Julian’s gaze flickered beneath the jade lamp. Light slid over his irises, then vanished as he lowered his eyes and kept his mouth shut. He did want to stand beside Jared against the celestials, yet the freshly issued Divine Punishment Warrant turned that hope into a cliff, the drop steeper with every heartbeat.
A faint ripple ran across the sealed chamber. Air wavered the way heat blurs stone at noon. In that shiver of space, a gray figure condensed without a footstep or a breath, settling at the very center of the floor. Jared had arrived!
“Jared!” Rania burst forward and wrapped both arms around him, relief breaking her voice. She clung so hard that her shoulders trembled. Jared patted her back, his palm steady and unhurried.
“I’m fine…” he said, his voice warm enough to slow her shaking. He lifted his eyes to Julian and Luther and gave a brief nod. “Manor Lord Jade…”
Julian and Luther studied him in silence, their expressions tangled with caution, shock, and something like respect that refused to settle on any one shape. The newcomer’s breath ran uneven, yet the force wrapped under his skin felt heavier, tighter—like magma sealed by a crust of stone that could crack at any time.
“Jared, you…” The words caught in Julian’s throat; for a moment he found no proper place to begin.
Jared loosened his hold on Rania and spoke as if stating the weather. “The Five Venerables of the Divine Punishment Hall are gone. I also know about the Grand Venerable’s warrant.” Neither haste nor excitement colored the statement; they might as well have been discussing a spilled cup of tea.
Julian drew a long breath through his nose. “Jared, do you realize how vast a hole you have pierced? The celestials have ruled level thirteen beyond counting. No one has ever dared slap their face so openly, let alone cut down five Venerables in one stroke! A Divine Punishment Warrant hasn’t appeared for a thousand years. Now the entire sky may hold no corner where you can set foot!”
Jared let a small smile curl. “Nowhere to stand? Then I carve a path with blood.” His voice stayed low, yet every syllable landed with the certainty of iron on an anvil.
Rania clutched his sleeve, tears shining. “Jared, don’t rush in! The Grand Venerable sits at Top Level High Immortal Realm Eight and may bring even harsher powers. Right now you can’t beat him!”
He met her eyes, gentleness softening their steel. “I know. I’m not walking to his door today.”
Julian pressed, “Then where do you plan to go?”
Jared’s shoulders rose in a faint shrug. “Step by step. Level thirteen is wide enough; somewhere in it, a corner belongs to me.”
Luther’s cloak rustled. “Mr. Jared, why don’t we head for the western region’s Myriad Monster Mountain Range?”
“The west?” Jared blinked, puzzled. From their eastern seat, the central region lay between; to skirt that, they would have to swing past either the south or the north—tens of thousands of kilometers no matter the route. He still could not see what chess move Luther intended.
Luther lowered his voice. “While cultivating recently, I sensed Ghost Clan energy in the Myriad Monster Range. Some of our kin still live… I’d like to try my luck there, and the mountains’ tangled terrain makes hiding from the celestials simpler.”
A sharp light crossed Jared’s eyes. “Good… Then we go to the Myriad Monster Range.”
“What?!” Julian and Rania blurted in perfect unison.
“Jared, are you insane?!” Rania’s words tumbled out. “That mountain range is chaos itself right now. The celestials are slaughtering the beast race; entering is walking into a meat grinder!”
Julian’s tone dropped a note lower. “Jared, the west truly is forbidden. The range is under strict celestial suppression… With a warrant on your back, one step inside and your cover rips apart.”
Jared shook his head. “Because the range is boiling, the celestials will stare at the beast race first and miss other prey. Besides, Luther felt Ghost Clan life. Perhaps his people do wait there.” He paused, turning to Julian. “Manor Lord, once I leave, the celestials may comb Jade Immortal Manor. Be ready… If things reach the brink… Lay every charge at my door and cut yourselves clear.”
Julian’s jaw tightened, then loosened; color swept across his face before it drained away. A long breath left his lungs. He lifted his gaze to Jared. Voice low, he said, “Jared, I, Julian, may not be a hero, yet I am no craven who would sell out a friend for safety…” He kept his shoulders square, though the lines at the corners of his eyes deepened. “Since we have chosen to stand together, I will do everything I can to protect that accord. The celestials hold vast power, and Jade Immortal Manor has only so much to offer.”
Jared brought both fists together in salute. “Hearing you say so is more than enough.”
Rania suddenly stepped forward, her chin up, her eyes unblinking. “Jared, I’m going with you!”
“No…” Jared’s reply came without hesitation. “The western region is far too dangerous. You can’t come.”
She shook her head, dark hair brushing her shoulders. “I’m not afraid. I want to stay at your side, no matter where it is!”
He met her gaze, warmth and unyielding will braided together. “Rania, be good. Stay here in Jade Immortal Manor, cultivate well, and wait for my return.”
Her mouth parted, a single word trembling at the edge. “But…”
Jared’s palm landed lightly on her hair. “No buts. Trust me. I will come back safe.” Rania stared into that unwavering confidence. Realizing she could not move him, she bit her lower lip; tears welled until the world blurred.
Jared turned to Luther. “When do we leave?”
Luther answered at once, “The sooner the better. We can head first to Coldabyss City in the northern region and brief Master Coldabyss.”
Jared nodded approval. “Yes, a trip to Coldabyss City is necessary.” A brief dip of his head closed the matter. They had come to Jade Immortal Manor only to gather information; now they knew the manor had never intended to swallow Coldabyss City at all. Therefore, they needed to return and tell Master Coldabyss to stop aiming at forces from the eastern region.
Jared inclined his head, then faced Julian and Rania, fists clasped. “Manor Lord Jade, Rania, take care… Until we meet again.”
Julian returned the salute with grave formality. “Jared, travel safely. If circumstances turn dire, Jade Immortal Manor will always open its gates, and I will stake my life to shield you.”
Tears were already streaming down Rania’s cheeks. She threw herself into Jared’s arms, choking, “You have to come back alive. I’ll be waiting!”
He held her tight for one breath, then pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Wait for me…”
With the promise spoken, he pivoted, met Luther’s eyes, and gave a small nod. Their figures blurred; two streaks of light slipped out of the secret chamber, out of Jade Immortal Manor, and shot northward without a sound.
Rania rushed after them, stopping at the threshold only to watch the twin lights fade into the sky, her vision shimmering with tears. Julian stepped beside his daughter, his hand resting on her shoulder. “Rania, that young man is no pond fish. His road will be paved with blood and storm… All we can do is trust him and do our own part.”
She dashed the tears away, resolve burning where grief had been. “Father, I’m going to grow stronger! Strong enough to help him instead of hiding behind him forever!”
Pride softened the sternness in Julian’s face; he gave a single, approving nod.
