According to the current flow of events, Daniel thought, it was only a matter of time before he finally returned to Blackspire Mountain, his true home.

"Daniel, if you keep this up, you'll be home before long," he encouraged himself, pride swelling in his chest.

But just as he settled into self-congratulation, a powerful aura swept over him. His eyes snapped open, locked on the sky. Someone was approaching at terrifying speed, a presence as overwhelming as Lyralei herself—a fourth-turn Mahayana existence, at least.

Within a handful of breaths, a streak of pure white light descended and solidified in front of him. Daniel's composure wavered. His heart jumped as if pierced by thorns. The figure resolved into Althea.

For a moment, his mind refused to accept the reality: Althea, alive and standing before him.

How? How could she be back?

He barely kept his expression neutral, forcing surprise and dread deep into his chest. In his calmest tone, he greeted her. "I greet the Peak Master. Did you not go to Black Forest Mountain?"

"Yes, but I've returned," Althea replied, her voice as cold and distant as moonlight.

Daniel tried a polite smile, hands cupped together. "You must have gained a great deal from the ruins. Congratulations, Peak Master."

"Hmph. Enough pretense." The reply came with the hiss of unsheathing steel. Althea's blade flashed out. Before Daniel could blink, the sword's edge pressed icily to his neck.

Daniel felt an instant of true fear—his mind spun through a dozen plans of escape.

Althea's voice was quiet and deadly. "Don't bother thinking. The Saint of the Black Demon Sect is seriously injured and on the run. The four secret demon guards have already fled. Speak what you know now. Otherwise…"

She pressed the blade harder, and a sharp pain flared as her sword drew the first drop of blood.

Beneath the forced calm, Daniel knew his game was lost. He hesitated only a heartbeat before raising his hands high, crying out, "I have seen the Empress!" and looked to the far horizon, as if hoping rescue would fall from the sky.

There was nothing—Althea only watched in silence, a faint, uncaring smile on her lips.

He faltered. The air grew thick, awkward. No one would save him.

Althea's eyes flashed with cruel determination. "If you say nothing, I have nothing to ask. Just die."

Suddenly Daniel flung himself backwards, exploding into a flash of black light to escape toward the depths of Azure Origin Dao Sect.

Althea's sword swept after him. A golden arc, swifter than lightning, tore through the air. In the blink of an eye, the golden energy caught up and pierced Daniel through the heart.

Midair, Daniel jerked, staring at the hole blooming in his chest. His face twisted in unwillingness and fury.

"I… I don't accept this! My Black Demon Sect will rise again, crush your Azure Origin Dao Sect, and flatten all of Skyreach Territory!" he wailed, pure hatred in every word.

Then Althea's sword intent erupted inside him, shredding his lifeforce. His body turned limp and tumbled to the earth.

Unhurried, Althea took his storage ring and stored the fallen traitor's corpse. Her gaze flicked to the token she found on him.

"This is how he communicated with the Black Demon Sect," she noted softly, inspecting the artifact—a spiritual weapon meant for secret messaging.

After tying up this last thread, Althea returned to Serene Mirror Lake. She climbed steadily up the quiet mountain path to Ethan's residence.

"Junior Brother Ethan, I'm back." Her voice was gentle as she stood at his courtyard door, knocking lightly. Silence.

A small frown tugged at her features. She released her perception, blanketing the entire residence in a web of spiritual awareness—no one was home.

The protective formations Ethan once maintained were already gone. Not even the faintest sign of life lingered inside.

An inexplicable unease crawled through her. She opened the door anyway, stepping quietly into the empty yard. Fallen leaves blanketed the stone table beneath the tree.

The flowerbeds were barren, and the pond, once teeming with spirit fish, was now stagnant and covered with debris. The kitchen door hung open, bearing no trace of the warmth of wine and food.

The bedroom door was ajar, as though recently disturbed by a guest who had left in a hurry. A heavy sense of foreboding settled in Althea's chest. She pushed the door wide.

Shafts of sunlight slanted through the window, catching motes of dust drifting like tiny golden faeries in the silence. The room had been vacant for some time.

Searching carefully, Althea discovered two jade slips resting on the desk—one inscribed with her name, "Althea," the other with the name "Burns." Two faint, rectangular dust outlines revealed that there had once been four slips here.

Understanding washed over her in an icy wave. Junior Brother Ethan… was gone.

The emptiness of the room, the absent presence she'd always found comforting, confirmed it. Ethan had left.

Her beautiful features drooped with loneliness. For a moment, the void inside her chest felt infinite, as if her world had lost its anchor.

Althea drew a deep, steadying breath and picked up the pristine white jade slip etched with her own name.

She brushed the dust from it with care. Ethan always remembered that she loved white jade for its warmth, while the other slip was sky-blue—a thoughtful detail, a quiet signature of his affection.

Why had Junior Brother Ethan left Azure Origin Dao Sect? Where was he now? The questions raced through her mind, each heavier than the last.

Yet, as she stared at the slip, heart pounding, she paused. Something in her did not want to know just yet. Her fingers flinched away from activating the jade, the anticipation folding into dread.

Tying the exquisite jade slip with a cord, she slipped it gently around her neck.

She, Althea, who never feared any enemy or trial, shrank from this truth—afraid to find a cold farewell, or an disaffection, even more than parting.

She closed the bedroom, restoring peace, and made her way towards the Peak, Liana's quarters.

"Junior Sister Liana, are you there?" Althea's voice held the calm steadiness of generations.

"Yes." The door opened, and the young woman bowed respectfully.

"Disciple Liana greets Peak Master Althea."

Since Ethan's departure, Liana's every trace of mischief had vanished. Now she practiced ceaselessly, delving into the art of elixirs, rarely smiling or leaving her chambers.

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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Thanks for the Massage Chair: @Sheng_Mei

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