The ashes still floated in the air, like a motionless mist.

Kyrian felt that he could control them precisely, just as he could control the flames and ice created by his energy.

He stood still for a few seconds, observing what remained.

No sound, no bodies. Only dust.

Each of his steps left a faint mark on the ash-covered ground.

The air down there was now thin, heavy, but Kyrian didn't seem to care.

The gray fire had already gone out, and in its place remained only complete silence.

He then walked toward the cave where he had met the leader of that organization.

The entrance was partially destroyed, burned. The walls blackened and cracked.

Kyrian entered. The smell of the place was still the same.

Even after everything had burned, that putrid odor, the air thick with blood and other things, seemed not to fade.

His gaze swept across the cave. Ash still covered the entire formation, but something stood out.

Among the dust and several fragments, a few red covers caught his attention.

They were books. Five of them in total.

Scattered across the ground, intact.

Kyrian crouched down. His eyes quickly scanned each one.

The covers were marked with strange symbols similar to those on the walls, made with special ink and curved lines.

Even with the extreme heat, the books appeared completely untouched.

"Interesting…" Kyrian's voice came out low, almost like a thought.

He didn't open the books. He felt it wasn't the right moment, and he no longer wanted to remain there.

He extended his hand and, with a simple motion, all the books vanished, stored within his spatial ring.

After that, Kyrian looked one last time at the cave.

Everything there was over. Lifeless, soundless.

The place had completely died with the ashes.

Then he turned and began walking down the same tunnel he had used to arrive there.

The path was long.

Dark, silent passages stretched into an endless trail. Though to him, darkness meant nothing.

Kyrian walked for hours, without much haste. His steps steady and constant.

Finally, the near-endless staircase appeared.

Kyrian climbed quickly, until the iron door at the top and the end of the stairs came fully into view.

But before he could exit completely, a noise echoed, and he felt something.

Someone was coming from above.

He stopped for an instant.

The closed door began to open slowly while Kyrian frowned, imagining there were still other enemies alive.

But then the door opened completely, and a familiar voice sounded.

The sound echoed powerfully down the stairway.

Kyrian lifted his gaze and saw a figure descending quickly.

The woman wore a dark green cloak, and her Qi was dense and steady, carrying two swords at her waist.

It was Mei Ran.

Kyrian kept his composure, though a fleeting surprise passed through him. He hadn't expected to meet her there.

Right behind Mei Ran appeared Yanyu and Ren Yao. Yanyu's expression was tense, her eyes scanning the tunnel ahead in search of danger, and of one specific person.

Ren Yao followed with a hand on his waist, gripping his sword, ready for any fight.

But it was unnecessary, when Yanyu's eyes met Kyrian, standing there unscathed, a wave of relief washed over her face.

"Kyrian!" Yanyu exclaimed, completely lowering her guard.

The relief she felt didn't last long. Because the moment she focused on Kyrian, both Mei Ran and Yanyu sensed the change in him immediately.

The dense pressure emanating from him was deeper than before. He had advanced in cultivation and seemed far stronger. But what made them stop completely was what they saw in his eyes.

The pupils shaped like swords or snowflakes had vanished, the bright green or light blue irises now turned into a deep, dark gray. And in the center of each eye, a small gray flame flickered.

Pulsing with a heat that carried, at the same time, an annihilating calm.

It was undeniably another terrifying transformation.

Mei Ran approached, her eyes analyzing Kyrian with an intensity that could pierce him. The initial concern quieted and gave way to a look of assessment.

"Kyrian. We finally found you, what happened here?" she said, her voice calm but charged with authority.

Kyrian kept his gaze steady as he replied.

"The organization has already been eliminated. Its leader, the followers, and the abominable experiment they were cultivating, all have been reduced to ashes."

Kyrian then summarized the events clearly and impersonally. From the discovery of the first Heart of Ashes to the moment he killed the leader and destroyed everything there.

After hearing Kyrian's words, Mei Ran's gaze wandered through the tunnel. She nodded, though not fully satisfied with the story.

But she trusted Kyrian's words, and there was something else that drew her attention more than some random organization.

The markings on the walls, she observed the now-extinguished and ancient formations, recalling the same type she had seen used to hide the iron gate at the entrance.

"The sect never knew about this place…" she began, her tone thoughtful.

"These tunnels… they're truly ancient. Much more than I can imagine."

Kyrian didn't respond. He simply began climbing the stairs. The others followed in silence.

The air grew lighter as they neared the exit. Soon, the first ray of light pierced through the tunnel opening, and they emerged on the surface.

Mei Ran was still deep in thought and then, decisively, began to speak.

"You three, return to the sect first. I'll investigate further," she said, turning around and descending the stairs once again.

Kyrian and the others nodded. The sky was already brightening. The cold morning wind brushed Kyrian's face, making him take a deep breath.

The sensation of clean air was good after so long in that suffocating place.

'I suppose this is over…' Kyrian thought. In the end, it was just an old man on the verge of death conducting a few experiments, not a truly powerful evil organization.

But hearing about the Blood Court was something he hadn't expected. He decided to ask the sect leader about it when he returned.

Then, suddenly, an eagle descended in front of them. Kyrian climbed on first. Yanyu and Ren Yao exchanged glances without a word and, without further hesitation, mounted as well.

Thus began their return to the sect.

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