Far beneath the Pacific Ocean, inside the ancient crystal palace of the Demonic Sea Tribe, silver-blue light flowed across the giant walls like living rivers.

Massive sea beasts swam silently outside the transparent crystal dome while ancient formation symbols rotated beneath the ocean floor continuously.

At the center of the palace hall stood Elsa.

Her silver-blue hair floated lightly behind her while cold ocean aura surrounded her body naturally.

In her hand rested a long black staff nearly twice her height.

At the end of the weapon curved a terrifying crescent-shaped blade glowing faintly with blue runes.

The weapon looked less like a spear and more like an execution tool meant to harvest lives.

Meanwhile...

Demonic Sea Tribe Leader Luka sat upon the crystal throne while observing her granddaughter silently.

The old lady’s silver eyes reflected unusual seriousness tonight.

Not even during wars against human Supremes had she shown this level of caution.

Finally, Luka slowly spoke.

"Elsa."

Elsa immediately lowered her head slightly.

"Grandmother."

Luka tapped the crystal armrest lightly with her finger.

"The World Tree Blessing is different this time."

Her voice echoed heavily through the silent palace.

"Very different."

Elsa remained silent while listening carefully.

Luka continued slowly afterward.

"Your target is not treasures."

"Not inheritance."

"Not weapons."

"Not cultivation manuals."

Her eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Your only target..."

"...is the World Tree Seeds."

The atmosphere instantly became heavier afterward.

Elsa slowly narrowed her eyes.

The legendary seeds capable of increasing lifespan by five hundred years.

Even Supreme Warriors desired them desperately.

Luka continued coldly:

"If you encounter ancient weapons... ignore them."

"If you discover inheritance palaces... ignore them."

"If humans fight over treasures..."

"...ignore them."

Elsa finally spoke afterward.

"And if they attack me?"

Luka calmly replied:

"Escape if possible."

"Kill only if necessary."

"You must conserve your strength until the seeds appear."

The old lady slowly stood up afterward.

Her terrifying Supreme aura briefly caused the ocean waters outside the palace to shake violently.

"Your brothers and sisters will handle the human hunters."

"Your task is different."

"Your task decides the future of our Demonic Sea Tribe."

Elsa tightened her grip over the long black staff afterward.

A dangerous arrogant smile slowly appeared on her lips.

"Grandmother..."

"You are worrying too much."

Her silver eyes gleamed proudly.

"If the seeds truly exist..."

"...then nobody from the younger generation can compete against me underwater."

Luka didn’t smile after hearing that.

Instead...

Her expression became even more serious.

"Do not underestimate the humans."

Particularly..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly afterward.

"...that old fox Da Vinci."

Elsa’s expression changed slightly.

Luka slowly walked toward the giant crystal window overlooking the dark ocean.

"That man has been preparing for this blessing far too long."

"He already knew about the World Tree Blessing before most Supremes." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"That alone proves how dangerous he is."

Elsa calmly asked afterward:

"You think he selected seed hunters already?"

Luka nodded slowly.

"Without question."

"And if I know Da Vinci correctly..."

"...he won’t choose obvious talents."

"He will choose monsters."

Silence filled the crystal palace briefly.

Then Luka turned toward Elsa once more.

"That is why your mission will not be easy."

"But..."

A faint cold smile appeared on Luka’s face afterward.

"If you obtain the seeds first..."

"...then our Demonic Sea Tribe will hold the upper hand over humanity for the next five hundred years."

Elsa slowly raised her long curved-blade staff afterward.

Blue ocean aura immediately spread around her feet violently.

"I promise you, Grandmother."

"No human will take those seeds before me."

BOOOOOOM!!!

The sea outside the crystal palace exploded violently as Elsa released her cultivation pressure fully for the first time.

Countless sea creatures fled instantly in fear.

Even several Demonic Sea Tribe guards lowered their heads nervously afterward.

Luka quietly observed her granddaughter with satisfaction.

Then suddenly—

"Princess Elsa!"

One sea guard hurriedly entered the palace hall while kneeling quickly.

"The preparation chamber is ready."

Elsa nodded calmly afterward.

Without another word, she turned around and walked toward the deeper forbidden areas of the crystal palace.

The long curved blade behind her dragged lightly across the crystal floor while releasing sharp metallic sounds.

Tonight...

The Demonic Sea Tribe’s strongest younger monster officially entered closed cultivation.

***

Meanwhile...

Far away inside Nine Lotus Academy...

Academy Master Da Vinci quietly stood inside a hidden underground chamber beneath the academy itself.

Unlike the luxurious crystal palace of the Demonic Sea Tribe...

This place looked ancient and dark.

Dozens of old candles burned silently across the stone walls while strange ancient formations glowed beneath the ground.

Three figures knelt before Da Vinci respectfully.

Two men.

One woman.

All three radiated terrifying Peak Grandmaster aura far beyond ordinary younger geniuses.

Yet strangely...

None of their names existed publicly within the martial world.

Da Vinci slowly stared at them silently.

The atmosphere inside the underground chamber felt extremely oppressive.

Finally—

One of the young men raised his head slightly.

"Master..."

"Is it finally time?"

Da Vinci slowly nodded afterward.

"Yes."

"The World Tree Blessing appeared earlier than expected."

The second young man smirked faintly afterward.

"So the old monsters finally became restless..."

Da Vinci ignored the comment completely.

Instead, he slowly walked toward the center formation while speaking calmly.

"I raised all three of you personally since childhood."

"I protected your cultivation."

"I gave you forbidden manuals."

"I hid your existence from the world."

His voice slowly became heavier afterward.

"And now..."

"...the time for repayment has arrived."

The underground chamber instantly became silent afterward.

The three disciples immediately lowered their heads deeper.

The woman finally spoke calmly afterward.

"Master."

"Give the order."

Da Vinci slowly turned around.

His calm eyes reflected faint candlelight strangely.

"The World Tree Seeds."

All three disciples immediately raised their heads afterward.

Da Vinci continued seriously:

"Your target is not ordinary treasures."

"Nor inheritance."

"Nor fame during the Golden Heir Tournament."

His eyes sharpened slightly.

"Your mission..."

"...is to secure the World Tree Seeds before anyone else."

The atmosphere instantly became cold afterward.

One disciple frowned slightly.

"Even against the Demonic Sea Tribe?"

Da Vinci calmly nodded.

"Yes."

"And against every younger monster participating this time."

The second disciple slowly grinned afterward.

"That sounds more interesting."

Da Vinci finally raised one finger slowly afterward.

"But remember one thing carefully."

"This World Tree Blessing is not normal."

"Even I cannot fully predict what exists inside."

His expression slowly turned serious for the first time tonight.

"The Dream Realm rumors are most likely true."

"And if that is true..."

"...then death inside will become extremely common."

The three disciples remained completely calm afterward.

Clearly...

None feared death.

Da Vinci quietly observed them for several moments before speaking once more.

"Among the younger generation..."

"...many monsters appeared this time."

"The Imperial Family."

"The Clark Family."

"The Demonic Sea Tribe."

"Ancient hidden sects."

"All of them possess dangerous talents."

Then suddenly...

Da Vinci’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Particularly..."

"...Tony Clark."

The three disciples immediately reacted slightly afterward.

The female disciple frowned faintly.

"That arrogant heir?"

Da Vinci slowly smiled mysteriously.

"Do not underestimate him."

"He may become either your greatest obstacle..."

"...or the sharpest blade in this blessing."

Silence filled the underground chamber afterward.

Then finally—

Da Vinci slowly raised his hand.

The ancient formation beneath the chamber suddenly activated completely.

BOOOOOOM!!!

Terrifying life energy instantly erupted throughout the underground chamber.

The three disciples immediately sat cross-legged inside the formation.

Da Vinci calmly watched them afterward.

Outside...

The entire martial world continued preparing for the Golden Heir Tournament madness.

Meanwhile...

The real monsters had already begun moving in the shadows.