Those who watched the preaching—and the battle that followed—do not sleep that night.
They had all believed the rise of the Wizard Way would mark the decline of martial arts.
But Song Yan's declaration of a new martial realm halts that fear.
Even so, everyone understands the truth: the Wizard Way stands above—because everything a martial artist can do, a wizard can replicate… yet what a wizard can do, a martial artist cannot.
The next morning, as Kaelan finishes a cup of tea, a servant approaches and bows.
"Lord, a woman with golden hair requests an audience."
Li Xueyao sits beside him, fingers wrapped around her teacup, curiosity sharpening her gaze.
Kaelan nods. "Bring her here."
Li Xueyao turns to him immediately. "Do you know who she is?"
Kaelan replies, "On my return from the Chen Kingdom, I fought many enemies. Among them was a member of the Twilight Clan."
Li Xueyao repeats, almost breathless, "Twilight Clan…?"
Then her eyes widen as memory strikes. "The Divine Clan."
Kaelan senses her worried stare and nods in confirmation.
Li Xueyao rises from her seat in alarm. "Why has she come? Is she here to fight you again?"
Kaelan catches her arm gently, pulling her back down. "Calm down. We'll know once we meet her."
Li Xueyao presses a hand to her chest, takes a steadying breath, and nods. "I am calm."
Moments later, the servant leads in the golden-haired woman.
Kaelan and Li Xueyao stand and greet her.
She sits opposite them with an elegant, composed air—her presence bright yet overwhelming in a subtle, divine way.
They exchange brief pleasantries, and Kaelan learns her name: Sieana.
Finally, he asks, "What brings you here?"
Sieana's gaze remains steady. "What will you do next?"
Kaelan answers honestly. "Cultivate. Improve the Wizard Way. Spread it."
Sieana tilts her head slightly. "So the Wizard Way is not perfect?"
Kaelan shakes his head. "How could it be? The Spiritual Wizard Stage corresponds only to the Core Formation realm. The stage equal to the Divine Mind realm has yet to be created."
Sieana nods thoughtfully. "Then… how confident are you that you can create that next stage?"
Kaelan answers calmly, "Right now, I cannot speak of confidence. I am only in the mid-stage of Spiritual Wizard. I must reach the peak before discussing what comes after."
Sieana accepts this with a slow nod, and after a few more minutes of conversation, she rises and leaves.
As the door closes behind her, Li Xueyao frowns. "I still don't understand why she came."
Kaelan has a suspicion—but not one he can share with her.
So he simply says, "Perhaps she only wanted to discuss the future of the Wizard Way."
Li Xueyao sighs and nods.
A moment later, another servant rushes in and bows deeply.
"Princess Consort, an envoy from the Silver Treasure House requests an audience."
The servant's words fall, and Li Xueyao and Kaelan exchange a brief glance.
"A Silver Treasure House envoy?" Li Xueyao murmurs. "They rarely visit personally."
"Let them in," Kaelan says.
Moments later, three figures enter—silver-robed, masked, and carrying themselves with the quiet confidence of a force that spans empires.
Their leader steps forward and bows with refined courtesy. "Prince Consort Kong Wuya, the Silver Treasure House, greets you."
Kaelan nods. "Speak."
The envoy presents a silver-edged jade envelope with both hands. "We have come to deliver an invitation."
Kaelan takes the envelope, sensing the faint rune-seal embedded within.
The envoy continues, "Two years from now, our decade-auction will open again. We invite you, Lord Kong, to attend."
The room stills for a heartbeat.
Li Xueyao's expression turns serious; even she knows how rare this invitation is—an invitation that only goes to those who can shake kingdoms.
Kaelan opens the envelope, glancing briefly at the elegant script inside, then closes it again. "I understand. I will consider it."
The envoy bows once more. "Your presence will be welcomed at the highest level."
Without lingering, the three silver-robed figures turn, their movements fluid as flowing mercury, and they quietly take their leave.
Silence settles after they depart.
Li Xueyao exhales softly. "The Silver Treasure House… even they are paying attention to you now."
Kaelan's fingers brush the jade envelope, his expression unreadable, and he murmurs, "It seems the world is moving faster than expected."
At noon that same day, deep within the dark hall of the Demon Hunter Association, the most important meeting in the organisation's history begins—because for the first time since their founding, their very existence trembles.
Tian Rongsheng slams a palm on the table. "What is there to discuss? Let's go and kill him. We cannot let an outsider destroy our foundation."
Many echo his fury with pounding fists and raised voices, the hall boiling with agitation.
Tian Rongsheng turns toward Tang Luyan, eyes narrowed with mocking disdain; friends they may be, but rivals they have always been, and that rivalry sharpens whenever Tang Luyan sits in the President's seat.
"Tang Luyan," Tian Rongsheng sneers, "are you afraid?"
Tang Luyan scoffs. "Why should I be afraid? But tell me—have all of you found successors for your Demon Swords?"
Tian Rongsheng frowns, confused, his voice loud. "Why would we need successors?"
Tang Luyan leans back slightly, his gaze sharp. "You all think Kong Wuya is a soft persimmon you can squeeze. He fought a Twilight Clan Divine Mind cultivator to a standstill. I am not certain even summoning the Demon Holy Sword can kill him."
Tian Rongsheng growls, "Then what do you suggest? That we lay down so he can step over us?"
A murmur of displeasure spreads through the gathered hunters like a tide of bitterness.
Sima Yu raises a hand, his voice steady but curious. "Tang Luyan, elaborate."
Tang Luyan exhales and places his sword on the table.
The members look at him with furrowed brows, expecting words—but he simply stares at the weapon, and then commands softly, "Go."
Runes flare to life along the blade's spine, and the sword jolts upright, then shoots forward like a lightning bolt, stabbing deep into the far wall with a resounding crack.
Shock ripples across every face in the hall.
Then Tang Luyan speaks again—one word, firm and controlled. "Back."
The sword vibrates, tears itself free from the stone, and shoots back across the hall, landing neatly on the table before Tang Luyan.
Every pair of eyes widens.
What they just witnessed should have been impossible.
The Demon Swords of the Demon Hunter Association are spiritual treasure–grade weapons; to control them remotely requires the cultivation of a Core Formation expert or its equivalent.
And they, as the swords, are refined by generation by their ancestors can only control such a sword while physically holding it, and even that control is imperfect unless they burn their own vitality to force compliance.
Yet Tang Luyan had done it effortlessly, without touching the blade, without visible weakness, and without the slightest fluctuation of burned vitality.
Sima Yu breaks the stunned silence. "How…?"
Tang Luyan rests a hand on the sword. "Remember what Kong Wuya said. We can visualise any aspect of the world. After returning from the preaching, I visualised this sword. My spirit space formed, and in it the sword's visualisation map took shape. And my familiarity with the sword increased."
Tian Rongsheng brightens as if struck by revelation. "Then we can each visualise our family's inherited swords, break through to the Spiritual Wizard realm by ourselves—and then overthrow Kong Wuya!"
Everyone turns toward him slowly, staring as though he has grown a second head.
Sima Yu rubs his temples. "Are you a fool? Kong Wuya preached only the Wizard Apprentice realm. After that comes the Official Wizard realm, and only then the Spiritual Wizard realm. How would we advance to the Spiritual Wizard stage when we know nothing about it?"
Tian Rongsheng's ears redden, and he looks down at his boots in embarrassment.
Another elder leans forward. "Tang Luyan, what plan are you proposing to Kong Wuya?"
Tang Luyan meets their gaze squarely. "I will propose a deal. First—Kong Wuya must personally guide us in cultivating to the Spiritual Wizard stage. Second, after we reach it, we will challenge him together. If we defeat him, we stand as his equals. If not, we acknowledge him as our superior."
The hall fills with whispering.
One of the elders asks, "Will he agree? The deal seems far too favourable to us."
Sima Yu shakes his head. "It seems favourable—but it benefits him as well. If our families cultivate the Wizard Way, then in the Tang Kingdom, the Wizard Way will dominate. That aligns with Kong Wuya's goals."
They nod one after another, understanding dawning in their expressions.
Then Tian Rongsheng speaks again. "What about Song Yan's new stage of martial arts?"
Tang Luyan waves a hand lightly. "Others may not understand Gang Qi, but we do. It forms from the fusion of fierce earth energy and True Qi."
The others nod grimly.
One elder adds, "Our ancestors long knew of Gang Qi, but fierce earth energy is scarce and nearly impossible to absorb. It is not limitless. Few can break through with it."
Agreement ripples across the room.
Tang Luyan rises to his feet. "Enough. I will go meet Kong Wuya."
Without hesitation, he turns and strides out of the chamber, leaving the association in a tense, uncertain hush.