The entire settlement had already fallen into chaos.
Not panic.
Shock.
Countless civilians stared upward at the overwhelming figures floating above the streets while communication networks exploded across the world almost instantly.
Saints appearing together publicly was already rare.
But now-
Five Kings from Eastern Horizon Academy stood below them.
And at the center of everything-
A newly returned Saint no one could properly identify.
The spiritual pressure filling the sky gradually softened as the principal and the others descended slowly toward the ground.
The moment Director Rao landed, his sharp eyes locked onto Krishak immediately.
Then narrowed slightly.
".You became even more terrifying."
Krishak gave a faint smile.
"You noticed quickly."
Director Rao almost laughed hearing that.
Any Saint would notice.
Krishak's spiritual fluctuations were extraordinarily strange.
Calm.
Stable.
Yet impossibly dense.
Even standing nearby felt subtly uncomfortable, as though the surrounding spiritual environment instinctively shifted around him.
The two unfamiliar Saints behind the principal observed him carefully as well.
One was an elderly woman wearing dark
blue spiritual robes covered in formation patterns.
The other-
A tall man carrying a massive black spear across his back.
Both possessed middle-stage Saint Realm cultivation.
And both looked visibly unsettled.
Because they could not fully sense Krishak's depth.
The spear Saint finally spoke first.
".So this is the one Eastern Horizon kept hidden for three years."
Rohon immediately muttered:
"Hidden?"
Arun sighed beside him.
"Technically buried beneath a mountain."
The principal ignored them entirely.
His gaze remained fixed on Krishak quietly.
"You succeeded."
Krishak nodded once.
"The corruption has mostly been refined."
Even the two unfamiliar Saints visibly reacted hearing that.
Because they knew exactly what that meant.
Three years earlier, global awakened organizations had secretly prepared for the possibility that the Tibetan seal might completely collapse.
Some nations even created emergency evacuation scenarios.
The corruption beneath the mountains was considered one of humanity's greatest hidden disasters.
And now-
This young man calmly claimed he had refined almost all of it himself.
The formation Saint suddenly spoke carefully
"...How much remains?"
"Very little."
Krishak's expression became thoughtful.
"Enough to stabilize the breach for "
now.
The principal immediately noticed the wording.
"For now?"
Krishak looked toward him calmly.
"The dimensional breach still exists."
The atmosphere instantly became heavier.
Even after three years-
The true danger had not disappeared completely.
It had only been delayed.
Director Rao folded his arms slowly.
"..Then we'll discuss that later."
His eyes narrowed afterward.
"Right now, the bigger problem is that half the world already knows you returned."
As if proving his words-
Countless communication alerts suddenly activated simultaneously across nearby devices.
Public spiritual networks exploded with notifications.
BREAKING NEWS: UNKNOWN SAINT
APPEARS WITH EASTERN HORIZON
LEADERS
MULTIPLE SAINT-LEVEL SIGNATURES DETECTED IN TIBETAN REGION
IS THE FOUNDER OF THE PUBLIC CULTIVATION MOVEMENT BACK?
Rohon grimaced.
".Yeah, this is going to become a disaster."
"No," Tara corrected calmly.
"It already is."
Meanwhile, civilians nearby stared toward Krishak with growing disbelief.
Especially younger cultivators.
Because everyone recognized the silver-gray robes.
The books.
The teachings.
The academy connections.
Even if no official records ever confirmed it-
Humanity already knew the name behind the cultivation revolution spreading across Earth.
And now-
That person had returned as a Saint.
One young cultivator suddenly spoke shakily from the crowd:
".Humanity's youngest Saint."
The surrounding whispers immediately spread further afterward.
The two unfamiliar Saints exchanged glances silently.
Because that title carried terrifying implications.
Modern Earth's cultivation history was still young compared to ancient eras.
Most Saints currently alive reached their realm after decades of struggle.
Sometimes centuries.
Yet Krishak-
Barely entered adulthood.
The spear Saint finally asked directly:
"How old are you exactly?"
Krishak answered calmly.
"Twelve"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the surrounding air seemed to freeze briefly.
The formation Saint stared openly now.
".. Twelve?"
Rohon rubbed his face tiredly.
"See?"
He pointed at Krishak.
"This is why talking about him normally stopped working years ago."
The principal suddenly sighed softly.
Then looked toward Krishak carefully.
"..There are many people waiting to meet you."
Krishak already expected that.
Governments.
Awakened organizations.
Ancient clans.
International alliances.
Probably even hidden Saints.
Three years ago, he was merely a promising genius.
Now-
He had become a variable capable of affecting humanity's balance itself.
Krishak remained silent briefly.
Then finally said:
"I'll return to the academy first."
The principal nodded immediately.
"That's for the best."
But before anyone could leave
A cold voice suddenly echoed from above.
"Eastern Horizon truly hid things well."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Several Saints raised their heads sharply.
High above the settlement—
Spatial ripples spread slowly through the clouds.
Then-
Three figures appeared.
Their robes carried the insignia of the Global Awakened Coalition.
The organization formed jointly by several major governments after the Great Awakening.
And at the center-
A late-stage Saint slowly stepped forward.
His cold eyes remained fixed on Krishak.
"For three years," he said quietly,
"the world searched for the architect behind humanity's cultivation disruption."
Silence filled the sky.
Then-
The Saint's gaze sharpened.
"And now he finally returns."