Kaelan stands on the far bank of the Xinyi River, Chen Wei and Chen Qi at his side. In his hands rests a large parchment, its surface covered with clean, angular lines—an architectural design utterly foreign to this world.
"I want the Wizard Academy built like this."
Chen Wei and Chen Qi lean closer. Their brows slowly rise.
The design is nothing like the graceful pagodas or spiritual halls common in the Tang Kingdom. Instead, towering stone walls, pointed roofs, arched windows, layered terraces, and interconnected gatehouses stretch across the parchment—
—a castle, and not just one.
Kaelan taps the centre segment of the drawing.
"This one will be built first. It will serve as the administrative hall, library, and hold the first classrooms. The others can be constructed phase by phase."
Chen Wei nods, swallowing—half in admiration, half in pressure. He carefully rolls the parchment.
"Yes, Lord. I'll notify the builders immediately."
He leaves briskly.
Chen Qi remains, hesitating a moment before speaking.
"Lord… the nobles and powerful families keep asking me when you will accept more disciples."
Kaelan lowers his gaze in thought.
He already has twelve students—promising seeds. But even if they eventually become teachers, that will take years. Teaching such a small number… the spread of the Wizard Way would be painfully slow.
And teaching hundreds himself?
Impossible.
If he spent all day lecturing and guiding students, he would have no time left to cultivate. And without strength—absolute, overwhelming strength—his path would eventually be crushed by the existing powers of the world.
Strength comes first. Only then will the world follow willingly.
I need another method.
Then a thought rises—quiet, sharp, and perfect.
Clones.
Not avatars for battle—not yet.
But teachers.
Copies capable of guiding apprentices while the true body cultivates, refines artefacts, and continues building the Wizard Way.
"They don't need my full strength," he murmurs. "Just enough to teach."
His eyes sharpen with purpose.
"I will need to create a Clone Spell."
Meaning: the next few days will not be spent resting.
He turns to Chen Qi.
"Tell them that once the first castle is complete, I will make my decision."
Chen Qi bows. "Yes, Lord."
Once he leaves, Kaelan remains where he is, watching workers dig foundations, marking the first footprint of a new era.
Then—he senses it.
A sharp, refined aura sweeps across the river like moonlight reflected on steel.
Kaelan turns.
An elegant figure in white robes approaches through the air—calm, composed, and carrying the weight of a decision.
Tang Luyan.
Kaelan smiles faintly.
"So… they couldn't wait."
Kaelan and Tang Luyan stand facing one another beside the riverbank, wind pulling lightly at their robes.
Kaelan wears a calm, knowing smile—almost playful.
"Lord Tang, to what do I owe your visit?"
His tone makes it clear he already knows the answer.
The Tang Kingdom was his chosen foundation for the Wizard Way. Once the Wizard Path spread across the world, martial arts would slowly weaken under its shadow.
And when that happened, the Demon Hunter Association—pillar and overseer of the martial path in Tang Kingdom—would lose influence, authority… perhaps even its purpose.
So their options were simple:
Fight him or submit.
Tang Luyan answers with steady composure, "Lord Kong, surely you already understand why I am here."
Kaelan tilts his head slightly. "You're here to surrender?"
Tang Luyan laughs softly.
"Lord Kong, we are not at war. Why would we surrender?"
Kaelan's smirk deepens.
"My apologies. I assumed the rise of the Wizard Way might… conflict with your Association."
Tang Luyan looks toward the far river and answers calmly,
"If that were truly the case, we would have stopped you long before now."
Kaelan nods.
"So you endured because you were waiting to gain the cultivation method beyond the Ultimate Martial Realm."
Tang Luyan's expression remains unchanged as he shakes his head.
"That was part of it. But the greater reason is this: the Wizard Way strengthens the human race. It strengthens the Tang Kingdom. In the coming war against the demons, we cannot afford to be small-minded."
Kaelan's smile becomes genuine—not mocking this time.
"Well spoken. Then let us move forward. Tell me—what proposal do you bring?"
Tang Luyan straightens his spine slightly.
"We wish to assist you in spreading the Wizard Way. The Demon Hunter Association will be reorganised into the Wizard Association."
Kaelan looks amused.
"A generous offer. But I still haven't heard how your side benefits."
Tang Luyan continues without pause.
"In return, we want you to create cultivation methods suited for the Demon Hunter aristocratic families. A path compatible with our Demon Swords."
Kaelan nods once.
"Accepted."
Tang Luyan exhales softly—then adds:
"And one more condition."
Kaelan raises a brow. "Oh?"
Tang Luyan meets his eyes.
"You will accept me—and all elders of the Demon Hunter Association—as your opponents. We will challenge you together. If we defeat you, you must leave the Tang Kingdom forever."
The wind grows sharp for a moment, but Kaelan doesn't blink.
"Very well."
His tone is quiet, but final.
"Tomorrow night—come here. At that time, we will settle your techniques and your future."
Tang Luyan bows slightly, then glances at the foundation pits and scaffolds forming the beginning of the academy.
Without another word, he rises into the sky and flies back toward the capital.
Kaelan remains, watching the construction work continue. With his power, he could erect the entire academy in a few hours—but he doesn't. Ordinary people need work, coin, and the pride of contributing to the future.
Not everything required power.
Meanwhile, back in the palace training grounds—
Lin Zian practices the Seven Light Sword.
His blade slices through the night again and again, arcs of light tracing the air… yet the sixth colour refuses to appear.
He performs the Seven Light Sword Technique from beginning to end—
the first five sword lights bloom successfully—
But the sixth remains elusive as mist.
Still, he isn't discouraged.
He knows he will grasp it.
Just as he once comprehended the fourth light without even possessing the middle section of the technique.
Now that he has obtained that missing section from Lord Kong, his understanding of the Fourth and Fifth Lights has reached perfection—but despite asking countless people and searching records endlessly, he has never found the final section of the technique.
That missing piece hangs above him like a sealed sky.
Eventually, he stops practising for the night.
He exhales slowly, sheaths his sword, and walks back toward his residence.
Inside his room, he sits cross-legged and transitions into cultivation—
The Dark Light Cultivation Technique.
An ultimate-grade method.
Its purpose:
To cultivate absolute darkness within the spirit space and refine it until a single ray of light is born from that darkness.
To achieve this, he must master techniques of the Dark Path, which he already practices—but he also cultivates the Light Path, represented by the Seven Light Sword.
He follows them both because of a single line of theory left behind by the technique's creator:
If one can birth light from absolute darkness, they will break past the Ultimate Martial Realm and step into the unknown next realm.
Now, with the rise of the Wizard Way—and the newly revealed Gang Qi realm from Song Yan—Lin Zian has two clear alternatives to advance beyond the Ultimate Realm without following this near-mythical theory.
Logically, he should switch paths.
But he hesitates.
Something deep—instinct or fate—warns him:
If he abandons this theory, he will lose something he cannot replace.
---
He doesn't understand that feeling.
He only knows he cannot ignore it.
So instead of switching paths, he closes his eyes, steadies his breath, and continues cultivating.
Dark elemental energy gathers.
His qi refines it.
His spirit senses the Law of Darkness, tracing its hidden structure.
Slowly, within his spirit space, the darkness condenses…
And a whirling vortex of dark elemental comprehension begins to form.
The night grows deeper.
So does his resolve.
While Lin Zian cultivates beneath the deepening night, Kaelan returns to the palace.
The sun has already dipped behind the walls, and the distant sound of construction fades as workers end their day.
Walking the quiet corridors, Kaelan debates his next step.
Cultivation?
or
Refining spiritual instruments?
Now that he walks the Storm Path, the will of the world itself supports him. His progress moves without obstruction, and if he chooses to continue, he knows he will reach the late Spiritual Wizard realm within a few months.
But advancing further will not raise his combat strength as much as it once would.
His strength already touches the quasi–third stage.
Breaking through again—though significant in theory—would not change the battlefield in any meaningful way.
What will?
Refinement.
If he can successfully forge peak second-stage spiritual instruments, the gain will outweigh simple cultivation advancement.
So he decides refining must be his priority—for now.
His thoughts pause as footsteps approach.
A servant bows deeply.
"Lord, Her Highness requests your presence in the royal chamber."
Kaelan exhales faintly, masking his shift from calculation back to courtly presence.
"I understand," he replies.
He turns toward the palace chambers, cloak trailing softly behind him as he walks—
the night quiet, yet heavy with coming change.