Ethan hovered briefly in midair, then landed lightly on the shattered stone.

He jumped up and looked around.

This time, Azure Origin Dao Sect had lost nearly one-third of its disciples.

Blood stained the mountain paths, broken weapons lay scattered, and the lingering aura of battle had yet to dissipate. Yet the remaining disciples stood straighter than ever before.

Fewer people.

Cleaner.

Easier to manage.

In a cultivation world ruled by strength, quantity had never mattered.

"Master is mighty!"

Elias suddenly raised both arms and shouted, his voice hoarse yet burning with excitement.

His eyes shone as he stared at Ethan, filled with undisguised reverence and longing. In his heart, a single thought echoed endlessly—one day, he would stand at that height as well.

Edwin struggled to her feet, trembling slightly as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Instead of fear, a relieved smile bloomed on his face.

He reached out and gently rubbed Liana's head.

"Daughter," Edwin said softly, "you really do have good taste."

Liana did not respond.

She only looked up at Ethan, her silver lashes trembling faintly. A long-lost smile curved her lips, and starlight seemed to gather in her eyes, bright and pure.

Lyralei, however, stood frozen.

Her expression was the complete opposite.

Ethan was back.

And Ethan was not a saint.

He would not forget what had happened back then. He would not forgive casually. With his current strength, he could decide the life and death of both master and disciple with a single thought.

There was no escape.

No bargaining.

All she could do now was wait.

Quietly.

Yet that waiting felt like a blade scraping slowly across her bones.

…

Ethan's gaze swept over Lyralei and Seraphina.

A sneer curled faintly at the corner of his mouth.

Then he descended from the sky and landed beside Liana.

With a flip of his palm, two elixirs appeared, their fragrance instantly spreading through the air.

"Uncle Edwin, junior sister," Ethan said calmly, "take these."

"Good."

Edwin cupped her hands respectfully, swallowed the elixir, and sat down to regulate her breath.

"Senior Brother Ethan!"

Liana could no longer restrain herself.

Her silver hair fluttered as she leapt forward without hesitation.

Ethan paused—but did not dodge.

"Senior brother… I missed you so much."

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face into his chest. Her shoulders trembled as sobs broke free, years of longing finally overflowing.

"…"

Ethan inhaled slowly.

One hand came to rest on her slender waist, steady and firm. With the other, he patted her back gently, rhythm slow and deliberate.

Time passed.

Only when Liana's sobs subsided did the two separate.

Realizing what she had done, Liana flushed scarlet. She hurriedly wiped her eyes, lowered her head, and said nothing, her fingers twisting nervously at her side.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Ethan expression shifted.

He turned his gaze sharply toward the direction of the Demon Sealing Cave.

Something was changing.

"Senior Brother Ethan?" Liana asked softly.

"There's movement in the Demon Sealing Cave," Ethan replied.

"I'll go take a look."

He turned his head slightly.

"You brat—come with me."

Elias straightened instantly.

"Yes, Master!"

The two figures vanished into the night.

They soon arrived before the Demon Sealing Cave.

Ethan's eyes drifted to a small courtyard nearby.

His former residence.

After so many years… it remained untouched.

No one had moved in.

"Master," Elias said quietly, "your residence has been kept as it was. I clean it every so often."

Ethan glanced at him and snorted softly.

"You're serious, kid."

He reached out and rubbed Elias's head.

"Not bad. You've condensed the Ten story Soul Tower already. Once the sect matters are settled, I'll teach you the next stages of physical cultivation—and the materials needed to temper your body."

Elias's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Master!"

After a brief pause, Ethan asked, "How is your mother?"

Elias froze.

Then he tilted his head slightly, forcing a smile.

"She… passed away last year."

"…."

Ethan fell silent.

"My mother couldn't hold on any longer," Elias continued, his voice steady but strained.

"Thanks to Master's elixirs, she lived almost ten years longer. But cultivator medicines were too strong—like poison to her body."

"That extra time… was enough."

Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Life, aging, sickness, death. This is the fate of all living beings. You did everything you could."

"From now on," Ethan said quietly, "walk your own path."

Elias cupped his hands deeply.

"I understand, Master."

Ethan nodded and stepped into the Demon Sealing Cave.

"I'll wait outside," Elias said.

"I won't go in."

Ethan sensed the sadness in his eyes but said nothing.

After Ethan disappeared, Elias leaned against the stone wall and looked up at the moon.

In the silver light, his mother's smile seemed to reappear.

His fingers clawed into his hair as tears finally overflowed.

"Mother… mother…"

He slid down to the ground, sobbing like a child.

…

Inside the Demon Sealing Cave.

Ethan descended floor by floor.

The upper seventeen levels were eerily empty.

No guards.

No demons.

Even the imprisoned monsters were gone.

His brows furrowed.

He arrived at the eighteenth floor.

Crowded.

All the people from the Demon Sealing Cave were gathered here.

Solara was among them.

"Daddy!"

She ran over the moment she saw him.

Elder Azel and the others turned sharply.

When they recognized Ethan, shock flickered—then joy spread across their weathered faces.

"You brat… you're finally back!"

They surrounded him, inspecting him from head to toe.

"What happened outside?" Elder Azel asked.

"It's resolved," Ethan replied calmly.

"All intruders are dead."

"Heh… the world really belongs to the young now," someone sighed.

Old Ghost Athen snorted, arms crossed.

"If the Supreme Elder and Ashira weren't in critical breakthrough, and Azraeth wasn't stirring trouble, I'd have gone out myself."

Ethan smiled.

"Elder Athen is as fierce as ever."

"You still owe me wine," Athen glared.

"We'll drink after Ashira and my master finish seclusion," Ethan replied.

Then his perception spread outward.

He sensed two powerful auras.

Both in the midst of breakthrough.

Critical.

Ashira's aura surged violently, bloodline power awakening stirred within her.

As for his master—he had reached the Seventh-Turn Mahayana before going into seclusion.

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.