Ever since the Flare Family became the dominant power on the Ruona Continent, the region had remained largely peaceful. No one dared to oppose them—at least not openly. Their influence continued to grow. Cultivators, scholars, and emissaries from neighboring cities and distant states flocked to Emberfall—not to challenge, but to learn, to serve, and to align themselves with the new order.
Simon's children, once scattered across the continent and beyond, had returned—each bringing their own strength and alliances. Together, they extended the Flare Family's reach into every corner of Ruona, securing borders, forging new ties, and maintaining the delicate balance that kept the continent stable.
But peace is a fragile thing.
Inside the Flare Palace's diplomatic council hall—a chamber reserved for high-level family meetings and honored guests—Simon, Jana, Simar, Jaquan, and Ronald of the Hewitt Family were gathered around a long obsidian table. The room was spacious, with high ceilings and polished floors that reflected the soft glow of formation glyphs etched into the walls. Pillars lined the perimeter, pulsing faintly with protective qi.
Simon sat at the head of the table, with Jana beside him, her posture regal but relaxed. Simar stood nearby, arms folded, ever alert. Jaquan and Ronald were seated along the side, reviewing scrolls and sipping tea as the discussion unfolded.
The air was calm. The tea is still warm.
Then the barrier formations around the Flare territory flared in alarm.
A low hum reverberated throughout the territory, followed by a sharp pulse of spiritual energy. The walls trembled faintly. Everyone paused, sensing the shift. The calm was gone.
Then the roof groaned—before exploding inward.
Two young men with ancient and oppressive auras descended into the chamber, robes bearing the Solar Clan insignia. One radiated the scorching heat of a Peak Immortal Realm cultivator. The other, colder and composed, carried the weight of an Early Sage Realm expert.
Their eyes swept the room with clinical precision.
They weren't here to waste time but to apprehend their target, Rana Flare. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate her with their spirit sense earlier, so they deduced that she either didn't come here or her family has hidden her. This is why they switched to the next best option—her parents. And even if they know nothing about the girl's whereabouts, they will be the perfect bait to lure her out.
Simon and Simar rose instantly, instincts flaring. Both were Early Immortal Realm cultivators now—formidable, but not enough. One glance told them the truth: either of these two old monsters could level the whole Flare Territory without breaking a sweat.
Jana stepped forward from the council table, her robes trailing softly behind her as she addressed the intruders with composed authority. She now stood just ahead of Simon, closer to the center of the hall—exposed, but unflinching. Every second mattered. Beyond the chamber, evacuation teams were already moving top family officials and disciples to safety. Her job was simple: stall the inevitable clash long enough for them to escape.
"Good sirs, welcome to the Flare Family," she said smoothly. "Are you perhaps here about my daughter, Rana? Is she well?"
But her effort was futile.
The Peak Immortal Realm cultivator didn't respond. He just moved—swift and merciless.
A wave of flaming qi erupted from his palm, aimed directly at Jana.
Simon surged forward, placing himself between the blast and his wife. His fist ignited with golden-red flame, warping the air around it as he met the attack head-on. He didn't hold back. Against an enemy two sub-realms above him, hesitation meant death.
The collision sent shockwaves through the chamber, shattering windows and ripping tiles from the ceiling. Simon's bones groaned under the strain, his meridians screaming as he pushed past his limits. The blast scorched the marble floor, leaving a crater where the two forces met.
Simar moved the instant the clash erupted.
Jana had been thrown back by the shockwave, landing hard near the council table. Simar reached her in a blur, pulling her farther from the blast zone and shielding her with his body. Then he pivoted, casting a shield of condensed flame qi that expanded to protect Jaquan and Ronald, who were still scrambling to escape from the far side of the hall.
The shield held—but barely.
It dulled the flames enough to prevent instant annihilation, but the heat was merciless. Jaquan and Ronald, caught near the edge of the barrier, were still scorched by the residual blast. Ronald screamed as his robes ignited, blistering heat searing his skin. Jaquan collapsed, coughing blood, his body trembling from the impact.
Simar's shield cracked, spiderwebbing under the pressure. He gritted his teeth, pouring more energy into it, refusing to let it fall—not while his family still breathed.
Meanwhile, Simon's flame flickered. The Solar Clan peak immortal realm expert's qi surged again, heavier and crueler. Simon's skin blistered beneath his robes, and blood seeped from his pores as he defended against these heavy attacks. He roared, refusing to fall—but the price was steep.
When he finally dropped to one knee, the silence was deafening. His breath came in ragged gasps, and the scent of burnt flesh hung in the air.
The Solar Clan expert raised his hand to seize Simon and begin the soul search. And in an instant, that hand was cut off by a wind blade.
The Solar Clan expert's eyes widened. "Who—"
He didn't finish.
Three crescent blades of ice erupted from the newcomer's fingertips, slicing through the air with deadly grace.
Winter Rend.
The third technique of the Ice Art. It cut through spiritual armor like silk.
The flaming qi around the Solar Clan expert surged in defense, but it wasn't enough. The blades struck his chest, tearing through his reinforced body. He screamed, staggering backward, blood spraying across the shattered floor.
The room fell silent.
Everyone turned to the figure now standing in the center of the wreckage.
Jalen.
His cloak fluttered in the wind, his eyes cold as frost. The aura around him was suffocating—Sage Realm, but sharper and more refined.