Lord Mars rose from his seat, his voice cutting through the tension like thunder. "Let us all remain calm," he commanded, his tone neither loud nor harsh, yet filled with authority that made hearts still. "Did you all not notice the sword just now?" The hall fell silent. Slowly, eyes darted toward the broken platform and the faint spiritual residue left behind by the heavenly blade. Whispered murmurs rippled through the crowd as cultivators began piecing it together.
Lin Nan, ever the calm and composed warlord, was the first to speak. "The Yin-Yang Blade," he said solemnly, his gaze narrowing on the fading trace of silver light. "In the Path of Swords, no blade is purer." Master Man nodded in agreement, folding his arms. "Indeed. The Yin-Yang Blade can only descend in response to Titan Qi—it purifies corruption, not cultivators. Care to explain, Master Finn?"
Master Finn, however, was beyond reasoning. His face twisted in fury and grief, his spiritual power surging violently. "Nonsense!" he roared. "My disciple was struck down in cold blood! This was no purification—it was assassination!" His aura flared, shaking the hall itself, revealing his cultivation—Bronze Venerable Realm, a level that even the three warlords gave weight to. "Perhaps," he continued, eyes burning with hatred, "the Ava Family has grown too arrogant—using this banquet to suppress my clan's future under orders from the General himself!"
The accusation sent a wave of outrage through the Ava clan. Dozens of cultivators stood at once, their qi igniting like wildfire, ready to defend their honor. Just as the hall seemed moments from erupting into chaos, a single word fell from above—"Yin–Yang."
The heavens themselves seemed to respond. An invisible weight descended upon all within the hall, crushing even the air. Only Kai stood unharmed, looking upward as clouds parted. From the sky, a radiant figure descended, draped in robes of white and gold, his mere presence enough to still every breath.
The figure's voice echoed like divine judgment, calm yet absolute:"Want to judge my disciple? Then ask me first."
A collective gasp spread through the hall as realization dawned—this was no ordinary cultivator. The aura of a Silver Venerable Master rolled outward like an ocean, pressing all to their knees. Not a single soul dared to speak.
The figure descended fully into view, the flickering torchlight revealing his striking appearance. He wore a black-and-white mask, half shadow, half light, with no visible features beyond the faint gleam of his eyes. His attire was that of a gladiator—metallic armguards etched with ancient sigils, a mantle of silver thread interwoven with black scales, and boots that cracked the marble floor with each step. Yet, what made hearts freeze was not his presence, but his power. Those attuned to energy could tell—it wasn't mere spiritual pressure that blanketed the hall, but something heavier, tangible. This was Gravitational Shackles, a technique blending the raw force of body cultivation with the authority of spirit. It was thought impossible to sustain without tearing one's body apart. Yet, this masked master did it effortlessly. His control was immaculate—everyone else was pinned to their knees, while only Kai stood untouched beneath his gaze.
His voice rolled again, calm and low, but filled with divine weight. "Yin–Yang."The word itself reverberated through the hall like the strike of a celestial bell. Suddenly, three cultivators hidden among the crowd screamed in agony. Their robes ignited into ethereal fire, a crimson light pulsing beneath their skin. Gasps of terror echoed as their bodies convulsed, limbs twisting, veins glowing black and red. Before anyone could react, the master extended his hand, and the flames surged brighter, purging the corruption from within them. The hall filled with the smell of burning essence—not human fire, but the burning of tainted Qi.
Then, as silence reclaimed the hall, the master's voice cut through the smoke and fear once more."Within them," he said grimly, "Titan Seeds were planted." His masked face turned toward the trembling nobles and envoys, his aura still pressing the air flat. "The capital is compromised."
Those words fell like thunder, sending a chill through every soul present. Even the three Warlords exchanged uneasy glances. The revelation was far beyond a family dispute—this was heresy against the Empire itself. And the masked master, whoever he was, had just exposed a truth that could shake the foundation of the Terra Empire.
As the masked master approached, the crowd instinctively parted. Each of his steps made the earth tremble faintly, yet his aura remained restrained, refined — a show of mastery few could comprehend. When he reached Kai, the oppressive atmosphere shifted. The man placed a steady hand on Kai's shoulder and, without moving his lips, a calm voice echoed in Kai's mind: "You did well, young master." Kai's pupils shrank in disbelief. "Leon? Master," he replied telepathically, barely containing his emotions. The figure chuckled softly, the sound layered with warmth and pride. "This is merely a clone," Leon explained. "Formed from the shells of Spirit Fruits harvested from my World Tree. A secret art inherited from my master."
Then, turning his gaze to the assembled masters and envoys, Leon rose once more into the sky. His voice boomed like divine thunder.
"My disciple is not to be touched. Should harm come to him, an attack from the Titans will be the least of your worries." As he spoke, faint runes of light spiraled out from his body, sealing the damage across the courtyard. Cracks mended, scorched stone gleamed anew, and even the broken walls stood tall once again — restored as though time itself had been reversed.
When Leon's presence faded completely, the air seemed to grow lighter, though the fear remained. The gathered masters exchanged wary glances, realizing the delicate balance of power had shifted. None dared linger. One by one, the envoys and elders offered curt farewells to the Imperial hosts, their expressions heavy with unspoken dread. By dusk, the grand courtyard was empty save for Kai, standing amid the restored silence, staring up at the sky where his master's clone had vanished. Every clan now raced home, scrambling to uncover what Leon's revelation meant — and how deep the Titans' corruption truly ran.
Later;
Leon's eyes fluttered open, the faint shimmer of golden runes fading from his skin as consciousness returned to his true body. The fragrance of Spirit Fruit essence lingered in the air, and beside him knelt Kai, head bowed in reverence. His master's chambers were vast yet serene — vines of the World Tree curled along the ceiling, glowing softly with life. Leon exhaled slowly, his gaze turning toward his disciple. "You handled yourself well," he said, his voice hoarse but firm. "I saw everything through the clone. The situation in the capital has worsened faster than expected. My master entrusted me with a monumental task, and before we can even begin, we must cleanse the corruption festering within the Empire."
He rose from the bed, the weight of his aura returning with full force, though his control was immaculate. "Three of my Spirit Fruits are now ripe," Leon continued, extending his hand toward the glowing vines. "Each one can serve as the core for a clone — a vessel I can shape and send forth. But with my current mental and spiritual capacity, I can only sustain the strength of a Silver Venerable Master for an hour at most. They will embody my three disciplines — Physical Cultivation, Alchemy, and Formation Arts. Each clone will be as real as I am in its craft, but limited in time and endurance." His eyes flickered briefly, as though measuring the cost already upon him.
Kai lifted his head, awe and concern warring in his expression. "Master… and your true cultivation?" Leon's gaze grew distant, then resolute. "I have stepped into the Bodiless Realm," he said quietly, the words carrying both pride and caution. "But to stabilize it, I must undergo a tribulation unlike any before. My physical shell will not survive if I face it here. I need to find a place hidden from prying eyes — somewhere the heavens themselves will hesitate to strike." He turned toward the vast roots of his World Tree, already envisioning his next move. "Prepare yourself, Kai. The days ahead will decide not only the Empire's fate… but whether I endure the trial to come."
A soft knock echoed through the chamber before a young woman stepped inside, dressed in the silver and crimson robes of the Imperial Couriers. Her expression was grave, and her breathing hurried as though she had flown nonstop to deliver her message. "Apologies for the intrusion, Masters," she said, bowing low. "But this cannot wait. After an investigation conducted by Mars Mountain's envoys, it has been confirmed that the Green River Sect has been colluding with Nora Valley Kingdom—a known asset of the Titan race. By decree of the Emperor himself, the sect is to be emptied of all things—treasures, disciples, and archives alike."
Kai stood and gave a curt nod. "We will be there," he said firmly. The messenger bowed once more and departed swiftly, her footsteps fading into the distance. Silence lingered for a brief moment before Leon chuckled lowly. "That Lord Mars works remarkably fast. I should've known," he said, folding his arms. "As a physical cultivator, he can sense Titan Seeds within another's inner world, even if he cannot peer directly into it."
Seeing Kai's puzzled look, Leon's tone softened as he explained, "Titanization begins as a spiritual deviation but manifests as a physical perversion of nature. It warps the body first, then corrodes the mind. Physical cultivators like Lord Mars are attuned to these changes—subtle distortions in flesh and essence that others would overlook. Titans crave alchemists and formation masters to fuel their dominion, so they target them first… just as they did to Nora Valley. That corruption spreads quickly if left unchecked." He paused, his gaze hardening. "If Green River has fallen, then the capital's infection runs deeper than we feared."
Three hours later, the skies above Green River Sect burned crimson with the reflection of countless auras. Leon and Kai stood among the gathered cultivators—disciples, elders, and envoys from every corner of the Terra Empire. The atmosphere was electric, filled with both awe and anticipation. Many young cultivators approached Kai, calling out greetings and offering respectful bows. Few of them knew the truth—that the calm man standing behind him, silent and watchful, was the true storm guiding the young prodigy's rise.
As the imperial banners fluttered in the rising wind, a figure clad in silver armor strode forward—Master Man, his presence steady yet laced with concern. "Young Master Kai," he said with a respectful nod, "can you reach your master? The leader of Green River Sect is a Silver Venerable specializing in formation. We lack the force to break the barrier he's erected around the sect grounds." His words carried weight; even the other warlords paused to listen. Kai nodded after a moment of hesitation. "I will ask him," he said. "But I cannot guarantee he'll come." Master Man accepted the answer with a grunt and turned to rejoin the others, issuing orders to hold the perimeter.
Leon exhaled softly beside Kai, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Very well," he murmured, closing his eyes. Within moments, the heavens began to shift—the clouds darkened, lightning rippled across the sky, and a crushing pressure descended upon the valley. The crowd's chatter died instantly. Then, a silver figure emerged from the storm, descending with divine might—Leon's Silver Venerable Clone. The power radiating from it sent ripples through the air, and even the Green River Sect Leader stepped forward from his formation to face it, wary and defiant. Without a word, Leon's clone extended both hands, forming 32 radiant palms that spread through the air like celestial seals. Each palm struck a distinct point along the barrier, shattering the complex formation with perfect precision. Cracks spread like veins of light before the entire barrier exploded into motes of dissipating qi, leaving the sect exposed. The Green River Sect Leader's formation dissolved despite his desperate reinforcement, and the once-impenetrable defense fell to ruin under the weight of Leon's mastery.