A deathly silence fell over the battlefield. Even the howling wind ceased as the cloaked figure descended. Reality bent around it, and the sky dimmed as if light itself feared its presence.
Chen Fei narrowed his eyes.
[Analyzing Threat... Shadow Monarch Identified – Former Ruler of the Lost Realm. Estimated Power: Beyond Heavenly Realm.]
The cloaked figure extended a clawed hand. "Return what is ours."
Chen Fei stepped forward calmly, golden aura erupting around him.
"I don't return what I destroy."
Without warning, the Shadow Monarch attacked. In an instant, they clashed—Chen Fei's divine energy against the Monarch's void essence. Space ruptured. Mountains crumbled. Nearby sect leaders evacuated, awed and terrified.
The system issued a silent command.
[Divine Protocol Initiated. Unlocking Hidden Memory Archive...]
In a blinding flash, memories surged through Chen Fei—visions of a past life, not as a high school student, but as a Sky Sovereign, who once sealed the Shadow Monarch in ancient times.
Lady Xue Lian gasped. "He was the one who ended the Shadow Wars... No wonder the Monarch seeks his soul."
As Chen Fei recovered his divine memories, his power began to evolve. His cultivation surged past known limits. The mark of the True Dragon Monarch appeared on his back.
The battlefield shook again. The Shadow Monarch summoned reinforcements—ten elite generals cloaked in anti-light armor. They began attacking cities outside the summit.
"We need to divide and conquer," said Supreme Elder Yun Jue. "Allow us to take the Generals."
Chen Fei nodded. "Don't hold back. Let the world witness our true rise."
He turned back to the Shadow Monarch.
"This time," he said, "you stay buried."
Their battle resumed—each strike tearing open space, each word vibrating with divine will. Across the continent, cultivators could feel their clash.
[System Mission Progress: Phase 1 Complete. Phase 2 – Purge the Shadow Generals: In Progress.]
Elsewhere, mysterious cloaked observers watched from an unseen realm.
"So the Dragon Sect awakens… Shall we inform the Heavenly Abyss Court?"
"Let them finish the Shadow Monarch first. Then... we strike."