There was no real hostility in the prince's tone, but it still felt like he was not happy with Aksai's words. He took a few slow steps forward, his hands behind his back.

"And it's not like we are doing anything strange," he continued. "After all, don't those big sects also place restrictions on their members?"

Prince Arven paused for a moment before speaking further.

"A Sect Loyalty Mark placed on one's soul. Restrictive talismans embedded into one's very skin. Spirit formations carved into the heart and other vital organs."

Prince Arven tilted his head slightly.

"Aren't those all forms of control as well?"

His lips curved into a faint smile.

"Our Poison Beast Curse is far safer compared to those methods. At least it does not harm your body or damage your future… unless you choose to betray us."

Raaden stood stiffly to the side, clearly uneasy. His grip on the items he had chosen tightened slightly, but he did not speak. Only at this point did he feel that the things he had picked were a bit heavy. Aksai, on the other hand, suddenly let out a low chuckle.

"Kekeke…"

The sound echoed lightly in the hall, carrying a hint of mockery. He looked at Prince Arven directly, his eyes calm but slightly amused.

"Prince," Aksai said, "I hope you can understand the irony in what you just said."

He took a small step forward, his tone still light.

"Weren't you the one talking about freedom earlier? About how the sect system is too suffocating? That you wanted to create something that'd liberate all the Spirit cultivators."

His smile widened just a little.

"And now… aren't you doing the same thing? Placing restrictions. Ensuring control. Keeping your people in check."

He tilted his head slightly, mirroring Arven's earlier gesture.

"Aren't you just becoming another version of the very system you wish to erase?"

For a brief moment, the air in the hall felt heavier. Even Raaden glanced at Aksai in surprise, clearly not expecting him to speak so openly.

At this point, Prince Arven opened his mouth to reply, but he did not get the chance.

Arkaal stepped forward.

The old man's gaze locked onto Aksai, and this time, there was no calm in it. It felt heavy and cold, like venom seeping into the air. Even the faint hiss in his breathing became more noticeable.

"Brat," Arkaal said, his voice low and rough, "it seems you have grown some delusion."

He took another step closer.

"You think you still have a choice in this?"

His lips curled slightly, though there was no warmth in the expression.

"Ever since you agreed to join us, you lost that privilege. Or perhaps," he added, glancing briefly at Prince Arven, "ever since you met that sly nephew of mine."

Arkaal summoned a cane from his storage ring and gripped it firmly before speaking further.

"Anyway," Arkaal continued, "I don't need your cooperation."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"If you can, just stay still. Not for me… but for your own sake."

The moment his words ended, Arkaal moved.

A dull hum spread across the hall as the formations hidden in the palace came to life. One by one, faint lines of light appeared on the floor, walls, and even in the air itself. The entire hall seemed to be wrapped in layers of invisible force.

Aksai felt it instantly.

The space around him tightened, as if the very air had become a cage.

'These are all 3rd Order formations,' he thought. For a moment, he thought that his cover had been exposed. But in the next moment, he realized that Arkaal was also a cautious person like him.

Even a Core Formation Lord would not be able to break through them quickly. For someone pretending to be a mere Expert, escape was impossible.

Raaden's face turned pale. Before he could react, Arkaal raised his hand.

A strange mist of blood began to gather behind him. It twisted and moved like living smoke before slowly forming a shape.

A three-headed serpent.

Each head was different, but all of them looked vicious. Their eyes glowed with a dull red light, and their mouths opened slightly, revealing long, sharp fangs dripping with thick, dark venom.

The serpent's body coiled behind Arkaal, its form unstable yet terrifying. It was not a real beast.

It was his bloodline power. However, it was the bloodline power of a late-stage Lord. one couldn't underestimate it.

The moment it appeared, the pressure in the hall increased. Raaden let out a strained breath, his legs shaking as if he might collapse.

Arkaal did not waste time. With a slight motion of his hand, the three-headed serpent lunged forward.

It went straight for Raaden. At the same time, Arkaal flicked his fingers again.

Three smaller serpents formed from the same blood mist. These ones looked simpler, thinner, and less terrifying, but they moved quickly.

They shot toward Aksai. Their bodies twisted through the air, aiming to wrap around him and restrict his movements.

Aksai's eyes sharpened for a brief moment. The hall was sealed. The attack had already begun. And the vicious old man had no intention of holding back.

Aksai did not move.

Even as the three smaller blood serpents rushed toward him, he held himself back. His body tensed slightly, as if he was scared, but he did not resist with his full strength. He chose to stay in character.

'Hmm. I need to see what he does,' Aksai thought calmly.

The three serpents reached him in the next moment. They coiled around his arms and legs, tightening just enough to hold him in place. Their touch felt cold and damp, like something alive brushing against his skin.

Aksai frowned slightly, acting as if he was struggling, but he made sure not to break free. His real focus was on Raaden.

The three-headed serpent had already reached him.

Raaden tried to step back, but the pressure from the formations and Arkaal's presence made his movements slow. Before he could escape, the serpent surrounded him.