"Hey, kid, follow those three people."

Onyx Orchid's voice suddenly echoed in Ethan's mind, sharp and insistent.

Ethan's pupils tightened.

"Are you crazy?" he snapped back silently.

"I am not crazy," Onyx Orchid replied, voice unusually serious.

"Don't you feel that aside from Seraphina, the auras of the other two are strange?"

Ethan exhaled slowly.

"I felt it. But what can I do about it? That woman is a powerful cultivator in the Supreme Realm."

He ground his teeth lightly.

"I can fight an ordinary Supreme Realm cultivator, but that woman is clearly not ordinary. She may be a Intermediate-stage Supreme, or even stronger. If we really fight, I can only run away."

Onyx Orchid sounded impatient.

"As long as you can run, it's fine. I have a feeling—those two people may hold the key to unlocking the Heaven and Earth barrier!"

Ethan froze.

"What do you mean?"

Onyx Orchid spoke slowly, every word heavy:

"The chain formed by the barrier between heaven and earth releases its own aura. This aura roams throughout, contaminating all living beings. Everyone—every mortal, cultivator, demon, beast—carries traces of it."

"But those two people—"

"—their auras were completely clean."

Ethan stood still.

Images flashed through his mind—the strange chill, the unsettling purity, the unnatural contrast.

"That kind of aura," Onyx Orchid continued, "don't you think it means something?"

And suddenly—

Ethan understood.

No wonder he felt something off. No wonder his instincts reacted. But he hadn't recognized it immediately—because he too was tainted by the chain's aura.

Everyone in this realm was.

It was like living in a foul ditch—when everyone smells the same stench, no one notices it. But when someone with fragrance walks through—everyone senses something wrong.

Ethan swallowed, voice low.

"You're right. But the risk is too great. Better to be cautious."

The secret to the Heaven and Earth's barrier was tempting—dangerously tempting. But the Supreme Realm was not something to provoke lightly. There was a difference between boldness and recklessness.

Onyx Orchid seemed pleased.

"Okay, very stable. You can achieve great things."

Ethan didn't respond, but his eyes remained deep.

Meanwhile—

Seraphina and her mysterious companions arrived at an inn.

Inside a locked room, the woman called Iris lifted her hand, forming a sound barrier. She glanced at Seraphina and asked coldly:

"Do you know the person just now?"

Seraphina hesitated.

"I've met him a few times. He's a well-known genius on the Heaven's Prodigy List in the Skyreach Territory."

Grey—handsome, young, and carrying an air of arrogance—laughed faintly.

"How dare someone call themselves a genius in a barbarian land?"

Iris's tone sharpened.

"Young Master, don't think like that."

She continued:

"There are many Mahayana realm cultivators in this city, and several powerful Supreme realm individuals as well."

"It is said Oceanreach Continent is a barbarian land, a place of exile—where laws are lacking, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is thin. It should not be suitable for cultivation."

"But this is not the case. Many cultivators have gathered here. Many Mahayana cultivators. A few Supreme cultivators. Though their auras are faint—likely pseudo-Mahayana and pseudo-Supreme—"

"But their numbers must not be underestimated."

She looked at Grey gravely.

"The organization called Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets has issued a wanted order and labeled us evil cultivators. Killing is not permitted here. If our identities are exposed, we may be attacked by a mob. This is dangerous."

"Young Master, we must re-evaluate this barbarian land. The combat strength here may be higher than we thought."

Grey fell silent, then inhaled deeply.

When he opened his eyes, they gleamed with icy reason.

"I understand. Aunt Iris, what are His Majesty's current instructions?"

Iris removed a bronze compass etched with flowing Original Dao text. She pointed, channeling a thread of blue light into it.

The compass flared with golden light. Two needles formed and spun wildly.

"This Noble Sun City contains what we seek." Iris declared.

Grey leaned forward.

"Is it related to the original stone tablet, or… something else?"

"I don't know," Iris replied. "The original stone tablet and the Ice Spirit Soul Body—both are what we require."

"It seems we must stay here for a while."

She tucked the compass away.

"A force called Myriad Treasures Pavilion is holding a treasure appraisal conference. I heard a rare treasure will appear. We can observe."

Grey snorted lightly.

"Treasure appraisal conference? We'll look, but I doubt anything worthy will appear."

Then he continued, eyes narrowing:

"What I care about is the Ice Spirit Soul Body."

"If we can find another bearer of the Cold Jade Ice Body, we can perfectly complement my sister's Nine Ice Demon Holy Body."

He paused, then smiled coldly.

"Aunt Iris, this land is stronger than we thought. We found the Ice Spirit Soul Body so quickly. It is indeed unique."

"But it is not special."

"The cultivators here are still ants—just more numerous."

Seraphina trembled, fingers tightening into fists.

Grey's disdain pierced her pride like thorns.

If she had known earlier—she would never have left Noble Sun City. Danger here was nothing compared to the humiliation she now endured.

She didn't dare return to Azure Origin Dao Sect.

These two could destroy it with ease.

…

Back in the Blood Tavern.

Ethan returned to his room alone. Solara slept with Althea next door.

He shut the door, pacing slowly, brows furrowed.

Seraphina… why did she always encounter terrifying individuals?

Could she possess another rare physique?

He breathed out and sat cross-legged, extending his palms.

Four-colored radiance and a transparent crystalline spine appeared.

The Pure Spiritual Body—first of the ten ancient Spiritual bodies.

The Four Spirit Holy Body—one of the ancient holy bodies.

"Alicia, do you think it's possible for me to have spiritual roots?"

But instead of Alicia's usual voice, he heard:

[Warm reminder: Alicia is being upgraded, please wait patiently.]

"Upgraded?"

Ethan's eyes lit up.

Every upgrade meant new functions—new possibilities.

He could not help but look forward to what Alicia would unlock next.

"Onyx Orchid, do you think it's possible for me to have spiritual roots and merge these two physiques?"

Ethan's mind moved and he called Onyx Orchid.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Capsule - 1 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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