“With wounds like that,” Onneas continued, voice dropping to a thoughtful murmur, “How did you tear through the barrier between level six and level eight? A Human Immortal cultivator might survive such a leap only with a magical item. Even then, death waits behind every veil.”
Jared straightened and bowed toward Onneas. “Ms. Dusko, I did not take the risk for glory. Level six stands on the cliffs edge…”
“The Soul Devourer stole the Ritual Manual, unleashed one hundred thousand demonic souls, and drowned the realm in blood. Celestia’s cultivators lie in ruin, the beast race faces extinction, and common folk are butchered… If I didn’t come here, level six’s people would perish.”
Onneas tilted head and asked. “So you hurled yourself into oblivion to persuade me to save level six?”
“Exactly…” Jared dipped into a aching bow, then lifted his eyes, fierce with urgency. “I beg you, Ms. Dusko. Please strike down the Soul Devourer and give level six a chance to breathe again.”
“Why should their fate concern me? I share no blood with the cultivators on level six,” Onneas smirked. Jared blinked and said, “Ms. Dusko, you are a celestial, so are the cultivators of Celestia on level six. You can’t let the demonic souls kill your people.”
“Hahaha!” Onneas’ laughter rippled through the airy hall, bright and unrestrained.
“We have billions of celestials. Although the cultivators in Celestia are related to me, they are strangers. The Celestial Palace and Celestia are just a small part of the celestials. Why should I risk my life to save them?”
Jared opened his mouth, then closed it again. Words drifted away before they could form. He had never expected Onneas to answer so bluntly.
Onneas noticed the hush that settled over and waved it aside. “Enough of that. Eat first. We can talk while we chew.”
With a flick of silken sleeve, Onneas signaled Isabel. Servants filed in, serving many dishes.
Jared noticed the dishes used high-level mystical herbs. The dishes were very beneficial to him. He did not refuse the meal and sat down to eat. His body needed recovery.
Onneas watched his eager appetite and allowed herself a satisfied smile. Clearly, the feast had been arranged for all along.
“Tell me,” asked after a moment, voice low and measured, “Do you have any idea how fearsome the Soul Devourer truly was before was suppressed?”
“I’m guessing… Terrifying beyond measure.” Jared shook his head. Jared knew that the Soul Devourer, despite being suppressed for ten thousand years and existing only as a soul, still possessed terrifying strength. The Soul Devourer was at the Human Immortal Realm, so powerful that even Aurelius was no match.
One could only imagine how formidable the Soul Devourer must have been before being suppressed, when still had a physical body.
Onneas tapped a thoughtful rhythm on the white-jade tabletop, gaze sliding toward the sea of cloud outside the colonnade. She began to tell Jared about the Soul Devourer’s past.
“Terrifying scarcely covers it. The Soul Devourer was no native of level eight or level six. He once ruled the level nine as a high demon lord. He was known as the Scorching Demonic Soul Devourer. In ancient times, half of level nine belonged to him.”
Jared stopped while eating his dish. The Spiritual Pith Fruit almost choked him.
A demon lord in level nine?
Jared did not know the cultivation level for level nine, but knew the higher the level, the more powerful the cultivator was.
Cultivators at the Human Immortal Realm on level eight were invincible on level six. As for a Demonic Cultivator who ruled level nine, his power was unfathomable.
“Level nine… A high-level Demonic Cultivator…” Jared set his cutlery aside, voice trembling. “How did someone like that wind up suppressed inside the Roaring Storm Church on level six? No one could have defeated him.”
