In the Xia Clan Hall, everyone was talking, drinking, and enjoying the celebration. Many powerful clan leaders and masters had joined the party. Suddenly, the large doors opened and Kuto walked in with Rien. Both of them looked strikingly handsome.
"Everything looks so amazing," Kuto said, dazzled by the royal arrangements and mountains of delicious dishes.
Rien scanned the room, searching for Miss Yin. Kuto elbowed him.
"What do you want, idiot?" Rien muttered, giving him a deadpan look.
Kuto grinned. "You're looking for someone, aren't you?"
Rien shook his head slowly and followed him inside.
"Everyone here looks strong," Kuto said, walking around.
Rien finally spotted Miss Yin. "Hey, Kuto, I'm going to the washroom," he said calmly before walking toward her.
Kuto rolled his eyes and immediately forgot about him as he started devouring the food.
Rien approached Miss Yin.
"Hello, my queen," he said calmly.
Miss Yin's smile widened. "You finally came!"
Rien gave a small smile. "Yes. Since you requested so politely, how could we say no?"
Miss Yin nodded and guided Rien around the hall to meet people.
On the other side, Lan appeared behind Kuto and smacked the back of his head.
"What are you doing, stupid?" she asked, arms crossed.
Kuto turned with his mouth full of food, trying to speak. Lan rolled her eyes.
"If you keep eating like this, you'll get fat."
Kuto swallowed hard. "I can't help it… all of this tastes amazing."
Lan snatched the plate from his hands and dragged him outside the hall.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
Silently, she held his hand and led him to a quiet park where the Cosmic Lotus bloomed.
"Woah… these flowers are beautiful," Kuto said, picking one up and bringing it near his mouth.
Lan immediately grabbed it back. "Are you out of your mind?! You can't eat a flower!"
She placed the lotus gently back in the pond.
Kuto stood up and tried to act like a gentleman.
"I know… I was just trying to see it closely," he said with fake confidence.
Lan rolled her eyes. Then her tone softened.
"My ancestors said… as long as the Cosmic Emperor lives, these flowers will keep shining."
Kuto looked at her. "The Cosmic Emperor? Is he a man?"
Lan punched his head hard, knocking him to the ground.
"Cosmic Emperor is NOT some ordinary man! He's an absolute being who rules over existence!"
Kuto rubbed his head. "So… he's powerful?"
Lan folded her arms proudly. "Of course! He's the strongest."
Kuto stood again, thinking. "Stronger than Rien?"
Lan rubbed her chin. "Rien is powerful… but he can't defeat the Cosmic Emperor."
Kuto looked at the moon. "Where do you think the Cosmic Emperor lives?"
Lan looked up too, her smile soft. "I don't know… maybe he's closer than we think."
Meanwhile, Rien sat across from Miss Yin.
"There are many strong people here," he observed.
Miss Yin rolled her eyes. "They're just clan leaders and masters. Powerful, yes, but not special."
Rien looked at her. "So they aren't your allies? No relations between clan leaders?"
"No way. You can't trust powerful people. They only think about themselves."
Rien's voice softened. "Don't say that… not all powerful people are selfish."
Suddenly, smoke engulfed the entire hall.
"What's happening? I can't see anything!" Miss Yin shouted in panic.
Rien stood up calmly. The smoke vanished, revealing a group of strangers.
"You're not invited," Rien said, walking toward them.
A woman stepped forward.
"I am Rulia, leader of the 6th team of the Soul Organisation."
Instantly, all clan leaders and masters froze in fear.
Rien's eyes sharpened. He controlled Rulia's memory and consciousness effortlessly.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Rulia spoke in a flat tone, "The commander of the 13th Soul Tower sent me to take the leader of the Xia Clan."
Rien circled her slowly.
"And what does he want with Miss Yin?"
"Commander wants to kill her. The Xia Clan destroyed his nephew's clan and killed him."
Rien's eyes narrowed. "Sheng Liu… he was the nephew of the commander of the 13th Soul Tower?"
"Yes. We are here to kill Miss Yin and destroy every member of this clan."
Rulia suddenly vanished into the air—erased by Rien's ability. Before he could question the others, a massive black hole appeared above the hall.
Everyone rushed outside.
"Woah… it's huge," Kuto said.
Rien stared upward as a mysterious man stepped out of the black hole.
"Who dared to kill my Rulia?" the man demanded, glaring down at them.
"Who are you?" Rien asked.
"I am Heng Liu… commander of the 13th Soul Tower of the Soul Organisation."
Rien floated up to meet him. "So you're Sheng Liu's uncle."
Heng walked through the air toward him, extending his hand. The space around his fingers tore open.
"You see this, kid? A small wave of my hand collapses universes."
Kuto whispered to Lan, "Do you know him?"
Lan nodded nervously. "He works for the Soul Organisation… they wage war across dimensions. They're banned from entering most powerful realms."
Kuto gulped. "He looks stronger than the others Rien fought."
Miss Yin said confidently, "Don't worry. No one can defeat Rien."
Around them, the other clan leaders fled instantly.
"These people are scared," Kuto said.
Lan nodded. "Because one wave from Heng could destroy our universe!"
Rien looked at Heng calmly. "I don't want to fight you right now."
Heng's expression darkened. He released an enormous surge of energy.
"I don't care about your mood."
He teleported behind Rien and tried to strike him. But the attack didn't touch Rien.
"You stopped my power…" Heng whispered.
Rien looked over his shoulder. "I deleted the scene of your punch. You're just a character in my story. I can erase any chapter or episode I want."
He walked toward Heng, grabbed his jaw, and lifted him effortlessly.
"You can't kill me," Heng hissed. "If you do, the entire Soul Organisation will come for you!"
Rien erased Heng's existence from every timeline and reality, then returned to the ground.
"He wasn't that strong," he said calmly.
Lan grabbed Rien's collar, shaking him aggressively.
"Do you know what you just did?! Now the entire Soul Organisation will come after us like hungry lions!"
Miss Yin placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. What matters is that we're safe."
Rien nodded. "We must prepare for the Soul Organisation. They want to kill Miss Yin and destroy the Xia Clan."
Kuto yawned. "I'm going to sleep."
He walked toward his room.
Rien followed him. "I'm coming too," he said quietly.