Heaven-piercing Mind Eyes opened accordingly.

The world peeled apart in Ethan's vision. Layers of illusion, concealment formations, and aura suppression shattered like thin glass.

"So strong…"

His gaze locked onto the woman in black.

Such a dense, restrained demonic aura—cold, ancient, and carrying a trace of calamity—was something no ordinary demon lord could possess.

"At least a tenth-level Upper Demon Lord."

"And the Map of the Eight Wonders reacted the moment she appeared…"

Ethan's lips curved slightly beneath the mask.

"Eight strange and ferocious beasts… it should be this woman."

The confirmation was absolute.

From the instant the woman stepped out of Blue-Wave Tower, the Map of the Eight Wonders inside Ethan's storage ring had begun to tremble violently, emitting a low, suppressed hum—as if encountering a long-lost kin or a destined prey.

There was no mistaking it.

Huh—!

The woman in the black skirt vanished.

A ripple spread through space, and in the next breath, she reappeared on the white jade bridge.

Her movement was ghostly, silent, and precise, as if distance itself meant nothing to her.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

"Look!"

"That's… the Saintess of the Palace of the Four Cycles!"

"Σ(⊙▽⊙) Wow... she's too beautiful!"

All eyes fell upon her.

Though barefoot, her feet never truly touched the bridge. They hovered an inch above the ground, and with each step, faint ripples spread beneath her soles, like moonlight disturbing still water.

"She's unbelievably beautiful…"

"I've heard legends about the Saintess—peerless beauty, grace that topples cities. Seeing her today, it's all true!"

"Worth every spiritual stone I spent changing my house!"

"To witness the Saintess in person… this alone makes the trip worthwhile!"

"Just look. Don't dream. How could someone like us ever touch her?"

"And don't forget—she's not just beauty. She's a true monster."

"A tenth-level demon lord. It's said her combat power rivals an Ultimate Supreme!"

Low whispers surged like waves.

Some stared with infatuation. Others with awe. Others with fear.

Ethan remained unmoved.

No matter how fast she was, no matter how subtle her movement, she could not escape his perception.

"The Saintess of the Palace of the Four Cycles…"

Ethan tilted his head slightly, observing her with interest.

"…interesting."

Huh—!

Another flicker.

The Saintess appeared directly in front of him.

"Why did you injure a leader of the Palace of the Four Cycles?"

Her voice was cold, calm, and devoid of emotion, like frost sliding across steel.

"Instead of asking me," Ethan replied calmly, "you might as well ask your Palace leader what he did first."

For a moment, silence fell.

Lunara's brows knit slightly.

This roe deer spirit dared to speak to her in such a tone?

In all her years, she had never encountered someone so brazen—someone who faced her without the slightest reverence.

Yet she did not underestimate him.

Ren was not weak.

For someone to cripple him so easily, the opponent must be at least a tenth-level demon lord.

What unsettled her more was this—

She could not see through him.

No matter how she probed, the roe deer before her appeared utterly ordinary. His aura was shallow, his presence unremarkable, indistinguishable from a random demon walking the streets.

This had never happened before.

Even Ultimate Supremes or Perfect Supremes could not completely hide themselves from her perception.

But this man…

Nothing.

It was precisely this nothingness that made her wary.

"Did he cultivate some ancient inheritance technique that completely conceals aura and energy?" Lunara wondered.

"No matter what Ren did," she said coolly, "you should not have been so ruthless and seriously injured him."

"Ruthless?" Ethan laughed softly.

"I merely touched him casually. If he ended up seriously injured, that only proves one thing."

"That his strength is too low."

"And his life is too fragile."

His words were light.

Almost lazy.

But they struck like thunder.

Lunara's gaze sharpened.

At that moment, Ethan spoke silently in his mind.

"Alicia. Holographic Eyes. Open."

[Confirmed.]

[Name: Lunara]

[Race: Black Phoenix - Eight Strange and Ferocious Beasts]

[Realm: Tenth-Level Upper Demon Lord (Upper Supreme Peak)]

[Status: Bloodline power suppressed]

[Special Condition: Controlled by Blood Contract]

Ethan's eyes flashed.

Black Phoenix.

So that was it.

Among the Eight Strange and Ferocious Beasts, the Black Phoenix was one of the most terrifying existences—an ominous beast associated with annihilation, rebirth, and calamity.

Even with her bloodline suppressed, she still stood at the peak of the Upper Supreme realm.

If fully unleashed…

She could likely contend with an Peak Ultimate Supreme—or even a Perfect Supreme.

"A blood contract…" Ethan mused inwardly.

"What kind of method is this?"

[Blood Contract: An ancient soul-binding control technique.]

[Those bound by the contract have their soul anchored to the caster and cannot disobey or resist.]

"So even a Black Phoenix can be enslaved."

Ethan's gaze deepened.

"For such a being to be bound, the contract must have been formed when she was extremely young… before her bloodline awakened."

A tragic fate.

No wonder the Map of the Eight Wonders reacted so strongly.

"You act with such arrogance in Blue-Wave City," Lunara said coldly, frost filling her eyes.

"Tell me your name. I wish to know who gave you this confidence."

"I have no background," Ethan replied calmly.

"I'm just a little demon who enjoys cultivation."

"But names can be exchanged."

"My name is Aether. I come from Netherfall Pass."

"Aether…" Lunara repeated softly.

Then she straightened.

"Very well. I am Lunara, Saintess of the Palace of the Four Cycles."

"I had no intention of embarrassing you."

"But you have repeatedly trampled upon the majesty of my Palace."

"Today, I will suppress you and lock you in the dungeon beneath the Palace of the Four Cycles."

"Thirty years."

"If you endure thirty years of punishment, I will spare your life."

Her tone was calm, natural, and unquestionable—like a decree already decided.

Ethan chuckled.

"So this is how you operate."

"You sentence me to thirty years in a dungeon…"

"And still ask for my consent?"

He shook his head slowly.

"If there is nothing wrong with the Saintess's mind..."

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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