She had forced every last trace of power from the Sky-Suppressing Turtle Shell, and only then had she barely preserved her life. Even so, her state was miserable beyond words.

Her body was riddled with scorched wounds, blood seeping from cracked skin. Her robes were torn to shreds, hanging loosely from her frame. The violent explosion had burned away her mask completely, exposing a pale and stunning face now twisted with pain and humiliation.

She clenched her teeth, crimson lips bitten until blood trickled down her chin.

"Damn Ethan…" Celeste growled hoarsely.

"This time, I admit defeat."

"But next time—next time I will make sure you die without a burial place!"

Her fists tightened until her nails pierced her palms. Rage, humiliation, and unwillingness intertwined in her chest like venom.

Today, Ethan had been prepared.

A holy-grade formation laid in advance. Multiple strange flames. Divine power. Terrifying techniques that defied common sense.

She had exhausted every trump card she possessed just to survive.

If she continued to fight in this condition, death would be inevitable.

She could only retreat—return to the imperial capital—and plan again with her brother.

But—

"Can you run away?"

A cold voice echoed behind her.

Celeste's pupils shrank violently.

Before she could react, space rippled.

A streak of white light cut through the sky.

Ethan appeared before her like a phantom, blocking her path.

"The Secret Technique of the Stars—Emperor Star."

"Supreme Prisoner's Heavenly Lock."

Ethan opened his arms and drew a circle over his chest.

Golden light burst forth from his pupils.

Behind him, a colossal phantom star manifested—ancient, vast, and suffused with imperial might.

The Emperor Star.

Golden radiance poured out, condensing into dozens of blazing light points across the sky.

In the next instant—

Boo hoo hoo!

Dozens of thick golden chains descended from above, crashing down like judgment itself.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The chains intersected and embedded themselves into the ground, sealing the surrounding space completely.

Celeste's escape route was cut off in an instant.

"What?!"

She swung the Heavenly Cold Sword, slashing furiously at the golden chain before her.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A crisp metallic sound rang out.

The chain only flickered faintly, shedding a few sparks of golden light—completely unscathed.

"The Sky-Suppressing Turtle Shell!"

Celeste gritted her teeth and took out the incomplete artifact again, intending to forcefully activate it despite her grievous injuries.

But before she could—

A hand clamped down on her wrist.

Her heart sank.

She struggled violently—but the grip was like iron.

Ethan stood before her, eyes cold.

"Let go of me!" Celeste snarled.

"An ant like you dares to touch my body?!"

Pa—!

A clear slap echoed through the space.

Celeste's head snapped to the side.

Her cheek burned as blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"I wanted to give you a clean ending," Ethan said calmly.

"But since you insist on courting death—don't blame me for being cruel."

He seized her throat.

Celeste's body stiffened as numbness spread instantly through her limbs.

"If you dare to blaspheme me," she hissed through clenched teeth, "you deserve to die!"

"My brother will never let you go!"

"Your brother?" Ethan tilted his head slightly.

"Yes! My brother is the master of Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets!"

"Noisy."

Ethan laughed softly.

He leaned closer, his breath brushing lightly against her ear.

Celeste's body trembled uncontrollably.

Humiliation flooded her mind like a tidal wave. She bit her lip until it bled, eyes blazing with hatred and shame.

"Don't worry," Ethan whispered coldly.

"No one in your Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets will escape."

His fist slammed into her abdomen.

Celeste's face contorted as blood sprayed from her mouth.

Before she could scream, Ethan struck her neck with a swift palm.

Her eyes rolled back.

She collapsed unconscious.

"Seal."

Divine power surged, instantly suppressing her cultivation completely.

Ethan withdrew his hand.

"This Supreme Prisoner's Heavenly Lock really is convenient," he muttered.

"It's far stronger than the Prisoner Dragon Lock Senior Sister Althea gave me."

He dispersed the golden chains.

Then, without hesitation, he stripped Celeste of all storage rings and tossed them into his own ring.

Next, he took out the Nine-Colored Soul-Living Bottle and casually tossed her unconscious body inside.

The bottle shimmered faintly, forming a self-contained space.

Living beings—or souls—it made no distinction.

Very convenient.

"Thousand Faces," Ethan murmured as he looked into the distance.

"Where do you think you can run this time?"

His body transformed into white lightning and vanished into the sky.

Minutes later, Ethan arrived at a teleportation formation he had prepared long ago.

Light flashed.

His figure disappeared.

.....

A hundred miles away.

At the bottom of a lake.

Inside a hidden cave.

Ethan emerged from the teleportation formation and floated silently into the air, gazing down at the dark waters below.

Thousand Faces was there.

At the very bottom.

He had already merged with his fake body—successfully executing his golden cicada escape.

"This Heaven and Earth Reversal Technique really is troublesome," Ethan chuckled softly.

"No wonder so many people failed to catch you."

He descended calmly, sinking into the lake.

...

Thousand Faces' eyes snapped open.

A violent wave of nausea surged through him.

He retched violently, yellow bile spilling from his mouth as his body convulsed.

This was the rejection reaction of the fake body.

It would take time to stabilize.

"Damn it…"

"Damn Ethan!"

"If you ever give me another chance—I will definitely kill you!"

He slammed his fist into the stone wall.

The cave shook violently.

Then—

"Why do you hate me so much?"

A calm, chilling voice echoed through the cave.

Thousand Faces' heart dropped.

"Who's there?!"

His voice turned sharp.

"Forgotten my voice already?"

Ethan stepped out from the shadows, smiling faintly.

When Thousand Faces saw him, his eyes widened in terror.

His heart stopped.

"You—!"

"How… how is this possible?!"

His legs trembled uncontrollably.

He staggered backward and collapsed onto the ground.

"I let you escape once," Ethan said calmly, arms crossed as he leaned against the stone wall.

"Why would I give you a second chance?"

"You… even if you knew my secret method, you shouldn't have locked onto my location so fast!"

"And where is Celeste?!"

"What did you do to that woman?" Thousand Faces shouted desperately.

"She's been imprisoned by me."

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Even if you're strong, Celeste is an Ultimate Supreme… how could you defeat her so quickly?"

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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