"S… Sovereign Profound Realm?!?"
A wave of gasps rolled through the audience like thunder. Disciples and masters alike stood frozen in disbelief.
"A Monarch…? What is a Monarch doing in the Blue Wind Empire?!" someone shouted, their voice cracked with panic.
Hovering in the skies above the arena was a figure cloaked in authority and rage—a first-level Sovereign Profound Realm expert. His presence alone made the air heavy. His bellow echoed over the ruins of the stage:
"DRACULE MIHAWK! COME OUT AND DIE!!"
Chaos threatened to erupt below, but for some, the name brought secret joy.
Down below, the sect masters who had been humiliated time and time again by Mihawk clenched their fists in quiet celebration. At last, divine retribution. Their silent prayers for vengeance had been answered by the heavens themselves.
The air cracked open like shattered glass as the Monarch descended from the heavens, his power blanketing the entire Sword Discourse Arena in an instant. What had once been cheers of celebration and victory now turned into a deafening silence—followed by erupting chaos.
A wave of pressure washed over the arena like a tsunami.
Thousands of disciples collapsed to their knees. Some gasped for breath, others clutched their chests, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the Sovereign Profound Realm expert. Many didn't even understand what was happening—all they knew was that they were suddenly drowning in fear.
"W-What is that… that pressure?! I… I can't move!!" a young disciple screamed, tears running down his face as he trembled violently.
"Sovereign… Profound Realm… A Monarch is here!" Ling Yuefeng fell back onto his seat, sweat pouring down his back. He had never even dreamed of seeing a Monarch in person, let alone having one appear unannounced in the Blue Wind Empire.
Yet amidst the chaos, there were pockets of stillness.
Frozen Cloud Asgard disciples stood frozen—not in fear, but in calculation. The seven high fairies exchanged glances. Their instincts screamed danger, but they had seen worse now. Much worse.
Burning Heaven Sect members, despite their earlier humiliation, secretly rejoiced behind gritted teeth.
"Why would a Monarch appear here of all places…? Just what have we gotten involved in…?" a sect elder whispered, staring blankly at the ominous figure in the sky.
"What should we do?!" Xue Ling moved quickly to shield Cang Yue, hands already glowing with power.
"Shall we evacuate the arena, Your Majesty?" an imperial protector asked, tense and trembling.
But Cang Wanhe remained seated, gaze calm as he looked toward the butterfly-clipped woman standing beside his daughter.
If her words earlier were to be believed—if even half of them were true—he had no reason to worry. And more importantly… he looked at Cang Yue. She stood tall, unshaken.
Six months ago, his daughter might have screamed, fled, or frozen in terror.
But now? After walking with Yun Che's group… after facing mechanical dragons, ancient legacies, and the crushing weight of sect politics… a mere Monarch didn't even make her blink.
He chuckled quietly.
A Monarch?
To them—
That's nothing.
Chu Yueli's hands trembled at her sides as the name of her beloved echoed across the arena. Her heart screamed for her to act, to rise into the sky and stand beside him, no matter the cost. But her cultivation… her strength… it wasn't enough. Not against a Monarch.
And yet, if Dracule Mihawk truly appeared—if he stood before that monster—she would not hesitate. Even if the rules of her sect forbade it, even if it meant her exile, she would fly to his side without a second thought. She would not stand by and watch him die.
Her fingers wrapped around the hilt of her sword, ready to draw—
But a gentle hand caught her wrist.
She turned sharply, only to be met with the calm, unwavering gaze of her elder sister. Chu Yuechan didn't say a word. She didn't need to. That one look was enough—a quiet reassurance that froze Yueli's rising storm.
Reluctantly, Yueli released her grip. Her heart churned in conflict, but she chose to trust. She knew if she acted now—out of desperation—she would only expose herself… and the love she was never allowed to show.
She wasn't alone in her inner turmoil.
Xue Ling, standing protectively near Cang Yue, felt a similar weight pressing down on her. She clenched her fists, every muscle in her body taut. She heard Mihawk's name. The desire to protect him surged. She needed to. But she knew the truth—against a Sovereign Profound Realm powerhouse, she was nothing more than a paper shield.
She subconsciously held Nezuko close and eyes Chu Yueli. Both wanted to protect his legacy at all costs.
Meanwhile, Chu Yuechan remained composed on the surface, but deep inside, anxiety gnawed at her. She knew the truth. She knew that Yun Che—or alter, Dracule Mihawk—was currently unconscious. His secret was guarded by only a select few. And though fear stirred within her, she reminded herself of one important thing:
He was never alone.
Not with those women by his side.
If anyone could face a Monarch, it was them.
Still… the enemy's words were not idle.
Thousands of eyes turned instinctively to the stage, where Yun Che's unconscious form lay, surrounded by his women. The threat was clear—if Mihawk didn't appear, the attacker might seize his so called wives. Use them as leverage. Or worse…
Then, in a burst of profound energy, Ling Kun rose into the air, confronting the intruder who hovered above the shattered arena.
The man was clad in robes of silver and midnight, his sleeves embroidered with the emblem of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region. A veteran swordsman—his presence oppressive, his killing intent unmistakable.
"Elder Doubtless!" Ling Kun's voice boomed. "What are you doing here?"
The man's eyes blazed with fury.
Elder Doubtless hovered in the air like a thundercloud ready to burst—ominous, unshakable, and radiating pure menace. He was a man in the late prime of his life, though age had not withered him. If anything, it had chiseled him into a weapon.
One of the sword elders of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region.
His stature was tall and imposing, broad-shouldered and armored not in steel, but in layers of dense, sword-woven profound energy that rippled faintly around him like a living cloak. His hair, long and the color of storm-silver, was bound tightly behind his head, flowing like a banner of war in the high-altitude wind. His face was sharp as a blade, every line etched with discipline and fury. A jagged scar ran from the corner of his left eye to the edge of his jaw, a permanent reminder of battles long past—victories paid in blood.
His eyes were the color of steel—cold, unreadable, and utterly merciless. They locked onto the arena below with the intensity of a predator that had found its prey. Upon his left arm was the crest of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, glowing faintly with a regal blue light—a sign of his rank and lineage.
His robes, black and dark cobalt, were embroidered with sword runes that pulsed faintly with Monarch-level might. Every movement he made left the air trembling in his wake, the sheer pressure of his cultivation level causing cracks to form in the shattered arena stage below.
He didn't need to raise his voice to dominate the scene—but he did. And when he spoke, his voice rolled like thunder across the Sword Discourse Arena.
"Don't play coy, Ling Kun," he growled. "That man—Dracule Mihawk—murdered my son. I am here to collect his head!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd like a wave of thunder.
"And if he doesn't show himself—" Elder Doubtless raised his hand toward the arena, his aura surging like a tidal wave. "—I will tear this empire apart, stone by stone!"
The words dropped like a guillotine across the battlefield.
Silence followed.
"He isn't here," Ling Kun said calmly, his arms behind his back, his voice composed despite the crushing presence bearing down from the sky. "We've waited days for him. His disciples, his wives, even his child—they're here. But he has yet to appear."
"Lies!" Elder Doubtless roared, his killing intent flooding the sky like a tidal wave. "He is here! He's the one who murdered my son!"
"Murdered?" Ling Kun's brows furrowed. The accusation hit harder than expected.
"The disappearance of our Profound Emperor disciples in the Southern Mountain Range," Doubtless snapped. "We dismissed it as an attack by those pale white beasts. But I recovered a sliver of his soul essence before it faded!"
He thrust his hand forward, and a spectral wisp pulsed in the air between them—burning with rage, grief, and unmistakable memory.
"I saw it. I saw the man who killed my son. That face—those eyes—his sword. It was him. Dracule Mihawk!"
Ling Kun fell silent. The implications were grave. If what Doubtless claimed was true, it was no longer a private vendetta—it was a declaration of war.
"You won't find him here," Ling Kun finally said, though his tone lacked conviction now. "But his wives and child are…"
He stopped. The words had barely left his lips before he realized the storm he'd just unleashed.
"Where!?" Doubtless bellowed, his voice shaking the heavens. The clouds trembled, and killing intent like a falling sky blanketed the Sword Discourse Arena below. "If I can't take the sword, I'll take his heart!"
=======================
"Ara… maybe I should handle this?" Retsu spoke softly, her tone filled with amused curiosity. Her calm words sent a ripple through the gathering of women encircling the unconscious Yun Che. The Frozen Cloud Asgard fairies, still reeling from the monarch's sudden appearance, turned toward her with stunned expressions.
Could she… face a Monarch?
To them, Retsu had always been gentle, composed, veiled in mystery. But the truth—if they knew it—would shake their understanding of power itself.
Unbeknownst to them, Retsu's strength was anything but ordinary. She wielded power at least ten levels above her cultivation rank. Her Yin-Yang Essence doubled that further, and should she call upon her fox Reiryoku Cloak, even a Monarch like Elder Doubtless would fall without forcing her to unsheathe her Zanpakutō—let alone release it. Even without that cloak, her newly awakened Spirit Ki elevated her prowess like a divine boon, increasing her levels by two as if fate itself favored her.
The women blinked, stunned. Could she really hold her own against a Sovereign Profound Realm cultivator?
But before Retsu could make a move, a cheerful voice cut through the tension.
"No, no, Retsu-chan… I'll handle this one!" Mio stepped forward, excitement bubbling in her eyes.
All eyes snapped toward her now.
"You should stay with Danna-sama," she added with a small grin, gesturing to the unconscious Yun Che. "He'll probably be cranky when he wakes up and finds out some big fish came flopping through the roof."
Retsu chuckled behind her veil, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips. "True, Yuu-kun does get pouty when he misses the action…"
"Mouuuu~!" Mio puffed her cheeks. "You forgot about me again!"
"Ara… did I?" Retsu teased, eyes narrowing playfully.
"Hmph! Everyone else got to fight, but not Mio~!" she pouted, lightly bouncing her fists up and down, her usual habit when sulking. "You got your turn in the arena already. It's my time to shine!"
The tension of impending conflict was almost comically interrupted by her cute frustration. But no one in that circle was laughing. Because they realized something far more terrifying than the Monarch overhead.
If Mio was confident enough to face him… then what kind of monsters had Yun Che surrounded himself with?
"Let me handle this…" Mio's voice dropped into a lower register, calm but ominous and creepy smile. The moment she spoke, her violet eyes gleamed, shifting with a spectral glow. Behind her, the ghostly image of a massive spider flickered into existence—its eight legs curled in menace, its eyes glowing with ethereal light.
An oppressive aura swept across the stage like a sudden gust of wind.
Even Retsu blinked in mild surprise, letting out a small sigh. When Mio's this excited, there's no stopping her. "Hai hai… please handle it, Mio-chan."
Cang Yue sweatdropped but managed a gentle smile. "Be careful, Mio-chan."
Nemu, ever stoic, simply nodded. "Mio-nee-sama… ganbarre."
Only Xue Ling, Lin Yueru and Jin Mulan gulped visibly, stepping back as the air around Mio seemed to shift, laced with a strange pressure. "Uhh… Is she always this… creepy?"
The rest merely sweatdropped, used to Mio's sudden shifts between adorable and downright terrifying.
Suddenly, with a soft shimmer of light, Mio's back ignited with energy.
FWOOOSH.
Two magnificent wings unfurled—elegant, luminous, and shaped like those of an enchanted butterfly. The Wings of the Ethereal Monarch. Threads of multicolored energy danced along their edges, each flutter seeming to ripple the very air around her.
Gasps echoed through the crowd as Mio slowly rose into the sky, her silhouette radiant against the heavens.
"She has wings…?!"
"What… what kind of wings are those?!"
From the center of the icy arena, Cang Wanhe stood, eyes wide. Even the seasoned guards around him couldn't hide their awe.
"She looks… like a spirit butterfly…" Feng Hanyue whispered in wonder.
The Frozen Cloud Asgard fairies watched in stunned silence. Retsu simply smiled under her veil, while Nemu's usually blank expression twitched into something close to admiration as her specially made wings for Mio looked beautiful.
Mio didn't rush. She fluttered gracefully, the wings trailing soft arcs of light in the sky, like a painting come to life.
In that moment, to the thousands watching below, she is mystical being rising to confront a Monarch—not with brute force, but with elegance that defied the very logic of the battlefield.
Then, without another word, Mio launched into the sky—her form cutting through the air like a shooting star.
The entire arena turned their heads in shock.
"What is that girl doing?!"
"Another Sky Profound Realm?! How many of them does the Blue Wind Imperial Family has?!"
Gasps and murmurs echoed across the stands as cultivators, nobles, and spectators alike watched the strange girl ascend toward a Monarch.
To many, it seemed like suicide.
But for those few who truly knew her?
They knew the real show was about to begin.
Chu Yueli couldn't suppress the unease rising within her chest as murmurs swept through the crowd. Whispers of the Butterfly Woman echoed like ripples in a storm.
She clenched her fists.
Just months ago, she had hovered on death's edge—and it was him who came to her rescue.
Now, they're threatened by a force no ordinary sect could resist, she couldn't lift a single finger to defend him. Her cultivation was too shallow. Her hands… too weak. If she acted now, she would only get in the way—and worse, she might expose emotions forbidden by her sect. Emotions she had buried deep beneath a frozen facade.
Then, someone else took to the sky.
A woman.
A stranger with wings like starlight.
Her presence shimmered like a mirage, but her intent… burned with conviction. Yueli's gaze narrowed. Who is this Mio? Why is she standing in his place? Why is she… part of his disciple's group? So close to Princess Cang Yue?
She swore then and there—she would find out.
In the air, Mio hovered with effortless grace, her veiled hat casting a shadow over her face. Her butterfly-shaped wings radiated with soft energy, gently flapping behind her like a celestial being descended from legend.
Ling Kun furrowed his brows as he rose to meet her level, flanking the furious elder from the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region.
"Girl... who are you? Why have you come?" Ling Kun asked, wariness laced in his voice. He recognized her—she had stood beside Princess Cang Yue before.
Mio tilted her head politely. Her voice, soft and melodic, echoed across the sky.
"Greetings… I know him. This person you seek. But may I ask first… what did he do to you?"
"HE MURDERED MY SON!!" Elder Doubtless roared, the skies trembling at the sound of his fury. His spiritual pressure surged like a mountain ready to collapse.
Even emperors would hesitate to challenge a man of his standing.
Mio's lips curled faintly under the veil. "Your son?"
Ling Kun answered for the furious elder. "Three months ago, his son led an expedition to seek the Moon Empress's legacy in this kingdom. The last imprint of his soul... showed an encounter with Dracule Mihawk. Moments later, he perished."
"Ara… is that so?" Mio mused. Her memory stirred—she recalled that day. A foolish group trying to claim ancient relics by force. The same group Yun Che had crushed with a pulse of Haoshoku no Haki that shattered minds. Retsu and Kon followed suit. She herself had taken down more than a few.
Perhaps… that was where this tale began.
Ling Kun narrowed his eyes. "You act as if you know this Mihawk…"
Mio turned toward them slowly, voice laced with dangerous sweetness.
"To be honest…" She paused.
"He wasn't the one who killed your son."
Both Ling Kun and Doubtless tensed.
"It was me."
Silence crashed across them.
"You…" Ling Kun's eyes widened. "Do you have any idea what you've just confessed to? You killed the son of a sword elder of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region?!"
"No," Mio said with a sigh, as if bored. She raised her head, veil fluttering.
"I don't care, actually."
"HAHAHAHA… IS THAT SO?!?" Doubtless's laughter cracked through the air like thunder, wild and unhinged. His eyes burned with bloodlust.
"Then should I kill you to bring him out?! A life for a life!!"
His profound energy flared violently, a tidal wave of raw Monarch power meant to crush anything beneath it. The air twisted under the pressure—stones cracked, weaker disciples fell to their knees—but Mio didn't so much as blink.
She let out a long, unbothered sigh.
"Ara... That reminds me. There were some stuck-up little boys who thought they could take his life back then…"
She trailed off with a wistful tone, completely ignoring his killing intent. "They died very badly. Hmm… were they part of some Heaven… Might…? What was the name again?"
She tilted her head playfully, looking at Doubtless as if he were a random bystander.
"You—! You dare not remember the name of our sacred region?!" Ling Kun growled through clenched teeth.
"You dare not know my name?!" Doubtless roared, veins popping at his temple.
"Nope."
Mio's smile widened beneath her veil, completely unfazed.
That was the last straw.
Doubtless erupted. His aura became a storm of sword intent, slashing through the air with enough force to leave rifts in space.
"You… YOU—HAHAHAHA!!! YOU DARE NOT KNOW WHO I AM?! I AM DOUBTLESS!!
THE LEGENDARY ELDER OF THE MIGHTY HEAVENLY SWORD REGION!!! I HAVEN'T FELT THIS ANGRY IN DECADES!!!
I WILL TORTURE YOU UNTIL HE SHOWS HIMSELF!!
MAYBE HE'LL CRAWL OUT IF I DEFILE YOU BEFORE KILLING YOU!!!"
The entire arena went deathly silent.
Retsu's eyes narrowed to slits.
Chu Yueli's body trembled with rage.
Xue Ling was already gripping her weapon.
Cang Yue's expression darkened, hands clenched at her side.
But Mio…
She didn't flinch. Not even a little.
"Doubtless? That's a weird name you've got there," she said with a half-laugh. "Sounds like someone trying too hard to sound important."
She placed a finger to her chin. "Ah—now I remember. Like I said earlier… I was the one who killed him. Your son, and a few others."
Doubtless froze. His expression twisted.
"YOU WHAT?!?!"
Mio raised one hand, reminiscing out loud.
"Hai~ You had the same smell as him. Arrogant. He tried swinging that oversized sword of his at me and my family, shouting about 'legacy' and 'divine right' or something."
She let out a mocking giggle. "So I shattered it. Snapped it in half. And then… well, splat."
"YOU?!?!" Doubtless roared again, his voice hoarse. "A MERE SKY PROFOUND REALM?! AN INSECT LIKE YOU KILLED HIM?!"
Mio exhaled dramatically, resting her hand on her hip.
"Mouuu... Why do you keep shouting like that? It's really annoying…"
"Good… very good…"
Doubtless sneered, voice dripping with venom. "After I kill you, I'll hunt him down. Accomplice or not—he'll pay."
He leaned in slightly, his killing intent surging. "I'll drag every last one of your precious family into the grave with you."
He never finished his sentence.
Suddenly, it felt like a mountain had dropped onto his back—cold, heavy, suffocating. He stiffened. Something was wrong. His instincts screamed. The entire arena became pressurized.
He turned slowly—too slowly.
The source of the dread wasn't a divine beast, nor an ancient Monarch.
It was the girl standing right in front of him.
Even Ling Kun pulled back.
Mio's head was tilted slightly. Her face shadowed by her veil. Her long bangs fell across her eyes, hiding her expression… but not for long.
When she lifted her gaze, her glowing golden-purple eyes locked with his through her veiled hat—and for the first time in decades, Doubtless felt fear.
Real fear.
It gripped his spine and iced his blood. "What… did you just say?"
Mio's voice was no longer airy and sweet. It was flat. Cold.
The smile that once graced her lips had twisted into a thin, shrinking line. Her brows lowered. Her head tilted ever so slightly, in a way that was more beast than human. Her aura, once playful and subdued, began to unravel.
Darkness slipped from her skin like tendrils—barely kept in check. The system that locked her true darkness stirred restlessly, holding back something far worse.
"Ara… You dare… threaten to kill my family?"
She took a step forward, each word like a blade.
"In front of me? You dare?"
Her power ignited.
A massive wave of spiritual pressure exploded outward, shaking the entire arena. Those watching gasped—some choking on their breath, others dropping to one knee. The elegant butterfly-winged woman had become something terrifying.
The wind howled. Her silken kimono flared wildly, caught in the storm of her rising cultivation. The golden-purple light of her eyes burned through the shadows.
On the ground, the crowd could barely breathe. "Th-That aura… she's not just Sky Profound… What is she?!"
Before the elder could react, he hurled a full-force punch—one backed by Monarch-level might—directly at her chest.
BAM!
It stopped. Dead.
Mio only raised a finger and blocked a monarch's punch with that finger.
As though he'd struck an unbreakable wall. His bones cracked.
His eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible…!"
Mio didn't flinch.
Her voice came low. Ice cold. "Shall I scatter your body across the land?"
Her hair swirled around her like a curtain of shadow. "It'll make good fertilizer."
She wasn't yelling. She didn't need to.
Her fury was deeper. Quieter. More terrifying.
And now, it had a target.
"YOU… YOU'RE JUST A MERE SKY PROFOUND REALM!" Doubtless roared in disbelief, voice trembling as he resisted the growing pressure before him.
Mio tilted her head slightly. Her veil fluttered in the wind, revealing the faint shimmer of her glowing eyes. "Sky Profound Realm?"
Her soft voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Who says?"
The moment she finished speaking, her cultivation surged like a tidal wave.
BOOM!
Her aura exploded outward like a supernova, washing over the arena in a pulse of raw, sovereign power. It wasn't just spiritual energy—it was dominion, pure and absolute.
Gasps erupted from the crowd. Even the distant sects watching through divine mirrors and artifacts felt it.
She wasn't a Sky Profound Master. Not even Tyrant Profound Master.
She was a Monarch as well.
A monarch in the Blue Wind Empire!
And not just that—Eighth Level Sovereign Profound Realm.
The disparity was so wide it felt unreal.
Doubtless' expression crumbled. His knees bent under the pressure, sweat pouring down his face as his own aura was swallowed whole. His breathing turned shallow.
He staggered.
And for the first time… he looked like a man who realized he'd made a fatal mistake.
Behind her, Mio's butterfly wings pulsed with spectral light. Her golden-purple eyes never blinked.
Down below, Retsu sighed softly. "Ara… Mio just went Yandere."
A few heads turned toward her.
"Yandere?" Cang Yue asked with a puzzled look. She'd once heard Yun Che mumble that word, but he never explained.
Retsu gave a slightly exasperated smile. "You don't want to know, Little Yue."
Nemu silently nodded in agreement beside her.
That was enough for Cang Yue. She decided some questions were better left unanswered.
The women of Frozen Cloud Asgard stood frozen in shock.
Especially Chu Yuechan.
She had known Yun Che and Retsu were abnormal—monsters hidden behind gentle eyes—but this? She remembered the time when they first clashed, when she had been the pinnacle of the Sky Profound Realm and still lost. Yun Che and Retsu had crushed her strength and then… elevated it.
Now she stood half a step into the Tyrant Profound Realm—along with her sister, thanks to their help.
But Mio?
She was no hidden prodigy.
She was a walking calamity.
A monarch… all this time?
Little Fairy's mind reeled. If Yun Che had Mio back at the basin… they would have never feared that Hollow Granz. In fact, it would have been Granz who begged for mercy.
He found her after she left them. Alongside Retsu's little sister, Nemu.
Just how many monsters has he surrounded himself with?
Where did he find these women?
Gong Yuxian, matriarch of Frozen Cloud Asgard, shared the same expression of disbelief.
Once, she had scoffed at Yun Che. A wandering boy, a "pig reaching for a swan." The boy who married the pearl of the Asgard.
Now?
He wasn't just powerful.
He had become a force that even Sacred Grounds had to acknowledge. He had women by his side whose mere presence could silence an empire. A man blessed by fate, talent, and companions alike.
And now, that man had brought someone like her into the Empire.
Someone whose strength alone eclipsed all four great sects combined.
Someone quietly observed the tournament, and she never knew her true power.
Doubtless was pale.
"E-Eighth level Sovereign Profound Realm…" he whispered like a dying prayer.
Ling Kun felt fear coursing through him. His jaw slackened. His voice caught in his throat. His knees shook. The air around him turned heavy, choking.
Doubtless—a First Level Sovereign Profound Realm—was nothing in front of her. His son? Nothing but a speck. A fool who tried to touch a star and got incinerated.
He began to doubt.
Doubt his strength. Doubt his pride. Doubt everything. Even doubt his name as Doubtless.
The irony bit deep.
His name was Doubtless.
But now?
He was anything but.
============
Uproar.
That was the only way to describe what happened next. From the highest stands to the outer ring of the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament arena, chaos broke loose.
Even outside the villa and into the profound display in the Blue Wind Imperial City.
All across the empire!
Whispers surged like wildfire through the crowd. Some people screamed in disbelief, others trembled in reverence.
A Monarch.
A Monarch had been spectating among them all this time.
And not just any monarch—a beautiful one, with ethereal butterfly-shaped wings, glowing softly with Spirit Ki and Sovereign Profound Realm's power.
A Monarch who just a few hours ago… was seen sitting on the tatami, chatting and smiling with the princess and her friends. Sometimes seen buying skewers from street vendors like a carefree traveler and even complimenting their taste.
Now?
That same woman stood in the sky, terrifying enough to shake a Sacred Ground elder to his core.
A Monarch Butterfly.
"She's… a Monarch…"
One disciple whispered, voice shaking.
"A Monarch within the Blue Wind Empire?"
"The Royal Family had a Monarch protecting them?"
Gasps and shock spread.
Even some of the seasoned elders of sects like Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan were left stunned. They had assumed the Royal Family was protected only by temporary flukes, like Yun Che's mysterious strength.
But this?
This was a seismic shift.
"The Princess…" Ling Yuefeng muttered.
"She has Dracule Mihawk as her master… Chu Yueli and Xue Ling as his wives… Nezuko as their child… and now a Monarch as her friend?"
"What kind of existence is she?"
"What kind of existence is he?"
Eyes began turning toward the unconscious Yun Che lying on Retsu's lap.
A man capable of drawing monsters and miracles to his side. A man who walked with women that could destroy nations. A man whose very presence was rewriting the balance of power in the continent.
Vendors who had once sold snacks to the mysterious veiled "butterfly lady" now stood slack-jawed. One old skewer vendor sat down heavily. "She… said my sauce was 'delectable'… I thought she was just completing…"
Others could only nod dumbly, still processing what they had just witnessed.
It didn't make sense.
That Monarch—no, that monster—had walked among them like a kitten, not a tiger.
Some began to remember: they'd seen her earlier that day. A veiled woman dressed in black, no aura, no pressure, just quietly trailing behind the princess and her group, carrying a skewer in each hand like a cat that had proudly discovered food.
She even hummed.
She hummed as she walked.
She sat at their tables. She fed a little girl from her lap. She even pouted when the princess and Retsu teased her. She was just… so ordinary. So harmless.
And yet…
Now?
Now, her mere presence was enough to bend the sky.
Some began to realize something else—an eerie detail many had overlooked.
Those few vendors who tried to scam her earlier, overpricing the skewers or switching out lower-quality meat? They had laughed it off when she walked away without saying a word.
But later?
They were found unconscious behind their stalls. No injuries. No signs of struggle. Just… collapsed.
They hadn't even realized they were targeted.
She smiled… and they fell.
And now, after seeing the pressure she casually exerted on an elder of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, people began to wonder—did she ever need to reveal her cultivation at all?
Or was her true cruelty hidden behind that veiled smile all along?
The Monarch Butterfly—once seen as an oddly sweet girl—now stood as a mystery wrapped in dread.
No one had suspected. Not once.
Even Xue Ling, Lin Yueru and Jin Mulan are unable to believe their eyes.
She had laughed, smiled, even pouted like a normal girl. Extremely childish with Yun Che. She had eaten street food, teased her friends, watched matches like a spectator.
She even cut fruits for all of them and prepared tea.
To Jin Mulan, she swallowed a mouthful of saliva as she picked a fight with Unohana Retsu and Mio that night. Unaware that Mio is a monarch in disguise. She wondered why she is still alive.
Now, her presence bent the sky, and a Sovereign-level cultivator trembled before her.
And above them all, Mio still hovered, her butterfly wings spread wide, glowing brighter than ever.
The Monarch Butterfly had spread her wings…
And the Empire would never forget this day.
Mio stood in the sky like a shadowed goddess, her aura flaring with restrained fury. Yet her voice remained flat, almost too calm.
"I was just accompanying my family… and you threatened them. I should kill you for that."
The words dropped like stone on still water.
Doubtless roared and lashed out, his rage boiling into action. He vanished in a flicker of light, reappearing around her in rapid succession, launching barrage after barrage of flying sword strikes.
But Mio didn't flinch.
She didn't even blink.
With each attack, she gently turned her body, slipping past them like she was dancing through raindrops. Her hands—coated with shimmering black Profound ki—casually swatted away the few strikes that got close, each parry effortless, unhurried, almost insultingly calm.
Doubtless growled in frustration and raised both arms, summoning the full might of a Monarch's sword intent. Thousands of sword lights exploded outward like a divine storm, screaming toward Mio with the force to tear mountains apart.
And then—she smiled.
Mio lifted a hand, and reality around her twisted.
A spatial rift bloomed into existence, a swirling mirror dimension enveloping her like a curtain of rippling glass. The incoming sword lights vanished into it—gone without a trace.
Then, behind Doubtless, another rift bloomed open.
His own sword lights erupted from behind him, screaming forward with the same murderous intent. His eyes widened in horror as dozens of blades impaled him—his own power turned traitor. Blood splattered in wild arcs as his body jerked and twisted under the assault.
He barely managed to hover, blood pouring from his mouth, disbelief plastered across his ruined face.
Mio floated toward him, her steps slow, deliberate.
And worst of all?
She hadn't even drawn her blade.
She hadn't needed Murakumogiri. She hadn't needed to raise her voice. She hadn't activated any grand technique.
She had watched, learned, and adapted.
Just like she did when Yun Che fought her inside the Dragon Trial… or when she sparred against Libra.
And now?
The legendary elder of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region was bleeding in the sky—cut down by a Monarch who didn't move a muscle.
The arena below had fallen into utter silence.
Tens of thousands of cultivators, nobles, disciples, and sect elders all stared skyward, their breaths caught in their throats. Even the emperors and sect masters could only watch—powerless spectators to a battle that transcended their world.
High above, amidst the clouds, the air quivered and split under the overwhelming pressure of two monarchs.
But what stunned everyone was not just the fight—it was who was fighting.
A woman.
A veiled beauty clad in simple black kimono, butterfly wings of glowing ethereal energy fluttering behind her like an enchantress born from myth. Her aura shone with the terrifying majesty of the Sovereign Profound Realm. And she—she was toying with a legendary elder of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region.
The once-mighty Doubtless, a terror known across the continent, was being overwhelmed. He conjured storms of sword light, divine techniques, and spatial force—but all of it was turned back on him. Not with brute strength, but with terrifying elegance.
The spectators couldn't even blink as the black-veiled woman opened space itself, diverting the elder's own attacks and feeding them back into his flesh.
"S-She's not just strong… she's a monster…" Ling Kun whispered, shattering the silence.
"A Monarch… she's truly a Monarch…"
"She was walking among us… she was buying skewers…"
Even Gong Yuxian and the high fairies of Frozen Cloud Asgard watched in stunned silence, unable to reconcile the gentle, polite woman they saw earlier with the cold, sovereign force floating in the sky.
Little Fairy's eyes trembled. She had always known Yun Che attracted extraordinary beings—but this?
This was something else entirely.
"HRAAAARGHHH!!!"
With a roar that shook the skies, Doubtless drew his weapon—a massive Overlord-class sword forged from rare celestial steel, a relic revered by many sects in the Blue Wind Empire. Its mere presence radiated killing intent and spiritual pressure. With a desperate, wrath-fueled cry, he swung it down toward the butterfly-winged monarch.
But Mio…
She didn't even flinch.
She didn't block. She didn't dodge. She simply stood there—expression bored beneath her veiled hat—as the blade crashed down on her.
CLANG!
A blinding flash of sparks burst from the impact, but the result shocked the world.
The blade bounced off.
Her kimono didn't even tear. Not a scratch, not a wrinkle. No blood. Nothing.
In truth, Mio had already disabled her Haki. She wanted to test something. And Yun Che had been right—her Body Cultivation alone, at the Eighth Level Sovereign Profound Realm, was absurdly effective. The sword barely tickled.
System notifications echoed in her mind like quiet chimes.
=================
[You received 7 EXP.]
[You received 6 EXP.]
[You received 8 EXP.]
===================
"…Tch. Boring," Mio sighed.
Then, with a flick of her wrist, she raised her hand—and slapped the blade.
SNAP!!
But it wasn't her fingers that broke.
The mighty Overlord Sword, once an object of reverence, shattered into splinters like brittle kindling. Metal exploded in all directions, the enchanted runes along its edge dying with a final flicker.
Doubtless was left holding a broken hilt, frozen mid-swing, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Mio, without even glancing at him, muttered, "Didn't your parents teach you not to swing toys at strangers?"
The crowd fell into a stunned silence.
Not a whisper. Not a gasp. Just open mouths and wide eyes.
First, it was Yun Che, who casually broke three Sky Profound Realm weapons like they were sticks.
Then Princess Cang Yue, under his tutelage, shattered one herself—shocking the sect elites.
And now… this mysterious woman in black, cloaked in veils and butterfly wings…
She snapped an Overlord-level sword with a slap.
A would-be priceless treasure of the Blue Wind Kingdom, revered by masters and coveted by sects… reduced to scrap metal with a single, disinterested motion. No weapon. No technique. Just raw power—and disdain.
"D-Did she just… break an Overlord weapon… with her bare hand?" someone finally muttered in disbelief.
"She's not even using a weapon…"
"She didn't even try. It was like swatting a fly…"
"She's… she's not human, right?"
Even the sect elders found themselves speechless. Some of them had seen Monarchs before—but none who fought like this. Mio didn't dominate the battlefield… she owned it. The fight wasn't even a contest. It was a slow execution.
SLAP!!
SLAP!!
SLAP!!!
The thunderous sound of open-palmed impact echoed across the arena like war drums. Every spectator flinched with each hit as Mio, the veiled butterfly monarch, relentlessly slapped the Sovereign Profound Realm cultivator left and right like he owed her lunch money.
"Stop!" Ling Kun shouted but she ignored him.
She held him effortlessly by the collar, his body limp like a ragdoll, eyes spinning, mouth drooling. His once dignified, arrogant expression was now buried beneath purple bruises, swelling cheeks, and an ever-growing sense of public humiliation.
Even the sect masters and monarchs watching from afar… gulped.
"Is she… really slapping another Monarch?"
"She's not even fighting! What the hell?!"
"Dear heavens… Is this what a monarch in a bad mood looks like?!"
One elder quietly whispered, "I'd rather face a spirit beast in heat than that girl right now…"
Meanwhile, Cang Yue gently turned away, unsure whether to be horrified or cheer.
Chu Yueli nearly pitied the man—nearly.
Retsu just covered Nemu's eyes with a sigh. "Ara… that's not very ladylike, Mio-chan."
"Data collected," Nemu said flatly, still peeking through her beloved sister's fingers.
Finally, with one last ringing SLAP, Mio stopped. She released the now thoroughly punished elder, letting him fall and Ling Kun caught him. His face was swollen, discolored, and streaked with blood and tears—his pride obliterated.
Then, Mio smiled under her veil as if she just vented out her stress.
"Now, I feel better."
A breeze fluttered past. No one dared to move.
Even the wind knew better than to cross her.
"You… you…" Doubtless coughed blood, his body trembling from the pain and humiliation. "If you kill me… our region won't let this go!"
Mio's gaze sharpened slightly, her butterfly wings slowly fanning behind her like a phantom omen. Without a hint of urgency, she let out a bored sigh and activated her Haki, her eyes glowing with faint purple-gold light as she scanned him thoroughly.
"…Ara," she murmured, her tone flat and unimpressed. "A soul imprint, hmm? How troublesome."
Doubtless, grinning through cracked lips, spat blood to the side. "Hahaha… You figured it out. That's right. If you kill me, they'll know. The moment I die, they'll sense it—and your little kingdom will be turned to ash. You can't touch me."
But Mio simply tilted her head, not even blinking.
"But…" she mused softly, vanishing and reappearing right in front of him, wings fluttering ominously behind her like some dark fae queen, "what if no one ever knows where you died?"
Doubtless blinked. "What do yo—"
Before he could finish, her finger calmly pointed to the center of his forehead.
================
[Request to system: Disable Soul Imprint]
================
Normally, such soul imprints were irreversible. Only cultivators with overwhelming soul strength or divine intervention could sever them. But this was no ordinary case—this was Mio, a system-backed anomaly and half a realm stronger than her opponent.
===================
[Ding… Soul Imprint disabled.]
===================
"See?" she said sweetly from behind her veil, the chill in her voice far colder than the northern winds. "That was easy."
Doubtless's expression broke. "Y-you… how?! What kind of monster are you?!"
Mio simply gave a soft chuckle and leaned in ever so slightly.
"I'm the butterfly monster that protects her family."
"Why don't you fly for a change?" Mio said softly, ignoring Doubtless's last desperate question.
Then, without a second's warning, she hurled him into the air with a single hand, her Monarch-level strength launching him like a ragdoll into the sky. Wind howled in his ears as he spun helplessly, the world beneath him a blur.
"W-Wait!! Lady Butterfly!! Please don't kill him!!" Ling Kun shouted, lunging forward.
CRACK!
He was immediately intercepted as Mio slammed her palm into his chest, knocking the breath and fight out of him. He crumpled backward, collapsing like a sack of stones.
Her golden-purple eyes flicked upward again, gaze cold.
With graceful ease, she formed a glowing ki sphere in her palm—dense, pulsing with tightly-packed destruction. A flick of her wrist, and it flew upward like a comet.
Moments later, the skies above erupted in a bright flash.
The entire arena fell into dead silence.
No ashes fell. No body dropped. There was simply… nothing. The sword elder had been completely erased. It seemed, in the end, he'd be reuniting with his son far sooner than expected.
Mio exhaled slowly, lowering her hand. She didn't look triumphant—only mildly inconvenienced.
'Tch… I considered letting him go,' she thought to herself, 'but he would've just brought more trouble. Killing him is trouble too… maybe I'll ask Danna-sama to make this go away. Again.'
'Ufuu, he won't deny a darling request from his cutest future wife. Hehehe'
A soft ding rang in her mind.
==================
[Ding… Congratulations. You have reached Level 99.]
==================
Mio pouted under her veil, her mood dropping a bit.
"Mouu… just one more level…" she mumbled.
Despite now being the second-strongest in the kingdom—surpassed only by Libra—she still wasn't satisfied. She wanted to be first.
But, she can achieve level 100 first.
'Maybe I can ask for extra meals from Danna-sama, ehehehe'
The butterfly monarch flared her wings once, casting a long shadow over the stunned arena below.
Her form fluttered in the air like a divine sovereign—elegant, untouchable, and utterly terrifying.
Xia Yuanba stood frozen, unable to believe what he was seeing. And he wasn't the only one.
Mai, the restaurant owner, recalled with wide eyes the very same girl slumped over her counter a week ago, whining about being too hungry to move along with her monster party. That girl—Mio—was now floating above them like a monarch of heaven and death.
Cang Wanhe's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. The sweet, soft-spoken girl who laughed with his daughter and played with palace maids… a Monarch? All this time, they had a Monarch strolling through the royal halls like a petal on the wind?
Monsters. Truly monsters. That was the only thing Ling Wugou could think.
A Monarch had been sitting among them this entire time—just to watch Yun Che's group in the tournament?
Ling Yuefeng's face had turned pale, lips trembling. He had nearly brought about his sect's downfall… by trying to kidnap Cang Yue. If the Butterfly Monarch had shown up instead of the Chu sisters, there wouldn't be ashes left of him. Even his usually unflinching son, Ling Yun, was now visibly shaking. He had tried to flirt with the Monarch. To steal her.
Fen Juecheng looked like he'd seen a ghost. His clan had once schemed to humiliate and control Cang Yue. But if they had even so much as breathed wrong in Mio's presence… the Burning Heaven Clan might already be gone.
Gong Yuxian was just as stunned. The black-clad woman in the butterfly veil, so polite and unassuming—this was the same person? They always knew Yun Che's group defied convention, but a Monarch? A real Monarch? Most sects would sell their souls to have one in their ranks. The appearance of such a being should have instantly crowned her faction the number one force in the empire.
But Mio hadn't even claimed that power. She'd simply erased another Monarch from existence with a single shot.
Offending the sacred ground like they were nothing.
And now?
Now every sect leader in the arena knew what was coming. Countless factions would flock to her, eager to curry favor. Her name would spread like wildfire. Not just the Butterfly Monarch—but as the Lady Butterfly.
Gong Yuxian's eyes then shifted toward the Chu sisters—Chu Yueli and Chu Yuechan—both standing beside among the fairies of the Asgard watching the battle.
They're her friends… that means they're connected to the Monarch.
She clenched her fan thoughtfully.
This is an opportunity.
If she could secure a true alliance through her daughters—especially with Retsu also tied to Mio's group—it could elevate Frozen Cloud Asgard to the pinnacle of the Blue Wind Empire. With Mio as their ultimate backing, not even the Sacred Grounds would dare lay a hand on them.
Moreover, she remembered Retsu offered an alliance through her and Cang Yue.
And so, as the smoke of obliteration still lingered in the sky, political gears had already begun to turn below.
"Lady Butterfly! Why did you have to kill him?!" Ling Kun shouted, flying back toward Mio in desperation, his voice tinged with panic after failing to stop her from eliminating Doubtless.
Mio turned her head slightly, her butterfly wings fluttering gently behind her like ripples on a tranquil lake. Her tone, however, was anything but calm.
"Huh? He threatened my family. Death was a mercy." she huffed, voice laced with venom.
"You…" Ling Kun clenched his fists, his teeth grinding as anger and fear battled within him.
Mio tilted her head, her golden-violet eyes gleaming beneath her veil. "Maybe… you want me to wipe you out too?" she asked sweetly, her voice soft like a lullaby—and just as deadly.
Ling Kun's eyes widened in pure terror. His strength left him all at once as he dropped to his knees midair and slammed his forehead against the sky-platform. Bang! The sight of the dreaded elder kowtowing in front of her left the entire arena in stunned silence.
"Or maybe I should just destroy this villa," Mio added coldly, raising her right hand as energy gathered and pulsed like a miniature sun in her palm. She casually pointed it toward the main mansion of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region.
"Wait!" Another figure shot into the sky. Ling Yuefeng, sect master of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, flew up and bowed deeply in the air.
Then he did the unthinkable.
He dropped into a full kowtow, forehead pressed to the sky, his proud body trembling as he spoke in a low, humbled voice. "Please… forgive this lowly sect master. We were blind. We did not know true power stood before us."
The audience below—thousands strong—gasped collectively.
Two of the most feared figures in the entire Blue Wind Empire… kneeling.
Before her.
Before the Butterfly Monarch.
She had killed one of the Sovereign Sword Elders of the Sacred Ground, and now, two of the highest-ranking figures of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region were bowing their heads before her.
In that moment, Mio didn't just earn respect—she carved her name into the empire's foundations.
Even Cang Wanhe, still standing on the icy arena, muttered under his breath, "This woman… she's more than just a monarch. She's a queen without a throne."
And in the eyes of every sect present, one truth became very clear.
The Butterfly Monarch was untouchable.
==========================
Mio sighed softly, descending slowly onto the frost-covered arena floor like falling snow. Her expression was flat—neither pleased nor triumphant. Elder Doubtless hadn't even been a challenge.
Was this it?
Have I grown… so strong that Monarch-level opponents no longer feel like a threat?
She glanced at her palm, still faintly glowing from the energy blast she'd unleashed. Not a drop of blood stained her kimono. Not even her sleeves were ruffled. The excitement she had once felt during battle… was gone.
Up above, Ling Yuefeng hovered stiffly, swallowing what remained of his pride. The moment had spiraled far beyond his control. A battle between monarchs had erupted under his watch—and he'd been utterly powerless to stop it. Now, Elder Doubtless was gone, reduced to dust by the Butterfly Monarch's hand.
He bit his lip. The Heavenly Mighty Sword Region would demand answers, and he would have to provide them. But as he stared at Mio, still descending in eerie silence, he made a mental note:
Never offend this woman. Not unless you have a death wish.
Just then, Mio blinked in surprise.
A familiar warmth pulsed in her chest. She glanced inward as the [System] notifications chimed silently in her mind.
She had forgotten—she'd absorbed a massive amount of energy from Yun Che. Her experience bar had been nearly full. A few more slaps, a few more moves… and now—
She was leveling up.
A brilliant pulse of energy burst from her core. Her butterfly wings fluttered wide as her aura surged outward in a glorious explosion of light and pressure.
The sky above rippled.
The arena below shook.
All cultivators present—including the most seasoned sect elders—gasped and instinctively stepped back.
"She's breaking through…!"
"At the very end of the battle—she broke through?!"
"Heavens… Ninth Level Sovereign Profound Realm… that's not something even the Sacred Grounds produce easily!"
Mio landed softly, the shockwaves settling like ripples across a quiet pond. Her eyes shimmered with the power of her advancement.
No wild celebration. No roar of triumph.
Mio floated gently down to the center of the stage, the soft flutter of her butterfly wings trailing behind her. The entire arena remained deathly silent—too stunned to even murmur.
She didn't care.
She paid no mind to the thousands of eyes staring at her, nor the Monarch-level aura still swirling faintly around her like a storm held barely in check. Completely unfazed, she adjusted her sleeves with a casual hum.
"That felt better," she said, more to herself than anyone else.
Retsu appeared at her side with a resigned sigh. "Mio-chan… Yuu-kun did say to keep a low profile."
"Oh dear," Mio replied, blinking innocently. "Well… nothing we can do about that now, right?"
"Tch…" Retsu could only shake her head. At this point, what could they do?
Near them, Cang Wanhe took a hesitant step forward. His face was pale, his crown slightly askew from leaning forward so much. He didn't know whether to bow, kneel, or flee.
"L-Lady Mio… this humble one…"
Mio turned her gaze toward him and smiled gently beneath her veil. With a casual wave of her hand, she said, "No need for formalities, Your Majesty. I'm still just your guest. Mio. One of Yue'er's besties."
Cang Wanhe blinked. Just a guest?
She vaporized a Monarch in front of a stadium of people!
But he nodded respectfully, not daring to argue.
"You caused quite a ruckus, Mio-chan," Retsu said again, her tone a little sharper.
"Teehee~" Mio rubbed the back of her head, grinning like a child who just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "Maybe just a tiny one."
Everyone around her could only stare. The sweet, soft-spoken girl who once slumped across food stalls whining about hunger… had just established herself as one of the most terrifying existences in the entire empire.
And yet, she still acted like none of it mattered.
"Grab—"
Clank!
"What did I say about causing problems for Yuu-kun?" Retsu's voice was calm—too calm—as her fingers expertly latched onto Mio's head through the veil with her signature iron claw.
"Itai… Itaiii… Ret-chan! You're crushing my head!" Mio pouted beneath her veil, flailing lightly like a child caught in mischief.
The crowd blinked.
Was this the same Butterfly Monarch who vaporized a Monarch elder minutes ago?
Yet here she was, being disciplined like a wayward child.
Every sect master, disciple, and elder in the arena could only gape as Retsu—gentle, soft-spoken Retsu—manhandled a Monarch like it was routine. If she could do that to someone like Mio… then who exactly was Unohana Retsu?
Even Yuanba unconsciously shivered.
"D-Don't mess with Aneki," he mumbled to himself.
Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan quietly swallowed their breath. If Mio was terrifying, then Retsu was the hidden hand behind the storm.
"As long as you understand," Retsu sighed, letting go of Mio's head and straightening her sleeve with elegance. "We're leaving. Too many eyes are watching."
Without another word, she took Yun Che's left arm. Mio snatched the right with a gleeful grin.
Then Retsu extended her own set of wings—radiant and majestic. A proud gift from her beloved sister.
With Yun Che between them, the two women lifted into the air, silent as dusk. Nemu and Cang Yue activated their own wings beside them—Nemu still using the delicate Wings of First Flight, her form poised like a painted swan.
As for Cang Yue, she now used the new wings given to her by Nemu.
Yuanba, looking serious for once, scooped up Mai and rose as well with his own wings.
Nezuko floated soon after—then, two more Nezukos followed behind, one of them carrying Mei in her arms.
"THREE of her?!"
The crowd was on the brink of panic.
"Please excuse us, Father. We will meet you back at the ark." Cang Yue called respectfully, bowing midair, her silken wings catching the wind. Nemu bowed beside her, just as graceful.
One by one, more girls joined them.
Xue Ling.
Lin Yueru.
Jin Mulan.
Each extended their newly acquired wings from Nemu and took to the skies, still unfamiliar with flying using them but they're able to manage after a quick tutorial back in the seating zone.
A flock of celestial warriors, silent yet radiant, leaving the arena like gods ascending.
Even Emperor Cang Wanhe stood there dumbstruck, only able to let out a heavy sigh before being lifted by his Imperial Protectors. Qin Wushang and Dongfang Xiu followed suit, their faces pale, their minds overwhelmed.
They could not remain—not after that.
Only Frozen Cloud Asgard remained rooted in place on the arena. And all they could do was stare at the heavens, haunted by a single question:
Who was the man that Xia Qingyue married... to gather monsters like that around him?
As for the people of the Blue Wind Empire, this day would forever be etched into history—not as the day of a simple tournament, but as the day the sky split open and legends descended.