“Not bad… Your choice was correct. I won’t torture you,” I said coldly, my gaze shifting to the Demonkin who had just transformed into Yue Ling.

“I won’t be caught by you. But remember this: our Demonkin *will* conquer humanity. Our Demon Sovereign is a prodigy who has mastered transcendent third-tier magic. Savor the power and dominion of your king, humans.” With those words, the Demonkin bit down on a black object hidden in his mouth—and collapsed instantly, just like the one before him.

“Transcendent third-tier magic?! This… what kind of joke is this?”

“The Demon Sovereign actually mastered transcendent magic—and third-tier at that? This is a nightmare for humanity.”

“During past battles, they claimed their current Demon Sovereign was the strongest in history. I thought it was bragging… Can Chelseas really defeat her?”

Shock and despair rippled through the crowd. No one in recorded history had ever wielded transcendent third-tier magic—yet now, the Demon Sovereign had achieved it. Was heaven mocking them?

“Is transcendent third-tier magic really that strong?” I asked Aifei, who had gone slightly pale. Honestly, I felt nothing.

“Extremely,” she replied, voice trembling. “I’ve heard it can unleash area-wide annihilation spells.”

“I see,” I said flatly.

*If Aide knew the spell I used to scare him was transcendent seventh-tier…* A flicker of curiosity stirred. *He’d be utterly flabbergasted. Amusing.*

“Um… what will you do with me?” the forgotten Demonkin asked helplessly.

“Take him back. Maybe we can extract something,” Aide ordered the knights.

“Yes, sir!”

“No,” I cut in. “All Demonkin are bound by a transcendent first-tier curse—the Seal of Silence. The moment they even *hint* at revealing secrets, they die. We’ll get nothing from him.”

“I see. Then forget it,” Aide murmured with a slight nod. After witnessing my earlier display, he trusted my words completely.

“S-so… what about me…?” the timid Demonkin whispered.

“Dead weight. Grant him a quick death,” I said, voice utterly devoid of emotion.

“But you just said—!” he protested.

“I never promised to spare you. I only said *if* you came out willingly, your death wouldn’t be *too* painful. Truth is—you were dead the moment you accepted this mission. Farewell.” A thread of mana shot forth, piercing his brain. His life vanished in an instant.

To wield the bloodstained blade of murder, one must accept death in return. Never grasp it without that resolve.

*Decisive. Powerful. This man is destined for greatness. Perhaps… entrusting my daughter to him is the right choice,* Aide thought silently, watching Ling Xie.

*I will become as strong as my master,* Aifei vowed inwardly, her resolve crystallizing after witnessing his battle prowess.

“Let’s move. The threat is gone—we push faster now.”

“Roger!”

At Aide’s command, the group advanced once more. Unburdened and unafraid, their pace quickened; the path held no major obstacles.

Two hours later, Aide and the others finally reached the Tianduo Republic.