Her forehead was drenched in cold sweat, strands of hair clinging messily to her skin. A thin line of blood trailed down from her pale neck, stark and eye-catching.

Yes.

At that moment, Ava finally admitted it.

She was afraid.

Truly afraid.

She didn't want to die like this.

"I… I will follow you."

Her voice trembled as she bit her lip hard, fists clenched until her nails dug into her palms. Tears shimmered in her eyes, refusing to fall.

"This is the consciousness young people should have," Ethan replied indifferently.

Around them, Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets had already turned into a dangerous ruin. Cracks spider-webbed across the walls, stone columns collapsed with dull crashes, and dust drifted through the air like ash from a funeral pyre.

Ethan stood up and turned his back to Ava, gazing toward the direction of the three great aristocratic families.

Behind him, Ava lowered her head.

For an instant—

A cruel, venomous light flashed through her beautiful eyes.

Her pupils contracted, breath tightening. Slowly, silently, she tightened her grip around the dagger.

Surrender?

Impossible.

What difference was there between living as someone else's tool—stripped of dignity, freedom, and will—and being dead?

If that was life, she would rather gamble everything.

Even if the chance was slim to nothing.

She would make one final attempt.

Boom—!

Ava erupted.

All the power of her Mahayana cultivation exploded without reservation. Her aura surged violently, ripping apart the already fragile air. She leapt forward, dagger flashing as she stabbed straight toward the back of Ethan's head!

Huh—!

The blade pierced through.

Ava's eyes lit up with manic joy.

She succeeded!

Even if she died immediately afterward, it would be worth it.

One life for another.

And what she exchanged was Ethan's life—a peerless monster, a heaven-defying prodigy who might one day step into the Emperor Realm.

No loss.

None at all.

But then—

Something felt wrong.

There was no resistance.

No impact.

The sensation of the dagger sinking in was strange, empty, as though she had stabbed into air itself.

Her joy froze.

And in the next instant, realization crashed down on her like a thunderbolt.

"Afterimage?!"

Her pupils shrank violently.

She hadn't touched Ethan at all.

"So fast…"

Before she could react, her body suddenly froze midair.

A powerful hand clamped down on her head from behind.

Unavoidable.

Unresistable.

Ethan appeared behind her, fingers gripping her skull effortlessly, as though holding a bird by the neck.

A terrifying force surged from his palm and poured into her body.

In an instant—

Her meridians shattered.

Her dantian collapsed.

All cultivation dissipated like smoke in the wind.

"You have some backbone," Ethan said with a faint smile.

Ava's body went limp, suspended helplessly in his grasp.

"Ha… so I failed in the end…" she laughed bitterly, despair filling her voice.

Then she suddenly roared, eyes blazing with madness.

"It's absolutely impossible for me to surrender to you!"

"I, Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, will fight you, Ethan, until death!"

"You're right," Ethan replied calmly.

"I was just testing you."

"In that case," Ava shouted hoarsely, "stop wasting words and kill me!"

Her face was pale, her expression desperate, yet her eyes carried a stubborn resolve—a will to face death head-on.

"In that case," Ethan said softly, "I'll help you."

Divine power surged.

Cold. Absolute. Unstoppable.

It flowed straight into Ava's body, piercing through flesh and bone, obliterating her heart in an instant.

Her eyes widened.

The light within them scattered.

Her limbs slackened, body collapsing like a deflated puppet.

Ava—dead.

At this moment, every high-ranking figure of Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets in Sun Moon City had completely fallen.

"Mr. Ethan," Alix stepped forward cautiously, lowering his voice, "Sun Moon City is being handed to a woman without the strength to restrain even a chicken. After you leave… won't she be eaten alive?"

"You're quite sharp," Ethan replied, glancing at him.

"No need to worry. I have a solution."

Alix nodded silently.

This man truly thought several steps ahead.

"Solara, come with me."

Ethan vanished.

When he reappeared, he was already standing before the heads of the three great aristocratic families.

"Greetings, Senior," they said in unison, bowing deeply.

Eunice hurried forward as well, lowering her head respectfully.

"I thank Mr. Aether for his favor, but—"

"Come here," Ethan interrupted, waving his hand.

Enuice paused, then stepped forward obediently.

"No need to worry," Ethan said.

"I will give you three Mahayana-level puppets to assist you in managing Sun Moon City."

With a flick of his fingers, three streams of light shot into Eunice's storage ring.

"These puppets remain under my ownership," he continued, "but their authority is temporarily opened to you."

Then Ethan raised his finger and pointed it lightly at Eunice's brow.

A faint ray of light vanished into her forehead.

"What… what is this?" Enuice asked instinctively, touching her brow.

"Just a kind of poison," Ethan replied calmly.

"You understand what it does."

"I understand," Enuice answered immediately, lowering her head.

She felt no resentment.

Instead, relief washed over her.

Being trusted—even with restraints—was already a tremendous opportunity.

"Rest assured, Young Master," she said respectfully.

"Since you value me, I will do my utmost to govern Sun Moon City. The monthly share for the Blood Tavern will not be lacking."

"That's good," Ethan said.

"I hope you won't disappoint me."

"After some time, I'll send people to station here and assist you."

"My requirements are simple. Stabilize Sun Moon City."

"And don't behave like Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets."

"I understand," Enuice replied solemnly.

"One of the three puppets I gave you uses top-tier spirit crystals," Ethan added.

"It can erupt with combat power at the seventh, even eighth turn Mahayana."

"You don't need to fear anyone."

"Anyone who covets your position—eliminate them."

"Yes," Eunice nodded firmly.

Ethan glanced at her quietly.

Among the three families, the Stormjade lineage was the most pleasing to the eye. Eunice herself showed promise—but trust was earned, not given.

If she failed, she could always be replaced.

Finally, Ethan turned his gaze toward the gathered families.

"From today onward," he said calmly, "I, Ethan, will not interfere in the affairs of Sun Moon City."

"Neither will the Blood Tavern."

"I hope you live peacefully and develop this city together."

"But if anyone dares to harbor improper thoughts behind my back—"

His eyes turned icy.

"Don't blame me for being ruthless."

His gaze swept across the leaders of the three great families.

This sharp gaze made their scalps numb.

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.