"Not good!" Soul Devourer''s pupils contracted sharply. Hastily, he formedyer uponyer of shields and protective soul barriers.


    Boom!


    Jared''s fist mmed into the shield.


    Layer afteryer of the shield shattered. The soul light rippled violently. The old demon let out a muffled grunt, his body flying back hundreds of yards before he barely stabilized. A streak of ck blood ran from his mouth, and his aura wavered in subtle disorder.


    The look he gave Jared was a mixture of utter shock, deep caution, and a trace of fear he could hardly name.


    This kid... after breaking through the Heavenly Immortal realm, how could his power surge so drastically?


    The force within that punch alone subtly threatened his current state. And that ancient, noble bloodline pressure made him profoundly ufortable.


    Jared slowly rose from the crater. Most of his injuries had already healed. Beneath his shredded robes, fresh, pale skin shimmered, faint dragon-scale patterns inteced with the glow of the Chaotic True me


    He moved his neck with a soft crack, and his golden vertical pupils locked coldly on Soul Devourer.


    "Old demon... Now, it''s my turn."


    His words were calm, but carried a murderous intent and confidence colder than ever before.


    Soul Devourer''s face darkened.


    He gauged Jared''s rapidly stabilizing and rising aura, feeling the subtle tremor in his own demonic energy and soul—the faint shiver triggered by the young man''s dragon bloodline.


    Should I continue fighting?


    In his current state, against a newly-broken-through, momentum-filled Chen Ping, who wielded strange dragon might and Chaos me, victory was uncertain-he could even lose outright.


    He was Soul Devourer, an ancient demon who had survived countless millennia. Calcting risks and seizing opportunities was second nature.


    "Kid, you''re lucky."


    Through gritted teeth, the old demon spat out the words, eyes filled with resentment and malice. "I didn''t expect you to possess such a bloodline... and to break through mid-battle. I''ll remember this humiliation today!"


    He spun sharply, bellowing at the others in the distance, "Retreat! Everyone, fall back into the depths of the headquarters! Activate the final defenses!"


    Without another moment''s hesitation, he became a ck shadow and tore through space, vanishing into level eleven.


    He had chosen to retreat decisively, temporarily avoiding the sh. Clearly, he realized that on level ten, facing a newly broken-through, momentum-filled Jared, he could not guarantee victory. It was safer to regroup in a more resource-rich, higher- level world, recover fully-and returnter to exact revenge.


    Jared watched Soul Devourer vanish. He didn''t immediately pursue. Having just broken through, his realm still needed stabilization, and his strength needed time to adapt. Chasing blindly into level eleven would be unwise.


    His gaze slowly swept over the other disciples of the Infinite Soul Demon Sect


    below, now in chaos and despair after the master''s retreat.


    "The old demon has fled." Jared''s voice rang like a death knell to every disciple.


    "Then you... will bear my wrath in his stead."


    What followed was a one-sided, bloody purge.


    Having just reached the Heavenly Immortal realm, Jared''s power had leapt qualitatively. Facing the remaining disciples who were at most Level Six or Seven and were already demoralized-he was like a tiger among sheep.


    His Chaotic Dragon me Fist tore through all before it. Each swing of the Dragon- ying Sword imed countless lives. Chaos True Fire reduced magical buildings and seals to molten ruins.


    He showed no mercy.


    For a sect that had repeatedly schemed against him, ughtered the Myriad Beasts Sect, besieged the Mystic Sky Sword Sect, and allied with Soul Devourer-only total annihtion would honor the dead and purge this poison from level ten.


    Sheldon tried to rally his remaining loyalists behind ancient headquarters defenses. But against Jared''s terrifying attacks-imbued with dragon power and Chaotic True me all defenses were like paper.


    In the end, Sheldon himself was struck down by Jared''s sword. His soul consumed and purified by Chaotic True me, body and spirit utterly destroyed.


    When thest resisting elder fell


    amidst the ruins, the Infinite Soul Demon Sect headquarters had be a deste wastnd. Smoke billowed, mes roared the air thick with blood and burnt stench-life no longer lingered.


    Standing amid the ruins, Jared used his spiritual sense to scan the destroyed sect.


    He methodically gathered spoils-mountains of spiritual stones and demon crystals; high-grade magical materials and ores; and most importantly, the sect''s millennia- umted treasury.


    Set


    Every valuable resource,wful or demonic, he collected and stored in his storage,ring. These resources would be crucial for stabilizing his new realm, further increasing his strength, and preparing for ventures into higher worlds.


    When thest gem vanished into silver light he lifted his gaze to the horizon.


    Reiner had long since vanished, his zing sword-arc nothing but memory. Somewhere among distant heavens, Lucas and Flegel still shed, their duel spilling into other realms—oues unknown, destinies unresolved.


    Grudges that had poisoned level ten were, for the moment, extinguished. Yet danger never sleeps. The Soul Devourer had slipped away toward level eleven, its shadow already rising as Jared''s next quarry.


    He drew a deep breath. New power-pure, incandescent power of the Heavenly Immortal Realm-roared through his veins. Determination shed in his eyes like flint against steel.


    "Level eleven... Soul Devourer... Chaotic Origin me... I''ming for you." Jared''s voice was low, but it carried the weight of prophecy.


    A dragon wrought of raw chaos unfurled around him. In a single thunderous heartbeat, heunched skyward, the draconic silhouette tearing through the cloudline and vanishing beyond level ten''s rim.


    He would need a ce of perfect solitude-somewhere to lock this newborn strength into bone and marrow, absorb the spoils he carried, and chart a path toward realmsrger, higher, and infinitely more perilous.


    Moments after Jared''s departure, another figure stepped onto the scorched battlefield, cloak snapping in the heat-warped air.


    "Strange... His aura led me here, yet he''s gone."


    He surveyed the ruins-brows drawn into a faint crease—then turned. Weathered features caught the dying firelight: it was indeed the Vermilion Demon Lord, a legend who rarely left his own dominion.


    He had crossed level ten in pursuit of Jared, tracked the young Immortal''s energy to


    this very spot, only to arrive seconds toote.