As soon as Zakai and Jalen were alone, a ripple of radiance shimmered in the chamber. Light appeared, his form condensed into a luminous child figure.
"It's been a while, kiddo," Light said, his voice carrying both warmth and gravity. "And I see you've transcended."
Zakai's eyes widened. Based on what he could sense, Jalen had been only half‑step transcendent before—but now he stood as a full transcendent. Zakai hadn't expected it. To reach half‑step in just a few hundred years within a time realm was already a miracle, but to break through completely? That was something beyond reason. He knew this kid was an anomaly, yet even with that knowledge, he couldn't help but feel shock ripple through him.
"You're even better than this brat," Light teased, nodding toward Zakai. "For thousands of years he's been cultivating, and yet he's just half step transcendent."
Zakai smiled oddly, masking his unease. "Can you at least show me some face in front of people?"
"Maybe if you were as talented as young Jalen here, I might," Light replied with a smirk. Then his gaze turned serious as he faced Jalen. "Have you noticed it?"
"Yes," Jalen said, his tone grave. "That cultivator from Kanto Ridge broke the seal earlier than intended. I'm surprised he didn't come for me right after. His mark is still on me—I can't seem to get rid of it."
"That's because the mark placed on you belongs to that of a Peak Transcendent Mega Star Realm," Light explained. "Two realms and nine sub-realms above you. As for why he hasn't attacked yet, I suspect breaking the seal exhausted his powers and injured him severely. He's probably also hiding from the Upper Realm's gaze using some masking method. Now would be the perfect time to eliminate him."
"I agree," Jalen nodded. "But how will we find him if he's hidden? We don't even know what he looks like."
"That's true," Light admitted. "It will be tricky to locate him in this vast cultivation world unless he unveils his realm and comes within close range."
"Then I have no choice but to wait for him to make the first move," Jalen said.
"That will give him time to restore his realm," Zakai warned. "Why don't we hunt him down?"
"That might take months, even years," Jalen countered. "And by then he will be fully restored and be able to suppress me."
"Doesn't that thing have a way to track him?" Light asked. He was referring to the Origin shard.
Before Jalen could answer, a voice cut through the chamber.
"There's no need to track me—because I'm already here."
The chamber's runes flickered violently, the air thickening as shadows bent unnaturally. A young man with dark hair stepped from the gloom, his aura oppressive yet restrained, pressing down like a mountain. Jalen's body tensed, his aura flaring instinctively. Only then did Luminal Edge flash into existence, its brilliance cutting through the suffocating darkness.
"There's no need to be tense," the intruder laughed, his voice echoing with arrogance. "I'm not here to fight you. Although I did plan to devour you and the Origin Shard, I never expected you to grow this strong so quickly."
"Just state what you want," Jalen said coldly.
"I'm sure you know that with an Eternal‑grade spirit tool, one can mask their presence from the Upper World," the young man said. "And I can sense many Eternal‑grade tools lying around here."
"I see," Jalen replied, his voice sharp. "So you're here to threaten me."
"Well, it won't be a threat if you cooperate," the invader said smoothly. "Hand over the Origin Shard."
"That will never happen," Jalen said, his tone like steel.
"Are you sure?" The young man sneered. "If you refuse, your loved ones will die."
Jalen's aura flared, cracks spiderwebbing across the chamber floor. The walls groaned under the pressure, Zakai instinctively stepping back while Light's radiance pulsed brighter to stabilize the space. "Why threaten me? If you are so confident in your abilities, take what you want."
The cultivator chuckled. "You're trying to goad me into attacking, to draw the Upper Realm's gaze. But that won't bode well for you either."
"I know," Jalen said evenly. "But it's the same for you. They'll seal you again—and they might learn about the Origin Shard. That's something you don't want."
The intruder's smile faltered, then twisted. "Perhaps I'll slaughter one of your loved ones and take their Eternal‑grade spirit tool."
"And if you do that," Jalen countered, "you'll never fuse with the Origin Shard."
Both knew the truth: no cultivator could possess more than one Eternal‑grade spirit tool. Once merged, only death could separate them. But Jalen was different. As a living Eternal‑grade spirit, he could wield more than one.
"I was hoping to negotiate with you, but you have proven to be a tough cookie." The cultivator clicked his tongue, annoyed. Then he smiled. "No matter. I'll get what I want sooner or later." His body dissolved into starlight, vanishing.
Silence fell. Jalen's fists clenched, fury boiling in his chest. The chamber trembled as if echoing the storm within him, runes flickering in protest. Light's gaze lingered, unreadable, while Zakai swallowed hard, sensing the tempest he could barely contain.
He needed more power—enough that no one could ever threaten his family again. The intruder had retreated for now, but once restored, he would return. And Jalen knew that unless he ascended further, he would be powerless to stop him.
"Sorry, Patriarch Zakai, but I'll turn in early," Jalen said respectfully. "It's good to see you again. We'll catch up tomorrow."
Zakai inclined his head with measured respect, his presence steady. "I look forward to it."
With that, Jalen left to go be with his wife and children, his steps heavy with lingering fury. Yet beneath the storm in his heart, a quiet resolve burned brighter than ever, promising that no threat would ever reach them again.