Aegon didn't think much of what Xiu said initially. She complained about everything he did, so Aegon was used to it. Still, he was curious about what Arnold did this time to piss off Xiu.

"What did he do?"

[He went to Nightmare Desert.]

That instantly caught Aegon's attention as he asked sharply, "Why there? Isn't it very dangerous? And did he go all alone?"

[Yes. He said he found some clues about Mom's death. I don't know how that's related to Nightmare Desert, but he strongly believed in it and left around two weeks ago.]

'Grandma's death?' Aegon got confused. "Wasn't it done by the demons?"

[Yes, but don't forget there are many things that still don't add up. Their plan could only work because they had information, something they shouldn't have. Even with the possibility of there being a traitor, it doesn't make sense.]

Aegon walked out of the hot springs and washed his body while thinking about the matter. After he cleaned himself and dressed properly in a combination of loose cream shirt and pants, he finally picked up the communication stone again.

"Grandma definitely had some Anti-Divination stuff, not to mention her location was unknown to everyone, including her family," he said.

[And she was a Soul Cultivator. She could sense even Rank 9 Beings if they followed her. Not to mention the Dragon Queen herself kept an eye on her. So the point remains, how did the demons get the information about her Ascension?]

"They chose a perfect time to act, which means they kept tabs on her. But how?" He asked, bewildered.

[That's just one of the many mysteries surrounding her death. For the last sixteen years, he didn't do anything so that he could raise you. But now he's free and he's on a hunt.]

Aegon felt his hair standing up hearing her cold tone.

[He won't stop until he finds everyone who killed her. Now that he has a clue, even the Nightmare Desert and Divine battlefield can't stop him from finding the truth.]

Arnold had been a kind and gentle man with neighbor grandpa vibes, so Aegon really forgot that the man once commanded the armies of the whole Empire.

He didn't earn the title of White Death for nothing.

Because of Aegon, he sidelined his revenge, but now that Aegon had grown up, things changed. The old man found a new purpose in his life, the desire to take revenge on everyone who killed his love burned brighter than ever.

That flame of revenge couldn't be extinguished even by the Nightmare Desert.

He sighed, resting his back on the wall, and asked, "Can you contact him?"

[It's the Nightmare Desert, Little Sun. Nothing works there properly. So no, we can't contact him either. But he'll be fine. There's only a handful of people who can venture into that horror and remain alive to tell the tale.]

"It isn't just the Nightmare Desert that scares me, Xiu," Aegon said, concern clear in his voice. "If the clue really leads to something in there, they'll probably know of him. If they can do that to Grandma—"

[As I said, you don't need to worry. Aiyah! Why did I even tell you this! Listen, they only managed to succeed last time because we had a weakness. Now, we don't. Understand what I mean?]

Aegon understood it well. If it wasn't for his existence, then Olena wouldn't have come out of her seclusion and broken her ritual. Others were either in safe hands or were strong enough to be safe.

He was the weakness the demons used against her.

But now there was none.

"Alright, I understand," Aegon nodded. "I'll believe in him."

[Yes. He isn't going anywhere before seeing you married. That's his words.]

Aegon chuckled.

[Alright. Visit me whenever you're free, though I doubt you'll be for a while. Also, if it puts you at ease, Dad ventured into Nightmare Desert three times already and even saved the current Emperor once. He knows that place better than anyone, so he'll be fine.]

Aegon nodded and said, "It's fine. I know all of you are strong, so I'll make sure I don't become the weakness."

With that, he disconnected the call and contacted someone else... someone who had visited the Nightmare Desert himself.

[Peace over.]

Aegon rolled his eyes and asked, "Do you know about Opa?"

[Well, of course. I've known him for decades.]

Massaging his eyes, Aegon said, "I'm talking about the present."

[Looks like you're frustrated. Well, I do know he visited the Nightmare Desert. Though, you have nothing to worry about. He knows that place well. I also gave him an avatar of mine which I could swap places with anytime.]

That relieved Aegon. Although Arnold was strong, the Nightmare Desert was a battlefield of dead gods. Now that he knew Samuel was there for him, he felt much better.

"Thanks for it."

[No need. Although I joke around, he is my best friend. And Olena meant a lot to me too.]

Aegon didn't doubt that.

[I wanted to go with him to search for clues, but that leaves the Empire vulnerable. I don't trust that horned bastard. He keeps an eye on my presence all the time.]

"The Demon King?" Aegon guessed.

[Yes, that half-pathetic ass. The moment I leave for the Nightmare Desert, he'll attack the Empire with full force.]

"Maybe this was a trap for you, then?" Aegon guessed.

[Low chances. They knew I wouldn't leave the Empire even if the sky fell down. Well, that's the day I need to be in the Empire the most anyway.]

"What about Grandpa, then?"

[Unlikely. Demons dread the Nightmare Desert more than humans because they're forsaken bastards. The clue being there itself surprised me.]

"Maybe there's an outsider helping them?" Aegon muttered, closing his eyes. "But that means they have an external ally who is very powerful. Aghh! My head hurts from all of this."

[Then don't poke into it. Let the adults deal with their past while you kids shape the future. That's what we always desired.]

"I'm doing just that," Aegon said, raking his fingers through his wet hair. "Thanks for the info, though. Please keep an eye on him."

[Uh huh. Did you find anything?]

"Just wait for the surprise," Aegon said.

[Alright, then I'll hang up. Have something important to do.]

Aegon stared at the communication stone for a while before exhaling a pent-up breath. He thought, 'Well, with Grandpa Sam being with him, he'll be safe. And he's right. It's the matter of elders, so they can deal with it. Me worrying will do nothing.'

Looking at his hands, he smiled. 'Let's build the future for everyone.'

His next destination was the Lotus Palace, where he found out that Kai had gone into seclusion. It didn't come as a surprise to him, considering Soul Cultivators rely on enlightenment many times to advance.

Kai studied many Rune Formations and even saw him do something impossible. Who knows what kind of enlightenment he got, but Aegon was happy for his teacher.

Fortunately, in the one year spent here, Aegon got on friendly terms with many, so he managed to ask for a big room which was reinforced by many high-ranked Rune Formations.

This was the perfect place for the experiments he was about to perform.

While waiting for Liliana, he thought of calling Elara, but he decided against it. Aegon knew himself well enough to know his reaction if he talked with Elara.

'For now, I need to focus.'

As he was early, Aegon began to read the translated journal and found many pieces of useful information.

'This can be used like that? Damn! Wait. This doesn't even make sense.'

He continued his reading and didn't even realise when a presence had entered his room and sat down before him. It didn't do anything else except look at him.

[Host is a big nerd.]

Aegon frowned at the sudden intrusion and only then noticed the familiar silhouette of Liliana before him.

"I'm sorry," Aegon said, scratching his head.

"It's fine. I've become used to it since I did the same many times," Liliana waved her hand lightly as a set of tea cups appeared before them. "Did you find anything?"

"Yup. And my theory is completed too," Aegon nodded, raising the tea cup to his lips. "Well, it's based on the insane guy, but I corrected its wrong parts, filled the incomplete parts, and added a few of my own things to make it proper. But now I'm confident it'll work."

Taking a sip of warm tea, he smiled and said.

"We thought he failed early, so he didn't achieve anything except theories. But he did achieve something. A single Rune that changed everything."

He paused to take more sips and then continued.

"That Rune allowed him to fool the world and our souls simultaneously, allowing the use of Soul Essence and World Essence through it. That's how we can equip non–Soul Cultivators with stuff that will let them make Rune Formations without actually having Soul Essence."

"There is a but. I can sense it."

Aegon smiled and nodded.

"There are many problems, and one such problem killed that crazy guy."

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