Her expression shifted to shock as she watched Yuta carefully begin to undo the buttons of her jacket, taking care not to damage a single one.
However, his expression turned malicious; he suddenly tore her clothes apart, revealing her alluring, milky-white body. She struggled desperately to break free from his grasp, but every attempt proved futile.
"You despicable bastard! How dare you do this to me?" Jia gritted her teeth, glaring at Yuta with intense hatred and contempt.
Yuta's sinister expression remained unchanged. He placed his hand on her soft, supple breast and drove his hand deep into her body.
He pierced through her breast, reaching her heart, and seized it—feeling it pounding wildly as it tried to escape his brutal grip.
Blood gushed profusely from Jia's mouth as she clutched Yuta's hand, desperately trying to stop him from tearing her heart out.
But her efforts were utterly in vain; Yuta calmly withdrew his hand, holding Jia's heart while gazing at it with a faint smile.
He extracted the heart, which bore a black tattoo—a control mechanism designed to prevent Jia from defying Aster Guilford's command. This was the truth Jia realized the moment she saw her own heart in Yuta's hand.
Thump... thump... thump...
Jia's heart continued to beat faintly as he... Yuta used black flames to vaporize the blood on his hand, then wiped Jia's blood-stained mouth.
"Don't worry, you won't die; you are immortal, after all. I must say, you're a good actress. Did you think I didn't know you were immortal?"
As he spoke, Jia's heart began to regenerate; the wound healed and closed on its own. The process took only a few seconds, restoring her chest to its original state.
"You are incredibly beautiful, Jia Guilford." Yuta's tone held a hint of mockery as he rested his hand on her chin and kissed her again.
He released her, watching as she adjusted her clothes back to normal, acting as if nothing had happened.
"How did you know about the slavery seal placed on my heart? Even I didn't know it was there."
"You'll find out when the time is right."
Jia narrowed her eyes in annoyance at Yuta's words but decided to let it go; she knew she wouldn't get any information out of him. Once he set his mind on something, nothing could stop him from achieving it.
[End of Flashback]
She turned her gaze toward Yuta, who was wearing a mocking smile as he looked at the Magic Empire—which stood in shock, unable to utter a word.
She rose and placed her hand on his shoulder, saying, "It seems you were aware of that. You tore out your own heart with your bare hands, didn't you?"
Yuta looked at her for a few seconds before answering her question: "After we finished our business with..." "Magic Emperor Aster Guilford, I'll tell you everything you need to know. Alright?"
Jiya nodded in agreement, prompting a faint smile from him as he spoke in a calm tone laced with audible mockery. "Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself? Everyone knows the shameful truth about you—how you exploit six-year-old children for your own selfish ends."
"Don't you feel any shame for such vile acts? Nine years ago, you used me—Casiral—as a test subject to manipulate my genes. You sought to create a being possessing the power of three mighty races: Demon, Dragon, and Angel. But something unexpected happened; due to an excess of cells, I split during the process, bringing Jiya into existence."
Jiya turned her gaze toward Yuta in shock, though the feeling vanished within seconds; the striking resemblance between them was proof enough.
"That explains why we look so much alike. In short, we are essentially one person who has been split in two."
She flashed a malicious smile at Magic Emperor Aster Guilford. "Why did you do this to us? We never hurt anyone. I was just a six-year-old child—how did you have the audacity to do such a thing?" Her voice was filled with rage and hatred.
Yet, Magic Emperor Aster Guilford showed no concern; instead, he laughed loudly as Legendary-rank spells began to form with frenzied speed in the sky above, empowered by the 'Wing of Blessing' bestowed upon him. Sky-Shatterer
"Hahahaha! In the pursuit of power, anything goes. Ultimately, the two of you are merely fuel to boost my strength—nothing more. Don't worry, though; I'll wipe out this city, and then I'll use your remains to become the strongest."
Loud applause rang out from Yuta as he fixed a look of utter contempt upon him. Yet, Aster Guilford's expression remained unchanged, save for an increase in his arrogance and haughtiness.
Yuta spoke in a calm tone, snapping his fingers. "Thank you, Magic Emperor Aster Guilford, for admitting yourself that you are part of the 'Scorpion' organization."
Several portals appeared, broadcasting the scene to every human across the Central Continent and the other four continents.
"It seems your true nature has been revealed to the entire world. Wouldn't you agree?"
Aster Guilford gritted his teeth as he listened to Yuta's mocking words.
He unleashed several spells at Yuta, only for them to be blocked by a barrier Yuta had erected before the spectacle began—leaving Aster Guilford momentarily stunned.
However, as the saying goes, trouble never comes alone; his "Wing of Blessing" vanished. The Great Sky-Blessing of Islabith had revoked the inheritance, as she was the original owner and would never allow her power to be used to harm her own son.
Consequently, his legendary-level spells—which drained immense amounts of energy—dissipated, causing Yuta to smile with sheer delight. ...before a high-level spell was cast at him.
This left the Magic Empress both furious and shocked as she struggled to fend off the attack, while he turned his gaze toward the Venerable Sky-Pool Saintess Islabith, the Venerable Lotus Saint Jihao Yuxuan, the Venerable Star-Hunter Zendaya, and the Venerable Chessboard Saint Ping Tao-xin—all of whom remained in their positions.
Yet, there was a familiar feeling when he looked at the Venerable Sky-Pool Saintess Islabith; she radiated the same beautiful aura as his own Pool Pavilion. Moreover, she resembled a figure reflected within a disk, leading him to realize she was a mysterious entity.
He turned his gaze toward her, filled with overwhelming confidence; after all, he was the Magic Emperor Aster.Guildford was one of the most brilliant minds in the human world—for magic requires immense analytical power—and it took him mere seconds to deduce her true identity as that mysterious entity.
He knelt submissively at her feet, drawing scornful laughter from the Revered Ones—Athena, Chloe, Madeline, and Siri. However, Kiri and Liri were terrified, assuming that the "Revered One of the Heavenly Blessing, Elizabeth" was his mistress.
"If someone as powerful as the Magic Emperor Aster Guildford is kneeling, just imagine the strength of that woman," Kiri said anxiously, glancing at them.
Athena, meanwhile, smiled as she tried to suppress her laughter, leaving Kiri and Liri looking bewildered.
She revealed the identity of the "Revered One of the Heavenly Blessing, Elizabeth" to them, leaving them with expressions that mixed shock at the truth about Yuta with an urge to laugh at the Magic Emperor Aster Guildford.
"My Lady, the Revered One Who Shatters the Heavens granted me a 'Blessing Wing' to retrieve Experiment No. 000002546—from Group D, known as Yuta Casiral and Giya Casiral. I ask for your blessing to kill them for you."
The Revered One of the Heavenly Blessing, Elizabeth, regarded him with a calm gaze that betrayed none of her thoughts, making him somewhat nervous; yet, he dared not speak further. ...anything beyond what he had already said.
He turned his gaze toward Yuta and Jiya, who were approaching him with faint smiles on their faces—a sight that left him utterly bewildered by the unfolding events.
"How are you, Revered Jalil, Blessing of the Sky, Elizabeth? I am delighted that you have come to the Summer Festival to celebrate with me."
Revered Jalil, Blessing of the Sky, Elizabeth, smiled warmly as she gently stroked the hair of both Yuta and Jiya. All the while, the Magic Emperor Aster Guilford watched on, unable to utter a single word. He was paralyzed by shock and disbelief; the very being who had bestowed those wings upon them was the same person he had sought to kill.
He shifted his gaze to Yuta, who was looking back at him calmly. In that moment, he imagined the "Revered Shatterer of Heavens" staring right at him. He spoke in a voice filled with shock: "This is impossible... You... the founder of the organization..."
But before he could finish, Revered Star-Hunter Zendaya extracted an orb of energy from his body—a terrifying feat, given her talent as a Star-Hunter (or Talent Thief), capable of stealing even the formidable power of the Magic Emperor Aster Guilford.
Meanwhile, Revered Jalil, Blessing of the Sky, obliterated his body, leaving only his head on the ground—a scene that left everyone across the Five Continents in a state of shock.
"What? She killed him with such ease... It is truly terrifying. She is Revered Jalil, Blessing of the Sky—the mother of the 'Cold Sky Star,' Yuta Casiral."
"If I recall correctly, I heard of someone by that name in the Central Continent; she lives in a garden and..." "Rumor has it that even the likes of the esteemed 'Heaven-Shaking' Ping Tao-xin and the revered 'Star-Hunter' Zendaya fear her."
"Given that her son possesses such immense power, it stands to reason that the mother would be equally formidable—capable of shaking both heaven and earth."
Elsewhere, within the Tai Clan of the Southern Continent, Tai Hoon and Tai Shini sat sipping hot tea while observing the events unfolding in the city of Parhais.
The death of the Magic Emperor, Aster Guilford, and the revelation regarding Yuta's true identity—unveiled in the very same instant—were utterly shocking, even to Tai Hoon.
"Renowned investigator Tai Hoon, do you still wish to pursue the investigation into the incident at the Hua Yu Clan, or will you continue looking into the death of the Tai Clan's young master, Sao Mei?" Tai Shini asked calmly, gazing at him.
Tai Hoon made no reply; his focus remained fixed on the events in Parhais and on Jeju Island. These occurrences had led him to a realization that defied all logic and comprehension: why had the Magic Emperor, Aster Guilford, believed Yuta to be the esteemed "Heaven-Shatterer"?
And if that belief was mistaken, was the revered "Heaven's Blessing" Islabeth an ally or an enemy? The fact that the "Blessing Wing" was in Yuta's possession—and had previously been held by a member of the Scorpion Organization—seemed illogical, given that the Blessing Wing had existed tens of thousands of years before the Scorpion Organization was even founded. This discrepancy cast doubt on the true nature of the Wing-bearers across the Five Continents.
"On Jeju Island, the Scorpion Organization's operatives did not attack Yorichi Grey—of the De Molière family—or Beatrice, the Magic Emperor's granddaughter..." "Lucy, the daughter of the 'Lord of Sorcery' Balghurd—her children and grandchildren are all distinguished nobles—and Jia were both subjects of Experiment No. 000002546 from Group D.
However, Jian Yi—the grandson of the Mount Hua Sect Leader—and the orphan Tom came from commoner backgrounds yet possessed exceptional talent and somewhat murky pasts. Is there a strange secret surrounding these individuals?" Tae-hoon's voice was filled with perplexity until Tae-shin snapped him out of his reverie.
"There is no need to overthink it; a clue has emerged suggesting there is a game being played in the shadows." Tae-shin's calm tone made Tae-hoon feel a bit embarrassed.
He sipped some hot tea to steady his nerves. "If you are asking whether I will continue investigating the Tae Sao-mi case or the Hua Yu Clan case, I think I will pursue the Sao-mi case; it is far more complex than I initially imagined." Tae-hoon spoke calmly, looking toward Tae-shin, who was overcome with joy.
Having the renowned detective Tae-hoon on their side meant a high chance of identifying the killer; a criminal would not be able to stay hidden for long.
Yet, Tae-hoon sensed someone watching him; he found his granddaughter, Tae Chung-ah, gazing at him intently. He offered a faint smile—a moment not lost on Tae-shin.
Clasping his hands together, Tae-shin spoke with a tone full of respect and gratitude: "Thank you for your decision, renowned Detective Tae-hoon." "...for staying with the Tai clan."
"There is no need to thank me, Tai Shini; after all, it is my duty as a member of the Tai clan." Tai Hoon's calm tone put Tai Shini at ease.
Just as Tai Shini left Tai Hoon's room, Tai Chung-ah entered immediately after, her gaze betraying a hint of annoyance and suppressed anger—leaving Tai Hoon somewhat puzzled.
She sat down beside him, looking at him while sighing with obvious irritation. "I saw what happened earlier... How could anyone exploit children in such a vile way? It seems we were too hard on Yuta these past few days regarding his strange behavior; it turns out Tai Chung-ah spoke with a tone heavy with anger and hatred.
Tai Hoon gently patted her head—a spontaneous gesture that left her utterly surprised.
As he poured her some tea, a calm, faint smile lingering on his face, Tai Hoon said, "You are right, my granddaughter Tai Chung-ah. According to the latest intelligence, it turns out Yuta was a subject for the 'Scorpion' organization—specifically 'Subject No. 000002546' from Group D."
"On top of that, he was split in two, meaning he suffers greatly. Yet, he remains untrustworthy; his deeply rooted demonic nature makes his actions unpredictable—whether as an ally or an enemy."
"That is why you must be cautious with your adversaries. In the world we inhabit, there is white, black, and gray. Do not place your faith in absolute good or absolute evil; there is always a balance that holds the world together. Understood, my dear?"
Tai Chung-ah sighed as she listened to her grandfather, Tai Hoon. She sipped her tea and said, "I suppose you're right. I reacted emotionally after witnessing the incident, which led me to instinctively side with Yuta—or rather, the captive Yuta—without realizing it. Even so, ultimately, Yuta remains a danger and a figure of mistrust."
Tai Hoon said nothing in response, though he felt a sense of satisfaction as he listened to her.
Hours earlier, at the Hua Yu Clan, the air was cold and snow had begun to fall. Inside one of the clan's residences, Seol Haoran sat in his room, utilizing a brown copper Gu. Breaking through to the late stage of Rank 3...
Deep within his primordial sea, his Qi slammed violently against the walls, shattering barriers to allow Seol Haoran to advance to the next rank.
The process took several hours; the walls of the aperture crumbled and fell into the primordial sea, causing its color to shift gradually from a pale golden-copper to a distinct metallic brown.
Seol Haoran opened his eyes, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. He had broken through to the late stage of Rank 3 in just one month and fifteen days. Yet, he also realized that cultivation in this world was far more difficult than in his previous one; back home, he wouldn't have needed nearly this much time using a Brown-Copper Gu.
He sighed with evident annoyance; part of his plan had failed, as he had intended to reach the peak of Rank 3 within two months of receiving that message.
Nevertheless, he didn't dwell on it—there were too many differences between this world and his former one. He rose to his feet, gathering his thoughts.
"One Brown-Copper Gu and one Silver Gu remain. Since I've coordinated with Seong Ying-Ting for our fight against Yuta Casiral—who has likely already broken through to the early stage of Rank 4 and is preparing to advance to the intermediate stage..."
Seol Haoran sighed, gazing at the storage ring on his finger for a few moments before channeling his Qi into it, summoning a potion he had found days earlier during a mission. He smiled faintly as he looked at it; yet, there was doubt regarding who had left it there. "A Rank 6 level-up potion lying on the snowy ground of the northern Yun Gai Mountains—suspicious, without a doubt. An owner would surely guard such an item with every means possible."
Seol Haoran grabbed a nearby rope, revealing a girl whose body was riddled with physical, internal, and spiritual injuries—the result of experiments he had conducted on her, including forcing her to refine a Rank 1 Gu, leaving her in a truly pitiful state.
Seol Haoran thought to himself as he gazed at her, "I doubt she will live much longer. Still, it doesn't matter; during this time, I can acquire plenty more test subjects."
He gripped her face tightly, causing tears to stream from her eyes as she struggled to push his hand away—though all her attempts ended in failure—before forcibly making her swallow a potion.
She collapsed to the ground, watched calmly by Seol Haoran, who was analyzing every change occurring in her body.
Her body began to convulse violently, and blood poured from her facial orifices as she screamed at the top of her lungs—yet no sound emerged, for Seol Haoran had severed her vocal cords long ago.
Her body began to shake ominously; tears streamed profusely from her eyes, and her will to live clashed with an overwhelming fear of death. Seol Haoran remained indifferent to it all.
He unleashed a crescent moon blade, slicing through her neck; her fate was sealed—death. Moreover, her body... It was on the verge of exploding—an event that would have drawn suspicion due to the stench of blood and the gruesome corpse—so killing her had been the best choice.
Yet, the world had other plans; the woman's body exploded anyway, filling his room with blood and viscera. A severed skull stared back at him with eyes full of intense hatred, a sight that made him chuckle mockingly at the situation.
"Since the blood color remained unchanged, the potion contains nothing toxic or lethal; it is potent, given that her body apparently couldn't withstand its energy. It seems I've secured a fine reward." Seol Haoran's tone was cheerful as he gazed at the potion sitting in the center of the room.
However, he decided against consuming it; he had just broken through to the late stage of the Minor Rank minutes ago, and attempting another breakthrough would be nothing short of a death wish.
He then set about thoroughly cleaning his bedroom, clearing away the blood and body parts scattered everywhere.
Throughout the cleanup, Seol Haoran's expression remained indifferent, as if the task were the most natural thing in the world; to him, the death of a human was no different from the death of any other creature.
After two hours of rigorous cleaning, the room was spotless. He sat on his bed, scanning the area and inspecting every inch of the space.
His gaze fell upon the bag containing the woman's remains; he walked over, placed it into his storage ring, and prepared to dispose of it without arousing suspicion.