The Land of Silence

Even Hektor, who had always been steady and dignified, could not stop the laugh that escaped his mouth when he saw Dario appear only to leave with a dark expression moments later. The old man’s shoulders trembled slightly as he turned toward Tobias, amusement still lingering in his eyes.

"Fellow Cultivator Tobias," Hektor said with a teasing smile, stroking his long beard, "you should be careful. Dario is famous for remembering even the smallest grievance. He hasn’t stepped out of Sky Breaker Acedmy for many years, yet the moment he appears, you stab directly into his oldest wound. He won’t let this matter go so easily."

The morning wind swept across the ruined wasteland as he spoke. Burnt ash drifted through the air like black snow. In the distance, thunder continued to roar from the battlefield where the three terrifying beasts fought the old earth spiky turtle without pause.

Tobias stood calmly beneath the gloomy sky, his dao robe fluttering lightly. Even facing a possible future conflict with Dario, his expression remained relaxed.

"What do I have to fear?" Tobias replied faintly. "Since I dared to expose his embarrassment in front of everyone today, naturally, I’m not afraid of his revenge. My Heavenly Lake is not something others can bully at will either..."

His tone was calm, but beneath that calmness hid absolute confidence.

Hektor’s eyes narrowed slightly after hearing those words.

The two had known each other for hundreds of years. He understood Tobias very well. This old fox never acted recklessly. If he spoke so fearlessly, then it meant he possessed enough confidence to back his words.

A faint ripple appeared in Hektor’s heart.

Could it be...

Did supreme Paradise sect also produce a pinnacle Realm expert?

The thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

If it were someone from their generation, he would definitely know. Which meant only one possibility remained...

Someone from the older generation had awakened.

The deeper one’s heritage, the more terrifying a force truly was.

On the surface, the various Powerful Sects and academies seemed peaceful, their strength measured only through the experts the world knew. But the truth was far deeper than that.

Hidden behind every ancient inheritance were monsters who had cultivated for centuries.

Old beings who had stepped beyond ordinary limits.

Some were meditating beneath forbidden valleys.

Some slumbered in ancient halls.

Some isolated themselves from worldly affairs completely unless their academy faced destruction.

Celestis Academy was naturally the same.

At the back mountains of Celestis Academy stood the ancient Grand Ancestors Hall, a forbidden land covered in endless mist year-round. Countless old experts remained in seclusion there, detached from the mortal world.

Only the Division Masters knew of their existence.

Even Kevin, who was regarded as the future Headmaster, did not fully know the secrets buried beneath the academy’s foundations.

Thinking of this, Hektor suddenly understood something deeper.

Perhaps this era... was truly beginning to change.

"Haha, I hope so," Hektor finally replied, suppressing the thoughts in his heart.

His figure blurred slightly.

The next second, he vanished from where he stood.

When he reappeared, he had already entered the Land of Silence.

As more and more experts arrived, the once desolate forbidden land became increasingly lively. The sky was filled with streaks of light. Powerful cultivators descended one after another from all directions, drawn here by the terrifying battle and the mysterious copper coffin upon the turtle’s back.

The atmosphere grew heavier with every passing moment.

Far away, mountains continued collapsing beneath the beasts’ attacks.

The ground shook endlessly.

The air smelled of blood, scorched earth, and violent mana fluctuations.

On a northern mountain range overlooking the battlefield, Dario and the members of Sky Breaker Acedmy gathered quietly.

The old man stood at the cliff’s edge with his hands behind his back. His gray robes fluttered under the violent wind while his sharp eyes stared toward the distant battlefield.

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed again.

The Smoke darke Lion unleashed lightning that split the clouds apart while Earth Kong smashed its enormous iron rod downward like a heavenly pillar collapsing from the sky.

Meanwhile, the Inferno Swift Bird circled above like a nightmare of destruction, its crimson flames spreading endlessly through the land.

Yet despite being surrounded by three terrifying beasts, the old earth spiky turtle still endured.

Its massive body remained unmoving like an ancient mountain that had existed since the birth of the world.

Dario’s brows slowly furrowed.

"How long has this battle been going on?" he suddenly asked.

Behind him, Max immediately stepped forward respectfully.

"Senior Brother," Max answered carefully, "they have fought throughout the entire night."

His gaze drifted toward the battlefield, unable to hide the shock in his eyes even now.

"From the moment the Smoke darke Lion first appeared until the Inferno Swift Bird joined later... and then Earth Kong descended afterward..."

He paused slightly, his voice becoming heavier.

"This battle has continued without pause until now. Yet there is still no clear victor."

Dario nodded slowly.

His old eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"What kind of immortal treasure..." he muttered softly, almost to himself, "...could attract three pinnacle Realm beasts at the same time?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The question lingered heavily in the air.

No one answered immediately.

Because no one knew.

Even these old monsters who had cultivated for centuries could not understand what exactly rested within that mysterious copper coffin.

The wind howled across the mountain.

Ash floated through the air.

Below them, countless cultivators stared upward with greedy, fearful, and excited expressions.

Some wished to obtain the treasure.

Some simply wished to witness history.

Others came hoping to fish in troubled waters.

But everyone understood one thing clearly.

Anything capable of driving three pinnacle Realm beasts into madness...

...was absolutely not ordinary.

Dario continued watching silently.

Suddenly—

Boom!

Another terrifying shockwave erupted from the battlefield.

Earth Kong’s iron rod smashed violently against the old earth spiky turtle’s shell, releasing a thunderous sound that shook the heavens.

The Smoke darke Lion immediately seized the opportunity.

Lightning burst from its body.

Thousands of silver arcs exploded across the sky like divine punishment descending upon the mortal world.

The Inferno Swift Bird also screeched sharply as endless black flames poured downward.

For a moment, heaven and earth lost their colors.

Even the surrounding cultivators instinctively retreated in fear.

The pressure was simply too terrifying.

Max swallowed unconsciously.

"Senior Brother... should we intervene?" he asked carefully.

Dario remained silent for several breaths.

His eyes stared fixedly toward the copper coffin.

A strange glint flashed deep within them.

"No," he finally answered calmly.

"Not yet."

His voice was low, but firm.

"The true opportunity has not appeared."

As he spoke, a faint ripple suddenly spread from the copper coffin atop the turtle’s back.

It was extremely weak.

Almost impossible to notice.

But Dario noticed it instantly.

His pupils contracted slightly.

At the same time, far away on another mountain peak, Hektor and Tobias also raised their heads sharply.

Even Leon, who stood quietly among the crowd in his midnight robes embroidered with thin amethyst patterns, slowly narrowed his purple eyes.

Something...

...was awakening.