Infernal Manta, Ancient Beast

"What?" Minister Zhuo stared at him in surprise. "You’re not an orphan? Then who are you?"

Evan Xiao glanced at the window and smiled, "I am—"

He was just about to reveal the key point when, suddenly, a thunderous boom erupted outside. The ground shook violently.

Grace staggered, lost her balance, and smacked her head against the window ledge, grimacing in pain.

Someone grabbed her by the collar—Grace realized Evan Xiao was suddenly beside her. He scooped her up and leapt onto the rooftop.

From the rooftop, the view was wide open. They could see... a massive flying beast had appeared in the sky.

At first glance, it looked like a giant devil ray, with a huge, flat body and a long tail trailing behind.

But on closer inspection, its whole body was covered in steel-like spiked armor. There was a slash of crimson above its eyes, which blazed with ferocious energy. It opened its enormous mouth and, with a sudden blast, spewed a torrent of fire, incinerating a swath of houses and forest below.

"W-w-what... is that thing?" Grace stammered.

"That’s an ancient beast—the Infernal Manta," Evan Xiao frowned. "The Wan Clan’s guardian spirit."

Grace sucked in a sharp breath.

"Let’s go!" Evan Xiao wrapped his arm around her and, before she knew it, they were soaring through the sky on a Red-crested Golden Eagle he’d somehow summoned.

They could see Zane Wan and Grace Wan riding atop the Infernal Manta.

It looked like the Expulsion Order on Grace Wan had already been lifted.

At that moment, the Infernal Manta unleashed another blast of fire straight at the palace.

Grace could clearly see the palace’s barrier at the edge of the formation being pushed back, bit by bit, under the relentless flames.

"Zane Wan, what are you doing?" Master Sage Dao’s voice suddenly echoed across the sky.

Grace turned toward the voice and saw Master Sage Dao floating midair, looking every bit the immortal sage.

"Master Dao, enough is enough!" Zane Wan declared from the Infernal Manta’s back. "The Tuoba family of Vermilion Kingdom dared issue a banishment order against a daughter of the Wan Clan! Today, I vow to destroy Vermilion! Otherwise, how will we ever hold our heads high on this continent again?"

"Master Wan! The gods have decreed: no beast shall wreak havoc among mortals. Aren’t you afraid the gods will punish you for this?"

"The gods?" Zane Wan sneered. "When the Wan Clan was destroyed, not a single god from the Celestial Palace showed their face. Today, this little Vermilion Kingdom is nothing compared to the power my clan once had. I doubt the gods will bother with them either!"

He turned to Master Sage Dao and said, "This is a grudge between the Wan Clan and the Tuoba family. It has nothing to do with you—or with the Verdant Order. Leave now! Don’t let the Infernal Manta hurt you!"

"Amitabha!" Master Sage Dao’s chant echoed through the heavens as his figure gradually faded away.

He tried to persuade Zane Wan for the sake of saving his life.

But since Zane refused to listen, he had no choice but to withdraw.

Inside the palace, chaos reigned. People were running in panic.

The concubines trembled with fear, and the palace maids and eunuchs hid wherever they could.

Only Emperor Henry Tuoba stood calm, watching everything unfold.

The Chief Palace Guard stood by his side, anxiously saying, "Your Majesty, that beast’s fire is truly terrifying! Please, you must leave this place and take shelter!"

Henry Tuoba shook his head, his gaze fixed on the Red-crested Golden Eagle soaring overhead.

That was his General Evan Xiao.

He’d never known the man’s true identity—maybe today he’d finally find out.

Zane Wan’s voice rang out toward the palace, like the judgment of doomsday: "Henry Tuoba, it’s your ignorance and arrogance that led to all this! Today, your entire Vermilion Kingdom will be engulfed in flames, wiped off the face of the continent forever!"