Xia Clan
A man sprinted through the marble hallway, his frantic footsteps echoing. The doors burst open—
"Master! We… we lost all seven Tian Wang cultivators against the Liu Clan elders!"
His voice shook with panic, almost grave.
The Xia Clan Master slowly rose from his throne, expression darkening.
"Zhong… go. Inform my daughter. Tell her to prepare for war."
His tone was cold, horrified.
Zhong bowed and immediately ran toward the royal hall.
There, a beautiful young woman sat elegantly, reading a book.
"Miss Yin," Zhong said, breathless but composed, "Master asked me to inform you. The war against the Liu Clan has begun. We must act quickly before we lose more cultivators."
Miss Yin closed the book and stood. Her presence alone silenced the hall.
"Go inform the elders. I want a full meeting in one hour."
Her voice was calm—yet carried absolute pride.
Zhong bowed. "Understood, Miss Yin."
Later — Master Court
All elders gathered, whispering in tension. But when Yin entered, the entire court fell silent and bowed deeply.
She walked to her throne, posture majestic.
An elder stepped forward urgently—
"Miss Yin, we need to strike the Liu Clan immediately! If we delay, our high-rank cultivators will fall one after another!"
Miss Yin's gaze was steady as steel.
"We cannot attack yet. My younger sister is still trapped inside the Liu Sect's territory. If we make a reckless move, they will kill Lan Xia instantly."
Another elder rose sharply—
"But we cannot keep losing warriors!"
Yin's eyes narrowed.
"As long as we are alive, we lose nothing. Those who died protecting the Xia Clan—I honor their sacrifice. And I promise you… we will win this war."
Her voice thundered with pride.
Meanwhile — Forest Path
Rien, Kuto, and Lan headed toward the Xia Clan.
Lan sighed dramatically, sitting on a rock.
"Why does it feel like we're walking in circles…"
Kuto slapped his map with energy.
"We're close! Just trust me and move! According to this, it's only a bit farther!"
Rien studied the map calmly.
"Kuto is correct. If we continue north, it will take… twenty-eight minutes and thirty-six seconds."
Lan groaned.
"Fine… let's move."
They resumed walking—
SHWIP!
An arrow shot toward Lan's head, but Kuto caught it mid-air, eyes wide.
"W–Where did that come from!?" Lan yelled.
Rien's voice remained calm.
"Most likely Liu Clan pursuers. It seems they realized we escaped their territory. Seven people are approaching."
Lan released her cosmic energy; her White Tiger manifested behind her.
"Stay ready."
Kuto cracked his knuckles, aura flaring.
"Perfect! Let's show them who's boss."
A man suddenly teleported behind Lan—but—
He froze mid-punch. Suspended in the air.
Held by nothing.
Rien didn't even turn his head.
"Attacking a girl from behind? Pathetic."
The man disintegrated into dust—without a scream, without a trace.
Lan flashed forward, slicing a pursuer's head clean off with Shadow Claw, laughing sharply.
"Stay sharp, idiots!"
Kuto fought fiercely but his cosmic energy drained rapidly; his speed collapsed.
Rien stepped forward, expression blank.
He whispered—
"Omnithought."
All remaining enemies vanished from existence instantly.
Lan whistled.
"Damn… that was incredible."
Kuto collapsed, exhausted.
"My cosmic energy… it vanished so fast…"
Rien approached him calmly.
"This universe has a higher cosmic density. Even normal cultivators here release more power than the ones from our universe. That's why you exhausted yourself trying to match their force."
Kuto pouted.
"So… I can't get stronger?"
Rien smirked faintly and patted his back.
"There is a way. Absorb the cosmic energy of this universe. Refine yours with it. Your power will multiply."
Kuto's eyes shone.
"How!?"
Lan nodded.
"Meditation. Focus your mind. Let the cosmic energy flow into you."
Rien sat on a huge rock and closed his eyes.
"Begin. I'll meditate here."
Kuto imitated him. His aura began glowing purple, swirling like blazing fire as the temperature around them rose drastically.
Lan fanned herself.
"Damn, it's getting hot. And look at him—Rien isn't even sweating."
One Hour Later
Kuto opened his eyes, aura blazing brilliantly.
"Whoa… I feel powerful!"
Lan smiled warmly.
"Your cosmic pressure is way higher now."
Rien opened his eyes calmly.
"Let's move. Someone else may sense us."
They continued until Kuto suddenly smashed face-first into an invisible barrier.
"Ow! What the—!?"
Lan giggled, touching the air.
"It's my clan's shield. No one can pass without my sister's permission. It was forged from the soul essence of the Immortal Emperor and Sea Emperor—they say crossing it erases your existence."
She said proudly.
Rien approached it with curiosity.
"Let me try."
He touched it—
The barrier instantly vanished from existence.
Lan screamed.
"HEY! WHAT DID YOU DO!? That barrier is made from GODS' soul essence! How did you destroy it!?"
Rien blinked.
"I didn't destroy anything. It was too weak to exist near me."
A pure deadpan.
Lan stared in horror.
High-ranking cultivators and legendary elders rushed over.
"Who dares disturb the peace of the Xia Clan—!?"
They reached for the barrier… but nothing was there.
"Impossible… it's gone?"
Then they noticed Lan.
"Miss Lan!? You're alive!"
They bowed with relief but turned suspiciously toward Rien and Kuto.
"Who are they?"
Lan stepped in quickly.
"They're my friends. They helped me escape the Liu Clan."
Then Miss Yin arrived—eyes immediately filling with relief.
She ran and hugged Lan tightly.
"Lan! You're safe…"
Lan hugged back.
"I missed you too."
She then introduced the others.
Kuto waved happily.
"Hi! I'm Kuto Haraki!"
Miss Yin ignored him and turned to Rien.
"And you?"
Rien bowed slightly.
"Rien Kinohutsu."
Her gaze moved to the vanished barrier.
"Did you erase my clan's shield?"
Rien replied casually—
"If you want, I can create a new one. Stronger."
The cultivators burst into laughter—until Yin raised her hand to silence them.
"You think you can make a barrier stronger than one forged by divine soul essence?"
Rien simply nodded.
"Of course."
Lan leaned close to Yin.
"Sis, let my friends stay in the clan for a while, please. They'll behave, right guys?"
Kuto and Rien nodded instantly like soldiers.
Yin turned and walked away.
"Fine. But I will speak to you later."
Kuto exhaled dramatically.
"I held my breath for four minutes—new world record."
Lan smacked him on the head.
"Idiot! You acted like a dumb puppy!"
She pointed at Rien.
"And YOU—walking disaster! You broke a million-year-old barrier without even trying! Stop flexing!"
She stormed off toward the clan.
Kuto watched dreamily.
"Her hand is so soft…"
Rien sighed, grabbed his collar, and dragged him along.
"Come on."