Jared folded his arms. “Tell me, then, how strong is the sect leader of Obsidian Stone Sect?”
Terror flickered across the man’s face. “They say stands at the Top Level Immortal Realm. one breath away from the celestial realm. He even wields the immortal techniques the Celestial Immortal granted him. His strength is unfathomable.”
Top Level immortal Realm?
I’ve seen stray mutts in level six with a fiercer bite. ..
A quiet laugh rippled through Jared’s chest. He rested a gentle hand on the man’s shoulder. “Find shelter for now. Once I erase Obsidian Stone Sect from the map. the chains that bind you will snap, and freedom will be yours.”
The captive shook his head in despair. “We cannot leave these grounds. The moment we cross the boundary, the slave seals awaken, turning life into a torment worse than death.”
Jared offered an easy smile. “Seals are merely knots. I am rather good at untying knots.”
“But… Benefactor, t-those seals came from the Celestial Immortal himself,” the man stammered. “It’s hard to remove them.”
Jared answered with silence. His fingertips brushed the man’s forearm. The glowing rune branded there guttered out like a candle in the wind. Soft incantations rolled from Jared’s lips. Ribbons of golden script spiraled through the air. then streamed into every prisoner present.
One by one, the slave seals disintegrated, falling away like dust from ancient chains. Realization struck. Dozens fell to their knees, foreheads hammering the dirt in frantic gratitude.
With a simple lift of his palm, Jared summoned a gentle force. The captives floated upright, unable to resist even if they had wished. They stared at him, eyes wide, throats tight with dawning hope and aching envy.
“I-Is this the might of an Immortal?” someone whispered, voice trembling. Bright wonder flared in every gaze, as though new suns had risen inside their hearts.
Over at Obsidian Stone Sect Headquarters, deep within a lavish great hall, Marius Blackstone, the sect leader, sat cross-legged atop a mountain-sized Ebony Demon Crystal. His eyes snapped open, suspicion cutting through their crimson sheen.
“Hm? What trickery is this?” A frown carved across his scarred face. He felt it clearly, the slave seals had branded upon every quarry slave had vanished in an instant.
“Impossible…” hissed, a chill gnawing at his certainty.
Marius sat alone in the vast council chamber, a place carved from flawless slabs of obsidian that reflected torchlight like pools of black water.
The restriction sigils that monitored every quarry under his rule were normally etched in fire across his mind-glowing threads could tug at will. Now, one after another, those threads winked out.
He clenched the arms of his throne. The Celestial Immortal himself had taught these bindings. Even Marius, with all his power, had to burn days of essence to release them one at a time. Yet they had vanished together, as though a single breath had blown out a forest of candles.
Is the Celestial immortal angry with me?
The thought flashed through like ice, and his heart lurched.
Panic clawed up his spine. He reached for the crystal embedded in the armrest, his direct line to the overseer of Quarry No. 7, but only silence answered. Again and again, the crystal remained black, mute, and cold.
“No!” growled. springing to his feet. Color drained from his face.
“Something has gone terribly wrong at the quarry!” He strode to the arched doorway and called, “Guards! Someone, to me, now!”
An elder in a flowing black robe hurried in, bowing so low his beard brushed the polished floor.
This was Maurice Shadowmere, Grand Elder of Obsidian Stone Sect and second only to Marius himself, his cultivation level already at Immortal Realm Level Nine.
“Maurice, take a squad and fly to Quarry No. 7!” Marius ordered, his voice low and hard. “Every restriction there dissolved at once, and the overseer is unreachable.”
“What?” Maurice straightened in shock. “All of them gone? Impossible. A slave revolt, perhaps?”
Marius shook his head. “Unlikely! Those slave seals are vicious, no one breaks them without outside help. And even free, the laborers could never match our sect’s strength.”
“Then who could have done this?” Maurice asked, brows knitting.
A grim light settled in Marius’ eyes. “Someone has slipped into Cardinal Realm, and they are no weakling. Take the elite of the Enforcement Squad, discover what happened. but if you face an enemy you cannot match, do not fight. Break off and report at once!”
