Kyrian looked around.
Bodies were scattered everywhere. So still fallen in disordered ways, others leaning against the rocks as if they had tried to flee at the last mont. The ground was soaked, the tallic sll of blood perating the air.
There were no survivors. The silence now was absolute.
Bai Zhu slowly wiped his bloodied hands on the clothes of one of the dead, without any expression on his face.
"It’s over." He murmured.
Li Fen walked to Luo Jianguo’s body and kicked it, turning it onto its side.
"This one..." He said, looking at the now lifeless face.
"Was the one who killed ours."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Should we take him?"
"No." i Li’s voice ca calm as she approached.
"Leave them all here." She looked around, her eyes cold.
"Let them rot together."
Then her gaze went to Kyrian.
"And now?"
Kyrian did not respond imdiately. His eyes passed over the field one last ti... and then fixed on the deepest part of the canyon.
A shallow cave. It was dark and silent.
"What they stole from the ruin... should be there."
Bai Zhu cracked his neck.
"Then let’s finish this."
Before moving forward, the five began collecting the spatial rings from the dead. Quick, efficient movents. No hesitation.
It was part of the process. Nothing was wasted. Bai Zhu removed two rings and tossed them toward Kyrian.
"The main ones."
Kyrian caught both in the air without looking. Luo Zhenshan’s ring. And Luo Fang’s.
Without saying anything, he stored them. Then, the six moved toward the cave.
...
The interior was simple.
No great depths. Just a sheltered space, enough to hide supplies.
But what was inside... was not little.
Reinforced wooden crates were stacked along the walls. So are open, others sealed.
Bai Zhu opened the first with a sharp strike. The glow that ca from inside lit up the interior.
"Spiritual stones..." Kai murmured.
And there were many. dium-grade spiritual stones, organized in dense blocks. An amount enough to sustain several cultivators for a long ti.
Yan Ling opened another crate.
"Pills."
Flasks are carefully organized. The energy emanating from them was strong.
"Rank 4... and 5..." She said, surprised.
Kai let out a low whistle.
"They really looted that ruin..."
i Li opened a third crate.
Inside, ancient objects. tallic fragnts, partially deteriorated scrolls, small pieces with unknown inscriptions.
Ancient items. Possibly far more valuable than they appeared.
Kyrian entered the cave last. His gaze swept over everything.
He did not touch anything for a few seconds. He only observed.
Then he spoke.
"Collect everything."
Bai Zhu looked at him.
"You’re not going to keep anything?"
Kyrian shook his head slightly.
"This belongs to the Court." He made a small pause.
"Dong Zhen will decide what to do with it."
No one questioned. The five imdiately got to work, storing everything in their spatial rings. Crates, flasks, artifacts. Nothing was left behind.
In a few minutes, the cave was empty.
...
They left the canyon right after. The path back through the narrow corridors was silent. The sound of footsteps echoed faintly on the stone walls.
It was Bai Zhu who broke the silence.
"That was easier than I expected."
i Li let out a small laugh.
"Much easier."
Yan Ling nodded.
"They didn’t even co close to posing a real threat."
Kai crossed his arms behind his head as he walked.
"That’s because soone here decided to take out the two strongest in two seconds."
Everyone, without exception, looked at Kyrian.
He did not react. But they all knew. Without him... that battle would have been completely different. Longer. More dangerous. Perhaps even with serious injuries.
Bai Zhu smiled slightly.
"You got even stronger."
Kai nodded.
"That lightning..."
...
As they exited the canyon, the wind touched their faces again. The sky seed more open. Lighter.
Kyrian mounted Arcon without saying a word. The others did the sa with their Crimson War Crows. And then... they departed. Back to the Court.
...
The journey was calm. No ambushes. No interruptions. But, throughout the entire way... Kyrian remained silent.
His eyes were closed most of the ti. But his mind... was active.
He replayed the fight. Every movent. Every reaction. Every detail. And then... he reached a conclusion.
The lightning Qi... was different.
Much stronger than he had imagined. It was more destructive than the sword eyes.
More direct. More violent. The penetration ability was absurd. Spiritual weapons... could not withstand it. And it was not just that.
The paralysis. Upon striking an opponent’s body, the lightning directly interfered with the flow of Qi. It was blocked. It destabilized. It prevented reaction.
That was why... Luo Zhenshan could not counterattack.
Kyrian slowly opened his eyes. The wind hit his face. Another factor. Speed.
With lightning flowing through his body... his speed had increased drastically.
Faster movents. More explosive. More unpredictable.
He exhaled slowly. There was still much to explore. Much to understand. But one thing was certain.
His strength... had taken another leap, and he was satisfied.
...
Days later...
The Bloody Court’s fortress appeared on the horizon. Imposing. Dark and familiar.
They landed in the main courtyard without fanfare. And went straight to the Blood Core hall.
Dong Zhen was already there. Standing. Waiting. His eyes passed over the six.
"So..." He said.
"How did it go?"
Bai Zhu took a step forward. But before he could start speaking...
Kyrian spoke.
"I will go to my room."
Dong Zhen looked at him for a second. Then nodded.
"Go."
Without another word, Kyrian turned. And left. His steps were calm. Unhurried.
anwhile, behind him... Bai Zhu began the report.
...
Kyrian walked through the corridors of the fortress until he reached his room. He opened the door. And entered.
The familiar sll of spiritual herbs was still there, faint but present. His gaze went straight to the cauldron.
He stood in silence for a few seconds. Then, he walked toward it.
He had gone days without refining. Too long. His fingers touched the cold edge of the tal.
And then... a faint smile appeared on his face. The gray fla ignited once more. And Kyrian... returned to his true battlefield.
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