Chapter 278: The Last Sect Master

Kael woke.

His eyes opened to darkness—the vaulted ceiling of the third trial arena.

Hhhh...

He pressed his palms against the stone floor and pushed himself upright.

How long had he been out?

The system then replies

You’ve been out for five hours. You really outdid yourself.

Whirrr.

The mechanical voice returned.

[CONGRATULATIONS. THIRD TRIAL COMPLETE. THE IMMORTAL SOUL SECT ENTRANCE EXAMINATION: PASSED.]

[ALL TRIALS CLEARED. CANDIDATE IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED AS A SUCCESSOR OF THE IMMORTAL SOUL SECT.]

[THE SECT MASTER’S CHAMBER HAS BEEN UNLOCKED. PROCEED TO CLAIM YOUR INHERITANCE.]

Kael exhaled slowly. He looked around the arena. The guardian’s remnants were gone. The floor was cracked and scarred—but empty.

Then the arena floor split.

CRACK.

A narrow staircase appeared in the center—descending into pure darkness. The soul power radiating from below was extraordinary. It felt so dense and ancient. It pressed against Kael’s soul core that the feeling was so intoxicating.

This is... the perfect haven for soul cultivation.

Kael descended.

The staircase spiraled downward. The air grew colder with each step. The soul energy grew thicker—condensing around him like fog. His soul core absorbed it passively.

Minutes passed. The staircase ended.

Kael stepped into the chamber.

Whoa.

The chamber was massive spanning a hundred meters in every direction. The ceiling arched high overhead—painted with constellations that moved with stars drifting across the painted sky in slow, eternal rotation. Nebulas swirled. Galaxies turned.

It was a masterpiece of ancient artistry—or perhaps something more. The painted sky felt real, as though the chamber existed beneath an actual cosmos.

At the center of the chamber, on a raised dais, sat a figure.

Kael approached slowly.

The figure became clearer with each step.

An old man with long grey hair falling past his shoulders sat as his hands rested on his knes with his eyes closed. He was robed in purple and silver—the Immortal Soul Sect colors.

His body was translucent. It felt more like —a soul remnant.

As Kael reached the base of the dais, the old man’s eyes opened.

The old man smiled.

"It seems another one has made it here."

Kael paused. Another one. Guess I’m not the first person.

The old man’s smile widened. "You’re not the first person."

Kael’s eyes widened.

He read my mind.

"Yes," the old man said. "I can read your mind."

Well, whatever.

Kael recovered quickly. "The mechanical voice said I’m the successor. What happened to the other person?"

The old man’s smile faded. "He was not worthy."

Kael studied the old man. His translucency was increasing. His soul form seemed to be blurring and fading slowly.

"It seems you don’t have long," Kael said.

"I am... what remains of the sect master." The old man smiled with a sad expression. "But 5,000 years is a long time to wait for a successor. Even for a powerful soul cultivator such as myself."

He straightened as much as his fading form would allow.

"Now let me introduce myself properly. I am Valdris Arcthel, last Sect Master of the Immortal Soul Sect. When the Void Realm fell, I sealed myself and the sect’s treasure chamber beneath the earth. I’ve been waiting for someone worthy of the Immortal Soul Sect inheritance."

His blue-white eyes studied Kael with an intensity that belied his fading form.

"I have less than ten minutes. Ask your questions now, boy, before time runs out."

Kael’s mind raced. He had a hundred questions. He needed to prioritize.

"What happened to the Void Realm?"

Valdris’s expression darkened. The light in his eyes dimmed slightly.

"The Sky Emperor—Aetthos Verenthos—was the most powerful cultivator of the Void Realm. He commanded laws that governed reality itself. Under his rule, this realm was paradise."

He paused as he coughed. Cough.

"Then something came. Not from within—from outside the realm. Something that even the Sky Emperor couldn’t stop."

His voice grew heavier.

"He fought it. Clashes were heard for three days and three nights. The sky cracked. The land shattered. Millions died in the battle. The realm collapsed in that fight, and the Sky Emperor’s fate was unknown."

Cough. Valdris’s form flickered.

"After the battle, a powerful miasma spread throughout the realm. It killed every inhabitant. Only a few managed to escape—and even they eventually died in the outside world. The miasma was so potent that it had enough power to kill the Nine Court Heads."

Kael’s eyes narrowed. "Nine Court Heads?"

Valdris nodded slowly. "The Nine Court Heads were the most powerful group in the Void Realm—second only to the Sky Emperor himself. They were:"

He raised one translucent finger at a time.

"First—The Clock Emperor. A master of time itself. He could rewind, accelerate, and fracture the flow of time across entire regions. He’s the reason the flow of time is faster in the Void realm that for the outside world."

"Second was the Serpent Empress Najaha, of the Abyssal Naga. The most powerful soul cultivator of the serpent races. Her soul poison could dissolve the consciousness of anyone she targeted."

"Third—Vaelthor, the Lightning Dragon Emperor. A true dragon whose lightning could reduce continents to ash."

"Fourth—Golgoth the World-Breaker. The supreme body cultivator. His physical form was said to be indestructible—even the Sky Emperor acknowledged his durability."

"Fifth—myself. Valdris Arcthel, Sect Master of the Immortal Soul Sect. The foremost soul path authority in the realm."

"Sixth—the Sword Demon King, Mordeth. His sword intent was so absolute that reality itself could be cut. He could sever concepts itself alongside his demon sword."

"Seventh and Eighth—the Forge Twins, Tharum and Dorum Ironheart. Twin dwarf brothers who forged weapons of such power that even the Court Heads coveted them. Their runic and formation mastery was unmatched in the Void Realm."

"Ninth—Aethariel Dawnwhisper, the Everglade Sovereign. A high elf whose mana manipulation was so refined that she could control the ambient mana of an entire continent simultaneously."

Kael stood in silence.

Just their names carry power.

Valdris’s form flickered again—more rapidly now. His edges were becoming transparent.

"You carry an interesting soul," Valdris said suddenly, his voice softer. "It seems you’ve suffered quite a lot."

Kael smirked. "The path of a cultivator will always be filled with ups and downs. And of course—I just have to always come out on top and stronger."

Valdris laughed.

Hahaha.

"Spoken like a true warrior." His laughter faded. His eyes met Kael’s one final time. "You are unique, boy. I have little time. My soul remnant is fading."

He extended one translucent hand toward Kael.

"Let me give you what you came for."