Free Web NovelChapter 25: A Patriarch Who Stands Above the Heavens — Part 1
A Patriarch Who Stands Above the Heavens — Part 1
The entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence.
A cold wind swept through the shattered stone tiles, carrying with it the lingering scent of blood.
Not a single person dared to breathe too loudly.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed upon the lone figure standing at the center of the battlefield.
Victor.
His shoulder-length black hair swayed gently behind him as the breeze stirred the golden dragon embroidery on his black robes. His golden eyes were calm and indifferent, carrying neither arrogance nor excitement. They were simply... absolute.
It was as though everything before him had already been decided.
Nothing in this world was worthy of shaking his heart.
Standing nearby, Damien Salvatore could hardly believe what he was seeing.
His mind was completely blank.
In his previous life, Tobias Ashthorn had been a nightmare.
A monster whose cultivation had already stepped into the Half-Step Heavenly Genesis Realm.
His Abyssal Blood Possession Scripture was infamous for its sinister nature. By hiding within the bodies of his descendants, he could deceive even experts stronger than himself. More than one true Heavenly Genesis Realm cultivator had suffered because they underestimated that terrifying technique.
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That same terrifying existence now lay sprawled across the courtyard like a defeated stray dog.
His crimson robes were torn.
Blood stained the corners of his lips.
His breathing was ragged.
The proud aura that once looked down upon countless cultivators had completely vanished.
Instead...
Only disbelief remained. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Damien slowly turned his gaze toward Victor once more.
The legendary Patriarch stood with one hand behind his back, his posture perfectly straight.
His tall figure seemed capable of holding up the heavens themselves.
His expression remained calm.
Not even the slightest fluctuation could be seen on that impossibly handsome face.
The overwhelming pressure radiating from his body was enough to make others instinctively lower their heads.
No one dared meet those golden eyes for long.
"So..."
"So the Patriarch of the Salvatore Family..."
"...is actually this overbearing..."
Damien unconsciously murmured.
This was the first time—across both his previous life and this reborn one—that he had truly witnessed Victor in battle.
Growing up, he had heard countless stories.
The legendary genius.
The unrivaled Patriarch.
The man who once forced all of Aurelia City to bow.
But stories...
Could never compare to reality.
Reality was far more terrifying.
Far more awe-inspiring.
"My Patriarch..."
"...is definitely no ordinary person."
Damien’s breathing gradually steadied.
In his previous life, he had climbed all the way to the Stellar Sovereign Realm, earning the title of the Quick-witted Lord.
He had crossed countless kingdoms.
Walked through ancient forbidden lands.
Met kings capable of splitting mountains with a wave of their hands.
Encountered Grand Saints whose mere presence distorted the surrounding heavens.
Yet...
Not one of them possessed an aura as mysterious as Victor’s.
It wasn’t simply strength.
It was something deeper.
A presence that seemed naturally detached from the Principle of World itself.
It was impossible to describe.
Meanwhile...
Compared to Damien’s astonishment...
Tobias Ashthorn had fallen into complete panic.
His aged face twisted repeatedly.
Shock.
Confusion.
Fear.
Every emotion battled within his eyes.
"What..."
"What just happened?"
"What in the heavens just happened?!"
His voice trembled uncontrollably.
Only moments ago, he had activated the Abyssal Blood Possession Scripture, silently emerging behind Victor.
Everything had proceeded exactly according to his calculations.
His cultivation exceeded Victor’s.
His timing had been flawless.
His attack should have ended the battle instantly.
Yet...
Victor had merely raised one hand.
Nothing more.
An ancient, desolate killing intent erupted from that simple movement.
It felt as though endless autumn winds had descended from forgotten ages.
Life withered.
Vitality decayed.
Even the surrounding air seemed to age.
Then...
A single palm strike.
Just one.
Tobias had been blasted hundreds of meters away.
The terrifying impact nearly shattered the circulation of his True Spiritual Power.
Even the secret technique maintaining his possession almost collapsed.
A trace of blood still lingered at the corner of his mouth.
He slowly wiped it away.
Looking at the crimson stain on his fingers...
His pupils shrank violently.
He had actually been injured.
By someone who had supposedly only entered the Astral Manifestation Realm.
Victor slowly lowered his hand.
His calm gaze rested upon Tobias as though observing a dying insect.
"Half-Step Heavenly Genesis Realm?"
His voice remained steady.
There wasn’t even the slightest trace of mockery.
"Worthless trash."
The four simple words echoed clearly throughout the courtyard.
Everyone heard them.
No one dared question them.
Victor had already known Tobias existed long before today.
Not because he could see the future.
But because when he had exterminated the Blackwood Family, he had sensed an unusually concealed stream of resentment drifting away.
It carried traces of death.
Blood.
And an ancient curse.
That hidden current had silently flowed toward the Ashthorn Family.
At that moment, Victor had already begun suspecting someone else was manipulating events behind the scenes.
Today’s confrontation merely confirmed his suspicions.
When Magnus Ashthorn’s limbs had been severed earlier...
That same sinister aura had escaped for only the briefest instant.
Barely noticeable.
Yet Victor still captured it perfectly.
That single moment had exposed Tobias completely.
"Heh..."
A sinister chuckle escaped Tobias’ lips.
"I’ll admit it, boy..."
"You’re stronger than I expected."
He slowly climbed to his feet.
His crimson robes fluttered wildly despite the absence of any wind.
The blood around him began swirling once more.
"You’ve only just stepped into the Astral Manifestation Realm..."
"And yet you actually managed to repel me."
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"But..."
"Surely you don’t believe that means you can defeat me?"
A cruel smile slowly spread across his weathered face.
"Do you even understand..."
"...what Half-Step Heavenly Genesis truly means?"
