The chaotic roar of battle still filled the air of Silverhaven, but the focus of Grand Elder Seraphina's piercing gaze was entirely on Kenji Tanaka. "How did you, a Qi Condensation cultivator, expose and capture her so swiftly? How did you know?" Her voice, though soft, carried an immense weight, demanding answers that stretched beyond any conventional explanation. The captured Elder Riana, bound by spiritual chains, lay writhing faintly in the background, a chilling testament to the Obsidian Hand's insidious infiltration.
Kenji met the Grand Elder's gaze, his mind racing. He couldn't reveal the System. Not yet. But he also couldn't deny the truth of what she perceived. He chose to elaborate on his existing cover story, emphasizing his unique spiritual senses.
"Grand Elder," Kenji began, his voice steady, projecting an air of earnest humility. "My 'Inheritance'… it allows me to perceive subtle spiritual anomalies. I sensed a discord in Elder Riana's Qi, a resonance with the void energy that felt… wrong. It was similar to the corrupted energy of the Void-touched Charm I found after Master Thorne's ordeal." He paused, ensuring his story linked back to known events. "When she attacked our allies, it confirmed my suspicion. As for her escape attempt, my studies of ancient arcane runes allowed me to recognize the pattern of her portal before it fully formed. I merely… disrupted its stability with a burst of pure Qi." He omitted the System's precise guidance, the Rune Analysis Skill, and the Spatial Blink (Intermediate) that had allowed him to appear behind her.
Grand Elder Seraphina's starlight eyes remained fixed on him, scrutinizing every word, every subtle facial expression. She said nothing for a long moment, then slowly nodded, a subtle, almost imperceptible gesture of acceptance. Her expression softened, replacing suspicion with a profound gratitude that momentarily eclipsed her sternness. "Your 'Inheritance' is indeed extraordinary, Disciple Kenji. You have saved countless lives today. And exposed a grave threat."
She then turned to Master Thorne, who stood nearby, his face a mask of grim satisfaction. "Master Thorne, your faith in this disciple is well-placed. Your own warnings proved prescient. This Elder Riana… her corruption is deep. We must extract every ounce of information from her."
"Indeed, Grand Elder," Master Thorne replied, his gaze returning to Elder Riana's writhing form. "Her methods are insidious. To think… a member of the High Council." His voice was heavy with a mix of fury and sorrow.
The chaos of the Void Incursion continued, though the main assault seemed to have faltered after Elder Riana's capture. The cultivators of Silverhaven, rallied by Grand Elder Seraphina's unwavering leadership, fought with renewed vigor, pushing back the remaining aberrations. The void portal in the sky, though still massive, seemed to have shrunk slightly, its intensity diminished.
Kenji continued to fight, his Qi Condensation Level 4 cultivation and his Void Affinity Purified skill invaluable in clearing pockets of lingering void creatures. He worked tirelessly alongside Lyra Shadowbrook and Ryuu, their teamwork fluid and efficient. Lyra's staff flashed with emerald energy, piercing through the aberrations, while Ryuu's subtle Qi-disrupting talismans created openings for others.
As the tide of battle slowly turned, Grand Elder Seraphina returned to the dais, her voice booming across Silverhaven. "The tide turns! The traitor has been exposed! Our unity will shatter the darkness! Push them back!" Her words galvanized the weary cultivators, inspiring them to one final, unified push.
Hours later, as dawn approached the Aethelgard sky, painting the Azure Peaks in hues of soft pink, the Void Incursion was finally repelled. The colossal void portal in the sky flickered, shrunk to a mere shimmering scar, and finally winked out of existence, leaving behind only swirling dust motes. The last aberrations dissipated into harmless mist. Silverhaven was scarred, its streets strewn with debris and the remnants of ruined buildings, but it stood. The Conclave had survived.
The clean-up began immediately. Cultivators, exhausted but triumphant, worked to seal damaged spiritual conduits, heal the wounded, and assess the true extent of the Architect's influence. The captured Elder Riana was immediately taken to a highly secured chamber for intensive interrogation.
Kenji, utterly exhausted but filled with a quiet sense of triumph, returned to his temporary dwelling within Silverhaven. He collapsed onto his cot, his muscles screaming, his mind buzzing. He had pushed his limits. His System immediately analyzed the outcome of the battle.
Urgent Mission: Repel Void Incursion.STATUS: COMPLETE!
Reward: [Significant Realm Breakthrough] + [Void Affinity Skill Upgraded].
A profound surge of pure, refined Qi erupted from within Kenji's core, overwhelming his exhaustion. It coursed through his meridians, expanding his Qi Sea, pushing his cultivation rapidly, effortlessly, beyond Qi Condensation Level 4. His entire being hummed with newfound, immense power, his senses sharpening to an almost unbearable degree. This was the promised reward for repelling the massive void incursion, for exposing Elder Riana, for defending Silverhaven.
The System confirmed his new status:
Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Level 5.
Then, another notification appeared, shimmering expectantly.
SYSTEM UPGRADE!Void Affinity Skill Upgraded!New Function Unlocked: [Architect's Corruption Resistance (Basic)].
Kenji's eyes snapped open. Qi Condensation Level 5! He had advanced two full levels since his previous breakthrough, reaching the pinnacle of the Qi Condensation realm. This was astonishing speed, even for a genius. And Void Affinity Skill Upgraded meant even greater control over void energy, while Architect's Corruption Resistance (Basic) was a vital defensive skill directly against the Architect's insidious influence. This was precisely what he needed.
Later that evening, Master Thorne arrived at Kenji's dwelling. He looked weary but grimly satisfied. He carefully closed the door behind him.
"Elder Riana… she has resisted conventional interrogation methods," Master Thorne began, his voice low. "Her mind is shielded by powerful void formations, incredibly complex. But we managed to extract a few fragments before her mind began to collapse. She spoke of… more infiltrators. Deeper within the Conclave. Within the various Orders. And she spoke of the 'Architect's Eye'… a subtle means of observation, allowing it to see through its agents. She also spoke of a 'Grand Sacrifice'… on a scale that would affect the very core of Aethelgard."
Kenji listened, his face grim. The Grand Sacrifice. The Architect's ultimate goal. It tied back to the ritual in the Forbidden Archives and the initial warnings from Master Thorne.
"We believe," Master Thorne continued, his voice strained, "that the Architect has agents at even higher levels of various Orders. Perhaps even other members of the Sanctum High Council. We must identify them. And we must understand their true objective, before it is too late." He looked at Kenji, his gaze filled with hope and desperation. "Your unique perception, Kenji. Your ability to see what others cannot. We need your help. Grand Elder Seraphina agrees. She has granted you unprecedented authority. You are to assist in the investigation."
The System flared, confirming a new mission.
Investigation Mission: Identify Obsidian Hand Targets.Reward: Covert Operation Skill.
Kenji nodded. This was a critical task. He was now officially assisting the highest authorities in the Sanctum to root out the Obsidian Hand. His new Architect's Corruption Resistance (Basic) would be invaluable for this.
Master Thorne then produced a small, leather-bound volume, ancient and worn. "This is a detailed list of all delegates currently at the Conclave, their affiliations, their known cultivation levels. And a list of suspected individuals. Grand Elder Seraphina has granted you access to this. Be discreet, Kenji. Extremely discreet. These agents are powerful. And they will stop at nothing to remain hidden."
As Master Thorne left, Kenji picked up the list. He knew the investigation would be perilous. He was hunting shadows within shadows. He focused his Soul Sense, pushing his perception outwards, beyond the confines of his dwelling. He could feel the subtle shifts in the spiritual energy of Silverhaven, the lingering taint of void corruption, the hidden currents of suspicion and fear.
He began to scan the list, his eyes moving methodically. He focused his Soul Sense on the individuals named, attempting to gauge their true spiritual signatures. He felt a few subtle flickers, faint anomalies, just as Master Thorne had hinted. There were indeed powerful individuals whose auras, though outwardly pure, carried a hidden, insidious dissonance. These were the targets.
He also sensed something else. A profound, almost overwhelming presence. It was subtle, masked, yet undeniably powerful. It emanated from the darkest, most ancient section of the archives. It was the Architect. It was watching. Waiting. It was here, in Silverhaven, in the Conclave. His enemies were closer than ever. His duel with Lord Valerius had been a petty skirmish. His confrontation with Elder Riana, a minor battle. The true war was about to begin.