SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

The library of the King family was silent, save for the occasional rustling of papers as Kent King turned page after page with sharp focus. Seated cross-legged in the very heart of the vast chamber, golden moonlight filtered through the windows, illuminating the ancient tomes stacked high around him.

The musty scent of old paper and ink filled the air—a fragrance only true scholars could appreciate. For most, this library was a collection of outdated records. But for Kent, it was a goldmine of knowledge.

His fingers trailed across the spine of a thick tome titled “The Million Ingredients of Eternal Alchemy.” His eyes scanned the complex diagrams, and his expression remained calm but calculating.

“Hmm… So, the fundamentals of alchemy here aren’t entirely different from the methods I mastered in the lower realms. The difference lies in the scale of ingredients and the purity of spiritual energy.”

Book after book passed under his gaze. The Nine Avenue Fires, ancient flames said to be capable of refining even celestial metals, intrigued him. Every technique was logged meticulously in his mind, cross-referenced with the knowledge from his lower worlds.

“Creating a unique potion in this realm won’t be easy,” Kent thought. “The alchemists here are on another level. But with my past experience and this knowledge, I can craft something the Immortal World has never seen before.”

His focus was unwavering. Hours passed like minutes as he mentally combined ingredients from the immortal world with those familiar to him from the lower realms. The combinations danced vividly in his mind—a masterpiece waiting to be brought to life.

But just as he was lost in a particularly complicated formula involving Phoenix Ash Resin and Celestial Dew Petals, a faint sound broke the silence.

Tap… tap… tap…

Soft footsteps echoed through the library.

Kent’s senses sharpened instantly. His eyes darted toward the small window on the eastern side of the room, where moonlight spilled in, casting long shadows across the floor.

“An intruder?” His muscles tensed as he slipped silently into the shadows behind a towering bookshelf.

The footsteps grew closer, cautious yet confident—this was someone who didn’t expect to be caught.

Drawing a deep breath, Kent quietly took out Binding Yantra Thread from his storage ring. The thin silver thread shimmered faintly with spiritual energy, capable of binding even a seasoned cultivator if wielded with precision.

The intruder’s silhouette emerged from the shadows—a slender figure cloaked in midnight-blue robes. A faint, floral scent lingered in the air around her. Kent’s eyes narrowed; the figure was clearly female.

“Why would a woman sneak into the King family’s library at this hour?”

As the figure paused, scanning the room, Kent took his chance. Like a predator in the dark, he crept behind her, moving without sound.

In one swift motion, the Yantra Thread coiled around her waist and wrists, locking her arms tightly against her body. The intruder gasped but couldn’t even react before Kent pulled the thread end, binding her completely.

“I must say,” Kent whispered against her ear, “for someone so graceful, you’re surprisingly easy to catch.”

The woman thrashed, but the thread held firm.

Kent, holding her waist belt, dragged her toward a nearby bookshelf and pinned her there gently, making sure not to cause any noise that might awaken the guards or family members.

Now that she was restrained, Kent took the opportunity to search her for hidden weapons. His hands moved swiftly—disarming small charms tucked into her sleeves, two slender daggers hidden in her boots, and a pouch of protective talismans.

“Hmmh… take your filthy hands from my chest.” She whispered in a fierce tone.

His fingers danced from her soft, plum chest and moved up to neck part. Soon, his fingers brushed against something cold around her neck—a delicate pearl chain, and hanging from it, a small glass bottle shimmering with radiant liquid.

“Interesting… What’s this?”

The woman’s reaction was immediate—her body tensed, her eyes wide with fury. Her struggles intensified as she tried to jerk away from him.

“Oh? This little bottle seems quite important,” Kent said mockingly. “Let me guess, a love potion? Or perhaps a secret elixir meant for an assassin like yourself?”

Her voice, low and dangerous, finally broke through the silence. “You bastard. That’s Spirit Liquid of Sun Mountain—meant for my next breakthrough! If you know what’s good for you, return it now.”

Kent raised an eyebrow. “Spirit Liquid of Sun Mountain, huh? Collected from thousands of herbs and infused with celestial light… quite the treasure for a midnight thief.”

“You’ll regret this,” she hissed, her breath ragged from the struggle.

Kent chuckled. “Regret? You’re the one tied up like a roast chicken in my family’s library. Tell me, lovely intruder, what exactly were you hoping to achieve tonight?”

The woman’s eyes burned with hatred. “I came to kill you, Kaban King.”

Kent blinked, then groaned dramatically. “Another one? I swear, how many women did Kaban King spoil in his previous life?”

The woman’s fury only intensified. “You humiliated me before the entire city and raped my sister, ruined my family honor, and now you dare mock me directly?”

“Oh, so we’ve reached the revenge part of the story,” Kent smirked, holding up the glass bottle teasingly. “Lan Kun, isn’t it? Harem Leader of Red Silk Town, right?”

Her eyes widened in shock. “How do you—?”

“Let’s just say Kaban’s memories aren’t entirely gone,” Kent interrupted with a grin. “But let’s be fair, I came to this world as a new person.”

Lan Kun thrashed in frustration. “You deserve death for what you’ve done!”

“Relax,” Kent replied smoothly, uncorking the bottle. “Now, about this liquid… If it’s as valuable as you claim, I’m sure it’ll help my cultivation more than yours.”

“No!” Lan Kun’s voice cracked in desperation as Kent tilted the bottle toward his lips. “You can’t—stop! That’s mine! You’ll waste it—”

Gulp.

The rich, golden liquid slid down Kent’s throat, spreading warmth through his entire body. Waves of energy surged into his meridians like a roaring river breaking through a dam.

“Oh, that’s the good stuff,” Kent muttered, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

Lan Kun’s expression collapsed into pure devastation. “You… you bastard…!”

Without wasting a moment, Kent sat cross-legged on the ground, entering deep meditation. The Spirit Liquid of Sun Mountain worked instantly—pure energy surged through his body, reinforcing his cultivation foundation.

Lan Kun, tied to the bookshelf, could only watch helplessly, her body trembling with rage and frustration. She struggled against the threads, but the Yantra Binding was too strong and Kent’s method of tying is also very unique for her.

“You’re the worst kind of monster,” she whispered bitterly.

Kent cracked one eye open, his voice smug. “And yet, here you are, completely at my mercy. Funny how life works.”

As his aura surged, a faint golden light surrounded Kent’s body. The breakthrough was approaching fast—his energy circulation intensified, pushing him closer to a solid mid-tier Earth Immortal realm. 13 liquid drops of divine liquid formed inside Kent’s soul space.

Minutes turned into hours, and by the time Kent’s eyes finally opened, the room was flooded with the soft glow of dawn.

He stood, stretching lazily as though nothing had happened.

“Well, that was refreshing,” Kent said, looking at Lan Kun with a playful smirk. “Thank you for your… donation.”

“You’ll pay for this,” she hissed.

Kent leaned in close, voice low and teasing. “You know, for someone who tried to kill me, you’re surprisingly terrible at it. But I’m not heartless to kill a benefactor.”

Without another word, Kent snapped his fingers, and the Yantra Threads released her, leaving her crumpled on the floor.

“Go to your precious harem-house, Lan Kun” Kent said, his tone suddenly serious. “And next time you plan on assassinating someone, at least make sure they aren’t better than you.”

With that, Kent left the library, leaving Lan Kun seething with rage—and perhaps, a spark of respect. She was quite surprised that Kent didn’t force her.