Chapter 131: The Gathering Before the Storm (Part 1)

The Gathering Before the Storm (Part 1)

Moonlight poured gently over the countless peaks of Sovereign Blessed Land, bathing the mountains in a soft silver glow.

The night was peaceful.

One by one, the members of the Salvatore Family returned to their residences after a long day of cultivation.

None of them noticed...

That two identical figures had silently departed from the family’s territory beneath the cover of darkness.

Only one person remained awake.

Victor stood alone upon an ancient stone platform overlooking the endless mountain range.

His long shoulder-length black hair swayed softly in the night breeze.

The golden dragons embroidered upon his black robe shimmered faintly beneath the moonlight.

His golden eyes quietly followed the two distant figures disappearing into the horizon.

A faint smile appeared on his impossibly handsome face.

"He’s already stepped into the Heavenly Genesis Realm..."

"...has he?"

There was a trace of admiration in his calm voice.

"Paranoid beyond measure..."

"But that kind of resolve..."

"...is truly remarkable."

His gaze lingered on the distant horizon long after both figures had vanished.

For someone like Leandro Salvatore...

Arriving three days early to prepare wasn’t considered excessive.

If anything...

He probably believed he was already late.

Victor knew exactly what kind of person Leandro was.

Once he decided to act...

He would have already prepared countless escape routes...

Hundreds of contingency plans...

And enough substitutes to deceive even fate itself.

Ordinary cultivators feared pain.

They feared death.

They feared failure.

Leandro feared something else entirely.

The possibility...

However small...

Of leaving anything to chance.

Victor couldn’t help reflecting upon everything he knew about him.

Someone with mediocre natural talent...

Who had endured the unbearable agony of splitting his own soul...

Not once.

Not twice.

But hundreds...

Perhaps even thousands...

Of times.

Someone who possessed the inheritance of an Eternal Emperor Realm expert.

Someone who had transformed caution into instinct.

Someone who hid every card until the very last moment.

How terrifying...

Would such a person eventually become?

Even Victor almost felt sympathy...

For anyone unfortunate enough to stand opposite Leandro in battle.

His gaze drifted toward the distant night sky.

Then another thought surfaced.

"As for which of those two..."

"...is the real one..."

Victor smiled helplessly.

"No matter how many times I witness it..."

"I still have to admit..."

"...he’s paranoid beyond belief."

Even his spiritual perception had only revealed two departing figures.

Whether the genuine Leandro had left...

Or remained hidden somewhere inside Sovereign Blessed Land...

Victor couldn’t say with complete certainty.

That alone spoke volumes.

His thoughts shifted once more.

"Come to think of it..."

"The Crimson-Rank clansman I detected earlier still hasn’t appeared."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly.

"The threads of Destiny move in mysterious ways."

A thoughtful silence followed.

Then...

A faint glimmer appeared within his eyes.

"Could it be..."

"...that this Crimson-Rank clansman is somehow connected to the Heavenly Secret Realm?"

----------------------

At the foot of Sovereign Mountain...

A lively group of young Salvatore Family disciples made their way along the stone path.

Laughter echoed through the quiet night as they headed toward the family’s Mission Hall to complete one of their assigned clan tasks.

Unlike the tense atmosphere surrounding the Heavenly Secret Realm...

These younger disciples still enjoyed the simple excitement of friendly rivalry.

Among them...

One unremarkable young man walked near the back of the group.

His appearance was plain.

His aura was ordinary.

Nothing about him stood out.

Yet he chatted with everyone as naturally as if he had grown up alongside them.

"I’m telling you..."

"The Flame King might not be weaker than the Blood Slayer."

One disciple immediately nodded in agreement.

"Exactly!"

"Brother Austin’s flame techniques are unbelievably terrifying."

He swung his arms excitedly while speaking.

"With that enormous Black Mountain Saber of his..."

"I’m not even sure Astral Manifestation Realm Fifth Layer experts could withstand a single strike!"

Another youth immediately snorted.

"What about the Blood Slayer?"

"His killing intent is certainly frightening..."

"But has anyone actually seen him fight another cultivator?"

"I’ve only heard stories about him slaughtering magical beasts."

"Beasts are beasts."

"They’re completely different from human opponents."

Before anyone else could respond...

A tall disciple from the Aurelia City branch immediately objected.

"Nonsense!"

"I’m from the Aurelia City branch!"

"I saw Brother Nux with my own eyes!"

His expression became filled with admiration.

"His killing power is absolutely monstrous!"

"During the battle against the Ashthorn Family and the Ravencrest Family..."

"Brother Nux left wearing spotless white robes..."

"...and returned completely drenched in crimson blood."

"The title Blood Slayer..."

He laughed proudly.

"...was actually a nickname we jokingly gave him back then."

The surrounding disciples burst into laughter.

Another disciple waved both hands.

"Forget those two."

"If you ask me..."

"The most mysterious person in the entire Salvatore Family..."

"...is the Everlasting Puppet."

The moment that title was mentioned...

Everyone grew interested.

One disciple leaned closer.

"I’ve never even seen him."

Another nodded repeatedly.

"Same."

"I’ve asked around for months."

"No one seems to know where he actually cultivates."

Someone lowered his voice dramatically.

"I heard..."

"...he’s secretly the Patriarch’s illegitimate son."

Another immediately rolled his eyes.

"What nonsense."

"I heard he’s cultivating inside a hidden sacred land beyond this region."

"That’s why nobody ever sees him."

The debate quickly became more ridiculous.

One claimed Leandro was constantly traveling between ancient ruins.

Another insisted he never slept.

Someone even claimed he had already become an immortal in secret.

Hidden among them...

The plain-looking young man quietly listened to every outrageous theory.

A faint smile slowly curled across his lips.

Deep inside...

A calm voice echoed.

"First hypothesis..."

"They’ve already discovered my identity."

He silently observed everyone’s expressions.

A few moments later...

He rejected the possibility himself.

No...

Their guesses were far too ridiculous.

Which meant...

His disguise was still perfect.

Satisfied with that conclusion...

The ordinary-looking youth continued laughing and chatting with the others as though he were just another insignificant member of the Salvatore Family.

His smile was natural.

His words blended effortlessly into every conversation.

Nothing about him stood out.

No one gave him a second glance.

To every disciple present...