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

Chapter 736: Chapter 736: The Great Hunt

"That is correct, Master," Vel’Kha’Lems said. "Several years passed until more of those toys arrived to search the area. My confusion barrier seemed to remain in place; no one could approach. Then, all the local forces seemed to reach an agreement and pooled their resources. Day by day, thousands of new reinforcements arrived. Although none were as strong as the ones I killed, they already numbered several million in just a couple of months."

Ethan listened in silence, evaluating the magnitude of the events that had unfolded during his long trance.

"Thousands of ships were stationed in a defensive formation," the Lich continued. "But they were not prepared to fight us; rather, they were fleeing from something else and approaching this place to seek refuge. That was when it occurred to me that perhaps I could finish them all off and heal myself a bit more. I opened the confusion barrier slightly and allowed them to enter and wander around the outskirts of this place. With my spell, they merely circled endlessly unaware that I was watching them from the shadows."

Vel’Kha’Lems paused briefly, his eye sockets gleaming with a dark amusement.

"Then an even larger armada arrived," the Lich said. "Thousands of red ships began searching throughout the entire area. Leading them was an old man who laughed quite merrily, cursing and shouting that he would find them and annihilate them all. I used the same technique to lure them in; however, just as I was about to have them all trapped inside, a new group arrived. They wore white and gold armor and carried a large banner depicting a roaring dragon."

"The Soaring Dragon Kingdom," Ethan said, narrowing his eyes.

"I believe so, something like that was mentioned," Vel’Kha’Lems said. "They arrived demanding explanations for the disappearance of an old man. In the end, without reaching any agreement, both forces clashed, which caused my spell to become unstable. I underestimated that fellow who had come. Upon realizing they were trapped in an array, they became meticulous. I unleashed my army and exterminated them, but despite my efforts, I could not stop them all. They fled toward both ends. I am sorry, Master... I did not want your toy to escape, so that day, six years ago, I sent my armies to lay siege to their headquarters. To this day, they remain inside, and there have been no spatial fluctuations. I deployed my sealing array to prevent them from communicating with the outside world."

"And what happened to the Soaring Dragon Kingdom?" Ethan asked.

"Nothing, Master, they have not returned," Vel’Kha’Lems said. "They lost a large portion of their forces. Only that fellow and a few others managed to flee from me; the rest are now new soldiers in my army."

"Is that person stronger than me?" Ethan asked, evaluating the threat.

"Only a little," Vel’Kha’Lems replied. "I couldn’t use my curses against him either. Besides, I cannot leave this area due to the seal placed upon my phylactery... I suppose at this moment, the two of you possess a very similar level of power."

Ethan remained silent, reflecting. "Could he be a general of the kingdom?"

[No, Master,] Crul intervened directly in his mind. [If he were a general, there is no way this place would have survived. The depth of the Soaring Dragon Kingdom’s power is unfathomable. With your current level, you could only be considered the equivalent of a vice general.]

Ethan fully trusted Crul’s judgment. With all the accumulated memories of the amethyst lineage, there was no one better qualified to judge the power scale of the outside world.

Ethan nodded slightly in response to Crul and then focused on his top priority. "Crul, use my new power to connect with the survivors’ beacon. I need to find them immediately."

[I attempted it during your breakthrough, when you were at the highest peak of resonance,] Crul replied. [I could not detect anything, which means they are at an overwhelming distance from this place.]

Seeing Ethan so absorbed in his thoughts, the Lich broke the silence in a confident tone.

"Rest assured, Master, that if they return, we can annihilate them all," Vel’Kha’Lems said.

"But you cannot leave this place," Ethan replied. "It would have to be me who lures them here."

"That is correct, Master. If you manage to lure them to our domain, we could destroy them."

Ethan shook his head, dismissing the idea for the moment. "There is no time for that... Where are Ash and my women?"

"I considered that this was not a safe place for them, Master," the Lich explained. "With the magnitude of power unleashed during your breakthrough, the destructive shockwaves would have ended their lives in an instant. That is why I sent them to a distant town. There are two Death Knights guarding them at all times, so their safety and silence are assured."

Ethan nodded, looking toward the horizon. "Lead the way."

"I am afraid I will not be able to accompany you in person, Master," Vel’Kha’Lems said.

With a slight flick of his bony hand, his ancient grimoire appeared once more, floating in the air. The pages began to spin at full speed, driven by a gust of spectral wind, until snapping shut on a specific Chapter. At the top of the parchment, written in letters of blood, it read: Black Beetle.

Executing his spell with an indecipherable whisper, a dark mist erupted from the book and condensed upon the Lich’s palm, giving shape to a small insect with a dark, glossy carapace.

"With this, we will be able to communicate across any distance," Vel’Kha’Lems said, offering the creature to him.

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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 ??

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Sword mastery levels

Sword Intent.

Sword Aura.

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