Kyrian remained still, his eyes fixed on the black walls of the cave. There were signs of formations everywhere.

Scratched markings, faded seals, broken circles. But now, everything seemed inactive, as something had stopped feeding that network.

The heat still came from the center, but its source had weakened after the explosion of the Heart of Ashes. Now, only cracks and scattered dust remained.

Yanyu and Ren Yao returned after exploring the back of the cave, carrying scrolls and maps. Damp sheets, scribbled maps, and notes collected about the nearby villages.

They spread everything before Kyrian, the papers trembled under the heat. Kyrian tilted his head and began to read.

The maps showed the trails of the Ash Spheres, a predictable pattern. Several villages marked in red pointed toward this spot in the mountain.

The notes briefly mentioned disappearances, remains turned to dust, and basic instructions for ritual circles.

There were no indications that the men who had died there were the authors or creators of such formations.

The records outlined the duties of those who maintained this place, the number of bodies, supplies, and other basic matters.

Kyrian joined the edges of the map with his finger. It didn't take long for him to notice the obvious line. The marked villages were being sacrificed to feed a core, or perhaps several cores scattered throughout the country.

He let his eyes wander across the cave again, the formations there were broken, the Heart of Ashes destroyed. Whoever controlled this would certainly feel it. It wouldn't be long before they came to check.

"We'll stay here and wait," Kyrian said directly.

"Whoever leads all this will come personally if they want to understand the cause of the failure. Or they'll send subordinates to find out."

Yanyu nodded, her shoulders tense. Ren Yao placed a map inside his cloak, ready.

Kyrian looked toward the young man lying frozen.

On his chest, the experiment that had existed there, without identity, feelings, or consciousness. The young man must have been taken from one of the villages.

Kyrian's expression didn't change as he nudged the frozen youth with his foot. The boy was no longer human.

With a simple gesture, Kyrian's eyes glowed with frost. The ice around the young man's body shattered into fragments, tiny shards falling like crystalline dust onto the hot ground.

Life vanished without a sound. Better that way, Kyrian thought. He couldn't risk leaving something that might awaken again.

They then set up guard. Quickly organizing watch points and schedules. Kyrian wasn't as tense as the other two. He preferred to wait and conserve his energy.

If that group wanted to test results, someone would have to come see them.

…

A day and a half later, Yanyu came running into the cave, eyes slightly wide.

"There are enemies," she said, nothing more.

Kyrian rose calmly, cracking his shoulders to shake the dust off his clothes.

"Finally, they've arrived," Kyrian murmured with the same expression.

"How many?" he asked.

"Too many. I couldn't count. Far more than the mission record stated. Kyrian, I think you've already realized this, but the information about this organization was definitely wrong."

"Hmm. Even if there are a hundred. Just stay behind me. I'll take care of it," Kyrian said without much concern, already walking toward the mouth of the tunnel.

Ren Yao and Yanyu followed him cautiously.

From the entrance, the hot air hit hard. Fifty people dressed in black surrounded the area.

All were in the Realm of Qi Liberation, military posture, light armor, spears, and weapons raised.

At the center of the group stood a man whose presence and pressure exuded confidence. His cultivation was far above the others around him, who were only in the early stages of the realm.

The man arrogantly announced his cultivation in the 7° stage of the Realm of Qi Liberation.

"The disciples of the Verdant Sword Sect were seen around here. The order is to capture them alive, preferably intact.

"Also, bring the failed sample. This mission is of utmost importance. Be quick," the commanding man said.

Then, he pushed two men forward, giving orders, ready to enter the tunnel.

They stopped at the entrance, at the tunnel's edge. But that was enough. Kyrian, watching the exit, simply blinked.

The heads of the two men exploded in frost. The ice came from inside out, crystallizing their flesh into a white shell. Then, they fell stiff.

Everyone outside, watching, took a step back instinctively, sensing the danger of the unknown.

Surprise flashed in the leader's eyes, he too stepped back, but immediately after, he growled quick instructions.

Retreat, regroup, and prepare containment. Aside from his rapid orders, silence reigned.

Then footsteps echoed from within the mountain. When the three appeared at the opening, they immediately drew everyone's attention.

Ren Yao was a young man of average height, exuding a noble posture.

Yanyu, a beautiful girl with tied brown hair and her sword gleaming.

And then, the one who drew even more attention, Kyrian, was standing before them.

A young man of striking and unusual appearance, with a cold expression and eyes that were definitely not ordinary.

The man commanding the mission looked into Kyrian's eyes and muttered,

"A bearer of a special physique… no wonder the two fell."

He then signaled.

"Attack together! Capture them. Just be careful with the boy."

The men advanced, thrusting spears, a coordinated movement as Qi gathered in their weapons.

Ren Yao and Yanyu took guard positions, but Kyrian stepped forward and cut through the space. His voice sounded low but clear.

"I'll handle this. I don't want to waste time."

The men clenched their teeth and charged, confident in their strength and numerical advantage, so much so that many didn't even use techniques.

But Kyrian didn't hesitate. He closed his eyes for a second, inhaled, and then a terrifying cold burst from his gaze.

Suddenly in the mountain's scorching air, snow began to fall.

Not a common snowfall, but fine, sharp particles, blades born within Kyrian's field of vision.

The temperature plummeted instantly, the metal in their hands trembled, and many halted, sensing danger.

The soldiers activated barriers, pumping their Qi, trying to resist the falling white needles.

But it was useless, their ordinary Qi, without attributes, couldn't withstand the pinnacle of icy Qi that Kyrian commanded.

In seconds, all except the commanding man were turned into statues of ice, frozen mid-motion, with different expressions of horror, rigid bodies, and petrified faces.

Kyrian took a deep breath. The white mist escaped his lips like smoke.

The effect of this large-scale attack cost him a great deal of energy, it was the first time he had used so much since breaking into the Liberation Realm, but it was worth it.

And he still had more than enough energy for now. Kyrian walked among the frozen corpses, there was absolute silence, only the faint crackle of permanent frost.

The commander trembled, his darkened eyes wide in a pale face. Kyrian stopped two steps from him.

The snow ceased. And the world seemed to return to normal. The man understood nothing, he felt only the overwhelming cold and fear.

"I noticed you had no intention of killing," Kyrian began suddenly.

"So I assume your leader wants us for some reason. Tell me, where is he? Then maybe I won't kill you." Kyrian's eyes gleamed with threat.

Fear twisted the man's expression further. Words came quickly, rushed.

"I… I don't know the leader's identity or where he is… but I can take you to my superior. He's responsible for this region. He's the one who ordered your capture," the man said, his voice trembling.

Kyrian nodded, satisfied with the answer.

"Alright. Then show the way."

The man turned quickly, uncertain, stumbling.

Kyrian let Ren Yao and Yanyu, their expressions uneasy, collect any useful belongings from the frozen men.

Then, when they returned, Kyrian looked at the two beside him, the air still cold enough to make their breaths visible.

Ren Yao wiped his forehead, still shivering from the cold. Yanyu stared at the frozen bodies around them, her face tense.

Neither seemed satisfied with the direction things were going.

Kyrian then broke the silence.

"You two will return to the sect," he said emotionlessly, adjusting his cloak.

"Tell Elder Mei Ran that the information about this mission was wrong. The strength of this organization is definitely much greater than reported."

Yanyu immediately frowned.

"Wait. What? You're going alone?" she asked, her voice tense.

Ren Yao also stepped forward.

"We can't leave you alone, Kyrian. If something happ—"

"Enough." Kyrian's voice cut through, cold and sharp.

The two froze where they stood upon hearing it.

He looked at them, his blue eyes reflecting the frozen corpses.

"With the strength you have now, you'd only get in the way. Go back and do as I said." The chill in his words weighed heavier than the frozen air around them.

Both lowered their heads. They knew arguing was useless.

Kyrian then gave a low whistle that echoed through the mountain. A few seconds later, the air stirred as a large shadow descended from the skies. The eagle came down with a cry.

"Go," Kyrian said, his gaze fixed ahead.

Yanyu climbed first, her fists clenched. Ren Yao followed silently. The bird flapped its wings strongly, rose into the air, and disappeared into the horizon among the clouds.

Kyrian watched until they became only a distant speck.

Then, without looking back, he turned to the trembling man who would guide him to his superior.

"Now. Show the way," he said in a low tone, beginning to walk down the trail as the cold seemed to follow with him.

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