"Impossible..." The word slipped out, thin and hoarse, before anyone could stop it.
The Grand Venerable''s lips barely moved, yet the murmur carried in the silent hall.
"Jared... how could he wield such power? He was nothing more than a Heavenly Immortal Realm youngster..." The disbelief in his eyes eclipsed even the silver torchlight.
"Heavenly Immortal Realm?" Lyria''sugh sliced through the tension; the two words dripped with icy mockery.
Lyria angled her gaze at the Grand Venerable, frost crystallizing in every syble.
"Grand Venerable, have you gone senile? A mere Heavenly Immortal Realm youth cuts down five High Immortal Realm Level Sevens, breaks the Beast-Quelling Hall, and wipes out tens of thousands of troops?"
She pivoted toward Lucian, a taunting melodycing her tone.
"Senior Disciple, level thirteen is in worse shape than we guessed. Their Grand Venerable isn''t just useless—he can''t even keep his intelligence straight."
Lucian''s expression finally clouded; the faint ease he had maintained hardened into a steely mask.
Moments earlier he had dismissed Jared as a lucky upstart stirring temporary chaos.
Now the tally of dead Venerables painted a far messier picture.
To butcher five High Immortal Realm Level Sevens, shatter the hall, and erase a host army—no Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivator in any world could have managed that feat.
Lucian let the words fall like sleet. "What level has Jared reached now?"
The guard''s knees knocked together; his answer wavered.
"S-sire, the men who escaped say Jared has broken through to Top Level High Immortal Realm Level One. But his strength is monstrous."
"The Beast-Quelling Venerable, even with the Heavenbound Beastlock Array, fell to three swings. Venerables Goldspear, Greenwood, and ze charged together-he felled each with a single sword stroke."
"One sword... for each High Immortal Realm Level Seven?" Lyria echoed, a spark of fascination stirring beneath her icy veneer.
"Interesting," she murmured, crimson lips curling. "This Jared does have a few tricks after all."
Lucian pivoted back to the Grand Venerable. "You mentioned a gray power that weakens our celestialws Jared still carries it?"
A hard swallow bobbed in the Grand Venerable''s throat. "Y-yes."
"That force is unnerving," he forced out. "Our formations, artifacts, even divine arts
—all of them shrivel near it, some are swallowed outright."
"A power that devoursws..." Lucian''s eyes shed, interest sharpening into predatory intent.
An unspoken conclusion tugged at him: perhaps this was the legendary chaotic force.
"Chaotic force?" Lyria drew a sharp breath, the surprise finally cracking herposed shell.
"Senior Disciple, the primal energy from the dawn of creation-wasn''t that said to be extinct?" Her voice carried both awe and disbelief.
Lucian shook his head. "Master always warned us: in the myriad worlds, nothing is truly impossible."
"If Jared reallymands chaotic force, his leap-frog killings make sense."
"Which is precisely why he cannot be allowed to live. Chaotic force sits at the root of the Great Dao should he mature, the very rule of the celestials would be shaken."
The Grand Venerable seized the opening, bowing low. "Envoys, Jared must be erased. I will personally ride to Epea and seize him."
"You?" Lyria''s nce slid over him, contempt as in as daylight.
"You couldn''t shield five High Immortal Realm Level Sevens," she said, every
syble dripping scorn. "What will you take to Epea your life as an offering?"
Heat red across the Grand Venerable''s cheeks, yet he swallowed the protest and kept his head bowed.
Lucian tapped a finger against his sword hilt "Time is a luxury we no longer possess. Bearers of chaotic force grow at frightening speed;
ery day we wait cements him as a future threat."
He fixed the Grand Venerable with a cold stare. "Mobilize every celestial force in level thirteen and march on Epea."
"My junior and I will apany the host. We shall meet this heir to chaotic force personally."
Relief flooded the Grand Venerable''s face. "With the Envoys leading, Jared''s death is assured!"
Lyria''s brows knit. "Senior Disciple, do we really need to dirty our own hands with a backwater youngster? The rumor mill will have a field day."
Lucian answered without warmth. "Chaotic force warrants respect. And...
...Master sent us here to temper ourselves. Jared will make an adequate whetstone."
Lyria considered, then nodded. "Very well. I would like to witness this chaotic force firsthand."
"You have three days to amass the full host. Three days from now, we set out for Epea."
"Understood!" The Grand Venerable bent deeply, a sly glint of malice flickering across his lowered eyes.
Inwardly he snarled: Jared, with the Envoys descending from the Fourteenth Firmament, your arrogance ends here.
Once the officials scurried off to their tasks, the cavernous hall held only Lucian and
Lyria, the air settling into a quieter, tenser calm.
Lyria''s voice dropped to a hush. "Senior Disciple, do you truly believe Jared has mastered chaotic force?"
Hands sped behind him, Lucian
stared toward the distant sky.
"Eighty maybe ny percent.
Nothing short of chaotic force could
grant a Level one that kind of
might."
"Still, there is little cause for rm," he went on. "The chaotic path is steep, its progress cial."
"Jared only just reached High Immortal Realm; his grasp of the force can only be superficial."
Lyria nodded. "We hail from the Fourteenth Firmament; our arts eclipse anything level thirteen can muster. Even with chaotic force, he will not match us."
Lucian nevertheless shook his head. "A lion still uses all its strength to bring down a rabbit. We will strike with everything."
He drew a golden parchment from his robe and ced it in her palm. "Master''s Divine Seal Sigil. It can lock thews of an entire region for a breath or two. If Jared''s chaotic force proves troublesome, activate it."
Lyria''s eyes widened. "Master entrusted even this to you? He clearly regards this trial as crucial."