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Maria laughed heartily as she watched the shocked Leviathan transform into a colossal ghostly figure.
"Hahaha! You’re lucky I’m so benevolent, Leviathan! You’re my friend forever now, just as you promised," Maria said with a bright smile. "You exist both here and in Hell, right? Perfect. Make sure to tell the other Archdemons not to ss with . And spread the word about our wonderful new friendship."
"A-Ahhh...! I...! I’m a ghost?! But I’m an Archdemon. I can’t... How is this even possible?!" Leviathan stamred in disbelief.
Maria’s Necromancy bent reality itself, rewriting the laws of physics that governed demons and the undead to make her desires manifest.
Archdemons were entirely different beings. They could not be turned into zombies or ghosts.
Yet she had done it anyway.
It was a power that transcended Concepts.
"Do it."
"YES, MA’AM!"
Leviathan nodded vigorously. In Hell, he imdiately inford the other six Archdemons that he was now her eternal servant.
They mocked him, despised him, and swiftly attempted to destroy him.
A fierce war erupted across Hell, but Maria paid little attention.
She would handle that later.
After all, the trials were far from over.
"Alright, ti for dessert."
Maria smiled toward the heavens. The white clouds parted, revealing three vast armies—each comprising a hundred Immortals—led by celestial beings far beyond the Immortal Realm. They descended upon the Mortal World beneath the Low Heavens.
Maria and her weary allies, exhausted from relentless battles, gazed upward as the three celestial leaders approached. They resembled the angels from Maria’s visions yet bore no true connection to them.
Their auras radiated overwhelming holy power. Clearly, they had surpassed Immortals, attaining new heights by cultivating the pure essence of the Heavens—the Heavenly Ki and the Heavenly Dao.
"And who are you supposed to be, arriving after the battle’s already won and flaunting your armies of Immortals and Dharma Treasures?" Maria demanded angrily, her brows furrowing. "Don’t you realize we need at least a mont to rest before the next fight? You Murim people are utterly infuriating."
"Hahaha! My apologies. We are three of the Seven Heavenly Saints, serving directly under the Heavenly Emperor—the Supre Ruler of the Heavenly Palace, the Murim Alliance, and this entire world!" one leader declared. He was a man with long red hair and blazing orange eyes, clad in flowing robes adorned with gold and red jewels. "I am Red Heaven. These are my siblings, Yellow Heaven and Purple Heaven."
Maria glanced at the others. Yellow Heaven was a man with short blonde hair and glowing white eyes, dressed in white and golden robes, a radiant set of halos glowing behind him. Purple Heaven was a tall, powerful woman with long purple hair in a ponytail, wearing white and purple robes over golden armor studded with purple jewels.
"The Heavenly Emperor has decreed that you and Wu Lieng, son of the Heavenly Demon, must be eliminated without delay!" Yellow Heaven announced, summoning a long golden spear brimming with heavenly energies.
"We sincerely apologize for our late arrival," Purple Heaven added, her ponytail swaying in the wind. "We were occupied assembling an army strong enough to ensure victory against you. Though my brothers urged haste, I insisted we not underestimate you." She materialized a massive pair of golden axes embedded with purple jewels.
"Hah! That’s my sister for you," Red Heaven laughed. "Now, shall we begin?!" His face twisted into a sinister grin as heavenly power coalesced into a gigantic blazing sword.
Against all odds, Maria smiled confidently. She glanced back at her disciples, all drained and battered.
She could not ask them to endure another war.
"Go inside the pagoda. You’ve all fought bravely."
"W-What?!"
"No, Master!"
"You can’t fight alone!"
"Wait!"
Her disciples protested, but with a snap of her fingers, shadows enveloped them and whisked them away, swiftly clearing the skies.
Only her newest allies remained at her side—now undead—including hundreds of demons Leviathan had summoned, along with her family.
"Looks like the warmup is finally over!" Partner grinned, licking her lips. Having consud so much rich blood, her power had soared to new heights, her aura flaring like a crimson sun. "Ti for the real battle!"
"Hmph. That damned snake was tougher than expected," Lucifer growled. "And I’m furious we couldn’t save you ourselves, Maria... So let us vent our rage on these fools at least."
"An army of three hundred Immortals? Impressive," Arthur remarked. "But the power those three radiate... What Realm is that?"
"The Realm beyond Immortals..." Lin Ming explained quietly. "It has many nas, but most call them Celestial Immortals. Only two have ever surpassed even this... the Heavenly Demon and the Heavenly Emperor, eternal rivals."
"My father..." Wu Lieng murmured, cradling the little dhampir girl in his arms.
"Grandpa..." she whispered. "What do we do now? The light is so bright..."
"We must fight..." Wu Lieng replied firmly. "Wait, that boy over there... Doesn’t he resemble you?"
"Aahh! T-That’s... my brother!" Mu Ningxue gasped. "Terion?!"
The boy heard a familiar voice and sensed a beloved presence. He turned to see his sister, whom he hadn’t beheld in years since their separation.
"M-Mu...! Mu Ningxue!!!" Terion flew toward her, enveloped in her warm embrace. "I’ve missed you this whole ti!"
"Brother! It’s been years...!" the girl sobbed. "I missed you too!"
"How are you here?! I thought you were with Mother?" Terion asked. "And where’s... where’s Mother?"
"You didn’t see what happened?" Mu Ningxue whispered. "She’s... gone."
"Eh?" Terion’s eyes widened in shock.
"I’m sorry. If you seek soone to bla, let it be ," Wu Lieng said solemnly. "I killed her—Archduchess Veloria—for destroying our sect and harvesting the souls of our disciples. I’m still searching for those souls amid the ruins of her floating castle..."
"M-Mother’s dead...?" Terion struggled for emotion. He wanted to grieve, but the tears wouldn’t co. He had barely known her in childhood; she had always been cold and distant. "I... don’t know what to feel... I always wished to connect with her, to understand her better..."
"Mother was... not a good person," Mu Ningxue cried, wiping her tears. "She always hurt and forced into things I hated..."
"Mu..." Terion sighed deeply, pulling her close and kissing her forehead. "Don’t worry. We still have each other. We’re siblings... family..."
"Terion...!" she wept. "Please don’t leave again... never again, okay?"
"I won’t..." Terion offered a gentle smile. Amidst the chaos, the siblings finally found a spark of joy in their long-awaited reunion.
"..." Lin Ming watched in silence, a quiet ache stirring in his heart. "What do I do now? Where do I go?"
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