System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 731: Chapter 731: The Black Hole

The undead honor guard led Mary, Louisa, and the maidservants through the devastated battlefield. The Cursed Mist began to dissipate, revealing blood-soaked dirt and the smoking wreckage of warships. Upon reaching the center of the plateau, the women froze in absolute panic.

There stood Ethan, but his appearance was monstrous. There was no trace of his amethyst scales; this time, his body was completely covered in pitch-black scales. Above his head floated a massive dark vortex, a sphere of pure devouring force that resembled a miniature black sun.

To the side, the mutilated torsos of the Great Ancestors and Gusher lay on the ground, squirming helplessly. Crul had warned Ethan that their living energy was far too concentrated and powerful, advising him to first devour the mass of corpses from the army to strengthen his vessel before consuming the living leaders, ensuring perfect and efficient assimilation.

Dozens of skeletons hurled thousands of bodies directly into the black sun. Vel’Kha’Lems watched the scene from above with deep fascination, unable to comprehend how this human mastered the darkest and most absolute secret of the Void.

Ethan’s Spirit Sea was expanding at a frantic pace. His spiritual power already rivaled that of the true ruler of the border zone, yet Ethan’s felt infinitely denser, deeper, and far more desolate.

"Wait! Don’t kill us! We are the boss’s subordinates!" desperate screams echoed through the wreckage.

It was Driz and Ash Legrave. Both had survived the initial slaughter by pure luck. Seeing the monsters respectfully escorting Ethan’s women and paying homage to the creature covered in black scales, they deduced immediately that the monster was Ethan. It was a suicidal gamble, but it was the only lifeline they had left.

Upon hearing the shouts, the Lich made a simple hand gesture. Two Nightmare Knights stepped forward and pressed their heavy blades against Driz and Ash’s necks, sternly signaling them to march forward. The silent expression on the creatures’ faces made it clear: whether true or false, if the Master ordered their death, their heads would roll that very instant.

Suddenly, the black sun above Ethan’s head began to vibrate violently, releasing a ravenous pulse that demanded more sustenance.

No longer waiting for the horde to toss the remains by hand, the vortex’s gravitational field spiked. Thousands of corpses, armor, blood, and broken gear began floating into the sky in a macabre spiral. It was the same catastrophic scene that took place in the tomb, but this time, the combined armies of the four sects were being ruthlessly pulverized and devoured by Ethan’s abyss.

Ethan finished devouring the last of the corpses. His Spirit Sea vibrated at its absolute peak, overflowing with a terrifying amount of energy. His power was now half a step into the Dao Manifestation Realm, directly rivaling the level of the Great Ancestors. After absorbing thousands of soldiers and the giant warships that had been pulverized by the gravitational force of the vortex, his body overflowed with raw strength.

[Excellent, Master. With this momentum, if you devour the remaining Great Ancestors, you will successfully complete your breakthrough.] Crul’s voice resonated inside his mind.

Ethan was ecstatic. He felt a strength that seemed to have no limits, but the most unsettling and fascinating part was his proximity to the Dao. He could perceive an intangible presence right before him, as if he only had to reach out his hand to touch it, yet every time he tried, the sensation faded away. It was a strange, mysterious, yet incredibly beautiful feeling.

The Lich approached and knelt respectfully before speaking.

"Master, these subjects claim to work for you," said Vel’Kha’Lems, gesturing toward the two captive men.

Ethan turned his gaze toward Ash and Driz.

"It is a pity that you had to witness all of this," Ethan said. "Therefore, you must die."

Panic immediately seized both of them, but Ash reacted quickly and fell to his knees.

"No, Master! No, please do not kill me! I can still be useful to you!" Ash shouted, his voice cracking with terror.

"I cannot risk you telling the princess what happened," Ethan said coldly.

"No, Master! That is precisely why I can be useful to you!" Ash pleaded frantically. "The princess needs your power and this legion of the undead. If you return as the sole survivor, it will immediately raise suspicion. But if I am with you, I can testify that you found an ancient legacy of the undead. Believe me, believe me! Besides... I know a massive secret that can compensate for my miserable life, Master! Have mercy!"

Ethan kept his expression unreadable, then turned his gaze toward the other man.

"And what about you?" Ethan said, looking at Driz.

Driz spat blood onto the ground and glared at Ethan with contained rage.

"You can go to hell. I refuse to kneel before that whore princess’s dogs," Driz said.

Driz had just seen Gusher lying in the mud like a mutilated dog. Knowing that Gusher served another prince and had received no mercy whatsoever, it was obvious to him that he was about to meet the exact same fate as his superior.

"I like your guts," Ethan said.

Without showing any hesitation, Ethan extended his right hand. The miniature black sun floating above him shifted into his palm, and with a fluid movement, passed directly into Driz’s chest.

The dark vortex did not destroy him from the outside; it began devouring him from within. Driz’s eyes bulged as his veins turned completely black under his skin. A harrowing scream burst from his throat as the gravitational force of the abyss began crushing his organs, his bones, and his very soul from the inside out. The flesh of his torso contracted grotesquely, collapsing inward as if his entire body were being sucked into an invisible point, until his agony-filled screams abruptly cut off upon being reduced to nothing.

-------------------

From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

The Melting Tide / The Tidal Horizon / The Sea Mist Ascension

Dao Manifestation Realm

The Incipient Dawn / Laws of the Domain / Reality Shatter

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

------

Sword mastery levels

Sword Intent.

Sword Aura.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!