"I shouldn't have indulged Seraphina, and I shouldn't have imprisoned you in the Serene Mirror Lake."

Lyralei's voice was hoarse.

"I'm guilty."

She knelt straight on the stone floor, knees together, raised both hands, and lowered her once-proud head toward Ethan.

The hall was deathly silent.

"Today," she continued, "I will sever one arm to atone for my sin."

"And I volunteer to enter the Demon Sealing Cave and clean the ancestral tomb for fifty years."

"Junior Brother Ethan—please let my disciple go."

As her words fell, a crimson longsword appeared in her hand.

She did not hesitate.

The blade flashed.

Her left arm flew.

Dang—dang—dang!

The severed arm hit the ground, followed by the sword clattering loudly across the stone floor.

Blood splashed.

Lyralei's beautiful face instantly turned pale, her forehead covered in dense beads of sweat. Her body trembled violently as the pain surged like a tidal wave, yet she did not cry out.

She clenched her teeth until blood seeped from her lips and forced herself to look at Ethan.

"If this is still not enough," she said hoarsely, "then Junior Brother Ethan—kill me, behead me, do as you wish!"

"Even if you make me your slave, I will not resist."

"I only beg you to spare Seraphina."

"She was young, willful, and ignorant back then. It was my failure as a master."

Lyralei's eyes were filled with pleading.

Absolute strength had crushed her pride completely.

At this moment, she had nothing left to protect—except her disciple.

"Master!"

Seraphina screamed.

Seeing her master bleeding on the ground, missing an arm, Seraphina completely broke down. Tears streamed down her face as she crawled forward, choking violently.

"It's my fault… it's all my fault…"

"I deserve to die… I deserve it…"

Ethan watched them.

His expression was calm.

So calm that it was frightening.

There was no joy.

No anger.

No satisfaction.

Only a deep, cold stillness.

After a long silence, Ethan turned and walked back to the position above the hall.

"Come."

"Take Lyralei and Seraphina to the Demon Sealing Cave."

"They will remain there for fifty years."

Elder Azel stepped out, cupped his hands, and nodded solemnly. He glanced at the master and disciple, sighed softly, then signaled others to escort them away.

At least…

They were alive.

Not long after the two were taken away, a figure appeared quietly in the hall.

Ash Burn.

Everyone immediately stood and bowed.

"I greet the Supreme Elder."

Ash Burn waved his hand dismissively and looked at Ethan, nodding faintly.

The reason he had not appeared earlier was simple—he did not want his presence to influence Ethan's decision, nor did he wish to give others in the sect a reason to speak of favoritism.

This matter had to be decided by Ethan alone.

Ethan turned around and faced the crowd.

His gaze swept across the elders, peak masters, and hall leaders.

Then he spoke.

"From today onward, Azure Origin Dao Sect will abolish the Sixteen Peaks."

"We will establish an Elder Council."

"The Law Enforcement Hall will remain."

"All new disciples will enter the outer sect first and undergo annual assessments."

"Those who pass will enter the inner sect."

"A contribution value system will be established."

"Contribution points may be earned through sect tasks, cultivation, trials, and battlefield merit."

"As long as the contribution value is sufficient, one may redeem all sect resources—heaven and earth treasures, cultivation techniques, martial arts."

A slight pause.

Then his voice deepened.

"I will also establish a Treasure Pavilion."

"It will contain rare cultivation resources."

"Even treasures at the Supreme level."

The hall erupted internally.

Supreme-level treasures.

That alone was enough to make countless powers bleed for them.

Before this, even Mahayana-grade items were priceless in Azure Origin Dao Sect.

But now—

Ethan had forcibly raised the sect's foundation by several levels.

"We are willing to go through fire and water for the sect!"

The elders and hall masters cupped their hands and shouted in unison.

Ethan nodded.

Then he said calmly, "However—"

"The sect leader will not be me."

The hall stilled.

Ethan turned and looked at Ash Burn.

His meaning was obvious.

Ash Burn laughed helplessly.

"This brat…"

He knew.

With Ethan's talent, Azure Origin Dao Sect was only a temporary stop.

From the ancient records, Ash Burn knew this continent was called Oceanreach.

Beyond the endless sea—

There was another Continent.

That was where monsters like Ethan truly belonged.

Ash Burn appeared beside Ethan in a flash.

"You've pushed a troublesome job onto me," he said with a smile.

"But it's fine."

"I'm old. I don't want to wander anymore."

"Everyone," Ethan said, cupping his hands toward the hall, "the remaining matters will be handled by my master."

With that—

He vanished.

—

Outside the Holy Peak.

Ethan let out a long breath.

"It's settled."

For the first time in a long while, he felt light.

Azure Origin Dao Sect was stable.

He had already asked Junior Sister Liana to oversee the construction of the Treasure Pavilion.

He would remain behind the scenes.

Nearly one-third of the massive resources he had accumulated would be placed into the pavilion.

With this foundation, it would not take long for Azure Origin Dao Sect to rise to the level of the Holy Land of Endless Mountains.

Even in his absence, they could withstand most crises.

Next—

The Demon Territory.

He still had a mission to complete.

And Thousand Faces.

That man possessed a Onyx Mask and the mysterious Thirty-Six Supreme Celestial Fiend Methods.

He would not let Ethan escape.

Especially when the incomplete stone tablet was still in Ethan's hands.

That man would come.

Sooner or later.

—

That evening, Ethan arrived at Elias's residence.

Inside the courtyard, Elias was practicing swordsmanship.

Shirtless.

Sweat poured down his body.

His physique was well-proportioned and powerful, skin tanned by the sun, muscles coiled with strength.

A longsword flashed in his hand.

Sword intent surged violently.

His dark eyes were sharp—like a tiger lurking in the shadows.

Huh!

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 Luxury Car: @Sheng_Mei

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