And yet, this was the first time Aether had ever encountered Thousand Faces.

They had never met before.

There had been no prior confrontation, no exchange of information, no chance for exposure.

So how, exactly, had this man recognized him?

Celeste's pupils contracted slightly, a sharp sense of unease stirring in her heart.

As for Thousand Faces, the shock was far more direct.

The gaze he cast toward Ethan was as if he had seen a ghost crawl out of the abyss.

This was his first time seeing Aether.

From beginning to end, his identity had never been exposed—not even a single flaw left behind.

Yet this man had called out his name so calmly.

"Thousand Faces…?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Thousand Faces' voice turned cold as ice. He forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart and sneered.

"Today, you will definitely die."

Ethan laughed softly, his tone carrying unmistakable contempt.

"I think it's you who must die."

He did not waste words.

With a cold snort, Ethan formed seals with both hands.

The air trembled.

"Heaven Burning Ten Thousand Fire Formation—open."

The moment his voice fell, four blazing pillars of flame erupted from the ground in the four cardinal directions. Each column pierced straight into the heavens, scorching the clouds above into rolling crimson waves.

In the next breath, the flames bent inward, interlocking and intertwining, condensing into a colossal formation that sealed off heaven and earth.

The world inside the formation instantly changed.

Celeste's expression darkened.

This was no ordinary formation.

"Retreat!" she shouted without hesitation.

Thousand Faces reacted instantly, retreating alongside her, their figures turning into streaks of light.

But they were still too slow.

The moment they crossed the boundary—

Boom!

The formation closed.

Both of them were completely engulfed within the Heaven Burning Ten Thousand Fire Formation.

"What formation is this?!"

The instant he was trapped, Thousand Faces felt a terrifying heat surge toward him. The flames were not chaotic—they were orderly, layered, and heavy with suppression.

Each breath scorched his lungs.

Each heartbeat felt like molten iron pounding his chest.

"Damn it!"

"Break it for me!"

Roaring in fury, Thousand Faces and his clone swung their swords together. Dense black sword light slashed wildly, striking the fiery barrier again and again.

The formation barrier rippled.

But that was all.

Four different flames flowed within it—interweaving like a living organism.

The ripples vanished.

The barrier returned to stillness.

"What a terrifying formation…" Thousand Faces' scalp went numb.

Celeste raised her head, her eyes scanning the formation with razor-sharp focus.

"There's no obvious flaw."

"This formation's grade is definitely not low."

She paused, her expression tightening.

"But such a formation cannot be deployed instantly unless—"

"Unless what?!" Thousand Faces asked urgently.

"Unless it was arranged in advance," Celeste replied coldly.

Her gaze snapped toward Ethan.

"It was laid here beforehand."

Thousand Faces' mind exploded.

"Arranged in advance…?"

"How is that possible?!"

Then, realization struck him like thunder.

"Could it be… he knew we were coming?!"

Celeste's eyes grew colder.

"What other explanation is there?"

She snorted.

"You're truly useless. You were already being calculated, and you didn't even realize it."

"Impossible!" Thousand Faces shook his head violently.

"This is the first time both of us have seen this Aether! How could he possibly know we'd come?!"

"Then he isn't Aether," Celeste said slowly.

Her gaze sharpened like a blade.

"Or rather—Aether is just one of his identities."

She raised her head and stared straight at Ethan.

"Who are you?"

Ethan smiled.

"Who am I?"

He lifted his hand.

"Look carefully."

With a casual motion, he removed the black mask from his face.

Under the mask—

A familiar face appeared, wearing a mocking smile.

"Eth... Ethan?!"

Thousand Faces screamed, his voice trembling uncontrollably. He pointed at Ethan, his entire body shaking.

"You're Ethan!"

Celeste frowned and pulled out a portrait, comparing it carefully.

"…Indeed."

She put it away and laughed coldly.

"So Aether is Ethan."

"You occupied two seats on the Heaven's Prodigy List of Skyreach Territory."

"What audacity."

"To deliberately lure us here."

"And then trap us with a formation."

She looked up at the blazing barrier and sneered.

"But do you really think a mere holy-grade formation can trap me?"

The next second—

Boom!

Terrifying ice power erupted from Celeste's body.

Divine power surged like an avalanche, crashing into the Heaven Burning Ten Thousand Fire Formation. Space trembled violently as waves of cold devoured the surrounding flames.

Celeste could clearly sense it.

The power within the formation was being suppressed.

Her calm demeanor stemmed from absolute confidence.

No matter how strong Ethan was, without divine power, he would ultimately remain an ordinary supreme.

Against a true Ultimate Supreme, he would crumble.

Especially when facing her.

Just like this formation.

Holy-grade.

But deployed by an Intermediate Supreme.

If it were cast by an Ultimate Supreme, she would have escaped without hesitation.

But Ethan?

Not yet qualified.

"I dared to lead you here today because I'm certain of victory," Ethan replied calmly.

His eyes were indifferent.

Then—

His aura changed.

Milky-white divine light surged out of his body, flooding the formation like a rising tide.

The violently shaking formation suddenly stabilized.

Not only that—it grew more solid.

The flames burned brighter.

And within them… divine power flowed.

The moment divine power spread—

Thousand Faces crashed to the ground like a meteor.

Bang!

He slammed heavily into the earth, blood spurting from his mouth.

A crushing pressure pinned him down.

He couldn't move.

"This… this is divine power!"

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with terror.

"This pressure… Ultimate Supreme?!"

"No—!"

"His realm is still Intermediate Supreme!"

"But he has divine power!"

Celeste sucked in a sharp breath, her expression finally cracking.

An Intermediate Supreme possessing complete divine power—

Such a monster was unheard of.

If he advanced another realm…

His combat power would rival a Perfect Supreme.

"No…"

"This man cannot be allowed to live."

Celeste's eyes burned with killing intent.

"We must kill Ethan here today—no matter the cost!"

She let out a sharp cry.

Her blood essence ignited instantly.

Ethan possessed divine power, but Celeste did not dare gamble.

If she did not burn her blood essence and unleash her trump cards... she would have absolutely no chance of killing him!

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

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