The underground hall had turned silent.
Hundreds of cultivators surrounded the crystal cage.
Inside it…
The mysterious egg pulsed with ancient energy.
Then—
A calm voice echoed across the arena.
Kairo stepped forward.
His gaze swept across the crowd as if they were nothing more than insects.
This egg, he said slowly, belongs to me.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
You people…
don't have the qualifications to take it.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then whispers began spreading.
That brat is too arrogant…
Does he think he owns the world?
Who does he think he is?
Some cultivators even started cursing him openly.
But Kairo didn't react.
He simply stood there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Suddenly—
One cultivator rushed forward.
Arrogant bastard! Die!
His sword shot toward Kairo's neck.
But before the blade could even get close—
A figure dropped from above.
Khyber.
Kairo's Fourth Pillar.
The ground cracked as he landed.
In the next instant—
The attacking cultivator's body split apart.
Killed instantly.
The entire hall froze.
Vorthic whistled.
Nice timing, Khyber.
He laughed and continued praising him.
But suddenly—
BAM.
A fist landed on Vorthic's head.
He stumbled forward.
Ow! Boss… hit a little softer, Vorthic complained.
Kairo lowered his hand.
Be quiet.
Before the moment could settle—
Another attack came.
An elder from a powerful sect leaped forward.
His aura exploded with killing intent.
But suddenly—
A beam of blinding light shot across the hall.
Stelix.
Kairo's Second Pillar.
A thin ray fired from his eye.
The beam pierced the elder's body instantly.
A massive hole appeared in his chest.
The elder collapsed before he even understood what happened.
Silence.
Then panic.
W-Who are these people?
That elder was killed instantly!
Fear spread through the crowd.
Then Khyber laughed loudly.
Brother, you've already reached the high stage of Deity Transformation.
He stretched his arms.
Meanwhile we're still stuck at the middle stage.
The moment those words were heard—
The entire hall erupted.
D-Deity Transformation?!
That level exists here?!
Panic exploded among the cultivators.
Many immediately turned to run.
But—
They slammed into an invisible wall.
Vorthic leaned casually against a pillar.
I already set up a formation, he said lazily.
No one leaves.
The trapped cultivators' faces turned pale.
Some immediately knelt.
Please spare us!
We will give you everything!
Others shouted desperately.
We'll give our treasures!
Our sect will pay you!
Some even offered their cultivation techniques.
But not everyone surrendered.
A few cultivators stepped forward with fierce expressions.
If we're going to die anyway…
Then we'll drag you with us!
Their auras exploded.
The atmosphere in the arena became suffocating.
Kairo simply watched them.
His expression remained calm.
Almost bored.
Then he slowly raised his hand.
The egg behind him pulsed again.
And the real battle…
Was about to begin.
To Be Continued.