"It's getting late. We should set off. If we encounter the Saintess in the secret realm, please take care of us."

Max clasped his hands toward Lunara and the others, his tone courteous yet restrained.

Lunara did not say much. She merely nodded lightly, her expression calm and aloof.

Yet her eyes swept across the surroundings again and again.

She was looking for someone.

But no matter how she searched, the figure she expected never appeared.

Still, the jade pendant hidden beneath her robes pulsed faintly, its warmth unmistakable.

Aether was nearby.

That certainty made her heart restless.

"Where is this guy hiding?" Lunara frowned inwardly, confusion and irritation intertwined.

She was not the only one searching.

The Sky family was also quietly scanning the surroundings.

What Max had said earlier—about Ethan disappearing—was naturally a lie, meant to mislead forces like the Palace of the Four Cycles.

"This Ethan… why hasn't he shown up yet?" Max frowned slightly, his gaze sharpening.

"Dad, don't worry," Damon transmitted calmly.

"We looked for Ethan before coming here. He's hiding somewhere nearby."

"Right," Elara added softly through voice transmission.

"Ethan said that once we enter, he will follow closely behind."

Only then did Max relax a little.

High above, standing silently atop the crown of an ancient tree, Ethan observed everything with cold clarity.

Not far away, a group emerged quietly.

The Heavenly Demon Sect.

They were disguised as demon foxes, their auras concealed by an extremely profound secret technique. Unless one examined them carefully, it would be nearly impossible to detect anything abnormal.

Even with Ethan's Heaven-piercing Mind Eyes, a careless glance would reveal nothing.

Luca's group totaled fifteen people.

Kara and her disciple were among them.

At this moment, Kara's gaze kept drifting, unconsciously searching for Ethan.

A familiar voice suddenly sounded in her mind.

"Senior Sister Kara, stop looking around. I'm here."

Her heart loosened instantly.

Though she still could not see him, just hearing his voice calmed her completely.

"Kara," Luca said suddenly, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his lips, "after entering the secret realm, you and your disciple will follow me. Don't wander off."

"I understand," Kara replied, her voice steady.

Luca chuckled softly, his eyes brazen as they roamed over Kara and Morwen.

"Kara, how have these days been? The nights must have been… difficult, right?"

Kara's brows furrowed faintly.

She understood his meaning all too well.

Unfortunately for him, Luca did not know that the poison within her and Morwen had already been removed.

To maintain the act, Kara bit her red lips lightly and stared at him coldly.

"So it was you," she said, her tone sharp.

"There was something wrong with that wine that day, wasn't there?"

"Oh? Nothing serious," Luca replied lazily.

"Just a little flirtation pill."

"Don't worry. After we come out of the Training Trial Secret Realm, I'll help you two detoxify properly and let you… relax."

His smile was thick with malice.

"Luca, you're despicable," Kara said through clenched teeth.

"Despicable?" Luca laughed softly.

"You asked for this. If you had obeyed earlier, wouldn't things be much simpler?"

Kara clenched her fists but said nothing more.

The performance was enough. If she continued, she feared she might truly vomit from disgust.

"I like that stubborn look of yours," Luca sneered.

"I hope you can maintain it when the medicine fully takes effect. I'm really looking forward to it."

Then he raised his head, eyes fixed on the blood-red space gate.

"There will be people trying to force their way into the Training Trial Secret Realm later," Luca ordered.

"We'll follow them and slip in."

"Understood!" his subordinates responded in unison.

Ethan turned his gaze toward the Sky family and sent a message to Elara.

"Miss Elara, don't enter yet. Wait for my signal."

Elara's eyes widened slightly. Then a trace of joy surfaced.

"Mr. Ethan, everyone thought you weren't coming anymore."

"Relax," Ethan replied calmly.

"The Sky family's matters will be settled. Once inside, just follow my orders."

"I'll entrust my life to you, Mr. Ethan," Elara said softly, her tone gentle.

Ethan smiled but did not reply.

This woman was far more different behind closed doors than her usual composed demeanor suggested.

"Miss Elara," he teased lightly, "aren't you afraid of what I might do to you?"

"Afraid?" Her voice became even softer.

"Why should I be afraid? You're my fiancé. If I don't rely on you, who should I rely on?"

"If you say that," Ethan chuckled, "I might take it seriously."

Elara wished he would.

To her, sacrificing herself for the family was not unthinkable—especially if it was someone like Ethan.

"Third sister, it's time," Damon urged.

"Wait a moment," Elara replied through transmission.

"Ethan asked us to follow his lead."

"That's even better," Max said with a relieved smile.

"Just listen to him."

Ethan then shifted his attention to Lunara and transmitted a message.

"Your Highness Lunara. Long time no see."

Lunara's eyes trembled. Joy surged instantly, but she suppressed it just as quickly.

"Mr. Aether… you finally showed up. I almost thought you—"

"Dead?" Ethan interrupted lightly.

"It seems Your Highness still cares."

"I was only worried that if you died, no one would help me break the blood contract," Lunara replied stiffly.

"Don't worry. I won't die. Valerius can't take my life."

After a brief pause, Ethan added, "After entering the secret realm, find the Hibiscus Fruit first. Once I finish my matters, I'll come find you."

"Alright," Lunara nodded subtly.

Suddenly, Ethan's expression changed.

He turned sharply toward the south.

At the same time, Lunara did the same.

So did Valerius—and nearly every Ultimate Supreme present.

Space trembled violently.

An incomparably terrifying aura descended from the heavens.

The moment that presence appeared, the color of heaven and earth changed.

Ethan's pupils contracted.

"What terrifying pressure…"

"What level of existence is this?"

Ripples spread through space, and a white-robed figure slowly emerged on the horizon.

The instant that figure appeared, Ethan felt it clearly.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth… stopped flowing.

The power within his body slowed to a crawl, like a turtle trapped in mud.

Not only him.

Everyone present felt the same suppression.

Shock spread across countless faces.

Then space split open once more, and dozens of figures flew through.

Valerius's face changed drastically. He immediately raised his hands and bowed deeply.

"Valerius pays his respects to the Emperor!"

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

...

Thanks for the Magic Castle: @Zunsin

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.