After leaving the coastal city, Archsage Solarian traveled with Pyros and Glacien aboard an enormous winged boar, its body expanded through arcane means to carry them across the skies toward the Jade Sanctum hidden within the Kunlun mountain range.
The pace was deliberately slow.
Solarian needed time to brief the two youths on what awaited them inside the Iron Front's inner domain, and more importantly, how they were expected to conceal certain truths once they arrived.
By the time the peaks of Kunlun finally pierced the clouds, an entire day had passed.
Pyros leaned over the side of the boar, eyes wide.
"Whoa… look at all those people."
Across the mountain ridges, countless figures formed winding lines, all moving toward a towering white-gate complex carved from luminous stone.
Glacien was equally stunned.
Solarian stroked his beard, smiling smugly.
"These are all hopefuls seeking entry into the Iron Front. Our reputation spans every realm."
He produced a small green sigil from his sleeve.
"This token marks a full-fledged member. With it, doors open wherever you go."
Glacien studied the sigil, then thought of the dragon clans still sealed beneath the sea.
"So this is what it takes…" he murmured.
A quiet resolve took root in his eyes.
Pyros, on the other hand, snorted.
"All that status from a little green badge? You're still yourself with or without it."
Solarian chuckled.
"Your two older brothers already earned theirs. If you fail, you'll be the only one without it."
Pyros straightened immediately.
"Hah! Watch me. I'll grab one easily."
Seven days into the siege.
Rowan Mercer sat atop the city wall with Vexar, sharing wine and discussing arcane principles.
A frantic shout rose from below.
"Report!"
A crab soldier and two catfish spirits rushed forward, supporting a blood-soaked youth between them.
"Someone seeks Vexar!"
Vexar froze.
Then vanished.
In the next instant, he was kneeling, clutching the boy.
"Xiao Bao!"
It was his younger brother.
A black-feathered arrow had pierced through the boy's abdomen. Worse still, the wound carried a lingering curse that was tearing apart his spirit from the inside.
Even powerful medicine wouldn't save him.
The boy was dying.
Vexar's voice cracked.
"Who did this?!"
Rowan appeared beside them.
"Let me try."
Vexar didn't hesitate. He handed his brother over immediately.
"If you save him, I owe you everything."
Rowan didn't answer.
He placed a hand over the wound.
First, the flesh knit together.
Then something far deeper shifted.
Life and death were not fixed concepts to Rowan.
As long as a soul fragment remained, restoration was possible.
A soft pulse of power flowed through the boy.
Less than a minute later, the youth gasped and sat upright.
"Brother!" he cried. "They're attacking Father! A group of cultivators—two of them called Pyros and Glacien. They cut off Father's arms!"
The air went still.
Vexar's eyes flooded with red.
"Archsage Solarian…"
His fists trembled.
Rowan understood immediately.
He had heard enough about the Iron Front's so-called "entry trials" from Vexar.
Three stages.
Each designed to erase mercy.
The first targeted harmless creatures, testing whether a recruit could kill without hesitation.
The second targeted diligent, disciplined non-humans—those with potential.
The third targeted powerful beings.
Not criminals.
Not monsters.
Just obstacles.
And for Pyros and Glacien, Solarian had chosen Vexar's father as their second trial.
Not because of coincidence.
But because Vexar had slipped out of Solarian's direct control.
This was a message.
A leash.
Rowan exhaled slowly.
"So that's how he plays."