The sect had completely turned upside down. The three Elders, the Leader, and the disciples didn’t suddenly become experts, but, out of nowhere, everyone in the sect became obsessed with training and cultivation.
Before, they thought that even if they dedicated their lives to cultivation, they’d never surpass the True Saint Realm. With some luck, they might reach the early True Emperor Realm, and becoming a Divine Inquisitor felt like an unreachable dream.
This deep-seated pessimism had stalled the sect’s growth, leaving it far behind the other two. But now, that was all changing.
The young disciples trained by Sesel and the old man were already considered the elite in their realm across the entire planet. At least, that was the Elders’ assumption. These disciples were encouraged to teach those who came after them, and new recruits were being trained under the same model.
Moreover, everyone knew that without effort, they’d never earn guidance from the hidden master.
In no time, those three Elders advanced to become High Elders. After just a few words from Alm and Bruno, their power had already surpassed the former sect leader, reaching the mid-level of the True Emperor Realm.
As for the Sect Leader, he had reached the high level of this realm and finally felt that the Divine Inquisitor Realm was no longer out of reach.
During this time, Alm and Bruno first perfected their bodies. Once completed, it was like a rebirth. They then prepared to begin cultivating from the start, but before they could even form a new core, a visitor arrived at the wooden house.
"Senior, a High Elder from the Sovereign Blade Sect has come to discuss an issue regarding an ancestral inheritance found in the Phantom Forest," the Sect Leader announced calmly.
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Alm and Bruno looked at him curiously, and he continued, "About a month ago, the young disciples went on a training expedition in the Phantom Forest, as they do every five years. The three sects allow their young to explore there, where some pretty powerful beasts reside. This time, our disciples reached the center, surpassing all other clans. They found an ancestral inheritance from an ancient Divine Inquisitor — a broken dagger with knowledge runes carved on its blade."
Alm and Bruno nodded, vaguely remembering hearing about the event, but had instructed only the newly recruited disciples to go. Revealing their strongest disciples to the world now wouldn’t be wise. Still, these younger ones were already surpassing the older disciples from other sects.
’Well, we were planning to attract the clans. This came at a good time,’ Bruno noted.
"I don’t think the Sovereign Blade Sect will let us keep the dagger. It belonged to a former member of their clan, so they want it back. Please, Senior, I await your decision," requested the Sect Leader, waiting on his response.
Rumors of that inheritance in the Forest had floated around for a long time, but it had never been recovered. Now that it was finally brought back, the other sect was in an uproar, and being more powerful, their intentions were clear.
"It’s nothing. Just send him away without causing a scene," Bruno replied, closing his eyes to resume cultivating.
"Senior, this envoy... he’s a highly prestigious Divine Inquisitor. One of the few on the entire planet..." explained the Sect Leader, nervously rubbing his hands.
No one in the sect would dare, or even have the power, to expel this envoy. In truth, no one on the entire planet would have the guts or strength to do so. So, the Sect Leader had no choice but to report the matter, given its magnitude.
"What a bother. Fine, I’ll see him then. It’s a bit early, but it’s time we showed our teeth," Bruno said, getting up lazily, while the Sect Leader could barely contain his excitement.
***
The sect’s conference hall was tense as their esteemed guest arrived. He was an Alv named Gundar, respected across the entire planet. Wherever he went, people treated him with utmost reverence.
Gundar had brought a squad of elite Elders, making it clear that the Sovereign Blade Sect’s intent was to reclaim the ancestral inheritance—something they considered theirs by right.
In the past, their sect could easily have sent any emissary to deal with the Sacred Jewel Sect, and that alone would’ve been enough to make them submit. This time, however, Gundar himself, a relative of the ancestor who left the inheritance, had decided to come in person.
The Alv sat in the main seat, usually reserved for the Sect Leader, showing he cared nothing for formalities and could do as he pleased here. His Elders radiated an aggressive aura; they were seasoned warriors, forged in battle. Gundar himself acted like he was in his own home.
The Elders of the Sacred Jewel Sect were visibly uncomfortable with his attitude, but they knew they weren’t in a position to challenge him. At that moment, the Sect Leader entered with a man they didn’t recognize.
The sect’s Elders sighed in silent relief, grateful that their Leader had managed to bring in this powerful figure to handle the situation.
Gundar eyed the pair and narrowed his gaze. "Sect Leader, what’s the point of bringing this young man here? He’s barely begun his cultivation journey."
His arrogance was plain as he allowed his aura to overwhelm the poor Sect Leader.
"Esteemed guest, this is our Senior. His words are the sect’s will," replied the Leader, remaining calm and appearing as weak and submissive as ever.
"Senior?"
Gundar inspected the man but saw nothing impressive. The young man didn’t even have the aura of someone who had fully formed his core, and he looked barely out of childhood.
"Ridiculous." Gundar sneered, paying no further attention to the man. "I came here to negotiate honorably on behalf of our sect’s prestige. As you know, this inheritance belonged to one of our ancestors, my distant relative."
"Honored guest, forgive me," the Sect Leader said calmly, "but according to the rules of the Ghost Forest training, anything disciples bring back belongs to them. I can’t interfere; it’s theirs by right."
The Alv’s eyes turned cold. "I’ll be more direct, then... be wise and hand over the damned inheritance. As a courtesy, I might give you something in exchange. But my patience is running out fast…"
"You’re choosing to ignore the rules?" The Sect Leader’s tone hardened. "Are you really willing to twist them for your gain? Don’t you fear sparking a war with the other two sects?"
"So bold." Gundar smiled coldly. "No one dares question my sect. The Celestial Mirror Sect has no capacity to produce decent cultivators anymore. And you? What do we have to fear?"
"Planning to take it by force?" The Sect Leader had anticipated this but was still enraged.
"By force?" Gundar scoffed. "Sect Leader, you’ve crossed a line. I’ll take the artifact as an act of mercy. If you try to resist, we’ll annihilate you."
"You think we’re cowards?!" The Aberrant High Elder couldn’t hold back her outrage any longer.
"Just a bunch of insects." Gundar ignored them, stretching his hand slowly toward the Sect Leader. "I’ll give you one minute to hand it over, or you’ll face total destruction."
"Don’t be irrational! The disciple got it fair and square," the Sect Leader shot back angrily.
"Fine, let’s see if anyone in your sect can stop me!" The Alv sneered, clearly set on killing.
In an instant, he lunged forward, hand outstretched toward the Sect Leader’s throat. The Leader didn’t even try to stop him, knowing the power gap was too vast. But then...
*Bam!*
Gundar’s hand was suddenly pushed back. He stumbled and glared at the seemingly powerless young man.
The figure had simply waved his hand, effortlessly blocking him.
"Who are you?" Gundar shouted.
Bruno just scoffed with a hint of disdain. The young man’s insolent posture infuriated the Alv, who was now being treated with disdain by someone from this insignificant sect.
"You won’t hide for long; let’s see what you’ve got! Men, slice him to pieces!" Gundar ordered his Elders.
*Clank!*
They unsheathed their blades, all high-level True Emperor Realm fighters, and unleashed waves of laws from their weapons toward the "young man."
The multi-colored lights seemed ready to tear him apart, and a grim end appeared inevitable. Yet, in that instant, the stranger merely waved again, and two tattoos on his wrists pulsed with power.
*CRACK!*
The force of the attacks shattered: the blades exploded, the laws disintegrated, and in seconds, the Elders were reduced to a bloody mist.
The broken blades and pulverized bodies looked like frozen, shocking scenes. The onlookers were dumbfounded. With just one move, he wiped everything out around him.
"Go to hell!" Gunar suddenly attacked, swinging his sword.
The blade sliced through the air and came down over the unknown guy’s head. The Elders barely noticed and reacted just as the sword was inches away, thanks to its insane speed.
*Clank!*
To everyone’s surprise, the guy casually held the sword between two fingers, looking like it took zero effort.
"DIE!" Gunar, alarmed, focused all his strength, but... a subtle glow pulsed from the guy’s fists, nullifying all of Gunar’s laws.
Everyone’s eyes widened... Gunar, desperate, tried to pull the sword back. But that guy’s fingers were as firm as mountains. Red-faced from the effort, he realized he was done for and let go of the blade, backing off. But it was too late.
*Clank!*
The sword shattered. Before Gunar could leave the hall, a hand was already reaching for him, way faster.
Gunar turned, roaring and attacking with all his energy. But the Yin and Yang tattoos on the guy’s fists pulsed again, erasing all of Gunar’s laws. All that was left was despair.
He felt insignificant as he was grabbed by the throat and lifted into the air. Even though that ’young guy’ looked like a nobody, his presence felt like that of a sleeping primordial giant, one whose awakening would shake the world.
"No, don’t do anything crazy!" Gunar shouted, pale. "You can’t kill me!"
"Oh, really?" Bruno replied casually.
Bruno’s chill tone terrified Gunar. He didn’t care about honor or reputation anymore, just focused on staying alive. Losing his life meant losing everything, so he immediately surrendered.
"I’m not in the mood for games today," Bruno said lightly, as his other hand clenched, punching Gunar right in the gut.
"No!" Gunar yelled, frozen, as he coughed up a torrent of blood...
Everyone stood still, shocked. With just one hit, he... destroyed the core and cultivation of the Divine Inquisitor! Losing his cultivation was worse than death.
"Get lost. Tell your sect that if they piss me off again, I’ll come visit and wipe them off the map... or... send them over; I’m looking forward to it." Bruno said calmly, before tossing Gunar aside.
Gunar rolled on the ground, spitting blood... shivering and crawling away. His future looked bleak, but at least he kept his life. He escaped like a stray dog.
Further away, he grabbed a crystal and tried to break it... but he was out of strength.
"Just disappear already..."
Bruno murmured, snapping his fingers. The crystal trembled and shattered into pieces. Then, the space around Gunar twisted, and he vanished.
Bruno threw one last glance at the onlookers before walking out without a care. ’Now it’s just waiting.’
But unbeknownst to him, at the same time, in a distant place high above that planet, a figure radiating a supreme aura was meditating. Until they opened their eyes, confused.
"This is the power of the Yin and Yang tattoos? How is that possible?!"