Kaal muttered in an agitated voice, pulling out a glowing purple orb the size of a coconut from a ring on his left hand.
"A whole squad of Shadow Guards, a precious Rakshya Flower poison, and a Cursed Soul Orb… wasted. So don't disappoint me, Raven."
He stepped closer to Raven's lifeless body, holding the orb in front of him. Then, in one breath, he began chanting in the ancient Kapal language.
The orb trembled. A misty purple aura began to swirl violently around it.
"By the ancient contract, I, Kaal Kilvish, offer my blood and the sacrifice of seventeen Rank-3 warriors to the Great One. I seek the truth of this soul."
He sliced his finger. Blood dripped onto the orb.
The purple mist instantly turned deep red.
It spread rapidly throughout the hall, and as it touched the corpses of the fallen Shadow Guards, their bodies disintegrated into black ash. A vacuum formed, pulling the red mist back into the orb.
Then—a burst of light.
The orb split into two streaks, one shot into Kaal's chest, the other into Raven's corpse.
"ARGHHH!"
Kaal screamed. It felt as though a thousand needles were stabbing his brain. Red veins pulsed across his face, his eyes turning crimson. Images flashed before his mind in a chaotic torrent.
And then calm. The pain subsided.
He gasped, rubbing his eyes, and then suddenly—
"HAHAHA... HAAHAHAHA!"
Kaal broke into laughter.
"So that's your secret... A soul from another world. From a blue planet called Earth."
It all made sense now. How Raven had gone from overlooked trash to rising genius.
The soul had used a strange item—a green bead-shaped seed—to possess Raven's body. That seed carried a mysterious cultivation technique:
[Myriad Thousand Demon Body].
Combined with the abundant Heaven Essence Qi of the Azure Sky Continent, it had transformed him into a monster of talent.
Kaal stared into the distance, as if replaying every novel he'd ever read.
"Just like in those stories... Raven must have been the MC—the main character. Destined to rise above all, blessed by luck, surrounded by treasures and beauties. And me?"
He laughed again, bitter and amused.
"I'm the arrogant young master. The stepping stone. A perfect punching bag for his character development. Rich. Handsome. Talented. And from the same clan? A classic setup!"
Kaal's expression turned icy as his thoughts continued:
'No wonder he always glared at me like I was filth. He came from a world of equality. Where the strong protect the weak. Where everyone has rights. What a joke.'
'If everyone is equal, then why do people die of hunger? Why is war constant? Why do the poor rot in the streets?'
His voice grew sharper, cutting through the still air:
"In this world—this Elysian Cultivation World—true equality comes from power. Fists decide your fate. Not empty promises."
"Here, even a slave can rise to rule a sect if he has the strength. That's equality given by the heavens, not by some politician or preacher."
He began pacing slowly, his voice soft and resolute.
"Raven, you were destined to shine. Then I'll make you shine... so bright that the entire Kilvish Clan remembers your name."
Then, without hesitation, Kaal pulled out a blade and began slashing deep wounds across his body. Blood poured, exposing bone in places. Yet not a single scream escaped his lips.
Ignoring the searing pain, he began crafting the perfect story—a tale to protect himself from suspicion and divert Elder Alvin's wrath. Raven's grandfather, after all, was the Punishment Hall Elder—and a terrifying expert in the Truth Realm.
Kaal's voice turned dramatic:
"We were ambushed… powerful enemies... unknown origins. They killed the Shadow Guards in a flash. Raven and I tried to fight back, but one of them was at the Foundation Realm—and he could use sword aura..."
He chuckled darkly.
"No, that's too boring. It needs emotion..."
He straightened up, holding back fake tears.
"Raven… Raven blocked the Foundation Realm cultivator so I could escape. I wanted to help, but two guards held me back and dragged me away... to preserve the bloodline of the Kilvish Clan!"
His face grew serious, but his eyes glinted with mischief.
"Raven used the Flaming Pearl treasure to destroy the hall and kill the enemies. It was my fault, I gave him that treasure..."
Kaal then pulled out the very Flaming Pearl, activated it, and burned down the majestic hall himself, erasing all traces of the ritual and deception.
Flames roared, consuming every corpse, every clue.
"Raven was a true hero..."
He whispered dramatically, struggling to hide his grin.
Then, in a teary voice that could move mountains, he added:
"Only the Foundation Realm expert survived... and even he was badly injured. Two more guards stayed behind to buy me time..."
He covered his face with a trembling hand.
"Raven was a true hero..."
Kaal was practically shaking with laughter now.
"Maybe I should give up cultivation... and start becoming an actor."