The Admin gave a rare nod of approval. "Impressive. Very few can time a breakthrough like that."
Shen Hao gave a half-smile. "Honestly, I thought I was going to explode from too much Qi before I even finished the year."
He shifted his stance. "I was already close to Level 8 when I entered the chamber. I broke through the moment I sat down. After that… the whole sealed cultivation was just me climbing from Level 8 to Level 9. The real work was done today. Right before I stepped out."
The Admin gave a slow nod, hands behind his back. "A clean breakthrough on the final day. That's rare."
Shen Hao tilted his head. "So… you weren't spying on me through the walls?"
"If I was," the Admin said, deadpan, "you think I'd still have eyebrows?"
"…Fair."
There was a brief pause, then Shen Hao's voice dropped a bit more serious.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
The Admin raised an eyebrow.
Shen Hao looked him in the eye. "What do you know about the Crimson Void Sect?"
The air changed.
The light from the floating energy orbs didn't dim — but it felt like it did. The warmth in the Admin's expression vanished. His smile disappeared like someone shut off a switch.
He turned slowly. "Why are you asking about them?"
"I ran into a couple of them once," Shen Hao said. "Figured I should know what kind of problem they are."
The Admin was silent for a moment. Then he walked over to the edge of the platform, eyes on the glowing orbs spinning quietly in the center of the throne room.
"The Crimson Void Sect," he began, "is not just some rogue group of cultivators. They're part of a much bigger system—built around a loophole."
Shen Hao listened quietly.
"You already know this realm—the Echoing Mountain Realm—isn't great for cultivation beyond the Conqueror Realm. The Qi here isn't stable or dense enough. But people stay. Why?"
He turned back to face Shen Hao.
"Because power works differently here. You can build empires. Form alliances. Set up nations, cities, strongholds—if you're strong enough. And when you are, you leave to other realms. You cultivate in peace, behind sealed doors, while your organization thrives here under someone else."
Shen Hao blinked. "Like a… cultivation vacation plan?"
"More like a rotation system for future warlords."
The Admin's voice was calm, but tight.
"The Crimson Void Sect mastered this method. Their current leader? Just reached Conqueror Realm Level 5."
Shen Hao's brows shot up. "That's—" He stopped himself. "That's a problem."
"Exactly," the Admin said. "Before, their leader was at Level 4. Me and Captain Rui—leader of Squad One—we were both Level 3. If he made a move, we had a shot at stopping him."
Shen Hao nodded slowly.
"But now?" The Admin's voice lowered. "Now he's stronger than both of us combined."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"We can't stop him. Not anymore. If he comes here, this city wouldn't survive."
Shen Hao took a moment before speaking. "Do you think he will?"
The Admin didn't answer immediately. He stared at the orbs above, as if calculating probabilities he didn't like.
"…I don't know. But I do know this: you do not mess with the Crimson Void Sect. No provocation. No 'accidents.' No misunderstandings."
Shen Hao scratched his neck.
"…Sooo. Slight problem."
The Admin turned to him slowly.
Shen Hao offered an awkward grin. "I might've, uh… accidentally... maybe... destroyed a small squad of theirs about a year ago?"
The Admin froze.
"I didn't know who they were at the time," Shen Hao added quickly. "They jumped me. I defended myself. Five down. Two escaped."
The Admin's expression didn't move for several seconds.
Then he blinked.
"…You what?"
Shen Hao held up both hands. "They had it coming! Tried to rob me while shouting cliché lines about treasures and disrespect. I had a sword. They had bad timing."
The Admin sat down slowly. Not on his throne — on the steps beside it, like he just needed to absorb the news with more oxygen in his lungs.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
"I wish I was."
The Admin stared at the floor. Then at Shen Hao. Then back at the floor.
"You might be the reason we all get flattened."
Shen Hao winced. "That bad, huh?"
The Admin nodded, dead serious now.
"You have no idea what kind of fire you lit. And if they find out where you are—"
He stood up sharply, eyes locked on Shen Hao.
"You need to leave. Immediately."
Shen Hao blinked. "Wait, that's it? No 'let's make a plan' or 'don't panic'? Just straight-up exile me like I sneezed on your lunch?"
The Admin didn't even flinch. "This isn't exile. It's damage control."
"Sounds an awful lot like exile."
"Shen Hao—" the Admin took a step forward, his voice lower now, measured, like he was talking someone away from a cliff. "They won't send scouts next time. They'll send someone who can turn buildings into dust with a flick of their sleeve. You stay, and this entire city becomes bait."
"…Well when you put it like that—" Shen Hao muttered.
"I'm serious. You need to disappear. At least until I find a way to smooth this over. Or until they forget."
Shen Hao raised a brow. "Will they forget?"
The Admin deadpanned. "No."
"Oh, that's comforting."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay. Fine. Where exactly do you want me to go? Somewhere specific or just 'run like a squirrel during fire season'?"
"There's a location just outside the Echoing Range. Remote enough to stay off their radar. Wild beasts. Unstable Qi. Dangerous terrain. You'll love it."
"…You really know how to sell a vacation spot."
The Admin turned serious again. "I'm sending you there not just to hide. You'll train. Grow. Refine everything you gained during your sealed cultivation. Because if the Crimson Void Sect really does come… we'll need you stronger than ever."
Shen Hao's expression shifted — joking gone, replaced with quiet resolve.
"Alright," he said. "I'll go."
The Admin nodded, reaching into his sleeve and tossing him a small jade token. "This is keyed to an emergency portal. Use it only when you're ready. It'll open a path just long enough to reach the hidden zone. After that, you're on your own."
Shen Hao caught it midair and slipped it into his robe. "When do I leave?"
The Admin gave him a look that said right now.
Then he added, "One more thing…"
Shen Hao looked up.
"If you run into anyone from the Crimson Void Sect again—don't fight. Don't argue. Don't even sneeze near them."
Shen Hao squinted. "Is sneezing part of their detection method?"
"No. But at this point, I wouldn't risk it."
The Admin exhaled through his nose, then reached into the inner fold of his robe. From it, he pulled out a small, thin metallic card etched with glowing lines — Shen Hao's UID.
He held it out without ceremony. "I called you here to give you this. Take it with you. And don't lose it. Not for any reason."
Shen Hao blinked and took it with both hands, frowning slightly. The weight of the thing felt heavier than it looked.
"…You could've just mailed it."
"If I did, half the galaxy would know where you are," the Admin replied dryly. "Security's expensive. I'm saving on shipping."
Before Shen Hao could respond with another quip, the Admin rolled up his left sleeve. A gleaming golden digital wristwatch clicked softly as he tapped its side. Royal-blue glyphs lit up on the band, spinning in a perfect circle.
Shen Hao raised an eyebrow. "Nice watch. What's it do, shoot lasers?"
"Better," the Admin said calmly.
DING!
Shen Hao's own wristwatch buzzed.
A soft chime echoed in the chamber.
Then—
[Transfer Complete: +5,000,000,000 credits.]
Shen Hao blinked.
Stared at his wrist.
Back at the Admin.
Back at his wrist again.
"…Was that a typo?" he asked, voice stuck halfway between shock and denial.
"Nope," the Admin said, completely unbothered.
"FIVE. BILLION?!"
"You had one billion already," the Admin added with a nod. "Now you've got six."
"Six billion?! You could've just given me a small country!"
"Would you rather manage taxes or stay alive?"
Shen Hao opened his mouth, then closed it.
Fair point.
"I… I can't accept this," Shen Hao finally said, holding up his wrist like it was radioactive. "This is too much."
The Admin simply raised an eyebrow. "Take it."
Shen Hao tried to argue again.
"I said take it," the Admin repeated, voice firmer. "Where you're going, it's not just about staying off the radar. It's about staying alive. And you're going to need every bit of support."
After a long second, Shen Hao sighed and finally nodded. "…Alright. But if I end up buying a moon by accident, that's on you."
The Admin didn't laugh. He just turned toward the glowing portal platform behind him.
"There's a city where I'm sending you," the Admin said, his voice calm. "It's not large, but it holds something you'll find useful."
Shen Hao raised an eyebrow. "Useful how?"
The Admin replied plainly, "It has a Celestial Nexus Array."
Shen Hao's posture shifted — just slightly. Not alarmed. But definitely surprised.
"…Didn't think I'd run into one this soon."
"It's managed by a faction," the Admin continued. "Not one of the aggressive ones. They allow public access, but the price isn't cheap."
Shen Hao already knew what was coming. "How much?"
"One billion credits."
He tilted his head. "Sounds about right for getting legally scammed."
The Admin didn't argue. "Still better than wasting years climbing through back-alley gates."
Shen Hao exhaled slowly, thoughtful. "You want me to use it immediately?"
"Yes. Don't stay in the city. Use the array, then travel at least 800 kilometers into the wilderness. The deeper you go, the harder it is for anyone to track you."
Shen Hao nodded once. "Alright."
The Admin tapped a command into his wristwatch. "Map of the region is uploaded to your device. Use it wisely. And don't start any trouble while you're out there."
Shen Hao smirked. "No promises."
Then—
FWAP!
The Admin shoved him into the portal without warning.
"Wai—AGAIN WITH THIS?!"
FWOOOOSH!
The portal sealed shut behind him.
Silence returned.
The Admin stood there for a moment, sighed deeply, and muttered to himself:
"He's either going to master the path… or burn down a forest trying."
OK GUYS!!!! THIS NOVEL HAD BEEN COMPLETED!, NOW THE SECOND NOVEL WILL RELEASE IN 3 DAYS WHICH WILL CONTINUE SHEN HAO'S JOURNEY FURTHER!
SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT AND FOLLOW SO YOU GET THAT NOTIFICATION WHEN IT DROPS!
SEE YOU THERE!
AND THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT ON THIS, IT REALLY MEANS ALOT TO ME!
AND DON'T ASK ME WHY I WROTE ALL OF THIS IN CAPITAL LATTERS CUZ EVEN I DON'T KNOW!
AND I WILL BE CHANGING THE NOVEL NAME TO "Cosmic Conquerors' Return" in couple of days.