.
.
The heavens split apart.
Golden light poured from the sky like a divine waterfall.
One after another, ancient warships emerged from the rift, each bearing a banner that depicted a golden eye surrounded by twelve wings.
The moment the banners appeared...
Every elder of the Heavenly Dao Academy turned pale.
"The Celestial Court..."
"They actually exist..."
For countless generations, the Celestial Court had been regarded as a myth.
An organization that judged worlds from the shadows.
No one imagined they would descend upon the Eternal Divine Realm.
Standing at the bow of the largest warship was a man clad in radiant golden armor.
His silver hair flowed in the wind, and a spear rested casually on his shoulder.
His calm gaze overlooked the academy as though every life below was insignificant.
His name was...
Lucien Ardent.
One of the Twelve Heavenly Generals of the Celestial Court.
Though only a projection had descended, the pressure he emitted made Saint Realm experts struggle to breathe.
Below, panic spread.
Students fled in every direction.
The academy's protective formation activated, covering the floating islands in a massive barrier of blue light.
Elder Tian stepped forward.
"This is the Heavenly Dao Academy."
"You have no authority to invade."
Lucien looked at him as if he were looking at an insect.
"I am not here to negotiate."
"I am here to execute."
He raised his spear.
"Hand over the successor of the First Villain."
Deep beneath the academy...
Knox and Seraphina exchanged glances.
"So..."
Seraphina whispered.
"They really came for you."
Knox nodded.
"It seems my popularity is growing."
She sighed.
"You're joking at a time like this?"
"It helps."
Before either could move, the mysterious guardian spoke again.
"You must leave."
"If Lucien discovers this chamber..."
"My seal will be destroyed."
Knox looked at the guardian.
"Can you fight?"
The guardian laughed bitterly.
"If I could..."
"Do you think I would still be chained?"
The ground trembled violently.
A section of the ceiling collapsed.
The barrier protecting the underground chamber was beginning to fail.
Knox looked toward the exit.
"We're out of time."
Above ground...
Lucien's spear descended.
A single strike.
The academy's grand protective formation shattered instantly.
BOOM!!
The shockwave swept across the floating islands.
Buildings cracked.
Mountains collapsed.
Countless disciples were thrown to the ground.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
At that moment—
The space above the academy distorted.
A massive black vortex appeared.
A deep, commanding voice echoed across heaven and earth.
"You dare attack a place where my son is studying?"
The world fell silent.
Lucien's expression changed for the first time.
From the vortex stepped a tall man wearing black imperial robes embroidered with ancient silver dragons.
His long black hair danced in the wind.
Every step he took caused space itself to tremble.
He didn't release any aura.
He didn't need to.
His mere existence dominated the battlefield.
The elders immediately bowed.
"The Void Emperor..."
"The Clan Patriarch has arrived!"
Knox looked upward.
His memories identified the man instantly.
Caelus Void.
His father.
The Patriarch of the Void Emperor Clan.
One of the strongest cultivators in the Eternal Divine Realm.
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
"So..."
"The Void Emperor himself."
Caelus smiled calmly.
"You came to arrest my son."
Lucien pointed his spear.
"He carries forbidden authority."
Caelus's smile disappeared.
"So what?"
Those two words echoed like thunder.
"He is my son."
"Whether he becomes a saint..."
"...or a villain..."
"I will stand behind him."
Knox silently watched his father.
For the first time since arriving in this world...
He truly understood why the Void Emperor Clan ruled for millions of years.
They never abandoned their own.
Lucien sighed.
"A pity."
He raised his spear again.
"Then..."
"The Void Emperor Clan will be judged alongside him."
The sky turned crimson.
A gigantic divine spear formed above the academy.
Its tip was large enough to destroy an entire continent.
Even Saint Realm cultivators felt despair.
Caelus looked up.
Then...
He casually lifted one hand.
He caught the divine spear.
With one hand.
The entire battlefield froze.
CRACK...
The spear shattered into countless fragments.
Golden light scattered across the sky.
Lucien's pupils contracted.
"Impossible..."
Caelus flicked his sleeve.
A wave of Void Energy surged forward.
Lucien's projection exploded instantly.
The remaining Celestial Court soldiers panicked.
"Retreat!"
"Return to the Upper Realm!"
One by one, the warships disappeared into the spatial rift.
Within moments...
The heavens became silent once more.
The students erupted into cheers.
"We survived!"
"The Void Emperor saved us!"
But Caelus didn't celebrate.
He descended to the academy courtyard.
Knox stood waiting.
Father and son looked at one another.
For several seconds...
Neither spoke.
Finally, Caelus smiled.
"You've caused quite a bit of trouble."
Knox shrugged.
"I didn't invite them."
Caelus laughed.
"True."
Then his expression became serious.
"They came much earlier than I expected."
Knox nodded.
"You knew this would happen."
"I did."
"But I hoped you'd have another few years."
A heavy silence followed.
Caelus looked directly into Knox's eyes.
"From today onward..."
"You are no longer merely the Young Master of the Void Emperor Clan."
"You are the heir to everything."
Knox frowned.
"Everything?"
"The clan."
"The throne."
"And..."
Caelus paused.
"The war that has been hidden since ancient times."
Before Knox could ask another question—
The System suddenly rang.
[Ding!]
Main Story Progress Updated.
The Celestial Court has acknowledged the Host as the Successor of the First Villain.
New Main Quest Unlocked: Rise Before the War Begins.
Time Remaining Until the Celestial Court's Next Descent: 3 Years.
Failure Condition: Death of the Host and Destruction of the Void Emperor Clan.
Knox stared at the countdown.
Three years.
That was all the time he had.
He slowly closed the system window.
Then...
A cold smile spread across his face.
"Three years?"
He looked toward the heavens where Lucien had disappeared.
"That's more than enough."
The wind howled across the academy.
Far beyond the stars, unseen eyes watched the Eternal Divine Realm.
The first move had been made.
The true war...
Was finally approaching.
End of Chapter 15