System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 726: Chapter 726: The Threat of the Abyss

Ethan kept his expression neutral, showing no visible signs of resistance as he allowed himself to be escorted out of the flagship. Outwardly, he appeared cornered, outmaneuvered by a superior force. Inwardly, however, his consciousness was already diving deep into his mental link, connecting directly with Vel’Kha’Lems.

[Prepare the entire legion for a massive assault,] Ethan ordered coldly through the mental channel. [The restriction arrays are a facade. I want every single entity ready to breach the perimeter on my command. We are forcing a breakout.]

He burned with intense frustration. The narrative that the undead were magically confined to the abyss was entirely his own creation—a controlled layout designed to lure the southern sects into a meat grinder at his own pace. Now, this imperial puppet was threatening to derail the entire timeline, forcing Ethan to adapt on the fly.

The group bypassed the defensive lines, marching Ethan directly to the edge of the vanguard encampment, right before the dark, yawning maw of the subterranean tomb. The wind swept through the valley, carrying the faint stench of old blood and copper.

Gusher walked at the front, idly tossing one of the pink vials in his hand, watching the luminous liquid catch the dull daylight. ”Magnificent,” Gusher murmured, turning his yellow eyes back toward Ethan. ”Truly magnificent work, Major General. It is a tragedy that such genius is tethered to a sinking ship.”

Ethan remained silent, his eyes fixed on the envoy.

”Let us speak practically,” Gusher continued, a persuasive smile stretching across his face. ”You are completely cut off from the capital out here, so allow me to bring you up. Your precious patron, Princess Isabella, is on the verge of total political ruin. The Fourth Prince, Valerius, is consolidating the north, and Prince Alaric controls the core administrative capital. Isabella’s influence is fading fast. If you return to her, you are merely offering your neck to the executioner alongside hers.”

He stepped closer, leaning in to ensure the four listening Great Ancestors heard the weight of his words. ”Prince Alaric is prepared to offer you everything she promised and more. The absolute protection of the crown, unlimited alchemical resources, and the true status of a royal advisor. You do not even need to hand over the primary formula immediately; simply pledge your loyalty to the Prince, alter the distribution of this tomb’s wealth to favor our capital faction, and your survival is guaranteed. Why die for a princess who cannot even protect her own titles?”

Ethan’s gaze flickered. Due to his prolonged isolation on the southern front, he hadn’t received the latest updates regarding Isabella’s sudden rise or the artifact she had delivered to the King. Gusher was entirely unaware that Ethan possessed no knowledge of her true status as the frontrunner for the crown, and the envoy was weaponizing that informational vacuum, attempting to break the young medic’s resolve right at the edge of the pit.

”Your arguments are indeed compelling, Lord Gusher,” said Ethan, his shoulders slumping slightly as he let out a heavy, defeated sigh. ”A wise man submits to the circumstances. Princess Isabella is far away, and my life is in your hands right now. If Prince Alaric can truly grant me the protection and resources I require, then my loyalty belongs to him. I will alter the distribution of the Water of the Dead to favor the capital.”

Gusher let out a loud, arrogant laugh, tossing the pink vial high in the air and catching it deftly. ”A pragmatic choice, Major General! I knew a genius of your caliber wouldn’t throw his life away for a failing cause. You have made the right decision,” said Gusher, his chest swelling with absolute pride. He believed he had completely brought the young medic to his knees, holding the future of the kingdom’s alchemy firmly in the palm of his hand.

Behind them, the four Great Ancestors watched the display with deep, unbridled disgust.

”To think we were terrified of a royal Major General,” murmured the Great Ancestor of the Thunder Dragon Sect, his voice laced with absolute scorn. ”He turned into a dog begging for scraps the moment a stronger master showed his face.”

”Pathetic,” whispered the Great Ancestor of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, his ancient eyes hardening with utter disdain. He felt disgusted that his grand plans had been derailed by a spineless coward who valued his skin over any sense of martial honor.

They all looked down on Ethan, entirely unaware that beneath his submissive facade, the mental countdown to their absolute slaughter had already reached zero.

Before Gusher could even utter another word of triumph, the ground beneath their feet violently erupted.

The thin restriction arrays they had placed shattered like brittle glass. From the dark depths of the abyss, an absolute ocean of decaying flesh, rusted armor, and piercing red eyes surged outward in a synchronized, apocalyptic frenzy. Thousands of high-tier undead tore through the perimeter, instantly throwing the allied vanguard into utter chaos.

”Defense arrays! Form the defenses!” shouted the Great Ancestor of the Black Mountain Sect, his voice cracking as the horde slammed into their lines.

Gusher’s arrogant smile instantly vanished. He lunged forward, his hand clawing through the air to grab Ethan before the chaos separated them. ”You stay right here, boy!”

But Ethan simply looked back at him, the submissive look on his face replacing itself with a chilling, mocking grin. Before Gusher’s fingers could even brush his robes, the space directly behind Ethan tore open into a pitch-black, silent tear of pure cosmic nothingness.

Without a single moment of hesitation, Ethan stepped backward into the spatial rift.

”The Void?!” Gusher screamed, his yellow eyes nearly popping out of his skull in sheer, unadulterated shock.

It was absolutely unheard of. For a human—especially one who supposedly hadn’t even reached the Golden Core stage—to possess and wield the absolute, forbidden power of the Void was a statistical impossibility. Yet, right before the eyes of the four most powerful patriarchs in the region and the ultimate envoy of the Prince, the space seamlessly closed.

Ethan had vanished completely, leaving the alliance to face the full, unbridled wrath of the undead legion alone.

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From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

The Melting Tide / The Tidal Horizon / The Sea Mist Ascension

Dao Manifestation Realm

The Incipient Dawn / Laws of the Domain / Reality Shatter

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

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Sword mastery levels

Sword Intent.

Sword Aura.