Six days later—
Laimian had mostly recovered, at least on the surface. The wounds on his body had begun to heal, but his neck still refused to obey him completely. Even the slightest movement brought a dull, lingering pain. Dali had warned him strictly—he needed at least two months of careful rest.
But rest was the last thing on his mind.
A slow-burning fury coiled inside his chest like a venomous serpent. The more he tried to suppress it, the more violently it stirred. Out of his five sons… the youngest one—Lumian…
…was never meant to exist.
He had been nothing more than an accident. A mistake Laimian never wished for.
And yet, Laimian had tolerated him. Accepted him as fate.
But now?
Now that same "accident" had turned into a blade—one that pierced directly into his pride.
A mere weakling… his own son… had dared to break his neck?
His fingers trembled before slowly curling into a tight fist. His jaw clenched, veins faintly bulging across his forehead.
"Unacceptable…"
However—
That memory returned.
That face.
That voice.
Lumian's distorted expression… and that unnatural, chilling tone that didn't belong to him.
A cold shiver crawled down Lymian's spine.
His breath hitched slightly.
"…What was that?"
For a brief moment, fear flickered within his eyes.
He shut them tightly, forcing the thoughts away.
"No… I won't think about it."
Silence fell.
---
"Father…"
A soft, melodious voice broke the stillness.
Laimian slowly opened his eyes.
Standing before him was a tall, young woman of exceptional beauty. Her presence alone seemed enough to captivate anyone who laid eyes on her.
"Today is the final-year tournament," she said gently, a faint smile on her lips. "Won't you attend? Little Lumi will be there too…"
Lumian.
The name struck him like a thorn.
His pupils shrank ever so slightly.
"…Lumian…"
This time, the word left his lips in a low, almost trembling whisper.
---
Elsewhere—
Imperial Mascourt
Inside a spacious chamber, a tall red-haired girl sat in front of a large mirror.
She was nearly five feet nine inches tall, her beauty refined yet striking—something that naturally drew attention without effort.
Calmly, she applied light makeup to her face.
But her eyes…
There was a sharpness in them. A dangerous edge. As if, with a single glance, she could shatter someone's will.
"Ah, Miss Misa!" a girl beside her chimed cheerfully. "Everyone will be completely mesmerized by you today. Honestly, I can't even imagine who will be lucky enough to become your husband!"
Misa let out a soft, embarrassed laugh.
"Oh, stop it… What are you saying?" she replied, her voice gentle yet uncertain. "I'm not even sure I can be… good enough for anyone."
"Don't say that!" the girl protested. "The carriage is already waiting outside. Please, we should hurry."
Misa nodded faintly.
Then—
She looked into the mirror.
And froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The reflection staring back at her…
…was smiling.
But not her smile.
It was twisted.
Dark.
A sinister grin that didn't belong to her at all.
Her eyes widened in shock.
She blinked—once, twice—and rubbed her eyes quickly.
When she looked again—
Nothing.
Just her normal reflection.
"…A hallucination?"
Her heartbeat quickened, echoing faintly in her ears.
After a moment, she slowly stood up.
The sleeveless gown she wore was elegant but heavy, restricting her movements slightly. Even so, she didn't hesitate.
Step by step, she made her way toward the carriage.
---
The Arena—
A massive circular stadium stood under the open sky.
Crowds filled every corner, their voices blending into a thunderous roar. The most influential clans of the region had all gathered here, each carrying lists of participants they supported.
Beneath the arena, inside a quiet cabin, Lu sat alone.
His brows were tightly furrowed.
The rules of the tournament were simple—
If a male participant won, he would gain the right to marry the most beautiful woman among the five clans… and earn a seat among the higher-ups.
If a female participant won, she would gain even greater authority—able to rise to any position within the higher ranks… and even choose a clan leader or elder as her partner.
But Lu wasn't thinking about any of that.
Only one name occupied his mind.
Lumian.
"…Where did he go?"
A trace of unease crept into his expression.
"Something's not right…"
---
The Clans Gather—
Wuu Clan.
Ka Clan.
Chev Clan.
Nel Clan.
Dero Clan.
One by one, they took their places.
At the lowest tier, closest to the arena floor, sat the high-ranking members.
Clan Head Jeju arrived and took his seat calmly.
Behind him sat a dozen more elites.
And beside them—
Misa quietly sat on a large, distinguished chair.
Her gaze was fixed on the arena.
Today…
Someone here would place a garland around her neck.
Her fingers tightened slightly over her dress.
Her heart felt restless.
---
"My Grandson Kromy will win today!"
Cross, the head of Ka Clan, declared proudly.
"I trained him personally!"
Bek of Nel Clan let out a faint chuckle.
"It won't be that easy, Cross… Let's see how things unfold."
The others remained silent, simply observing.
---
The announcer stepped forward, his voice booming across the entire stadium.
"Today's arena consists of forty rings!"
"Two hundred participants!"
"Only ten will advance to the finals!"
The crowd erupted.
---
Mili, head of Dero Clan, turned slightly toward Jeju and spoke in a sweet tone.
"Laimian didn't come this time?"
Jeju replied calmly, "He would have… but he's slightly injured."
Mili raised her brows in surprise.
"Injured? Oh my… At this age, who isn't?"
Jeju's expression turned cold.
"This isn't a joke."
"An immortal does not get injured so easily."
Mili smirked faintly, glancing sideways.
"Don't take it too seriously."
---
Announcement—
"Ring 1: Davis vs Mash!"
"Ring 2: Chessy vs Baol!"
"Ring 3—"
A brief pause.
Then—
"Lumian of Wuu Clan… versus Kromy of Ka Clan!"
---
A ripple spread across the audience.
"Lumian…?"
Mili glanced at Jeju.
Jeju smiled faintly.
"Laimian's youngest son. Rank 2 cultivator."
Mili scoffed lightly.
"Rank 2? What is he doing here?"
Jeju simply replied—
"Fate… works in strange ways."
---
Cross burst into laughter.
"My grandson Kromy will crush him with a single move!"
Laughter echoed around them.
---
But Jeju said nothing.
His gaze slowly shifted toward the arena.
A mysterious smile formed on his lips.
Deep within his mind, a single thought echoed—
"Everything… will be revealed here."