Jia's eyes widened in sheer shock. In her view, Yuta was the most powerful entity in this world. If the second level of the "Wings" stage was the absolute pinnacle attainable by any being in this realm, it could only mean one thing: he did not belong to this world at all.
What puzzled her even more was why he would choose to reveal all of this to her. Wouldn't it have been better to keep it hidden—to hold it back as a trump card?
Yuta lifted Jia with effortless grace and set her upon his lap, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Despite the excruciating pain he was clearly enduring, his smile never wavered—and the same could be said for Jia.
She felt a sharp, agonizing pain, coupled with the sensation of her own power surging to an immense degree; yet, simultaneously, she struggled to break free from his grasp.
All her efforts, however, were in vain. He was nine full levels stronger than her—a gap that was utterly insurmountable. If the chasm between Jia and a "Boundless"-rank entity was already infinite, then what could be said of the distance between her and an entity of the "Beyond-Existence" rank?
"Since I'm telling you these things, you'll soon know the truth. Life lays the truth right before our eyes, yet we almost always choose to ignore it. Isn't life quite cunning, my dear Jia Guilford?"
Yuta gazed at Jia's striking features—now etched with annoyance and rage—and began to pat her chest as if she were a small child. This only fueled her fury, and a palpable killing intent began to radiate from her body.
"Why are you so upset?" "Does it bother you that I treat you like a girl—or is it something else?"
"I would be less angry if the person doing this actually loved me. But you don't have a shred of love for me; there's something else here—something I haven't quite figured out yet."
Yuta's gaze shifted toward Jiya's chest, drawing a look of intense contempt from her.
But that contempt turned to shock as Yuta began to carefully unbutton her jacket, taking pains not to damage any of the buttons.
Then, his expression grew even more sinister; he suddenly tore through her clothing, revealing her milky-white skin.
She struggled fiercely to break free from his grip, but every attempt proved futile.
"You vile wretch! How dare you do this to me?"
Jiya gritted her teeth, glaring at Yuta with pure hatred and disdain.
Yuta's malicious expression remained unchanged. He placed his hand against her chest and thrust it inward, piercing through her body until his fingers reached her heart—gripping it firmly.
Her heart hammered with increasing speed, straining to escape his brutal hold.
Blood gushed from Jiya's mouth as she clutched at Yuta's hand, desperate to stop him from tearing her heart out.
Her efforts were entirely in vain; Yuta calmly withdrew his hand, holding Jiya's heart, and gazed at it with a faint, chilling smile. He pulled out her heart, which bore a black sigil—a mechanism designed to control her and ensure she remained under the absolute command of Aster Guilford.
This was what Gia discovered the moment she saw her own heart in Yuta's hand.
*Thump... thump... thump...*
Gia's heart continued to beat faintly. Yuta tossed it aside, then used a black flame to vaporize the blood on his hand before wiping Gia's blood-stained lips.
"Don't worry; you won't die—you are, after all, immortal. But I must say, you're quite the actress. Did you really think I didn't know you were immortal?"
As he spoke, Gia's heart began to regenerate, and her wound started to mend on its own. The recovery took only a few seconds, and soon her chest returned to its original state.
"You are truly beautiful, Gia Guilford."
There was a hint of mockery in Yuta's tone. He rested his hand on his chin, then leaned in to kiss her once more.
Afterward, he pulled away, leaving her to restore her clothing to its former state—as if nothing had ever happened.
"How did you know there was a seal of servitude placed on my heart? Even I wasn't aware of it."
"You'll find out when the time is right."
Gia narrowed her eyes in annoyance at his response, but she chose to let it go. She knew better than to expect any answers from him; when Yuta set his mind to something, nothing could stop him from seeing it through. Jia sat at a distance from Yuta, placing her sword beside her—a precaution against any unexpected turn of events, much like what had occurred previously.
She felt a flicker of unease knowing he had seen her body, yet, to her own surprise, she felt nothing else.
Typically, when a man touches a woman in intimate areas, the body triggers physiological responses driven by sex hormones; however, her body remained entirely unaffected—as if it hadn't registered any interaction whatsoever.
This only deepened her suspicion regarding Yuta Caseral—a man of unknown origins—and his power, which was surging to an extraordinary degree. Reaching the rank of "Master Sovereign" by the age of fifteen was simply not something that could be achieved through talent alone.
Having learned that there were ten tiers even beyond the rank of Master Sovereign, she began to realize that the world was far vaster than she had ever imagined—and that, in the face of those far stronger than her, she was little more than an insect that could be crushed in an instant.
But now was not the time for such reflections; enemies lay in wait everywhere, in all manner of forms.
*Slash.*
Without even glancing at it, Jia cleaved a lion-like beast—as massive as a full-grown elephant—clean in two as it lunged at her.
She rose to her feet, sensing a potent energy surging rapidly toward them.
It was the combined presence of a group of warriors of varying ranks, led by an individual far more powerful than the rest—and, indeed, stronger than Jia herself.
Seven hundred fighters in total, all under the command of that single figure. Jia's expression was calm, yet filled with anticipation, as she tried to gauge how much time they had before the others arrived.
Yuta murmured in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the direction Jia was watching:
"It looks like they're followers of the Scorpion Organization, coming to reinforce their ranks. They'll be here in forty-five minutes."
Jia turned her eyes toward Yuta, who appeared entirely indifferent to his surroundings.
His gaze radiated such confidence—as if the whole world were under his control. That was the impression Jia formed as she looked at him, while Yuta stared up at the sky with a faint smile.
"There isn't much time left until the end of the year. Once this crisis concludes, a celebration will be held to mark a thousand years since the defeat of the Demon Realm. Following that, the final examination—or rather, the 'Examination of Merit'—will take place."
Jia mused to herself, her gaze drifting vacantly across the world around her.
She was neither the strongest nor the brightest, and she knew it. Yet, she had always craved the power to overcome any challenge; to her, knowledge was the surest path to that strength.
The ignorant cannot evolve—they remain stagnant—and, ultimately, the world shows no mercy to fools. For this reason, the fact that Yuta possessed such knowledge—and that it was within her reach—was something she could not afford to overlook, regardless of the circumstances.
........................
The Hua Yu Clan
Meanwhile, the grounds of the Hua Yu Clan—a place where residents were accustomed to following the events of the mid-term examinations in real-time—were bustling with onlookers.
All eyes were fixed upon a runic gateway displaying scenes from Jeju Island; in some areas, however, the situation had become impossible to track, as the surveillance tools had been destroyed during the fighting.
The members of the Hua Yu Clan watched with intense focus, as a fierce battle raged between the Versalkin Academy and the Scorpion Organization.
Though both sides had suffered casualties, the onlookers showed little concern for the fate of the students.
The people of the Hua Yu Clan remained within their own territory, studying at their own academy to become masters of 'Gu.'
Having gone generations without utilizing mana, the inhabitants of the Northern Yun Gai Mountains had lost the very ability to wield it. They no longer possess the core of the mind or the mana nucleus required to wield mana.
For this reason, the inhabitants of the Northern Continent have always lived in the mountains, where the Springs of Life are found.
Spirit stones serve as the foundation upon which a Gu Master relies to advance in rank, replenish their energy, and cultivate their Gu. Without them, a Gu Master's progression comes to a permanent halt; furthermore, they risk perishing in battle—should their primeval sea be completely drained or run dry, death follows instantly.
As for ordinary humans who lack a primeval sea, the inhabitants of the northern Yun Gai Mountains possess a primeval sea capacity of no more than 0.1%, leading them to be classified as "F-rank" fighters.
"It seems the battle has devolved into a war of attrition, with no clear victor in sight."
"Several formidable fighters have emerged during this conflict—Jian Yi from the Mount Hua Sect, among various other students."
"Although the Versalkin Academy is enduring a difficult period, the skill and power level of its students are terrifying, which has kept the situation stable for now."
"The Scorpion Organization is a fearsome group; they command a vast number of high-ranking fighters—a fact that commands respect."
"Controlling such a large number of high-ranking fighters is no easy feat; it requires a seasoned and wise leader."
"Moreover, the terrain where the battle is unfolding is unforgiving to both sides—they are not only fighting one another but also contending with waves of beasts and the harsh, hostile environment of Jigwa Island." ........................
The members of the Hwa-Yu clan discussed the events unfolding on Jeju Island among themselves, much like an audience watching an entertaining show.
They felt no concern for who might live or die; none of their own kin were present on the island.
Why, then, should they grieve for strangers—people with whom they shared no connection?
Their thoughts were focused elsewhere: on the impending catastrophe.
They used the period of the mid-term examinations as an opportunity to rest and gather, knowing that before long, snow would begin to fall, brought by clouds sweeping in from the Arctic.
Although it was technically summer, the Northern Continent remained frigid—snow fell there nearly year-round, not just during the winter months.
During this time, the food sources available to the monsters in the Northern Yun-Gai Mountains would dwindle, driving the beasts to raid villages—either to seize stored provisions or to prey upon the humans themselves.
Consequently, using this interval to rest and prepare for what lay ahead was the wisest course of action; for many of them, the coming year would not be one they would live to see.
Because of this, the inhabitants of the clans in the Northern Yun-Gai Mountains had long since lost the capacity for empathy toward strangers or those outside their own circles.
Yet, they remained prepared to sacrifice one of their own if it meant the survival of the rest—provided that the "stranger" in question was powerful and belonged to a clan.
Seol Ha-oran
Meanwhile, having completed all the tasks assigned to him, Seol Ha-oran sat eating his meal while observing the events unfolding on Jeju Island. Seol Ha-oran's gaze was analytical—far too sharp for a boy of his age.
"It seems the war is nearing its end; reinforcements have arrived for both sides, and key figures have emerged."
"The conflict won't drag on much longer. At the very least, this farce will be over within three hours."
Seol Ha-oran spoke calmly, sipping from a glass of wine.
He narrowed his pitch-black eyes—eyes that resembled an abyss—as he reviewed the unfolding events, along with those that had previously taken place on Jeju Island. Then, he muttered under his breath:
"Yuta Caseral... the 'Demon' of this world is truly impressive. It appears the Demonic Path here is flourishing quite remarkably."
Seol spoke to himself with cold detachment. Having arrived from another world and lived for three hundred years, he possessed a wealth of experience—significant by the standards of his peers, though perhaps modest when measured against the laws of this new world.
........................
The Yan Shi Clan
Far from the Hua Yu Clan—within the territory of the Yan Shi Clan—a young man of eighteen sat, his long, white hair cascading down to his waist, his eyes a pale, striking blue.
He watched the events transpiring on Jeju Island while idly toying with an 'Ice-Blade *Gu*'—a mystical creature-tool—before returning it to his Primordial Sea.
On the face of Seong Ying-ting—the crown jewel of the Yan Shi Clan and the greatest prodigy the clan had ever produced—a smile appeared, brimming with intense excitement and a burning desire to cross blades with the individuals who had surfaced on Jeju Island.
He was regarded as possessing formidable strength and terrifying talent—a true fiend who relished combat, the killing of his enemies and rivals, and indeed, anyone who dared to annoy him or obstruct his path.
If Yuta's nature could be described as "gray," and Seol Ha-oran's as deeply rooted in malevolence, then Seong Ying-ting was a "pure white" fiend. He acted purely for his own amusement—not out of compulsion, but because he lacked any concept of right or wrong.
The Yan Shi clan had always stood by him, justifying his actions even when he erred. It was this environment that fostered his "pure white" demonic nature.
"Hooo... the students of the Versalkin Academy are truly impressive. I'm currently at the late stage of the third rank. If I can reach the late stage of the fourth rank within the next two years, I'll be in good shape. Let's hope so."
Despite his boorish, arrogant, and haughty demeanor—acting exactly as he pleased, whenever he pleased—there was an undercurrent of frustration in Seong Ying-ting's tone.
Yet, he was genuinely intelligent and gifted. His talent was not limited to his 100% primeval sea capacity; it extended to his intellect as well.
After studying several texts, he managed to uncover the reason why his primeval sea capacity had reached 100%—having previously stood at 95%.
He discovered that he possessed one of the "Children of Zhao Li"—a group of ten individuals also known among Gu Masters as the "Children of Ren Zu." The fate of Zhao Li's descendants was tragic—a fate shared by anyone who inherits their hybrid constitution.
Zhao Li's children possessed both the Dantian Roots and the Primordial Sea, which balanced their internal energy and prevented it from spiraling into chaos.
However, their descendants typically inherited only one of the two—either the Primordial Sea or the Dantian Roots. It was rare for an individual to possess both, and those who did not—yet still bore the hybrid blood—met gruesome, horrific ends.
Xiong Yingting had only three years left to live. Yet, if he could reach the fourth rank within the next two years, his aperture would become capable of withstanding the pressure generated by the collision of *Qi* against its walls for a much longer duration—even as he advanced toward the sixth rank or the realm of an Immortal Gu Master.
As Xiong Yingting watched the gate, Yuta Caseral appeared, locked in combat with one of the squads. He had separated from Jia, who no longer placed much trust in him following his past actions toward her.
Xiong Yingting observed as Yuta killed the members of the Scorpion Organization with utter indifference—a sight that ignited an intense, overwhelming desire within him to fight the man.
Filled with a mix of admiration and astonishment, he remarked:
"Is this truly Yuta Caseral from the Central Continent? What a terrifying individual! He kills whenever he pleases, and no one ever holds him to account."
"He possesses the audacity and courage to do exactly as he wishes. He even killed that man, Edward, in full view of the Five Continents—completely unbothered by the criticism leveled against him." Seong Ying-ting cast his gaze toward his kinsmen from the Yan Shi clan, who were observing the events unfolding on Jeju Island while whispering among themselves.
His look held a trace of disgust. Although they had previously protected him, their attitude shifted the moment they learned he possessed one of the bodies of Zhao Li's descendants—a revelation that signaled his imminent death and threatened the total annihilation of the Yan Shi clan and its allied clans.
Regardless of an individual's talent, a clan's primary objective remains the preservation of the majority. If a member offends a clan of equal strength, their own clan will defend them; but if they offend a far more powerful clan, they might be offered up as a sacrifice without a moment's hesitation.
Kinship, friendship, partnerships, love, clans, tribes, hatred, vengeance, and enmity—these are all constructs devised by humans to escape the prospect of solitude and isolation.
Yet, in the end, these are merely connections that form and dissolve—much like tectonic plates that drift toward or away from one another, only to collide under the guise of mutual interest or exploitation, before eventually drifting apart once more toward their ultimate extinction.
A sigh escaped Seong Ying-ting's lips, forming a cloud of mist—a sign of the plummeting temperature as a frigid wave swept in from the North Pole.
The cold front was transforming the Yun Gai Mountains—situated near the Arctic Ocean—into a vast, icy expanse stretching across millions of kilometers. Seong Ying-ting had come to accept that his life was nearing its end—but for what reason? Because of his power—that very thing everyone dreams of possessing—along with his talent and his legendary physique.
These three attributes were Seong Ying-ting's curse; what is considered a blessing for some can prove to be a calamity for others.
Life has always been this way: where there is a winner, there must be a loser; where there is a survivor, there must be someone who perishes. Life operates on the principle of equivalent exchange.
Seong Ying-ting rose from where he sat, his gaze fixed upon the sky with an empty, vacant look. A cloud of ice then formed around him, transporting him from his current spot to another location deep within Mount Yan Shi.