Andrew let out a cold shout, his expression arrogant and commanding. It was perfect timing, because ever since breaking into the Beyond Mortal realm, he had not met an actual opponent he could fight without holding back. Byron had clearly been hiding his strength, and only after running into Andrew today had he finally revealed it.With this level of power, there was no way he was just a senior member of Umbral Peak Sect. He might very well have been the true hidden leader behind the entire sect. What made Andrew even more certain was the look on Monty's face. Monty was shocked that Byron's strength far exceeded anything he had known. Although Byron had always been stronger than him, it had never been by such an outrageous margin. Moreover, Monty was supposed to be his senior. A massive pillar of sword energy came crashing down from above.Monty let out a strangled grunt and was sent flying backward, smashing through a vast stretch of withered forest before he hit the groun

It was Iridessa of the Eastonia royal family, a top-tier female covert artist. She was also Vance's biological sister.She was the one who had once taken on Nyx's appearance and shared an unexpected, intoxicating night with Andrew. When the deception was uncovered, Andrew had let her go. So why was she surfacing now, here, in his own mind, and in an image like that?From some detached, out-of-body angle, Andrew watched himself pin Iridessa down and take her, fully and without restraint. She moved beneath him, endlessly flexible, impossibly soft, clinging close and whispering in a voice like a warm breeze in the dead of night, gentle on the surface and laced with temptation underneath. Then, the scene cut, and Andrew's grip on himself slipped another notch.Byron's laughter filled his ears. It sounded grating, obscene, and delighted.He crooned, "Sink deeper. Oh, this is delightful… What a rich, complicated soul you are. I've taken the lives of countless people with this techniq

Andrew was overwhelmed with fear, cold sweat pouring down his back. He watched helplessly as Tiana slipped off her last piece of clothing.Then, she grabbed his hand and placed it against her waist. Biting her lower lip, she moved against him as if riding a horse.Andrew's thoughts grew more chaotic by the second, and an icy chill spread through his entire body. He knew this was the sign that his mind was about to collapse completely.If that happened, he would become a creature ruled by madness. He would fall under Byron's control, becoming nothing more than his puppet.A massive black void opened beneath him, and he felt gravity take hold. He was falling, and at the bottom were even more faces, all turning toward him with expressions ranging from shy affection to longing to outright devotion.There were Bridget, Arya, and Elaine. Each of them was barely dressed, bodies on full display, utterly shameless in their invitation. Some of the figures turned and showed him everything;

Andrew's next stop was Harmony Sect, and it was also his final stop. As for the Eight Ancient Sects, he had now "invited" all the ones he needed.Though calling it an invitation was stretching the definition more than a little.Clarence and his men parted ways with Andrew at the base of the Umbral Peak Sect. "Captain, we will be waiting at Azure Gate for you to take command," Clarence said, giving a sharp salute.After witnessing Andrew kill Byron and then cut down Julius with a single strike, they were overwhelmed with excitement. That absolute dominance and unstoppable momentum were exactly the kind of battlefield presence soldiers like Clarence dreamed of.Andrew, however, did not mention how close the fight had truly been. He simply nodded calmly and said, "Clarence, you and your team monitor the people from the Umbral Peak Sect and the Divine Alchemists as they head to Azure Gate. I'll need another two days before I arrive."Clarence replied, "Understood, Captain. We will m

Dorothy looked at the opposing elder and said calmly, "Elder Cantino, you're fully aware of Andrew's current strength. Do you really think opposing him would make a difference?"Giovanni Cantino snapped angrily, "Even if Andrew were some divine being descended from heaven, does that mean he can do whatever he wants? The Eight Ancient Sects are bound together. If we unite, I refuse to believe we can't stand against him."Dorothy's voice remained clear and steady. "I just received news that Andrew has already wiped out the Umbral Peak Sect. The Divine Alchemists' sect leader, Julius Bowen, was killed on the spot at the Umbral Peak Sect. On top of that, Byron Ashby of Umbral Peak Sect was also killed. Elder Cantino, do you still wish to object?"Giovanni's face changed dramatically, fear and disbelief flooding his expression. "Even someone as strong as Julius was killed? Is Andrew truly that terrifying?"A faint, almost dreamy look surfaced in Dorothy's luminous eyes as she said softl