When Luke and the others heard Solara's words, they were stunned for a heartbeat.

Then laughter erupted.

"Little girl," Luke sneered, shaking his head, "do you even know what you're saying?"

"All the top combat forces of our Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets in the Skyreach Territory are gathered in Noble Sun City. Three Upper Supremes alone are enough to crush the entire territory!"

"Even the Endless Mountains Holy Land wouldn't dare oppose us head-on!"

Oswin's expression darkened. He waved his sleeve sharply.

"Enough nonsense. Members, prepare the formation!"

His voice carried unquestionable authority.

In an instant, dozens of figures emerged from hidden passages and shadows, sealing the exits and surrounding Ethan's group. Spiritual light flickered as formation marks ignited beneath their feet, linking into a killing array.

"Formation?" Ethan chuckled softly.

The sound was calm—almost amused.

"Down."

Just one word.

The moment it fell, divine power erupted from Ethan's body like a collapsing heaven.

Boom—!

A muffled explosion rang out as if the earth itself had been struck.

The entire Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets sank abruptly, the ground cracking as the building dropped a full foot into the earth. Pillars shattered, roofs were torn away by invisible pressure, and the grand pavilion trembled on the verge of collapse.

Oswin, Ava, Luke, and every elder present were slammed to their knees.

The stone floor exploded beneath them.

Blood sprayed from their mouths in thick arcs.

Their spiritual energy instantly fell into chaos—meridians locked, dantian frozen.

In a single blink, they were all heavily injured.

"S-Supreme…!" Oswin gasped, his pupils trembling violently.

Terror flooded his face.

He had never imagined that Aether—the fugitive who vanished ten years ago—not only survived but had stepped into the Supreme Realm.

Such talent…

It was monstrous.

"Supreme…" Ava pressed her palms against the shattered floor, her red lips drained of color, blood trailing down her chin.

"This is impossible," she muttered hoarsely.

"Physical cultivation is already extremely difficult, and this era lacks inheritance… how could you reach the Supreme Realm so fast?"

"You must be using a forbidden secret technique to force your strength!"

"Yes!" Luke roared, clutching his chest.

"That must be it! You won't last long like this!"

He refused to believe it.

Ten years ago, this man was still far from Nirvana.

Now—Supreme?

Even inheriting a Great Emperor's Inheritance shouldn't allow such speed.

Therefore, there was only one explanation.

"Noisy."

Ethan glanced at Luke, his gaze indifferent—like looking at a dead object.

He extended his palm and clenched it slowly.

Pure Azure Flame erupted from beneath Luke's body.

Flame surged upward, enveloping him completely.

Ethan deliberately restrained the intensity.

The original spiritual flame burned slowly.

Painfully.

Luke's scream tore through the ruined hall.

Ethan frowned slightly and sealed his mouth with a flick of divine power.

Luke writhed on the ground, body twisting unnaturally, like a maggot thrown into fire—burning, yet unable to die.

"Aether, stop!" Ava shouted, panic finally breaking through her composure.

Ethan smiled faintly and appeared before her in a flash.

He squatted down and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up.

"The little girl behind the counter back then," he said softly, "has grown up."

"First-turn Mahayana… not bad."

Ava's pupils shook.

"But," Ethan continued with a smile that carried no warmth, "what gives you the right to ask me to stop?"

"…Let me go," Ava said with difficulty.

Ethan's voice remained calm.

"Your Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets does business restlessly across Skyreach Territory. You speak of trade, yet all you do is expand power, hunt people, and seize treasures."

"I came back today for one thing only."

"To clear Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets out of Skyreach Territory."

"You misunderstand," Ava said quickly, forcing herself to stay calm.

"We only do peaceful business in Sun Moon City."

In her heart, she didn't believe Ethan's claim about Noble Sun City at all.

Impossible.

The Pavilion's main force was there—who could wipe them out?

At this moment, hurried footsteps echoed from below.

A figure rushed upstairs—the masked guard who had delivered the ultimatum to the three great families.

When he saw the devastated top floor and the kneeling elders, his mind went blank.

The Pavilion… was losing?

Ethan turned his head and smiled faintly.

"Say what you were going to say," he said calmly.

"I'll give you a chance to live."

Gulp.

The guard swallowed hard, sweat pouring down his face.

He wanted to run—but his legs wouldn't move.

"Miss Ava… Elder Oswin…" he stammered.

"The ultimatum has been delivered to the three great families."

"They… they still haven't agreed."

"When… when do we take action?"

The words shook as they left his mouth.

"Peaceful business?" Ethan smiled and looked back at Ava.

"Is that what you call it?"

Ava had nothing to say.

She glared at the guard, but he lowered his head, trembling—he only wanted to survive.

"Go," Ethan said calmly.

Then he glanced at Alix.

Alix nodded and followed the guard downstairs without a word.

Letting an enemy live?

Only a fool would do that.

Ah—!

A scream echoed from below.

"Aether, don't go too far!" Ava screamed, biting her red lips.

"If you keep killing members of Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, our Supremes will never let you go!"

"If you stop now, we can forget everything!"

"Haha," Ethan laughed softly.

"When Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets killed others, did you ever think you were going too far?"

"As for your Supremes…"

With a thought, several tokens floated out before him—gold and jade, stained with dried blood.

Ava and Oswin froze.

Only the highest authorities of Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets possessed such tokens.

Ethan had taken out more than ten.

"Do you recognize them?" Ethan asked.

"H-how is this possible…!" Ava's voice trembled.

Oswin shook his head violently.

"Fake. These must be fake!"

"Aether, don't try to bluff us!"

Ethan raised his hand.

Then slowly removed the Onyx mask.

A sharp, handsome face was revealed.

One that had already spread across Skyreach Territory through countless portraits.

"You want to know who I am?"

Ava's face drained completely.

"Et… Ethan!"

"You answered correctly," Ethan said softly.

"You win a prize."

He appeared in front of Oswin in a blink and placed his palm atop Oswin's head.

Pfft!

Ava's energy and blood flowed backwards and she coughed up a mouthful of blood, her eyes still fixed on Ethan, whose hand remained on Oswin's head.

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.