WHAT! I Have To Kill Heaven's Son To Live!

"Idiot," Reon said calmly, his tone sharp as a blade. "Did you really think those threads were all I had?"

"W-What...?" Shi Quinji's eyes widened in disbelief.

But before he could react—

Reon slowly raised his clenched fist, his voice low and chilling.

"Crimson Howl Technique...

First Form: Blood Storming Punch."

BOOM!

His fist didn't even make contact—but the air itself rippled, and a split second later, Shi Quinji's head exploded clean off his shoulders, reduced to a mist of blood and bone.

Reon casually sidestepped the falling sword, unfazed, as Shi Quinji's twitching corpse crumpled to the ground.

Behind him, a scream pierced the silence.

"WHAT?!"

"H-He killed Brother Shi too?! W-What should I do now?!"

The woman stumbled backward and collapsed to the ground, her face pale and contorted in terror as Reon turned his cold, unfeeling gaze upon her.

"D-Don't come near me!" she shrieked, retreating step by step.

"You... you may not realize this because you're just a commoner," she stammered, "but the Shi Family is powerful—and very prideful. They'll hunt you down for this!"

"M-My family is a First-Class Clan too! As powerful as the Shi Family! If you let me go... I'll make sure you're protected! I swear!"

Reon stopped in his tracks, tilting his head.

"Oh? You're a noble as well?" he said with mock surprise. "And here I thought you were just some pretty parasite."

"Yes! That's right! I-I come from a very powerful noble family!" she said, hope flickering in her eyes.

Reon smiled faintly.

"Ohhh~ A noble beauty from a prestigious family? You know, as a poor commoner, I used to dream of growing strong and marrying a noble lady someday."

"They're so refined, so graceful... soft skin, elegant demeanor, good figure, the kind of women we'd only hear about in stories back in my village."

He stepped closer.

"So, will you marry me? If you say yes, I'll let you live."

The girl froze. Then, a flush of fake embarrassment crossed her face.

'Hah! What a pathetic bumpkin… He might be strong, but he's just another thirsty fool.'

'Brother Shi was a moron. He should've let me handle this—this idiot would've become our pawn.'

'Whatever. He's dead now. I'll just use this simp bastard to get through this round. Once I'm out of here, I'll make sure to kill him—with help from my family and Shi family.'

She fluttered her lashes and reached out a dainty hand.

"Oh my… r-really? I think I fell for you the moment I first saw you," she said coyly. "You're so handsome. So strong. Let's get married after we leave this place."

Reon bent down slightly, reaching toward her hand with a small smile.

But—

Swoosh!

In a flash, Shadow Threads sliced through her body.

She barely registered it before her torso split cleanly apart—eyes still wide with shock and disbelief.

'W-What...? H-How is this possible...? He was supposed to be... a brainless simp!'

Her last thoughts were frozen on her face.

Reon looked down at her with icy contempt.

"Who the hell would marry a bitch like you?"

He spat on her lifeless face.

"At least be grateful… I gave you a sliver of hope to survive—before your death."

Without sparing another glance, he walked over and collected the spatial rings from all corpses.

'Sigh... I wasted enough time with these clowns.'

He raised his gaze toward the glowing map overhead.

'Nine hundred miles left to cross… and the nearest dense Purple Crystal should soon be within reach.'

Without hesitation, Reon channeled Spiritual Qi into his legs and took off, vanishing into the forest with blinding speed.

Ten Hours Passed...

Outside the Secret Realm, the elders sat in quiet observation, their gazes fixed on the Spiritual Screen hovering above the arena.

On the screen, hundreds of smaller boxes displayed glimpses from various corners of the Secret Realm—each capturing different disciples in action.

Yet in truth, the elders weren't monitoring everyone.

Their attention was focused solely on the most promising talents—the ones ranked at the top among the Outer Disciples.

At the center of the glowing screen was Yang Lie, locked in fierce combat with a formidable puppet—one with strength equivalent to a Stage-1 Golden Core Realm cultivator.

Yang Lie moved like flowing water, his every step graceful, every swing of his sword precise.

He evaded the puppet's strikes effortlessly, countering with sharp, decisive blows.

"Talented… exceptionally talented indeed."

Murmured Elder Nin Wing, the young Sword Master of Sky Sword Peak, also known throughout the sect as the Tyrannical Tiger Sword—a title earned through his unmatched prowess in wild and destructive sword arts.

Though in his early sixties, he bore the youthful appearance of a handsome man in his prime.

"His swordplay is something else," he continued. "It's as if he was born to wield the sword—to become one with it, and with the spiritual essence of the world itself."

A nearby elder nodded in agreement.

"He is indeed a worthy successor to the physique of our founding ancestor." said Elder Jin Shin of Azure Sky Peak—a dignified cultivator in his early hundreds, though he looked no older than a man in middle age.

"Even as someone who does not walk the path of the sword, I can recognize the profundity of his movements."

"He will undoubtedly become one of the pillars of our sect," added Elder Shing Li of Blue Mountain Peak, a figure well into his third century, his features aged but noble.

"Perhaps even restore us to the glory of ancient days."

Swoosh!

Within moments, the screen showed Yang Lie delivering a final strike—swift and unrelenting.

The puppet fell, defeated.

A moment later, the Purple Crystal floated gently into his grasp.

"Well done. Very well done," Elder Nin Wing nodded with clear satisfaction. "Once again, Sky Sword Peak has discovered a very radiant jade among a field of dull stones."

"It only needs a bit more polishing... and it will shine brighter than anything in the entire cultivation world."

"Congratulations on acquiring such a gem, Elder Nin," said Jin Shin with a forced smile.

"Indeed, congratulations," echoed Elder Shing Li, his tone polite, though both elders concealed the subtle bitterness in their hearts.

After all, none among them could afford to offend Sky Sword Peak, not in this sect.