In the remote northwest of the Mystic Sun Domain, a mountain valley lay hidden. Outside the valley, a bored green-robed girl paced back and forth, muttering to herself. If you listened closely, you’d hear her repeating the same line: "Sect Master Senior Sister has to succeed!"
Just then.
A blue-robed girl hurried over, carrying a bundle on her back.
The green-robed girl saw her and quickly walked up to greet her. "Shuang’er, did you bring back anything tasty?"
See for yourself.
The blue-robed girl shoved the bundle into the green-robed girl's arms, but her eyes drifted toward the valley, full of concern and worry. She blurted out:
"Yingying, Sect Master Senior Sister has been in seclusion for half a month now—why hasn’t there been any sign? Do you think something might’ve happened?"
Yingying pulled out a skewer of candied hawthorn from the bundle and took a bite, her eyes squinting into happy crescents. Hearing Shuang’er’s question, she paused, then tried to reassure herself: "Don’t worry, Sect Master Senior Sister is super strong. She’s already reached the peak of the Sigilforge Realm, and all she’s missing is a King-Grade Technique. She should be able to break through to the Sun-Soul Realm soon."
"I hope so!" Shuang’er nodded.
Just then, a powerful wave of energy surged out from the valley. Instantly, countless small animals burst from the grass and woods nearby, scattering in panic.
But just as they escaped, it was as if some invisible force pressed down on them, forcing them to crouch on the ground, trembling in fear.
At the same time, a vast aura shot into the sky, scattering the dark clouds overhead. Sunlight poured down, flooding the entire valley, and a towering red figure—dozens of meters tall—appeared in midair...
...
Small town, small courtyard.
Ian Stone stepped out from the Divine Temple and appeared in the room. He opened the door and said to Lena, who was waiting outside, "Pack up. It’s time for us to leave!"
Lena froze at his words, a hint of reluctance flickering in her eyes.
A quarter hour later, when Ian saw the bundles Lena and Conrad were carrying, he paused, then handed each of them a Storage Ring. "Drip a bit of blood to recognize it as your own, then you can use it," he said.
With the Art of Great Teleportation, even though the small town was thousands of li from Gracefield Town, Ian and his two companions arrived at the town gate in less than a quarter hour.
When Ian saw the eight lifeless heads hanging from the flagpole, his eyes narrowed, a cold light flashing within them. He hadn’t expected the Zhu Family to act against the Chu Family’s people ahead of schedule.
Beneath the flagpole, several Divine Sea martialists from the Zhu Family stood guard.
"Take down the heads. Once we've found their bodies, we'll bury them together," Ian said calmly.
"Yes, Master!"
Conrad Wu strode forward, reached out, and grabbed all eight heads, stowing them in his Storage Ring.
"Bastard! Hand over the heads!"
One of the Divine Sea martialists guarding the heads roared in fury.
"Kill them!"
Ian spoke again.
"Cut them down!"
A longsword appeared in Conrad Wu’s hand. With a series of swift strikes, several Zhu Family Divine Sea martialists were instantly beheaded.
Chu Family.
A Sigilforge martialist rushed into the patriarch’s private courtyard, calling out loudly, "Patriarch, Evan Chu has appeared!"
Upon hearing this, Gavin Zhu released his spiritual sense and immediately detected Ian Stone at the town gate.
"Good! That wretch has finally shown himself!"
Excitement colored his words. Previously, he’d intended to quietly dispose of the wretch, but had hesitated out of concern for his daughter Lydia Zhu’s feelings. Now, not only had Evan Chu killed two Zhu Family Sigilforge martialists, he’d also made their King-Grade Technique public knowledge.
If he didn’t kill him personally, he’d never be able to rid himself of this hatred.
At the same time, in two other courtyards, members of the Scarlet Flame Sect and experts of the Lei Family also learned of Evan Chu’s appearance.
"Elder Mu, should we seize Evan Chu right away?"
A Sigilforge martialist sought Supreme Elder Eldon Mu’s opinion.
"No need."
Eldon Mu said calmly, "I’ve already marked him. Even if he flees to the ends of the earth, I’ll be able to find him."
In another courtyard, someone likewise asked the Sun-Soul elders of the Lei Family if they should capture Ian Stone immediately.
It’s said the Lei Family possesses the bloodline of the divine beast Lei Ze, granting them the ability to command lightning.
This time, to capture Ian Stone, the Lei Family had sent out two Sun-Soul elders: Lei Tianya and Lei Fankong, with Lei Mingshan also accompanying them.
"No need. With the Zhu Family making a move, there’s no need for us to step in."
Lei Tianya waved his hand dismissively.
"Evan Chu has come back!"
The news quickly spread throughout Gracefield Town as martial artists ran through the streets, making it common knowledge.
Hearing the news, Roger Qin was stunned. "He actually dared to come back? Isn’t this just asking to die?"
The heads of the Wang and Zhou families were also taken aback.
They all hurried toward the Chu Family estate.
In less than a quarter hour, thousands of martial artists had gathered around the Chu Family estate.
Ian Stone led Conrad Wu and Lena Wei through the town to the front of the Chu estate. Along the way, none of the Zhu Family’s martialists tried to stop or attack them, as if they weren’t worried about Ian escaping.
Stopping in front of the Chu estate, Ian’s gaze landed on the empty spot where the plaque used to hang. His eyes narrowed again.
"Virtuous nephew!"
Just then, a voice rang out.
A man stepped out from the crowd—it was Roger Qin.
"Patriarch Qin!"
Ian was a bit surprised; he hadn’t expected Roger Qin to show up at a time like this.
"Ah, you shouldn’t have come. As the saying goes, ‘as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood.’" Roger Qin sighed, his face full of worry.
"Thanks for the warning," Ian replied calmly, then walked toward the open Chu estate gate, with Conrad and Lena close behind.
Inside the Chu estate’s training grounds, dozens of people were already waiting for Ian. At the front stood two Sigilforge martialists.
Seeing Ian arrive, the two Sigilforge martialists at the front broke into cruel smiles.
One of them stepped forward, sneering, "Little mouse, why aren’t you running anymore?"
Ian glanced at him indifferently and said, "Where’s Gavin Zhu? I’ve already come—why is he hiding like a cowardly turtle instead of coming out to face me?"
"Impudence!"
The Sigilforge martialist flew into a rage, raising his fist and launching a punch at Ian.
"Since he won’t come out, I’ll just take some interest first!"
As he finished speaking, Ian suddenly pointed a finger.
A tiny blaze of red light shot from his fingertip, slamming straight into the force of the oncoming punch.
Boom!
The fist-force exploded, and the red light streaked out, piercing straight through the Sigilforge martialist’s forehead.
An ordinary Sigilforge martialist is about equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Right now, even if Ian only used a single standard divine sigil, he had the power of a Divided-Spirit cultivator. Killing a normal Sigilforge was almost effortless.
Thud!
Seeing his companion collapse backward, the other Sigilforge martialist stared in stunned disbelief, unable to accept what had just happened.
Gavin Zhu, still in the patriarch’s private courtyard, witnessed this scene through his spiritual sense. He was just as shocked—instant kill! How could this wretch be so powerful?
As for the other Sun-Soul experts present, they were all equally stunned by the strength Ian had just revealed!