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Does this count as a private commitment?
Watching the injured civilians being carried onto vehicles, Arden's mind was elsewhere.
After Miyabi swallowed the pill, her condition rapidly improved. Then, not only Zhu Yuan, Miyabi, and Arden himself, but a large number of Yunkui Summit disciples arrived at Twenty-First Street after hearing about the fire and rescue.
Hope Miyabi doesn't let this slip.
Arden glanced at Miyabi beside him.
On the way over, he had instructed Zhu Yuan and Miyabi not to mention the "wedding gift" incident.
Arden didn't want to be beaten to death by Miyabi's father or by Yanagi; he planned to first gain the "father-in-law" and Yanagi's approval before revealing the nature of their relationship.
"Damn it!"
Unlike Arden, who was pondering romantic matters, Zhu Yuan slammed her fist hard against the wall.
They had saved many people, but because Yunkui Summit was far from the Janus Quarter and the fire spread quickly, many lives had already been consumed before they arrived.
"Deliberate arson, reckless disregard for life… despicable!"
Miyabi clenched the Sword of Red Heaven tightly, her eyes glinting sharply.
"Don't be too saddened…"
Arden patted Zhu Yuan's shoulder and gently touched Miyabi's ear in comfort. "I can't bring the dead back to life, but I can avenge them."
To resurrect the dead, one must complete the ["All-Thunder Collector"] missions, ascend to [Celestial] mastery, and redeem a [Nine-Turn Golden Elixir] from the upgraded points shop. Yeah, the same one that Monkey King stole.
The [Nine-Turn Golden Elixir] didn't just resurrect people—it could also extend lifespan.
Arden didn't want his family to die of exhausted life force, which was why he collected points so diligently.
He wished for their family to live happily forever.
Beep Beep Beep…
At that moment, Zhu Yuan's radio crackled.
It was a message from Jane Doe.
Qingyi and Jane's informants had already tracked Bringer's movements. As Arden had "divined," Bringer took advantage of the chaos to flee to Port Elpis, on the city's outskirts, where a Hollow had swallowed an abandoned freight dock.
An unidentified person wanted to take a ferry through the Hollow to the Throne Quarter and was offering a very high price.
A large amount of high-priced cargo had also been stashed in the Hollow, matching the intelligence Perlman had provided. Vision Corporation had purchased both land and a substantial shipment there.
It was said that the cargo consisted of a special type of Ether material.
All signs pointed to "that someone" being Bringer.
"Finally found you!"
After causing such a commotion, Arden couldn't let the mastermind slip away. Bringer had to be captured.
Hearing that Bringer planned to flee to the Throne Quarter, Arden almost laughed. Yunkui Summit was right there. He immediately notified Yixuan Shifu and others guarding the Summit to arrange an interception.
Even if Bringer escaped Janus Quarter, he would fall into Yunkui Summit's hands.
Heading to the Throne Quarter… the Exaltists' headquarters can't be there, right?
Arden speculated reasonably.
"Let's go help with the capture!"
When Arden and the others arrived at Port Elpis in a patrol vehicle, Hollow Special Operations Section 6 had already begun apprehending Bringer, who had chosen a Hollow route to escape for secrecy.
Inside the Hollow, guiding him were still Belle and Wise. They had located Bringer and were in full pursuit.
Arden and the others didn't hesitate to enter the Hollow, guided by Yiji, quickly reaching Bringer's location.
Like a cornered beast, Bringer fought desperately.
As a typical Exaltists' tactic, Bringer injected himself with a substance, dramatically increasing both his own Ether activity and the surrounding concentration.
Sigh~ this again!
The strong sense of déjà vu made Arden shake his head. "You guys… don't get tired of this, do you?"
The early Brue, the previous Lucius, and now Bringer—whenever the Exaltists were involved, the outcomes were always similar.
"You're all here!"
Bringer's gaze swept across everyone, finally resting on Arden. "Arden… it's you!"
"Because of your appearance, all our plans were ruined, but it doesn't matter. I'll take you out here and clear the path for the Creator!"
Obviously, Bringer wasn't only referring to the current situation, but also the other Exaltists' schemes Arden had disrupted.
Arden and the Exaltists had now become enemies.
Enemies meeting always sparks intense rivalry. This time, their plan had been perfect, but Arden's sudden interference ruined everything—even the scheme to make Miyabi lose control and fight him, aiming for mutual destruction, failed.
Sarah's original plan had been to make Miyabi go berserk, forcing a duel between two Void Hunter-level figures, ideally ending with both badly wounded.
But as everyone had seen, Arden and Miyabi now stood side by side.
If Bringer realized their plan not only failed to provoke a fight but also strengthened their bond—perhaps even forming a private commitment—would he vomit blood on the spot?
Pointing at himself in confusion, Arden reflected on Bringer's targeted hatred.
Although he had ruined many Exaltists' plans, they had provoked him first—he was merely retaliating.
Being hated so intensely, Arden felt wronged.
Looks like I need to find a chance to wipe out the Exaltists… and preferably take down that so-called "Creator" too.
Since there was no chance for reconciliation, Arden decided to eliminate the enemy completely.
However, the Exaltists had operated in secrecy for years—it wouldn't be easy to uproot them, especially the "Creator," whose identity Arden didn't even know.
Perhaps I can… follow the thread and see where it leads?
Just as Arden pondered a strategy against the Exaltists, Bringer's Ether reached its peak.
"Creator… please… refine me! Aahhhh!!!"
Bringer's roar accompanied rapid fusion between his body and the surrounding Ether, which suddenly expanded and erupted violently.
The ground fractured into a spatial rift, and a pale arm stretched out.
It appeared to be the right hand of some gigantic entity.
The Creator's right hand?
Arden speculated, but he had no proof that it truly belonged to the Creator.
The palm opened, revealing a massive golden eye staring at them.
Arden immediately felt the sensation of being observed by a dangerous presence.
Good thing it's only a hand!
He thought if the full creature revealed itself, neither he nor Miyabi might be able to handle it.
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