Chapter 3

3.

A wave of blinding fury and terror engulfed my chest.

My father had sacrificed half his cultivation to save Kieran, and I had bled myself dry for him.

Yet this ungrateful monster had repaid our kindness by draining my father’s life force!

I clamped my mouth shut, forced myself not to scream, and retreated quietly to my room.

I knew I had to stay calm.

Without any magical power, I couldn't confront them or avenge my father.

If I wanted revenge, I had to break the curse of my pure mana body and unlock my cultivation!

I buried myself in ancient grimoires, searching desperately for a method to store mana.

Eventually, I discovered that an ancient dungeon holding primordial relics might grant me the miracle I needed.

When my Elders found out I wanted to go, they insisted on accompanying me, but I turned them down because the Order needed them.

Instead, my Elders and martial brothers loaded my spatial bag with high-grade protective artifacts.

Right before I departed, Kieran suddenly approached me.

“Your father saved my life, and I can't let you die in the ruins,” he said smoothly. “I will go with you.”

He slipped the Phoenix Bracelet onto my wrist and hid inside its inner space.

Rachel smiled sweetly, holding my hands. “Senior Sister, you helped Kieran with his rebirth, so it’s only natural for us to protect you.”

I stood frozen, not daring to refuse.

I feared they would silence me if they realized I knew the truth, and I wanted to see what game they were playing.

I assumed that under the watchful eyes of my fellow disciples, they wouldn't dare make a reckless move.

I never imagined they would be so utterly depraved.

The moment we entered the dungeon, Kieran used a poisonous miasma to separate me from my companions, ambushed me from behind, and dragged me into the bracelet’s inner void.

“Hazel, paving the road to godhood for my Rachel is the greatest honor of your miserable life!”

He tossed me into a searing alchemy furnace and roasted me with Phoenix True Fire for forty-nine days straight.

In those agonizing final moments, I finally understood his plan.

He needed my pure mana body, combined with Phoenix True Fire and essence blood, to brew the Divine Pill that would grant Rachel godhood.

Right before my soul dissolved into ashes, I looked at Kieran’s pale face with nothing but pure hatred and regret.

I regretted feeding him my heart’s blood, and I regretted picking that Flame Lotus for him.

Refining a pure mana body required near-godly strength. By forcibly doing so, Kieran severely crippled his own potential and halved his lifespan.

He willingly destroyed his own future just to push Rachel to the throne of godhood.

What a sickening, twisted display of true love.