human civilization was reborn from our territories. Among humans, only the Temple of the Time-Detached survived, slowly transforming into the Samsara Temple. When it became crowded here, people began to disperse to the slowly recovering continent and form their own forces.

The elder calmly revealed to Kai the secrets of the past. Although Kai knew the story from the perspective of the Overlord of Inevitable Destruction, he did not know such details of the ancient history of the Heavenly Continent!

"Damn... Did they think the Overlord decided to save them? It was just a coincidence..." Kai thought to himself, but of course, he did not voice it.

The Overlord scattered the seals to find a successor who could inherit his will. If all life had evaporated, even his soul and Seth, most likely, could not have waited long enough...

"So, you also possess this black star?" Kai asked cautiously.

"The Spiritual Source is the landing place of that star. That's why it's considered sacred to us. It saved us and gave us the opportunity to be reborn. That's why we became the Samsara Temple... Although it has long been forgotten about now..." The elder said, shaking his head.

"But how? I don't feel any destructive energy in the area. And the vegetation here is very lush..." Kai said, astonished.

"The thing is, in addition to the black star, a spatial rift opened near it. Naturally, this was a problem, so the best masters of the Temple of the Time-Detached spent hundreds of years to finally seal both the star and the rift together. Thus, all the destructive energy is slowly processed into pure, giving birth to the waters of the Spiritual Source." The elder said with a smile, carefully watching Kai.

V.4 Chapter 391: Reckless Actions

Listening to all this, Kai could hardly believe his ears... Now, it seemed that the original idea of searching for the Seals of Destruction in the forbidden zones wasn't too wise.

"The beast races and the Samsara Temple were saved from destruction by the Seal of Destruction itself. Thus, the other seals must be located where the story of the current civilization began... On the Heavenly Continent, it's the Samsara Temple and the Wild Beasts Steppe. Does that mean the last two are on the Unholy Continent?" Kai speculated mentally.

Analyzing the available information, the Heavenly Continent had only two epicenters for the rebirth of civilization... Then the location of another seal became obvious!

"I have the first seal, I took the second from the beasts, the third is sealed within the Spiritual Source... The fourth must be in the Demon King's Palace!" Kai concluded instantly.

The demons were one of the surviving races, moreover, they managed to preserve themselves even better than humans and quicker revive their power. Also, Kai often heard stories about the Demonic Deity, who saved them during the apocalypse and the division of the continents. Thinking it over, the origins of such a legend were quite predictable...

"Well... Now at least I have a personal reason to go to the Unholy Continent... But, what about the last seal? Where is it?" Kai pondered, puzzled.

At that moment, his contemplations were interrupted by the calm voice of the elder:

"I see you have your own concerns... Are these stars important to you?" he asked with a light smile.

"Yes. They directly affect my cultivation." Kai replied honestly.

"I understand... But I can't give you the star of the Spiritual Source. It's one of the elements of the core of our sacred territory. You must understand that sometimes desires are incompatible with reality." The elder warned seriously.

"I understand, elder." Kai replied respectfully and immediately bowed.

"Though I can't take it, at least I know where it is. Anyway, someday I'll acquire it! Perhaps, I'll even need to use force..." Kai thought to himself, "But the most important thing — I've figured out where to look for another seal!" He thought, satisfied.

"So... The Spiritual Source is almost full. I don't know about your absorption speed, so I'm not sure how much time you'll need... But try your best and don't delay. You must reach the Unholy Continent." The elder said calmly and placed his hand on Kai's shoulder.

In the next instant, they moved to the array in the center of the jade hall. For a moment, the color of the array changed, as if changing the destination of the transfer!

"Boom!" A pulse of energy spread, and Kai felt everything before his eyes blur!

This action lasted slightly longer than usual, signaling that they were moving quite far. It seemed that this array worked on the same principle as the one in Asmodeus's domain.

As the surroundings began to normalize, Kai finally saw where they were... This place looked simply paradisiacal!

It seemed they were at the very peak of a mountain... When Kai looked around, he saw endless expanses of clouds! This peak pierced the heavens!

Moreover, the peak was adorned with beautiful lush trees, different from those giant ones below. Also, a light, barely noticeable mist floated around...

Looking at this beauty, Kai unconsciously took a deep breath and said:

"The atmosphere is amazing... The amount of energy is simply astonishing..."

He was prepared for such a concentration, but still, he was surprised. If just the air was of such high quality, what about the source itself?

"You can stay there. There's food in the storeroom, and you can also eat the fruits from the trees." the elder suddenly said, pointing to a small house nearby, "When you're finished, there's no need to look for me or anyone else. I'll reconfigure the transfer array so that it ejects you on the western coast of the Samsara Temple. There's one of the spatial rifts there." The elder explained calmly and nodded slightly.

"Thank you, elder!" Kai replied respectfully and did not manage to bow as the elder beat him to it.

"Good luck." The elder's voice was serene, and the array on the mountain shone again.

But this time, the elder didn't transfer through it; instead, he rose into the air and flew away. Apparently, as he said earlier, he just reconfigured it...

Kai stood for another ten minutes, looking in the direction the elder flew. He wanted to wait long enough to be sure he was finally alone. Although the elder seemed kind, Kai harbored no illusions that everything would be given to him for free. Caution was always necessary...

Once he was fully convinced that the elder had moved far enough away, Kai closed his eyes and exhaled heavily...

"Damn... I've been dragged into some mess again... Or is it my own fault?" Kai muttered and turned towards the small house.

The house was about a hundred meters from him. It was made of wood, painted in light red, with a roof made of jade tiles. Overall, the design was quite simple, but it still felt powerful and mysterious.

Kai did not hesitate and calmly walked towards his new temporary home...

The closer he got, the stronger the energy concentration felt. Apparently, the source itself was also near the house. Now, Kai was in light anticipation...

And he was not mistaken!

As soon as Kai rounded the corner, he saw a small body of water with milk-white water! It wasn't too large, about twenty meters in diameter. Near it, there were small boulders, harmoniously complementing the scene.

But the most surprising thing — the water was constantly bubbling!

"Heh... Did they send me to a hot spring?" Kai said and laughed cheerfully.

For the last month, Kai had been spending time with his acquaintances... He had not cultivated for quite some time, so he was eager to try this Spiritual Source!

Kai quickly removed all his armor and neatly placed it by the shore. As soon as he was completely undressed, he stepped towards the water!

His left foot was the first to move towards the pond. And as soon as he lightly touched the surface...

"Boom!" A pulse spread throughout Kai's body!

His head spun, and his Energy Center was in fierce motion! Even such light contact with the water showed the terrifying effect of the Spiritual Source!

"What the..." Kai exclaimed, astonished, and slowly placed his foot on the bottom.

He now dared not enter too quickly, fearing his body simply couldn't withstand it. Thus, Kai immersed himself in the waters bit by bit, literally inching his body.

At some point, Kai seemed to enter a trance and unconsciously submerged his head in the white waters... To his surprise, there was no adverse effect. His body absorbed all the incoming energy!

But still, there was a slight hitch... First, Kai needed to process the energy, giving it the properties of the Law of Destruction and Asura. But even so, the rate at which his star grew was incredible!

What surprised him the most — the energy in the Spiritual Source itself seemed inexhaustible! No matter how much he absorbed, the concentration didn't decrease even by a drop!

Thus, Kai literally lost track of time and lay inside for about a week! The process of processing became almost intuitive for him...

At that moment, Kai mentally moved to his Energy Center, watching as inside a black star burned, and two streams of black energies continuously poured into it... Although visually they were identical, Kai understood that these were two different laws!

"I need to get out..." Kai thought and surfaced, slowly heading to the shore.

The Spiritual Source was incredible, but Kai had completely forgotten that he had another ace up his sleeve... Namely, the Seals of Destruction!

Kai did not immediately continue his cultivation, first, he went to the house and looked around a bit. After all, he was curious about how the elders lived, who entered the stage of closed cultivation...

"Shuo would definitely like it here... Although, I would also live in such a place. Well, if I knew how to fly. Heh." Kai said cheerfully, examining a jar of aromatic tea.

The atmosphere on this mountain was hushed and peaceful. In these places, even the sounds of animals were not heard... Just silence, rustling leaves, and the pleasant sound from the light bubbling of hot water.

"If to be an elder, then there's no need to return from here at all..." Kai muttered, recalling some experiences from the Trial of the Lord.

After half an hour, when Kai had walked around the entire peak and tried several fruits from the trees, he finally returned to the source.

"Let's begin!" Kai said with a smile and sat in the lotus position.

In the next instant, the Seal of Destruction appeared in his hand! But at that very second, Kai's eyes widened!

"What is this feeling..." Kai exclaimed, shocked, and looked even more astonished at his hand.

As soon as the seal appeared — all of Kai's body was irresistibly pulled towards the Spiritual Source! But... Accidentally, he had pulled out the seal from the Temple of Inevitable Destruction, which had almost no power left!

Feeling the strange reaction, Kai unconsciously stood up and walked towards the water. Simultaneously, another Seal of Destruction appeared in his other hand!

"Thumb!" A wave of black energy spread from Kai's body, which immediately resonated with the white waters!

Something very strange was happening, but Kai already couldn't feel it! His mind was completely consumed by the desire to unite with the Spiritual Source! As soon as Kai's body fully submerged under the water, he began to slowly descend to the bottom, as if attracted by some unknown force...

"What... What's happening... Where's all this energy coming from..." Kai thought in a trance.

Now, incredible amounts of energy were pouring into his Energy Center... His star was growing right before his eyes!

Although he didn't know it, all the water in the Spiritual Source had now changed color... It was now indistinguishable from thick ink! As if everything that had been purified over the years instantly returned to its true form, namely—the concentration of the Law of Inevitable Destruction's energy!

Here was sealed one of the Seals of Destruction, as well as a spatial rift from which destructive energy constantly leaked! The ancestors of the Samsara Temple managed to seal both the star and the rift together. Thus, all the destructive energy was slowly processed into pure energy, creating the waters of the Spiritual Source. But apparently... Kai and the two other seals became a catalyst for instant changes!

Now, the entire Spiritual Source had transformed into a sheer essence of the Law of Destruction!

"Difficult... Can't move... My head's foggy... Need to focus... I must focus..." Kai thought, clinging to his fading thoughts, as he heavily muttered.

V.4 Chapter 392: This is Ridiculous!

Kai felt as though he had found himself in an endless dark space where he couldn't move even a finger! Moreover, he couldn't control his energy either.

An immense amount of the Law of Destruction continuously infiltrated his Energy Center. He couldn't even peek inside to see what exactly was happening there, and it terrified him greatly.

"Damn... It hurts... My star is literally burning through my stomach..." Kai thought hazily.

His Energy Center felt so hot and scorched as if it would burn his entire body any moment now! And this wasn't just a figment of his imagination... The volumes of energy entering his body were colossal. One might even say they were incompatible with life...

Although Kai had touched upon the Law of Destruction and the Law of Asura, even that couldn't save him now!

Realizing that everything was moving too swiftly towards a catastrophe, Kai had to do something! He needed to at least take control of his mind!

As soon as this thought appeared in his mind, he gathered all his willpower and commanded the Astral Flame of Sacrifice! In the same instant, his Spiritual Sea ignited, causing slight damage to himself!

"Ghaah!" Kai gasped sharply, as if waking from a nightmare, and opened his eyes!

Naturally, he woke up within the bounds of his Spiritual Sea. This decision came to Kai spontaneously... When mortals were petrified with fear during battle, they would bite their tongue. The pain helped to drive panic from the body, and Kai decided to do something similar, but in his own interpretation!

The fire burned so intensely that even his head began to hurt, but fortunately, it helped him! Kai quickly normalized his thoughts and tried to direct his consciousness to the Energy Center.

"What the hell! There!" Kai swore instantly.

At that moment, Kai experienced very mixed feelings... As if his body had become a prison for his soul! He could move and think within the Spiritual Sea, but returning to reality or somehow influencing his body was no longer possible! Everything happening to him now was completely beyond his control!

This turn of events was absolutely not to Kai's liking... This was definitely not how he wanted to die!

"My body is disintegrating... Incredibly slowly, but it's happening..." Kai muttered as he rubbed his palms.

Although he was now merely a spiritual projection, he still had some connection to his main body. He felt how some parts of his body began to numb and tingle.

Focusing and touching one of his fingertips, Kai said:

"The regeneration of my lineage almost offsets the damage... I hope I can hold on long enough..."

The numbness came in waves, as if something was constantly pushing it away. Kai immediately realized it must be his terrifying regeneration. So far, this was the only positive aspect of the situation...

Kai had no idea what to do now... All that was left was to cautiously observe, hoping his body would hold up... The main thing was to regain control and surface! Then he could move away from the cursed waters of the lake!

Thus, day turned into day, until a whole month had passed... Kai closely monitored what was happening, but he remained sealed within his own body.

Now, he walked in circles, trying to come up with something. His hands unnaturally dangled as if he had lost control over them...

Kai had already realized that the most severe damage had been done to the areas that had come into contact with the Seals of Destruction. While other parts of the body managed to regenerate, his hands were gradually disintegrating. If he wanted, Kai could still move them, indicating the reversibility of the destruction effects...

If he had completely lost his hands, it would have been a very tragic outcome...

"It's just absurd... I know neither the state of my body nor the state of my star..." Kai said irritably.

The feeling was quite unpleasant... Kai liked to have control over his life. He was the one who made all decisions and responsibly bore all risks. But now, his body was taken away from him, and he was just told to wait for the outcome...

As Kai pondered this, he realized that waiting in uncertainty was the most irritating feeling. He had felt something similar in the Abyss... Except that time, he theoretically could have stopped resisting and died. But now, he didn't even have that option!

"Thu-thumb!" A loud sound, akin to a heartbeat, resounded, and Kai immediately collapsed to his knees!

"Kgaah!" He cried out in pain and curled up on the ground!

Incredible pain pierced his entire body! There were three main points he wanted to clench to alleviate the agony slightly. But it was simply impossible! His Energy Center, Heart, and Spiritual Sea were pulsating wildly!

"Aaagh... Damn... Damn... Am I really dying?!" Kai roared, almost growling.

With every second, Kai's self-awareness got worse and worse... All his strength was directed at just staying conscious. He didn't know how long it lasted, but at one point, he felt he couldn't hold on any longer...

"Help... I need help..." Kai thought, nearly extinguishing, as if it was a desperate plea...

"Gooong!" Suddenly, an incredible ringing sound that Kai had once heard resounded! Undoubtedly, it was the most majestic and mysterious sound in his life!

"Gon! Goong!" Various sounds continued to ring out, indescribable in their essence!

It sounded as if they were playing on strings made of everything that exists. Some sounds were like the chirping of birds, others felt like epic explosions, and some brought bliss, like the bubbling of a hot spring. The spectrum of feelings experienced at this moment was simply incredible!

Suddenly, throughout the space, the sounds seemed to merge and roared as a chorus. Kai already knew what would follow next... Here it was — the confirmation that the Sphere of Essence was not just a product of his childhood imagination!

This epic sound had no words, but Kai clearly understood its meaning... This meaning seemed to flow through his entire body! And he began to repeat the words, in unison with this roar:

“The Uncertainty of Time-Space is the first law. Elusive and unperceived, it seems to have existed before everything and will remain afterward.”

“The Causelessness of Luck is the second law. It's impossible to grasp the causes and consequences of the Universe's manifestations. As if everything is decided by a roll of a die with an infinity of faces, giving rise to the most incredible regularities.”

“The Eternity of Will is the third law. Will exists in everything alive and inanimate, it's like an intangible entity that drives all the laws of existence.”

“Life and Death is the fourth law. The fruit of the creation of the highest triad of laws: time-space, fortune, and will. Fortune and the will to develop in the infinity of time create entities and lead them to oblivion.”

“The Law of Flesh is the fifth law. Everything begins with flesh, the flesh of the living and the non-living, the material and the spiritual flesh, even the manifestations of nature have flesh!”

“The Law of Energy is the sixth law. The development and activity of everything generates myriads of energy variations, its combinations, and types!”

“The Law of Spirit is the seventh law. With enough time, everything acquires its spirit and consciousness, which is the manifestation of the highest form of being!”

But it didn't end there! The roar of incredible sounds continued, and the meaning of the laws of the Sphere of Essence was repeatedly echoed in Kai's mind!

Kai did not stop and loudly pronounced each of the laws, following the sphere. These meanings literally became his mantra, occupying all his thoughts! Now, he didn't even think about death, just repeating the laws over and over, trying to ponder each word and sound!

He even stopped noticing the passage of time, just continuing to repeat his mantra. Surprisingly, each iteration brought new meanings... Kai delved deeper and deeper into the mysteries of the Sphere of Essence...

"Law of Time... Law of Luck... Law of Will..." Lying in the fetal position, Kai muttered.

What exactly this mantra brought was unclear... But it definitely eased him! The pain slowly subsided, and after a few days, even the numbness began to fade away...

Only a week later, Kai finally rose and sat in the lotus position. At that moment, he had completely forgotten about what was happening in reality. He closed his eyes and continued to repeat the mantra of the seven laws of the Sphere of Essence.

The Body, Energy Center, and Soul of Kai seemed to have separated, each taking on specific functions! Kai seemed to have reached harmony with himself, allowing each aspect to act instinctively... He didn't try to interfere in their affairs, he was just the mind that reads the mantra and doesn't hinder the others...

At some point, Kai began to count the passage of time again. By his estimates, the initial suffering and unconscious stage lasted about three months. After, another month passed... Thus, he had been in the Spiritual Source for about four months!

Although it wasn't the time for that now, he had imperceptibly turned twenty-one years old, which was considered quite a mature age overall...

"Law of Time... Law of Luck... Law of Will..." Kai continued to meditate.

Time flew forward, and two months later... Kai's body jolted!

"What the?!" Kai exclaimed in surprise!

After half a year, he had become so unaccustomed to the feeling of his own body that it felt as if he had been struck by lightning!

"Bam!" A loud explosion lifted the waters of the Spiritual Source into the air!

At the same instant, a naked figure of a man with snow-white hair shot out from the lake!

Kai came to consciousness so unexpectedly that he simply couldn't manage his own strength. He had pushed off from the bottom too hard, leading to such a result!

As soon as Kai landed, he immediately began to feel his body and examine every part of it! He feared he might have lost something necessary...

"Phew..." Kai exhaled with relief and smiled. His body was in perfect order, it seemed to have even become stronger than before!

But as soon as Kai thought about this, he immediately froze... Now he had to look into his Energy Center... And he couldn't deny that he was afraid to do it!

What had happened over the last six months was terrifying! For a long time, Kai didn't understand what was happening to him. Therefore, his current state was a mystery to him...

Gathering his thoughts, he took a deep breath and looked inside...

In the Energy Center floated a black, burning star... Its size, concentration, vibration strength, and more — everything had increased by multiples! It could even be said that it looked nothing like the one from six months ago... The energy attraction force was completely abnormal! But most importantly, the Law of Inevitable Destruction and the Asura Reaper Law were perfectly balanced!

"Advanced stage of the Star Sphere... No... More like the peak! What?! Ha-ha-ha..." Kai laughed in disbelief, "This is just ridiculous..." Shaking his head, he said nervously.

V.4 Chapter 393: Thousand Faces Technique

Kai stood in disbelief, not quite understanding what exactly was happening... Only now did he notice that he was still holding two seals in his hands!

"Ah? But how..." He muttered in shock.

At that moment, the seal provided by the Imperial Beast had almost completely depleted. There was barely more energy of destruction in it than in the first one. This discovery immediately frightened Kai!

"How could I have absorbed so much?!" He exclaimed and immediately moved to the cottage to sit on the steps near its entrance.

In such conditions, even Kai couldn't think rationally and calmly... During his breakthrough, he had just turned twenty-one. And at such an age, he had already reached the peak of the Star Sphere!

"Okay... I need to calm down..." he muttered as if in a trance, "First, I'll accept this as a fact and won't think about it in terms of age and potential... Just forget that it's abnormal..." He continued to mutter.

To come to his senses a bit, he first needed to calm down mentally. Realizing his new level of cultivation led him into too ambivalent a state... On one hand, he wanted to literally scream with euphoria, on the other, it seemed like he was still dying, and all this was just pre-death experiences...

"The concentration of energy was incredible... Apparently, the two seals somehow activated the third..." Kai muttered, looking at the waters of the lake.

At that moment, they were not as black, but the Law of Destruction could still be distinctly felt... Fortunately, there was an array set up around it that prevented the energy from dispersing. The Law of Destruction only killed vegetation within a meter of the lake and overall, it wasn't a problem...

"Good thing I didn't turn this place into scorched earth..." Kai said with a wry smile, trying to mentally change the subject of his thoughts.

This state lasted for about half an hour more. Kai just sat and stared at one point, not understanding how to react, but one thing was obvious... Now, it would be much easier for him to help the Heavenly Continent!

"As crazy as it sounds... I am now in the highest echelon of power in the whole world. Not counting the masters of the Core Sphere, of course..." Kai muttered and slowly stood up.

He calmly walked towards the lake, though he hid the seals first... Kai wasn't greedy, but he simply couldn't ignore all the energy that remained inside the waters. He decided to leave all emotions related to the cultivation level for later. While there's a chance — one must use it!

"I'll help the monks purify their Spiritual Source... Otherwise, how would they manage without me? He-he." Kai laughed and carefully stepped into the waters.

And to his luck, no extreme reaction followed! That feeling of attraction and confused consciousness just wasn't there. Maybe the concentration of the Law of Destruction was significant, but it no longer equaled the initial one...

Kai slowly submerged himself in the waters up to his waist and began conscious absorption. But as soon as he did, his mouth unconsciously opened...

"What the... Do these dreadful old men always feel like this?!" He exclaimed in shock.

The strength and speed of energy absorption were many times stronger than before! Just recently, Kai had revisited places where he began his path as a martial arts master. It hadn't been long, but he had made another breakthrough! Such speed could indeed frighten anyone...

In his memory, the self-perception of the Gravity Sphere or even the Cloud Sphere was still fresh, as it hadn't been that long... And what he was feeling now was on a completely different level! It just didn't compare!

"It seems that if it weren't for the Sphere of Essence and its laws..." Kai suddenly muttered, "I would have died long ago." After a short pause, he concluded.

After more than ten years, Kai finally saw the Sphere of Essence again... Moreover, he witnessed its ephemeral properties! He didn't fully understand how it helped him, but the main thing was that it was an obvious and real fact!

Thinking about this, Kai decided to repeat his practice in the Spiritual Sea. He began to absorb energy from the pond and repeat the laws as a mantra...

A minute... Five... Ten...

Kai constantly uttered the same words, fully immersing in their meanings. He tried to feel what would change at that moment...

But... Nothing happened...

"Damn..." Kai said, opening his eyes, "It seems I don't understand something fundamental. Both the first and the second time, I used it subconsciously. Apparently, I just don't quite understand how to use it..." Kai muttered, taking a deep, tired breath.

He once again confirmed that the Sphere of Essence is the deepest and most mysterious secret in his arsenal. Kai's path had repeatedly presented him with amazing secrets, but all of them, sooner or later, received answers or at least minor clues...

But with the Sphere of Essence, it was different... It was something that only he knows and can see! Even the mere ability of the Eyes of Essence was incredibly useful, but it seemed that the sphere's abilities didn't end there. However, to unlock others, most likely, one needs to become much stronger!

"Alright... No time." Kai said, shaking his head as he closed his eyes.

This stage of seclusion was more continuous than before. Kai didn't even stop to eat or rest. Now his body and level of cultivation allowed him not to consume food or sleep for weeks. So, Kai decided to hurry and not leave the Spiritual Source until he absorbs everything to the end!

It's unknown how things were in the Wasteland of Savages... He needed to finish quickly and set off!

He didn't know if the Elder of the Samsara Temple was right in his predictions, but considering the benefits received from the possibility of visiting the Spiritual Source — Kai definitely had to fulfill his promises! At the very least, it would be his basic gratitude!

Thus, Kai spent another two months in the lake until its waters regained their white color again...

The mountain peak surrounding him was one of the most mesmerizing places Kai had ever seen. Alas, he didn't even get to enjoy this landscape... All eight months, he cultivated continuously, not noticing anything around him... But it was definitely worth it!

Kai glanced sideways at the bubbling white waters and poured himself some wine... Tomorrow he would set off on his journey, and today he would just rest...

"Damn... Seems like I won't want to go to a bathhouse anytime soon..." He muttered with a grimace.

Over the last two months, he had grown quite tired of the hot springs atmosphere, which he adored. After all, all he did was cultivate within the waters, not daring to even stretch.

Only the next day, Kai put on his armor and went to the transportation array. Approaching its edge, Kai turned around and said with a smile:

"I will definitely return someday. He-he."

As soon as these words were spoken, Kai stepped into the array, and it immediately shone, blurring the scene before his eyes!

The Seal of Destruction remained in the Spiritual Source, Kai simply had no way to obtain it now. And it wasn't the time to stab the Samsara Temple in the back... But a time will come when he definitely has to take it!

As the landscape before his eyes began to stabilize, Kai was greeted by the view of an immense ocean! He himself stood on a towering cliff, the edge of which was just a few meters away from him...

Kai slowly looked around and saw a small town behind him. But at that moment, something else caught his interest... Two monks of the Cloud Sphere were already staring at him attentively!

"Hello..." Kai said with a wry smile.

Fortunately, he wore Ayame's pendant, which, surprisingly, hid his energy even now. After all, he didn't want misunderstandings, especially not a fight with people from the Samsara Temple...

"Greetings!" The two men declared solemnly.

One of them quickly ran to a small chest near the array, taking out a ring. Immediately after, he turned to Kai and said:

"We were warned about you. Must say, you're faster than expected!" The guard politely stated and immediately handed Kai the ring.

"Oh? Thank you..." Kai said, surprised, accepting it without further questions.

"You need to go in that direction. As far as we know, all further instructions are inside the ring!" The guard politely added, pointing in a direction.

"Damn... He did everything so quickly that going into town is now out of place..." Kai thought with some displeasure.

He had wanted to go in and update some supplies, especially alcohol... But after such a meeting, it was better to immediately go on with the mission...

"I understand. I greatly appreciate your help." Kai said with a smile and used the Shadow Seal!

As previously mentioned by the Elder, after completing the cultivation, Kai was to infiltrate the Unholy Continent immediately. Apparently, the elder had prepared the groundwork for this in advance...

Moving a few kilometers away from the town, Kai stopped and calmly looked into the ring...

"Oh? What's this?" He thought with interest.

Inside were two scrolls, made of ordinary paper, and one old gray book, which seemed to be made of stone...

Naturally, Kai was immediately interested in the last item, but he decided to first take out the scrolls. As soon as he unrolled them, everything fell into place... One was a map of the area, and the other was a letter!

Kai decided to read the content of the second one first... The text was short and read:

"The spatial rift is located at the point indicated on the map. It is sealed, but there is still a passage. You need to go to a large stone resembling a staff and find a circle sign there. Once you pour enough energy into it, a breach in the barrier will open.

The book is a valuable and necessary gift for you! You cannot help being a human, so become a demon!

I wish you luck!"

"Become a demon?" Kai exclaimed in surprise and quickly took out the book!

As soon as he opened it, on the very first page were three large characters... And they immediately thrilled Kai!

"Thousand Faces Technique!" He joyfully exclaimed!

Just the name alone said a lot! Obviously, this was a technique for changing appearance! And considering the words about becoming a demon...

"The elder wants me to gain the trust of the Demon King's Palace?!" Kai muttered in shock.

Kai had several times contemplated the plan of further actions... After all, he needed to understand exactly what to do when he returned to the Unholy Continent...

Using the identity of a child of nature was no longer an option. He was the one who went into the spatial rift and died along with the group of demons! If he suddenly resurrects — only new death awaits him! But if he can become a demon, then...

Kai quickly flipped through one page after another. It was not only a technique for changing appearance, it also contained many practical recommendations. If everything said was to be believed, it even changes the body's smells and aura!

"This technique is definitely very valuable... If I estimate, the Elder did more for my cultivation than the entire Shadow Sect..." Kai said with a twisted smile.

Of course, this did not diminish the Shadow Sect in Kai's eyes, he understood that life was more complicated. But the fact itself was quite amusing...

"So... We move to the barrier!" Kai declared and a huge dragon carcass appeared beside him!

V.4 Chapter 394: Development of Movement Technique

Mounting Sop, Kai quickly headed towards the location indicated on the map. Initially, he wanted to practice the technique of changing appearance, but it turned out that the journey wasn't too far. In just half an hour, he saw large, odd stones arranged in a circle. Their radius from the center was about a hundred meters...

"Let's land..." Kai muttered, placing his hand on the dragon tattoo.

Even from the air, thanks to the Eyes of Essence, he noticed strange fluctuations in energy... To an ordinary person, these would appear as simple archaic stones, remnants of primitive civilizations.

As soon as Kai landed, he didn't even bother hiding Sop in the ring... Quickly surveying the area, he found several pillars matching the description and began to examine them. In a short while, he finally found the correct one and started pouring energy into the barely visible circle sign.

Now at the peak of the Star Sphere, powering such an array wasn't a challenging task for Kai.

"Doom!" A deep sound resonated, and the ground slightly trembled...

Kai felt signs of destructive energy appearing about twenty meters away from him! Clearly, that's where the passage had opened!

"Hey, Sop! Over here!" he called out involuntarily, then froze with a silly expression, "Ah... Right." Shaking his head with a wry smile, he remembered.

Because Kai had given the dragon a name, he sometimes forgot it wasn't a living creature. In reality, it was an item woven from a corpse, arrays, and various artifacts... It was somewhat sad, but on the other hand, where would Kai hide such a behemoth if it were alive? And how would he feed it?

Thinking all this, he swiftly used several Shadow Seals in succession and leaped onto his dragon's back. Immediately after, it darted towards the newly opened crack in the barrier!

From the outside, it looked quite odd... As if a black crack, several tens of meters in size, hung in the air. But, it was visible only from a specific angle...

Sop charged into it, and Kai immediately felt the familiar, pleasant atmosphere of destructive energy. The world around him turned to darkness again!

"So... Where do the currents lead?" Kai thought to himself, assessing his surroundings.

In such vast space, he clearly noticed a difference in the boundaries of his perception... Now, it could cover even larger areas. Kai felt as if a sphere of several kilometers around him was under his direct control!

"Terrifying elders... Do they always feel this way?" Kai thought in shock, recalling Master Mo.

Simultaneously, he detected the approximate flow of destructive energy and ordered Sop to move. Kai also sensed some objects around him, similar to the stone from which his armor and weapon were made. But he had promised the Elder of the Samsara Temple to hurry, so he didn't explore the spatial rift. Moreover, there was no need to waste time on such things now...

Thinking of his weapon, Kai immediately drew his daggers and directed streams of energy into them! He hadn't properly tested them yet!

"Doom!" Kai's entire body flared up! His armor also began to blaze!

Naturally, he controlled this process to avoid harming the dragon! Perhaps it was possible to drift through this passage as through the Abyss, but Kai didn't want to spend months on it, or worse, get lost. It was unclear whether the space here was as tangled as in the case with the demon's passage...

"They withstand my power perfectly... The energy moves unobstructed, even slightly concentrating in a thin line of the blade!" Kai said with a pleased smile.

As he thought this, his hand struck, sending a massive concentrated arc of black energy into the void!

"Sheeoo! Veesh…" It instantly sliced through the air, producing a whistling sound! But since there was nothing to hit, the attack gradually faded into the void.

"Convenient! Braman is definitely a master of his craft!" Kai praised with a satisfied smile.

Fighting with daggers would be much more comfortable, but most importantly, his equipment could withstand his new power!

"I'm lucky to have found material that's perfect for me! Braman is an incredible blacksmith, but without my stone, it would all be futile. Any other weapon would quickly become useless..." Kai concluded in his mind.

After making a dozen more strikes and getting used to the weapons, Kai calmly sat in the lotus position and pondered... Before entering the spatial rift, Kai remembered an important aspect he had completely forgotten!

"I've completely neglected the cultivation of the Dance of Shadow Seals. I can definitely reach the next level of the technique... Most likely, I could have done it several years ago... Why didn't I?" Kai thought, rubbing his chin in surprise.

The last time he improved his movement technique was at the level of the Gravity Sphere. Most likely, he could start the new stage right this second!

Realizing this, Kai took out the technique scroll, and also ignited the Astral Flame of Sacrifice, illuminating his surroundings.

"So…" Kai muttered, unfolding the Dance of Shadow Seals Technique in front of him.

He carefully looked at the next layer of the technique, trying to understand what it entailed...

As a child, Master Mo spoke of five levels of the Dance of Shadow Seals. The division up to the third level was quite straightforward and intuitive.

First level — a single mark attaches to any object within a ten-meter radius of the master, allowing for teleportation to it.

Second level — a single mark attaches to any object within a hundred-meter radius of the master, allowing for teleportation to it.

The third level represents a significant leap, as it allows for the creation and attachment of multiple marks. While the radius does not increase, the number of marks provides a significant advantage in combat, limited only by the master's power.

But the last two levels were much more complex... The fourth level was only transitional to the fifth. It was not combat-oriented, but rather a useful trick...

According to Master Mo, the fourth level allowed the master to literally cover their entire body with marks, he called it "going into the shadow"... As long as you don't move, even the most skilled martial artist won't be able to detect you!

Previously, Kai didn't fully understand what was described at the fourth level, as many things there were only clear to masters of the Star Sphere. When you are at the Gravity Sphere level, reading such material is like studying tail wagging techniques. It seems clear, but without a tail, you can't learn it.

But now things were different... Kai perfectly understood what was required of him!

"Although the skill isn't combat-related, if used during escape or ambush..." Kai reasoned, already devising ways to use it.

Naturally, employing such a technique in combat would be foolish. If you completely dissolve into the air, but at the same time can't move — such a move is useless!

The opponent can simply attack with a wide-ranging attack. In such a case, you'd have to either defend, dispelling the skill, or take a direct hit...

But if you need to get as close to the opponent as possible... And let's say, you've studied their movement routes well...

"I think the Dance of Shadow Seals was one of those skills that was the core of the Shadow Sect in the past. After all, it was originally an organization of assassins..." Kai thought with a cunning smile.

Even the strongest would have difficulty reacting if they were suddenly struck almost at point-blank range. Especially when they are absolutely confident in their perception and that there are no enemies nearby.

"By the way, what was described on the fifth level, I've already forgotten..." Kai thought to himself and continued reading.

But after the first few words, he shook his head and simply put the scroll away... The reason was simple, it said:

"Once you've created your core, make the energy cloak your second skin. Move it as if it's part of your body."

Obviously, for such a thing, one needed to ascend to the Core Sphere stage. If anyone could use this technique — it would be the Patriarch of the Shadow Sect!

Understanding this, Kai calmly began to create several seals simultaneously, attaching them directly to his body. The principle of the fourth level was absolutely clear to him. Considering his current level of power, Eyes of Essence, and proficiency in energy control, all he needed was basic practice!

Kai had already decided to spend time mastering this ability and then proceed to the Thousand Faces Technique. Coincidentally, its principle was remotely similar; it was also based on energy manipulation and covering your body with it. Surprisingly, it required using some rather trivial tricks, like voice manipulation, facial expressions, and the like.

Currently, Kai did not know how much time it would take to cross the spatial rift. If he didn't finish with these two techniques, he would delay somewhere on the Unholy Continent before setting off to the Demon King's Palace. Until his demon guise was flawless, venturing into their territories would be a very foolish act!

Thus, day by day passed as Kai moved through the void. They only stopped occasionally to slightly adjust their direction of movement. After all, the streams of destructive energy sometimes turned...

Kai mastered the fourth level of the Dance of Shadow Seals in just a week, which wasn't surprising given his level. But with the Thousand Faces Technique, things were more complicated...

The part oriented on energy manipulation wasn't too difficult for Kai. Within two weeks, he almost fully grasped all the principles of its operation. But other nuances of this technique required skills Kai lacked...

Such feelings were new to him... Usually, with his hard work and talent, he had the ability to master any technique. But for some reason, acting skills just wouldn't come to him...

Another week passed, but Kai's mood became more and more irritable...

"Damn it! I can change my appearance, aura, and body odor! That's enough!" Kai grumbled discontentedly and punched the void, sending a wave of black energy there, "I can't play another role, so I don't need it! Who knows me in such vast lands of demons anyway?! I'll behave as usual!" He declared firmly and took a barrel of wine from the spatial ring.

In general, the Thousand Faces Technique allowed its user to literally change faces and identities. Potentially, if mastered to the maximum level, you could make your true appearance simply get lost in history. It was indeed a very frightening technique!

Luckily, Kai currently only needed to look and feel like a demon. For such a purpose, his skills were definitely sufficient!

V.4 Chapter 395: Waiting for War

Kai finally began to feel the approach of an exit from the spatial rift... In total, he spent about a month on the journey, which was relatively quick. Traveling with Sop was a sheer pleasure!

About an hour ago, Kai made a stop to use the Thousand Faces Technique. After all, he didn't know where this rift would lead him, so it was better to appear in the guise of a demon right away. Who knows whose territory he would emerge on...

Now, his facial features had become rougher and more angular, his skin color changed to a pale blue, and curved horns appeared on his head. He resembled a fifty-year-old demon with a very stern face and a small beard. Even the atmosphere around Kai slightly changed. Now, he was indistinguishable from a true member of the demonic race!

Kai deliberately chose one of the most typical appearances for demons, without adding attributes like multiple arms or eyes. Each of these demons belonged to a specific clan, which could instantly expose Kai's false identity. But as long as he maintained a common appearance, everything should be fine!

While Kai didn't fully understand what exactly he was supposed to do in the Demon King's Palace. The appearance of an unknown demon at the peak of the Star Sphere would be a very suspicious event... Therefore, it was better to lay low among the commoners for starters. Fortunately, he had Ayame's pendant, which still worked well.

During the journey, he thought a lot about his plan of action... Eventually, Kai decided to simply arrive at the Demon King's Palace and try to explore it as much as possible. As soon as he found a point to strike, he would conduct a lightning-fast sabotage! He would act from the shadows, creating as many problems as possible for the enemy's army!

It was not clear exactly how things were going and whether the first squads of demons had been dispatched... But in any case, they would not rush in with their entire army at once. Overall, Kai decided to act according to the situation.

"There it is!" Kai mentally exclaimed, and Sop burst through the spatial rift at high speed!

Everything was instantly flooded with sunlight, and clouds and blue sky appeared all around!

As soon as the dragon broke through the barrier, it immediately continued to fly upward! Everything happened so quickly that the lands and rivers below them became barely distinguishable!

Kai heard the sounds of someone's screams fading in the background... Apparently, this rift was guarded, and Kai's appearance greatly alarmed the guards. But they were hardly able to notice anything specific...

"We need to land and cover our tracks..." Kai mentally stated, touching the dragon's tattoo.

At that moment, about a hundred meters near the spatial rift, four nature's children stood. Around this rift, a whole fort was built, either for enclosure or for protection...

"What was that?" asked a guard in shock.

"I don't know... But something flew out of the spatial rift!" exclaimed another in astonishment.

"Oh, come on! I won't believe you anyway. Your jokes have already annoyed me." A large man said, calmly drinking from a flask.

"We're not joking! If you hadn't been slacking off, you would have seen it too!"

"That's right!" the other two quickly shouted.

"Every time you play these tricks on me. Be glad I'm in a good mood today..." the bruiser grumbled discontentedly.

The fourth guard, in turn, was simply sharpening his sword and did not participate in the conversation. It was clear he couldn't care less about what was happening...

But at that moment, an unfamiliar voice startled all the guards!

"I have a question." He stated coldly.

Instantly, all four realized that a demon had appeared next to them! Given that everything happened so swiftly, his level could only be imagined!

"G-g... Greetings!" the bruiser exclaimed in shock, immediately standing up and instinctively hiding his flask behind his back.

"Where am I? Answer." Kai demanded authoritatively.

"The western lands of the Endless Ocean Union!" the bruiser shouted in fear.

Presumably, he shouldn't have disclosed such information, but realizing he was facing a demon, he dared not lie or even hesitate in his response.

"How far is it to the Demon Kings' Palace?" Kai asked again.

"We're in the northwest, so it's not far to the Demons Land. But..." the man cautiously began.

"But what?" Kai asked calmly, looking at his trembling interlocutor.

Presently, the man who had been sharpening his sword spoke up. It was evident he was more sensible and composed than his companions...

"Excuse me, my colleague is a bit silly. He probably meant to say that he doesn't know the answer to your question," he said politely, "Your level and strength are unknown, so what might be close for you could be very far for us." He quickly explained.

"That's sensible..." Kai nodded in response, "Then I'll rephrase my question. How long would it take to travel there by wagon?"

"About a month and a half, and you'll reach the outskirts of the Demon King's Palace," the swordsman replied promptly.

"I see... Thank you for the information." Kai said, eyeing the man thoughtfully.

It seemed he was contemplating his next move... Kai was inclined to eliminate any potential witnesses...

Noticing this, fear flashed in the swordsman's eyes! He quickly bowed and said as respectfully as possible:

"I have some blood contact sheets! Can we sign them so you'll be at ease?" he asked tactfully.

The man instantly understood the situation... The sudden emergence of something from the spatial rift followed by this demon's arrival... This could not be a mere coincidence! Something was happening, of which they should not be a part nor even know about. In such a case, there was a high chance they had become unnecessary witnesses!

These words even surprised Kai... He had no intention of killing innocents just like that, but he also needed to leave no trace behind. Besides, these guys seemed to be quite pleasant people...

"You're very perceptive..." Kai said with a smile, "Your friend has greatly helped you, or else you all would have died today. Thank him later," he added, glancing at the other three, "Prepare everything. I don't want anyone to know about today. Pretend today's events, from beginning to end, simply fell out of your memory." Kai commanded, pointing to the swordsman.

"Understood! Just a moment!" the swordsman exclaimed, sweating from Kai's terrifying words.

As soon as the four sheets were signed, Kai learned the direction and instantly vanished! Behind him, only the four nature's children remained, who miraculously skirted the edge of the knife and did not perish!

"Good thing that guy was there... I like the nature's child; I don't really want to kill simple guards..." Kai thought to himself, moving through the clouds.

Below him were views of a vast mountain range stretching to the horizon...

"The journey through the mountains itself takes a lot of time. If I move straight, a week should be enough..." Kai estimated the distance in his mind.

He was glad to have not emerged in the lands of demons, as that could have made things much more complicated. Merely using the dragon, which was only available to the higher ranks of the demon race, would immediately raise many questions.

Thus, Kai continued to move forward, pondering his plan of action... After four days, he began to see the first buildings in the style of demons. This was not yet the Demon King's Palace, but it was clear he was already in the territory of the Demons Land. He still had to reach the main city...

And only after another five days, countless silhouettes of red buildings appeared on the horizon. The atmosphere was somewhat gloomy, as dense black clouds constantly swirled in this area, and the sun rarely showed itself...

"Alright, Sop. Let's land!" Kai said, looking ahead, and touched the dragon's back.

He would continue on foot from here...

There were about thirty kilometers left to the borders of the Demon King's Palace. Kai deliberately landed near a small town, which was one of the last on the way to the capital.

Kai wanted to experience the life of ordinary demons and buy some demonic wine. After all, his previous stay was almost entirely spent within Asmodeus's domains. Only in the last month did he occasionally go to the city, but the central districts of the capital could hardly be called a place of residence for commoners. He wanted to see the small towns too...

Moving through the crowd, Kai caught surprised glances at himself. Although he did not have distinctive features of noble clans, his armor immediately spoke of his status. Kai did not remove it, as it generally did not stand out too much from the demon race's style. Yes, it was a bit strange, but armor is not traditional clothing.

Now, Kai could not neglect his safety. Who knows where a trap or dangerous situation awaited him. Therefore, he was always on alert...

When he entered one of the taverns, a plump demoness from behind the bar counter immediately greeted him.

"Welcome! What would you like?" she asked interestedly.

"I want demonic wine," Kai said calmly.

"Resting before something grand?" she asked with a hint. It was evident that many of the patrons were also interested in this conversation...

"What do you mean? I don't quite understand..." Kai said, raising an eyebrow.

"Come on! Everyone already knows something is happening!" the woman said with a smile and brought out a large jug.

Seeing this, Kai smiled and said:

"No. I'd like three sealed jugs to take with me, please."

"I told you! You're preparing for something!" the woman said slyly, obviously suspecting Kai, "They say there are new lands... And soon our race will regain its former glory! We will start the conquest again! How can I not thank those who will contribute to this?" she said proudly.

It was obvious that even among ordinary demons, rumors were already spreading... And they eagerly awaited the upcoming war!

V.4 Chapter 396: Domains of Abaddon

Kai decided to stay in this town for a few days to observe the demons and listen to their conversations. He deliberately visited some taverns, just to catch up on the news floating among the locals.

It seemed they were eagerly anticipating the future. Their history and legends spoke of the demons' past glory, destroying and subjugating evil humans. Now, rumors of possible unexplored lands had reawakened dormant memories and an instinctual bloodlust within them!

The Unholy Continent was already a realm under demon rule. Perhaps this life was satisfactory for them, but it seemed as if something was missing. Until now, they couldn't pinpoint exactly what...

"They want to fight and conquer... Negotiating with demons is definitely out of the question," Kai thought to himself, stepping out of another tavern.

Previously, he had entertained some ideas about reconciling the two continents. After all, in recent history, they hadn't clashed. If the demons could understand that the other side's opponent was no less formidable than them, could that stop the bloodshed? It was already clear that it couldn't!

Kai no longer lingered and quickly headed towards the Demon King's Palace's borders. The distance wasn't too great. With Kai's current strength, such a distance could be covered quite swiftly.

As Kai approached, he already saw the line beyond which characteristic buildings began to appear. It started with small houses, but the deeper inside, the more grandiose the architecture became...

"A palace? Doesn't look like it..." Kai muttered to himself.

He was still puzzled by the capital's name. Essentially, calling it a city was a stretch; it was more like a densely populated country of considerable size. Ahead, there were no defensive walls or gates, just houses stretching to the horizon...

But upon reflection, who would demons need to defend against? They were already at the top of the food chain on the Unholy Continent. Even a powerful monster or beast wouldn't dare attack such a place...

Thus, Kai quickly approached the city's edge and entered via a small bridge. Essentially, one could enter from any convenient point, as there wasn't even a guard present.

"Walls and guards are probably only for individual estates inside," Kai thought, taking in the surroundings and recalling Asmodeus's domain.

When Kai was making pills in his tower, he could clearly see high walls in the distance, marking the boundary of a risen demon's estate.

Continuing deeper inside, Kai carefully observed the demons' daily life. The outskirts were much poorer than the central region. This was evident not only in clothing but also in lifestyle...

"There are many brothels and bars here... And lots of gambling houses," Kai analyzed, watching the scene unfold.

The chasm between the nobility and commoners was huge... Kai hadn't noticed this before because he hadn't had the opportunity to leave the central region and explore the outskirts. During his first visit, he only briefly saw the central streets of the outskirts.

"Dear sir, come to us... We're very skilled! He-he," a flirtatious girl called out, reaching out to Kai.

"Warrior, don't you want to have a good night? My establishment is the best around! We have girls to suit every taste!" a fat and sleazy demon said with a smile.

As Kai moved along, demons regularly approached him, offering their services. These were all kinds of activities that would take your time, money, and future. Those who get stuck in such places might never get out...

"Yao runs his business much cleaner..." Kai thought, shaking his head.

Yao also dabbled in the black market, but at least he had certain boundaries and principles. There was some aesthetic to his services, and most of the staff were quite content with their situation. Yao treated everyone with due respect, but the streets here were different...

When a strange demoness approached Kai again and reached out to him, Kai simply disappeared! He used a Shadow Seal to move to the roof of a neighboring house.

In the last hour, Kai had grown quite tired of various scoundrels... So, he decided to just travel via the rooftops, where he definitely wouldn't be bothered...

Over the next few days, Kai moved deeper into the city, aiming to reach the central regions. His goal was to get close to the residence of the Demon King himself. Logically, it should be relatively close to the domains of Asmodeus and other risen demons.

"If the books are to be believed, then the true Demon King's Palace should be surrounded by the estates of the ten ascended demons. By that logic, I'll need to cross one of these zones.

"I wonder whose domain I'll encounter along the way? Judging by the landscape, it's not Asmodeus's domain..." Kai pondered, standing on the roof of a towering building.

As he looked into the distance, he saw the silhouette of a huge castle! It resembled the one where Kai had been a year ago, but there were noticeable differences...

"Well... Let's head there, and we'll see..." Kai thought to himself and used a Shadow Seal.

For the time being, it wouldn't be too bad to settle in one of the ascended's domains. After all, he didn't know how difficult it would be to penetrate the very heart of the capital. And what exactly to do next was also unknown…

Without a clear plan for his next steps, Kai swiftly moved toward the large walls. This time, ten demons at the level of the Gravity Sphere were guarding the entrance. They closely watched everyone entering and stopped some to ask a few questions.

When they saw Kai entering, they somehow didn't feel like stopping him... It was because Kai had slightly shown his murderous aura. Although it didn't affect them too much, it instinctively made them tense up. Demons respected power, so Kai could exist relatively easily within the Demon King's Palace…

"The guards are dressed in bone armor, and their hair is a strange blue color... Seems like they're all members of one clan. I wonder which one?" Kai analyzed mentally.

Some demon families had distinctive physical features that indicated their belonging to one of the noble houses.

As soon as Kai entered the walls, the atmosphere quickly changed... Inside, everything was much cleaner and more refined! The local demons were richly dressed, and they looked much more imposing. It became evident that there was a strict hierarchy in demon society, which wasn't easy to penetrate…

Seeing a large building with a sign saying "inn", Kai immediately entered. He decided to stay here for a while... Until he figured out exactly what to do next and how he could hinder the demons — moving forward was pointless!

"Welcome, dear guest!" the woman behind the registration desk said politely.

"Do you have any rooms available? Ideally spacious and on the upper floors," Kai said bluntly.

Although he had trouble with acting, he decided to change his manner of speaking slightly. After all, he was now a "demon" at the peak of the Star Sphere. Typically, masters of such a level don't show much politeness…

"We have apartments on the top floor with a spacious balcony. But the most beautiful part is the view of the castle of our lord Abaddon from it!" the woman said, clearly impressed.

She wasn't bothered by Kai's somewhat brusque manner; years of experience had probably seen her through much... Kai's armor already indicated he wasn't an ordinary demon. One shouldn't be deceived by his appearance, even among the nameless there are quite terrifying figures! And each of these figures is subordinate to one of the ascended! It was better not to joke with someone like Kai and even to mention things like the high price of these apartments…

"I need it for a week," Kai said calmly.

But at that moment, his mind was on the woman's words about the castle...

"So I'm in Abaddon's domain? Supposedly one of the three strongest ascended... On par with that monster Asmodeus?" Kai thought to himself.

The demoness gently called out to him and said:

"Alright, that will be fourteen royal coins. You can pay whenever it's convenient for you," she added politely.

"Thank you," Kai said dryly and waved his hand over the counter.

Instantly, fourteen brown coins with a silver edge appeared there. The royal coin was the demon equivalent of gold coins in the mortal world. In demon currency, it was a substantial amount!

Working for Asmodeus, Kai sometimes visited the city, so he had managed to exchange some unnecessary items for local money. So now, he could easily cover his expenses.

Seeing the money on the counter, the woman quickly brightened up and collected them. She was very pleased that her assumptions were correct. Kai indeed turned out to be an imposing figure!

"Let me show you to your room," the demoness said politely and bowed.

Before leaving, she called another worker to take her place at the counter. She personally went to show the apartments to express her respect.

The girl carefully explained all the nuances and asked if Kai was familiar with the area in Abaddon's domain. After he said no, she detailed where everything was and how to get there more easily. In the end, Kai even gave her generous tips, once again greatly pleasing the woman.

Standing on the balcony with a barrel of demonic wine, he looked at the castle in the distance... Although it was a considerable distance away, its size still made it look enormous!

"She said there are several baths, but the most magnificent one is inside the castle... So, all you need is just enough money?" Kai thought to himself.

After the Spiritual Source, Kai thought he wouldn't want to see a bath for a year, but reality proved otherwise... After a long journey, he wanted to relax. Moreover, a public bath was a perfect place for gathering information!

According to the woman, he could go to the bath in the castle, where all the nobility went. All he needed to do was pay a sufficient amount. If desired, even a commoner could enter such luxury. Of course, considering their lifestyle, it would take them a hundred years to save up for such luxury...

"I didn't think about it before... But such a tradition significantly brings the nobility closer," Kai thought to himself.

If all the big shots among demons go to the same public baths, it definitely makes them closer to one another. It might sound very strange and even shameful to humans, but if you look into the essence of things – such a tradition was quite beneficial!

Moreover, each visitor was without weapons, armor, or other artifacts, they were literally naked in front of each other! But most importantly – even so, inside the baths, they felt completely safe!

Thinking about this, Kai didn't even bother to leave the inn but used a Shadow Seal to move across the rooftops of neighboring buildings.

He decided he had to visit Abaddon's baths right now!

V.4 Chapter 397: Whom Do You Serve?

Kai moved calmly through the nighttime city directly towards the huge blue castle. The difference in color was immediately striking, emphasizing a certain individuality in this building.

"Have the demons begun their invasion? If so, is this Abaddon also at the front?" Kai pondered with interest.

Considering the descriptions and stories, this was one of the strongest ascended demons. He definitely should participate in the war!

"Maybe I can eavesdrop something in the baths? That way, I'll understand the situation better..." Kai thought to himself.

Half an hour later, he approached one of the castle's entrances. It was apparent from afar as clouds of steam rose into the sky... Clearly, the size of the baths was monumental!

"Why do you seek entry into Abaddon's domain?" a guard asked coldly.

"I'm heading to the baths," Kai replied calmly.

"Do you have a hundred royal coins?" the demon scrutinized Kai.

He was a guard in Abaddon's domains, so he wasn't afraid to appear rude, even if the guest turned out to be a very influential figure. He couldn't let just anyone inside. It was better to find out upfront if the visitor had the money to weed out potential loafers!

"Of course. Here, you can check." Kai said emotionlessly, producing a handful of coins, some of which fell to the ground.

Without saying another word, Kai passed by the guard, not bothering to pick up the change. Naturally, those coins weren't of much value to Kai, so he decided to leave them as a gift for the guard…

"Enjoy your relaxation!" a respectful voice called from behind.

For the staff in Abaddon's domains, a few royal coins were not something trivial. He could definitely afford a splendid relaxation after his shift!

Navigating through the castle's corridors, Kai asked several times how to get to the bath... As soon as he passed through a large arch, he found himself in something like a massive inner courtyard!

Thick steam, dispersed by many pools of bubbling hot water, filled the air! This wasn't boiling water; the bubbling was likely due to water rising from underground. Many naked demons walked around the baths without any embarrassment…

"Hello, sir," a polite female voice said from the side.

As Kai turned, he immediately saw a naked demoness with an impressive figure next to him. It seemed that even the staff dared not wear clothes inside!

"Hello, I'd like to visit the baths," Kai responded calmly.

"Then let's go to the registration desk!" the demoness said politely, turning towards the desk where other staff were located.

"Damn… It still feels somewhat bizarre…" Kai thought to himself, watching the seductive figure of the girl elegantly move in front of him.

"One hundred royal coins," the girl said with a smile.

But before she could finish speaking, Kai had already placed the payment on the stone counter. He wanted to undress quickly and find a secluded corner in the baths. Even with his self-control, he couldn't deny the demonesses' particular charm and allure, which immediately sparked male interest…

"Thank you, dear guest. You can undress over there. Please, also leave your rings and jewelry inside," the girl said with a polite smile, pointing to a room entrance near the arch.

"Everything must be removed?" Kai asked with some caution.

"This is the order of Lord Abaddon himself. You can only enter the bath completely naked," the girl explained quickly.

"I see… Thank you…" Kai said reluctantly, diverting his gaze from the demoness. He didn't linger and quickly headed in the indicated direction.

Upon entering the room, there were many rows of blue chests. Surprisingly, they were quite modest in size...

But as Kai thought about this, he saw a demon near one of these chests. He was just finishing undressing and skillfully sent all his belongings into a spatial ring. Only after that did he place it in the chest, closing it and slightly biting his fingertip...

As his blood fell on the surface of the chest, it shone and was covered in red lines!

"Logical… Everyone who comes here has spatial rings. Large storage is simply unnecessary…" Kai thought, nodding in approval.

He didn't dally and quickly followed the demon's example. In just a few moments, Kai sent all his belongings into pocket space. The last item was the Ayame pendant…

"Can I... If I immobilize the amulet with energy and then cover it with Shadow Seals? Will it work?" Kai suddenly thought, looking around...

Realizing no one was nearby, he covered the entire area of the amulet with a thin film of energy. He needed to completely immobilize the object without using too much force, or it would just allow for the subterfuge to be detected...

Immediately after, he began creating dozens of small Shadow Seals, slowly making the amulet invisible. And within a few moments…

"It worked! It actually worked!" Kai exclaimed in delight.

With his increased cultivation, his control over energy had improved. He could now manipulate it almost intuitively! That's why such an idea came to mind!

Understanding this, Kai placed the rings inside the chest but didn't leave them there. It was even easier to do the same with them than with the amulet... They didn't have links that needed to be immobilized, but just in case, Kai also covered them with energy.

Subsequently, he calmly closed the chest and dripped his blood on it. It too shone and was covered with similar red lines. The array was designed only for storage, so Kai wasn't worried that it would detect blood not belonging to demons.

"Finally, some relaxation..." Kai said with a smile and exited the storage room.

He immediately headed to one of the remote pools to relax quietly. Kai noticed that the strongest demons were mostly there, while the weaklings kept away... If anything could be learned, it was only there!

"I wonder how the war is going?" Kai thought calmly heading towards the pool.

But at that moment, he felt something odd… As if his instincts screamed that he had missed something crucial!

"What the…" Confused, Kai thought, suddenly noticing a demon nearby...

In a nearby pool sat a large demon, with no one around him... He had two massive blunt horns and blue glowing eyes. Under his skin seemed to grow a network of roots... It wasn't clear if these were veins or something else. But most importantly, Kai couldn't sense his cultivation level at all! It seemed as if he was some ghost or statue…

As Kai noticed this, he locked eyes with the demon. And at that moment, his whole body broke out in cold sweat!

The demon casually raised his hand and beckoned Kai over. Although it was done carelessly, the gesture read as an irrevocable command! Understanding the gravity of the situation, Kai hesitated for a moment but ultimately took a deep breath and walked towards the strange demon!

Kai had already understood that this wouldn't end well... He'd gotten himself into something again! Trying to flee right now was definitely not the best idea!

"Damn… I haven't even managed to integrate into demon society, but I'm already on the brink! Maybe I should have hidden the amulet and rings?" Kai thought slowly walking towards the demon, "No… Then my cultivation level would have been obvious to everyone. That's an even more foolish outcome!" Quickly dismissing such an idea, thought Kai.

Approaching the pool and calmly getting into its waters, Kai sat down so the water covered up to his chest. Looking at the demon, he nodded respectfully, not uttering unnecessary sounds… At that moment, all he could do was wait for the terrifying demon's words. After all, it was he who had summoned him here!

"Do you not respect the laws of Lord Abaddon?" the demon asked calmly.

"Who am I not to respect them?" Kai asked with some self-irony, "I just wanted to relax in the baths, and my cultivation would create a lot of problems for me..." Quickly explained Kai, with a hint of apology.

He had already understood that hiding his level was futile. Then, it was better to present everything as if it were just a harmless prank! Thankfully, Kai hadn't started to implement his plan of eavesdropping... Otherwise, he would have been definitively identified as a spy!

"And whom do you serve? I haven't seen you among Abaddon's retinue," the demon said calmly, with a bit of mockery.

"I'm not quite the typical case... I have no clan, and I've spent very little time in the Demon King's Palace. Thus, I serve no one... I hope you will keep my secret...," Kai explained politely.

"You've cleverly hidden your amulet… Interesting skill…" the demon said surprisingly, staring directly at Kai's chest.

Seeing this, Kai sighed and immediately dispelled the Shadow Seals, revealing his amulet and rings. He knew he needed to appear as relaxed as possible now, deflecting all suspicions.

Kai slowly took the pendant and removed it from his neck, immediately placing it in a spatial ring. As soon as he did, the demon's eyes widened! Although Kai had restrained his aura and energy, the demon before him distinctly felt his level!

"Peak of the Star Sphere! You say you serve no one? Would you swear it on your blood?" the demon opposite him asked in a cold tone.

At this, Kai's heart even skipped a beat… He couldn't help but wonder about the origins of his interlocutor! An unimaginable power was felt from him!

"Of course. If needed, I can sign a life contract that I won't lie about this question. I serve none of the ascended demons, like the great Abaddon... I've always been a free master and explored the Unholy Continent. I don't need problems, if I can dispel all suspicions so simply — I would be only too happy. My thoughtless actions have already offended the Lord of this place… So, you understand…" Kai said with an apologetic smile.

Obviously, this demon was one of Abaddon's closest. It was better not to conflict with him now and to express his "sincere" apologies right away…

To Kai's surprise, the demon looked at him and said:

"Do you have a contract paper? Sign it now, or you will have huge problems!"

Understanding the seriousness of the matter, Kai didn't hesitate and quickly found what was needed. As soon as he filled the contract with his blood, he handed it over for verification and signature to his interlocutor. Thus, Kai was betting his life on not lying about this issue!

"Whom do you serve?" the terrifying demon asked again.

"I am a free master and serve no one! No matter if it's a commoner or a Core Sphere master — none of the demons are my lord!" Kai answered honestly!

V.4 Chapter 398: Masters of the Core Sphere

The demon opposite Kai watched him intently... After his declarations, nothing happened, which fully confirmed the truthfulness of his words. The contract was signed, and thus it couldn't be violated!

"Hmm... You arouse great suspicion in me," the demon said piercingly.

"I understand that, which is why I hid the amulet. I just wanted to relax, but my attempt to deceive you failed," Kai replied calmly and shook his head.

"Why then did you go to Abaddon's baths? You could have gone somewhere else and avoided trouble. You don’t seem like an idiot. So why?" the demon asked emotionlessly.

"Not everything is done with a clear intent... Hence, I don't have an answer to your question. I was told about these baths at the hotel, and I simply decided to visit them..." Kai said, offering a self-deprecating smile.

Kai's words were mundane but very sensible! No matter if one is human or demon, not every action is premeditated. Sometimes people just do what they feel like, without any specific reason. Such an answer seemed even more honest than a carefully crafted excuse...

"You said you spent little time in the Demon King's Palace. What brought you back?" the demon continued his interrogation.

"I think it's quite obvious... Strange things have been happening in recent years, and we are preparing for a major war, but clearly, nature's children pose no threat to us. There have been problems with spatial rifts in many forbidden zones. Some of them I even tried to explore..." Kai replied openly, looking at the demon.

Hiding such knowledge was pointless. Even as a free master at the peak of the Star Sphere, it was impossible for him not to notice what was happening on the continent! Too many oddities had occurred in recent years!

"Oh... But you still haven't answered my question," the demon said with a smile.

"Don't take it as rudeness, but that's the whole reason. I came to see what’s happening here..." Kai shrugged.

He behaved quite carefree but showed respect to his interlocutor. Now, Kai seemed like an eccentric old man, whose motives were known only to God. He didn't come across as a spy or a demon out to cause trouble unprovoked.

"So you want to fight?" the demon asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not really... I'm tired of all this... I can't break through to the Core Sphere, so I prefer to just enjoy the remaining time," Kai said nonchalantly, taking a deep breath.

As soon as Kai fell silent, he felt as if an invisible hand had enveloped his entire body with a terrifying energy!

Clearly, his interlocutor was responsible! And the horror was that if he wished, he could kill him instantly!

"Damn! Such power! This is no underling of Abaddon!" Kai realized the incredible truth instantly.

"And... Forgive me for not recognizing you..." Kai barely managed to say.

"Are you one of the estranged?" the demon asked seriously.

"I don't know… Most likely, yes…" Kai wheezed heavily.

Kai had read about such a term in Asmodeus's library. In demon society, the estranged were those demon clans that began to uncontrollably gain power. If they became a potential threat to the ruling clans, they were simply destroyed! It was all done to ensure that the ruling clans faced no threats! They eliminated any threat in its infancy!

But at the same time, the most talented offspring of such clans were left alive to try to make them successors to the Demon King. Considering Kai's current guise, such a description could apply to him!

"Don't know?" the demon said coldly, beginning to rise from the water.

"I have no idea… I lived on the outskirts of the Demons Land, and I never knew my parents…" Kai forced out, "Given my natural talent, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm from the estranged. Perhaps before my clan was destroyed, I was simply left in a commoner’s city." Kai quickly added.

He responded as though he himself was unsure and merely speculating. From the outside, it seemed he had never pondered this question...

"And what if I was the one who destroyed your clan? How would you feel?" the demon said with a smile.

Kai immediately understood that his interlocutor was just testing his reactions and wanted to see the true state of affairs. But since he was still alive, there was a chance for salvation!

"Does it look like I deeply care about anything? The laws of our hierarchy are simple. If someone breaks them — they know what it leads to! Take a risk — accept the responsibility!" Kai declared openly and somewhat arrogantly.

Kai hinted that his clan had no business trying to rival the main families. If they broke the rules, then they deserved their punishment. Now, he appeared as that slippery character type who justifies his vile actions in a similar manner. All the evil done can be explained by a simple difference in hierarchy and status...

"Is that so..." the demon muttered interestedly, and his grip of energy began to loosen...

As soon as this happened, Kai took several deep breaths to recover his breathing. And right after, he said:

"Greetings to you, ruler Abaddon!" Saying this, Kai immediately bowed, almost touching the water with his forehead.

As soon as he was caught in the energy grip, Kai finally realized that this demon was in the Core Sphere! And in Abaddon's baths, there could be only one such demon, namely — the lord of these domains himself!

"I must say, I don't fully believe you. But I give you a chance to survive," Abaddon replied calmly.

"Damn it..." Kai mentally cursed, sensing the approaching trouble...

Being released from the grip didn't mean his life was spared! Apparently, from this moment on, he would be more like a hostage…

"I'm listening to you!" Kai responded seriously, not daring to ask any further questions.

"An unknown master at the peak of the Star Sphere, and moreover, not serving anyone... That's a big trump card, you know," Abaddon said with a malicious smile, looking oddly at Kai.

Hearing this, Kai understood the direction of the future conversation. None of the ruling demons had the right to act against a brother. All disputes were decided by the Demon King, who was not a member of any of the ruling families. Such rules greatly irritated the ascended... Not all disagreements can be resolved through conversation!

Directing his subordinate to create problems for another ascended, Abaddon couldn't. Doing so would directly violate their millennia-old contracts and foundations... It would be equivalent to a direct attack! The power of the subordinates is also the power of the master!

Understanding where the conversation was heading, Kai also smirked maliciously and continued speaking for the demon:

"To survive, I need to establish more trusting relations with you. Your subordinates cannot quarrel with the followers of other ascended... But what if you have a... Let's say... Sympathizer!" Kai cunningly hinted to Abaddon.

If Kai doesn't sign any master and servant contracts with Abaddon, then he won't be a factor in violating the contract of the ten ruling clans! Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to pull off something like this! If promising masters of the younger generation emerge, they are recruited even before they advance to the Star Sphere! The existence of someone independent at the peak of the star seemed nonsensical!

Hearing Kai's words, Abaddon immediately smiled. At that moment, his sharp teeth became visible, making his appearance even more terrifying...

"And you quickly grasped the situation. I like clever demons," he praised.

"I am not worthy of such words from you," Kai responded respectfully.

"I'll decide that, not you," Abaddon said calmly, "Tell me more about your skills. I need to understand how useful you are and what you can be used for." He asked immediately.

"I need to be more balanced and cold-blooded..." Kai thought, analyzing the behavior of this monster. Apparently, modesty and obsequiousness did not work well on him...

"Essentially, I'm an assassin... Stealth, rapid movement, instant attacks are my specialty. I'm also skilled in arrays, which helps in penetrating protected places," Kai replied calmly.

"Khm... Those are very useful skills, you know... I already have a few little jobs for you!" Abaddon said, warming up his fists, "Put your amulet back on." He quickly commanded.

Kai immediately followed the instructions, putting on the Ayame pendant and quickly covering it with Shadow Seals.

Only after this did Kai notice that the environment seemed to change slightly... Activating the Eyes of Essence, he realized they were surrounded by an energy barrier! Everything that happened between them remained a secret from those around! Although such a move was obvious, due to the suddenness of the event, Kai didn't even notice it!

"Core Sphere masters are truly terrifying..." Kai thought a bit shocked.

Although he had already seen such masters, and even interacted regularly with the Imperial Beast for some time... It was still difficult to get used to such power...

"After you finish relaxing, sneak into my office. I want to see how skilled you are. If you have to kill a few of my subordinates along the way — I won't be upset. Just don't touch the Star Sphere, it's not the resource I want to lose," Abaddon said coldly and calmly got out of the pool.

As he walked through the crowd in the baths, no one seemed to notice him... It seemed that others simply couldn't see him...

Only after Abaddon completely disappeared from view did Kai breathe a sigh of relief and relax. He literally melted in his place... He had not expected to get into such a predicament so soon!

But after thinking about it a bit, Kai brightened up! This situation literally worked to his advantage!

"This Abaddon is an incredibly dangerous type... But there's no need to be cautious, it's better to show how useful I am! Solving the internal disputes of the ruling clans, I'll also be helping the Heavenly Continent! The fewer strong masters in their ranks, the fewer people will be killed on our side!" Kai thought with a malicious smile!

It was unclear at what stage the war between the continents was and whether the first squads of demons had reached the Heavenly Continent, but chaos in their ranks was never superfluous!

"Sneak into the office? Easy!" Kai thought with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll do everything to destroy as many of your enemies as possible, Lord Abaddon!" Joking in his mind, with a certain disdain, Kai thought.

He respected strong masters, especially those who reached the legendary Core Sphere, but now, all demons were enemies! If he had the chance, he would immediately kill Abaddon himself!

"Let the fun begin... He-he," Kai said with a cunning smile and laughed.

V.4 Chapter 399: Tool of Abaddon

Kai lay calmly in the hot spring, pondering the recent events... Meeting one of the ascended demons definitely wasn't part of his plans. But then again, he didn't really have any plans to begin with.

"Overall, this is the perfect position for me. I can sabotage all the demons at Abaddon's expense. Moreover, I can get a deeper understanding of what's going on here. I thought they were more united, which made the threat seem incredible, but if Abaddon decided to stab someone in the back at the first opportunity..." Kai analyzed mentally.

Demons were described in books as a unified community with no conflicts among its rulers for millennia. But apparently, that referred to confrontations... If we're talking about hidden moves and the desire to suppress another, things were different!

Understanding this, Kai stood up and dried himself with a light layer of fire. Given the clouds of steam, no one paid him any attention, as they couldn't even see him. Kai deliberately dressed right by the water and used several Shadow Seals in succession.

Now at the peak of the Star Sphere, his potential opponents were few and far between... Breaking into Abaddon's office shouldn't be a big problem!

Kai didn't delay and stealthily made his way through the corridors, penetrating deeper and deeper into the castle. He eavesdropped on some of the servants' conversations to better understand where to go.

"Weak..." Kai thought mentally, easily disrupting a detection array.

Various arrays were hidden throughout the castle. One of the most useful, in Kai's opinion, was the array that detected uninvited guests. Those who had a special item could pass through it unhindered. Otherwise, you would be immediately detected, and the array would attempt to detain you with a barrier.

In fact, even for master arrays, it would be difficult to move unnoticed in these conditions. Only Kai could clearly see the structure and understand where to disrupt it. Naturally, the Eyes of Essence were a key factor.

The castle was enormous, so it took Kai about four hours to reach a huge blue door unnoticed. He stood by it, waiting for the right moment...

Finally, several maids approached the door. They were carrying numerous dishes and demonic wine... And as soon as the door was slightly opened, Kai instantly used several Shadow Seals. He immediately saw a distant dark corner, so he decided to teleport right there!

Everything was done in the blink of an eye, and no one even noticed! But it didn't end there... The moment Kai arrived, he immediately disappeared!

"Hmm... Strange..." Kai thought mentally.

Kai hadn't noticed this before, but this technique worked much better when used on himself! While the idea of hiding objects was successful, it didn't work as well as when applied to his body.

At that moment, even Kai's aura completely vanished! It was as if he disappeared from this world and moved into the shadow realm!

Only now did Kai assess his surroundings, realizing he was in a huge hall with an incredibly high ceiling. There were giant columns everywhere, and the floor was made of various cut tiles. In the center of the hall was a small platform above which hung a stone table, suspended by chains from the ceiling...

Abaddon was currently standing there, closely examining various papers on the table. The servants quickly left all the dishes and, bowing silently, exited the hall.

"I must say, your concealment technique... is splendid." Abaddon praised, pausing, "I noticed your arrival, but as soon as you hid, your presence almost vanished." The demon said, not taking his eyes off the table.

"Almost? Apparently, I'm still not skilled enough." Kai emerged from the shadows, responding calmly.

"If I hadn't known you were there, I wouldn't have detected you. As for the Star Sphere masters... They stand no chance of noticing you." Abaddon replied just as calmly.

Hearing such an explanation, Kai was quite pleased. If one of the strongest demons gave him such an assessment, it could be trusted! Abaddon had no reason to set him up by exaggerating his abilities.

"Thank you for the information. I'll take note of it!" Kai responded quickly, "So, what did you want, Lord Abaddon?" He asked, getting straight to the point.

"First, introduce yourself. You've earned the right for me to know your name." Abaddon said somewhat arrogantly, shifting his gaze to Kai.

"I have a name known only to myself, and no nickname. I've always been very cautious and left no traces. It's unlikely anyone even knows of my existence. If you give me a nickname, I'd be grateful!" Kai played at openness.

Hearing such an unexpected response, Abaddon even smiled. While it all seemed simple, Kai's actions had a subtle logic and hidden motives...

Kai couldn't acknowledge Abaddon as his master, as that would render him useless, but this situation made him a slightly dangerous variable! The act of accepting a nickname from this Core Sphere demon would be a sort of initiation ceremony. And Abaddon really liked this proposal!

"You're smart, and I appreciate that." Abaddon candidly replied, understanding why Kai made such an offer, "An unknown master of the Star Sphere peak, specializing in stealth assassinations... So hidden that you remain unknown..." Abaddon mused.

The demon began to ponder a nickname, seemingly consumed by this harmless process...

Watching this, Kai involuntarily smiled, not hiding his satisfaction. But Abaddon was unaware of the thoughts hidden behind that smile...

"Difficult... You're nameless and unknown, yet dangerous..." Abaddon mumbled again, but in an instant, his expression changed and with a smile, he said, "You will be the Unknown! Simple, without unnecessary information, and encompasses your characteristics."

"I understand. From now on, I am the Unknown." Kai nodded in agreement.

Overall, he didn't care how he was addressed. He was here for entirely different reasons... The most important thing was to cause as much chaos as possible!

"So, Unknown... I want you to infiltrate Python's dominion and kill his son. Moreover, do it in such a way that nothing remains of him! If possible, you can cause as much chaos there as you can! Kill, rob, destroy! The more destruction, the better!" Abaddon said with a malicious smile and burning hatred in his eyes!

As soon as Kai heard such a brutal command, he was even surprised... Initially, he thought Abaddon would want to eliminate one of the elders or subordinates of his opponents... But the order given could significantly impact the relationships within the entire demon hierarchy...

"I understand." Kai responded firmly, but then paused and asked, "Listen... As I understand it, a war is imminent. Won't this harm the Demon King's plan?" Kai asked cautiously.

Hearing this, Abaddon burst into wild, frightening laughter filled with immense malice and cunning!

"The Demon King? He's strong, but only because of our help! Overall, he's just a pawn in the hands of the ten clans. He can't threaten us because he's our slave!" Abaddon arrogantly declared.

Kai was stunned by such words, especially by how easily and casually they were said! He had read about how successors were chosen and so on, but he didn't think reality was so starkly contrasted with the beautiful descriptions in books.

"But still... The war continues..." Kai insisted.

"Come and pour us some wine. Since you're now my hidden trump card, I'll allow you to learn more." Abaddon commanded, pointing to a pitcher on the table.

Hearing the command, Kai quickly used a Shadow Seal, moving directly to the edge of the table. As he prepared the goblet, the demon continued to speak...

"We rule — the ten clans! But in reality, the greatest weight is held by me, Asmodeus, and Astaroth. Each of us has built some relationships with the other seven clans." Abaddon said calmly, accepting the goblet from Kai, "But with the discovery of new lands, everything changes..." He added thoughtfully and took a leisurely sip.

"What do you mean by that?" Kai asked, not understanding.

"Trump cards like you will become more common! Some have already started preparing, so they're forming conditional coalitions. After conquering new lands, another war for power will arise within our society." Abaddon explained vaguely.

"But that's foolish... What if the masters in the new lands are stronger than us?" Kai asked seriously, pretending to be concerned.

"I'm also dissatisfied with that. Planning a subsequent war without winning the current one is very shortsighted!" Abaddon agreed, nodding seriously, "I turned a blind eye to it as long as there were no direct coalitions. But recently, Python decided to openly support Astaroth... He must be publicly punished, so others don't dare to raise their heads!" Abaddon said with a malicious smile.

"I understand." Kai responded without further words and also took a sip of demonic wine.

At that moment, he deeply pondered... The information he heard slightly shuffled his cards...

"Causing chaos in the ranks of one of the ascended is excellent, but in doing so, I might unite the demons for war... If the internal discord ends due to the assassination of Python's son, that would be bad... Damn!" Kai cursed mentally.

It was not the moment to refuse Abaddon's task. Things had gone too far... If initially, this situation seemed to Kai to be an incredibly favorable outcome, now he wasn't so sure…

"In any case... This can play the other way around as well. A public reprimand may provoke others into even greater internal conflicts. If everything is executed cleanly — everyone will suspect each other!" Kai mentally concluded, still leaning towards considering this a favorable outcome.

"I see you're not entirely comfortable with the current state of our society," Abaddon calmly stated.

"Not exactly... To be honest, I couldn't care less about our society... But if an internal war starts..." Kai pondered aloud.

"Don't worry about that. Follow my lead, and you'll find yourself on the winning side! Heh-heh," Abaddon laughed maliciously, pleased with Kai's response.

"As you command, Lord Abaddon!" Kai replied with a cunning smile, bowing respectfully to the demon.

But in his mind, Kai was spinning entirely opposite thoughts... The lower he bowed, the more sinister his smirk became. Currently, it was no less terrifying than Abaddon's!

"Initially, I was afraid you might be smarter, Abaddon... But it seems the essence of demons is too wild to lose in competition. You crave power just as much as the other clans... No matter... I will do everything to help you all at once!" Kai thought sarcastically.

Finally, he had a plan for the coming months! He didn't know when the full-scale war would start, but until then, he would do everything to ensure the Demon King's Palace was mired in internal strife!

The only unknown variable remained the Demon King himself. Although according to Abaddon, he was merely a pawn... Though a very strong pawn!

Given everything happening, it's still unknown what motives he follows and what goals he pursues... Perhaps he will become an equally important factor in Kai's actions! One thing is clear: Kai is determined to stir chaos among the demon ranks, even if it involves manipulating the situations to his advantage, all while maintaining a facade of loyalty to Abaddon.

V.4 Chapter 400: Cunning Spy

Watching Kay's smug smirk, Abaddon laughed and declared:

"So, the Unknown. You must infiltrate Python's domain. The main objective is to kill his precious son. After that, act at your discretion. I need independent subordinates who don't need to be told every step of the way," he said with a smile, "But considering your power, it's unlikely you can be counted among them." The demon added calmly.

"I understand! Is there any other important information for me?" Kai asked with interest.

"Yes... Now..." Abaddon began, sifting through various papers on his desk.

The demon's workspace was cluttered with documents and in complete disarray. Clearly, Abaddon wasn't much for organization...

"Here it is..." he said, pulling out one of the sheets. Dusting it off slightly, the demon handed the paper to Kai and added: "This is a map of Python's castle. It marks all the important rooms, as well as information about targets... For instance, the cultivation and main techniques of his advisors."

"Oo... This will definitely be useful..." Kai said with a wicked smile.

"You can set off today. Python's domain isn't too far away, a week should be enough. Around this time, he should leave the castle and go to the clan council," Abaddon stated and threw Kai a stone. "Do you know what this is?" he suddenly asked.

Activating the Eyes of Essence, Kai examined the intricate pattern on the stone and calmly answered:

"I guess... Something like a signaling array?"

"I have a similar one. As soon as I destroy my stone — yours will also be destroyed," Abaddon hinted.

"Then I'll wait for the signal! He-he," Kai chuckled maliciously.

Though the demon didn't explain all the nuances, the overall plan was clear. As soon as Python went to the clan council — Abaddon would destroy his stone. At that moment, Kai could infiltrate the castle with peace of mind!

Just as Kai was about to turn around and leave, he paused for a moment... Looking up at Abaddon, he asked:

"What do you think about framing Asmodeus?"

"Oh? Tell me more..." the demon asked with interest, a malicious grin spreading across his face.

"I didn't want to mention it earlier, but I've had experience fighting his followers in the past. And as I understand it, I've come into possession of one of the interesting items," Kai said intriguingly and pulled out a pass to his tower. "If we break it and then lose a piece somewhere..." he hinted cunningly.

Obviously, leaving a whole tablet would be foolish as it would directly lead to a specific tower. But if the array is destroyed and part of the tablet is left behind, it would be impossible to determine to whom it belongs.

"I understand it's an obvious setup and unlikely anyone would seriously target Asmodeus. But it will definitely confuse some of your enemies' plans!" Kai added maliciously.

"Khe-khe... You're quite an interesting demon..." Abaddon remarked, looking at Kai attentively.

As he had said before, Kai wasn't just a pawn; he had become a full-fledged autonomous unit. Already now, he had made a wonderful proposal that would only help Abaddon.

"I agree! It certainly won't make things worse... After all, mind games are a fun thing," the demon said with a smile, "What if Asmodeus specifically ordered his minions to drop a piece of the tablet to divert suspicion from himself? He's very cunning, so everyone will have to think twice about what happened!" Abaddon added with satisfaction.

When Kai heard the demon's agreement, he quickly bowed and disappeared without another word! Only the terrifying demon remained standing in the office. His face at that moment was very frightening...

"In my hands lies a dangerous weapon... Khe-khe..."

Kay left Abaddon's domain so that no one saw him. He did not delay and quickly bought a map of the Demon King's Palace and determined the route to Python's domain. Right after that, he set off!

Kay continuously moved across rooftops, pondering what had happened. With his current level of cultivation, even the continuous creation of shadow seals could not tire him.

"Do predictive techniques really exist? Such a strange concept..." Kai thought to himself, slicing through the air with his movements.

Previously, Kai didn't understand what exactly he was supposed to do in the Demon King's Palace, but the Ancestor of the Samsara Temple assured him that he needed to be there. And, to his surprise, in the first few days, he managed to gain the patronage of one of the strongest demons!

"Well... That's all well and good, but it's not time for philosophy..." he thought to himself, "I need to develop a plan of action within Python's domain!" he said decisively.

Kay began to recall the map given to him by Abaddon... The main points of interest were the quarters of Python's son and his five Advisors. Also, there was a treasury that could provide very valuable resources...

"I'll kill the boy without a problem... But ideally, I should also take out a few of the old men!" Kai thought bloodthirstily, "The treasury is more complicated... I'm sure it's protected by a whole system of arrays. Even with the Eyes of Essence, it will take a lot of time to neutralize them all," he continued planning.

Heading towards Python's domain, he went over various scenarios in his head. In the end, he decided that he didn't urgently need the resources, so robbing the treasury would be too irrational and risky. The risk of being caught wasn't worth the potential gain... At least, not for his personal benefit...

Kay decided to simply kill as many demons as possible and do so in a way that left no trace!

According to the information from the map, Python's advisors were weaker than those of Asmodeus. There were five of them, and only three were at a high stage of the Star Sphere, the rest were at a medium stage. Compared to Asmodeus's advisors, this seemed laughable...

Due to his increased cultivation and the level of the environment he was now operating in, Kai's perception of power had slightly distorted. Naturally, the power of Python and his minions was terrifying, but Kai himself had become much stronger!

Ten years ago, even a regular master of the Star Sphere seemed incredible to Kai, and here there were three masters at a high stage! But the stakes had risen, and Kai's thinking had adapted accordingly...

A few days later, Kai sat in a restaurant with a beautiful view of Python's castle. It looked noticeably different from the other two he had seen before.

"Quite extravagant..." Kai thought to himself, drinking demonic wine.

Python's castle was built in a lush and pompous style. Though the overall atmosphere was maintained, the typical demon elements were combined with large columns, frescoes, and a domed roof.

Waiting for the signal, Kai had come to this restaurant for the second day in a row. In fact, he was itching to test his new strength and weapons in action! Moreover, he would be able to absorb some blood!

"Python's son is at the peak of the Gravity Sphere... So, there's no need to even think about him," Kai thought to himself.

He had already decided to kill him last. Considering he was the son of an ascended demon, there might be arrays on his body. Once the murder was committed, Python might immediately find out about it. And strategically, this murder was less important than eliminating the advisors...

While Kai was lost in thought, he felt something solid in his pocket start to change density, as if disintegrating into particles...

"Thanks for the treat!" he winked at the beautiful waitress, placing a few coins on the table.

He stood up, downed his glass of wine in one gulp, and headed for the exit! At last, he could begin his mission!

Almost reaching the castle, Kai entered a dark alley and tied his hair into a tight bun. Then he put on a hood that had been kindly added to his armor by the blacksmith. This created a certain effect of concealing his face... Moreover, he hid his armor under an additional cloak.

Kay did not delay and quickly activated the Eyes of Essence! To infiltrate the castle, he needed to avoid all possible arrays! Entering unnoticed by the guards was not a problem... Now, only demons of a high stage of the Star Sphere could notice him!

As Kai had anticipated, within half an hour, he had already infiltrated the castle! He was in a dark corner, completely fading into the shadow with the Dance of Shadow Seals.

"So... Shall we head to this Lamba's quarters?" he thought to himself.

He decided to start with one of the advisors at a medium stage of the Star Sphere. Kai was completely confident in killing such an individual! The most important thing was to catch him by surprise!

Moving through the castle, Kai noticed that the level and number of arrays were significantly inferior to those in Abaddon's castle. The difference in power was obvious... But overall, this didn't concern Kai much; he easily reached the advisor's quarters and stopped in front of a golden door...

"So... Time for a little monkey business?" he thought with a wicked smile, and beside him appeared a small creature, whose silhouette was almost completely blurred. Naturally, Kai checked to ensure no one was around and directed the creature straight to the door.

But as expected, the check was unsuccessful... The door was locked with a special array. Without a pass, it simply couldn't be opened!

"Well, then we need to break it..." Kai said slightly displeased and stood up.

At that moment, his perception spread out for hundreds of meters, analyzing all the nearby corridors! He felt literally everyone moving through them. If he detected any of the advisors at a high stage of the Star Sphere, he would immediately hide.

Kay didn't hesitate, and his fingers quickly ignited with energy! He began to dismantle the array's lines, slightly disrupting its structure! This process wasn't as straightforward as it might seem initially... It was designed so that if tampered with incorrectly, the door would become permanently sealed with a barrier.

Fortunately, Python's castle was too large for frequent encounters with anyone inside. A quarter of an hour was enough to make the door glow and emit a short click!

"Done! Just need to restore it now!" Kai thought with a smile and quickly entered the spacious and luxurious quarters of one of the advisors.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Kai began repairing the disrupted lines. Since he had already studied all the nuances beforehand, this wasn't too difficult. It was even easier than the break-in itself... Ten minutes later, Kai finally finished and turned around.

Surveying his surroundings, Kai considered where the advisor might be resting... Naturally, things like a bed were more of a prop for physical pleasures. Sleep was no longer necessary for such elders...

At that moment, Kai noticed a side room from which dense energy emanated.

"A cultivation room? He-he..." Kai said with satisfaction and quickly headed towards it.

Kai's plan was straightforward... Engaging in direct confrontation was foolish! But to destroy an enemy during cultivation... That was as simple as it gets!

Kai leisurely entered the room and proceeded to its very center... Once the spot was chosen, he again used the Dance of Shadow Seals and disappeared!

V.4 Chapter 401: Let's Begin the Hunt

Kai was expertly concealed, and without prior knowledge of his presence, no one would suspect a thing... He was in no rush, calmly waiting for his prey.

About an hour later, the door to the councillor's chambers opened. A short, portly demon entered, followed by a girl who seemed oddly attached to the bulky figure, smiling sweetly at him.

"Damn, a mistake… I should have chosen the bed…" Kai thought to himself, observing the scene.

The demoness was only within the Gravity Sphere, clearly indicating the purpose of her visit. It was unlikely she was the councillor's assistant or a close friend... The demon had simply decided to indulge in some amusement!

"Make yourself comfortable, Councillor Lamb," the girl flirtatiously said, gently stroking the demon's back.

"It's been a tough day, so go all out… You know I'll make it worth your while," the demon replied with a vile smile, winking obscenely at the girl.

"I wish I could seal my ears with energy, but that would be too shortsighted," Kai thought to himself, already dreading what was to come.

In such cases, it was better to remain vigilant rather than carelessly dismissing one's senses. Who knows, perhaps his presence had already been discovered, and it was all a ruse. Thus, Kai simply waited impassively, planning the best way to kill his adversary...

A battle between masters of the Star Sphere is terrifying, especially at the intermediate and advanced stages, but striking at the right moment to decapitate the councillor would render even the Star Sphere useless! After all, everyone has vital points usually protected...

Contemplating this, Kai realized the best approach would be a direct strike to the back of the head. Such a sudden attack would surely be inescapable, especially given Kai's superior strength.

"After this, I'll kill Lamb and then the second one… Then we'll deal with that bastard Python…" Kai continued to plan, trying to ignore the nearby happenings.

Only after half an hour of the portly demon's groans did the girl leave his chambers. The demon stood up, inspected himself in the mirror, and smiled, evidently very pleased with himself...

"Thought to overpower me, pup… How could anyone oppose me!" the demon exclaimed, raising his fist.

"He seems to really love himself… It's kind of disgusting…" Kai thought with disdain, observing the scene.

Fortunately, after enduring the groans, the demon eventually headed to the cultivation room, sparing Kai further torment. Kai had regretted coming for the old man's head a hundred times over…

The demon sat down at the center of the room and closed his eyes. His breathing slowly stabilized as he entered a trance, a clear sign he was peacefully cultivating, expecting no treachery.

"Just a bit more… Dive deeper into yourself…" Kai thought, as if mentally coaxing the demon.

His plan slightly altered since the demon was now facing him. At that moment, Kai's blade was aimed directly at the councillor's forehead! But this was certainly not a concern worth fretting over… Kai's hand twitched, delivering a lightning-fast strike!

"Shss!" In a brief moment, the black blade emerged from the back of Lamb's skull!

It all happened so swiftly that only after a short pause did the demon's eyes open… Even a trickle of blood on his forehead was too slow...

"Ehh…" Lamb attempted to speak, groaning.

"Why didn't you go straight to cultivating, you damned old man?" Kai said impatiently and, without waiting for an answer, sent a wave of energy into his blade!

"Boom!" An explosion sounded, and destructive black energy gushed from every orifice of the demon!

In an instant, all the insides of his head were incinerated! Such a death was a complete disgrace for a master of the Star Sphere! He died without even understanding how it happened!

At that moment, Kai was very pleased with himself! The new ability of the Dance of Shadow Seals, coupled with his other skills, was simply terrifying! To kill such an elder with a single motion... This could truly be called the art of assassination!

"Too easy… But will it work against an equal opponent?" Kai murmured quietly, watching as the demon's blood began to gather in the air.

Kai hadn't focused on developing his lineage for a long time, so he looked forward to the blood orb in front of him. As it entered his body, he felt a pleasant pulsation in his heart! It was a very pleasant sensation, unlike anything else...

"Not bad… Quite good, actually…" Kai said with a wicked smile.

He didn't linger, instantly incinerating the mummy and taking the rings. If he had decided not to rob Python's treasury, he would at least take the old man's valuables! Given the status of councillors, there would definitely be many useful items!

Kai didn't spend too much time examining the contents, as it wasn't the time for that…

Kai only checked if the ring had any arrays or marks. He had learned from bitter experience of being pursued in the Rotten Forest... The situation might have been slightly different, but it was worth being cautious!

"By the way… I should use this too…" Kai muttered, pulling out a mask from his ring…

The hood concealed him well, but it wasn't quite enough. So, he decided to be extra cautious by wearing it. Moreover, Kai decided to slightly alter his appearance...

"Next will be councillor Kili…" Kai thought to himself, about to head to the exit when the door began to open on its own!

"Damn!" Kai exclaimed, merging into the shadow right where he had been standing!

"Hey, Lamb!" a gruff voice called out, and immediately a demon with straight horns and a long beard entered the room.

As he scanned the room, his brow furrowed immediately... It seemed the guest found something very displeasing...

"This is bad… He's at a high stage..." Kai realized the unpleasant fact immediately.

"Why was today's farce necessary, Lamb?! We have enough problems already, no need for more trouble in the council!" the old man yelled again, cautiously moving towards the cultivation room.

The problem was that the old man was moving directly towards Kai! It seemed like the situation couldn't get any worse! If he continued, things could spiral out of control...

"I need to attack! This old man doesn't sense me, but he's definitely suspicious of something not right! A surprise attack won't work now, he's too focused..." Kai quickly analyzed his options.

It was impossible to account for all variables… If these two had arranged a meeting, then Lamb's absence would immediately raise suspicions. Kai didn't need to be a strategic genius to understand how this situation might unfold!

And as Kai pondered, he saw the old demon's hand ignite with dark-purple energy! The old man's eyes darted around the room, scrutinizing every detail of the surroundings! Clearly, he was searching for an enemy!

"Change your route… Don't come towards me!" Kai mentally shouted, gripping the handles of his blades.

But the old man kept approaching him… Three meters, two meters, one meter…

"Damn! Here goes…" Kai thought impatiently!

Kai's blade struck directly at the old man's chest!

"Boom!" An explosion of energy shattered all the furniture inside into splinters! Kai's wrist collided with the hard palm of the demon! Black and purple energy created a real storm from their clash!

"Who the hell are you?!" the old man yelled in rage!

The demon reacted immediately, and the surprise attack failed to reach its target! As Kai had anticipated, a surprise attack became irrelevant the moment the old man entered the door. He had sensed something was amiss then!

"Just a guest of your house," Kai replied calmly, launching another strike at the old man!

Kai's second blade glowed with black energy, while something entangled the old man's legs!

But the old man didn't hesitate; huge membranous wings of purple energy sprouted behind him! In a fraction of a second, the wings enveloped him, creating a protective cocoon!

"Boom! Boom!" Another explosion occurred, and the old man was thrown against the nearest wall!

In that instant, Kai used several Shadow Seals in succession, speeding out of the murdered councillor's chambers! Now was definitely not the best time to fight a high-stage master of the Star Sphere, especially on his turf!

But it wasn't long before Kai's expression changed again! His perception was terrifying, so he clearly heard what was happening hundreds of meters away from him…

"Damn… The old man decided to alert everyone!" Kai cursed mentally, continuing through the corridors!

He had heard the bearded demon clearly say: "A spy has infiltrated the castle, Councillor Lamb is dead! Seal all exits, activate the array! Send protection for the young master!"

From this brief statement, Kai realized he wouldn't be leaving the castle easily! Moreover, his target would soon be under full protection! In such a case, even if he managed to escape, it would be bad…

Abaddon had given a clear order, and even the councillor's death wouldn't rectify the situation! The death of the son was meant to be a personal insult to Python, but a councillor was a completely different matter!

After a few more leaps, Kai instantly stopped in a corner of a vast hall, using a shadow entry technique! Now, the best approach was to lie low and wait for the right moment!

"He said to activate the array, sealing all possible exits from the castle… If it's something large-scale, I won't be able to quickly disrupt its structure… I must wait!" Kai quickly decided, daring not to make even the slightest movement.

All he wished was for the barrier to be lifted before Python's return… But considering the length of the ascended councils and the way back, he still had a few days. Only now, the full extent of Kai's mistake was unclear...

He understood that the outcome depended directly on his decisions. If he had initially killed the intended target, there would be nothing to worry about. But now, he also had to extricate himself...

"I can't leave the boy alive… I need to survey the situation!" Kai decided, calming down a bit.

In the next moment, a semi-transparent monkey appeared near him. It calmly looked towards Kai, as if awaiting instructions…

"Use that strange ability and find the boy everyone is guarding!" Kai mentally commanded.

The summoned creature didn't hesitate and began to tremble slightly, releasing a strange mist around it. In the next instant, its silhouette became even blurrier! Kai had seen something similar once before, hence his request for a repeat!

Now, he would remain hidden in the shadows, acting through the hands of summoned beings! Kai would do everything to maximize this situation!

Considering his increased strength and abilities, it was time to devise a new strategy for combat! Now, he had enough energy to remain concealed and continuously support the monkey!

"Let the hunt begin…" Kai thought again, becoming serious and focused.

V.4 Chapter 402: Your Clan End!

Several hours had passed since his discovery, and Python's entire castle had been turned upside down! Armed demons roamed everywhere, vigilantly observing their surroundings...

They moved in precise formations, within which was a demon holding a stone. Clearly, the latter's role was of utmost importance, given the protection afforded to him.

"As soon as they notice an attack, they'll immediately signal... Though, if I wanted to attack, they wouldn't even have the chance to react..." Kai thought, watching the demons of the Cloud Sphere.

If he were to reveal his aura, that alone would be enough to stun the group of demons. The current difference in strength was just too great...

Kai didn't hurry and continued to watch calmly... He felt that the monkey was still alive, which meant he needed to wait. As soon as he had a broader understanding of the situation inside, he could plan his next steps!

"Do you think the killer has already escaped?" one of the demons passing through the hall said.

"Hardly... The castle is sealed tight, so it's theoretically impossible..." the second demon replied, shaking his head.

"But we've been searching for hours... We should have found him by now..." the first demon mused thoughtfully.

"We have clear orders, so just carry them out in silence," the third demon sternly interjected, cutting off the group's conversation.

Time slowly marched on, and Kai regularly observed similar squads. The castle's patrolling was indeed relentless!

And something interesting happened recently...

A demoness from the last group uttered an intriguing phrase...

"So, you're worried about time? Ha-hah..." Kai thought to himself, smiling inwardly.

The demoness had asked the commander what would happen if they couldn't find him within the next three hours... Clearly, such a limit was tied to a specific constraint... Namely, the lifting of the barrier!

This made sense, as a barrier that could cover a huge castle surely couldn't sustain itself indefinitely on external energy. The resource powering it was depletable!

If there had been some other hired assassin in his place, they would have definitely been discovered by now. But Kai was different... Not only did he possess an incredible technique for hiding in the shadows, but his cultivation was also at the peak of the Star Sphere!

In demon society, one wouldn't expect an attack from a master of such level. Any such master would join one of the ten clans and automatically lose the right to attack a fellow clan member! Thus, Python's castle's defensive measures could be considered excessive!

Kai had previously been puzzled by the different appearances of Asmodeus's councillors. Logically, they should have looked like their master or someone from the ten other clans... But upon further investigation, Kai realized the difference in the demon system compared to nature's children. A demon clan could be considered an organization, its core consisting of a specific family, but all others were recruited from outside.

Thus, whether in Asmodeus's domains, Abaddon's, or even here — there was a great variety of demons!

All of them were either servants or prospective masters who had been taken or bought out from smaller clans. Surprisingly, there were also representatives from the common folk. Considering the number of demons, even among the common people, there were prodigies. For instance, any of the candidates for Demon King...

As Kai pondered this, his eyes suddenly narrowed!

"She's returning! Let's see..." Kai thought, and a barely noticeable figure leapt directly towards him!

Without waiting, the beast hit Kai's forehead, and a variety of images instantly began to flood his mind! Over the last few hours, the monkey had gathered quite a lot of useful information! Its stealth abilities were quite terrifying...

Despite the constant patrols inspecting everything around, it had managed to slip away!

"This is it..." Kai thought, viewing one of the memories shared with him.

It turned out that Python's son was still inside the castle, but he was being guarded by one of the high-stage Star Sphere councillors... This information was discussed by two demons who had just come from the location of Kai's target!

As soon as the monkey heard this, it immediately dashed back. If it had approached a high-stage Star Sphere master, it would have definitely been discovered!

"So... What should I do?" Kai muttered to himself, "It seems a direct confrontation is inevitable... I need to wait for the right moment, when they think the danger has passed..." he thought with a cunning smile...

Kai estimated that once the castle's barrier disappeared, the demons would relax somewhat. It was logical to assume that if the killer had managed to hide all this time, he would immediately leave the castle at the first opportunity! There was a chance that a large portion of Python's forces would be sent into the city to search for suspicious individuals...

Though such action would be futile, they couldn't just do nothing... When Python returned, they would likely have to report on what happened!

Thus, Kai methodically waited, not even trying to move. After three hours, there were fewer and fewer patrols. This signaled that Kai's assumptions were partially correct...

But even after that, he decided to wait another two hours to further reduce his risks!

"It's time to begin... I don't know what's with this boy, but I need to kill him!" Kai thought, extending his perception around.

He moved swiftly through the castle corridors, sometimes blending into shadows to hide from the thinning patrols, and sometimes quickly eliminating unnecessary witnesses.

Kai wanted to complete the mission not because he truly cared about Abaddon's order. If he wanted, he could change his appearance and flee... But collaborating with Abaddon was incredibly beneficial for Kai! This demon could provide him with vital information and tips on which ascended beings were vulnerable to attack!

He was unlikely to find such conditions anywhere else... So, he didn't want to waste this opportunity so carelessly!

"He was somewhere close!" Kai mentally exclaimed, recognizing the surroundings. Immediately after, Kai stopped and pondered...

Kai knew he couldn't approach unnoticed... A high-stage Star Sphere master would definitely notice him! He couldn't move while in the shadows, and the moment he used a Shadow Seal, his position would be immediately revealed!

Thus, there was only one option left – a frontal attack! The problem was that Kai didn't know if Python's son was just around the corner. And if he was still there, had other councillors gathered around him? The monkey would be easily detected too, so checking was impossible...

"To hell with it... I'm at the peak, so I'm slightly stronger than these old men! I think I can escape if need be! While Python is away – it's time to act!" Kai decided mentally and moved even closer... One Shadow Seal, and he would be at the entrance to the hall!

"Well then... Let's begin!" Kai mentally exclaimed!

Even before he moved, his hands ignited with black energy! The Laws of Destruction and Asura instantly mingled, creating a terrifying pressure! Even the demons patrolling the corridors, who were quite far away, instantly fell to the ground! And those unfortunate enough to be closer fared even worse!

"Boom!" Kai teleported, and at that moment, an explosion of energy burst forth!

As soon as his gaze fell on the interior of the hall, only one thought crossed his mind:

"Let's try this!"

Before him stood a familiar bearded old man and another middle-stage Star Sphere councillor! And behind them was a very obese demon, literally unable to sit still on the throne behind the councillors.

In turn, the second old man appeared quite skeletal and tall... His head was bald, adorned only with spiky horns.

"So there you are!" the bearded old man yelled furiously, and membranous wings immediately appeared behind him. "Attack together!" he commanded swiftly and charged!

"No time for doubts!" Kai mentally exclaimed, and his body instantly covered in red tattoos!

"Boom! Whoosh!" A crushing aura spread through the hall, along with an unbearable thirst for blood!

This caused the obese demon to vomit blood instantly! Just the residual energies had caused him immense harm! And this was while the old man specifically avoided massive attacks, understanding that the young master was nearby!

"Damn! We need to protect the young master!" the old man exclaimed in shock. He had not expected the hired assassin to be so powerful! It was utterly nonsensical!

Python's minions definitely did not expect such a formidable opponent to suddenly appear! They were incredibly shocked by what was happening!

The middle-stage demon instantly retreated and covered the obese one with red energy, weakening the effects of Kai's aura!

"Where did you come from?! Your entire clan will die a horrific death! Do you think you dare violate the contract's terms?!" the old man cursed furiously and rushed towards Kai.

But at that moment, completely different emotions swirled in Kai's mind...

"What the hell... Where's all this strength coming from?!" he thought in shock!

This was the first time Kai had used the Torture King Mode and all his new powers! The boost was so significant it even surprised him!

Watching the charging demon, Kai merely smirked maliciously, and his blades flared up!

"Ba-bang!" An explosion sounded, and the old man was instantly thrown back! Kai teleported to the opponent in an instant and delivered another devastating blow!

After being flung several meters and finally coming to a stop, the old man looked in horror at the strange demon in the mask and yelled:

"Things are bad! We urgently need reinforcements!"

At that moment, a stone appeared in the old man's hand. He wanted to send a signal and call for help!

But then...

"Heh-heh." A cold laugh sounded, and the old man felt a breath on his back...

As he attempted to clench his fist, he realized he couldn't do it! His palm simply wouldn't obey his commands!

Using the rings, Kai skillfully drew and sheathed his blades... And now, he calmly grasped the old man's arm. His right palm clamped down on the wrist, while his left held the elbow... The grip was so terrifying that it literally crushed all the demon's nerve endings!

"Die!" the old man yelled out, and his wings struck Kai with all their might, immediately sinking into his chest! Simultaneously, huge waves of purple energy began pouring into his body!

But somehow, it seemed Kai couldn't care less about such an attack...

"Useless." Kai said in some ecstasy and sharply jerked his hands!

"Crack!" A horrifying sound of breaking bones and tearing flesh echoed!

With one movement, the old man's arm was torn into two pieces, sprinkling the hall's floor with blood! He hadn't even realized how Kai had gotten behind him!

V.4 Chapter 403: Wounded Girl

The old man's arm was torn off from the elbow, presenting a horrifying spectacle to the other councillor and Python's son! They could never have anticipated that such a fate would befall a high-stage master of the Star Sphere! Even in their worst nightmares, such characters do not lose limbs so easily!

"Aaah!" The old man literally roared in pain, his wings blazing with even more terrifying power!

Now they were embedded in Kai's body, pouring in massive waves of energy. Although Kai's destructive energy actively fought the invasion, the process still caused some damage.

The old man's wings jerked violently, tearing open Kai's chest and throwing him back several meters! But this was very rash...

"Damn!" The old man immediately realized his mistake, exclaiming!

The loss of his arm was so unexpected that the demon instinctively struck back, not fully considering the direction! His attack literally threw Kai towards Python's son!

Even as he flew, a malicious smile appeared on Kai's face! He himself did not expect that using the Torture King Mode would make his power so terrifyingly strong! Moreover, he was inadvertently helped!

"Protect the young one..." the old man began to shout, but before he could finish...

"Boom!" Another explosion of energy burst forth, and Kai unleashed all his power! Not only did the Astral Flame of Sacrifice appear, but also the Asura Hell Domain!

With Kai's current strength, even this mid-Sphere councillor was plunged into illusions! It might have been just a moment, but what difference did it make if that was all it took?

In the same instant, another Shadow Seal was used, transporting Kai next to the petrified mid-Sphere councillor! Kai didn't even need to attack the obese one directly, as his own energy began to destroy the victim's body! Python's son didn't even realize what was happening before half of his torso ceased to exist!

The old man, whose arm had been recently torn off, watched in utter shock! He couldn't understand how the situation had so quickly spiraled out of control!

"Snap out of it!" the old man roared in fury, rushing to the other councillor, who for some reason had frozen in place and was doing nothing!

It might have been just a moment of confusion, but its cost was too great!

The scene around seemed to freeze in time... Kai's figure stood calmly behind the petrified councillor, while the obese body had almost entirely vanished... Meanwhile, the old man with wings was rushing towards them at full speed!

Looking at his opponent, a terrifying smile reappeared under Kai's mask, and he fiercely exclaimed:

"Hands off my feast!" Kai said, as his dagger sliced through the air, sending a concentrated arc of black energy flying!

"Spawn of evil!" the old man cursed immediately, shielding himself with one wing, while simultaneously sending a massive wave of purple energy towards Kai!

His young master was already dead, so there was no reason to hold back! It was vitally important to at least delay this terrifying killer! Other councillors were expected to arrive soon, so there was hope only in timely reinforcements!

"Ba-Bang!" An explosion erupted from the collision of two terrifying energies, literally beginning to destroy the walls of the fortified castle!

All events after the use of the Asura Hell Domain happened in an instant. As soon as the second councillor snapped out of his trance, he found himself standing next to Kai, not understanding what was happening around him!

"What the..." he managed to say, shocked, trying to stabilize his body!

But then... His chest was pierced by someone's hand holding a black dagger! It felt as if he had been speared by a strange, crude weapon!

"Kghah!" The demon cried out instantly, spitting out a large mouthful of blood! His face showed nothing but disbelief... Why were his ribs protruding outward? How could someone of his status die so easily?

"Disappear." Kai said coldly, delivering another strike with the dagger!

But the second strike was made in such a way that it not only decapitated the half-alive demon but also sent an arc of energy towards the second old man!

Another terrifying explosion occurred, and the castle literally trembled! Such a battle was not something any enchantment could withstand.

"I need to leave! I've already overstayed my welcome!" Kai thought instantly, simultaneously absorbing all the blood from the dead councillor's body! He didn't forget to take the sacrificial ring, ripping it off the demon's finger as well!

The Torture King Mode was about to end, so any quality blood was vitally important! Otherwise, he might not have enough time to escape!

As soon as the blood was absorbed, the lifeless body, along with the finger in Kai's hand, disintegrated into tiny particles! The energy around Kai was too overwhelmingly destructive and corrosive!

Even through the dust, the bearded old man roughly understood what had happened! Kai's methods were very strange! The demon couldn't even guess which of the clans possessed such techniques and abilities!

"Who sent you?!" the demon yelled and was about to launch an attack!

But Kai didn't respond... A storm of energy arcs flooded the demon! One attack after another struck the old man!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Explosions sounded in succession, destroying all the surrounding walls!

The old man constantly blocked the attacks and tried to dodge. The opponent vastly outmatched him in combat power, so hoping for a counterattack was all he could do!

A single thought raced through the old man's mind non-stop:

"Why hasn't he died yet?! The contract binding the main families should have destroyed his mind and cultivation by now! Such a monster can't just appear out of thin air!"

The norms of the demon world made such a situation impossible. Each of the main clans has its network of informants and spies. It's simply not possible to raise such a master in the shadows. Such initiatives were easily uncovered and carried massive consequences… But now, it seemed as if someone had indeed pulled off this plan! But who?!

As Kai delivered one attack after another, he also contemplated his escape routes... He might have only a few moments left to flee, so he had to think fast!

"Now!" Kai exclaimed mentally, instantly using a Shadow Seal!

He made sure to time it so that several attacks were still in flight at that moment! This way, he bought himself some time!

"Boom! Ba-boom!" Explosions rang out, and dust and chunks of walls flew around!

The area where the hall once stood was now several times larger! All the surrounding rooms and several floors simply no longer had any barriers between them!

And as the last attack exploded, the bearded old man looked back and trembled with rage!

"Damn it! Where is that bastard?!" he roared furiously, despite his injuries, immediately setting off in pursuit!

The old man's terrifying perception caught Kai's residual energies in the distant corridors of the castle! But as soon as the chase began, the demon realized he was falling behind! At this rate, the assassin would escape!

Pulling out a small stone and breaking it, the old man shouted with all seriousness:

"I'm severely wounded, the young master and Councillor Kili are dead! The assassin is heading towards the western exit! Intercept him!"

Kai ran as fast as he could, not stopping for a second! Python's castle was now truly engulfed in utter chaos! Due to the Torture King Mode, Kai did not disdain any blood... Thus, every demon he encountered on his way instantly turned into a bloody mist!

Of course, Kai's energy and aura were now hidden. But killing someone with a simple dagger strike was no problem for him!

"Two mid-Sphere dead, one high-stage wounded... That means there are still two left. How do I bypass them?!" Kai thought frantically, analyzing the number of Python's councillors.

If he encountered two high-stage masters and the third one caught up to him — they could definitely detain him! Then, after the Torture King Mode ended, it would be the end for him!

Understanding this, Kai tried to find the right way out of the situation... And at that moment, it dawned on him! Kai gathered all his strength and started running even faster! Kai's perception similarly sensed the pursuing old man. Just a little more, and he would break out of his line of sight!

From this moment on, Kai's strategy slightly changed... He stopped killing every demon he encountered and simply inflicted severe injuries on them, scattering the maimed bodies along the corridors! This was a preparation for the next step...

The castle was huge, so the chase had been going on for about half an hour! About ten minutes ago, the old man lost sight of Kai, which greatly dismayed him! The only thing that comforted him was the ambush by the other councillors! They were already waiting for the assassin at the exit! By all estimates, he was soon supposed to fall right into their hands!

"Scum... You'll pay for everything you've done! Lord Python will torture you for decades!" the old man screamed in rage, observing dozens of bodies scattered along the castle corridors.

It seemed that wherever Kai went, he left behind mountains of bodies! And most of them were dead! The damage Python's castle suffered today was simply incredible! Most likely, in the new history of demons, nothing like this had ever happened!

Understanding the difficulty of the situation, the wounded old man continued to run forward, ignoring his injuries. He was almost at the western exit and expected to encounter a fierce battle ahead! Bursting around the corner, his hand was already delivering an attack!

But then... He was greeted by a horrifying scene...

Ahead stood a wall of demons led by two councillors! All of them were in battle readiness, shocked at the sight of the battered old man...

As soon as the councillors' gazes crossed, their faces contorted with horror! The current situation indicated one thing — the assassin was lost! He had outsmarted them and somehow escaped!

"Damn! Did he turn to another entrance?!" one of the old men gasped in rage, rushing in another direction.

But they all knew too well that any further actions would be futile... They failed to capture the one who killed Python's son and caused such chaos inside his mansion! The sense of inevitable punishment and terror already clouded their hearts and souls! Today would definitely become a nightmare for their master's reputation!

Far from the western exit, in one of the corridors, lay a girl... By all indications, she was in a near-death state, incapable of even moving. Many of the demons surrounding her also hadn't come to their senses yet. The scene in the mansion's corridors was simply terrifying!

Only several hours later, other demons arrived, starting to check the living for providing assistance...

When the girl's face was wiped with a wet towel and some liquid was poured into her mouth, she barely managed to open her eyes...

"How are you? Do you understand me?" a demon holding her head quickly asked.

"Y... Yes..." the girl whispered, not fully grasping what was happening.

"Good! Take her to the infirmary!" the demon quickly shouted, but at that moment, the girl clutched his sleeve!

"No need, I also want to help..." she said with tears in her eyes.

"Alright... Then rest a bit, and when you can stand up, help the others." The demon sighed heavily and ran to the next injured person.

"All those lessons in the Thousand Faces Technique weren't in vain... He-he." Kai thought to himself, observing the commotion around.

On the girl's face, which had previously been weakened and tearful, a malicious smile slowly formed... But no one noticed, as everyone was too preoccupied with their own concerns.

V.4 Chapter 404: Superior Work

While everyone was bustling about and examining the wounded, the girl struggled to her feet and stood still as if in a trance... It was evident to those around her that her condition was far from good, possibly still in severe shock...

Only after half an hour, the demoness got up and went to the demon who had awakened her earlier. At that moment, he was already quite far from her, but she still managed to find him.

"Excuse me..." A timid voice sounded behind the demon.

"Huh? Oh... It's you," he said, turning around, surprised, "How are you feeling?" he quickly asked.

"You know... Actually, I'm not well... Perhaps I should indeed go to the infirmary. May I?" the girl asked cautiously.

Hearing this, the demon just sadly shook his head and then said:

"And why did you try to act so brave? Go rest, now is not the time for heroics..."

"Thank you very much," the girl said, bowing, and limped towards where all the wounded were being taken.

"Good thing I thought of this... If I had tried to break through directly, nothing good would have awaited me..." Kai thought, pleased with his decision.

At the last moment, he realized that breaking free from the chase would be almost impossible. Simply running around the castle was not an option either. In any case, at some point, he would have felt the backlash from the Torture King Mode, and then he would undoubtedly face death! Or more likely, capture and torture...

So, as soon as he got away from his pursuer and bought himself some time, he moved to the body of one of the maidservants. The plan from there wasn't complicated — incinerate the girl, cancel the Torture King Mode, change his appearance, dress up, and put on the Ayame pendant.

After that, Kai lay down calmly, beginning to feel the backlash. While the councillors and the search for Kai were creating chaos in the castle, he quietly waited out the effects of his technique. When help arrived, he was just starting to recover. That's why he decided to sit still for another half an hour...

"There should still be time before Python returns... The Ayame pendant works perfectly even now. But it's unlikely to work against a Core Sphere master..." Kai thought to himself and as soon as he turned a corner, immediately quickened his pace.

There was only one element Kai hadn't managed to do... He hadn't yet discarded the piece from Asmodeus's domain plaque! And now was the perfect moment, as no one was around!

In the girl's hand, a piece of stone suddenly appeared, momentarily bringing the spatial ring out of the shadow. Naturally, Kai had hidden them in advance... A maidservant simply wouldn't have been able to possess such items.

"Knock-knock..." The sound of the stone hitting the castle floor was heard.

Even if he discarded the clue just along the way, it was enough. After such chaos, the demons would comb every corner of the castle and find all suspicious clues. How they interpreted the find no longer concerned Kai. The main thing was he had done all the necessary things and even more!

"Python's son is killed, two councillors as well... Part of the castle is destroyed and everyone is up in arms, but most importantly — the assassin is not caught!" Kai reasoned impassively as he moved towards the exit.

Naturally, Kai did not expect to be able to walk out through the gates directly. From a distance, it was clear that the guard was checking everyone entering and leaving... They weren't fools to let everyone out after such turmoil...

Kai waited for the right moment... Any ascended's castle was a massive structure that required maintenance and servicing. Thus, various carts with supplies often entered and left.

After entering the territory, they had separate paths leading to the storerooms, kitchen, forge, and the like. This was designed so that the delivery of necessary items did not disturb the normal rhythm of the castle's inhabitants.

Kai carefully waited for the moment until he saw a cart in the distance. Obviously, it was headed towards the gates. Most likely, some supplies needed replenishing, so it was heading to the city...

The coachman calmly led the cart, carefully observing the chaos unfolding inside. He must have missed everything, so he was quite puzzled by what was happening. He didn't even notice when someone appeared in his cart, then immediately disappeared. The demon was only at the Cloud Sphere, so he couldn't possibly detect Kai...

"Halt!" A loud command was heard as the cart approached the gates.

The demon quickly whistled, and the large hounds pulling the cart stopped. He looked ahead warily and said:

"Dariil, what's happening here?" The coachman asked with interest, addressing one of the guards. Obviously, they were well acquainted...

"Ah... It's you, Dorian..." the guard replied wearily, "Let me check your cart... We've had an awful day today..." He quickly added and started walking towards the empty crates and barrels.

"I've noticed. But what exactly is happening?" the coachman asked again.

"The young master is dead, as are two of Python's councillors," the guard barely managed to get the words out, "When the master returns... In short, many of us are practically dead men walking. I hope I'll be spared such a fate... So, you'd better find a reason and stay in the city for a few days, Dorian." He sincerely advised, not elaborating further.

"Damn, what terrible news... Take care of yourself, Dariil... And thank you," the coachman said with some empathy.

This conversation clearly demonstrated that tough times awaited every servant of Python's castle. Today's events would affect each of them! It can be said that the guard greatly envied the coachman at that moment. He had a chance to distance himself from the upcoming storm!

Dariil walked around the cart and peered into various boxes. It was evident that he wasn't in the mood for a thorough check. Moreover, it was clear that there was nothing suspicious in the cart.

"You may pass!" The guard shouted and waved to his colleagues.

"Hang in there, Dariil..." the coachman said empathetically and whistled again.

As soon as that happened, the hounds growled softly and resumed movement. Thus, the cart slowly and without any problems left Python's castle, heading towards the city.

Kai didn't rush to leave his hiding spot and traveled with the demon for about two hours. Apparently, the goods the demon needed to purchase were sold quite far away. Or perhaps he just wanted to stretch the time... It went so far that he even left Python's domains, heading towards the neutral areas of the Demon King's Palace.

"I think that's enough..." Kai thought to himself and used a Shadow Seal!

In the same instant, the figure of a maidservant appeared in a dark alley... Kai hadn't had the chance to revert back, so he still looked the same. But for now, he wasn't planning to return to his usual appearance, just to make some minor adjustments... He was already wearing a dress, why complicate life further?

A minute later, a rather unattractive-looking girl emerged onto the streets of the city. She was different from the maidservant, as Kai had made slight changes. In any case, this was more effective.

"Time to return to Abaddon's domain. I think he'll be pleased with the result... Ha-ha." Kai thought with a malicious smile.

He didn't know what his next step and target would be, but Abaddon would surely come up with something. Moreover, after the chaos in Python's castle, Kai would gain more trust on his side. Thus, he would be able to learn more about the state of the war. After all, he wasn't quite sure how things were going...

"Hey, beauty!" a drunken shout came from the side, "Wanna have some fun with a real man? Ke-ke." A demon sneered disgustingly.

Turning around, Kai saw three large Cloud Sphere demons approaching him...

"Beauty? Are you sick?" Kai raised an eyebrow in response, "If you consider such an appearance beautiful, I genuinely feel sorry for you..." He said sadly, shaking his head, and walked on.

It seemed the demons expected any response but that... Stunned by such a reply, they froze on the spot, forgetting to say anything back. Their desire to even try approaching Kai vanished instantly.

The longer Kai spent on the city streets, the more such encounters happened... Not an hour went by without someone deciding to approach him with idiotic questions and phrases.

"Damn... Is this how demon girls live all the time? What nonsense? Why are they even approaching me?!" Kai thought irritably and immediately used a Shadow Seal. He had already seen a guy confidently heading towards him.

As soon as Kai teleported to the roof of the nearest building, he quickly found a cloak in his ring and put it on.

"Screw these streets, I'll go across the roofs!" He said irritably and dashed forward!

He intentionally wandered around the city for several days, even entering taverns. Even if he wasn't being followed right now, who knows what surveillance methods exist. It was better to confuse his tracks as much as possible...

"Considering how much time has passed, Python and Abaddon should have returned by now... I wonder how things are going?" Kai thought with a malicious smile.

After that, he spent several days traversing through the Demon King's Palace. And only near Abaddon's castle did he revert to his usual appearance and changed into armor. However, he decided not to hide the cloak and still concealed himself.

Abaddon hadn't given him any pass into the castle or anything of that sort. Kai had the ability to infiltrate his territory on his own, so why leave clues indicating their collaboration?

Thus, Kai quickly sneaked into the corridors of the castle and bypassed the familiar enchantments. This time, the journey to Abaddon's office took much less time...

Standing in front of the massive door, Kai calmly knocked.

"Knock-knock!" As soon as the dull sounds were heard, the door moved, opening a passage for Kai.

Seeing this, he didn't hesitate and calmly entered the demon's office, not forgetting to close the door behind him. When he turned around, he saw a satisfied and malicious smile on Abaddon's face.

"Clap-clap-clap..." The sound of hands clapping echoed.

"Excellent work! Beyond praise, Unknown!" Abaddon sincerely said, looking at Kai who had returned safe and sound.

"Thank you. And the result?" Kai asked with interest, "I've been covering my tracks these last few days, so I don't know what's happening." He added with a smile.

"Python is furious! The damage to his reputation and power is immeasurable!" Abaddon said venomously, "He has already accused Asmodeus and me of the attack and violating the laws of demons. He-he." He quickly added.

"Did they find the clue I planted?" Kai asked curiously.

"Of course. Everything went as we anticipated... He first lashed out at Asmodeus in rage, then slandered me." Abaddon shamelessly explained.

Kai was amused by these words... Abaddon was indeed the instigator, so technically there was no slander...

"And what did this lead to?" Kai asked, beginning to walk towards Abaddon.

"And what else? We and our forces cannot act against each other; it would have fatal consequences." Abaddon laughed, "The incident is too extraordinary, so no one among the ascended knows how to react... Our meeting just ended, but it's already time to convene a new one!" Abaddon added maliciously.

"My first mission to destabilize the demons went quite successfully... Heh-heh." Kai thought, showing a malicious smile in response.

V.4 Chapter 405: Timelines of War's Beginning

Hearing positive feedback on his work, Kai didn't bother with superfluous words, merely allowing himself a slight smile. Yet, within that smile lurked a hint of daring and cunning...

"I didn't think you'd do such a quality job. Your assassin skills are top-notch!" Abaddon said seriously, genuinely praising Kai.

"Not exactly... Foolishly, I let myself be discovered and had to engage in a dangerous game. Fortunately, I came out unscathed. Heh-heh," Kai added cheerfully, laughing.

"It doesn't matter. I told you at our last meeting that I value independent followers. Ones like you will be very useful in the future..." the demon mused thoughtfully.

He was hinting at the post-war period when clans would vie for power, circumventing the contract... New and strong followers would free the hands of the ascended, allowing them to attack their rivals!

"I think I'm useful now," Kai replied candidly, "Listen... Don't take this the wrong way, but I wanted to ask..." Kai added quickly, hesitating slightly.

It seemed he was contemplating whether to speak his next words. But at that moment, Abaddon spoke:

"Ask. You've already proven your loyalty by standing against one of the ascended, so I will listen," the demon said calmly, gesturing towards a pitcher nearby.

With a gesture, Abaddon indicated for Kai to pour the wine, then turned and walked to his throne. Every movement he made was imbued with arrogance and pride, overwhelming everyone around. But at that moment, such behavior only played into Kai's hands... If there's an opportunity to exploit an opponent's vices, one should take it!

Thus, Kai quickly went to the pitcher, casually asking:

"Should I pour some for myself?"

"Of course. That was the intention," Abaddon replied carelessly, sitting on his throne, "So, what did you want to ask?" he inquired immediately afterward.

"I know it's not my place, but I was curious about how the war is going?" Kai asked calmly while pouring the wine, "If it starts, causing chaos will be easier. But on the other hand, it might weaken the strength of our race. I feel quite ambivalent about it..." he added, puzzled.

"Don't worry about our race's strength. I've already told you—stand with me, and you'll come out on top! We're not destroying other clans, just weakening them a bit... At the right time, this will definitely yield the desired outcome!" Abaddon replied maliciously.

Kai realized from their first meeting that Abaddon wasn't overly concerned with the demons' general welfare. He wasn't interested in forming a new coalition between Astaroth and Python; he was concerned with increasing his own power! All his bravado was mere cunning, aimed at his own benefit!

"His behavior only plays into our hands... But what the hell is the Demon King doing?! It feels like he doesn't exist at all!" Kai pondered in complete bewilderment.

Naturally, Kai didn't voice such questions... He had already been told that the Demon King was very powerful but merely a pawn in the hands of the ten clans. Yet, everything seemed too strange... Therefore, Kai decided to continue the previous topic of conversation, especially since Abaddon hadn't answered one of the questions.

"What about the war?" Kai asked cautiously.

"Very interesting... Several reconnaissance missions have finally mapped the way to the other side," the demon replied thoughtfully.

Hearing this, Kai's heart seemed to skip a beat!

"And what's there?!" Kai exclaimed with undisguised interest. From the outside, it seemed he was very intrigued by the topic. But still, it wasn't something unusual... Discovering new lands was definitely not an ordinary event!

"There was no order to proceed to the other side previously, so they just returned with reports. But the last group was sent with the objective of exploring the new territory..." Abaddon explained, somewhat indirectly.

Such a plan was logical, as it was unclear what to expect from the new environment. It could lead to a deadly area. Therefore, it was necessary to relay the route to the main forces first. Only then, with proper preparation, did the reconnaissance squad embark on a new mission!

"And what did they find? Are there strong enemies there?" Kai asked again.

"Unknown... No one returned," Abaddon replied seriously, accepting the wine Kai had just poured.

"So, the enemy is strong..." Kai muttered thoughtfully.

"Or the passage leads to a deadly area," Abaddon responded immediately.

"It seems you lean towards the second option. But why?" Kai asked, puzzled.

Though Kai knew the real state of affairs, he still wanted to understand the demon's logic to act more cautiously. It's better not to insist too much on any one theory to avoid arousing suspicion...

Hearing Kai's question, Abaddon smiled and answered:

"In the sent group were five mid-level Star Sphere masters and one high-level... There are other spatial rifts on the Unholy Continent. Now imagine, if a group of demons came out of any of them. Is there a chance they could be completely destroyed?" Abaddon asked rhetorically.

Abaddon's hint was quite resonant... If Kai hadn't warned all the forces of the Heavenly Continent, there would have been no chance to destroy such a group. Stepping onto the Heavenly Continent, they would have been free to do as they pleased. It was logical to assume that it was more likely a typical dangerous area.

"But what if there's just an overwhelmingly strong enemy? Don't take offense, but I'm accustomed to considering even the wildest outcomes... What if even you can't handle it?" Kai asked with mild skepticism.

Hearing these words, Abaddon merely smiled and answered:

"That's simply impossible. Such an outcome doesn't exist in nature."

These words greatly surprised Kai... He couldn't believe that this Core Sphere demon could be so naive. It was utter nonsense! Because of this, Kai's face took on a slightly foolish expression, which did not escape Abaddon's notice...

"I see you've misunderstood me. It's not about my pride; it's just that the Core Sphere represents the pinnacle of living beings' development. Many things were described in the legends of the past, but..." Abaddon said thoughtfully...

"But what? Is there something that ordinary demons don't know?" Kai asked, alert.

"Yes. Only the ten ruling clans know about it, as our lineage goes back to time immemorial," the demon replied calmly, "The fact is, there is no such thing as a Demonic Deity. Thirty thousand years ago, a terrible disaster severely affected our race... Only because of the sudden fall of a black star were we able to survive. Everything else was fabricated to give ordinary demons hope for revival," Abaddon stated, without showing any emotion.

"A black star? Could it be another Seal of Destruction?! Just like with the Wild Beasts Steppe and the Samsara Temple!" Kai realized instantly, noting the similarity.

Apparently, after the Seal of Destruction's descent, demons created the legend of a Demonic Deity. Over millennia, such tales deeply rooted themselves in demons' history and traditions, becoming somewhat of a legend.

"But I don't quite see how this relates to our previous conversation..." Kai said, as if shocked by the previous story.

"It's directly related. After that catastrophe, the world itself changed. Since then, no one has been able to surpass the Core Sphere; it's simply impossible!" Abaddon replied seriously, his tone slightly annoyed. Obviously, he was also frustrated by this state of affairs...

"I always thought it was just myths... Is there really something beyond the Core Sphere?" Kai asked, leaning heavily on the table in shock.

"The ancient records say such a stage definitely existed. But its name, description, and characteristics are unknown," Abaddon answered frankly, "We haven't reached it, not because we're weak — it's just that the current world doesn't allow for such a possibility! Therefore, even if the new lands have strong masters, their limit is the Core Sphere!" the demon stated confidently.

After such explanations, everything became clear to Kai...

"This is the basis of the demons' confidence... While it's just a theory, looking at the facts, it's proven in practice. The Heavenly Continent also lacks Law Sphere masters! Even the Ancestor of the Samsara Temple isn't good enough..." Kai thought, trying to grasp this truth...

And at that moment, a clear fact emerged in his mind... A fact that only he knew!

"The Overlord of Inevitable Destruction sealed our world! My task is to find the five Seals of Destruction and break through to the Law Sphere! So that's what it is!" Kai exclaimed mentally, as if coming to a sudden enlightenment!

The task given by the Overlord wasn't a mere whim. Without finding all the Seals of Destruction, it would be impossible to "unseal" the world! In such a case, reaching the Law Sphere would be impossible!

"It feels like the Overlord of Destruction's barrier simply blocks something critically important for the breakthrough! Until it's removed, I can't progress further!" Kai continued to realize.

Although he understood that concepts like the Law Sphere were still far off and it wasn't worth thinking about now, these thoughts still had a tremendous effect on him! A new series of questions formed in his mind, ones he didn't even want to contemplate!

But suddenly, a voice sounded, instantly bringing Kai back to consciousness.

"I see this information has slightly shocked you... Don't think too much about what can't be changed. Better listen to me, I have good news for you... Heh-heh," Abaddon added, chuckling maliciously.

"Oh? And what might that be?" Kai asked, still slightly dazed.

"At the meeting, we agreed that in six months, all the forces of demons will attack. If it's a deadly land, it's nothing for ten masters of the Core Sphere," the demon stated contentedly.

"That's great!" Kai said with a malicious smile.

Yet, at the same time, his mind was swirling with entirely different thoughts! The situation was unfolding too poorly for the Heavenly Continent! Even with preparation, repelling ten demons of the Core Sphere would be too difficult!

At that moment, words that suddenly gave Kai at least some hope were spoken. Abaddon drained his goblet in one gulp and, smiling cunningly, said:

"But this also means that in the next six months, there will be active coalition building among the clans. Heh-heh..."

Understanding Abaddon's implication, Kai smiled too and asked:

"So, I'll have a lot of work, Lord Abaddon?"

"Exactly! Soon we'll be breaking the ties of my dear brothers from other clans. Heh-heh," the demon replied contentedly, "For now, you can rest in my domains. I'll provide you with access to the best cultivation zone, you'll definitely like it!" Abaddon added quickly, again gesturing towards the pitcher, while casually tossing his goblet to Kai.

V.4 Chapter 406: Faces of Demons

The following two months passed relatively peacefully. Kai ventured on raids into the domains of other ascended demons several times but did so with much more caution. Generally, he would stealthily infiltrate, take the life of one important demon, and leave just as quietly.

This strategy proved to be far more effective since he almost risked nothing, yet the internal tension among the demons continued to escalate. At one point, Abaddon even ordered the execution of an advisor to one of his allies...

It was a rather cynical and cruel move, but strategically, it was quite smart.

Abaddon even shared with Kai that at one of the meetings, it was suggested that the nature's child had decided to revolt. Naturally, such a theory was immediately dismissed... From their very emergence, the nature's child were under the dominion of demons. They didn't even comprehend the concept of rebellion...

Kai had wondered why not summon nature's child to war. But the answer was quite logical — their power was far more useful when it ensured resource extraction. Moreover, involving them in war could introduce an unpredictable variable...

Abaddon made a statement that made Kai think: "Do not let domesticated animals taste blood, lest they remember their true nature."

Although the nature's child had their internal conflicts and competition, all of it was internal affairs of their race. For the demons, it looked like livestock competition within a pen. It didn't matter what happened among them — the demons' profit remained unchanged!

The tension within the demon ranks grew more and more intense... It seemed that if not for the contract prohibiting conflicts, they would have already started a civil war! This definitely instilled some hope in Kai's heart. But besides that, Kai also felt how the military atmosphere was heating up in the city streets...

Internal disputes could not dampen the preparation for a general offensive. Something grand was approaching... Even ordinary demons were quite excited!

At this very moment, Kai was walking through the neutral part of the Demon King's Palace, observing his surroundings...

He hadn't paid much attention to the poor districts before, so he deliberately decided to visit one...

Here, the atmosphere was radically different... Many demons slept literally on the street. Dirty brothels and taverns, vomit, and other filth spilled onto the roads. The stench was so bad that Kai decided to seal his sense of smell with energy...

"Everywhere is the same... These demons literally die in poverty and vices while the rulers divide power among themselves. I still don't understand what the Demon King is doing..." Kai mused, walking through the unfortunate parts of the city.

In his spare time, he paid more attention to Abaddon's library and studying demons, rather than visiting the cultivation zone. At his current level, places like that offered little benefit.

In fact, Kai was at a point after which the breakthrough to the Core Sphere follows. Such a breakthrough cannot be achieved through some cultivation zone. Something on the level of a Spiritual Source is needed, and even then, at the right moment.

"Abaddon spoke of the fall of the Seal of Destruction... It must be in their holy land. Can I infiltrate it?" Kai mused with a carefree smile.

He had read that only the Demon King uses the Holy Land. At one time, this land provoked a war among demons, so it was decided to be given only to a neutral demon. At that time, it was the only option to end the long-standing feud. But in exchange, the Demon King was obliged to submit to the ten clans.

It can be said that the Holy Land became a tool for nurturing a weapon in the form of the Demon King — a tool in the hands of the clans!

As Abaddon explained — it's impossible to break through above the Core Sphere. Then why do they need this land? Internal resources, accumulated over millennia, are enough for each clan to cultivate their own Core Sphere master.

"Damn... I seem to be helping in the upcoming war, but is that enough? Can I do more?" Kai wondered, "As long as all the ascended are here, I'm restrained... But just wait a little..." Kai thought, smiling maliciously.

Kai understood that the Heavenly Continent must have made some preparations by now. They will definitely be able to fight the demons! Thus, Kai decided he would cause maximum chaos in the rear! The only condition — the departure of the Core Sphere demons!

If demons want to bring destruction to his home, he will return the favor! If Abaddon wants to capture Kai on the Heavenly Continent, then he will simply hide and change his appearance.

Odd as it might sound, Kai was also looking forward to the start of the war! It was already clear that it was inevitable, so he was eager to engage in more large-scale actions!

"Speaking of the Holy Land..." Kai suddenly pondered and smiled, "If you also go to the Heavenly Continent... I will do everything to obtain the seal and rob you!" As if addressing the Demon King himself, Kai thought.

Somehow, only now did the idea occur to Kai that during the chaos, he could strike at the possessions of the Demon King himself...

Kai's current level of cultivation was unimaginable, but only within the context of masters in his world... When considering the Overlord of Inevitable Destruction, even the Core Sphere didn't seem so incredible...

Naturally, this somewhat distorted Kai's perception of reality. His goal is the Law Sphere, so why bother with anything else?

Now, the idea that he could break through to the Core Sphere at the expense of demons didn't seem out of the ordinary to him. Moreover, with such an outcome, he could help even more!

In the current situation, Kai could only cause problems in the rear, but the main battle would be among the Core Sphere masters! Essentially, all his actions didn't carry much weight. Rather, he was just preparing for the future...

"Even if the demons can win, I don't believe all the ascended will survive... Then their current quarrels will flare up with new strength, and they will start recruiting people for an internal war! This is getting interesting..." Kai mused, walking through the slums.

Kai thought about the situation more globally and strategically. He was already preparing a defense, in case of a loss in the battle on the Heavenly Continent. In any case, he would make sure to dismantle the entire structure of the demonic world!

"Someone said you can lose a battle but then win the war? But better not to lose the battle at all..." Kai thought, using the Shadow Seal.

Kai was quite cold-blooded and focused on himself, but "losing a battle" sounded merely in words. In reality, it would lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths!

A battle between several Core Sphere masters could easily destroy entire cities! Kai once saw how the rulers of the Mysterious Sea Region attacked. And most likely, those were not their best attacks...

What will happen if such masters fight to the death? The answer — total and all-consuming destruction! Ordinary people wouldn't even stand a chance of survival! Naturally, the savages would suffer first, but soon after, the Wild Beasts Steppe and the Shadow Sect!

After the walk, Kai decided to return to where he spent most of his time — the library. He had already spotted a book he wanted to study today...

"So... What will you tell me about them?" Kai thought, opening the book.

It was a work that described each of the ascended demons in more detail. Kai had already skimmed through it before, but no specific information was found, but now he discovered a rather interesting book...

Kai was immediately amused by the fact that the Demon King wasn't even described in it, as if he didn't exist at all. The vanity of the ruling clans was even expressed in such details...

"Majestic clans, descendants of the Demonic Deity and creators of our prosperity — are the pillars of the demon race!"

"Each new ruler inherits the name of the clan's founder! These names contain all the glory and power of the ruling clan!"

"As of the beginning of the thirtieth millennium, the strongest are the Abaddon Clan, the Asmodeus Clan, and the Astaroth Clan! Each of their rulers is the highest form of being in the world!"

"Following are the Gressil Clan, the Belial Clan, the Merihim Clan, and the Mammon Clan! Each of their rulers is only slightly inferior to the strongest but are also incredible demons!"

"And last but not least terrifying and formidable clans — the Balberith Clan, the Python Clan, and the Sonnellion Clan! Each of their rulers is at the bottom of the hierarchy of ascended, but that doesn't mean they are weak!"

"Hmm... So that's how it is..." Kai muttered under his breath, not quite sure how to react.

He understood how formidable this force was, but he didn't know the situation on the Heavenly Continent... Kai didn't quite grasp the gradation of Core Sphere masters in their army...

Realizing that pondering this was utterly useless, he simply continued to read. And as soon as he turned the page, he was slightly surprised...

"Well done... Abaddon and Asmodeus look just like in reality..." Kai nodded, acknowledging.

The book contained ten portraits, each signed with the name of an ascended demon and brief information about them.

But what surprised Kai were the descriptions, which were rather pompous and gloomy, as if specifically designed to instill fear in the souls of ordinary demons!

"Abaddon — majestic in his sinister appearance, he possesses strength and cunning, deceiving vulnerable souls, leading them astray and destroying prudence. May wrath and fury descend upon you if you anger him. Better to be seduced and step onto the path of destruction!"

"Asmodeus — his dark wings stretch far and wide. He is magnificent in his malice and deceit, enchanting souls with his magic of delusion. His captivating mask promises pleasures and power, but beneath it lies darkness, doom, and decay."

"Astaroth — power and frost rising from the abyss, skillfully weave webs of temptation in the hearts of mortals. His strength knows no bounds, and he drags innocent souls into the abyss of darkness, devouring peace and spiritual well-being."

"Gressil — the embodiment of sinful greed and destructive malice, is a terror for the souls of opponents. A perverted combination of darkness and fire, flickering with an ominous glow. Only those who find themselves in his gloomy embrace can comprehend the full terror and destructive power of this fearless demon."

"Belial — mired in dark secrets, a reflection of destructive wrath. Through her corrupted spiritual essence penetrates destructive confusion, sowing madness and vice in the hearts of mortals. Her seed of hatred grows in the dark corners of the universe, like poisonous ivy, enveloping souls, destroying will, and leading to the path of irreversible retreat."

"Merihim — a mad architect of downfall and decay, spreading the poisonous nectar of temptation and vice in the dark corners of consciousness. His art lies in threats and allurements, he fervently ignites greed and thickens sinful fog. In the confusion of his presence, the enemy is doomed to unrest and fear, for Merihim feeds on crushing and spiritual destruction."

"Mammon — a devotee of wealth and vice, the epitome of unrestrained greed. A being that reigns over altars of wealth, a crown of malice and crime, entangling trust and love with its clutches, corroding and distorting morals. His sinful spirit, nestled in the darkest corners of the heart, captivates with its greed and manipulations."

"Balberith — a sinister and cunning leader of the abyss, embodies destruction and decay. A lord of darkness and vice, he dwells in the darkness, where he weaves a web of deceit and temptation. His black flame burns unyieldingly, igniting malice and fear in the hearts of enemies."

"Python — the embodiment of sinful temptations, whose cunning and acerbity manipulate the careless souls. In his gloomy eyes lies a destructive force, ready to crush the hearts of enemies and plunge them into eternal torment."

"Sonnellion — a demon of fear and darkness, clothed in a cloak of black shadows, poisoned with evil. His eyes burn with red flame, like the coals of fading life, absorbing hope and light, led by his merciless will. Devoid of regret and mercy, Sonnellion will destroy all who dare oppose him."

As soon as Kai finished reading all this, with a strange expression on his face, he slowly set the book aside...

"What the hell did I just read?! These demons are truly powerful, but was it necessary to write about themselves in such a pompous manner? But that's not the main point... The descriptions of their abilities are completely unclear!" Kai thought irritably and took the book to put it back on the shelf.

Immediately after that, he decided to go to his quarters and have a drink. He had enough of "entertaining" information for today...

"Perhaps, I'll check the baths and relax from this nonsense..." Kai said slightly annoyed and smiled.

V.4 Chapter 407: Calm Before the Storm

The sun slowly rose, faintly piercing through the gloomy clouds of the Demon King's Palace. A cloaked and masked figure moved slowly through the streets, each step seeming to require a considerable amount of effort...

"Damn... If it weren't for the armor, I might have died..." Kai thought to himself, observing the approaching boundary of Abaddon's domain.

Given the surrounding atmosphere, the demon invasion seemed imminent. Over the last three months, Kai had ventured into the territories of various ascended demons or intercepted their subordinates en route.

Lately, the higher ranks were in complete chaos, as an unknown assassin had eliminated a significant number of important demons... This directly impacted their future combat power!

Everyone understood that such feats were only possible under the supervision of one of the main clan leaders, as the assassin appeared precisely when one of them was absent from their castle. Yet, identifying the responsible party remained elusive...

Neither barriers nor traps worked. Somehow, the assassin bypassed them with such skill as if knowing their locations in advance. This situation was sheer nonsense!

Attempts to find the assassin also failed, as the Demon King's Palace was too vast! Moreover, according to eyewitnesses, this assassin appeared different every time. Sometimes he wore a mask, other times not; sometimes he was a woman, sometimes a man...

On his first visit to Python's domain, Kai slightly altered his appearance, and each subsequent time, he completely changed himself and even his aura. Therefore, no one knew how exactly to react to such information...

But most importantly, Abaddon was incredibly pleased with Kai's actions! According to the demon, the internal affairs among the ten clans were currently very tense... Nearly every alliance had been shattered, as no one understood who the instigator was. Abaddon even broke his ties to avoid suspicion. However, he was originally fully confident in his personal power and did not intend to rely on coalitions... Especially since he already had an incredible trump card in his hands!

Trust in Kai had increased significantly over the past five months. Abaddon even rewarded Kai with incredible herbs and ingredients useful even at the peak of the Star Sphere. To Kai's surprise, he even felt the benefits of their use! Not suitable for breakthroughs, but perfect for strengthening himself!

A few days ago, Kai ventured into the domain of the only woman among the ascended — Belial! Even Python couldn't be considered weak, but this woman was the fourth strongest among the ten clans!

Naturally, she wasn't in her domain; otherwise, Kai would have instantly vanished... But even so, her advisors proved to be very powerful! Kai engaged in a fierce battle with two high-stage Star Sphere masters. Moreover, they cast a tracking mark on him, somewhat similar to what he received in the Rotten Forest.

Because of this, Kai had to lay all his cards on the table! Had he not killed the two, his fate would have been sealed! Kai used literally everything he had!

But although Kai limped and was in quite a sorry state, a light smile played on his lips...

"And I had forgotten about the true purpose of the fifth level of the Invisible King's Torture Technique... Heh-heh..." He thought, laughing.

Before the final battle, Kai had already been slightly battered, so the two high-stage Star Sphere masters gradually began to overpower him. As the Torture King Mode was about to end, Kai instinctively put all his strength into the Asura Hell Domain, hoping for luck!

At that moment, something amazing happened — a black silhouette of a woman with an unmatched figure appeared! It was the Queen of Lust! Most importantly — she was at the mid-stage of the Star Sphere!

The fact that she was slightly less powerful didn't matter. At that moment, Kai needed her skills! And the Queen of Lust did not disappoint!

As soon as she appeared on the battlefield, a strange pink mist enveloped everyone, and the eyes of the two advisors instantly clouded over! Though they remained conscious, there were moments when they seemed to fall into a dream... This gave Kai a chance to fully utilize the Torture King Mode!

All factors played out so that in a deadly battle, he emerged victorious, though he sustained severe injuries! After fleeing, Kai endured the backlash in a room of one of the outlying inns and finally returned to Abaddon's domain...

"That was the essence of the fifth level of my technique... But I advanced so quickly that I completely forgot about it! The scroll says that the highest point of this skill is summoning one of the Invisible Kings of Torture! And I managed to do it!" Kai thought, smiling.

Now he realized that he definitely needed to practice more. This was not a skill to be neglected... Although Kai felt how much energy it consumed, as practice showed, in a critical situation, it could be a lifesaver!

As soon as Kai reached Abaddon's castle, he didn't go to the demon but quickly headed to his quarters. First and foremost, he wanted to recover to an optimal state. Considering his regeneration rate, it wouldn't take too much time.

"I hope Abaddon won't be offended..." Kai said with a smile, sitting in the lotus position and closing his eyes.

Kai sat like this for several days, taking his time with the healing. He methodically repaired all body damage, meridians, and even the Spiritual Sea. One of the advisors specialized in illusions and mental attacks. Even under the protection of the Astral Flame of Sacrifice, Kai sustained some damage. After all, his opponents were at an incredible level of cultivation!

Only when Kai felt he was in good condition did he stand up and head to Abaddon's main hall. Over the past months, he had visited him more than a dozen times. Perhaps even the advisors didn't meet with Abaddon that often...

In the first meetings, Abaddon seemed to him a formidable, cruel, and straightforward demon. Such personalities should be feared, but at least it was clear what to expect from them... But gradually, Kai realized that the lines from the book described him with more fitting words: "Majestic in his sinister appearance, he possesses strength and cunning, deceiving vulnerable souls, leading them astray and destroying prudence."

Abaddon's personality harbored much more cunning and deceit than straightforwardness. His appearance and behavior were sheer deception! This demon was an incredibly dangerous opponent! Therefore, Kai did everything to ensure he couldn't be approached and maximally demonstrated his usefulness!

If Abaddon calmly ordered Kai to kill the subordinates of his allies, it means he could find himself in their place...

As always, Kai stealthily entered the hall to the demon and knelt on one knee, saying:

"Greetings, Lord Abaddon! I had to delay a bit since I was quite battered this time..." Kai said with a malicious smile.

"I already know about the situation... I must say, you continue to surprise me..." Abaddon nodded approvingly and traditionally pointed to the demonic wine.

Kai calmly stood up and went to carry out the instructions, meanwhile saying:

"Madam Belial's advisors are quite strong. I was lucky to have killed a few and even managed to escape." Kai honestly praised the demoness's power.

"Belial is furious! The verbal altercations have reached unprecedented levels! The situation is so tense that only the contract holds everyone back..." Abaddon said with a cunning smile.

"It's not surprising... Seven out of the ten clans have already lost several advisors. This significantly reduced their weight and power." Kai replied nonchalantly.

Kai hadn't killed anyone from Abaddon's, Asmodeus's, or Astaroth's subordinates; those three were the strongest demons, and it would be very unwise to touch them... Naturally, Abaddon's domain wasn't even discussed, as he was the one giving orders...

"You've done a tremendous job in recent months. It can be boldly stated that there will be no new coalitions... And in the confrontation with Asmodeus and Astaroth, I'm already confident. The main thing is that no one else interferes." Abaddon declared confidently, accepting a goblet from Kai.

"How are things with the war? Any new information?" Kai casually inquired.

"Well... Everything is almost ready, and soon the Demon King should appear. They say he's displeased with what's happening between the clans. Hah-hah..." Abaddon said with disdainful mockery.

"Is that a problem? You said he's just a pawn." Kai asked, confused.

"Though he's a pawn, he has certain privileges. After all, we also signed a contract and sometimes must obey. I feel he will be very unhappy with the situation. Before the invasion, many strong demons were killed..." Abaddon sneered.

Kai still didn't fully understand the structure of demonic governance. It seemed that the ten clans weren't afraid of the Demon King at all and had the right to decide most matters of the Demons Land. But there are areas where priority is given to the Demon King. It's a certain mutual restraint...

"I understand... I guess I won't poke my nose where it's not needed." Kai replied calmly, stopping his inquiries.

"That's one of the main traits I value in you." The demon said, pleased.

Kai had a keen sense of when to keep silent or change the subject. There are moments when curiosity can play a terrible joke...

Pouring himself a drink, Kai suddenly thought of something and said:

"By the way, Lord Abaddon... I have two questions..."

"Speak. I'm even curious to hear what these questions are." Abaddon replied, stretching his neck.

"Firstly, will there be any more tasks before the invasion? And secondly, will I be going with you?" Kai quickly asked.

Hearing this, Abaddon didn't hesitate as if these matters had already been decided by him long ago. He opened his mouth and calmly answered:

"There will be no more outings. We've already done a lot, besides, the Demon King could intervene and then it would be the end of you." He explained openly, "The answer to your second question is also obvious." He added, looking at Kai calmly.

"Do you want me to wait until everyone goes through the spatial rift and create chaos in the rear of your enemies?" Kai added with a malicious smile.

"Yes. If someone sees an unknown demon at the peak of the Star Sphere near me — all our deeds will become obvious." Abaddon confirmed Kai's words, "But as soon as we leave, visit the domains of Asmodeus and Astaroth! Not all advisors will be taken to war, after all, someone needs to stay..." He added with a gleam in his eyes.

"Heh-heh... Understood. It will be done!" Kai said, pleased, and laughed.

Abaddon's plan was clear and quite cunning. Although it jeopardized the safety of the entire demon race, Abaddon was only interested in his personal gain. If he could weaken his main competitors, it would be just perfect!

"The situation is turning in my favor... The main thing is for the Demon King to leave with the others, then I can create even more problems for them!" Kai thought to himself and laughed.

Events were taking an increasingly interesting turn!

V.4 Chapter 408: Demon King

A whole month had passed since the conversation with Abaddon. Kai spent his time in a special cultivation zone, which concentrated a huge amount of energy within. Moreover, there was a peculiar array inside that had a very positive effect on mental tranquility. It seemed as if something soothing was permeating into the very Spiritual Sea…

Such conditions allowed for pushing oneself to the limit while still operating with a clear mind.

Initially, Kai wanted to go to another zone, similar to the Time Tomb from Border Beast City. However, it turned out to be booked solid for years ahead. Demons specifically reserved it for their younger generation. After all, there was no real rush for the elders. A few gained months wouldn't provide them with a competitive edge.

Such zones were very important only if one needed to make a breakthrough before an important event. Or for the younger generation, which was constantly competing against each other. Naturally, Kai was also not against visiting it, but alas, there were no available spots… Asking Abaddon for help was also unwise, as rumors might spread about a strange demon that no one had seen before.

Therefore, Kai spent the entire month in a zone that was valued for its quality of energy, not the saved time.

Kai constantly trained the technique he realized in a critical situation. The battle with Belial's advisors provided him with much food for thought. Even after breaking through to the Star Sphere, Kai looked forward to the moment when he could summon the Invisible Kings of Torture. And that moment had finally arrived!

Through trial and error, Kai found out that the summoning mechanism was identical to summoning the same monkey. The only difference was that during the summoning, Kai seemed to mentally connect with the personal realm of a king in the Asura Hell…

However, this technique required far more energy and effort! Maintaining the form of one of the kings was also a very complex process! It was impossible to make them fight fully on his side due to insufficient strength. But they were not required to do so!

At this point, Kai understood that almost each of the kings possessed a useful ability that could help in one situation or another. It was like with regular summoned creatures, but exponentially better!

"So… If to summarize, all except the King of Envy and the King of Pain are incredibly useful. Well, the King of Pain isn’t bad either…" Kai thought, leaning against the wall.

He used the kings both inside the cultivation room and in the Asura Hell. Naturally, he needed to see each of them in battle, especially to come up with some variations for fighting...

The King of Pain was far better at defense; thus he significantly outperformed a shield-bearer. Comparatively, even when taking an attack from a superior opponent, he didn't dissipate after a few seconds.

But the King of Envy so far had not found a qualitative application in battle. It seemed that he could be very useful as a separate combat unit, but Kai lacked the strength to implement such a thing...

"No matter… He will be very useful someday, but for now, let him rest." Kai concluded mentally and then maliciously smiled.

Such a reaction was caused by his thoughts on the three other kings — the Queen of Lust, the King of Fury, and the King of Horror! Each of them was more abstract than the previous two…

Practice showed that they were good trump cards in the arsenal. One could say that each of them was a kind of movable Asura Hell Domain, but with their own specificity.

After long experimentation, Kai identified individual abilities worth using. These were worth spending a large reserve of energy on! Namely:

The Queen of Lust — can plunge an opponent into illusions, clouding their mind and dulling their combat thinking. In the heat of battle, this significantly weakens the opponent.

The King of Fury — summons an analog of his domain, completely shutting off all of the opponent's senses. Though not very useful against Star Sphere masters, as they always have energy sensing. But when trying to escape, this ability is invaluable! Kai had already tested this in Asura Hell. If you leave the King of Fury near the opponent and then sprint away at full speed — you're definitely not getting caught!

And the last one, one of the strangest — the King of Horror! Kai realized that he was very situational, but at the same time incredibly useful. Kai had encountered opponents specializing in mental and spiritual attacks several times. For example, the Enchanting Flute from the Shadow Sect… In battles with such, the King of Horror was a formidable weapon, as it could break their mind and Spiritual Sea, literally leaving them without means to fight!

Thus, Kai finally completed the fifth layer of the Invisible King's Torture Technique. The next one would open only in the Core Sphere!

"So… If to review my combat potential and skills in general, I possess: Eyes of Essence, Energy of Destruction and Asura, Astral Flame of Sacrifice, the fifth layer of the Invisible King's Torture Technique, and the fourth layer of the Dance of Shadow Seals…"

"Although I still don’t have any specific attack technique and use principles of the basic Technique of the Phantom Blade… But, as Master Mo said, it combines well with all other abilities. Maybe someday I'll find something suitable for replacement…" Kai calmly reasoned, to understand if there were any gaps in any of the techniques.

Sometimes, it was necessary to stop for a moment, to review everything in silence. Previously, due to constant hurry, Kai completely forgot that he could now learn a new stage of the Dance of Shadow Seals, as well as the Invisible King's Torture Technique!

"Besides, there’s my lineage and the Torture King Mode. In general, I develop it at any convenient moment, but I don’t understand the gradation of this power. The impulses in my body have long resembled entire chains of lightning, and regeneration is terrifying… Sometimes I need to ask Kessia about the strange feeling in my heart I felt when I was overwhelmed by the blood of victims…" Kai thought, looking at his body and muscles with the Eyes of Essence.

Kai was almost certain that the massive flows of absorbed blood seemed to disappear somewhere around his heart. Such a thing definitely couldn’t be a mere coincidence and was directly related to the concept of his lineage…

"And to complete the review… My abilities as an alchemist and array master have also significantly improved. The Netherworld Furnace Technique, as well as the Astral Flame of Sacrifice, have developed quite well…" Kai continued his reasoning.

Stretching his neck, Kai walked towards the exit from the cultivation zone. The deadline for the demons' onslaught was approaching. He was obliged to witness it from afar…

But before that, Kai naturally went to the baths to take a break after intensive training. Just a few hours later, he was calmly sitting in one of the distant ponds, continuing to reason.

"Coincidence or not, but precisely at the peak of the Star Sphere, all my abilities have reached their maximum. You could say that in terms of techniques, I’m finally in a certain balance…" Kai thought, scooping up hot water, slowly pouring it over his face and smoothing his hair.

The entire evening was very calm and pleasant... The small number of demons in the baths spoke for itself… Such an atmosphere was the calm before the storm! And the scale of that storm was yet to be realized!

Although demons were not exactly sure about the opponent on the other side, it was clear to them that they needed to deploy all their forces! According to Abaddon, only a portion of strong demons would remain in the Demon King's Palace. Mostly, these were older demons, who were well capable of managing the entire demon race.

Demons were not worried about the nature's child, so they calmly sent almost all their forces to attack. Even the uproar in the domains of the ascended didn’t cause them fear. It was clear to everyone that such was the work of one of the Core Sphere demons, and there was no sense in harming the entire Demon King's Palace!

When everyone leaves their domains and heads to the other side of the spatial rift, they will take their main subordinates with them. Essentially, the assassin who had been terrorizing everyone for the last half-year would have no one left to kill!

"It's a pity you don’t quite realize who I am… Even you, Lord Abaddon…" Kai thought with a malicious smile.

In his thoughts, he often called Abaddon "Lord," but it always sounded in a derogatory and sarcastic tone. Kai respected strong masters, but this demon was a rather vile individual. He was an example of how limitless power and authority turned you into a disaster for everyone around.

Kai was annoyed not so much by the fact that Abaddon and other ascended were parasites as by their stagnation. Abaddon was fully convinced that it was impossible to break through beyond the Core Sphere. Instead of developing, cultivating, and searching for new paths, he stopped and only dealt with matters of power and influence. Such an act negated all positive impressions in Kai’s eyes.

Similar motives also propelled the forthcoming war — a senseless thirst for power, unsatisfied due to the demons' contracts! Because of this, they decided to conquer new lands, destroying countless lives!

"Well, have your fun… I’ll also have things to do here…" Kai thought with a smile and chuckled lightly.

Kai was not the kind of person to ponder too long over global problems and the misfortune of others. After all, he had clear aspirations and his own path; he didn't crave to save everyone for the sake of senseless heroism.

And finally… He saw a huge benefit for himself! All that was left was to simply wait!

Thus, the evening passed quite quickly… And even before dawn, Kai headed to the main area of demons, namely — the True Demon King’s Palace! The place where all ascended would gather and announce their onslaught to the people! There, Kai would see how many demons would be sent to the Heavenly Continent!

Two days later, Kai was on the roof of one of the high buildings several kilometers from the boundary of the enormous castle. To Kai, it seemed several times larger than all the domains of Abaddon and Asmodeus combined! The style was fitting for the entire city, and the blood-red spires were somewhat alarming… The True Demon King’s Palace exuded undeniable danger!

Kai deliberately kept a sufficient distance, not daring to approach the main square near the palace. He feared being noticed by one of the Core Sphere masters... But even from here, the cries and noise of the jubilant crowd could be heard. The square was packed with hundreds of thousands of demons! It seemed like a whole sea of creatures!

Given Kai's cultivation level, such a distance was not a problem at all. He could easily hear and observe everything on the square. Naturally, the ascended could do even better! But it was unlikely they would purposefully survey the surroundings, looking for someone suspicious...

Perhaps blending into the crowd was also a good option, but Kai decided to choose a safer one…

As soon as he leisurely took a sip of demonic wine, the huge gates of the castle opened! And several thousands Star Sphere masters moved onto the square! Apparently, the plan to cultivate an army worked perfectly! But at that moment, Kai's attention was drawn to something else… Eleven demons were hovering in the air! And the appearance of ten of them was already familiar to him!

"So, that's what he looks like…" Kai muttered, clenching his fists.

Leading the way was a demon whose face expressed sternness and restraint... Just one glance at him sent a chill down Kai's spine! The aura alone was enough to clearly demonstrate the incredible might of this demon!

V.4 Chapter 409: The Beginning of War!

Kai watched the Demon King intently, noting each of his movements. Surprisingly, his appearance was slightly different from other demons...

First, he looked quite young, as if he was only about thirty years old.

Second, his facial features were not as harsh; instead, he resembled a human-like Asmodeus.

But what set him apart the most were his blood-red clothes... It seemed like a symbol of the ruler of demons. All other demons wore darker and bluer garments. Only now did Kai realize that even on the city streets, he had not seen demons wearing red clothes.

"His appearance stands out, but don't be deceived by it... He is incredibly strong! Definitely stronger than Abaddon! Too strong for a pawn!" Kai thought, slightly shocked.

Now the horror of that contract signed by the Demon King's successors became clearer. Ten ascended freely controlled even such a terrifying creature! Naturally, this was a complete secret to the populace...

As soon as the army appeared, hundreds of thousands of demons on the square exploded into ovations! Such a roar arose that it could be heard for miles around! But it didn't stop there... When demons who were unlucky enough to squeeze onto the square heard the cries, they began to support them! At one moment, it seemed as if a wave of ovations swept across the entire Demon King's Palace!

Such actions definitely lifted the spirits to the heavens! At this moment, the unity of the demons was unimaginable!

"An incredible spectacle... But also a sad one..." Kai thought, closely watching the events unfold.

In the last six months, Kai had traversed much of the Demon King's Palace. After all, he needed to sneak into the domains of various ascended. Therefore, he saw that most demons lived in rather dismal conditions...

The ten clans took all resources into their hands, leaving the common people with nothing. Poverty and suffering were widespread. The situation might have been even worse than in the empire where Kai himself was born.

This discrepancy between the level of support for their ruler and the level of life slightly surprised Kai. But in the end, Kai realized from a young age the obvious truth — power is paramount in this world!

Neither kindness, money, nor even power will give you security! If you're not at the top of the world, there will always be someone who can take everything from you! Millennia of such trends led to beings instinctively admiring the strong of this world.

As Kai pondered this, the Demon King slowly raised his hand and lightly snapped his fingers!

"Snap! Boom!" A sharp sound rippled out, spreading waves for miles around! It was so piercing that it instantly silenced hundreds of thousands of demons!

Everything was done with a certain carelessness, so some of the mortal demons even took slight damage from the sound wave…

At that moment, a measured yet simultaneously bloodthirsty voice sounded:

"Today we begin a new era for our race. Whoever stands in our way of development, I will do everything to achieve further prosperity!" The Demon King declared, and for a moment, his gaze shifted to the ascended by his side...

Naturally, this did not escape their notice… But on the faces of Abaddon and a few others, a contemptuous smirk appeared. The Demon King's disdain for his "subordinates" was blatantly obvious. True, ordinary demons had no idea about such a state of affairs...

"It's amazing that demons managed to sign such a contract in the past... If not for it, they would have destroyed themselves! And I thought the Heavenly Continent was not united enough..." Kai thought, watching the scene unfold.

Previously, Kai felt that humans were significantly less united than demons. After all, conflicts and even local wars sometimes erupted among them. But in the end, interpersonal relations among human forces turned out to be better than those of the demons...

"There's nothing to rejoice about... Their internal squabbles won't soften the blow much. The Heavenly Continent will have to face incredible power! I hope the elders have prepared a good defense plan..." Kai continued to reason.

As Kai analyzed the situation, he realized he wouldn't have found the right strategy to fight against such an attack. Therefore, he hoped that the rulers of the Heavenly Continent would come up with something. After all, they had much more experience and understanding than him...

Even the battles among Core Sphere masters were a mystery to Kai. He had only once seen a few of their attacks, but was that a true battle?

After a short pause, thunderous words echoing for miles were heard again:

"The Demons Land is rife with rumors, and today I want to clarify them!" the king suddenly declared, "We have indeed discovered new unexplored lands! And most likely, we will have to face an enemy!" he added seriously, "Therefore, demons return to their origins! There will be war!"

As the last words were spoken, all demons exploded into applause again! Jubilant shouts filled the entire Demon King's Palace!

In the current situation, no one attempted to calm the crowd, allowing them to enjoy the moment! All the discussions of the last few years, all the unanswered questions — finally had a response! And it was more than satisfactory to the people!

In turn, Kai closely watched each reaction among the Core Sphere demons... The Demon King did not seem too pleased. His detachment from the ruling clans was evident. It seemed as if they were acting separately!

"The Great King… It's time for us to proceed…" Suddenly spoke a demon with a terrifying appearance.

The speaker's skin was grayish, and his right eye was covered, as if he had lost it in battle long ago. The demon's appearance matched the portrait of Astaroth in the book. This was the third demon, equal to Abaddon and Asmodeus!

"I know." the Demon King coldly replied and shouted to the people, "We are embarking on the conquest of new lands! Do everything in our absence to only increase the power of demons!"

As these words were spoken, all eleven Core Sphere demons disappeared in the blink of an eye! And the army, in turn, began to return to the castle! They were going to use an array for transportation, and the entire previous scene was only for demonstrating power!

And it worked exactly as it should have! Ordinary demons were literally roaring with ecstasy! Their spirit was instantly lifted, and thousands of conversations and discussions spread everywhere. Everyone was curious about what these lands were and how they would affect their race!

Kai just sat on the roof and leisurely sipped demonic wine...

"So... It begins." He said calmly and with a certain resignation.

Previously, he had done everything that depended on him, so now the responsibility was in the hands of the rulers of the Heavenly Continent...

"Don't mess it up there, elders. Meanwhile, I'll take care of business behind the lines. Heh." Kai said, anticipating a smile.

Kai didn’t want to rush into his next actions. He would wait a month to ensure that all the strongest demons had left. Only then would the next phase of his plan begin!

"Perhaps, I'll start with surveillance and exploration of the True Demon King’s Palace…" Kai thought and disappeared from the rooftop in an instant.

The demons' celebration continued for three more days. They couldn't calm down, constantly drinking and dancing in the streets. Kai also joined in the fun and calmly drank in the best restaurants in the central zone.

He was waiting for a moment of calm after the continuous drinking and brawling. That's when he would begin his preparations…

As expected, at the end of the revelry, Kai calmly walked the streets, where drunk bodies and other consequences of the past few days lay everywhere. There were noticeably fewer demons than usual. One could even say that Kai had never seen such empty streets…

Kai leisurely walked near the castle walls, assessing everything with the Eyes of Essence. He carefully studied the arrays used inside and how they were structured. He would rather not infiltrate inside just yet to avoid spoiling everything prematurely…

It was unclear how strong the demons left guarding the castle were… After all, the Demon King surely had to provide some protection and be cautious. Even considering all the contracts and traditions, it’s always better to be on guard.

Thus, day by day passed as Kai ventured deeper and deeper into the castle. He didn’t hurry and studied all the paths and arrays bit by bit. Understanding of the internal structures and arrays became clearer...

Kai also studied the demons who often entered the inner parts of the Demon King's castle. Clearly, they were quite important figures in the hierarchy…

There were days when Kai sneaked into the castle, summoned the monkey, and went into the shadows. Thus, he cautiously explored all the rooms and corridors without risking detection.

But the longer this went on, the more Kai became convinced that there was no significant danger for him. Mainly, only deep elders at the beginning of the Star Sphere remained inside. Obviously, they would be more useful in managing administrative affairs than on the battlefield…

At that moment, Kai was actually lying in wait for one such elder… He had previously sneaked into the private quarters and was now waiting for the demon to arrive. Although the map of the castle was almost completely formed in Kai’s mind, there were things he simply had to know… Simple surveillance wouldn’t uncover them!

"Kraagh!" The sound of a heavy door opening echoed…

A three-eyed elder slowly entered the room, muttering to himself. Rubbing his eyes and his forehead, the demon headed towards one of the side rooms…

He walked forward leisurely, simultaneously shedding his upper garment. Fatigue and some irritability were evident in him.

But then!

"Ssssh!" A short, but lightning-fast sound resonated! And at that moment, the elder's hand flew off, crashing into the wall!

Everything happened so quickly that the elder didn’t even feel pain! He lost his hand without even understanding how! But that was not the end... In the same instant, something pressed him to the ground, and five claws seemed to dig into his back!

Kai specifically made sure to strip the demon of his spatial rings right at the start! Since he wore them only on his right hand, he could no longer use them!

"Now, let's experiment!" Kai said with a malicious smile and began to inject his energy into the elder's body! But he did it strictly under the guidance of the Eyes of Essence!

"Kgaah!" The elder cried out, spitting out a large gulp of blood!

Previously, Kai had thought of an interesting way to use energy and his eyes… He had even tried the method on several guards and now decided to take on someone stronger!

Kai injected energy and directed it strictly along the opponent's meridians, destroying them and completely blocking the ability to use energy! Until the opponent recovers, he would be as helpless as a captive! Without channels for energy transport, its use was also impossible!

V.4 Chapter 410: Will Suppression

Beneath Kai lay an old demon, firmly pressed to the ground. Screaming was futile, as the room had already been sealed with an array, and using any artifact from the ring was impossible!

The elder immediately wanted to call upon his energy to counter the sudden attack, but everything happened too unexpectedly. Moreover, Kai's strength vastly surpassed his! Those moments of confusion were enough for Kai's energy to destroy half of the demon's meridians!

Kai had only recently devised this method while contemplating ways to extract information. No matter how much he racked his brain, the only quick and working method was torture! But for that, the opponent first had to be neutralized...

For masters of the Star Sphere – a single hit would be enough to alert those nearby to the fight. How then to torture a victim under such conditions? The only answer – prohibit the use of energy! That's when Kai considered this unconventional approach...

Naturally, this would only work under perfect conditions and against a weaker opponent. Pulling this off even against a high-stage Star Sphere master would be impossible! But generally, that wouldn't be necessary in a normal situation. In most cases, you need to instantly suppress and kill, not just neutralize...

"Who are you?!" the demon roared in horror.

This was an old demon who had seen much in his life, but even he couldn't keep calm in such a situation. For a master martial artist, being stripped of energy was like being deprived of the ability to move!

"I am someone who can either spare your life or take it." Kai replied calmly, continuing to inject energy strictly along the demon's meridians.

By this point, most of them had been hit and were unable to function properly... And with each second, the situation only worsened...

Although the concept of this technique was very logical and obvious, executing it without the Eyes of Essence was nearly impossible... The structure of energy channels is somewhat individual, like with the circulatory system.

Even if someone else possessed the same destructive energy as Kai, they wouldn't be able to suppress the opponent as quickly. Randomly injecting it would cause conventional injuries. Ultimately – it would turn into a regular fight, which was to be avoided. The essence was in neutralizing the ability to control energy!

Now it could be boldly said that Kai had invented his own technique! Though it was very situational and not overwhelmingly powerful, still!

"Spare me?! Do you take me for a fool?!" the demon spat out venomously.

At this moment, Kai had finished his technique and began binding the demon. The whole process was carried out in a relatively calm and unhurried atmosphere, only heightening the tension.

Once Kai had finished his preparations, he lifted the elder and threw him against the wall, such that the demon finally saw the face of his assailant! Standing before him was a demon in black armor and a mask!

"Do you even realize what you're doing?!" the demon shouted furiously. Clearly, he had not expected such audacity! He was one of the subordinates of the Demon King himself!

The very act of a demon attacking another demon was nonsensical, especially against someone as high-ranking as this elder!

And as the demon uttered his last phrase, a realization dawned in his eyes... It seemed he clearly understood who the masked demon before him was!

"So, you're the one who's been causing chaos for the past six months! I didn't think anyone among the ascended had become so brazen as to order you to attack the Demon King's domains..." he said with a complex expression.

"Ordered me? Heh..." Kai laughed, "I act of my own volition. I care neither for the ascended nor for the Demon King." he added carelessly, "Today, I'm here to ask you a few questions." Kai said, approaching the demon.

His steps were leisurely and relaxed, as if he was conversing with an old acquaintance...

"And what makes you think I will answer?" the demon retorted haughtily, spitting directly at Kai.

But presently the saliva was supposed to hit Kai – a small flash of black fire erupted and completely incinerated the liquid!

"Ssssh..." A soft hissing sound was heard, and the fire also vanished without a trace.

"See... I won't immediately ask you questions but will take a different approach." Kai said, adding intrigue to his tone, "First, I'll let you taste the refusal. Heh." Kai said maliciously, and his terrifying aura burst forth!

"You think I fear torture? Dream on, pup!" the elder said confidently, but fear was evident in his eyes...

"Heh... When you're so revered, and also hold such a high status..." Kai began, "You probably don't really want to die, do you?" he added mockingly.

"Your words don't scare me." the demon replied promptly.

"It's not my words, nor even my torture, that will frighten you..." Kai said, almost face-to-face with the demon, "I'll let you taste something unique... Be grateful; you're the first to try this! Heh." Kai intrigued, as destructive energy began to concentrate into something tangible beside him!

Black energy first condensed into a sphere, then started forming a full figure! It was an anthropomorphic silhouette without any clear exterior features!

"Meet, elder! This is the King of Horror!" Kai announced solemnly, mentally commanding the being.

"Don't kill or destroy the Spiritual Sea. Just cause him maximum suffering!" Kai ordered with a malicious smile.

As soon as this happened, the King of Horror seemed to immediately understand what its master expected! It leaped towards the elder in an instant!

"What are you..." the elder began to shout.

But as he tried to continue, the silhouette turned into black smoke and flew straight into the demon's forehead!

The elder's head jerked slightly and immediately fell backward, lightly hitting the wall...

Watching this, Kai calmly sat in the lotus position, beginning to simultaneously absorb energy. This would at least partially compensate for the horrendous energy consumption...

"Damn... Quite challenging..." Kai grunted, "My energy is only enough for about ten minutes. If I absorb energy, maybe it'll last half an hour..." he said, closing his eyes.

Even under these circumstances, Kai knew this was more than enough. He understood the torture of the King of Horror all too well! The time inside the torture would be stretched multiple times! These half an hour would become whole days of suffering, pain, and mind-shattering scenes for the demon! Moreover, the more regrets the victim has, the harder it will be!

When Kai underwent the King of Horror's torture, he was still just a child. The burden of his regrets and actions wasn't as heavy as that of a century-old elder! One could only imagine what this demon would have to go through…

Time flew by rapidly... Kai had slightly miscalculated his capabilities, so after about twenty minutes, much of his energy had been spent!

Naturally, Kai wasn't foolish enough to completely deplete himself. He was in enemy territory and might need to flee. Therefore, he opened his eyes and recalled the King of Horror back.

"Kgaaaaah!" the demon screamed as if waking from a nightmare, immediately falling to the ground!

His entire body convulsed, and his eyes showed indescribable terror! The moment he returned to consciousness, his body reacted and was drenched in sweat! The elder's condition was truly miserable...

"Well, how was it? Didn't you feel like talking?" Kai mocked.

But the demon didn't rush to answer... His gaze was empty and aimlessly looked at a point. It seemed he still hadn't realized he was back in the real world...

"Damn... The effect is even better than I could have imagined!" Kai exclaimed in delight and laughed.

Now he was truly ecstatic!

Over the past six months, he had become much more adept at the craft of a stealth assassin. Today's actions felt like the final piece he was missing! He had completely neutralized the opponent and put him through terrifying trials. These abilities were very useful for gathering information in an enemy's lair!

"Listen, elder... I've been thinking about naming my technique. You know, the one that blocked your energy..." Kai explained casually.

Only after these words did the demon's pupils finally move and look at Kai... In them, one could see real primordial terror!

"You're just a monster..." the elder trembled, his words barely audible.

"Monster, you say?" Kai mused, looking at the elder, "You know, I once heard a phrase... Will exists in all living and non-living things, it's like an immaterial entity that drives all the laws of existence." citing the third law of the Sphere of Essence, Kai spoke, "So... I see your will is completely suppressed! Heh." Kai said maliciously and laughed.

The elder, for his part, didn't understand what Kai was talking about, but any words from this monster terrified him to death! The King of Horror had done its job well!

"Perhaps, I'll call this technique Will Suppression! Heh." Kai cheerfully declared, ignoring the trembling elder.

"What do you want?! Why am I of any use to you?!" the elder shouted, switching to a furious cry.

"Wait... Don't rush..." Kai responded leisurely, waving his hand, "You need to have another chat with the King of Horror. Then we'll talk." he added in a very kind tone.

But as soon as the elder heard this, his mind was engulfed in terror! Everything he had just experienced surged back in a wave of memories!

"No need! What did you want to know? I'll tell you everything!" the elder cried out in fear!

"Be quiet, you're disturbing my recovery." Kai replied calmly, closing his eyes.

"I said I'm ready to cooperate! What do you want?!" the elder yelled, beginning to crawl towards Kai through sheer force!

But the elder's cries were unheard by anyone... Since his return to his quarters, only about half an hour had passed, and no one would come to visit him. Kai had learned from past mistakes and had observed this demon for several days straight. He perfectly understood that the elder allowed no one into his quarters...

There was no hurry...

Hour by hour passed, and time slowly moved forward... The night was eventful, especially for the elder, who now lay in a puddle of his own urine...

"I... I want this to end..." the elder said with a vacant gaze.

"No problem. Now I see your will is indeed suppressed." Kai replied calmly, ceasing to play with intonation and friendliness.

All this was part of a game aimed at breaking the elder's mind. Such a contrast created primal terror in the demon's heart and a feeling that this torture would never end...

"Finally, time for questions!" Kai thought, revealing a malicious smirk hidden by his mask!

V.4 Chapter 411: Torture of the Old Man

The once-respected elder was now utterly helpless and exhausted, lying on the ground, simply unwilling to undergo the torture of the King of Horror again. He was ready for anything just to end it…

"So, are you going to talk? Think carefully, so as not to waste my time in vain," Kai asked calmly, looking indifferently at the demon.

"What... What do you want to know?" the elder gasped, not even bothering to close his mouth. He just mumbled, lying on the ground…

"Where is the sacred Demons Land, and what is it like?" Kai asked without delay.

As these words were spoken, tears rolled down the demon's face... Clearly, there was soul-destroying dissonance in his mind and heart right now. He didn't want to betray his master, but at the same time, undergoing torture again was much more terrifying!

"You'd better answer quickly, or your friend will come back," Kai said in a cold tone.

Such threats quickly stirred the elder, and he almost shouted tremblingly:

"The entrance to the sacred land is hidden somewhere in the center of this castle! It is said to be in the chambers of the Demon King! I don't know more!"

"He's so scared he definitely wouldn't lie... So, the entrance is always near the Demon King himself…" Kai thought to himself, watching the deathly frightened elder on the ground.

"And what is it like? What properties does it have?" Kai asked with interest.

"The sacred Demons Land was gifted to us by the Demonic Deity! It stores vast amounts of energy and is also nourished by the sacrifices of demons," the elder blurted out quickly.

"Sacrifices of demons, what do you mean by that?" Kai asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Every demon from the ten clans who reaches the Star Sphere…" the demon mumbled, looking at the ground, "Before death, they go to the sacred land to offer themselves as a sacrifice," he added heavily.

These words immediately reminded Kai of the Astral Emperor of Alchemy! Although in their sect, this happened even before the apocalypse, but similarly, they nurtured the Astral Flame of Sacrifice! It seemed that demons practiced something similar…

"And why do you do that?" Kai asked, intrigued.

"It's one of the terms of the contract signed after the end of the war of demons. In this way, the ten clans were obligated to strengthen the sacred land, to jointly cultivate the Demon King…" the demon explained as if in a trance.

The history of demons was still not entirely clear to Kai. The most challenging thing was to figure out the relationships at the top and how it all worked… It seemed that each side had its drawbacks, but the ten clans were the true rulers of the Demons Land.

"So, the sacred land has the property of accumulating energy?" Kai quickly clarified.

"Yes… The Demon King hasn't used it for three hundred years, waiting until enough strength is accumulated. If lucky, it will happen soon…" the elder mumbled on.

Such a formulation of words made Kai pause for a moment… He began to harbor some suspicions…

"What do you mean? What luck are you talking about?" he asked warily.

"The main thing is that there are enough powerful beings in the new lands… Their bodies can be offered as a sacrifice to the sacred land. This will complete what the Demon King has been waiting for so long…" the elder said with some hope, tears rolling down his cheeks again.

His loyalty to his master was commendable… Although the demon's mind was already broken, deep in his heart, this attachment remained. Such cannot be cultivated by brute force alone… Most likely, this elder truly believes in the goals and ideals of the Demon King!

But now, Kai had other things on his mind… Completely different thoughts occupied his mind!

"Damn! So that's why he was so eagerly preparing the demons for war! He doesn't need new lands — he wants to capture more victims! But what about the ascended? Do they know about this?" Kai realized instantly, clenching his fists.

While the demon lay there, quietly sobbing, a cold voice suddenly said:

"So the Demon King wants victims… Hm!" Kai said mockingly, "Well, I suppose I'll take away everything he's been carefully preparing for himself!" he declared triumphantly!

Such words did not frighten the elder on the ground. It seemed, on the contrary, he pitied Kai. His words sounded not threatening but absurd...

"You won't be able to withstand that energy… Moreover, upon the Demon King's return, you and everyone associated with you will die," the elder said emotionlessly.

"That's none of your concern. Where are the Demon King's chambers?" Kai cut off the demon, asking bluntly.

"Exit my chambers, turn right, and proceed to the wide corridor. Then move deeper into the castle until you reach the throne room," the elder said, sensing a forthcoming relief, "There's an entrance behind the throne, but no one knows what lies beyond…" he quickly added.

Kai found the response amusing… He found such similarity quite funny. So much so that he even muttered unintentionally:

"Just like the Astral Emperor of Alchemy…"

In the Astral City, there was a similar concept. Behind the throne was the entrance to the emperor's chambers, and from there, a passage led directly to the imprisoned Heavenly Flame.

"Who is this emperor?" the demon asked with unexpected interest.

"That's not for you to worry about. Thanks for cooperating," Kai replied calmly and placed his foot on the demon's neck…

"Crack!" A short crunch sounded immediately, and the elder's eyes dimmed!

After Will Suppression, energy did not circulate through his body and could not protect him. Thus, Kai simply had to press his foot to completely shatter the enemy's cervical vertebrae!

After looking at the elder a bit more, Kai calmly went to a chair nearby and sat down, removing his mask. Although the King of Horror did most of the work, Kai was quite tired himself…

"First, I'll rest, then think…" Kai thought and slowly closed his eyes.

The last iteration of the torture had just ended, so there was a need to replenish the lost energy. Only after two hours did Kai finally open his eyes and looked again at the demon's body…

"What should I do?" Kai mumbled in doubt.

He wanted to steal the elder's identity to move around the castle unobstructed. This way, it would be much easier to penetrate the throne room… Although old methods were not bad, they would take much more time.

Kai was not worried about this... He didn't know how best to act with the armor! If he stole this demon's appearance, he would have to change clothes. But this would immediately reduce his protection, and who knows what could happen…

The option of hiding the armor through the Dance of Shadow Seals was also unsuitable. Completely immobilizing the armor to move normally was almost impossible. And then, how to wear the elder's clothes? Whether under the armor or on top of it, the result would look very odd! Levitating inflated clothes, as well as those completely pressed to the body, were not the most standard sight…

"Right! I need to search his ring for something!" Kai exclaimed suddenly.

Immediately after that, he calmly went to the severed hand lying on the other side of the room. The ring had already lost its master, so peeking inside was not a problem.

Kai was not interested in the elder's possessions; he needed other clothes! The demon surely must have some wide garment with a cloak. Kai had seen such a style of clothing several times, so the elder must have it too!

After rummaging through the ring quickly, Kai found several suitable options and threw them out. But he didn't stop there and continued to review the ring's contents. Although he was not interested in the elder's things, he wouldn't just refuse something useful!

An hour later, all preparations were done, and Kai began to use the Thousand Faces Technique, gradually taking on the elder's appearance. He did it so there wouldn't be even an extra wrinkle to nitpick.

After an hour, Kai looked in the mirror in the corner of the room and said contentedly:

"It looks quality enough…" Examining and touching his face, Kai said.

Even his height and body changed to match the elder…

Although the armor sagged a bit, it wasn't a big problem. Luckily, the elder's constitution was quite sturdy and didn't differ much from Kai's body… Kai immediately threw on himself dark-blue clothes with incredible patterns and embroidery on them.

Over these clothes was a long cloak that completely covered the entire body. If fastened at the chest, the entire figure would be hidden under it.

"Perfect." Kai said with a cunning smile and waved his hand, releasing a wave of black-violet fire!

Instantly, the body and all traces of the unfortunate elder were incinerated! Not even a trace of his existence remained!

At that moment, Kai didn't need to break the door open — he simply used a special tablet from the ring. He had a similar one, back in Asmodeus's territories. One could say it was a universal identity card…

Exiting into the corridor, Kai calmly followed the route given by the elder. Since the entire upper echelon had moved to war, silence and tranquility reigned inside. Terrifying demons were noticeably fewer, so the guards had relaxed a bit… But seeing Kai's figure from afar, they quickly stood at attention, not daring even to hint at shirking their duties.

Kai had observed this elder for several days, so he roughly understood his behavior. Although he couldn't play him perfectly, at least conveying the general atmosphere wasn't a problem!

"Greetings, Lord Bariel!" the two guards shouted in unison.

"Hmm! Don't slack off!" Kai grunted threateningly as he passed through the arch.

"Understood!" Bowing deeply after the elder, the demons said.

This was repeated at almost every guard point. Apparently, this elder was held in high esteem here. Although he often reprimanded his subordinates, he never punished them. Hence, all the guards had good impressions of him.

"The elder wasn't bad… But the world of martial masters is cruel, and there's no place for blissful compassion here. While this old man was resting here, people were definitely dying on the Heavenly Continent already," Kai thought emotionlessly, not showing even a trace of pity for his victim.

Recently, Kai thought that this demon, whose appearance he borrowed, was a pretty good person. But immediately after, Kai countered himself!

The world of martial masters is harsh, and there's no room for blissful compassion. If the elder knew that Kai was a human and had the chance to kill him… Would he spare him? The answer is obvious — no!

"The throne room is not far now… Wait a little longer, and I'll take everything from you, Demon King!" Kai thought, a satisfied smile on his face.

V.4 Chapter 412: Throne Room Defense

Kai moved through the castle unimpeded, heading straight for the throne room. None of the guards dared to detain him or even ask unnecessary questions. Thus, within an hour, he found himself near the massive blood-red gates...

There was no one around, as if the throne room was not guarded at all. It seemed that ordinary demons were simply not allowed here. As if it was some kind of sanctuary!

After looking around to make sure no one was nearby, Kai grasped the huge door. Only by applying enough force did it budge slightly.

"Clunk!" A short, resonant sound echoed from the metal grinding.

Kai didn't fully open the door but instantly used the Shadow Seal to slip inside. Immediately after, another short sound followed, and the door closed!

Kai was no longer surprised by the pomp of such places, like main halls or the working places of the ascended. Although everything was made quite grandly, Kai had long gotten used to it...

"Done with taste... It seems the Demon King likes a beautiful setting..." Kai mentally complimented, looking around.

A large red carpet ran through the entire throne room, leading to the throne at the end. Overall, the atmosphere of this place was a mix of grandeur and danger. One could even imagine the Demon King sitting on the massive throne, looking down on his subordinates. However, when Kai recalled the ten clans, this image somewhat crumbled. It was still unclear who serves whom...

"So... It seems all quiet, I can move forward..." Kai thought to himself, scrutinizing the surroundings with the Eyes of Essence.

There were quite a few arrays around him, but he calmly circumvented them, moving through safe zones. Kai was heading to the throne, behind which should lie the chambers of the Demon King. Currently, the most important thing was to find the entrance to the sacred land and understand what it entails!

"If I can absorb everything that has been accumulated over hundreds of years... Can I..." Kai pondered with cautious anticipation.

He wasn't a fool and understood the overall situation... He was already at the peak of the Star Sphere. Under normal conditions, a breakthrough without an incredible push was simply impossible... But what if he could acquire something better than the Spiritual Source of the Samsara Temple? This question inevitably surfaced in Kai's mind!

Moreover, he had recently realized that each of his abilities had reached a certain ceiling, limited by his level. Even the penultimate layer of the Invisible King's Torture Technique finally succumbed to him...

All thoughts of this kind inadvertently made Kai recall scenes from the trial of the Overlord of Inevitable Destruction...

"Can I experience flight in real life? Just like then in the illusions..." Kai pondered, pausing in thought.

But he hadn't continued his thought when the hall trembled! A pulsation!

"Doom!" The entire throne room seemed to blaze with red light, and a wave of energy instantly spread!

"What the?! Did I miss some array?!" Kai exclaimed in shock, immediately focusing all his attention!

He had thoroughly checked everything, moreover, a second ago, he hadn't even moved! Why did the throne room light up as if it was one giant array?! Kai was very displeased with this situation...

"What the? It's a barrier! The throne room has literally become a cage!" Kai assessed the situation instantly.

When this formation was activated, all the walls of the hall were covered with a red barrier. It created the impression that any object inside was enveloped in a strange glowing film...

Kai already understood that something strange was happening... But how to react was still unclear!

And then, Kai's thoughts were interrupted by a calm yet cold voice... It was hoarse, signaling the advanced age of its owner.

"Why have you come?" he asked with disdain.

The moment he looked towards the throne! At that moment, a tall, gaunt demon stood near it... It was an elder, coldly staring right into his eyes.

"Three eyes... Doesn't seem to be from the ruling clans..." Kai noticed instantly, but then immediately tensed up, "Peak of the Star Sphere!" Realizing the level of the opponent, Kai mentally exclaimed!

It turned out that the Demon King indeed left a quite powerful master on guard! This was to be expected, only he was very well hidden. During the weeks of exploring the True Demon King’s Palace, Kai had never heard of such an elder. Perhaps this was a secret elder, unknown to anyone!

But now, Kai couldn't say he was greatly upset. When he first heard the elder's voice, he immediately remembered the Ancestor of the Samsara Temple. If there was such a master here, Kai's path would have ended instantly! So, Kai even managed to find a positive in this situation... He could fight a strong opponent!

"Just wanted to look at the throne," Kai replied calmly.

He already understood that the situation could not be resolved in any way. Most likely, he would have to kill the elder first and only then deal with his cultivation!

The only thing that concerned Kai was the nature of the surrounding barrier. The strategy for the battle would depend on its type! Most importantly, other elders should not find out about what was happening!

"Look at the throne? Well, you can consider that you have looked. Only, it will cost you your life," the three-eyed one said harshly.

"Oh? Why so rude, old man? You're quite suspicious yourself, I've never seen you here before!" Kai said with some suspicion.

"Stop this farce and assume your true form. Bariel has no need to hide his cultivation, unlike you," the elder said with disgust, scrutinizing the uninvited guest.

Kai's neck still wore Ayame's amulet. For the guards and other castle dwellers, such was not obvious, but the elder opposite immediately saw through the deception! He only needed to match a few separate facts.

"Fine, but I have a question..." Kai replied nonchalantly, shedding his long mantle and revealing the armor beneath.

However, he didn't rush to change his appearance, as it wasn't a quick technique to demonstrate.

Kai wanted to inquire about the barrier surrounding them... He needed information about what was happening! If they were locked inside and no one would find out about it — Kai wouldn't mind clashing with this elder!

But as soon as Kai spoke, the demon's expression turned cold, and he dryly stated:

"You have no right to ask questions. Die!"

Saying this, the elder's hands manifested a red sword! And immediately, he launched a terrifying strike sending a curve of concentrated red energy towards Kai!

But at the same moment, Kai just smiled and used the Shadow Seal! This attack was exactly what he needed!

"Boom!" An explosion sounded as the energy collided with the barrier.

And to Kai's surprise — the barrier didn't even flinch! The elder's attack was certainly not weak, which only demonstrated the strength of the formation!

"So that's how it is, old man... So, this barrier has become the field for our deadly fight?" Kai said with a malicious smile.

The demon's attitude also changed slightly, as he didn't expect Kai to dodge the attack. After all, he himself was at the peak of the Star Sphere! Logically, there shouldn't have been any similar masters left on the territory of the Demons Lands!

This elder had many connections and networks of informants. If there was another free demon at the peak of the Star Sphere — he would definitely know about it! But there was definitely none!

Because of this, he immediately assumed that Kai was approximately at the middle stage of the Star Sphere, since he managed to kill Bariel...

"A deadly fight? Not really. The throne room will be your grave," the elder replied calmly, not taking Kai seriously.

"So old, yet still so foolish? How did you even survive?" Kai taunted, and a terrifying smile appeared on his face...

This moment became when Kai finally unleashed all his power outward!

"Bang!" A loud pulsating sound echoed, and black energy mixed with the Astral Flame of Sacrifice spread for tens of meters around!

The entire hall was instantly filled with a terrifying aura of destruction and death. Before the elder stood a true master at the peak of the Star Sphere!

The turn of events immediately changed the expression on the demon's face! And at the same moment, the third eye on his forehead flashed red, shedding bloody tears from its corners!

"Bawhoom!" Another explosion of energy enveloped the other half of the hall, pushing Kai's energy towards the center!

"I see you're finally serious, old man," Kai said with a malicious smile.

"Who are you?! You can't be a demon!" the man suddenly shouted, and a Energy Manifestation began to form behind him! It was the silhouette of a large red eye with a narrow reptilian pupil!

At that very moment, Kai felt as if he was being seen through completely! It seemed that this eye ignored all illusions and obstacles!

"You're definitely not a demon! You're a spy! You bastard!" Realizing the truth, the elder shouted!

The analytical abilities of this three-eyed were simply terrifying! He immediately unraveled what no one had previously figured out! The ten clans were too blinded by their internal strife to notice a spy of an unknown race!

"Even if so, you now have a perfect opportunity to kill me. So act! He-he," Ignoring the demon's accusations, Kai shouted and two black daggers appeared in his hands!

"Shu! Shu! Shu!" Sharp sounds of slicing air followed, and curves of concentrated destructive energy flew towards the elder!

But in turn, he didn't hesitate to strike back!

"Bang! Bang! Boom!" Several explosions sounded from the collision of opposing energies! But they didn't spread throughout the hall, instead, they began to converge at the point of contact, trying to devour each other!

"Seems the elder's attribute is also quite tyrannical... He wants to absorb the opponent! I need to study his combat technique more carefully!" Kai quickly analyzed.

This elder indeed seemed like a formidable enemy! Kai was fighting an equal opponent for the first time! Moreover, this demon was definitely a true master of martial arts! The fight against him wouldn't be easy!

As soon as the elder attempted to attack, Kai instantly moved to him and summoned the Queen of Lust! He decided to first throw the elder off balance and inflict the first wound!

The Queen of Lust had already flown into the elder, and Kai's dagger directed a curve of destructive energy towards the opponent's neck!

But at that very moment...

"Baboom!" The silhouette of the eye pulsed, and a wave of strange energy emanated from it, instantly knocking the Queen of Lust out of the demon's body! And he, in turn, struck back, pushing Kai away!

"Damn! Looks like the Queen of Lust and the King of Horror won't work on him! Even the King of Fury is questionable!" Kai realized instantly, using the Shadow Seal to retreat further from the opponent!

His attack unexpectedly failed! From this moment on, he needed to be maximally serious and focused!

V.4 Chapter 413: Fierce Battle

Earlier, the demon used its Energy Manifestation to look at Kai and see through his disguise. It seemed as if this technique allowed breaking through illusions, but Kai had not expected that even the Queen of Lust would be cast aside!

Looking closely at the old man, Kai began to analyze his next moves…

“Among those summoned, only the King of Pain can help… But is the energy expenditure worth the benefits?” Kai thought, clutching his daggers, “It seems I'll have to fight using brute force alone!” He decided instantly.

All the previous events had happened in just a moment. But before Kai could think for another second, the old man attacked him again!

“Boom!” An explosion of colliding energies sounded!

Now Kai was not retreating as usual — with his daggers, he could counter the enemy's attacks! The demon's reaction and attack speed were terrifying, simply dodging was not an option!

"It seems your eye has many functions, doesn’t it?" Kai said coolly.

"A dead man need not ask questions." The old man replied calmly, and the red energy around him began to increase!

It swirled like thick smoke, filling the entire hall! If not for the barrier, everything inside would have been destroyed long ago!

Kai watched the old man's actions warily, pushing back his energy with his own. He had no idea yet what methods the opponent was using…

But in the next moment, a loud crash sent a stream of red energy directly at Kai! The red wave, with a terrifying roar, rushed straight towards him!

“Let's test my armor!” Kai thought to himself, narrowing the energy field around him and channeling it into his armor!

Kai knew he could send a similar wave back, but it would be a pointless waste of energy. In a fight against an equal opponent, it's better to conserve one's forces. You never know what might turn the tide of battle…

“Doom!” A powerful stream of energy hit Kai, throwing him back tens of meters, almost against the barrier! He managed to stabilize himself at the last second!

Kai still stood, watching as the old man's attack passed by him! Kai's concentrated energy, along with his armor, handled it perfectly! Though the pressure was felt, it was not lethal!

But as soon as the red sea dispersed, Kai realized it wasn't an attack at all… It was the aftermath of the old man's technique!

Wherever Kai looked, small red eyes hung in the air, watching him from all angles!

“His Energy Manifestation has split into hundreds of little ones! And what does this mean?” Kai wondered warily, analyzing his surroundings.

All these eyes watched Kai from every side, noticing literally every move he made… This caused quite unpleasant feelings…

When Kai looked at the old man, he immediately noticed that his third eye was closed. Apparently, these eyes were more than just Energy Manifestation! The old man was literally connected to them!

"Don't waste my time, boy. Every move under my gaze, and your illusions are nothing to me!" the demon said coldly, "I want to kill you quickly and return to my duties. Believe me, you cannot withstand the Demon's Prediction Technique." He added calmly.

The old man's tone expressed complete confidence in himself and his actions. Although Kai was strong, the demon had no doubt of his victory!

"And what do you expect from such words? That I'll just give up and not resist? Have you lost your mind in your old age? Heh." Kai said with disdain and laughed.

"I have already predicted your death, so there's no point in discussing it." The demon stated calmly.

"You're a lousy predictor." Kai said with a smile and instantly used the Shadow Seal!

But to his surprise, the old man didn't attack as before. He also instantly moved to the spot where Kai appeared and attacked with a sword!

“Bang!” A terrifying explosion erupted from the clash of their weapons!

"Your movement technique is now clear to me." The demon said calmly and in the same second delivered several more sword strikes!

“Zing! Zing! Boom!” A series of devastating explosions immediately continued!

The energies of Kai and the demon flew in all directions, causing an incredible storm inside the hall. If someone at the initial stage of the Star Sphere were here, they would definitely have been injured! Not to mention those below… Those below the Star Sphere would simply die from the residual energies of such a battle!

To Kai, it felt as though he had returned to the times of the lower spheres, as fighting with weapons in close combat was not typical for the Star Sphere. But in reality, not many masters had suitable weapons… Facing an equal opponent changed everything!

The opponents constantly delivered dozens of lethal blows, parrying them in the last moments! Each attack was filled with the terrifying energy of the Star Sphere's peak!

“Damn… His fencing is better than mine… It's all because of those eyes!” Kai cursed mentally.

Thanks to the King of Envy, Kai was incredibly skilled in combat with weapons. And he understood perfectly how to fight the old man's sword. But because every move Kai made was visible to his opponent, he was slowly being overwhelmed! Moreover, he was seen from all possible angles!

"You'll give up soon." The old man said confidently, and his remaining eyes began to slowly redden…

“New technique?!” Kai reacted instantly, already expecting a trick!

And he was right! Suddenly one of the floating eyes dashed directly at Kai! The speed of this attack was quite impressive, but Kai still managed to use the Shadow Seal!

But as soon as he did, a second eye almost reached his new location! The old man had completely predicted Kai's actions!

“Bam! Bam! Doom!” Two explosions carrying chaos of red energy immediately sounded! And Kai's body was thrown back, crashing into the nearest wall!

"Kghaah!" Kai cried out from the impact, blood spouting from his mouth! The demon's attack was impressively powerful!

Quickly getting up and reacting to another flying eye, Kai retreated and expanded his field of energy and the Astral Flame of Sacrifice! This way, the eyes would explode not too close to him!

Wiping blood from his mouth, Kai suddenly thought:

"Thank you, Braman... If not for the armor, I would have been in a tough spot…"

He hadn't finished his thought when a new attack began! This continued every time, and Kai's wounds only accumulated… Maybe his regeneration was terrifying, but the intensity of the battle was incredible! It can be said that Kai had never received so many attacks in such a short period of time before!

“Gakangakan!” Another series of explosions sounded!

It seemed the old man read every move Kai made, not giving him even a chance to dodge! Moreover, at the most inconvenient moment for Kai, the old man also closed in, beginning to attack with a sword!

“Zing! Zing! Ba-bang!” Reflecting another attack, Kai again retreated and dodged the awaiting explosion!

“This won’t do… I’ve gotten a bit used to his style and strength of blows. Time to counterattack!” Kai thought to himself, watching the old man's movements.

But suddenly, the demon opened his mouth and arrogantly said:

"You lost the moment I trapped you in the throne hall's array. In enclosed space, my technique is unbeatable!"

"Oh? Is that so… Want me to show you something too?" Kai said with a malicious smile, "What was that you said? My death is already predetermined?" he asked disdainfully, "Well, I don’t believe in fate! Heh-heh!"

As soon as Kai said this, his demonic form dispersed, slowly returning to his previous human appearance! But in the same instant, his hair turned the color of blood, and red tattoos spread across his body! Kai's power and might instantly soared to a new level! But the most significant enhancement was of his body!

Seeing such a sudden change, the old man panicked slightly and immediately sent several eyes in attack! But when they almost reached Kai, he simply waved his hand, outracing their speed and exploding them several meters away from him!

“Bam! Du-doom!” The red energy roared, heading towards Kai! But this time, the residual explosion didn’t even move him!

Armor imbued with the Law of Destruction, and body imbued with the Law of Asura — turned into something impregnable! Kai himself didn’t understand how he did it. Usually, he used the combination of laws, but when the Torture King Mode activated, Kai instinctively separated them! And it worked very well!

Kai's aura took on terrifying characteristics… Death and destruction — that’s what he was now! Even the old man stepped back a bit…

"Who are you?!" The demon cried out, somewhat shocked.

"The one who will let you see illusions." Kai said coolly, and in the same instant, a wave of black energy rolled across the ground, filling the entire throne hall!

In a second, the entire environment turned into the Asura Hell! If it’s impossible to penetrate the old man’s Spiritual Sea, he will bring illusions into reality!

"What is this?!" The old man cried out, immediately attacking Kai with a dozen eyes and sending a concentrated energy arc!

But Kai didn’t wait! Several weaker beings quickly materialized in the air, meeting the eyes head-on and exploding them! With his current strength, Kai could summon an entire King of Torture, creating weaker beings in the Asura Hell Domain was a piece of cake! The sole purpose of the summoned beings was to block the eyes' attack with their bodies!

Delivering a counterattack, two energy arcs simply exploded in the air! Kai calmly looked at the old man and said:

"Oops… Seems your incredible eyes are now useless…"

"What is this… How did illusions become material?!" The old man frowned.

With his technique, he saw that the Asura Hell Domain seemed unreal... But at the same moment, it consisted of a strange energy he had never encountered before! All of this slightly threw the demon off balance!

"Old man, now I'm ready to see how you dodge! Heh-heh." Kai said maliciously and instantly moved to the old man!

At the same moment, dozens of weaker beings materialized throughout the throne hall, throwing themselves at the strange eyes, sacrificing themselves!

“Bam! Bam! Ba-bang!” A series of terrifying explosions immediately spread, turning the entire space into complete chaos!

Everything happened so instantly that the old man failed to successfully block Kai's attack!

“Doom!” A loud crash sounded, and the old man was thrown towards the throne!

The more eyes were destroyed, the worse the demon's reaction became! Kai went all in! Considering his current actions, he only had a few minutes left! He was expending colossal amounts of energy, and the Torture King Mode was not eternal!

Kai simply had to end this battle in the shortest time possible!

V.4 Chapter 414: Willful Attack

The demon quickly rose and began attacking time and again, but now kept a slight distance. His Energy Manifestation was rapidly being destroyed, and a large horde of minor creatures obscured the entire view! Usually, he could see even through illusions, but these demons were different...

At the same time, an incredibly terrifying aura emanated from Kai's body! The previous strike had somewhat shocked him with its power, so the old man did not want to engage in direct confrontation!

"What do you want in our lands?!" The old man shouted loudly.

"Don't waste time — it's pointless!" Kai shouted back furiously, and invisible Shadow Seals began to fill the hall!

And in that instant — Kai disappeared!

“Boom!” Suddenly, the sound of clashing weapons echoed!

The old man blocked the attack at the very last moment! But under such pressure, his feet slid across the floor. He couldn't stand his ground!

The expression on the old man's face noticeably changed... From this moment, he finally began to regard Kai as a serious opponent. All arrogance evaporated before his eyes!

“Zing! Zing! Boom!” A series of incredible strikes sounded, their speed simply off the charts! Sparks and air currents exploded, scattering around!

With each collision, waves of chaotic energy rolled throughout the throne hall, against the backdrop of the continuing battle of demons and hundreds of eyes, which also added chaos to the overall situation!

As the Energy Manifestation was destroyed — the old man's strength also noticeably decreased. Apparently, this technique drained a huge amount of his energy, especially the destruction of the eyes being particularly devastating!

Blood constantly streamed from the demon's forehead, as if his body also felt the recoil. And this could not but please Kai! Only, he himself was no less exhausted...

Using tricks like the Netherworld Furnace or summoning weak creatures was pointless! This was not an opponent against whom tricks worked. He could only be suppressed with true power!

The endless battle continued and the opponents delivered thousands of strikes, sometimes catching each other in mistakes! The number of wounds on both bodies accumulated... Fortunately, Kai's armor coped incredibly well! Without it, his condition would have been much worse...

"Damn, ten more minutes and my Torture King Mode will end!" Kai cursed mentally, realizing his time was running out!

But at that moment!

“Ba-bang!” An explosion sounded from behind, and the space slowly quieted down!

This was the result of the destruction of the old man's last eye! And in that same instant, he staggered slightly, and blood spurted from his mouth!

"Now!" Kai shouted in his mind and struck with all his might with a dagger into the enemy's chest!

“Zing! Doom!” Partially blocking the strike, the demon managed to soften the blow, but was immediately thrown back, hitting the throne with force!

"Kghah!" The demon cried out, barely staying conscious!

Analyzing the situation, Kai immediately ceased using the Asura Hell Domain to avoid wasting his energy unnecessarily. He had already lost almost all his energy...

Unnoticed by the demon, Kai moved his palms and something strange appeared in them...

Kai did not wait for the old man to recover and again rushed to attack! He didn't stop and continued to attack time after time! Although the old man constantly managed to somehow soften the blows, he still received damage, but most importantly — this damage accumulated!

Kai saw that his opponent suffered a terrible backlash after the destruction of his technique. But soon, he would face a similar fate!

"I must finish him! I have to finish him! Less than a minute!" Ran non-stop in Kai's mind!

If Kai left the old man alive, the latter would need only a drop of strength to kill him! After the Torture King Mode ended, the demon would have several hours to recover slightly and deliver a fatal blow to the immobilized Kai.

“Bang! Bang! Doom!” The series of terrifying strikes continued, with each one the old man flew across the throne hall and received serious injuries!

Somehow the demon still held on, constantly blocking strikes and dodging! The old man was indeed an incredibly skilled master! He avoided any possibility of being caught by Kai!

The old man's body was covered in wounds, and his third eye was tightly closed. The blood on his eyelids had long since dried, as if sealed with red wax.

The old man looked at Kai and with a malicious smile said:

"I told you, everything is predetermined... Soon you will die..." He muttered, barely articulating the words. Leaning on his sword as if on a cane, he still managed to stand...

"Really... Are you so sure about that?" Kai said disdainfully, breathing heavily.

After the destruction of the demon's Energy Manifestation, Kai had pulled out the Seals of Destruction to quickly replenish his energy! Maybe this method wasn't very effective, but in such a situation — it was the only ace up his sleeve!

All previous attacks by Kai were specifically carried out at the expense of the Torture King Mode and his body, he almost didn't use his energy! And all for this moment!

"My technique does not err!" The old man arrogantly said, and with difficulty, raised his sword again!

He expected another attack from Kai, who could barely stand on his feet... The demon felt that soon the opponent would attack again... But suddenly, the old man felt a foreign hand on the back of his head! Something from behind with incredible force drove him into the ground!

“Bang! Crunch!” The sound echoed, as if the old man's head was caught between an anvil and a hammer! He instantly felt part of his facial bones break!

The battle had reached a stage where each opponent was half-conscious. It was unimaginable that Kai had another ace up his sleeve! If so, why hadn't he used it earlier?! Then, he could have finished it long ago!

But for some reason, it only happened now!

And the reason was that Kai finally had enough energy for a few seconds to summon the King of Pain! Due to surprise and exhaustion — the demon didn't even feel it coming!

"Raaaar!" Kai roared with the last of his strength in rage and instantly moved to the pinned old man! Moreover, the King of Pain continued to strike the demon's head!

Kai's scream was more an emotional expression of his will! Now he truly gathered the last of his strength for the final attack! The backlash of the Torture King Mode had already begun to manifest!

Everything blurred before his eyes, and strength rapidly left his body… But Kai still saw the body of his opponent before him! The dagger mercilessly slashed down, heading straight for the back of the head of the already half-dead demon!

"Shu! Doom!" A sharp sound echoed, and the dagger pierced through the opponent's skull, sending all the remaining destructive energy inside!

In the same instant, the King of Pain delivered the final blow and began to dissipate... Kai had no strength left...

"Damn... What a tenacious bastard... I need blood..." Kai muttered deliriously.

Blood began to pour from the old man's body, quickly gathering in the air, and immediately rushed straight into Kai's chest!

"Du-doom!" A loud pulsation of his heart echoed in Kai's consciousness, slightly bringing him back to his senses!

"Kghaaa! Damn!" Taking a deep breath and opening his eyes wide, Kai shouted, instantly dropping his second dagger and the Seals of Destruction to the floor!

His body literally revived before his eyes! The blood of a master of the Star Sphere's peak was incredible! The backlash of the Torture King Mode immediately receded, as his body was once again nourished with power! Only now did he realize that the last minute of the battle, he had acted more on instinct than consciously...

"Haa... Haa..." Kai breathed heavily, greedily gulping air... His head was still a bit dizzy, but he was slowly coming to his senses...

Only then did Kai notice that the barrier of the throne hall was slowly fading...

"Apparently, you were supporting it..." Kai said with a wry smile, looking at the mummy beneath him, "Well, now I'll take over the function of protecting the throne hall... Don't worry..." He added sarcastically and stripped the demon of all valuables.

Kai didn't hesitate and quickly took the old man's spatial rings. He didn't know the full situation, maybe inside were keys to the sanctuary or something similar. Although there was no time to check, it was better to be safe!

With a light snap of his fingers, all remains and traces of the battle were completely erased from the world, leaving not even ash behind!

Glancing around, Kai quickly headed towards the throne. Although he had absorbed the old man's blood, the Torture King Mode did not become eternal... Soon the wave of backlash would hit Kai again, so he needed to find a safe place!

As soon as he reached the throne, small gates immediately became visible behind it. The throne was huge, so it easily covered the view of the passage. Kai immediately checked everything with the Eyes of Essence and, noticing no traps — entered inside!

Before him unfolded a view of a vast library, built in the style of a circular plaza! On the sides were floors packed with rows of books! In the middle of the plaza stood a table laden with books and scrolls. And all of this was illuminated by glowing stones and the night sky breaking through a huge glass ceiling!

"I would have appreciated this sight... But now..." Kai muttered, breathing heavily.

His eyes frantically scanned the library in search of a suitable resting place. He saw that there were several other passages leading from here, but checking them could be a risky endeavor... After all, various arrays could be placed there...

"To hell with it... Nobody dares enter here anyway!" Kai said, shaking his head tiredly, and used the Shadow Seal.

He specifically teleported to the highest floor of the library and, while he still had the strength, drew a simple concealment array. Kai understood that no one would find him here, but if there was a chance to provide additional security — it was better to do so!

As soon as all preparations were completed, Kai sat in the lotus position and leaned his back against the bookshelves. The Torture King Mode immediately ended, and he lost consciousness... The last battle had truly exhausted Kai, but it allowed him to test his strength in a fight against an equal opponent.

Also, an intriguing discovery was made unintentionally — the Asura Reaper Law worked much better in conjunction with bodily strength and its nourishment. In turn, the Law of Inevitable Destruction was far better for external manifestation and full enhancement of meridians and energy channels. While Kai did not fully understand how everything was arranged, a certain pattern was evident...

Thus, Kai quietly lay in the library of the Demon King and rested. The most absurd part of the situation was that none of the residents of the True Demon’s King Palace even suspected what had happened!

The old man's barrier was incredible, so the entire battle remained a complete secret. Perhaps, in ordinary battles — this was the old man's advantage and specialization, but this time, his "predictions" did not work out. Kai won and took all the benefits for himself!

V.4 Chapter 415: World Chronology

Kai was in no rush and was recovering to his peak. He had already made sure that only that three-eyed elder was guarding the throne room. So, as long as nothing threatened him, it was best to use the time to its fullest!

Sitting in the lotus position, Kai eagerly absorbed energy and controlled impulses to meticulously heal every part of his body. The three-eyed demon turned out to be a formidable opponent indeed. One could say their fight was almost even, and Kai managed to win more by his wits. Naturally, without the Seals of Destruction from which he quickly replenished his energy, the battle could have followed a different scenario…

"The elder was quite terrifying... That barrier was maintained not just by mass but also by the demon's technique. Most likely, he was a master of mass and had adapted the throne room to his methods... A very dangerous opponent…" Kai analyzed the past battle.

Apparently, this was one of the main reasons why the elder did not go to war with other demons. He was an irreplaceable defender of the Demon King's chambers. Considering all the elder's powers and techniques — almost anyone caught in his nets would lose!

"There's no escape, and every action you take is under strict surveillance. The eye attacks were also terrifying... If I hadn't had the armor and lineage of Kessia, even one such attack could have been fatal…" Kai continued to reason, calmly sitting near the bookshelves.

Still, this was his first battle with an opponent of such caliber. Therefore, Kai wanted to thoroughly conclude their fight…

"The Peak of the Star Sphere indeed provides limitless reserves of energy… Even my Asura Hell Domain reached a completely different level. I'm even surprised at how many creatures I was able to summon… They were weak, but still!" Kai thought with slight enthusiasm.

He pondered not only about the elder's techniques but also about his own combat power. A good opponent can become a decent teacher if you use the information gained correctly. Asura Hell was a splendid place for training, but after so many years, death inside no longer caused terror... Kai could constantly experiment, testing his resilience and launching himself into deadly attacks, but in a real battle, you have no right to make mistakes!

These reflections brought various scenes from the past to Kai's mind… But one of the brightest was the attack of three Core Sphere masters on the Island of Reincarnation!

"Both the elder and I are definitely very strong… But this doesn't even come close to comparing with the Patriarch or that terrifying sword strike of the Supreme…" Kai thought, comparing himself to the old monsters.

Such thoughts might seem quite absurd… Soon Kai would turn twenty-two, yet he compares himself with monsters who are hundreds of years old! If someone heard such reflections, their indignation would know no bounds! How dare a youngster compare himself with sect leaders?!

But Kai was not too self-confident for such thoughts and did not overestimate himself… He is already a peak master of the Star Sphere, but most importantly — he has penetrated the chambers of the Demon King, and they are absolutely defenseless!

If he could find the sacred land, which presumably hides another Seal of Destruction… In that case, his reflections on the Core Sphere wouldn't be so presumptuous!

Kai sat near the books for three whole days until he finally felt in the best condition. Opening his eyes, he glanced around and immediately jumped down to the library's first floor.

For a moment, he had the idea to examine the books here, but they were definitely not the priority now! It's because of such peculiar decisions that various mishaps occur. While there's a chance — it should be used to search for something useful!

Landing on the first floor, Kai calmly went to the large table in the center of the library. The main problem was that he didn't know where exactly the entrance to the sacred land was…

"I'll have to look around a bit…" Kai mumbled thoughtfully, picking up and examining the books on the table.

Kai immediately noticed that the Demon King's workspace was much neater than Abaddon's. There were also many books and scrolls here, but they were organized and did not create unnecessary chaos.

"Hmm… What interesting books… Such are definitely hidden from prying eyes, perhaps even existing in a single copy." Kai said with interest, continuing to inspect the table.

In the center lay several books, clearly indicating that someone had been studying them lately!

Kai slowly moved these works closer to himself and started looking at the titles… It would be useful to know what exactly the Demon King was interested in. And as soon as Kai's gaze fell on the titles, he was slightly surprised. The covers read: "Records of the Kings on the Core," "Archives of the Seventieth Millennium," "Bonds of the Soul," "Metamorphosis into God," and "The Attribute Problem: Dead End."

Each of these titles literally attracted Kai! Obviously, each of them was incredibly interesting! He could make some assumptions about the books just by looking at their titles…

"Records of the Kings on the Core, most likely, describes the experience of previous demons of the Core Sphere and their understanding. Right now, this isn't very interesting to me… The same goes for the last one… Obviously, it's trying to find the next stage of attributes. But I already know the answer — it's Law!" Kai thought and immediately reached for a scroll titled "Archives of the Seventieth Millennium."

This was a small scroll, not a book, so it wouldn't take much time… Although Kai didn't want to waste time in vain, in this case, he just couldn't pass by… It's been only thirty thousand years since the Apocalypse, so how could there be a seventieth millennium? This question immediately arose in his mind!

"What will you tell me?" Kai rhetorically asked, sitting in the Demon King's place and beginning to read…

The scroll contained a basic and clear text, divided into several blocks. But from the first words, Kai already realized what the next information would be about!

"Seventy thousand years to the end — around this time, living beings begin to use energy and systematize it. They actively observe energy actions in nature and try to replicate them. The first analogs of crafts professions emerge, like Blacksmiths, primitive Alchemists, or Beast Tamers.

Even then, several of the most successful groups in this endeavor begin to emerge. Namely — Demons, Beasts, and Humans.

Creatures from the monster race also reach notable heights. But due to their nature, they are incapable of forming societies, and ultimately do not form a cohesive group. This continues to the present day."

"Fifty thousand years to the end — civilizations arise that unite on the basis of race and the concept of "martial arts". Mainly, these are communities that engage in energy cultivation and develop a common cultivation technique.

Such communities arose in various forms, depending on the initial conditions of life and traditions. The most common became Countries, Sects, and Clans. Rare alliances form between members of the same race.

The period is also characterized by the emergence of more complex crafts professions — like Artifact Master and Array Master"

"Forty thousand years to the end — the period is characterized by active creation of many alliances within one race. Giant forces emerge, taking control of vast areas of territory and resources.

The first conflicts between large forces begin. Mostly, they are conducted between representatives of different races.

Humans and Demons finally establish dominance. Beasts try not to participate in wars and are more focused on protecting their territories."

"Thirty thousand years to the end — the accumulation of various cultivation techniques allows for the creation of communities of a different order. Forces emerge that destroy others and loot their heritage, while gaining the ability to cultivate a greater number of followers.

Such forces develop at tremendous speeds, constantly subjugating new territories. The continent begins to acquire clear contours of spheres of influence."

"Twenty thousand years to the end — the formation of the main dominant forces of the general continent concludes.

Five human: Sect of Astral Flame, Star Church, Time-Detached Temple, Mirin Empire, Sand People.

Six demonic: Siurin Clan, Erebus Clan, Agnok Clan, Velhar Clan, and Malhor Clan.

And one beast race union — Kingdom of the Four Ancestors.

This entire period is characterized by constant wars for resources and territories. An irreconcilable enmity between the demonic and human races begins to emerge. Beasts stand apart, but in some millennia take a specific side, fighting shoulder to shoulder with it. Depending on the circumstances on the continent and the ruler of the beasts, they change their strategy, but overall maintain neutrality."

"Ten thousand years to the end — the enmity between demons and humans turns into a final war of races. Each creates a common alliance and constantly tries to exterminate the opponent. Demons create the Demons Land, and humans — the Human Alliance. They see in each other only utter evil, unworthy of living in this world.

Beasts occupy all the northern lands and completely distance themselves from the chaos in the world. They try to develop themselves and protect their lands.

The next period regularly sees wars, sometimes pausing for brief truces."

"Five hundred years to the end — the war between the two races reaches its peak and enters a new cycle of particularly fierce and unending struggle. It lasted a whole four hundred years, until unexpected changes occurred…"

At this point, Kai already understood what would happen next... This was the chronology not of a new time, but of the old civilization! Kai lowered his gaze and continued to read, discovering previously unknown information!

"One hundred years to the end — very strange things begin to happen all over the world. The weather uncontrollably changes, and energy comes into confusion, moreover, the very quality of energy significantly decreases. The situation worsens more and more over the years…

Sudden spatial rifts and energy collapses occur, destroying cities and thousands of beings vanish in an instant!

The situation reached such scales that even the wars between demons and humans ceased! They began to unite to create an opportunity for themselves to survive such chaos.

Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, many tried to do at least something. From the last reports — the Star Church and Time-Detached Temple remained somewhere in the southwest, the Sect of Astral Flame decided to disappear somewhere, while Beasts refused to leave their lands and continue to withstand the chaos. In turn, our clans headed to the northwest, seeking salvation in those lands... What happens next is unknown!"

V.4 Chapter 416: Story of the Demon King

Kai read each line of the scroll attentively, his mind swirling with a storm of emotions! Naturally, he had long known about the previous civilization, which was far more impressive than the current one. It's just that he didn't know all these nuances!

As soon as he finished reading and set the scroll aside, an obvious thought came to his mind…

"It's good that I didn't bet on a truce between our races! If they are well aware of the millennia of wars between humans and demons — they would hardly want a truce!" Kai said in slight confusion.

As expected, the history of the ancient world was quite rich. There were still many blanks left, but Kai didn't have the time to explore all of this. Yet even so, a complete picture of what had happened was already forming in his mind...

The entire chronology could be divided into "before and after" the apocalypse. The previous civilization developed for about seventy thousand years until it encountered the consequences of the Breakthrough of the Overlord of Inevitable Destruction. It was at that moment that the "before" ended, and the common continent was divided…

Sitting in a chair, Kai looked at the transparent ceiling and said:

"If we were to complete the picture, then... Only a hundred years after the apocalypse did the chaos of energy finally stop. The survivors began to slowly rebuild civilization, but many resources were destroyed, and there wasn't even enough food for everyone. This factor greatly reduced the possibilities for recovery, and the strength of the younger generation became worse year by year… The remaining strong masters slowly died, and due to the lack of resources, new ones were not born. The entire civilization began to degrade, and the story of the apocalypse was slowly forgotten…

More than a hundred years of chaos destroyed not only civilization but also many habitable lands. The degradation of the survivors and the entire civilization of martial arts was a logical outcome…

"Judging by the Heavenly Continent and its books, the world only slowly recovered after a thousand years. Everyone forgot about the deeds of the past, keeping only legends…" Kai mused thoughtfully, "Masters everywhere found ancient techniques and on their basis cultivated new strength. The Samsara Temple and the Wild Beasts Steppe even preserved some knowledge… As did the demons…" He murmured, nodding.

After pondering a bit more, Kai looked back at the list and skimmed through the text with his eyes…

"It seems the Holy Empire is a descendant of the Star Church… Some details match too closely." Kai said with a wry smile and began to quickly browse through the remaining two books.

He didn't want to read them cover to cover, just was curious about their content. And after half an hour, Kai got his answer... "Bonds of the Soul" told of a fundamental technique that realized a contract binding all ruling demons. And "Metamorphosis into God" contained various discussions and theories on how to break through the Core Sphere and whether it was possible at all.

"So that's what it is… Heh-heh." Kai chuckled cunningly and slowly stood up from the table.

It was clear that the Demon King was actively searching for ways to destroy the contract and gain autonomy, and it seemed he had found the answer... It lay in breaking through to the next sphere!

Heading to one of the rooms, Kai thought with a smile:

"Apparently, he wanted to learn somewhat different things from the history of the previous civilization…"

Considering Kai's knowledge, the past civilization was far more powerful, so it could be assumed that there were masters of the Law Sphere then. Most likely, the Demon King wanted to find some information about such beings and understand what he was missing…

"A good attempt… Only after our world was sealed — such a breakthrough is simply impossible!" Kai said seriously, and calmly opened the door in front of him.

He was greeted by a large decorative garden that contained nothing unusual. Even the plants inside didn't seem out of the ordinary…

Realizing he had entered a regular resting room, Kai turned around and went to check other rooms. Only after visiting an individual bath and a cultivation room did Kai finally enter the chambers of the Demon King!

Surprisingly, they were not too enormous, though they couldn't be called modest either. One could say everything was done in a classic demonic style…

"So… Where to find some clues?" Kai muttered, scanning everything with his Eyes of Essence.

He had already seen some arrays around, but so far didn't know what they were for… Thus, he calmly walked and assessed the situation, occasionally glancing at personal books found in the chambers.

Overall, there was nothing supernatural until Kai looked at a small desk nearby… At that moment, he discovered a small sheet that seemed to be written in blood!

"What's this? Seems I'll learn a lot of fascinating things today…" Kai murmured with undisguised interest and quickly moved forward.

It didn't take a genius to understand who had written on this parchment…

Casually picking up the sheet, Kai was a bit surprised… The text on it didn't resemble some theories or important records — rather, a personal diary!

"Are these the soulful outpourings of the king? And what exactly did he find interesting enough to record?" Kai said with a sly smile and shamelessly began to examine the content…

"How many times have I pondered all this? How many times have those scenes, which I had long sealed, resurfaced in my mind? Why did it all happen? The answer is obvious — it's all because of the ten ruling clans! They greedily consume all the resources of our race and destroy anyone who tries to rise and become their equal!"

"I don't even understand why I'm writing all this again… But let it be my confession, to ease the pain and anger!

As soon as a threat was seen in my lineage — my lineage ceased to exist! My mother, father, and even sister were coldly killed before my eyes. How many such families were destroyed by the insatiable ruling clans? How many of them could have surpassed them?!

Are they a blessing for our race?! Nonsense!

They need to be destroyed! Eradicated completely! But, I can't do it…

The blood of my relatives and their torn bodies planted an uncontrollable thirst for vengeance in my heart. So uncontrollable that I sacrificed everything for the sake of power! I was a thoughtless demon, training and biting into every opportunity! But because of this, I missed the moment that cost me my freedom!

I've asked myself this question many times… What if I hadn't become a candidate for succession? What if I hadn't signed that damned contract?! Could my fate have been different? Or would I have been simply killed without even being allowed to grow?

But what do I have in the end? I'm stronger than any of the ascended, but can I do anything? Do I even have a ghost of a chance for revenge?

The answer is no! It was taken from me! They took away the one thing that kept me alive! They even took away my right to my own will and death! I am forever doomed to only deal with the affairs of our race!

I can't say it grieves me… But can I care about the well-being of demons when their well-being is destroyed by the ruling clans?! With their contract, they doomed me to a dead end!

For myself, for my relatives, for all demons — I must destroy these bastards! KILL! THEY MUST BE DESTROYED!"

The handwriting at this point became much more expansive and furious. Kai could literally feel how enraged yet helpless the Demon King was at that moment…

"Damn, it seems I underestimated the degree of hatred between the ten clans and the king…" Kai muttered slightly shocked, continuing to read…

"My research says one thing… I need to do everything to break beyond the Core Sphere! Then I can ignore this contract, as it was established by beings much weaker than the future me!

We have discovered new lands… If I can conquer and absorb their strength… If I find enough victims to nourish the sacred land… Maybe I'll have a chance!

I'll go to any lengths! I'll destroy everyone! I'll do the most vile things — just to destroy these bastards!"

As soon as Kai finished reading, a chill ran through him… He already knew that the sacred Demons Land was nourished by the lives of strong masters, but he didn't expect the Demon King started the war not only for conquering lands! He pursued his personal goals!

"He wants to gather enough victims to have a chance for a breakthrough!" Realizing what was happening, Kai exclaimed.

Kai set the sheet aside and paused for a moment… Over the last few hours, he had learned quite a lot of information that broadened his understanding of the situation. The Demon King wanted to break through to the Law Sphere and take revenge on all ten ruling clans. But for that, he needed to nourish the sacred land, and to do so with the inhabitants of the Heavenly Continent!

"The King cannot harm his kin, so becoming a tyrant and sacrificing them is impossible! But such does not apply to humans and beasts! What about the nature's child?" Continuing to talk to himself, Kai said.

He didn't understand all the nuances, but perhaps the ten clans simply would not allow the nature's child to be touched, as they bring great benefit to them. Moreover, the ascended might suspect something was amiss… But what if, in the chaos of war, strong humans were kidnapped and sent to nourish the sacred land?

"It seems hatred, coupled with helplessness, made you a madman…" Kai said coldly, "I might have sympathized with you, but your solution is the extermination of my race for your revenge." Kai said emotionlessly and a flame ignited in his palm, instantly incinerating the sheet!

At that moment, he did not judge the Demon King, as he understood well the world they lived in. Kai had also committed terrible deeds for his personal gain, and this did not bother him...

Although the Demon King and Kai didn't even know each other, a conflict of interests had already arisen between them! Unfortunately for the former, Kai had already infiltrated deep behind enemy lines and was preparing to take away the most valuable!

"You were preparing resources for a breakthrough? Alas, you won't have the opportunity to use them! Heh-heh." Kai said with a malicious smile and continued to inspect the king's chambers.

"I wonder what he'll think when the first batch of people arrives?" Kai mused thoughtfully as he walked.

The Demon King had been collecting and accumulating energy in the sacred land for centuries. It turned out that all this was done in an attempt for a breakthrough and revenge. When the "raw material" from the Heavenly Continent arrives — the sacred land will already be depleted! And considering that Kai decided to take the Seal of Destruction if possible — it will cease to exist altogether!

"Damn… The sacred land must be behind the last door…" Kai muttered and headed towards the exit from the king's chambers.

He had previously checked all the rooms except for two. Now he was exiting through one of them…

Slowly approaching his final destination, Kai opened the gates and saw a small descent ending in a dead-end…

"Wow… Quite an extensive array…" He said with a smile, looking at the "wall" with his Eyes of Essence.

For him, it was already clear where exactly the entrance to the sacred land was hidden, but one could say it wasn't really hidden at all… The thought that someone would come here and manage to overcome the old man at the peak of the Star Sphere was already absurd! Overcoming the old man was already an insurmountable wall, as all the strong demons had either signed the contract or were long dead!

Kai had recently learned that the lineage of the current Demon King was from the second category. Due to their increased strength and uncontrollability — they were simply exterminated, leaving only the most promising youth!

V.4 Chapter 417: Shocking Warning

Approaching the "wall" hidden behind the last door at a leisurely pace, Kai examined it closely… He could clearly see that it was covered with a huge formation.

"It seems to be a sealing array. Something like what they draw on doors, but much more complex…" Kai mused thoughtfully.

Before Kai's eyes lay nine circles of script that slowly converged towards the center. Each was inscribed with a multitude of diverse symbols, layering complexity upon the array, as if creating an intricate puzzle…

"Nine layers that need to be opened gradually… Can I even unlock it? If yes, how much time will it take?" Kai thought to himself, touching the wall.

Even with his Eyes of Essence, deciphering the array's intricacies was challenging… He would need to figure out the sequence in which to destroy the support points of each layer without disrupting the balance of the entire array. Kai was fully aware that any mistake would not bode well…

He carefully examined the symbols of the array and even went to the library for parchment and ink. Kai was near the "wall," drawing different schemes and sequence variations on the paper, to see them, so to speak, from a different perspective… Although his mind held vast knowledge, sometimes visualizing information made it easier to grasp…

"Damn… This is somewhat complicated…" Kai murmured thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

He crouched near a pile of drawn sheets, unable to come to a definitive conclusion… But after about ten minutes, he stood up, and black energy ignited on his hand!

"Alright… It's time to try!" Kai declared confidently and directed his palm straight towards the large array.

But just as his fingers were about to touch the array, something incredible happened! Something he could not have anticipated!

A familiar female voice echoed in Kai's mind, one he hadn't heard for many years!

"Are you an idiot?" The girl's voice carried a certain disdain.

"Kessia?!" Kai exclaimed in shock, immediately halting the action of his energy!

As soon as he heard the familiar voice, he instantly sat down on the ground and transported his consciousness to the Spiritual Sea! And at that moment, a familiar scene unfolded before Kai's eyes! An incredible woman hovered over the waters, lightly holding onto a crimson book…

"You've already restored your powers?! You said it would take a long time!" Kai exclaimed in shock, unable to hide his joyous smile.

This peculiar girl had literally lived in Kai's head for the better part of his life! Although they had only met twice, Kai always remembered her. Moreover, Kessia had mentioned that she remotely observed him, so they were definitely not strangers to each other.

"Calm down. Why can't you be as composed with me as you are with others?" Kessia teased.

Realizing his reaction was overly exuberant, Kai calmed down a bit and with a smirk said:

"My queen, don't ask silly questions... I've told you before – you're just too beautiful!" He laughed.

Hearing this, Kessia just rolled her eyes and sighed heavily… Every encounter between them turned into a verbal confrontation. Apparently, now, she didn't wish to maintain this tradition.

"I came to you briefly… Just... When you entered the throne room, I already felt a source of immense power… I need a part of it." Kessia said seriously, but her face betrayed a slight awkwardness.

"Oho… What's with that look? Have you grown so accustomed to me that you can't even rob me like last time?" Kai asked with a sneer.

He referred to the incident with the Overlord's legacy absorption, when Kessia absorbed part of the energy for herself.

Not giving the girl a chance to respond, Kai suddenly asked another question:

"By the way, why didn't you awaken at the Spiritual Source?"

Not long ago, Kai merged three Seals of Destruction, allowing him a significant breakthrough. There was plenty of suitable energy for Kessia there as well. Therefore, it was strange that she chose not to awaken then.

"It's not as simple as you think. Every awakening is very dangerous for me… If I'm not certain I'll gain more in return – I could simply die." Kessia confessed openly, "The Overlord's legacy was needed for a preliminary stage of soul strengthening. But now, simple energy won't help, as the essence of my being is slightly different…" She hesitated at that point.

"Because you're an Asura?" Kai speculated.

"It's better to say that I'm a being of a different type… And I felt something here that could greatly help me strengthen. The Spiritual Source just wasn't suitable for that…" Kessia explained vaguely.

"I don't quite understand, but I'm willing to share with you." Kai said with a smile and nodded.

It seemed that Kessia had significantly changed her attitude towards Kai, now treating him with more warmth. It felt as if they truly had a long acquaintance and had been through a lot together…

After all, if Kai died in his adventures – Kessia would die as well. In her state, she was utterly incapable of helping him. Even to give advice – she had to emerge from hibernation! And according to her, such a step was too dangerous!

Thus, Kessia effectively experienced all of Kai's battles and adventures, if one could call them that… Therefore, she understood exactly what kind of person he was…

"Tha…," starting to speak but then hesitating, Kessia said, "In short. This queen doesn't mind collaborating with you." She added, blushing slightly.

Watching this, Kai just laughed and carefreely said:

"You're centuries old, yet you act like a shy girl! Aren't you ashamed to embarrass yourself in front of someone younger? Heh-heh." He teased.

As soon as those words were spoken, Kai's head was pierced by incredible pain! So intense that even his thoughts began to dim!

"Kgh!" Clutching his temples, Kai involuntarily exclaimed, nearly losing consciousness!

"Have you forgotten how to address a queen?!" Kessia shouted furiously, unable to hide a slight blush on her face.

Unfortunately, Kai had exited the Spiritual Sea and was writhing in pain on the ground. There was no chance to see the girl's cute and embarrassed face…

Only after a few seconds did the pain begin to recede, and Kai's thoughts returned to order. Breathing heavily, without even returning to the Spiritual Sea, he said:

"I'm sorry… Kha… It won't happen again…"

"Take the old man's ring and examine it. It seems you've forgotten about the simplest way to enter." Kai heard in his mind.

And this phrase made him pause for a moment… He had been so engrossed in his thoughts and plans that he completely forgot about the old man's ring! It could contain the key to entering the sacred land!

Considering that the sacred land is a privilege of the Demon King, the key to it cannot carelessly leave the True Demon King’s Palace. What if the current ruler perishes in foreign lands? How then to raise a new one?

Kai had thought about this a few days ago, hence he took the old man's ring. Such an idea was obvious...

"Damn it! How could I forget about this!" Kai exclaimed, slapping his forehead!

"I'm telling you, you're an idiot." Kessia said calmly, "And I'd ask you to hurry up, it's hard for me to stay conscious for long…"

"I got it, my queen. Sorry." Kai replied and immediately took the old man's ring.

Inside, there was a plethora of various items, many of which were also useful. There was even a box crammed with Revival Pills... The old man was indeed nearing the end of his life…

Kai quickly reviewed the contents with his consciousness until he stumbled upon what he was looking for! At the very end of the ring's space was a red chest, marked with the symbol of nine rings gradually inscribed within each other!

"There it is!" Kai exclaimed joyfully, and the red chest was instantly pulled out!

"See how smart I am?" Kessia said smugly.

"I never doubted you, my queen." Kai replied with a hint of sarcasm.

"I don't like your tone... Maybe I should teach you a lesson again?"

"Listen, don't bother! If you keep showing off – you'll die along with me!" Kai quickly exclaimed, clicking his tongue, and placed his hand on the chest.

He was focused on the process and didn't want to engage in pointless conversations. Kessia herself said she had little time...

Opening the chest, Kai quickly pulled out a large red ring, more resembling a weapon, and pressed it against the center of the array!

"Zzzun! Du-doom!" The entire wall instantly lit up and started rumbling, slowly opening a passage… Directly behind it was a vast staircase leading deep underground.

The darkness inside was so all-encompassing that it was impossible to gauge the depth of this descent…

"It worked! Let's hurry down!" Kessia exclaimed impatiently.

Kai knew exactly what he needed to do, so he dashed forward. With his perception, he could feel his surroundings perfectly, so light was unnecessary. After all, there were walls here, not complete void, as in a spatial rift…

Surprisingly, there were no external arrays in the passage. It was as if the last barrier in the form of the "wall" had already been passed. Ahead lay the unprotected sacred land of the Demon King!

"What exactly intrigued you about this place?" Kai asked as they moved.

"That which will also be a great boon for you! Now I'm sure of it!" Kessia replied with a slightly maniacal tone.

Just as Kai was about to ask another question, a horrific smell struck his nose! And this smell was all too familiar to him!

"Like in the damned Asura Hell! How can there be so much?!" Kai suddenly cursed, feeling an utterly suffocating smell of blood!

"Got it now? Ahead are colossal reserves of blood! Apparently, it's used to preserve the energy of deceased masters. This is definitely one of the weaker variations of a sacrificial array!" Kessia declared contentedly.

Kai even thought she licked her lips at that moment… Although he couldn't see it, all actions in his Spiritual Sea seemed to be instantly perceived by him.

"A weak sacrificial array? Can such a thing be weak?" Kai asked, astonished.

Even without seeing what lay ahead, he could already make some assumptions... And it definitely didn't seem weak...

"Have you forgotten that this queen comes from other places?" Kessia said ominously, "Our sacrificial arrays could take the lives of hundreds of thousands at once! This one doesn't compare... But I must admit, finding something better in this place is simply impossible." She laughed.

"What nonsense…" Kai murmured, bewildered, not knowing how to react to such a statement.

But considering Kessia had no reason to lie – her words must be true! Are there those who sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives? The realization of such was horrifying!

V.4 Chapter 418: Going Against the Universe

Kessia's words about hundreds of thousands of sacrifices at once were somewhat horrifying, so Kai simply could not believe what was said. He took it more as the girl's boastfulness or a figure of speech. After all, her character was slightly eccentric…

"You may not believe the queen. Your limited mind just cannot comprehend such scales of existence," Kessia said calmly, catching Kai's doubts.

Effectively, Kessia had lived in his Spiritual Sea for many years, so she understood his reactions perfectly. She might not have been able to read Kai's thoughts, but she could easily gauge his feelings!

Just as he wanted to respond, light finally appeared around the next turn of the staircase, and an even more horrific smell of blood hit his nose! Without stopping, Kai practically flew into a vast underground chamber, lit by dim red crystals…

"What in the…" Kai muttered in astonishment as his gaze swept around the area...

Before him was a room resembling an ancient cave, at the center of which seemed to be a volcanic crater… Except, at the bottom was not lava, but an entire lake of blood! Moreover, bones and remains of various creatures slowly floated in it!

"Thu-thumb!" Kai's heart pulsated instantly, and intrusive thoughts began to creep into his mind…

He remembered a long-forgotten sensation, and a bloodlust started to consume his mind!

"Calm down. Control your flesh, and stabilize your heartbeat," Kessia commanded quickly, closely monitoring Kai's condition.

"Control the flesh? You mean impulses?" Kai gritted through his teeth.

"No matter what you call it, just do it!" the queen shouted in a commanding tone.

Understanding that there was no time to waste, Kai immediately followed Kessia's advice. She knew far more about absorbing blood and controlling lineage than he did himself…

Under Kai's strict control, the chains of impulses wrapping around his heart began to synchronize with the contraction of his muscles. They maintained a clear and strict rhythm, taking away the heart's autonomy over this process.

As soon as this happened, Kai felt noticeable changes. The bloodlust began to gradually fade, returning his clear mind and even his breathing became more even.

"Kessia… What exactly are these impulses?" Kai murmured in astonishment.

"These aren't impulses, but the power of your flesh. Now is not the time to lecture you on body development! Let's hurry to that ledge!" the queen exclaimed impatiently.

From the entrance, over the blood lake, a cliff rose as if specifically created for cultivation. It grew from the wall, directly towards the middle of the lake. Obviously, this was deliberately done, to facilitate interaction with the sacred land.

Kessia had warned that it was difficult for her to remain conscious, so she wanted to saturate herself with blood quickly! In that case, she would gain significant advantages!

Understanding all this, Kai immediately dashed towards the strange ledge! And even before reaching the end point, a thin jet of blood rose from the lake, swiftly heading straight for his forehead!

At the same moment, screams and howling of living creatures echoed in Kai's mind! It felt as if a multitude of vengeful ghosts had invaded his Spiritual Sea!

"Help with your fire! I can't fight right now!" Kessia exclaimed instantly!

"Damn… Warn me first!" Kai cursed, and in the same instant, his Spiritual Sea was flooded with black-purple fire!

Kai ignited virtually every part of his Spiritual Sea, leaving no chance for any of the invaders!

"Aaa! Graah!" The screams of souls constantly burning in Heavenly Flame were heard!

"Don't start cultivating yet. I need to stabilize myself, so wait a bit!" the queen's voice sounded, and she fell silent again.

Hearing this, Kai decided not to rush and followed the order… He understood that this girl would definitely not harm him, so he calmly sat in the lotus position and helped destroy the souls inside the Spiritual Sea.

This continued for about three hours, but to Kai's surprise, he did not tire from the battle… The more souls were destroyed, the better he felt!

"Wait… The Astral Flame of Sacrifice feeds on souls! I completely forgot about this!" Kai suddenly realized, becoming even more exhilarated!

The Astral Emperor of Alchemy had talked about this fact, as well as the method of birth for this Heavenly Flame. Yet all of Kai's previous opponents seemed too weak for its nourishment. Kai's fire had already absorbed the souls of all surviving members of the Sect of Astral Flame, but now… It seemed the positive effect finally manifested!

"Many strong demons were sacrificed to this sacred land… Therefore, it is full of the souls of masters!" Analyzing all the information he had, Kai realized!

The flame intertwined with his spiritual sea slowly but surely became stronger. Previously, he did not know that along with blood, a soul could be absorbed! Or perhaps he just does not understand the specifics of this action!

After a few more hours, the blood jet ceased, and the constant process of soul processing stopped…

"Are you okay? How are you feeling?" Kai asked cautiously.

"Just wonderful! This queen is very pleased! Ha-ha!" Kessia joyfully said, not hiding her happiness.

"Is that enough for you?" Kai asked, surprised.

After all, she didn't absorb even a drop from the entire lake…

"Of course not! It's just that the aftereffects of backlash have lessened, and I can finally talk calmly without fearing for my life," the girl said with some relief, "You're lucky to have such a flame, now you'll receive triple the benefit…" She casually added…

"Listen… I understand that it's better to learn information gradually… But can you tell me a little more? I'm afraid of making incorrect conclusions and following a false path," Kai asked with a complex expression.

He had already been visited by various thoughts… He just couldn't help but compare some aspects of his body with the last laws of the Sphere of Essence. Other people didn't fall under each of them, but Kai did exactly!

"What exactly do you want to hear?" Kessia asked vaguely, as if trying to probe Kai's thoughts.

"Are we playing a game where 'if you guess, I'll tell you'?" Kai rolled his eyes in response.

"Something like that… If you're close enough to the answer, then it's not a problem to help you a bit. But if you're deluded, find the way out on your own," Kessia honestly replied.

Overall, such an answer was perfectly understandable. A martial artist must follow their own path. If they are constantly helped and given answers on a silver platter, they will never reach the pinnacle!

"Alright… The concept of Energy, Flesh, and Spirit has been bothering me for a long time," Kai calmly stated and immediately caught a strange reaction from Kessia…

It seemed the queen did not expect such words from him...

Because of this, Kai understood he was close to the truth... He needed to dig in this direction! Therefore, he simply began to pour out all the thoughts that had accumulated in his mind.

"The Energy Center, Heart, and Spiritual Sea... Each directly relates to one of these concepts. Yet everyone around only develops the Energy Center…" Kai stated and paused, moving at this moment into the Spiritual Sea.

Looking intently at Kessia, he added:

"Unlike you... And me, accordingly," Kai seriously added.

In Kessia's eyes was unmistakable surprise. She looked at Kai as if she couldn't believe her ears…

"Previously, I was missing the last puzzle piece… But processing souls, I realized the Spiritual Sea can also be developed! Thus, Energy, Flesh, and Spirit are essential components of a whole!" Kai said seriously, looking intently at the queen's face.

These judgments might seem far-fetched and speculative if Kai didn't possess the Laws of the Sphere of Essence. They were the first push in this direction of thought. Moreover, Kai had practical reinforcement – he had developed each of these aspects to some extent!

If you consider other masters, they simply wouldn't have thought of such a thing. Humans, beasts, demons – they all primarily developed energy! The Spiritual Sea, in turn, was used as a given of the Star Sphere. It only developed incidentally, with level progression. But does that mean it cannot be developed separately?

Hearing all this, Kessia was astounded… Even her little mouth involuntarily opened, expressing complete shock. It seemed Kai simply should not have been saying such things…

"Wow… How a being from the lower worlds managed…" Kessia muttered as if in a trance.

Seeing such a reaction, Kai was fully convinced he was very close! If he could press Kessia further, then he would get the answers he sought!

"I'm right, aren't I, my queen?" Kai asked seriously, forcing Kessia to look up.

"Not in everything... It's much more complicated than you can imagine," she muttered heavily, "But overall, your theory is correct. Living beings have each of the three components, but there's a strict balance in the world… Developing all three is impossible!" Kessia said seriously, staring intently at Kai.

"Impossible? In what sense?" Kai asked with slight confusion.

"Directly. There are those capable of realizing two aspects, and you are an exception, but to grasp all three is simply unreal," Kessia continued, still in a suspended state, "The Universe itself blocks such a possibility. I too was a unique being, aware of flesh and energy, naturally focusing on the former. But even at my peak, my attempts at spirit development, even at a basic level, were futile," she added seriously.

Every word from Kessia spawned myriad new theories in Kai's mind, but he still couldn't piece the puzzle together. Moreover, there was one aspect that concerned him the most…

"Did you make a mistake, my queen? I seem to be developing all three... Or did I misunderstand something?" Kai asked with a puzzled expression.

And as soon as this question was voiced – Kessia froze! Her gaze darted between the three points of Kai's body, displaying the girl's incredible confusion!

"I… I… I thought..." she stammered, unable to find an answer.

Her facial expression changed right before Kai's eyes, showing him a side of Kessia he had never seen before.

"Is something wrong?" Kai asked warily.

"When did you start cultivating the Invisible King's Torture Technique?!" Kessia asked, slightly losing her composure.

"Since childhood… Around nine, I think..." Kai answered, not understanding what was happening.

"And what about the Spiritual Sea?!" Kessia immediately followed up.

"Well… It partially opened around eleven or twelve. I don't remember exactly…" Kai shrugged nonchalantly.

"This is wrong… No, this is unnatural!" Kessia began to nervously hover around the book, exclaiming in frustration!

V.4 Chapter 419:Heart of Flesh

Kessia was unmistakably confused... It seemed she was so certain of the impossibility of perceiving three aspects that her mind simply ignored the fact of being in Kai's Spiritual Sea. This clearly indicated his development of spirit, in addition to energy and flesh!

Apparently, blind confidence could even blind the most experienced masters, making them ignore what lies right under their noses...

"Why didn't I see this before? Am I an idiot?!" Kessia suddenly cursed.

"Queen, could you explain the reason for your intense reaction to me too?" Kai asked, starting to get a little irritated.

Hearing such a question, the girl began to breathe deeply and evenly, slowly returning to an optimal state. She was still astonished but realized that this shock was of no use now...

Kessia looked intently at Kai and answered:

"Kai... You don't quite understand the scope of my thinking. If I say something is impossible – it means it is. I've encountered countless strongest masters, even stronger than your beloved Overlord of Inevitable Destruction... And none of them possessed three aspects of development! That's why I said it's unnatural..." The queen spoke more calmly.

Kai wanted to ask more about the Lord and those strong beings, but he decided to stay silent, likely not to get an answer to his question... But what interested him the most were the words about the three aspects...

"The only thing that distinguishes me from others is the possession of the Sphere of Essence... Could it be its doing?!" Kai mentally exclaimed, finding the only possible reason for his uniqueness!

Kai didn't even know about it, but it turned out that the Sphere of Essence had given him an incredible gift! So significant that even Kessia couldn't believe it! Finally, Kai uncovered another of the mysterious item's abilities...

Thinking about it, Kai even began to doubt... According to Kessia, he had ignored the universe's prohibitions and gained the ability to perceive all three aspects. Wasn't it an astonishing ability?

But just as he thought a little longer, the obvious downsides emerged. Each aspect requires a huge amount of time and effort for development. If done incorrectly – it would only weaken him as a master. It's like developing a hundred techniques without mastering any... Wouldn't it be better to focus on just one then?

"Alright... Now is not the time to think about this... The main thing is that I have the opportunity to practice such a thing! How to use it – time will tell!" Kai firmly decided and mentally returned to reality.

After thinking a bit more, he sighed heavily and said:

"To be honest, I don't quite understand what you're talking about... But Kessia..." Kai mused as if contemplating the next complex words...

"Yes?" She asked slightly warily.

"See how lucky you are? You found someone as unique as me! Heh-heh." Kai joked, laughing loudly, instantly disconcerting Kessia!

"Just go away!" The girl responded irritably but also chuckled slightly. Kai managed to lighten the strange and tense atmosphere a bit...

"Listen, another question... Why didn't I absorb souls when absorbing blood, like just a moment ago?" Kai suddenly asked, recalling the battle in the Spiritual Sea.

"Because you're still too weak to realize the process of separating soul and blood. By your own power, you can choose only one or the other," the girl calmly answered.

"Then how was I able to do it now?" As soon as Kai asked his question, he immediately found the answer. "Aaa... I see..." He nodded.

The blood that entered Kai's Spiritual Sea was directed by Kessia, so he could absorb souls, helping her. However, he did not touch the blood itself...

"Wait... Then, does it mean I can develop my Spiritual Sea at your expense?!" Kai exclaimed suddenly realizing.

"Exactly. That's why I said you'd gain a triple benefit. Although now I realize my words were contradictory initially..." Kessia said with self-irony.

Even this statement implied that Kai would be developing all three aspects simultaneously. But somehow, until she gave it a bit of thought, this fact didn't really bother her...

"Don't worry, my queen. It's typical for the elderly to get used to their ideas... Sometimes so much that they literally ignore everything that contradicts them! Heh-heh." Kai cheerfully responded, teasing Kessia.

But in that instant, his head was pierced by a horrific pain again!

"Kgaaah!" Kai exclaimed, falling to the ground and hitting it with his face!

"Are you seeking death, boy?! This queen won't hesitate to use her life to destroy you!" Kessia shouted in fury, completely forgetting her previous contemplations!

"I apologize! It was just a joke, please calm down! You are young and beautiful!" Kai cried, writhing on the floor!

Only after a few minutes of suffering, Kai finally got up from the floor, but a pleased and mocking smile was on his face. At that moment, he thought his joke was definitely worth enduring a bit of pain...

"Are you having fun?" Came an annoyed voice.

"With you, it's always fun, my queen." Kai smiled and laughed.

He wanted to crack another joke but stopped himself in time...

"Stop fooling around! We have more important things now!" Kessia said seriously, ending the verbal skirmish.

"And what's our plan? Maybe you can suggest something?" Kai asked, becoming serious.

He switched to a respectful tone as a form of sarcasm, though Kessia didn't get it... Under normal circumstances, Kai spoke to her as an equal, without showing any servility.

"First, you need to balance some things. Firstly, learn to open the Heart…"

"And the soul? Heh-heh." Interrupting the girl, Kai said and laughed.

He didn't understand why, but in conversations with Kessia, he always wanted to tease her.

This time, however, the girl decided to ignore Kai and continued:

"In the system of flesh, the Heart of Flesh is the analog of the Energy Center. Have you felt how the absorbed blood disappears into nowhere and appears from nowhere?" Kessia suddenly asked.

"Exactly… That was one of the questions I've long wanted to clarify with you." Kai nodded, interested.

For the first time, he noticed this on the Island of Reincarnation. No matter how much he fought in that battle, blood constantly emerged from somewhere and nourished his body. According to Kessia, this was done through the so-called Heart of Flesh!

"You must learn to open it to calmly absorb blood from this lake, carefully controlling the flows. Otherwise, you may enter a state of frenzy," Kessia calmly explained.

Hearing this, Kai finally realized what had happened to him on the Island of Reincarnation. It turned out his control over the absorbed blood was terrible... That's why he went berserk, turning into a bloodthirsty monster.

"I understand... How do I do it?" Kai quickly asked, sitting in the lotus position.

"Enter the very center of your heart, but do it using what you call impulses, not energy. Imagine you're entering a hidden space, concealed in that area," the queen briefly explained.

As soon as Kai concentrated and tried to do what was mentioned – his body was struck by a strange sensation! It was not quite typical for him... He sensed a space where a bit of unprocessed blood from the slain old man lingered.

But this sensation was atypical... Kai didn't see it visually, or perceive it as in the case of energy. And not even astrally, as with the Spiritual Sea... He just felt it bodily!

"Now do you understand? You need to balance the incoming blood flow, part of which you'll process into energy. The flow must not be too large, to not overflow the heart. Thus, you'll achieve ideal development speed for both the Energy Center and the Heart of Flesh," Kessia said, trying to convey everything in simple terms.

Previously, Kai simply absorbed a lot of blood and gradually processed it. Given its volumes in this place – Kai could accidentally enter a frenzy, not managing to process all that accumulated. Naturally, such a situation wouldn't end well... But if he balances the incoming blood and the processing process, then everything will be alright!

"So that's how it is... It indeed sounds very logical... Thank you, Kessia," Kai sincerely responded, nodding slightly.

"That's not all. Since I'll be absorbing blood for myself too – just ignite your Spiritual Sea and calmly reap the benefits. This way, you'll improve each of your aspects!" Kessia said enthusiastically.

At that moment, she herself was surprised that she sincerely felt happy for Kai. Previously, such behavior was completely unlike her...

"Alright... Last question... What awaits me at the breakthrough to the Sphere of Essence?" Kai asked seriously.

Considering everything he saw before him – there were no doubts. Kai didn't know how much time it would take, but the breakthrough would definitely happen within the walls of this sacred land!

"Nothing supernatural... You need to absorb energy and condense your star, constantly compressing it in the center. At one point, it'll accumulate so much that the star will collapse and instantly be drawn into one point. Just try to withstand this collapse and continue to absorb energy… The longer you can hold out – the better core you'll create!" Kessia explained in detail, in an uplifted mood.

"Alright! Let's begin!" Kai confidently declared, and the Astral Flame of Sacrifice flared up in his Spiritual Sea! At the same time, his Heart of Flesh also opened!

The next moment, two threads of blood soared directly from the lake! One was thin and entered Kai's forehead, and the other, larger one, rushed into his heart! Though Kessia was horrified, she was too weak even for the volumes Kai could absorb...

"Thu-Thumb!" A pulsation ran through Kai's entire body!

But this time it was different from on the Island of Reincarnation... As soon as the blood entered him, Kai began to process part of it into energy. In turn, the fire destroyed souls in his Spiritual Sea. Thus, all three aspects of his body received nourishment!

This strange sensation almost put Kai into a trance!

The Energy Center, Heart of Flesh, and Spiritual Sea – all of them began their rapid development!

Kai wasn't even aware that his eyes shone with various scripts, and a familiar mantra echoed in his mind…

With each second, Kai seemed to plunge into a deep, bottomless sleep, without making the slightest movement. Even Kessia noticed Kai's strange reaction, cautiously extending part of her perception towards him...

But Kai no longer noticed this... He had completely lost touch with reality, and in his mind, the same thing repeated over and over:

"The Uncertainty of Time-Space is the first law. Elusive and unperceivable, it seems to have existed before everything and will remain after."

"The Causelessness of Luck is the second law. Impossible to capture…"

V.4 Chapter 420: Ancient Reality or Illusion?

Blood continuously flowed into Kai, and something unusual began happening to his body… A very strange and mysterious aura slowly spread around him, filling the entire cave. The surrounding atmosphere became so suffocating that hardly anyone who hadn't reached the Sphere of Essence could enter this sacred land!

"What's happening to him? What is this sensation…" Kessia exclaimed in shock, observing the unfolding events.

Considering all of Kessia's power and knowledge, even she couldn't understand the changes in Kai but could definitely say that something anomalous was happening... Usually, such things didn't occur during a breakthrough to the Sphere of Essence...

At this moment, however, the girl was also in the process of absorbing blood. She couldn't afford to be distracted for too long, so she closed her eyes and decided to focus on her own recovery, leaving only a small part of her consciousness to monitor Kai.

Kai's body continuously processed blood, energy, and souls, nourishing each of his power centers. His power was incessantly increasing, yet Kai was completely unaware of this… It seemed his mind had long since left his body, leaving it to operate on instincts alone.

"What… Where am I?" Kai thought half-consciously, looking around...

He found himself in a strange dark space filled with countless bright fires... Each seemed so distant that even comprehending such a thing was difficult. Occasionally, flashes of different colors appeared, and streams of strange energy whizzed by…

Kai's feelings were quite ambiguous… He felt as if he was everywhere at once, constantly being transported to one point of the endless space and then another… His consciousness was so muddled, it seemed almost not to belong to him…

"This is similar to what I saw in the Overlord's trial… But far more archaic and incomprehensible…" Kai thought, struggling to stay conscious.

At the end of the trial of the Law of Inevitable Destruction, Kai had already seen a similar starry space. But it was far more structured, and there were many more fires. In this space, darkness prevailed… Moreover, it was unstable, as if the environment itself appeared and disappeared randomly or collapsed randomly.

Suddenly, Kai felt a slight vibration, and three glowing points appeared in the distance... They were noticeably different from the rest of the fires and were quite close to each other, constantly converging into one point…

Each point was distinguished by its color… The first was dark gray, the second — golden, and the third — dark blue.

"What a strange aura… I can't understand… What is this?" Kai thought, trying to focus.

Time flew by, and it seemed as if nothing was happening… Kai couldn't tell how long he had been watching these three points. It felt like just a brief moment, but also like an eternity!

"Time seems to not exist… I don't understand…" Kai said, trying to rub his eyes to bring himself to his senses…

But at that moment, he realized something horrifying… His body didn't exist either! Even attempts to call upon his astral projection were unsuccessful! He was literally consciousness, lost somewhere in illusions!

"Damn… Did I die?" Kai thought half-consciously, not expressing any sharp emotions.

However, after this thought, something strange began to happen in his surroundings… Everything came to life, and the fires around began to light up at an incredible pace! They appeared out of nowhere, constantly rushing through space and swirling! Sometimes they collided with each other, creating incredibly colorful explosions!

And as Kai watched all this, he realized that the entire space, for infinite distances around, was imbued with the aura of the gray and golden glowing points! As if they had embedded a part of themselves in the entire environment!

But the wonders didn't stop there — the blue point joined the action! As soon as its aura joined the other two, everything around seemed to ignite, rushing forward!

Kai watched this scene in horror, trying to understand even a fraction of what was happening… But his clouded mind and the incredibility of the scene didn't fit into any logic...

No matter how hard he tried — nothing came to mind. At that moment, he couldn't even assert that he was alive!

And then... A flash of unimaginable proportions swept through! So powerful that everything around Kai turned into a solid white space for a few seconds… But he didn't even feel blinded, just continuing to watch the unimaginable scene...

Surprisingly, right after the flash, Kai's mind slightly regained its mobility... He seemed to regain the ability to think somewhat normally!

"Once, I was in the lands of demons… But when was that?" Kai suddenly remembered about distant times.

And as soon as this thought appeared in his head, he was struck by lightning! He suddenly became clear-sighted!

"Damn it! I definitely didn't die! All this began at the very start of cultivation, so the reason for the visions isn't in my near-death experiences!" Kai concluded immediately.

He frantically looked around, seeing nothing but white empty space. Fortunately, in this place, his mind was able to function normally...

"What was that scene with the glowing points I saw?! Is it a product of my imagination?" Kai asked himself in shock, but immediately realized the idea's implausibility… "I simply couldn't have imagined such a thing…" he added immediately.

But as soon as his reflections were to continue, Kai felt the pulsation of the entire world around!

"Doo-doom!" A deafening sound echoed, and the entire area began to be filled with an escalating noise…

At first, there were some distant knocks… But with every second, they became louder and louder, at one point turning into explosions of such magnitude that it was hard to even imagine!

"Shuuu!" A sharp sound rang out, and the entire scene around Kai instantly changed!

He was once again in the starry void, but around him were millions of various beings! Even with the experience of the Asura Hell, Kai couldn't identify even a small part of them!

The aura of these beings was simply unimaginable… Even without a body, just Kai's mind almost lost consciousness from one glance at them! Each of the surrounding beings floated in the starry space, looking into the distance!

"What the hell is going on here?!" Kai exclaimed in shock!

Kai seemed to be in front of this entire group of beings, and when he slightly turned his gaze, he saw three masters standing together… But due to the terrifying aura of the trio, even discerning their appearance seemed difficult!

"It's a woman and two men… They definitely lead this terrifying army!" Kai realized immediately, trying to observe the three figures next to him!

And at that moment, someone's voice enveloped the entire universe around! From this, Kai felt as if his mind was being shattered! He couldn't decipher the spoken words, but at that moment, he was interested in something entirely different — who the hell could possess such power?!

As soon as Kai looked into the distance, he saw five figures that weren't there a moment ago!

"Who are they?! Are they the enemies?!" Kai exclaimed in horror!

He had completely lost his composure by then! Even for him, this was too much!

One of the men standing next to him slowly opened his mouth and uttered a few words… And to Kai's astonishment, he understood the meaning of what was said!

"We've been preparing for a long time. Destroy!" He declared confidently, and the energy in the entire space literally boiled over!

The next moment, space itself tore apart, creating tens of thousands of spatial rifts! And each of the masters of the huge army summoned their forces!

By this point, Kai had almost lost control of his consciousness, beginning to fall into oblivion… Only momentarily coming to his senses, he could catch a glimpse of the indescribable battle!

One of the five opponents waved — and all the spatial rifts disappeared! An innumerable number of dazzling attacks ensued! The collision… Bright light… The chaos of a terrifying war… The Sphere of Essence in the hands of the man who spoke first… A strange old man in a gray cloak… A palm strike… Darkness…

As soon as Kai saw the last moments of the battle, he completely lost contact with consciousness, drifting into total darkness…

At that moment, Kessia cautiously observed Kai… The large blood lake beneath them had almost entirely dried up, and the entire cave was filled with terrifying energy!

"It's been about three years… Demons have tried to break in here several times, but Kai's energy holds them back…" the girl thought, watching the motionless Kai.

As the Demon King wrote — he sought suitable victims on the Heavenly Continent. Naturally, they were sent to the sacred land for slaughter, but they couldn't make it inside…

Several times, Kessia felt groups of demons trying to penetrate inside to scout the situation, but they were thwarted at the entrance! The only thing that comforted Kessia was the inaction of the Sphere of Essence demons.

She assumed they had encountered fierce resistance on the Heavenly Continent and simply couldn't return to the capital peacefully. Or maybe the demons were afraid to report the strange events in the sacred land to the Demon King… Either way, it worked in their favor!

"When will Kai come out of this state? He's been condensing his star for too long… I can't even imagine how strong his core will be… Even the main disciples of the Asura Hell weren't capable of this," Kessia thought, in undeniable shock.

But beyond surprise, the situation was quite alarming to her… Over these three years, she had had plenty of time to think and analyze. Kai became the successor of her lineage, and initially, it seemed like a rather weak and forced choice... But there was no other option!

"Maybe he really can help me… I don't know if he can rise high enough, but already now he's surrounded by too many oddities… The ability to perceive all three aspects at once, and this aura…" Kessia continued to ponder.

What Kai was emitting now was not the aura of the Law of Inevitable Destruction or the Asura Reaper Law… It was the aura of the Sphere of Essence! That's why Kessia couldn't understand what was happening!

The Sphere of Essence emitted something mysterious, fundamental, and archaic… Even in her travels, Kessia had never encountered anything like it!

"The Realm of Death seemed to me the most terrifying and mysterious place in the universe… But even there, I didn't feel such an ancient aura…" Kessia said, as if in a trance.

And at that moment, Kai's eyes suddenly opened!

"Kai, have you come to?" Kessia exclaimed in shock!

But at that moment, Kai was as if deaf to her words… Various scriptures flashed in his eyes, and his face expressed complete impassivity...

He slowly raised his hand, and two Seals of Destruction appeared in front of him!

"Doo-doom!" A loud pulsation sounded, and all the blood in the lake instantly turned black!

The next moment, Kai slowly stood up and calmly jumped directly into the remnants of the lake!

V.4 Chapter 421: Core Sphere

Kessia was stunned by such an abrupt turn of events! Kai had just awakened, but suddenly leaped straight into the blood lake without uttering a word!

However, the moment his feet were supposed to touch the surface, another Seal of Destruction, emerging from the lake, flew directly into him! Kai immediately caught it with his energy and dived into the blood!

After a few seconds, all went quiet...

"Thumb!" A noticeable ripple spread across the lake's surface...

"Doom!" Another strike sounded, shaking the entire cave...

Diverse metamorphoses had long been occurring in Kai's Energy Center. About a year and a half ago, solid matter began to form at the center of his star... Essentially, the nascent core had already formed by then. Usually, the stronger a master condenses this nascent core, the more powerful their core will be after the breakthrough. However, Kai had not stopped this process; energy had continued to accumulate, as if restrained from collapse by some external factors!

It seemed that while he was unconscious, some strange force prevented the energy from collapsing. It was as if Kai's body itself was holding the star, giving it maximum reinforcement. Already, a small black core adorned his Energy Center, blazing with energy at the edges...

And as soon as Kai woke up—the unconscious process of holding back ceased! All the accumulated energy burst forth instantly!

Realizing what was happening, Kessia shouted loudly, hoping Kai could hear her:

"Invoke the Law of Inevitable Destruction and the Asura Reaper Law! This way, you can imprint the laws onto your core now! It will be very painful, but your body should endure!"

Swimming in the "lake," feeling the enormous volumes of blood being absorbed, and being nourished by the three Seals of Destruction, Kai gradually began to regain consciousness... Just a moment ago, he was trapped in eternal darkness, unaware of the passage of time. Now, it seemed as if an eternity had passed!

Because of this, after awakening, Kai acted more on instinct. He felt an overwhelming amount of energy and incredible power in his body. Moreover, his mind seemed to extend outward... He sensed everything happening around him, every movement of air, the vibration of surrounding energy, and its changes.

Only after hearing Kessia's scream did he start to remember where he was...

"That's right! I'm in the Demon King's Palace! Damn, I'm alive!" Kai exclaimed in shock, snapping out of his trance and beginning to frantically look around.

"Calm down! You're at the critical point of breakthrough! Invoke your laws and hold on!" Kessia's concerned voice yelled again!

Coming to his senses, Kai quickly calmed down and peered into his Energy Center! And as soon as he saw what was happening inside, he was dumbfounded...

Inside hovered a star, now twice its former size. But most importantly—almost its entire volume was occupied by a dense black sphere! Moreover, barely discernible scriptures began to appear on it...

Kai didn't hesitate and followed Kessia's advice! His entire body blazed with the Asura Reaper Law, and the Law of Inevitable Destruction burst out! In his mind, Kai began reciting the mantra of the Sphere of Essence again! Although he didn't know if it would help, he had already noticed the positive effect of such action!

And at that moment…

"Bam!" A terrifying sound of explosion and tearing flesh rang out!

Kai's body slowly emerged from the lake and began to rise into the air, hovering above the blood... But his abdomen...

There was no flesh, only a huge gaping wound and a core floating in the center of his abdomen!

"Don't worry! Endure! Continue the breakthrough!" Kessia yelled in his mind, supporting him every step of the way!

At that moment, Kai was too shocked... If not for Kessia, he would have thought he did something wrong and was about to die... His entire abdomen and the surrounding organs were torn apart! Naturally, he felt pain, but it wasn't something he couldn't bear!

Continuing to recite the mantra and invoke the laws, a semi-transparent sphere formed around Kai, composed of strange scriptures...

"Damn... How is this possible..." Kessia exclaimed in astonishment, hardly believing what was happening.

"Am I... in trouble? Kgha!" Kai grunted through clenched teeth, involuntarily spitting out blood.

He also saw this sphere and didn't fully understand what was happening. The only thing he hoped for was that the situation wasn't too critical...

"This is the primordial tempering by the Law! Your transition to the Sphere of Essence is considered perfect even for higher worlds!" Kessia exclaimed in shock.

"Didn't get a word, but sounds like something good!" Kai thought to himself and continued to pour all his strength into the breakthrough!

A massive whirlwind formed in the cave, and all the surrounding energy began to be absorbed into Kai's body! Kessia even stopped absorbing blood to leave all that remained for Kai! She, more than anyone, understood the importance of this moment!

To Kai's astonishment, the flesh around his core began to slowly regenerate! Such a horrific wound didn't affect his viability! Simply miraculous!

"Open the Heart of Flesh! Break through in one go!" Kessia commanded!

"Understood!" Kai responded unconsciously, and all the blood in the lake instantly vaporized, rushing into his body in one stream!

As soon as it touched his body, an entire army of vengeful souls appeared in his Spiritual Sea! But over the last three years, the power of the Astral Flame of Sacrifice had reached an entirely new level! All the guests were instantly incinerated, turning into nourishing elements for his spirit!

All three processes occurred simultaneously, bringing Kai indescribable sensations! With the start of blood absorption, Kai's flesh regenerated right before his eyes!

Time slowly passed, and this scene lasted a whole seven days in a row, causing chaos of incredible scales inside the cave! Even the walls, strengthened by arrays, began to melt and be polished by the energy!

And in one moment… Everything in the cave rushed towards Kai!

"Vsshh!" All the energy, blood, and souls were absorbed at once, plunging the entire environment into absolute silence!

In the empty spherical room hovered Kai's body… Nothing was left around, only an opening in one of the walls where the exit tunnel was located…

Kai's hovering body twitched slightly and uncontrollably crashed to the ground!

"Thump!" A dull sound echoed as the unconscious body hit the floor.

In the Spiritual Sea stood a thoughtful Kessia, astonished by everything that had unfolded…

"This is not just a perfect breakthrough to the Sphere of Essence… This guy unified all three aspects, each at an incredible level for him," she thought nervously, biting her lip, "This queen has never seen anything like it… Perhaps someday… Kai might be able to help me…" She thought apprehensively, looking at Kai.

Up until this point, all of Kai's achievements were remarkable, but not for a master of her level. She understood that Kai was quite good for this world, but there was nothing supernatural about him. But today was different…

After Kessia emerged from hibernation and witnessed his breakthrough from start to finish with her own eyes — her opinion changed! There was definitely something mysterious about Kai!

Hesitating slightly, Kessia sent her perception through Kai's unconscious body to thoroughly check every corner. Maybe this time she would notice something… But no matter how much she searched his body, nothing unusual was found...

Thanks to her significant soul strengthening over the last three years, as well as being integrated into Kai's Spiritual Sea, examining his body was no problem.

"Very strange… Very…" Kessia thought to herself, waiting for Kai to awaken…

She knew he should wake up soon. He was definitely not exhausted now, he was simply overflowing with power! Rather, this was a common pattern for all who broke through to the Sphere of Essence. The body automatically disconnected from consciousness to instinctively complete all breakthrough processes. Such a process works better without the direct intervention of the master's mind…

As Kessia had thought, Kai's eyes opened half an hour later! Something unearthly and intangible was reflected in them! He had become a master of a completely different order!

"Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Sphere of Essence, Kai," Kessia sincerely congratulated.

"Did I really break through?!" Kai exclaimed in shock and immediately began to check his Energy Center!

As soon as he looked at the black core, calmly floating inside—it all became clear! He had indeed ascended to the Sphere of Essence!

"What's this…" Kai murmured to himself, looking at the tiny, barely discernible scriptures of two types that spread across the entire surface of the core.

"Your breakthrough was accompanied by the manifestation of Laws, as you've already touched upon them. Even in my homeland, such a breakthrough is considered perfect. Only geniuses are capable of summoning such a phenomenon and forming such a core," Kessia explained openly, instantly understanding what Kai was thinking.

"And what does that mean?" Kai asked, returning to reality.

"It means you're much stronger than other masters. I must say, I severely underestimated you. I would even say my underestimation bordered on blindness," the girl's thoughtful voice sounded.

"Wow… Such generous praise, especially from the queen herself!" Kai joked, smirking mischievously.

But in reality, those words greatly surprised him... He realized how terrifying a being Kessia was, and what her words meant.

Evaluating what was said, Kai began to understand what caused these results...

"It's all thanks to the Sphere of Essence… Those visions are simply unimaginable…" Kai thought to himself, recalling the grandiose war in the starry space, "Just briefly, but I definitely saw the Sphere of Essence in that man's hands! No doubt, the Sphere of Essence is something terrifying!" Convinced of his assumptions, Kai thought to himself.

Kessia didn't know what Kai was thinking, but after a short pause, she decided to add:

"You've been breaking through for three years. Better hurry, as what's happening outside remains a mystery... A lot could have happened..."

"What?! Three years?!" Kai exclaimed in astonishment and, pushing off the floor unconsciously, flew up!

And at that very moment, he was shocked to a standstill!

"Oh, I forgot that I can now fly! It feels so strange... It's like I instinctively understand how to do it..." Kai said in amazement, looking at himself.

That was the legendary sensation of flight, which he could only dream of before!

But his joy was again interrupted by Kessia's calm words:

"Kai, your potential is incredible... You simply must finish all your affairs and hurry with the collection of seals. I've even become interested in watching you," she said with a strangely soft intonation.

"Do you need to go into hibernation again?" Kai asked melancholically, remembering all the past farewells with Kessia.

Each time in the past, such conversations led to Kessia going into hibernation, disappearing for several years... But to his surprise, Kai heard something completely different!

"No. I've already strengthened my soul enough to stay conscious without harm. But I can only offer company and sound advice," Kessia calmly replied and chuckled lightly.

As soon as these words were spoken — Kai's eyes lit up! He was incredibly happy to hear that!

"Hooray! You're finally okay!" Kai joyfully exclaimed.

"Ah, except I don't have a body! Did you forget about that? And why are you so happy?" Kessia replied irritably, watching Kai's exuberant reaction.

"Why not be happy? Now I have the constant company of such a beauty... He-he," Kai said contentedly and smirked mischievously.

"Better keep your mouth shut, or I'll once again indulge you in the sweet sensation of a headache…" Kessia threatened venomously, immediately wiping the smile off Kai's face.

V.4 Chapter 422: New Power

After exchanging a few more sharp comments with Kessia, Kai began to summon a portion of his energy outward. Additionally, the Asura Reaper Law spread throughout Kai's body, bringing with it a sense of unimaginable power!

"Not only has my energy increased, but my body has significantly strengthened as well..." Kai muttered in astonishment.

"Of course, you absorbed massive arrays of sacrificial blood. For your level – it’s even too much!" Kessia suddenly responded.

Kai summoned black energy, which contained a much higher density of "scriptures" than before. Using the Eyes of Essence, Kai carefully examined the changes that had occurred since his breakthrough.

"A strange feeling... It’s as though I perfectly understand the extent of my power, yet at the same time, it's an absolute mystery to me..." Kai mused, floating in the air.

"It’s natural. After breaking through to the Sphere of Essence, you literally become a being of a different order. Remember how you lost consciousness after the breakthrough?" Kessia’s calm voice sounded.

"Well, of course. That was just a few minutes ago..." Kai replied with a wry smile.

"There’s no need for sarcasm, or do you want to feel pain again?" the girl threatened, "The thing is, after losing consciousness, your body absorbed knowledge on how to use the new power. But your mind has never experienced them in practice, hence the dissonance. On one hand, you understand how to control the new power, but you’ve never actually practiced it." Kessia explained in detail.

"Wow… So, that happens? Did you also receive such knowledge?" Kai asked in surprise.

"This effect depends on the level of your breakthrough. The more powerful the breakthrough – the better the understanding of the obtained power. Your breakthrough was perfect, so there’s nothing surprising in your knowledge." Kessia quickly replied, without displaying excessive emotions.

"I see... But you didn’t answer my last question." Kai said with a smile and laughed.

"Yes, I also received such knowledge. My breakthrough could also be considered perfect." Kessia dryly communicated in Kai’s mind.

This response didn’t surprise Kai, so he continued to explore his body and new power. He realized he couldn’t wait to test it in practice... The situation was completely different from his last breakthrough! He didn’t need to adapt to new abilities – he could already head into battle!

At that moment, Kai decided to open his Spiritual Sea and extend his perception. As soon as he did – Kai was instantly astonished!

He could feel everything happening in the True Demon King’s Palace! If he focused, he could sense any being within his perception range!

"Oh? What's this… Why are there so many demons at the entrance to the sacred land?" Kai murmured, noticing anomalies at the end of the tunnel.

"They tried several times to break in here, but the strange aura of your body and the chaos of energy prevented anyone from entering. As I understand, they set up something like an observation post. Apparently, the demon hierarchy is too busy, so you're very lucky…" Kessia's emotionless voice sounded.

She was the one who had been conscious for the last three years, so she had a good view of what was happening. The potential appearance of the Demon King was not pleasing to her at all… Luckily, Kai broke through faster than anyone could react.

"I see… So our elders managed to fight off the demons?" Kai said pleasedly but then fell silent, "Damn... If they wanted to break in here – it means the first human captives have already been gathered!" Realizing the negative side of the situation, Kai said suddenly.

"Exactly. Overall, I don’t care about what happens, but you’d better act quickly." Kessia coldly stated, closely observing Kai’s actions.

In truth, she also wanted to see him in action. This was the first being in her life that, during a breakthrough, activated all three aspects. Kai's true power was now a mystery…

"There’s a large number of demons from the initial stage of the Star Sphere. Even mid-level ones…" Kai noted, relying on his perception.

And at that moment, a malicious smile appeared on his face… It seemed as though he had come up with a cunning plan…

Kai's body was instantly covered with Shadow Seals, and in a second, he completely vanished into thin air!

In such a state, Kai calmly took a step forward, and then another…

"So this is what the final layer of the Dance of Shadow Seals looks like… Very good! H-he!" Kai thought to himself, chuckling with satisfaction.

His control over energy had reached an entirely new level... Now, even without training, Kai was able to use the full mastery of his movement technique. He had literally dissolved into thin air!

"An impressive ability… Useless in direct combat against real masters, but perfect for surveillance or surprise attacks. It will even be useful in higher worlds." Kessia appraised Kai’s actions.

"Higher worlds? Is that where you and the Overlord of Inevitable Destruction came from?" Kai asked, directing his thoughts to his Spiritual Sea, curiously.

"Something like that…" Kessia replied without going into details.

Kai understood that trying to inquire further or ask more questions was futile. He already knew his worldview was currently limited. It wasn't time to think about such things… As the Overlord said, first ascend to the Law Sphere and find all the seals.

Standing for a few more seconds, Kai decided to push these thoughts out of his mind and calmly flew towards the exit from the sacred land. His speed was incredible, so in a few seconds, he found himself almost at the exit. At that moment, Kai even thought, "Given the new power, the Shadow Seals for movement are now useless…"

Given Kai's personal speed, he could move at lightning speed over much greater distances. Moreover, he wasn’t tied to a specific point and could move even in the air if he wished. At his current level, the only useful function of the Dance of Shadow Seals remained – invisibility!

Naturally, it wasn’t an unbeatable ability. Any large-scale attack combined with the perception of a Sphere of Essence master would instantly detect Kai. But outside of direct confrontation, when the enemy is unaware of the surveillance – detecting Kai was almost impossible!

As soon as Kai emerged from behind the "wall" that had previously sealed the passage, a humorous scene unfolded before him…

In a large library, numerous demons were present. Some stood near a large table and were actively discussing something. Others were simply reading books, as if waiting for changes within the sacred land.

Kai didn’t even need to approach the table to hear the demons’ conversations…

"What the hell are we doing here?! I want to fight!" a demon from the initial stage of the Star Sphere complained loudly.

"Shut up. We and Lord Mammon were sent to oversee the sacrifice. " A stronger demon among those present here sternly replied.

It seemed he was close to ascending to the high stage of the Star Sphere. But even so, he was still a master of the Star Sphere! Guarding the entrance was humiliating for him...

"I understand, Lord Dalaran… But have we done anything useful at all? Some sort of devilry is happening with the sacred land... Hasn't the Demon King been informed about this?" The demon protested.

But as soon as these words were uttered, Dalaran instantly slapped him with the back of his hand! The previously speaking demon was instantly thrown several meters back, hitting one of the walls!

"Pup… You need to understand what you can and cannot say!" Dalaran venomously declared.

It seemed he was greatly displeased with his subordinate’s behavior. His self-will and loud words were unacceptable!

"It seems the Demon King knows nothing…" Kai thought with a malevolent smile.

From the looks of it, the entire transit of human masters was placed on the shoulders of one ascended. After all, transportation through a spatial rift is no easy task.

But it seems… Mammon was not willing to help the Demon King… The situation appeared such that upon discovering anomalies with the sacred land – Mammon was only pleased! He didn't report the problems to the king but couldn't enter inside to check himself either. After all, the sacred land is a privilege only for the Demon King, and the ascended are limited by contract!

"And… I'm sorry…" The demon said guiltily, quickly getting back on his feet.

"One more time and you…" Dalaran was about to yell again when he froze!

Before his eyes, his subordinate's chest simply ceased to exist! It all happened so instantly that even the demon's facial expression didn’t change!

Dalaran only noticed a small black spark flash near his subordinate… But a second later, half of his body was gone!

But this wasn’t the full extent of the horror… Dalaran needed only a few glances around to nearly lose his mind… All the surrounding demons were incinerated in a similar manner! Without screams, without regrets, without reaction… They simply didn’t have time for it!

And just as the demon wanted to scream, his body became rigid! He couldn’t even manifest his energy! Some terrifying pressure enveloped the entire library at once! And a few meters from him, the figure of a young man with snow-white hair and blood-red eyes, looking directly into the soul, began to materialize. And the most terrifying thing — it was a human!

"Greetings, Dalaran. Won't you tell me more about your mission?" Kai said with a sinister smile, slightly easing the pressure.

Earlier, he decided to experiment with his new power and created tiny, but concentrated, energy points near the demons. And the result exceeded all his expectations! All the victims were literally erased in an instant! A second – and they were gone!

Watching Kai, the demon's eyes showed indescribable terror! He had never felt so defenseless in his life!

"I… I… Go to hell... Scum!" Dalaran forcefully spat out, defiance in his voice.

"Well then… I was hoping for just such an answer. Hehe." Kai chuckled mischievously, and the figure of the King of Horror appeared next to him! "Oh… It seems you've also grown…" Kai said with a smile, assessing the king's level.

After the breakthrough to the Sphere of Essence, the King of Horror had advanced to the high stage of the Star Sphere! Considering this, Kai's power was simply terrifying! Even his summoned creatures were among the world's strongest masters!

Before the demon could even utter a word, the King of Horror launched directly at his head!

"Good luck… I'm afraid to even imagine what he'll do to you. He-he." Kai said cheerfully, his laughter echoing.

"Your actions are swift and merciless. I like that trait of yours…" Kessia unexpectedly spoke, causing Kai to startle slightly!

He was still not used to the fact that Kessia wasn't in hibernation and was observing every move he made. Startled by her sudden words, he replied:

"I also like your mercilessness, queen." Kai said with a smile, "And your facial features... Your voice is pleasant too... And your figure is simply stunning!" Teasing Kessia, Kai continued.

"Perhaps you've forgotten what pain feels like…" Kessia said menacingly, instantly silencing Kai.

V.4 Chapter 423: Merciless March

As Kai and Kessia exchanged barbs, the demon suffered under the tortures of the King of Horror... His body convulsed, and blood began to flow from his mouth, which looked quite terrifying...

"Alright, enough." Kai said calmly, and the demon's eyes snapped open as if he had been finally freed from the clutches of the netherworld.

"Kgaaaah!" The man exclaimed, suddenly covered in sweat.

When he looked at Kai, it seemed he didn't quite understand where he was... As if he had lost touch with reality and was trying to comprehend what was happening. Apparently, the King of Horror had inflicted significant damage on his consciousness...

"Will you talk about your mission? Or do you want more?" Kai asked with a sinister smile.

As these words were spoken, tears rolled down Dalaran's face, and he desperately began to crawl towards Kai!

"Master! Please, don't do it! I beg you!" The demon cried out in despair.

"Stop." Kai said calmly, and the demon froze in place as if his body was encased in iron. "I'll ask the questions, and you'll provide clear answers. If you make a mistake, the tortures will resume." Kai added quickly, looking directly at the demon.

Hearing this warning, the demon's eyes bulged, but he said nothing... He just nodded briefly and waited for Kai's next actions.

"Your King of Horror really went to town on him... This wretch doesn't even realize he's a dead man walking." Kessia commented approvingly.

It was quite clear that Kai had no intention of sparing the demon's life. Moreover, he hadn't even promised him that, but the torture had terrified the poor thing so much that even death seemed a welcome outcome.

"Are you a subordinate of Mammon?" Kai asked emotionlessly.

"Yes. I'm one of the advisors." Dalaran answered quickly, not daring to delay even for a second.

"Do you know your master's motives and plans?" Kai continued his interrogation.

"Lord Mammon's mission is the transportation of sacrifices. He regularly travels to the lands of heretics to collect the next batch." The demon answered clearly and without unnecessary details.

"Why Mammon?"

"His technique allows him to protect large areas. He's the one who can transport the most victims." Dalaran answered, his voice devoid of deceit...

Now the picture in Kai's mind began to come together, but Kai wanted to double-check some assumptions. After all, Dalaran had become furious over an inappropriate question from his subordinate, so there had to be more... Moreover, as an advisor, he should know Mammon's hidden motives.

"Was the sacred land sealed by you? First, does the Demon King know about this? Second, where are all the sacrifices?" Kai asked coldly, becoming a bit more serious on the last question…

Hearing such words, Dalaran froze for a moment... It seemed very hard for him to overcome himself, but in the end, the fear of torture was far more terrifying!

"Lord Mammon has formed a coalition with some ascended. They decided not to allow the Demon King to grow even stronger... I don't know all the details, but the Demon King knows nothing. Mammon decided that what's happening in the sacred land is more an anomaly than someone's doing. No one could have guessed that a human had infiltrated." The demon said heavily, his will fading more and more...

"What about the second question?" Kai asked quickly.

The demon's eyes dropped, and he hesitated to answer... It seemed the very fact of answering frightened him...

"Speak." Kai said, slightly irritated.

"All the sacrifices are located in Lord Mammon's domains... But... Their life is quite horrendous, akin to death for livestock..." Dalaran said warily.

Hearing this, Kai just sighed heavily... He had understood that the people wouldn't be treated well here. The question was just how terrible their fate was.

"Considering that the sacrifices are only the stronger masters... I doubt there's anyone below the Gravity Sphere." Kai thought to himself, pausing for a moment.

Kai's heart didn't swell with a noble impulse to become a savior and think about the fate of all those suffering. But now, with a war going on between his native continent and the demons, why not help the humans? Moreover, he wanted to test his strength in battle!

"Last question. How's the war going?" Ignoring his statement about the last question, Kai asked.

After all, more than three years had passed since the war began... Kai needed to know the real state of affairs!

Hearing this question, the demon raised his head again and guiltily answered:

"I don't have all the information, as I've been in the Demon King's Palace for a long time..." but then he continued more lively, "At first, we met unexpected resistance, and both sides lost many masters. The heretics then began to retreat to other defensive lines, stretching our attack line... Overall, we've captured many lands, but victory is still far off.

"Did anyone from the Sphere of Essence die?" Breaking his word about the last question, Kai asked.

"I don't know..." The demon shook his head in response.

The moment the last sound left his lips - the demon's body instantly compressed, ejecting all its blood! It looked as if a huge invisible fist had squeezed him in a second, squeezing out all the juices!

Blood swiftly flowed into Kai's body, and he absorbed it all in an instant.

"Queen, whenever you want some blood, just tell me." Kai said with a smile.

"You're so gracious…" Kessia replied sarcastically.

"And why not? Now you don't even need to hibernate. I can freely talk to you and tease you. Hehe." Laughing merrily, Kai responded.

"I already regret telling you about this... I should have pretended to fall back into hibernation..." Kessia grumbled unhappily.

"Well, what can you do... You've already miscalculated, so now you'll have to endure." Kai said carelessly and calmly walked out of the library.

Hearing that many human sacrifices were in very poor conditions, Kai decided not to hide himself with Shadow Seals. Anyone who attacked him would be killed immediately!

Kai didn't want to kill everyone indiscriminately; after all, he had lived for some time in demon society. Among them, there were also decent beings... And killing commoners is pointless, as their blood is completely useless to him.

"Do you know where you're going?" Kessia asked curiously.

"Yes, I've been to Mammon's domains before. So I'll head straight there." Kai thought back to one of Abaddon's missions as he exited the library.

As soon as Kai stepped out of the library, about a dozen demons were in front of him... And the face of each one instantly showed astonishment! It was very hard to understand what was happening... Wasn't a whole group of terrifying demons currently in the library?!

"A heretic? What the..." One of the demons muttered, not even knowing how to react.

"Seize him!" Another shouted.

But as soon as this happened, the bodies of those who spoke simply exploded from the inside!

"Pop!" A short clap sounded, and blood splattered all over the corridor!

Kai didn't even destroy them with the Law of Destruction... It was enough to manipulate energy to tear apart the enemy's body! Even masters of the Star Sphere were now no match for Kai, let alone the regular guard at the Gravity Sphere...

"Who are you?" One of the demons, now covered in blood from head to toe, asked in horror...

But Kai didn't answer and simply continued forward, ignoring all the demons around him. In turn, they didn't dare to do anything... The guard well understood that Kai was a being far out of their league... He seemed like some strange illusion that simply shouldn't exist!

"Are you going to walk there?" Kessia suddenly asked.

"I want to thin out the number of demons a bit... There has to be some balance in this world. They kill ours, and I kill theirs..." Kai thought with a malevolent smile.

He meant that many humans were suffering and dying. Among them, there were also many innocents who didn't even understand what was happening. But demons weren't really concerned about that... So why not give them a taste of the same?

"Quite cruel... But I would refrain from such actions." Kessia responded calmly.

"May I ask why?" Not expecting such words from the girl, Kai asked.

"Their blood is useless. Why waste energy if you get nothing in return?" She replied with some disdain.

"Aha-ha-ha!" Such words made Kai burst into laughter instantly! Tears even appeared in his eyes...

"What's so funny? You look like a madman from the side..." Kessia said irritably.

"Nothing... I just thought you decided to show mercy to the innocents, but it turned out to be much more mundane." Kai continued to laugh in reality, responding mentally.

"Mercy? What nonsense... That concept is completely untenable. The universe is always in motion, where myriads of lives are born and die. Many mass deaths happen by chance. Such things only sadden mortals, whose lives are too limited, but not a queen like me!" Kessia replied in a philosophical manner, coldly.

"I think you're right about something..." Kai murmured thoughtfully, further bewildering the demons who continued to watch him.

"I'm tired of talking. I'll go meditate in the book, and you do your own thing." Kessia suddenly said, and Kai felt the girl actually dive into the book and then into the waters of his Spiritual Sea.

"Well then, now's the time to test my strength!" Kai thought mentally and immediately quickened his pace!

The events of the following night could be described as nothing but horror... In the city of demons, a boy with snow-white hair and blood-red eyes appeared like a ghost, moving through the streets. And everyone who tried to stop him died a terrible and instant death!

The districts through which Kai moved were consumed by terror and panic! Kai had no personal animosity towards the townspeople, but this was a form of revenge for humanity. He already had a rough idea of what was happening to the "victims" from the Heavenly Continent...

But when he finally arrived at Mammon's domains and saw the huge camp with more than a thousand people, Kai even regretted his mercy...

At that moment, behind Kai, there were almost no demons left, as all had fled in fear... And in front of him was a fence, the interior of which displayed a merciless scene...

It was more like a pen for livestock, where food was dumped into common "troughs". Each of the people wore special shackles covered with arrays that sealed energy, and the faces of each expressed nothing but the deepest despair.

Some had devices in their mouths for forced feeding... It seemed they didn't even have the chance to end their own lives. Obviously, the demons didn't even try to behave restrainedly and had fun to the fullest!

V.4 Chapter 424: Livestock Pen

Kai stood emotionlessly amidst the vast square, which had now transformed into something akin to a pen for humans. In the dirt and semi-consciousness lay a vast number of masters from the Heavenly Continent. The cultivation of each was sealed, but not destroyed, only condemning them to even greater suffering.

They might not have been offered as sacrifices to the sacred land, but it was clear they were kept as a backup. If the Demon King suddenly returned, Mammon could argue that he had no way of checking what was happening in the sacred land. And he kept quiet so as not to accidentally affect the ongoing war. After all, such news would force the king to return to his homeland, which could be quite an ambiguous turn of events...

Thus, humans became mere amusement for the demons... They were watched and mocked simply for entertainment. The pen was filled with trash and filth that shouldn't have been there. Clearly, the demons deliberately threw various wastes at their captives.

At that moment, Kai saw three demons, about twelve years old, standing nearby and laughing as they threw stones at people. They were so engrossed in the process that they didn't notice the surrounding commotion. By now, most of the demons had already fled, not even having warned these children.

"Watch! Now I'll hit that heretic right in the eye!" One of the boys said with a pleased laugh and threw a stone directly at the face of a woman lying nearby.

The woman's condition was so dire that she didn't even react to the hit... Without energy, the stone easily bounced off her face, leaving a cut near her eye. Blood immediately flowed down the woman's face, slowly dripping onto the dirty ground...

And at that moment, a strange white-haired boy appeared near the three demons. He seemed like some ethereal ghost. Seeing this, one of the boys turned around and said:

"What? Nature's child? What are you doing here, abomination?" He spat disdainfully, looking down on Kai.

Since Kai was freely wandering around, no one initially thought he was human. Only when someone provoked him and died did people become terrified. The boy thought similarly, so he assumed Kai was nature's child.

"What are you doing, kid?" Kai calmly asked the stone-throwing demon.

"Punishing heretics! Want to join? Be careful, or your race will end up behind the fence too!" The boy replied with a malicious smile.

"Let's try..." Kai smiled and extended his hand, signaling that he wanted the stone.

But as soon as the demon's hand reached out, Kai caught it and made one short but lightning-fast movement...

"Pop!" A light clap sounded, and the boy's arm was torn off from the shoulder! It all happened so quickly that no one even had time to react.

"Huh?" the boy said in bewilderment, still processing what happened, "Aaaaah! Why?! It hurts!" Finally feeling the pain that caught up with him, he screamed in horror, instantly falling to his knees!

The turn of events made one of the remaining two wet themselves, while the other simply froze in fear.

"I initially wanted to kill you." Kai said calmly, "But I'd rather teach you a lesson... When you mock someone or want to take someone's life, remember - be prepared to endure similar treatment in return. If you're not ready for the consequences - don't start." Kai lectured and looked at the two demons frozen in horror.

Without even touching them, two short sounds followed, and each lost a right arm! Kai immediately punished everyone, making no exceptions and not getting into details...

But as soon as they wanted to scream, Kai waved his hand and cut their vocal cords, causing them to spit blood.

"Be quiet. Accept the result of your actions with pride, or I will take your lives entirely." Kai said coldly, looking at the boys emotionlessly.

At that moment, he seemed like some hellish monster that came here to wreak havoc! Everyone who observed his actions was in unbearable horror.

But then something happened that threw them into the depths of despair...

Suddenly, Kai's figure soared! He flew above the "pen" of victims and with a casual wave of his hand, created a massive wave of black energy!

"Doom!" A rumbling sound covered all the people at once!

The residual energy alone made the bystanders tremble and fall to their knees! Kai's power was simply unfathomable! It was as if a deity had descended into the mortal world!

The demons didn't understand what Kai was trying to do... Why was he killing these people?!

But as soon as the wave dissolved into the air, the shackles on all the human masters were turned to dust! The control of energy was so refined that none of the human masters even suffered!

Those who were still in a reasonably coherent state began to come around. Energy started returning to their Energy Centers, bringing long-awaited freedom!

"What's happening...

"Have we been freed?!"

"Look! Is that a human?"

"Exactly, a human! I saw him at the tournament!" The cries of human masters began.

All the people lifted their heads, hopefully watching the strange young man, obviously in the Core Sphere! Moreover, some had seen him before in the Samsara Temple!

And at that moment, they were stunned by Kai's calm and measured voice...

"There will soon be a battle of Core Sphere masters here. Leave and take the wounded. This is an order!" He commanded, raising his voice on the last phrase.

Each person in the pen was at a high stage of the Gravitation Sphere or in the Star Sphere. Even weakened, they were a tremendous force that could cause significant chaos in the Demon King's Palace!

Almost all capable demons were either at war or in their masters' domains. In the square, and indeed in all the surroundings, there were not even a dozen masters of the Star Sphere...

The people were confused and didn't fully understand what was happening. But this unknown Core Sphere master was clearly on their side!

"If he's going to fight, it's only against that demonic old man! Let's go!" Taking leadership and responsibility, one of the human elders shouted.

"We need to free the beasts!" Another quickly exclaimed, lifting a woman next to him.

"Then head to the western part!" The elder quickly responded and pointed somewhere with his hand.

It was clear that some of the people, even in such beastly conditions, continued to sniff out information and devise an escape plan... As soon as they had the chance - they began to act without hesitation!

"Right, the beasts... It seems they were placed in another pen..." Kai thought suddenly, realizing he indeed hadn't seen any beasts among the captives.

"Whoosh!" A deafening sound came from the side!

At that moment, an attack of blue flame flew towards the camp! It seemed to have originated from nowhere, not signaling its inception at all!

But Kai was ready for it... Even as he was removing the shackles, he felt a Core Sphere master moving towards him. He simply waved his hand, and a whole wall of black energy appeared in front of the pen, instantly neutralizing the hidden attack!

"Doom!" An explosion sounded, and a colorful wave from it instantly demolished all buildings within several hundred meters!

The demons hadn't expected such a turn of events at all! Many of the onlookers had still been watching what was happening, not even leaving the impact zone! As a result, Mammon's first attack took the lives of hundreds of his subordinates!

Looking over, Kai saw an unimposing old man with a nasty appearance hovering a hundred meters away... His face was covered in wrinkles, and his black eyes with golden irises emitted a strange aura of cunning...

"Hmm... How did you get here, abomination?" Looking intently at Kai, Mammon asked.

In turn, Kai continued to maintain the protective wall, feeling how the human masters were massively leaving the battlefield...

Mammon lazily glanced to the side, as if contemplating his next move... He knew that until he killed Kai, the escapees couldn't be caught... But now he simply didn't care about that. Such a matter is the Demon King's problem, not his!

"I asked you a question." Turning his gaze back to Kai, the demon asked again.

"I've been here since before you went to the Heavenly Continent. Does that answer satisfy you?" Kai calmly replied and smiled.

"That doesn't sound very plausible. Don't you want to help your heretic friends? They're holding on by a thread, you know... An extra Core Sphere master wouldn't hurt them..." Mammon said with a cunning smile.

"Don't worry. As soon as I destroy you, I'll go help them right away." Kai said calmly, pulling out his daggers.

Even at the Core Stage, suitable weapons were a good support... And considering the material they were made of, they could withstand his energy even now!

Both opponents carefully watched each other, observing each opponent's actions. Neither Kai nor Mammon knew about the abilities of the opposite side. But as soon as the battle began - they would have to react instantly!

"Queen... I don't quite understand his cultivation level..." Kai thought mentally.

After a moment's pause, Kessia's puzzled response came:

"What do you mean? Obviously, he's in the Core Sphere."

"I understand, but at what stage is he?" Kai clarified.

He couldn't distinguish Mammon's strength, only feeling energy from a Core Sphere master...

"Your division system into low, middle, high, and peak - only works in the lower spheres. The Core Sphere is a different stage of existence, where such a gradation is inappropriate. The strength of such a master depends on his previous achievements and newly acquired understanding. But I'll say this... Considering your breakthrough and primary understanding of laws... Well, you're definitely not weak and should be able to stand your ground..." Kessia explained lazily.

It seemed she was quite confident in Kai's abilities. Even he was surprised by such a response...

"Then now's the time to see how much better I am than this old man!" Kai thought mentally and grinned evilly.

"Have fun..." Kessia responded calmly and again immersed herself in the book.

"Thousands of your brethren are dying, and you stand here smiling?" Mammon said disdainfully, mocking and provoking Kai.

But as soon as those words were spoken, Kai laughed loudly and pointed to the destroyed houses and corpses of demons under the rubble. He opened his mouth and cheerfully said:

"Old man... I saved people because I just happened to pass by... But I'll be more unprincipled than you. Your provocations are just pathetic!"

And at that moment, Kai's entire body erupted with black energy! The Reaper's Law surged into his flesh, and the Law of Inevitable Destruction fueled his armor and weapons! Kai's terrifying aura literally manifested in reality, instantly killing those demons who managed to survive the previous confrontation and remained lying under the rubble or far away!

Feeling his opponent's strength, the old man immediately pulled out a long staff resembling a scepter, and blue fire erupted around him!

V.4 Chapter 425: Golden Toad Mirror Technique

A hundred meters apart, two Core Sphere masters hovered, each fully prepared for battle!

Kai's aura and energy destroyed everything around him, but Mammon was not to be outdone... Chaos reigned near the estate of one of the ascended! Black and blue energies killed all demons around! The mere residual aura was enough to instantly take the lives of mortals! For them, such a battle was akin to a war of gods!

"Let's start, old man!" Kai said with a smile and slashed with his dagger!

At that moment, it seemed as if all the surrounding energy came into motion, converging on Kai's dagger and igniting!

"Whoosh!" A terrifying sound spread, and a black streak tens of meters long, blazing with concentrated black energy, flew towards Mammon!

The old man, in turn, calmly raised his staff and made a direct thrust forward! In the air, a semi-transparent visage with barely distinguishable features instantly appeared!

"Ba-bang!" Kai's attack was stopped by the silhouette and split into two! But it didn't stop there and scattered in different directions, sweeping away everything in its path!

It seemed that this battle would destroy everything for kilometers around! The cries and noise of the city had already greatly increased. It was clear that many demons began to run through the city streets in panic, hoping for salvation! Crowds fled away from Mammon's mansion!

Looking at the demon impassively, Kai smiled and said:

"You talked about the suffering inhabitants of the Heavenly Continent? It seems not only people will die today."

"The well-being of demons is the Demon King's concern. I don't care about mortals." Mammon said indifferently without any remorse.

"I see... Well, if you're not going to hold back, why should I spare your people?" Kai said with a malevolent smile, and several arcs of concentrated energy flew into attack!

"Boom! Boom! Bang!" One after another, thunderous explosions resulted in terrifying destructions in the capital of demons! Literally, kilometers of buildings were demolished in an instant!

Screams and agony filled the entire territory of Mammon... For ordinary mortals, covering such large distances in such a short time was impossible. Even masters at the Cloud Sphere stage wouldn't be able to flee!

Kai didn't stop, and each subsequent strike gradually pushed back his opponent, forcing him to retreat meter by meter. When Kai's attacks collided with the strange blue silhouette in the air, it dimmed slightly, and Mammon had to back away a bit further.

The old man's face became more and more serious... He seemed not to have expected such destructive power from the invader...

In turn, Kai carefully observed each of the old man's actions, paying little attention to the events in the city... He specifically attacked in such a way that the energy wouldn't ricochet towards the human masters.

"Terrifying... Simply terrifying..." Kai thought mentally, feeling how hundreds, and gradually thousands of demons died in an instant.

Once, during the battle at the Island of Reincarnation, Kai thought about the incredible attacks of Core Sphere masters. Only seeing them in reality did he realize how powerful the Patriarch and others were. Then, he thought: "What if such beings were to fight in a densely populated city, like Shadows City?"...

And now, he had his answer! Only now, he was one of those terrifying beings whose attacks astounded!

"You're not bad, abomination! But don't get cocky!" Mammon shouted in anger, and his eyes instantly shone with golden light!

In the same instant, all the blue energy, as if on cue, changed color to gold, and the demon's aura completely changed!

Bracing for the attack with his staff, Mammon was pushed back several tens of meters, quickly stabilizing his position in space. He lowered his staff and shouted:

"Golden Toad Mirror Technique!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Kai immediately ceased his attacks and became alert! He didn't know what to expect from his opponent, so it was better to wait a bit! Who knows what would happen next...

This time, the strange silhouette appeared not in front of the old man but behind... And it was so clear that it seemed almost real! It was a giant golden toad, as if looking into Kai's soul.

"Enough playing! Sphere of Greed!" Mammon shouted again, and a strange hissing sound followed... "Psssh!"

The toad's silhouette dissipated right before their eyes, turning into a thick golden mist and filling the entire area! Kai immediately felt a barrier appearing dozens of meters behind him! Now, this golden mist filled a spherical area around!

"It seems he's gotten much more serious... I wonder what this technique is?" Kai thought mentally, and at that moment, the mist finally touched him...

"Thu-Thumb!" A light pulsation in his mind momentarily showed him an illusory scene...

In it, Kai was surrounded by power and knowledge, and tranquility and peace reigned around... It seemed as if he was now at the very peak of the world! But before he could react, the entire environment erupted in black-violet flames, bringing Kai back to reality!

"So that's what it is... A technique of illusions? Too bad it's useless against me, old man..." Kai realized instantly and smirked.

He felt how the golden mist constantly penetrated his Spiritual Sea, trying to envelop his entire mind. But as soon as it touched anything — it immediately burned in the fire of the Astral Flame of Sacrifice!

Kai slightly waved his hand, trying to disperse the surrounding mist, but was immediately surprised... It seemed as if he couldn't affect it at all... As if the mist itself was also an illusion!

"Looks like as long as I'm in this spherical area, there's no getting rid of the mist..." Kai realized instantly, sharpening his perception.

Fortunately, his Spiritual Sea was so well protected that this technique posed no threat to him. Only at the moment of first contact was there a slight confusion, as the body didn't know how to react.

"Bad move, old man. You should have used it during an attack." Kai said with a smile.

Had he been caught in the moment of attack, he would have definitely taken damage, but apparently, this technique couldn't work instantly. It required some preparation, so such an outcome was never possible...

As soon as Kai's words were spoken, Mammon looked at him attentively... It seemed the demon was greatly surprised by his opponent's reaction...

"You resist my illusions? You're supposed to die in the shortest time possible!" Mammon shouted seriously and launched a lightning-fast attack with his staff!

A golden beam, carrying terrifyingly concentrated energy, flew at Kai! And just as Kai wanted to block it! Suddenly, two more similar beams hit him from other directions!

"Damn!" Kai cursed, reacting instantly and trying to dodge!

"Bam! Bam! Bam!" Almost simultaneously, three explosions sounded, the third of which hit Kai directly in the back, throwing him against the barrier wall!

"Boom! Khag!" Hitting the golden wall, Kai involuntarily shouted, spitting blood from his mouth!

He immediately heard three more sharp sounds cutting through the air!

"Whoosh! Shuv! Shuh!"

Realizing he was being attacked again, Kai instantly swung his hand forward, sending a wave of energy ahead, and stepped aside!

"Bam! Bam! Bam!" A new series of explosions followed!

As soon as Kai oriented himself in space, he saw two more old men floating in the air, identical in aura and appearance to the original! It was they who had launched those back attacks! Moreover, they were equal in strength to the original!

"Whoosh! Shuv!" Golden beams continued to slice through the air, forcing Kai to constantly move and dodge.

The golden mist worked in such a way that it almost completely hid the aura of these attacks. That's why the first attack was successful for Mammon. It was a surprise attack that even Kai didn't detect!

But now things were different... He made sure to keep such a distance that each of the three was in his field of vision! Thus, he reacted instantly to the old man's thrusts!

"You've already brought enough sorrow to my estate. So let me destroy you and just die quietly!" One of the old men arrogantly said and launched an attack!

"Exactly! Stop resisting!" Immediately after, the second shouted!

It felt as if each of the Mammon clones acted of their own free will and had independent consciousness... But Kai wasn't so easily deceived...

All the last few minutes he had been actively analyzing the situation with his Eyes of Essence... Kai perfectly understood which of the three was the original and which were made of energy! But that wasn't his concern...

Kai noticed some peculiarities... The attacks launched by the clones seemed not to be made by them at all! He didn't see the clones concentrating energy and releasing it outward... This made Kai even more cautious and alert...

"Asura Hell Domain!" Kai shouted mentally, and the air immediately filled with the choking smell of blood!

Half of the entire sphere instantly filled with mountains of corpses and a bloody mist that evaporated around... Kai decided he wouldn't play this game alone! This spherical Greed Domain wouldn't be Mammon's personal domain!

This move greatly surprised the demon! And he began to attack with even greater intensity! Only now, Kai's reaction speed increased exponentially! Although the golden mist covered the aura of the attacks, as soon as they penetrated the Asura Hell Domain — they immediately became obvious to Kai!

Just at that moment, three more golden beams flew at him! And just as Kai dodged, he felt a fourth beam appearing right behind him!

"I was right!" Kai thought mentally, quickly bringing his dagger behind him and blocking that beam!

"Boom!" An explosion sounded, and Kai was thrown several tens of meters away!

But this didn't cause him significant injuries... The armor soaked with the Law of Destruction and the body imbued with the Law of Asura even the first time blocked a large part of the damage, not to mention this blocked attack.

"As I thought... The clones are just fakes! You can conjure your attacks from any position! He-he." Kai revealed, laughing at the demon.

As Kai thought, the golden beams weren't created by the clones, but by Mammon himself! All this was done to distract and confuse the enemy!

"Don't jump to conclusions!" Mammon angrily said, and another silhouette of the demon suddenly appeared behind Kai, delivering a direct hit to his back!

"Boom!!" A loud explosion, instantly blocked by Kai's dagger!

"I knew it... The clones are material! They can indeed attack! Damn, the old man's methods are very cunning!" Analyzing the situation, Kai thought mentally and distanced himself from another "Mammon".

At that moment, before the eyes of all the city's inhabitants, an incredible and terrifying scene unfolded... Kilometers of the city were destroyed to the ground, and in the air floated a semi-transparent golden sphere several hundred meters in diameter. Its upper half was filled with golden mist, while below lay mountains of corpses mixed with blood!

Such a scene was simply staggering! No one understood what was happening and who dared to destroy their untouchable capital!

V.4 Chapter 426: Incredible Destruction

Under the watchful eyes of all, terrifying flashes of energy constantly erupted inside the sphere. Now, the only thing that brought joy to the demons was the cessation of the city's destruction! The entire fight was now confined within a golden spherical barrier that prevented any excess energy from escaping its bounds…

Yet, thousands of residents had already been killed or injured in a very short time… Demons actively cleared the rubble, trying to save at least someone. The battle between Mammon and Kai had already brought unimaginable destruction to all the surroundings!

At that moment, Kai battled clones constantly emerging from the golden mist, delivering powerful attacks against him. But over time, Kai realized he didn't need to fear them too much… They were far from equal to the original! Once Kai got used to the rhythm of the fight, he managed to block almost all attacks!

"Damn, they're not very strong, but insanely annoying! As soon as I kill one of them, a new one appears! It seems the clone limit reaches three…" Kai mentally noted after another clone's demise.

For about fifteen minutes, Kai constantly dodged golden beams and physical attacks. At every opportunity, he destroyed one of the demons, observing the mechanism of their creation.

Each of the fakes did not shy away from talking to Kai, shouting phrases of various purposes…

"This bastard thinks I'll never find out where his real body is…" Kai thought, analyzing the situation with his Eyes of Essence.

He also didn't rush to reveal his trump cards… Kai kept room for action. Let Mammon think that Kai is cornered and clueless about what to do next. Moreover, let him be sure that the opponent can't even find the original!

"Just a bit more… The old man has seriously let his guard down… These clones are weaker than kings…" Kai plotted, waiting for the moment.

And as three golden beams flew at him, Kai swiftly dodged and lunged directly at the original! But as the fakes wanted to attack him again, two figures appeared on the mountains of corpses! They were the King of Pain with his massive body and the King of Envy covered in bone spikes!

The first instantly pushed off the ground as if launching directly at one of the clones! The second created two spears with bone chains on the ends and hurled them with terrifying force in different directions!

In just a moment, one of the clones was firmly caught by the King of Pain, not allowing it to die and reincarnate. The other two were pierced by spears, resembling a fisherman's harpoon!

As soon as the King of Envy pulled the chains with all his might, two figures of Mammon flew towards him! The King of Pain did not delay either and also rushed to his brother. In an instant, three clones were pinned to the ground by the two kings!

Kai understood that killing the fakes wouldn't do any good! They had to be caught and held until the end of the fight! Kai didn't know exactly how this order would be executed, so he simply told the kings to capture the opponents!

"What the?!" Realizing what was happening, Mammon exclaimed in shock!

He definitely didn't expect Kai to have such a strange trick up his sleeve! He summoned beings that were even stronger than his own clones! Moreover, he immobilized the targets, opening up room for direct confrontation!

"Thought only you had helpers?!" Kai said with a malicious smile, appearing directly beside the demon!

In that instant, he delivered a terrifying blow, imbued with all his power! No illusions or clones could help now... And the strange frog had turned into a common barrier, so Mammon had no defense left!

The demon's face twisted unrecognizably… It expressed the deepest indignation and rage! Just a second ago, he felt that he had trapped the opponent.

"Damn!" The demon cursed, raising his staff to meet the blow! He had made a fatal mistake by underestimating his enemy!

A huge volume of black energy slammed directly into the old man! Kai felt his dagger being blocked, but it was already pointless… A wave of terrifying destructive energy instantly flew into Mamon!

"Boom!" A terrifying explosion filled the entire golden sphere with chaos from the energies!

The opponents were instantly thrown apart from each other! Demons managed to see how one of the figures was thrown back, hitting the barrier directly with its back, causing it to tremble! The damage received was just unbelievable!

"I… What..." A brief thought passed through Kai's mind, and he touched the golden barrier behind him in astonishment…

"Cough! Cough!" Unexpectedly coughing, Kai spat out blood!

He felt that he had received a very serious injury… Moreover, the injury was inflicted by an energy all too familiar…

Struggling to his feet, Kai looked ahead in horror… A hundred meters away, Mammon was still afloat, albeit with a bit of blood visible at the corner of his mouth. Judging by his expression, he was as surprised as Kai…

"Who the hell are you?! Scum!" Mammon shouted in rage, already wanting to attack the kings to free his clones…

"Don't get distracted!" Reacting instantly, Kai yelled and charged into attack again!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" A new series of explosions!

But every time Kai attacked, he took much more damage than his opponent! A dozen previous collisions had already inflicted incredible harm on him. Kai felt how many of his internal organs were actively regenerating…

"Die already, scum!" The wounded demon shouted, continuing to provoke Kai, wishing for him to keep attacking!

"I think I understand…" Kai thought mentally, and attacked again! However, this time his strike was much weaker than before…

"Bang!" The two energies collided, producing an explosive wave!

But this time, no one was thrown back! Most importantly — Kai managed to notice strange changes in Mammon's energy just before the collision… For a moment, a thin barrier appeared in front of him, immediately disappearing after!

Looking at Kai, who was still standing in front of him, smiling, the old man quickly reacted and attacked the opponent with his staff, forcing him to retreat!

Falling a bit back, Kai hovered in the air and cheerfully said:

"Amazing ability, gramps. He-he."

His words received an immediate response in Mammon's expression! Obviously, he was greatly tensed… Because Kai had deciphered his technique!

Previously, all the demon's actions were dripping with cunning. From the beginning of the battle and the attempt to trap Kai in illusions, to subsequent manipulations with clones and their attacks. Moreover, when Kai finally delivered a direct attack to Mammon, his face showed surprise and indignation. But even that was a complete deception!

Only now did Kai realize that Mammon possessed a strange technique that reflected damage! Previously, Kai had never encountered something like this… And therefore, after the first attack, the energy that caused him injuries seemed so familiar! It was his own energy! And the strangest thing was that it was dangerous for him!

"Why so surprised? I've exchanged dozens of blows with you. Did you think I wouldn't notice the return of my own attacks?" Kai said with a smile, further assuring the opponent of his understanding.

"So what? It won't help you much…" the old man replied, grimacing, raising his staff, "You are in my golden prison, and no one has ever escaped from here!" He stated venomously.

Analyzing all the old man's abilities, he indeed was a terrifying opponent… If someone fell into his golden sphere, they had to fight with illusions while simultaneously fending off countless attacks from clones. And the moment the victim finally found an opportunity for a counterattack — they attacked themselves! Mammon was described as a very cunning creature, and facing him in battle, Kai only became more convinced of this!

"No one has escaped, you say?" Kai said with a smile, "By the way, I have a question… Why are there also wounds on your saggy body? Or does that question also torment you…" Kai said with a sly smile.

And his words hit the mark! After the first exchange of direct blows, the old man was greatly surprised, even shocked!

"Looks like I've found a breach in your technique. He-he." Kai continued to provoke, "Don't you want to tell me its name? I'd like to know which technique's effect I've nullified." He added arrogantly.

"Hmph! Nullified? You don't look like it…" Mammon replied contemptuously, "My technique is called Frog's Mirror! I'm telling you so you can take these knowledges to the afterlife!" He added with hatred in his voice.

"Really?" Kai said nonchalantly, "Repeat that after the next exchange of blows! He-he!"

As soon as these words were uttered, Kai instantly appeared next to Mammon and delivered a direct hit! And this time, the picture changed dramatically! A strange barrier also flashed near the demon, but it didn't help!

"Boom!" An explosion from the blow and the demon was immediately thrown into his own barrier!

Hitting his back, the old man spurted a stream of blood from his mouth! It seemed as though they had swapped places!

"What did you just do…" Looking up, Mammon said in disbelief.

Previously, Kai hadn't used his black energy… There was no terrifying wave rushing at Mammon… So where did such a powerful blow come from?! Moreover, Frog's Mirror failed to block it!

"Wow… So I was right…" Kai muttered smugly, smiling cunningly...

Once Kai understood the principle behind Mammon's technique and analyzed it, he noticed a very important fact… Firstly, he was inflicted with return damage containing only the Law of Inevitable Destruction. Secondly, Mammon himself felt the damage from Kai's blows…

The further logical chain was obvious — Mammon can only reflect energy! He is unable to withstand blows based on physical strength! Since recently, Kai understood how to use the Asura Reaper Law and infused it only into his body! And the last exchange of blows finally confirmed his theory!

"How did you do that?!" Rising into the air, Mammon shouted in shock.

Until now, such blows were conditioned by the energy strength of a master. Frog's Mirror instantly blocked and redirected such attacks, almost completely nullifying them... But this time it failed!

"Ba-Boom!" Kai's fist, holding a dagger, hit directly into the staff's shaft, bending it so much that it reached Mammon's chest!

A moment...

"Boom!" And the old man was again imprinted into his own barrier, spraying blood everywhere!

V.4 Chapter 427: Debt Collection

Mammon felt several of his ribs break and spat out a large gulp of blood! His eyes expressed shock and disbelief! Most likely, he had not received such a terrifying resistance for centuries!

"How... How did you bypass my defense?!" The demon screamed in rage, looking at Kai with slight fear.

But Kai did not intend to answer and merely smiled slightly... Without even letting the old man rise, he was again beside him, delivering one terrifying blow after another! A whole torrent of attacks poured down on Mammon!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Thunderous blows resounded, making the demons in the vicinity shudder.

Mammon tried to react and block the blows, but even when his staff blocked the path of Kai's fist — it didn't save him at all! The number of wounds and injuries accumulated, and the old man was in more and more shock!

"Stop!" Blocking another attack, the demon screamed desperately.

Kai began to notice how Mammon's emotions slowly changed... At first, he was just surprised by what was happening, then slightly alarmed, and finally, fear set in!

The demon definitely did not expect to start losing outright to his opponent! After all, throughout his long life, he had fought many and understood very well how strong a master he was.

Mammon's techniques were very cunning and unfolded layer by layer, slowly trapping the opponent. Each of his opponents felt complete helplessness and despair before death!

But now everything was turned upside down! Such emotions were already arising in his heart, even without any deceit on Kai's part.

The strange white-haired boy did not feel his illusions, saw through the deception with the clones, and neutralized them. But most importantly — he ignored the trump card of the Frog Mirror! And Mammon did not understand at all how he managed to do it!

"I'm telling you to stop, boy!" The demon screamed again, blocking another attack.

"Stop? Do you take me for an idiot?" Kai said with a malicious smile and struck again, sending the old man on another flight!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The old man's body flew through the golden sphere like a rag doll, crashing into the golden barrier over and over again.

His arms were already broken and hung at strange angles... Even reinforcing with golden energy did not help in defense! The demon's opponent was too strong!

"I can give you the best of artifacts! I will tell you all the secrets of our society! Stop the fight, I beg you!" Mammon screamed in despair, not wanting to lose his beautiful life so easily.

"All that you offer, I can obtain myself." Kai said with a calm smile, coldly looking at his victim.

At that moment, he finally realized how much not only his energy had grown — but also his physical strength! The Torture King Mode did not rush to end, Kai did not even feel any recoil, despite fighting for a considerable amount of time! Apparently, his limits had also significantly increased...

"Your people were tormented by the Demon King, not me! Do we have reasons for mortal enmity?!" The old man screamed, trying to somehow reach Kai.

"Aha-ha-ha! Better just die and don't disgrace yourself!" Kai burst out laughing and charged again!

The demons observed flashes of golden light inside the sphere, as there were no more black ones. It might have seemed like a good sign, but those with keen vision understood the grimness of the situation... One of their legendary ascended was losing! The white-haired man brought the old man to a terrifying state!

This scene did not stop even for a moment... The entire massacre from the beginning to this moment had been going on for several hours in a row! If initially, the man was losing, then just recently everything radically changed...

Mammon had tried to negotiate with Kai, but all was in vain... His wounds only accumulated... At this moment, almost half of the bones in the old man's body were broken! Although the Core Sphere master's regeneration was at a high level, Kai's attack frequency was too intense!

"Bang! Crunch!" The old man took a direct hit to the chest, flying away!

"Don't want to give up? I'm already tired of playing with you..." Kai suddenly changed his mood and spoke venomously. A tremendous thirst for blood and a murderous aura emanated from his body!

Kai simply turned into some kind of monster from the underworld! At this moment, he finally decided to end this battle!

As soon as Mammon saw this — he was instantly enveloped in horror! For the first time in many centuries, he felt the real approach of death!

"Dream on, spawn!" The old man screamed in rage, and at that same moment, the golden sphere burst!

"Boom!" A terrible explosion occurred, releasing all the energy accumulated inside! All the chaos of the battle burst into the outside world, spreading an explosive wave throughout the surroundings!

"Boom!" The ground shook, and energy rolled over all houses and onlookers — turning them into a bloody mist!

Mammon did not delay and used the moment to try to escape! He was already preparing to use some strange technique... But suddenly, the world around him dimmed! Dozens of the most beautiful demonesses appeared around him, including the ascended Belial! But immediately after, his mind was filled with terrifying images!

Everything happened so fast that only a second later he realized he had fallen into illusions! Gathering all his strength, he instantly dispelled this unexpected attack.

But as soon as the scene before his eyes returned to reality — Mammon froze in surprise...

"What I... Agh!" Just as he wanted to say something — a stream of blood immediately gushed from his mouth!

Lowering his gaze slightly, he realized that two hands were passing right through his chest... The realization of this plunged Mammon's mind into chaos!

"I can't die..." Spitting blood, he murmured.

But the subsequent terrifying sound mercilessly destroyed any hopes of Mammon... He heard his own flesh tear apart, breaking bones along the way! His body was coldly torn in two!

With horror in his eyes, the old man wanted to say something, but Kai's hand, already imbued with energy, instantly decapitated him!

"Bang!" The last explosion sounded, and everything instantly fell silent...

Kai had already anticipated something similar from the cunning demon... Therefore, he himself waited for the moment when he could catch the opponent off guard. As soon as Mammon decided to flee and lowered his vigilance — three figures appeared near him! They were the Queen of Lust, the King of Fury, and the King of Horror!

Each of them instantly used all their strength to catch the demon by surprise! And that moment was enough for Kai to deal the final deadly blow to Mammon!

Without delaying a second, Kai opened his Heart of Flesh, and the blood of the Core Sphere master began to pour into it! Although the feeling was incredible, but after the recent absorption of an entire river of blood — Kai's emotions were more restrained...

"Damn! I killed a master of the Core Sphere! Can't believe it..." Kai mentally exclaimed, watching the apocalyptic scene around...

Due to Mammon's decision to instantly explode his golden barrier — everything for miles around was destroyed! Thousands of demons were killed today, but the irony was that all of them were destroyed in the main city of their race!

Watching this, Kai forgot to close the Heart of Flesh and within a few moments, thin streams of blood from the entire area of destruction began to fly towards him!

Realizing this, Kai hesitated for a moment but decided to try something else... As soon as the blood reached him, it headed straight for Kai's forehead! He decided to let all these weak lives feed the Astral Flame of Sacrifice! Better to devour their souls, as there would be no benefit from their lineage...

Such a scene was simply terrifying... Those who managed to escape or observed from a safe distance were so scared that they almost lost consciousness! Now this monster is free to do whatever he wants!

Some thought that today was the end of the Demon King's Palace! If this monster wants to destroy everything around — no one will be able to stop him! He can kill and absorb all the inhabitants of the capital and none of the ascended will even know about it!

But at that moment, Kai was simply hovering in the air and pondering completely different things...

"My power terrifies... I was able to summon all the kings at once. At the same time, the action of the Domain of King Asura did not cease." Kai analyzed the past battle while the Astral Flame of Sacrifice absorbed souls.

In the heat of battle, there was no time to think about this, but now, along with calmness, came realization. Even Kai himself was surprised by his new strength...

"Congratulations. You killed your first opponent of the Core Sphere." Suddenly, Kessia's voice sounded, "But better take his ring and go to a safe place. Recoil hasn't been canceled." She quickly added.

"Oh? So I will still be immobilized?" Kai said unconsciously.

Although he understood that this was logical, he had somewhat forgotten due to his increased power...

"Of course. Just your limits have increased... Such power has its price." Kessia explained calmly, "By the way... I can't say I'm surprised, but you instinctively mastered the last layer of the Invisible King's Torture Technique. So, accept another congratulations." She added with a smile.

"So that's what it is... Thank you." Kai replied thoughtfully and waved his hand, seizing Mammon's ring.

He did not wait and slowly began to ascend, gradually passing through the clouds and finding himself high above the city... At that moment, there was only the boundless starry sky above him!

Kai quickly summoned Sop and sat on it in the lotus position... Now this was the safest place for him. It was unlikely that any demons would decide to pursue him... So, he decided to wait out the recoil in the sky.

Thus, Kai closed his eyes and ceased using the Torture King Mode.

Since Kai had previously absorbed Mammon's blood, his recoil did not last long... After an hour, he opened his eyes and clenched his fists! Strength flowed through his body again!

"So... Let's see..." Kai muttered and a black and red scroll appeared in his hands... It was the Invisible King's Torture Technique!

Kai had already understood what the last layer of the technique entailed, but still wanted to carefully read and confirm his suspicions. As expected, it involved the simultaneous summoning of all the kings. And during the battle with Mammon, he managed to do it unconsciously!

"Listen, queen... What's next?" Kai murmured interestedly.

"I already told you. Reach the Law Sphere — you'll find out." Kessia replied briefly.

"Why am I not surprised by such an answer? Heh-heh." Kai laughed and slowly hid Sop in the ring.

At that moment, Kai wanted to finish some business and finally go to help the Heavenly Continent.

"I'll send all the people to Yao... Let him organize a place for them somewhere in the territory of the Endless Ocean Union... In themselves, they are already a terrifying force, unlikely anyone can threaten them..." Kai mentally said, pondering the fate of the prisoners brought to the Unholy Continent.

"Well, and I... I guess, will take care of collecting debts! Heh-heh." He added with a malicious smile, quickly diving down!

V.4 Chapter 428: Wrath of the Heavenly Continent

Hovering above the clouds and gazing down at the vast city beneath his feet, Kai pondered his next steps... He needed to hurry to the Heavenly Continent, but he also didn't want to leave the Demon King's Palace in peace. There were still many valuable things here that no one would stop him from taking...

Kai decided to quickly sweep through the mansions of the ascended and rob them. He would take everything that caught his eye. Moreover, he would destroy any elders he encountered along the way. Cutting short the lives of demonic masters of the Star Sphere would certainly not be amiss. At this moment, he was literally omnipotent, so no one could stop him!

Glancing around, Kai swiftly dashed toward a specific point. He had sensed that it was there that human masters and beasts had gathered. At this moment, they had already begun a massacre within the city. The sorrow and indignation accumulated over the last year had burst forth. Humiliation and torture are not so easily forgotten...

The demons couldn't even resist, as there was nothing they could pit against such force! All the prisoners were at high levels of cultivation!

"Let's destroy them!"

"To attack!" The enraged masters shouted.

But at that moment, a measured and calm voice sounded from the sky:

"Stop. There are more important problems now than revenge on mere demons."

As soon as everyone heard this, they immediately looked up and saw a man about twenty-five years old standing in the air. His entire body was clad in black armor, and his snow-white hair fluttered in the moonlight... But the most frightening were his blood-red eyes, as if looking into the soul!

"Welcome, elder!" Most of the people immediately shouted, falling to one knee!

They all understood that it was this man who had saved them! The beasts exchanged surprised glances, respectfully following suit and kneeling. Earlier, humans had broken into their enclosures and started destroying the chains. They still didn't fully understand what was happening…

And as soon as silence reigned, a shocked cry came from the crowd:

"Is that... How is this possible?!" A girl exclaimed in confusion, unconsciously standing up!

Seeing the speaker, Kai's eyes widened in surprise... He hadn't expected that such a person would also be captured.

"Kashira, right?" Kai asked calmly.

This was the daughter of the Imperial Beast itself! That she had been captured was simply incredible! Apparently, things on the Heavenly Continent were not going very well…

"Y-yes... But…" The girl said, stunned, looking at the flying guy.

But before she could say anything else, Kai spoke first:

"Now you need to leave the Demon King's Palace. Head southeast, closer to the Aquamarine Bay. Send someone to the Drunkard's Mansion and say that Kai sent people. A man named Yao should help you," Kai quickly commanded, "You won't be returning to the Heavenly Continent for now, as I have no means to transport you." Kai openly added, surveying the crowd.

"Sir... May I speak?" Suddenly, a voice came from the crowd.

It was one of the elders who had led the uprising immediately after being freed. His cultivation was nearly at the peak of the Star Sphere. Clearly, he was one of the main elders of one of the forces of the Heavenly Continent.

"Speak." Kai replied calmly, ignoring the chaotic situation around. No one could threaten them now, so they could afford to talk calmly, ignoring the chaos in the demon capital…

"I understand that the main war is fought by masters like you... But if you could take at least the strongest among us — it would be of great help. There are only about ten peak masters..." The man said immediately.

At that moment, Kai truly considered the proposal... The forces of the Heavenly Continent were losing many of their members. Reinforcing the ranks with the strongest masters of the Star Sphere would be a significant boon.

"Alright... Then we'll figure something out," Kai nodded, "Choose the strongest, and send the rest on their way. Kashira, you stay too," he commanded the elder, and then turning to the girl, he added.

"Understood!" The man immediately shouted and began instructing the surrounding masters.

Everyone listened attentively and determined who would lead this army in the near future. This group was quite cohesive and made decisions quickly. Even Kai was slightly surprised by this...

"It seems the forces of the Heavenly Continent have become well-coordinated over the last years... Previously, this would have been impossible..." Kai thought to himself, watching the interaction of humans and beasts.

Within a quarter of an hour, everything was ready! The elder quickly explained all the nuances, and the army set off, destroying any demons they encountered along the way. Only ten masters remained in front of Kai...

Four, including Kashira, were from the beast race, and there were six humans...

Kashira seemed somewhat uncomfortable near Kai. She understood that not long ago, he was in the Star Sphere... How could her peer achieve such heights?! And what was he even doing here?!

Though it was hard for her to accept this turn of events, she needed Kai's help because she desperately wanted to go home. Her father was surely worried... Moreover, she was deeply concerned for her people!

"What do we do next? And also..." the elder asked, awkwardly smiling and recalling something... "How should we address you?" He quickly clarified.

Although he remembered this young man from the tournament at the Samsara Temple, it was better to double-check...

"The Immortal Drunkard from the Shadow Sect. All these years, I've been working behind the scenes by order of your Ancestor," Kai replied calmly.

Seeing that the speaking elder was a monk, his realm of origin was obvious...

"Incredible... I was not mistaken, it's really you! Incredible, just incredible!" The monk exclaimed, confirming his suspicions. He couldn't believe his eyes!

"Alright, now is not the time," Kai said calmly, "I want to take everything valuable from the demons of the Core Sphere. You need to hide for some time... Control is through the tattoo." Kai said and threw the elder a ring, leaving him frozen in confusion.

Although this group was forceful, Kai didn't want them to get into trouble. It would be better for them to wait in the sky...

As soon as the monk caught the ring, he didn't understand what Kai was talking about. He was about to ask, but Kai had vanished!

With his current power, Kai had gained the ability to fly, so artifacts like Sop were no longer necessary. He wasn't going to give it away, but lending it temporarily was not a problem. Kai had already decided that he would eventually give the dragon to Diso! After all, Kai hoped to give his elder the ability to fly in another way, so this gift would be useless for Master Mo…

The events of the following days continued the overall chaos and destruction... Likely, these days would go down in the history of the entire Demons Land. For the first time in thousands of years, the demons suffered such immense damage and destruction! Moreover, all the horror occurred in the capital of their race!

Kai brazenly invaded the domains of the ascended, looting their treasuries and killing all who opposed him. At this moment, breaking into vaults was a piece of cake, as Kai's strength and understanding had moved to a completely different level!

Now he had a large bag hanging from his belt, completely stuffed with spatial rings... A few rings were far from enough to store all the items from the treasuries! After all, these were possessions accumulated over hundreds, if not thousands of years!

Kai didn't even take most of them but only the most valuable. Ordinary money or common herbs were of no interest to him. Only rare ingredients and pills, as well as unique artifacts and weapons, were taken. Most of this Kai didn't need, but it would be very useful for the forces of the Heavenly Continent!

War brings huge losses and risks, so additional resources are never superfluous! The demons understood this; hence they kept a lot of goods in reserve, but within a few days, all of them were emptied!

Kai didn't just rob the ascended but also took the most important thing of the Demon King — the sacred land! The damage Kai inflicted on the demons was simply immeasurable! He literally destroyed thousands of years of their development and accumulation! Resources — taken! Sacred land — drained dry and destroyed! The top elders of the Star Sphere — annihilated! And even one of the ascended was killed!

If the demons knew what had happened in their capital — they would be spitting blood from frustration. At that moment, they were ravaging the Heavenly Continent, hoping for a cloudless future where they ruled over two more races and commanded two continents!

The Demon King thought he could nourish his sacred land and make a breakthrough into the Law Sphere. Thus, he would be able to ignore the contract and take revenge on the ascended.

Pondering all this, Kai flew toward the dragon, mulling over the Demon King...

"Don't worry, king, I'll take revenge on your offenders for you. Though for such a generous service, you'll have to pay with your life... Heh-heh," Kai thought with a malicious smile.

Maybe the Demon King's motives were justifiable from his perspective, and his reasons were sad, but Kai was utterly unmoved by this...

The moment the demons decided to wage war and destroy Kai's home — they automatically became enemies! Everyone has their motives, and that's normal, but it doesn't mean you have to empathize with them, especially at your own expense!

In Kai's mind, the fate of the ascended and the Demon King was already decided — each of them had to die!

"I don't know exactly how things stand... But each of you will follow Mammon!" Kai thought, finally approaching the masters waiting for him.

"Welcome back, Lord Immortal Drunkard!" The monk respectfully said, and all the others followed his example. Even Kashira was very polite...

It seems that over the last few days, the girl had thought a lot and decided not to compare herself with Kai. This man was too abnormal... So, she began to treat him like the other monsters of the Core Sphere.

"I see you've figured out how to control Sop," Kai said with a smile.

"Truly an amazing device..." The monk said, genuinely admiring.

"Alright, we need to move on, but first, I'd like to know your names," Kai said with a light smile.

Kai didn't want to address everyone informally throughout the journey, so it was easier to ask for their names. It was a matter of simple convenience. Moreover, Kai wasn't a traditional master of the Core Sphere, centuries old. He still behaved quite calmly and friendly, showing no arrogance.

"My name is Kanda, and this is my brother Koji," indicating another monk, the man said, "Also, among the humans with us are Lady Imara from the Spirit Fire Sect, Lady Tabia from the Holy Empire, as well as the brothers Shimba and Jamal from the Wilderness. The monk continued to explain.

"The beast race is represented by the young Miss Kashira, Mr. Sekibo, and the beautiful ladies Yona and Amana," indicating the four beasts, Kanda added warmly, thus introducing everyone present.

V.4 Chapter 429: To War! — End of Volume 4

As soon as Kai heard the names of all present, he nodded slightly and declared:

"Alright, then we can move out." Kai said calmly and waved his hand.

At that instant, all the masters were lifted into the air, enveloped in his energy. Kai made a few more gestures, and the ring previously given to Kanda returned to his hand.

Once Kai stowed Sop away, he immediately flew towards Asmodeus's mansion. Once, a portal located there had sent him closer to the Flame Archipelago, but his purpose of visit was entirely different now...

A few years ago, Kai had watched Kaiser adjusting that teleportation array. Overall, there was nothing complicated in his actions, so replicating them was not an issue.

Kai's speed was terrifying, and within a few minutes, he arrived at his destination. The mansion was noticeably worn and had lost some of its grandeur. But now, no one cared about that, as most of the staff had simply fled. A creature from the Core Sphere was not something any of them could even attempt to stop...

"What are our next actions?" Suddenly asked monk Koji.

"Now we'll head to the so-called Flame Archipelago, then to the spatial rift, and onto the Heavenly Continent." Kai explained the rough plan of action calmly.

"Listen... Is it safe for us to exit through that rift?" Tabia asked with interest.

The speaker was a stunning woman, whose appearance was now marred by dirty clothes... Although she had preliminarily cleaned them with energy, restoring their original state was impossible...

"Yes. The demon front has advanced significantly... Currently, almost all Core Sphere masters are located near the Spirit Fire Sect and the north-western part of the Shadow Sect." Kashira suddenly murmured.

"I see..." A mature woman from the Spirit Fire Sect named Imara said sadly.

Observing the situation, Kai could only shake his head sadly...

"It seems many here have been for quite some time and are themselves unaware of the battlefield situation... After all, prisoners were taken gradually..." Kai thought to himself.

"Kashira, how long have you been here?" Kai asked with interest.

"A little over a month..." The girl replied quietly, slightly lowering her head.

"Can you tell us about the situation on the fronts? Ideally, recount everything from the beginning. In fact, I don't know what's currently happening on the Heavenly Continent." Kai slowed his descent and approached the mansion's entrance as he spoke.

Now, only weak demons were in the vicinity, with nowhere to run... When they saw the terrifying white-haired man again, they began to hide in corners, not daring even to catch his eye!

At that moment, Kashira sighed heavily and said:

"Initially, we ambushed them and destroyed a significant part of their army, but the main problem was the Core Sphere masters... Especially the so-called Demon King. As soon as all the prepared arrays and traps were broken through — we had to retreat!" she exclaimed frustratedly, clenching her fists, "Then, we only defended, occasionally making surprise attacks to destroy enemy squads... But our territories are gradually being lost and captured by demons..." She added sadly.

"What's the current situation? What lands have been captured?" Kai immediately inquired.

He wanted to know exactly what was happening on the Heavenly Continent and whether any of his close ones were harmed...

"As feared in the worst scenarios — the Wilderness and the Wild Beasts Steppe have been captured. Some territories of the Spirit Fire Sect are also captured, but it hasn't reached the capital yet... At least, about two months ago, they were preparing to activate their defensive array and hold the defense through it..." Kashira thoughtfully replied.

As soon as Lady Imara heard this, her gaze dimmed instantly... If one were to think about Kashira's words, her sect might already be in ruins...

"What about the Shadow Sect?" Kai asked next.

"At the time of my capture, all the border cities were evacuated. Demons began to infiltrate the territory of the Shadow Sect from the south. Fortunately, it's inconvenient to do so from the side of the Wild Beasts Steppe because of the mountains..." The girl quickly explained.

Kai was worried about Diso, as he was located right at the border with the beast territory. But apparently, until the Spirit Fire Sect falls — the Shadow Sect won't be attacked!

"What about our forces? What are the losses?" Kanda suddenly asked, looking with a complex expression at the daughter of the Imperial Beast.

"As blasphemous as it sounds — thankfully, all Core Sphere masters are alive, though my father sustained serious injuries. As for the deaths of ordinary beasts and humans... The losses are horrifying... It's even scary to imagine what's happening in the occupied territories." Kashira said, gritting her teeth.

As Kai suspected, the war had brought incredible devastation to the Heavenly Continent. Demons showed no regard even for nature's children, so humans were even less than trash to them. Mercilessly, all who were not useful to the demons were destroyed!

"Have any of the ascended been killed?" Kai asked emotionlessly.

"The ascended?" Kashira asked with a hint of confusion.

"That's how demons refer to their Core Sphere masters." Kai quickly clarified, helping the girl understand the question.

"Some were injured in the very first attack, but no deaths..." She shook her head negatively.

Given the strength of the old monsters — killing them was quite difficult! Especially when they acted together and could save each other. Kai managed to kill Mammon only because no one interfered, and he could go all out. Moreover, Mammon was not the strongest among the Core Sphere demons...

"Well, no matter... I've already destroyed one, the turn of the others will come in time." Kai said calmly, surprising the surrounding masters.

As the group discussed the events of the last few years, they made their way to a hall Kai had once visited. This was the first place in the Demons Land where he had settled for a while.

Kai's companions were somewhat surprised by his knowledge of the local layout and passages... And Kai's figure itself was quite mysterious. True, no one dared to ask unnecessary questions. Kai might behave quite simply, but he was still a terrifying Core Sphere master!

After a lengthy discussion, they concluded that there should be no danger exiting through the spatial rift. All the strongest demons should be at the front. Those in the rear were no match for Kai!

As Kai made his way to the array, he mentally reached out to Kessia:

"Listen, how strong was that old man?"

"If you evaluate by your standards of strength, he was quite good. But as I've already told you, you are an entirely different case. You may also be a Core Sphere master, but your level is qualitatively higher. You might lack some experience, but if you don't act foolishly, you have the potential to kill anyone! Naturally, if it's a one-on-one duel. Otherwise, you're likely to die..." Kessia explained calmly and returned to her book.

Sometimes Kessia could be a bit capricious, so Kai didn't want to bother her unnecessarily... If she returned to her book — that meant she had said everything! So, Kai just shook his head and continued on.

A quarter of an hour later, they all finally arrived in a huge hall, and Kai quickly activated the array, setting it up similarly to how Kaiser had. Double-checking everything with the Eyes of Essence, Kai said:

"Ready. Step onto the platform."

As soon as everyone heard the command, they immediately moved forward. Kai also didn't delay and stepped into the array. Then came the familiar feeling of space blurring, and a few seconds later, light struck their eyes!

They found themselves in the middle of a small town, where the climate was noticeably warmer. The air also felt more humid and pleasant than in the central regions of the Demon King's Palace.

The surrounding demons didn't even have time to react to the sudden arrival of the strangers, as right after teleporting — Kai took off and took everyone with him! He dashed towards the Flame Archipelago at full speed!

"The Ancestor of the Samsara Temple said I would have important tasks in the Demon King's Palace... And he didn't lie..." Kai thought to himself, moving over the Endless Waters.

Kai, like Kessia, didn't believe in the concept of fate... But then, what about the predictions? How did the old man manage to foresee such an outcome of events? If not for him, Kai would never have been able to reach the Core Sphere. There simply weren't the means to do so on the Heavenly Continent!

Only thanks to the sacred land of the Demon King and the looting of the ascended — he managed to climb to the top of the world's food chain! Finally, he had the chance to return and genuinely assist in the war against the enemy!

"Just wait, and I'll methodically destroy each of you... Mammon has already fallen, ten more to go!" Kai thought, unintentionally releasing a murderous aura.

At that moment...

"Cough! Cough-cough!" Several of his companions immediately started coughing, simultaneously beginning to tremble!

Realizing that his fleeting aura was starting to suffocate the masters nearby — Kai immediately calmed down and with a crooked smile said:

"Sorry, I lost control for a second. Was thinking about how I'll be killing demons. Heh-heh."

Hearing such carefree words about something so incredible, everyone present was again amazed... Kai was too atypical a person. Previously, none of them dared to interact informally with their rulers. In fact, they didn't see them all that often...

But Kai acted as if he wasn't the one flying over the ocean, taking a group of masters with him... Such a discrepancy created a slight dissonance in the minds of those present.

"Lord Immortal Drunkard, excuse my frankness, but you are quite an atypical master," one of the wild men said, slightly bowing his head.

"I'm just not used to the new status yet. And honestly, I don't want to get used to it," Kai replied with a smile, leisurely raising his hand, "We're almost there." He added, pointing to an island in the distance.

But this "distance" quickly evaporated...

Ten minutes later, Kai hovered above the spatial rift and calmly looked down at the demons below... So far, no one had noticed that strangers were hovering above them...

"We need to clear out..." Kai said emotionlessly and waved his hand, sending down a massive wave of black energy!

Striking the ground, it spread in all directions, killing all the demons beneath their feet! Everything happened so suddenly that no one even had time to react, but Kai's companions were even more shocked... Such power couldn't leave anyone indifferent, it instilled an unbearable terror in their hearts!

"Take these pills, just in case. We're going home," Kai said calmly and tossed a few Heretical Barrier Pills to each of them!

Kai turned to the black rift and, with anticipation, dashed inside! After several years, he was finally returning to the Heavenly Continent!