The sharp crack of a broken neck echoed clearly.

A head was violently knocked off by his hand!

The other two struggled frantically within the Spatial Fracture, letting out desperate roars.

But what awaited them was the incoming destructive energy from afar!

The energy struck deep into the cracks, producing ear-piercing, soul-rending screams.

When the cracks subsided, the two were dragged out like ragdolls and thrown onto the ground of Jade Street.

Passersby stared in astonishment, clueless about the scene.

Gaia led a group of Imperial knights, charging swiftly towards them.

They dragged the two barely conscious captives towards the Jade City Gate like dead dogs.

"Who's the fool this time?"

The bystanders muttered, utterly unaware that the two heaps of rubble were, in fact, beings at the level of Sage Rank, capable of commanding storms and wielding divine-like powers!

"Ugh—!"

Not long after,

The two holy lamps at the Jade City Gate lit up.

If you looked closely, you could see that at the center of each lamp was a Sage Rank soul, burning furiously.

The figures beneath the lamps continued to let out gut-wrenching howls, sending chills down the spine.

Deep inside the Valoria Palace.

Aurek retracted his mind power and focused back on Sophia.

Under the pure life essence, the injuries she sustained were mostly healed.

Only her damaged divine aspect core was still slowly recovering.

After a long while, Sophia slowly woke up.

"Big brother Aurek!"

She immediately threw herself into his arms.

"It's okay now, it's okay…"

Aurek gently stroked her hair, his voice calm.

"All the misfortunes are behind you now. From now on, no one will dare challenge the Empire's authority, and no one will be able to harm you again."

"Those who tried to judge our fate will be uprooted one by one!"

"Mm!"

Sophia responded with a sob.

Fear and grievance surged in her heart.

If she could stay by her family's side, who would choose to risk danger and suffering by going far away?

Josephine silently observed from the side.

She then instructed the court attendants to prepare hot water for a bath.

After a while, Sophia secretly wiped away her tears and smiled again.

She looked up at Aurek and took out the Heart of the Holy Spirit.

An almost divine aura immediately enveloped the Rosaries Palace and its surroundings.

The flowers and plants outside the palace were infused with this aura, instantly coming to life!

The Heart of the Holy Spirit was translucent, like the finest jade.

Its nine leaves formed a heart shape, with intricate and profound rule patterns etched on the surface of each leaf, glowing with sacred light.

This was the mark of the divine, the manifestation of world laws—a key to the divine realm that all powerful beings dreamed of possessing!

The Heart of the Holy Spirit was a treasure beyond even sacred artifacts, imbued with divinity.

One of these could transform a mortal, elevating them to the pinnacle of the continent!

If a Sage Rank fused with it, and comprehended the divine runes within, igniting the divine flame and ascending to godhood would be only a matter of time.

No wonder the Original Sage Rank and others had resorted to every possible measure to seize it!

"This is a gift for you, Big Brother Aurek!"

Sophia smiled broadly as she handed it to him without hesitation.

She had almost fused it herself, but she decided to give it to him instead.

Gloria sighed softly from the side.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A divine object that others could only dream of but which Sophia was willing to give away so easily...

Aurek did not refuse.

He took it, carefully examining it.

"Sophia, the hot water is ready. Go clean yourself up and wash off the blood."

Josephine softly suggested as she stepped forward.

Sophia glanced at her white dress, now stained red, and nodded.

Though she had much to say to Aurek, she didn't feel the need to speak right now.

And in her heart, she had already made up her mind—she would never leave here again!

Afterward, Josephine spoke to Aurek.

"Your Majesty, someone wishes to meet you."

Upon hearing this, Aurek carefully put away the Heart of the Holy Spirit and turned to leave Rosaries Palace.

Gloria watched Aurek's departing figure, her heart filled with suspicion.

She was the one who knew the most about the relationship between Aurek, Sophia, and Josephine.

She had originally thought that the two girls would be the seeds that determined the fate of the continent.

It was for this reason that she had tried her best to bring them into the council.

But she never imagined that Aurek, once thought to be an unremarkable figure, was the one who would become the greatest variable, overturning everything!

When she saw the tens of thousands of Stellar Rank Imperial soldiers, she was lost in thought for a long time.

For a moment, she felt as though the entire world had become unreal.

In the palace hall.

Aurek sat solemnly on the throne.

Soon, a peerless nun entered the hall.

Her aura was transcendent, giving her an air of serenity and detachment, as though she were a divine attendant rather than a mortal.

"I am Tracy, the head of Skypeak Tower, and I greet Your Majesty!"

The nun bowed respectfully.

Aurek narrowed his eyes, already guessing her purpose, and immediately got to the point.

"State your purpose."

The nun spoke frankly.

"I beg Your Majesty to spare Skypeak Tower. In exchange, we are willing to pay any price."

"Any price?"

Aurek sneered.

"Seems Skypeak Tower has run out of options."

Tracy remained silent.

The Stellar Rank soldiers of the Empire had already surrounded Skypeak Tower.

As the leader of those soldiers, Aurek was fully aware of the situation.

"What if I do not give you this opportunity?"

Aurek fixed his gaze on Tracy.

Tracy was silent for a moment, her voice calm but tinged with an untraceable sorrow.

"Skypeak Tower is but an ant in Your Majesty's palm, its life and death at your command."

"If Your Majesty believes Skypeak Tower is unforgivable, you may destroy it with a wave of your hand."

"If Your Majesty finds it useful, we may continue to exist."

Tracy had let go of all pride, ready to accept the worst outcome.

Aurek's voice was cold as he delivered his judgment.

"Skypeak Tower, disband immediately!"

"All secret arts and traditions must be surrendered to the Empire! All members must have their powers bound and be enrolled as servants in Valoria Palace for ten thousand years."

Tracy's beautiful brows furrowed slightly.

Become palace servants?!

There was no doubt this would utterly shred the decades-long dignity of Skypeak Tower, trampling it beneath foot!

As for ten thousand years…

It was a cruel irony.

The life and death of Skypeak Tower's members, and the dignity of its power, were now on a scale of balance, with Aurek holding the lever.

It was up to her to decide.

For her, this was a torment in itself.

"You don't have much time."

Aurek coldly reminded her.

After a brief silence, Tracy finally lowered her head.

"Skypeak Tower accepts the judgment of becoming palace servants and thanks Your Majesty for your… divine grace!"

Divine grace!?

Aurek could clearly hear the bitterness and sarcasm in her words.

Ten thousand years of servitude, repaying the calculations and manipulations against the royal family over millennia, was already a show of leniency.

As for dignity…

It was time for these once transcendent powers to taste the crushing of their dignity and the fate of being ruled!

"Since you have agreed, I look forward to your actions..."

Aurek turned and left, not sparing Tracy another glance.

Tracy bowed deeply.

After a long while, she silently exited the hall.

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