Inside the world of the jade bottle, Iris slowly opened her eyes. Her once serene and noble expression contorted into fury the moment she sensed what had happened.

"You… Ethan… you actually refined my Nine-Colored Soul-Living Bottle!"

Her voice trembled with indignation, but her soul body flickered weakly like a dying flame.

Ethan stood before her with an easy smile.

"Yes. Not just the Nine-Colored Soul-Living Bottle—your Heaven and Earth Compass too. Oh, and your storage rings. You two had so many good things."

He gave a leisurely shrug.

"Thank you for the gifts."

"You—!"

Iris clenched her ghostly fists. Her soul power had already been consumed by two-thirds; each breath felt like her existence was unraveling.

"You know very well what you've done! This will bring destruction upon your entire continent!" she snarled, her voice sharp despite its weakening echo.

Ethan snorted lightly.

"Haha. What's the point of saying that now? You lost because you were arrogant. Too confident. Too self-righteous."

He stepped forward, his tone dropping colder.

"I don't know what your Ice Spirit Clan thinks of Oceanreach Continent… but I can tell you this much—cultivators here are not as simple as you think."

"Simple?" Iris spat.

"Everyone here is just an ant!"

"Ants?" Ethan repeated softly.

His figure blurred, slipping directly into the barrier Iris had constructed within the bottle.

She froze.

"You— how—?!"

"This is my Nine-Colored Soul-Living Bottle now. I am the master of this space. I enter and leave as I please."

Ethan reached out and clasped her throat between his fingers.

"So what now?"

The fury on Iris's mature features twisted into malice.

"Arrogant boy… I've been waiting for this moment. The moment your soul body steps into my barrier!"

Her aura surged violently. The blue rune between her brows ignited, radiating destructive soul power.

"Your combat strength is terrifying, but soul power? You are nothing before me! I will destroy your soul today!"

The blue light condensed sharply and blasted toward Ethan's brow like a spear of divine punishment.

Bang!!

A muffled explosion echoed—

And behind Ethan, a golden thirteen-story soul tower materialized, radiating ancient, overwhelming pressure.

Iris froze.

"No… impossible. T-The Thirteen-Story Soul Tower only exists in legend!"

Ethan smiled faintly. "Nothing is impossible."

His eyes turned cold.

"You came to Oceanreach, slaughtering countless beings as if they were insects. Now it is time to pay the price."

"You two liked treating human life as nothing… so tell me—did you ever imagine that someday, the 'ants' you looked down on would toy with your life instead?"

He leaned close, smiling indifferently.

"But… I can give you a chance."

Iris's expression shifted cautiously.

"I will keep your body intact," Ethan murmured.

"I can repair it. Restore your soul. Make you live again. But—"

His eyes narrowed, voice dipping into a villainous drawl.

"You will be my slave. My maid. Forever."

"If you agree, you live. If not…"

He let the words dangle, his smile turning cruel—mocking their own tone from before.

"As a slave… as a maid… to become your cauldron!?"

Iris trembled with rage, her pride shattering under the humiliation. Never in her life—never in her clan—had she suffered such indignity.

But slowly, her breathing steadied.

Reason overpowered fury.

If she died, there would be no hope. But if she lived—even as a slave—there might be a chance to turn things around.

Her jade lips trembled as she lowered her proud head.

"...Fine. I will be a slave… a maid. I will be your cauldron. I accept. I only hope you keep your word."

Ethan looked at her quietly.

Then—

"HAHAHAHA…"

His laughter echoed through the jade bottle before fading abruptly into calm.

"Sorry," he said dryly.

"I was teasing you."

"You—! You dare—!?" Iris shook violently, nearly losing what remained of her soul.

Ethan ignored her anger and extended his other hand. A suction force pulled the sleeping Grey into his grip.

Grey's eyes fluttered open, his soul body barely holding together.

"E-Ethan! Let me go!!"

He struggled weakly, Iris also thrashing futilely.

But in Ethan's hands, they were like chicks being lifted by the neck—helpless, pathetic.

"Great Soul Searching Technique."

A cold azure gleam flickered in Ethan's gaze.

At once, both Iris and Grey went still—eyes blank, bodies frozen.

Their memories surged into Ethan's mind like a flood: the Ice Spirit Clan, Luminous Continent, their clan, their plans, the Emperor, the Saint, the Nine Ice Demon Holy Body…

A quarter of an hour later, Ethan opened his eyes.

"Good." His lips curved faintly.

"Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles."

Iris and Grey regained awareness instantly.

"What… what did you do to me?!" Grey shouted.

"Soul Searching Technique! You actually dared use that on us?!" Iris roared, trembling with hatred.

"Haha. It's over."

Ethan didn't bother to argue.

Profound Purifying Flame erupted in both hands.

BOOM!

The world inside the jade bottle burned white.

"AHHHHH!!"

Iris and Grey writhed in agony as their soul bodies were scorched.

"Ethan!! If you kill me—my Ice Spirit Clan—will never—let you—go—!!!"

Grey's scream cut off abruptly.

His soul shattered, dissipating like smoke in the wind.

Grey… fallen.

Iris held on longer—her soul more tenacious—but inevitably weakened.

"I… I promised to serve as your cauldron… your slave… why won't you spare me…" she whispered, eyes full of despair.

"I'm not stupid."

Ethan's expression didn't change. He poured even more spiritual fire into her.

A quarter hour later, Iris's final scream echoed through the bottle—

And then her soul vanished completely.

No reincarnation.

No afterlife.

Just annihilation.

Silence returned.

Ethan opened his eyes in the physical world and put away the jade bottle.

"A rare treasure," he murmured.

Then he digested the memories he had gained:

Luminous Continent. West Sea. A land of exile.

The Ice Spirit Clan. The Emperor. The Saint.

The Nine Ice Demon Holy Body.

His lips curled into a slow smile.

A wider world.

More unknowns.

More powerful enemies.

Rather than fear, excitement stirred in his chest.

He must break the chain that shrouds heaven and earth.

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: @DaoistKryQyc

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.