"This should be a sonic attack that directly targets the sea of consciousness. Be careful."

…

Lunara glanced sideways at Ethan when she heard the message.

"Thank you," she replied calmly.

"Find a way to leave first. There are too many people from the Palace of the Four Cycles. It's not worth entangling with them here."

"It won't be too late to deal with them after we obtain what we want."

Ethan did not respond.

He only gave a faint, unreadable smile.

"Ho—!"

The enormous golden sphere of light in the Dragon Leviathan Fish's mouth had finished condensing.

Instead of firing outward like a beam, the golden light suddenly softened and diffused, spreading in expanding rings like ripples on water.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Invisible sound waves swept across the swamp, tearing through air and space alike.

This was not an attack aimed at flesh or bone.

It was a direct assault on the sea of consciousness.

Within a radius of fifty meters, every living being was enveloped.

Only at this moment did Ember's expression change.

Her pupils shrank sharply as she shouted, "Mental defense—now!"

"Mental defense!"

"This is a mental sonic attack!"

Before her words even fully fell, Ember forcibly mobilized her mental energy, hastily erecting a defensive barrier around her consciousness.

The demon race was naturally weak in this regard.

Compared to humans, demons possessed powerful physiques and bloodlines, but their souls and minds were far less refined.

Mental cultivation was difficult, slow, and rarely prioritized.

As a result, the Twelve Golden Eyes Dragon Leviathan Fish's attack caught them completely off guard.

The soundless roar swept through.

For a brief instant, Ember, Eryon, Sorrel, and the others all felt their minds shake violently.

Their vision blurred.

Their ears rang.

Nausea surged.

Some even felt the illusion that their souls were being torn apart.

Fortunately, these were all top-tier geniuses.

Their reactions were fast enough.

Within five breaths, the disturbance subsided.

But five breaths…

For experts at this level, five breaths were enough to determine life and death.

"Go!"

Ethan gave a short command.

In the next instant, his figure turned into a streak of golden lightning, shooting toward the distant golden pillar of light.

Kara, Elara, and Risa followed without hesitation.

By the time Ember and the others stabilized their minds, Ethan's group had already flown far away.

Only several fading light trails remained in the distance.

Ember steadied herself midair and looked toward the horizon, her expression cold.

"Eryon," she said sharply. "They've escaped."

"Stop them. We'll deal with this beast."

She spread her arms.

Her mental barrier expanded outward, fully isolating the lingering sound waves.

With a soft whoosh, a pair of dazzling golden flame wings unfurled from her back.

Her body slowly rose into the air.

Bare feet suspended above the swamp.

White jade legs smooth and flawless.

A luxurious golden skirt fluttered in the turbulent airflow.

Her long, slightly curled golden hair danced wildly.

Demonic energy surged from her body, roaring skyward like a pillar of fire.

The shockwaves rippled outward, churning the swamp water and causing towering trees to sway violently.

At this moment, Ember resembled a divine being descending upon the mortal world—noble, domineering, and untouchable.

This was the biological daughter of Valerius.

The pride of the Golden Phoenix clan.

A peerless genius acknowledged by all four palaces.

Lunara glanced at Ember from below and frowned slightly.

So strong.

During her period of seclusion, Ember's strength had clearly surged again.

She was only one step away from the Ultimate Demon Lord realm.

But Lunara felt no jealousy.

She had merely been suppressing herself—waiting.

"That Dragon Leviathan Fish is nothing more than a low-intelligence beast," Ember said coldly, her voice resounding through the swamp.

"You possess only a trace of Winged Dragon blood, yet you dare act so arrogantly before my Golden Phoenix clan?"

"Today, even under the restrictions of this place, I will kill you here!"

Golden flames exploded around her body.

She looked down at the massive beast like a sovereign passing judgment.

The Dragon Leviathan Fish did not understand her words.

But it understood provocation.

Its twelve golden eyes spun violently as rage surged.

In its simple mind, there was only one response.

Kill.

Devour.

The Dragon Leviathan Fish was an anomaly among demon beasts.

Ordinary demon beasts gained intelligence as their realms rose, eventually cultivating and transforming into humanoid forms.

But the Dragon Leviathan Fish was different.

Even with fully awakened bloodline and Twelve Golden Eyes, its intelligence remained pitifully low.

Unless it consumed a Transformation Pill or an exceedingly rare Transformation Grass, it would never take human form.

This was the price it paid for its terrifying body and near-perfect defenses.

Lunara silently cursed inwardly.

Ember's provocation would only draw the Dragon Leviathan Fish's full fury.

But that was fine.

As long as Ethan could escape first, the situation here no longer mattered.

With the combined strength of the Palace of the Four Cycles, holding back the Dragon Leviathan Fish was not a problem.

On the other side of the battlefield—

Eryon's gaze turned icy the moment he saw Ethan retreating.

Letting this man escape under their watch?

Impossible.

If that happened, how would they ever raise their heads again within the Palace of the Four Cycles?

"Chase."

Eryon spoke a single word.

The three figures—Eryon, Seris, and Kairon—instantly turned into streaks of white light, tearing through the air in pursuit.

Secret techniques activated simultaneously.

Their speed soared.

Although they were still far behind Ethan, they were rapidly closing the distance to Elara and the others.

Ethan glanced back.

The three figures behind him were becoming clearer by the second.

"They're really persistent."

A cold sneer curved his lips.

He stopped abruptly.

Raising his hand, a purple bead appeared in his palm.

Heavenly Net Demonic Pearl.

Luca's treasured artifact.

A combined defensive and flying spiritual weapon.

Ethan appeared instantly in front of Kara and the others.

"Senior Sister Kara," he said calmly, handing her the bead.

"Take the Heavenly Net Demonic Pearl."

"You follow the map and locate the ruins."

He looked at Elara and Risa in turn.

"Once you find it, use the jade token to notify me immediately."

"Junior brother—" Kara started.

"No nonsense," Ethan interrupted flatly.

He waved his hand.

A powerful force surged out, pushing Kara, Elara, and Risa away in a single motion.

The Heavenly Net Demonic Pearl flared, wrapping them in purple light as they accelerated into the distance.

Ethan turned around.

His gaze locked onto the three approaching figures of the White Tiger clan.

Now—

He would accompany these so-called geniuses…

And see how much weight their pride truly carried.

A faint black aura filled the air as the Holy-grade Desolation-Annihilating Sword was drawn.

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: @Chuckalotapus

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.