Emperor of the Source

Edmund respectfully inclined his head and asked, "How should we proceed regarding Sect Leader Ignis? He has violated UNI-Auction regulations by deploying his domain to suppress the entire venue."

Vaelon lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes piercing upward through layers of translucent barriers, directly into the Ashen Vortex Sect's suite. From that distance alone, he observed Ignis in his battered and humiliated state, his domain shattered and his body still bearing the internal injuries inflicted by the envoy's overwhelming surplus authority.

Without any further deliberation, Vaelon casually waved his hand and spoke in a calm, indifferent tone, "He has already received his punishment through his public humiliation and physical injuries. No further action is necessary."

Ignis exhaled slowly, a tension he had not even realized he was holding releasing all at once. His shoulders sagged fractionally, and he slumped back in his seat. The matter, which could have escalated into something far worse, was closed just like that, which further reinforced the difference in standing between him and the entity who had just judged him.

From within his suite, Adrian observed the entire sequence unfold in silence, the realization settling deeply within him that the UNI-Sect was not merely powerful but an absolute behemoth within the universe. Even a representative of a Major Sect, an existence that could crush the rulers of this entire galaxy, had been forced to kneel without resistance. That reality ensured not only the absolute enforcement of their rules but also the complete protection of Adrian's identity, securing his three billion UNI-Coin transaction without the slightest complication.

Beside him, Hestia released a breath she'd been holding. "I've never seen a Major Sect envoy forced to kneel before."

"Neither have most people here," Adrian replied quietly. His mind turned over what he'd witnessed. Vaelon had appeared as a mortal, yet everyone had prostrated themselves without hesitation. That disparity spoke volumes about the gulf between Great Sects and everything beneath them.

Across the venue, countless cultivators arrived at the same realization. Many had once believed that the four dominant sect leaders of the Andromeda Galaxy represented the pinnacle of power, only to witness them suppressed effortlessly by an unknown envoy. And just as that perception began to settle, it was shattered again by the arrival of Vaelon, an existence before whom even that envoy had no choice but to kneel.

Though many had heard of such hierarchies through stories and records, witnessing it directly carried an entirely different impact. This event would undoubtedly be recorded as a historic turning point within the Andromeda Galaxy.

Vaelon turned, his gaze sweeping the venue one final time. Then he simply vanished from the stage.

"The auction has now concluded," Edmund announced, his voice once again steady and composed, "All participants may proceed to depart in an orderly manner."

Across the vast venue, millions of cultivators rose and began to leave. Despite the sheer scale of movement, there was no chaos. The crowd flowed outward like a controlled tide, guided seamlessly by the intricate formation systems embedded throughout the structure.

As the lower sections gradually emptied, figures from the first-floor VIP suites began descending, including sect leaders such as Yselia.

At that moment, Adrian's UNI-OS emitted a notification. He glanced at it and saw that 2.85 billion UNI-Coins had been credited to his account. A faint smile appeared on his face as he noted the transaction. The UNI-Auction had upheld its promises completely, maintaining anonymity and transferring the full amount instantly after deducting their five percent commission.

With this funding, he could establish the infrastructure needed to mass-produce artifacts, generate steady revenue, and accelerate his people's cultivation. Everything was falling into place.

Hestia turned her gaze toward Adrian, "We should depart as well. Open the portal."

Adrian rose slowly from his seat, his demeanor calm and unhurried as he responded, "What is the rush?"

His gaze shifted downward, observing the movement below as his attention locked onto a particular figure. Yselia had already taken the lift and was in the process of exiting the venue.

A faint, knowing smile appeared on Adrian's lips as he continued, "There is still something we can do."

Without further explanation, Adrian raised his hand and placed it upon Hestia's shoulder. In the next instant, both of them vanished from the suite, their figures dissolving from the space as though they had never been there.

…

Yselia and Casmir moved quickly through the UNI-Hub, their pace controlled yet urgent as they navigated toward the teleportation sections. Their objective was clear. Yselia needed to reach the UNI-Residence Complex as soon as possible to recover her Rule Core.

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The crowds had thinned considerably in this section of the hub, most cultivators having already departed or moved toward different districts.

They had no intention of returning directly to their sect. Within the UNI-Hub, under the authority of the UNI-Sect, they were safe. Outside, during transit, they were vulnerable.

If they attempted to travel by starship, there was a real risk of interception. Facing both Adrian and Hestia simultaneously in her current condition would be disastrous. However, once she recovered fully within the UNI-Residence, the situation would change entirely. At full strength, even the combined efforts of Adrian and Hestia would at least guarantee she could defend herself.

The teleportation section's entrance appeared ahead, its archway marked with flowing runic script.

As they approached the teleportation section, a voice emerged from behind them, calm yet unmistakably directed at them.

"Leaving so soon, Yselia?"

Yselia and Casmir turned immediately.

Standing behind them were Adrian and Hestia.

For a few seconds, no one spoke. The corridor around them remained active, with small crowds moving around them, yet an invisible boundary seemed to form around the four of them. Those passing nearby instinctively diverted their paths, unwilling to step into the tension that had begun to gather in that space.

Yselia was the first to break the silence.

"You have grown bold, Hestia," she said, her tone sharp and cutting. "Following me within the UNI-Hub itself… do you believe this is your territory now? Did you not see what just unfolded within the UNI-Auction?"

A cultivator in azure robes hurried past, his eyes widening as he recognized the speakers. He quickened his pace, practically fleeing toward the teleportation section.

Yselia did not wait for a response and continued, "An envoy from a Major Sect was suppressed like a common criminal, and even he did not dare overstep the UNI-Sect's rules. Yet here you are, standing in my path as though those same rules do not apply to you."

Her gaze shifted briefly toward Adrian before returning to Hestia, "Ah… I see now. Your recent growth, your sudden rise, and this new Elder of yours… it has given you the illusion that you now stand above me."

Her lips curved faintly into a cold smile. "Do not mistake momentum for strength, Hestia. A brief surge does not change the foundation beneath it. My sect has existed far longer than yours. We have endured wars far greater than anything you can imagine… and we are still here."

Hestia let out a soft laugh before replying, her tone equally composed yet carrying a sharp edge. "You speak of time as though it were a measure of worth." She took a single step forward, and Casmir's divine essence flared instinctively before he suppressed it. "Yes, your sect has existed far longer than mine, and you have stood at the Peak Rule Stage longer than I have. But what is the value of that time if you could not even defeat me?"

Yselia's smile remained fixed, but her eyes hardened.

"I remember that day clearly," Hestia continued, her voice dropping lower, "The moment your Rule Core cracked under my strike, the moment you realized you could not win, and the moment you chose to run."

The words landed like physical blows. Casmir spoke, his voice low and filled with restrained hostility, "Watch your words."

Yselia raised her hand slightly, stopping him before he could escalate the situation further.

"You are right, Hestia," she said calmly, her composure unshaken. "I remember that day as well. I remember underestimating you. I remember believing that your rise was incomplete, that you lacked the experience to stand against me, and I remember deciding to withdraw."

Her gaze hardened slightly as she continued. "But do not mistake that for weakness. This time, I will not make the same mistake. When I come for you again, you will understand what it truly means to face me at my full strength. I will dismantle everything you have built. Your sect, your disciples, your foundation… I will erase them one by one and leave nothing behind but a lesson for the rest of the galaxy."

Adrian, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "Erase…" The word rolled off his tongue slowly. "It's been so long since I have heard that word..."

For a brief moment, his thoughts drifted through fragments of distant memories, the Demon Emperor dissolving into nothingness, Arcton's head severed and discarded, entire demon armies vanishing at his command, before he dismissed them and continued, "Try it then. The moment you lay a finger on my people, I will erase you and your sect."

Yselia laughed, the sound carrying both amusement and disdain as she replied. "Such bold words. You conceal your authority and your origins quite well, yet your arrogance seeps through regardless. From the way you carry yourself, I can see through you, Elder Adrian."

She took a step closer, her voice dropping to something almost pitying. "You are most likely a disregarded disciple from a Major Sect, are you not? Someone overlooked, cast aside, now seeking to prove his worth in a lesser galaxy where he can pretend to be powerful." Her smile turned cruel. "A small, arrogant, discarded piece who believes he can erase my sect."

Casmir nodded slightly, his expression suggesting the assessment made perfect sense. It explained everything: the unknown background, higher tier divine concept, the willingness to join a failing minor sect.

Adrian did not respond to her assumption, nor did he attempt to correct it. Her misunderstanding was irrelevant. Instead, he spoke calmly, "Who I am does not matter." He tilted his head fractionally. "You are relying heavily on your alliance with the Ashen Vortex Sect, aren't you? But mercenary sects fight for profit and stability, not for a sinking cause. Once they realize that the Crimson Vital Sect can outspend, outproduce, and outmaneuver you in every possible way, how long do you think their loyalty will last before they turn their blades elsewhere?"

"Ah… so this is your strategy," Yselia said slowly, understanding settling in. "You intend to buy out the Ashen Vortex Sect."

Her eyes moved toward Hestia, reassessing the situation. "I see it clearly now. Momentum has blinded you both."

Her opinion of Adrian dropped further as she listened to him, interpreting his words as arrogance rather than strategy. "Enjoy your momentary triumph in the markets, Hestia, and indulge in the illusion of invincibility, Adrian." She gestured broadly, encompassing the UNI-Hub around them. "When the true war begins, you will come to understand that alliances forged over a million years do not crumble over a few healing pills, and that the foundation of an ancient sect is not so easily uprooted."

Without waiting for a reply, Yselia turned gracefully toward the teleportation section, signaling Casmir to follow. She had no intention of lingering any longer, nor of allowing them the final word. The moment she had purchased the Core-Reforging lotus, the war had already begun. What remained was not whether it would happen, but how it would unfold.