“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’s laugh sliced through the tension; the words dripped with icy mockery. She angled her gaze at the Grand Venerable, frost crystallizing in every syllable.
“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 melody lacing 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 Blaze 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, her 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 celestial laws… 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 devours laws…” Lucian’s eyes flashed, interest sharpening into predatory intent. An unspoken conclusion tugged at him: *Perhaps that was the legendary chaotic force…*
“Chaotic force?” Lyria drew a sharp breath, the surprise finally cracking her composed shell. “Senior Disciple, the primal energy from the dawn of creation—wasn’t that said to be extinct?”
Lucian shook his head. “Master always warned us: in the myriad worlds, nothing is truly impossible. If this Jared really commands 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? Erase him?” Lyria’s glance slid over him, her contempt as plain as daylight. “Ha! You couldn’t shield five High Immortal Realm Level Sevens,” she said, every syllable dripping scorn. “What will you take to Epea, your life as an offering?”
Heat flared 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; every 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 accompany 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. This 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 as he inwardly 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 clasped behind him, Lucian stared toward the distant sky. “Eighty, maybe ninety percent… nothing short of chaotic force could grant a Level One that kind of might. Still, there is little cause for alarm,” he went on. “The chaotic path is steep, its progress glacial. 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 placed it in her palm. “Master’s Divine Seal Sigil. It can lock the laws 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!”
