Her expression shifted to shock as she watched Yuta, who had begun carefully unbuttoning her jacket, taking pains not to damage any of the buttons.
Suddenly, his expression turned more malicious; he tore through her clothing, revealing her milky-white skin. She struggled desperately to break free from his grip, but every attempt proved futile.
"You vile wretch! How dare you do this to me?!" Jiya hissed through gritted teeth, glaring at Yuta with intense hatred and contempt.
Unfazed, Yuta's sinister expression remained unchanged. He placed his hand upon her soft, supple breast, then plunged it deep into her body.
Reaching through her chest, he seized her heart—which throbbed, struggling against his brutal, unyielding grasp.
Blood gushed from Jiya's mouth as she clutched at Yuta's hand, trying to stop him from tearing her heart out.
But her efforts were entirely in vain. Yuta calmly withdrew his hand, holding Jiya's heart, and gazed at it with a faint smile.
He had extracted her heart, which bore a black mark—a control mechanism designed to ensure Jiya remained under the absolute command of Aster Guilford. The moment Jiya saw her own heart in Yuta's hand, the truth became clear to her. Thump... thump... thump...
Jia's heart continued to beat faintly. Yuta tossed it aside, then used black flames to vaporize the blood on his hand before wiping the blood from Jia's mouth.
"Don't worry—you won't die. After all, you are immortal. I must say, I'm impressed; you're quite the actress. Did you really think I didn't know you were immortal?"
As he spoke, Jia's heart began to regenerate, and the wound closed and healed on its own. The recovery process lasted a few seconds, and soon, her chest returned to its original state.
"You are truly beautiful, Jia Guilford."
Yuta's tone carried a hint of mockery. Resting his chin on his hand, he leaned in and kissed her once more.
He then pulled away, watching as she restored her clothing to its former state, as if nothing had ever happened.
"How did you know about the slavery seal placed on my heart? Even I wasn't aware of its existence."
"You'll find out when the time is right."
Jia's eyes narrowed in annoyance at his words, but she chose to let it go—she knew there was no point in pressing him. Once Yuta set his mind on something, nothing could stop him from seeing it through.
End of flashback.
She turned her gaze toward Yuta, who wore a mocking smile as he looked at the stunned Sorcerer Emperor—a man left completely speechless. She rose from her seat, placing a hand on his shoulder as she spoke:
"It seems you were aware of this. You essentially tore out your own heart with your own hands, didn't you?"
Yuta looked at her for a few seconds before responding to her question:
"Once we finish our business with the Sorcerer Emperor, Aster Guilford, I'll tell you everything you need to know—alright?"
Gia nodded in agreement, prompting a faint smile from him. He then spoke in a calm, mocking tone—loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Everyone now knows the shameful, disgraceful truth about you—using six-year-old children to further your own selfish goals."
"Do you feel no shame or disgrace in committing such vile acts? Nine years ago, you used me—Yuta Caseral—to manipulate my genes, aiming to create a being that possessed the traits of the three most powerful races: demon, dragon, and angel. But something unexpected happened; during the process, an overproliferation of cells caused a split, which is how Gia came to exist in this world."
Gia turned to look at Yuta, her expression filled with shock—though it returned to normal within mere seconds. The striking resemblance between them was proof enough.
"So that explains why we look so much alike. In short, we are one person, split into two halves."
She offered a malicious smile, her gaze shifting toward the Sorcerer Emperor, Aster Guilford. "Why did you do this to us? We never hurt anyone! I was just a six-year-old child. How could you have the audacity to do such a thing?"
Jia's voice was laced with rage and hatred.
Yet, the Magic Emperor Aster Guilford showed no concern; instead, he let out a boisterous laugh. High above, several legendary-tier spells were taking shape with frantic speed—a feat made possible by the 'Wing of Blessing' bestowed upon him by the venerable 'Heaven-Shatterer.'
"Hahahaha! In the pursuit of power, anything is permissible. You two are nothing more than raw material to fuel my own strength—nothing else! But fret not; once I've wiped this city off the map, I shall use what remains of your bodies to ascend to the pinnacle of power!"
Yuta began to applaud, his gaze fixed on Aster with profound contempt. Aster Guilford's expression remained unchanged, save for an even greater surge of arrogance and conceit.
With a calm, composed tone, Yuta snapped his fingers and said:
"Thank you, Magic Emperor Aster Guilford, for personally confirming your affiliation with the 'Scorpion' organization."
Suddenly, portals appeared, broadcasting the scene to the entire world—from the humans on the Central Continent to those across the other four continents.
"It seems the truth about you has now been revealed to the whole world. Wouldn't you agree?"
Aster Guilford gritted his teeth, listening to Yuta's words, which dripped with mockery. He unleashed several spells toward him, only for them to be blocked by the dome Yuta had erected before the demonstrations began—leaving Aster Guilford momentarily stunned.
Yet, as the saying goes, misfortunes never come singly; his "Blessing" wings vanished, as the exalted "Blessing of the Heavens"—Isabeth—had revoked his inheritance. As the original owner of the power, she could hardly allow it to be used against her own son.
Consequently, the legendary-tier spells dissipated, as they required a vast amount of energy to sustain. Seeing this, Yuta beamed with sheer delight before launching an advanced-level spell of his own toward his opponent.
The Sorcerer Emperor was left both enraged and stunned as he struggled to fend off the assault. He cast his gaze toward the figures who remained in their positions: the Exalted "Heavenly Pool" Izalabeth, the Exalted "Lotus Blossom" Jihao Yuxuan, the Exalted "Star-Hunter" Zendaya, and the Exalted "Final Patch" Ping Tao Xin.
A familiar sensation stirred within him as he looked at the Exalted "Heavenly Pool" Izalabeth; she emanated the very same exquisite aura as his own "Pool Pavilion." Moreover, her resemblance to the woman trapped within the disc led him to a realization: she was that same mysterious entity.
He turned his eyes toward her with absolute certainty. After all, the Sorcerer Emperor Aster Guilford was among the most brilliant minds in the human realm—for the practice of sorcery demands immense mental fortitude and formidable analytical prowess. It took him mere seconds to deduce her true identity.
He knelt submissively at her feet. The other Exalted ones responded with derisive laughter, as did Athena, Chloe, Madeline, and Siri. Keri and Leri, however, were gripped by terror, assuming that the Exalted "Heavenly Pool" Izalabeth was, in fact, his master.
"Yuta is in grave danger! If someone as powerful as the Sorcerer Emperor Aster Guilford is kneeling before her, just how formidable must this woman be?!"
Keri's voice was heavy with anxiety as he watched the scene unfold. Athena wore a smile, clearly struggling to suppress a laugh—a reaction that left both Kerry and Liri looking quite bewildered.
Athena then revealed the identity of the "Venerable Heaven's Blessing, Islabith." Upon learning the truth about Yuta, the expressions on their faces shifted into a complex mix of shock and an irrepressible urge to laugh at the predicament of the Sorcerer Emperor, Aster Guilford.
"My Lady, the 'Venerable Heaven-Breaker' has granted me the 'Wing of Blessing' to retrieve Subject No. 000002546 from Group D—known as Yuta Caseral—along with Giya Caseral. I humbly request your blessing to eliminate them on your behalf."
The Venerable Heaven's Blessing, Islabith, regarded him with a calm, inscrutable gaze, which left him feeling somewhat uneasy. Nevertheless, he dared not utter another word.
He then turned his attention toward Yuta and Giya, who were approaching with faint smiles on their faces—a sight that left him utterly baffled by the unfolding situation.
"How are you, my dear mother—the Venerable Heaven's Blessing, Islabith? I am so happy you could join us at the Summer Festival to celebrate!"
The expression on the Venerable Heaven's Blessing, Islabith, softened into a warm smile as she gently stroked the hair of both Yuta and Giya—all while the Sorcerer Emperor, Aster Guilford, looked on.
He stood frozen, unable to utter a single syllable, completely overwhelmed by shock and disbelief. The entity that granted him those wings was none other than the mother of the very person he had sought to kill!
He turned his gaze toward Yuta, who watched him with a calm expression—a look so reminiscent of the "Heaven-Shattering Venerable" himself that it left him stunned. In a voice filled with utter disbelief, he stammered:
"This is impossible... You... the founder of the organization..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the "Star-Hunting Venerable" Zendaya extracted a sphere of energy from his body—his terrifying innate talent. As a "Star Hunter"—or, more accurately, a "Talent Thief"—he possessed an ability as fearsome as that of the "Sorcerer Emperor" Aster Guilford.
Meanwhile, the "Heaven's Blessing Venerable" Izlabeth obliterated his body, leaving only his head resting upon the ground—a sight that sent shockwaves across all five continents.
"What?! She killed him with such ease! She is absolutely terrifying! It's the 'Heaven's Blessing Venerable'—the mother of the 'Cold-Sky Star,' Yuta Casiral!"
"If I recall correctly, I've heard of someone by that name living in a garden on the Central Continent. Rumor has it that even the 'Final Patch Venerable' Ping Tao Xin and the 'Star-Hunting Venerable' Zendaya hold her in awe."
"Given how powerful her son is, it only makes sense that his mother would be equally formidable—capable of shaking both heaven and earth!"
---
Elsewhere, within the Tai Clan on the Southern Continent, Tai Hoon and Tai Shini sat sipping hot tea, watching the events unfold in the city of Berhais. The death of the Sorcerer Emperor Aster Guilford—and the truth revealed by Yuta at that very same moment—came as a profound shock, even to Tae-hoon.
"Renowned investigator Tae-hoon, do you still wish to pursue the investigation into the incident within the Hua Yu Clan, or would you prefer to complete your inquiry into the death of Sao-mei, one of the young masters of the Tai Clan?"
Tai-shin's tone remained calm as he gazed toward him.
Tae-hoon, however, offered no reply. His mind was fixated on the events that had unfolded earlier in the city of Berhais and on Jeju Island—events that led him to a realization that defied all logic: Why did the Sorcerer Emperor Aster Guilford believe that Yuta was the 'Heaven-Shattering Venerable'?
And if that were not the case, then was the 'Heaven-Blessing Venerable'—Isalabeth—an ally or an enemy? The fact that even members of the 'Scorpion' organization possessed a 'Blessing Wing' seemed entirely nonsensical, given that these wings had existed tens of thousands of years before the Scorpion organization itself was ever formed. This realization cast doubt on the true nature of those who held these wings across the Five Continents.
"On Jeju Island, the followers of the Scorpion organization did not target Yorichi Grey of the De Moliar family, Beatrice—granddaughter of the former Sorcerer Emperor Boswal—or Lucy, daughter of the Magic Lord Balgord Kethali. Each of them is a descendant of a prominent noble house; furthermore, Jiya was a subject in Experiment No. 000002546, part of Group D." "But Jian Yi—the grandson of the Mount Hua Sect leader—along with Armin and Tom... they come from commoner backgrounds, yet they possess extraordinary talent and somewhat suspicious pasts. Could there be a secret surrounding them? It's all very strange."
Tae-hoon's tone was laced with bewilderment, prompting Tae-shin to pull him from his deep thoughts.
"There's no need to dwell on it like that; a lead has emerged suggesting that some sort of game is being played from the shadows."
Tae-shin's voice remained calm, which left Tae-hoon feeling a bit embarrassed.
He took a sip of hot tea to steady his nerves.
"If you are asking whether I intend to investigate the case of Tai Sao-mei or the affair involving the Hua-yu Clan, I believe I shall look into the Sao-mei case; it has proven far more complex than I initially imagined."
Tai-hoon's tone remained calm as he glanced toward Tai Shin-yi, who was visibly overjoyed.
Having the renowned investigator Tai-hoon on their side significantly increased the chances of identifying the killer—it would be nearly impossible for the culprit to remain hidden for long.
Just then, Tai-hoon sensed someone watching him. He turned to find his granddaughter, Tai Chung-ah, peering at him with one eye. He offered a faint, gentle smile, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Tai Shin-yi.
Clasping his hands together, Tai Shin-yi spoke with a voice full of respect and gratitude:
"Thank you, the esteemed investigator Tai-hoon, for your decision to remain with the Tai Clan."
"There is no need for thanks, Brother Tai Shin-yi. After all, this is simply the work I must do as a member of the Tai Clan."
Tai-hoon's calm, steady tone brought a sense of relief and satisfaction to Tai Shin-yi.
As Tai Shin-yi departed from the room, Tai Chung-ah entered immediately after. Her expression betrayed a hint of annoyance and suppressed anger—a reaction that left Tai-hoon somewhat puzzled.
She sat down beside him, fixed her gaze upon him, and let out a sigh of clear, unconcealed irritation. "Did you see what just happened? How could anyone exploit children in such a vile way? It seems we've been far too harsh on Yuta these past few days because of his strange behavior—it turns out he has been enduring all this suffering."
Tae Chung-ah's voice was laced with anger and loathing.
Tae-hoon gently patted her head, leaving her completely taken aback by his sudden gesture.
As he poured her some tea, a calm, faint smile still resting on his face, Tae-hoon spoke:
"Well, you're right, my granddaughter, Tae Chung-ah. According to the latest information, it appears Yuta was a subject in an experiment by the 'Scorpion' organization—designated as Subject No. 000002546, Group D."
"On top of that, he was split in two, which means he suffered immensely. Even so, he remains untrustworthy; his deeply rooted demonic nature makes him an unpredictable variable—whether he acts as an ally or an enemy."
"That is why you must be cautious when dealing with your adversaries. After all, the world we live in isn't just black and white—there is a gray area, too. Don't fall into the trap of believing in absolute good or absolute evil; there is always a balance that holds the world together. Do you understand, my dear?" Tai Chung-ah sighed as she listened to her grandfather, Tai Hoon. She took a sip of her tea before speaking:
"I suppose you're right. I became too emotional after witnessing the incident, which led me to side with Yuta Caseral without even realizing it. Regardless, Yuta remains a danger—he simply cannot be trusted."
Tai Hoon said nothing in response, though he felt a sense of satisfaction as he listened to her.
---
Several hours earlier, at the Hua Yu Clan, the air had turned cold, and snow had begun to fall.
Inside one of the Hua Yu Clan's dwellings, Seol Haoran sat in his room, utilizing a Brown-Copper Gu to attempt a breakthrough from the late stage of the third rank.
Within his primeval sea aperture, his vital energy slammed against the walls with immense force, striving to shatter the barriers and propel him to the next rank.
The process continued for several hours until the aperture walls finally gave way, crumbling into the primeval sea. The liquid's hue shifted from a pale, golden-copper to a distinct, metallic brown with a rich, gradient tone.
Seol Haoran opened his eyes, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He had successfully reached the late stage of the third rank in just one month and fifteen days. At the same time, he realized that advancement in this world was far more difficult than in his previous one; back then, he would not have required nearly as much time, even when using a Brown-Copper Gu. He let out a sigh of clear annoyance; a part of his plan had failed. He had intended to break through to the peak of the third rank within two months of that message appearing.
Nevertheless, he did not dwell on it—there were, after all, many differences between this world and his previous one. He rose from his seat, gathering his scattered thoughts.
"One Brown-Copper Gu and one Silver Gu remain. Since I've reached an agreement with Seong Ying-Ting to cooperate in our fight against Yuta Caseral, it's likely he has already broken through to the fourth level and is preparing to train for the transition to the intermediate rank."
Seol Haoran sighed, staring at the storage ring on his finger for a few moments before channeling his vital energy into it. A potion—which he had discovered days earlier while on a reconnaissance mission—materialized in his hand.
He offered a faint smile as he examined it, though he remained suspicious regarding who might have left it there.
"A sixth-rank level-up potion, just lying on the snowy ground in the northern Yun Gai Mountains? Highly suspicious—an item like this would surely be guarded by its owner at all costs."
Seol Haoran reached for a nearby rope, revealing a girl whose body was covered in injuries—internal and spiritual alike. These were the result of the experiments he had forced upon her, including compelling her to fuse with a first-rank Gu, leaving her in a truly pathetic state.
As he looked at her, Seol Haoran mused to himself:
"I doubt she'll last much longer. Still, it hardly matters. In the meantime, I can always acquire more test subjects." He gripped her face with immense force, causing tears to stream from her eyes as she struggled to pull his hand away. Every attempt proved futile, and he forced her to swallow the concoction against her will.
She collapsed to the ground, while Seol Haoran watched with a calm, analytical gaze, observing every change taking place within her body.
Her body began to convulse violently, and blood poured from her facial orifices as she screamed with all her might. Yet, no sound emerged—Seol Haoran had severed her vocal cords long ago.
Her body began to tremble alarmingly, tears streaming profusely from her eyes; her will to live and her fear of death were both at their peak. Yet, Seol Haoran remained entirely indifferent.
He unleashed a "moon blade" toward her, severing her neck. Her death was inevitable, and furthermore, her body was on the verge of exploding—an event that would have drawn unwanted suspicion due to the stench of blood and the decaying corpse. Killing her was, therefore, the most practical choice.
Fate, however, had other plans. The woman's body exploded, drenching the entire room in blood and scattered viscera. Her severed skull stared back at him, its gaze burning with intense hatred—a sight that only drew a mocking laugh from him.
"Since the color of the blood remains unchanged, the concoction contains no toxins or lethal agents. It is clearly potent, given that her body couldn't withstand the energy it unleashed. It seems I've stumbled upon quite a valuable prize."
Seol Haoran's tone was brimming with delight as he turned his attention toward the concoction resting in the center of the room.
Nevertheless, he chose not to consume it. Having just achieved a breakthrough to a higher minor rank within mere minutes, attempting another advancement now would be nothing short of a death wish.
He then set about thoroughly cleaning his bedroom, clearing away the blood and the remains scattered everywhere.
Throughout the cleanup, Seol Haoran's expression remained utterly detached, as if his actions were the most natural thing in the world. To him, the death of a human held no more significance than the death of any other living creature—there was simply no distinction. Two hours of intensive cleaning passed, leaving his bedroom completely spotless. He sat on the bed, casting his gaze around the room and inspecting every single inch.
He then turned his attention to the bag containing the remains of the woman's body; he approached it, placed it inside his storage ring, and disposed of it—ensuring that no one would ever suspect him.