"Spare me, I won't dare to do it again." Seraphina endured the immense humiliation and cursed fate as she spoke the words with clenched teeth.

"Hmph… It's very hard to be my young master's slave," Iris chuckled coldly.

"Young master," Iris piped up, putting away a simple compass from her hand, "according to the emperor's guidance, there's something we need to retrieve in the east."

"The original Stone Text?" the young man asked, brow furrowed.

"I don't know exactly what it is, but it's always best to follow the emperor's guidance," Iris replied confidently.

"Very well, we shall head there," the young man nodded decisively.

Then, with a sharp glance toward Seraphina, he sneered, "You trash, follow us!"

"Yes, young master," Iris responded promptly.

"Trash," the young man suddenly spoke with biting coldness, "you are not worthy to call me young master. Call me master!"

Seraphina flushed with fury but clenched her fists tightly, thoughts darkening. Without power, she was truly beneath even a dog.

There was no other path to survival.

"I understand, Master," she whispered grudgingly, lowering her head and sealing her submission in gritted teeth.

The sight of her broken submission stirred an unsettling excitement within the young man's eyes.

Iris waved her hand, summoning an immortal-grade spirit boat that floated with a serene glow.

The three boarded smoothly and soared eastward—toward Noble Sun City.

.....

One month later.

Ethan's eyes snapped open, revealing glowing irises filled with newfound power.

The breath of the Great Dao that had been coursing through him was finally refined and harmonized.

His cultivation had soared to the peak of the fifth-turn Nirvana Realm.

Compared to before, the improvement was terrifyingly vast.

"The power of the Great Dao is indeed formidable," Ethan murmured, clenching his fists.

Strength surged through his entire body, raw and potent.

After entering Nirvana, it was as though he had been reborn anew — body and strength elevated immeasurably.

The golden Original Power within him now shimmered with faint wisps of milky white light—the divine power in its nascent form.

When the Original Pill fully transformed to white, it would complete its transformation into the Divine Pill.

His dantian now resembled a star system—Original Pill at the center, encircled by nine blurry star trails.

Clusters of golden light, far smaller than the Original Pill, glinted along five of the star orbits.

This signified his arrival at the peak of fifth turn.

Each fully condensed cluster of golden light marked a level gained in his cultivation.

Being a physical cultivator, beyond the power granted by Nirvana Tribulation and Heaven and Earth's energy, he still needed essence and blood to condense these clusters.

"No wonder people always say, if you fail to enter Mahayana, you'll end up like an ant," Ethan mused.

"My current strength feels thousands of times greater than before Nirvana."

He punched the air fiercely—the force tore a jagged crack in the surrounding space.

Black turbulence flickered, distorting the atmosphere violently.

This space turbulence was terrifying. No ordinary Mahayana cultivator would dare approach with their bodies.

Ethan reached out a palm toward the turbulent rift.

Though the swirling maelstrom did not cause substantial harm, he felt its immense pressure.

"The physical body now can barely resist spatial turbulence," he thought.

He withdrew his palm gently. The Celestial Jade Physique Scripture stirred once more, healing a gash on his arm slowly but steadily.

Yet, this recovery was far slower compared to a combat wound's usual healing speed.

"The overflowing spatial turbulence can only be resisted, not fully negated," Ethan reflected.

"If space is torn and entered…"

"My Original Power defense cannot be removed."

"Death is a real risk."

With careful resolve, Ethan tore through the crack and stepped inside.

The spatial turbulence within was several times stronger than before.

Original Power within him drained as the storm battered his body.

Intense crushing pressure bore down relentlessly.

Then, breaking free of the space rift, Ethan reappeared atop a distant mountain.

"Only minutes elapsed to cross this long distance," he remarked.

He scanned his surroundings and confirmed—he was east of Noble Sun City, deep in the mountains.

"It truly is convenient to traverse space," Ethan thought, "but resisting the spatial turbulence exacts a heavy toll."

"Short distances may be manageable, but the farther you go, the harder it is to keep directional bearings."

He understood perfectly why even powerful Mahayana cultivators avoided frequent use of space cracks in battle.

The turbulence within was simply too fierce.

"Not that Oswin of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets lacks the ability to use space cracks."

"But he dares not."

Ethan recalled the time Oswin chased him—Oswin never used space cracks himself.

It wasn't inability but caution.

"Alicia, how long have I been secluded?" he inquired silently.

["Nearly two months have passed since master left Noble Sun City."]

"Two months... The treasure appraisal conference will begin soon. It's time to return."

Ethan's mind flickered. Phoenix wings erupted, shimmering cyan light streaming behind him.

He transformed into a streak of flowing light, rushing toward Noble Sun City.

Soon, the magnificent outline of Noble Sun City appeared.

Ethan's gaze flicked sharply westward, eyes narrowing.

Several auras raced across the sky, weaving through the city's spires.

One flame-filled breath was unmistakable—and deeply familiar.

Two others also radiated familiarity, as though he had encountered them before.

Ethan stopped mid-air; azure flames blazed fiercely upon his palms.

"The aura same as the Azure Flames... Could that be the Blue Phoenix?" Ethan thought.

The auras converged rapidly.

Soon, a magnificent Blue Phoenix soared into his sight.

"Ashira?!" Ethan's expression darkened in recognition.

Ashira—the spiritual beast Junior Sister Liana had cherished since childhood.

His memories stirred—he had once received a gift from her, the very Azure Flames now dancing on his palms.

But Ashira seemingly did not recognize him.

Adorned in black robes and a mysterious black ghost mask, he bore the vestments of Aether, another identity.

Ashira's breath hitched; she slowed, weighed down by invisible obstacles.

Battered and weakened, she had fled for half a month under exhaustion and wounds, barely clinging to life.

Without strength to continue, stopping meant doom.

Two months ago, she had left Seraphina—the one who deceived her—and returned alone.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Capsule - 1 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

...

Thanks for the Massage Chair: @Sheng_Mei

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.