ERA OF DESTINY-Chapter 144: DAY 3: PURGE OF WAR–A FORCED DELUSION– I

Kiaria entered the Pseudo Palace.

The moment he stepped inside, he felt it–every presence had withdrawn inward.

Everyone had returned to cultivate.

Everyone–except her.

Diala stood near the palace hall entrance, restless fingers clenched at her side. The instant Kiaria appeared, all restraint vanished. She walked toward him faster without hesitation, stopping only when she stood right before him.

"Did you finish?" she asked.

Her voice came out faster than she intended, concern surfacing before control.

"Yes," Kiaria replied calmly. "Everything is set. Just as planned."

For a brief moment, neither spoke.

Their gazes locked–not searching, not questioning–simply confirming that the other stood unharmed before them.

Diala was the first to look away.

"You shouldn’t have waited for me," Kiaria said quietly. "What if something unexpected happened? Tomorrow requires clarity. If you exhaust yourself–"

"I wasn’t cultivating anyway," she interrupted softly. "How could I, when you were still out there?"

Kiaria exhaled, helplessness flickering across his expression. "You trust me that little?"

"I trust you completely," Diala replied. "That’s exactly why I waited."

Silence fell again.

Somewhere within the palace, a faint ripple stirred.

"Ahem."

The deliberate cough echoed far louder than necessary.

Princess Lainsa slowly opened one eye, dispelling the illusion of her cultivation posture. She leaned slightly to one side, lips curved in unmistakable amusement.

"So," she said casually, "am I interrupting something? Or should I pretend to cultivate a little longer?"

Both Kiaria and Diala froze.

"Big Sister–!" Kiaria started.

Diala’s face flushed instantly as she turned away. "It’s not what you think." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Lainsa laughed softly. Not mockery–fondness. "Relax. I was watching the whole time. You two are far too honest to hide anything anyway."

She stretched lazily before standing. "Honestly, it’s cute. And before you glare at me, Kiaria–I tease because I care. War comes tomorrow. I’d rather you walk into it with your heart steady than buried in awkward silence."

Kiaria shook his head helplessly. "You’re impossible."

Princess smiled, satisfied.

"Anyway," Kiaria asked, regaining composure, "where is Fairy Fu Cai?"

"She’s inside the Ghost Prison domain," Princess replied. "Watching Ru and Yi process the Spore Balls."

Kiaria nodded.

"Tomorrow," he said evenly, "we must ensure there are no deaths–neither theirs nor ours. If even one dies, conflict becomes inevitable and the damage will spiral beyond control."

He turned to Princess Lainsa.

"Big Sister, I hope you’ll refine your skills tonight. We may need them."

"You don’t need to worry about us," Princess replied. "Our concern is you."

She studied him carefully.

"You planned everything alone. If something goes wrong... can you shoulder the consequences?"

"If battle becomes inevitable," Kiaria said without pause, "and they value madness over life, then they will die by my hand."

Princess nodded slowly.

"Alright. We won’t stop you. We’ll support you no matter what."

Kiaria turned to Diala. "Get some rest. Both of you."

Only after they nodded did he head toward the Ghost Prison.

–

Inside the Ghost Prison domain, the air was thick with refining. Thousands of newly completed Spore Balls suspended around Ru and Yi in orderly clusters. Their movements were precise, methodical, uninterrupted.

"Greetings, Patron," they said together.

Kiaria inclined his head.

"Good. Continue."

He turned to Fairy Fu Cai.

"Fairy Fu Cai," Kiaria said, "I recovered something earlier. Can you identify it?"

He revealed the seed.

Her eyes settled on it instantly, without surprise.

"This is a World Tree seed," she said. "One of the rarest existences. Nearly unique."

She glanced at him.

"I wondered why you were able to use Earth Elemental authority so profoundly. Now I have my answer."

"Please enlighten me," Kiaria said politely.

"You bear the Five Elemental Bloodlines–Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Life," Fu Cai explained. "I confirmed your Fairy Nature Essence affinity when I observed your movement techniques."

Kiaria nodded.

"The Earth element honors Fairy Nature Essence as a royal inheritance," she continued. "Anything aligned with the Five Elements naturally recognizes you."

She studied the seed again.

"The World Tree is extremely difficult to nurture. Even more difficult to convert into a bloodline. Your meridians circulate energy seventy-two times per cycle, but that is still insufficient."

She looked at him seriously.

"Until your major and minor meridians expand and strengthen further, this seed will remain dormant. It acknowledged you on its own. Why–I don’t know. But once acknowledged, it cannot be stolen."

Kiaria listened without interruption.

"After the Saint Realm comes the Fairy Realm," Fu Cai continued, "and then the Celestial Realm. The World Tree allows comprehension of Creation-based laws after reaching Celestial. But reaching that realm is nearly impossible."

She paused.

"That’s what my master taught me."

"I understand," Kiaria said. "Thank you."

He looked at her again.

"Tomorrow, I’ll need your help with something."

He leaned closer and whispered.

Fu Cai smiled faintly.

"No problem," she replied. "That’s an easy task."

Kiaria left Ghost Prison and sat on his throne.

He closed his eyes.

His consciousness slipped into the Void Ring Space.

The Obsidial Diamond-built empire stood in eternal silence, its colossal structures reflecting dim astral light. At the highest terrace, a throne awaited–unmoved, unquestioning.

Kiaria took his seat.

Across from him stood the Yaksha Queen, flanked by her most trusted strategists. Maps of spiritual terrain unfolded in midair, layered with troop formations, probability routes, and contingency threads.

No words were wasted.

Strategies were refined. Variables were accounted for. Countermeasures adjusted. Mercy thresholds calculated.

Hours passed unnoticed.

By the time the meeting concluded, night had deepened beyond the Void Ring’s artificial horizon.

Kiaria descended from the terrace and walked into the Disciplinary Hall of the War Council.

Below him, the entire Yaksha Army stood assembled–rows upon rows of disciplined warriors, their auras restrained yet burning.

The moment he appeared, they knelt.

"Rise," Kiaria commanded.

They obeyed as one.

He spoke then–not loudly, not with embellishment–but with the weight of absolute authority. He explained the coming conflict. The purpose of restraint. The cost of impulsive slaughter. The necessity of control.

When he finished, silence lingered.

"My King," a voice called out.

Kiaria’s gaze shifted to the left wing.

An elite battalion leader stepped forward, fist pressed to his chest. "Why not simply kill them all? Why show mercy to those who trespass and provoke war?"

Kiaria looked at him calmly.

"What is your name?"

"Rok, my King. Commander of the Left Wing."

"Rok," Kiaria said, "if I had killed you during the assessment day... would your family be as happy as they are today?"

Rok stiffened, then answered without hesitation.

"My King, if my death came from my own impulsiveness and ignorance, then the suffering of my family would also be my responsibility. I would deserve it."

Kiaria nodded slowly.

"You are not wrong," he said. "But ask your family their opinion. After the war, return and answer me again."

He paused.

"If your answer remains the same, the first head of the enemy will be presented to me by your hand."

Rok knelt deeply. "My King... forgive my impulsiveness. I will obey."

Kiaria swept his gaze across the army.

"Now," he said, "come at me together."

The night became training.

Kiaria personally guided them–correcting stances, refining control, breaking flaws without mercy. Spiritual clashes echoed until dawn brushed the Void Ring horizon.

Only then did he open his eyes.

–

Morning.

The Pseudo Palace was already awake.

Everyone stood prepared.

Kiaria felt the exhaustion settle into his bones. He had depleted immense spiritual energy through the night.

He sat cross-legged upon his throne.

A milky-white monochrome mist emanated from his forehead, wrapping around him; circulated, repairing microfractures, replenishing essence, stabilizing his spirit.

When the mist receded, Kiaria rose–hovering in midair.

A whisper reached him through spiritual transmission.

The Evil Spider.

Kiaria smiled faintly.

"So," he said, "it begins."

He looked at his companions. "The enemy has sent a pre-war call. Let’s go. Everyone is already waiting."

–

They arrived at the market area.

All tribes and association members had gathered near the entrance formation. The atmosphere was tense–suppressed grief mixed with restrained fury.

At the center, association members knelt on one knee.

Before them lay a young man.

Severely injured. Meridians shattered. Life barely clinging–fifteen minutes at most.

Kiaria descended.

Every tribe knelt immediately, bowing deeply.

He landed.

White monochrome light spread outward from Kiaria’s cape.

It gently lifted every bowed figure upright.

Kiaria raised two fingers toward the dying man.

Princess Lainsa mirrored him.

Monochrome mist entered the young man’s body, stabilizing organs and suppressing collapse.

At the same time, Princess raised a single finger.

A thread-thin translucent vine–an Anatomy Chrysanthemum stem–emerged from her finger, piercing the ground. It traveled underground, entered through the man’s wrist vein, and spread through his body.

It reached all ten awakened meridians.

They were broken–but not destroyed.

The vine wove, repaired, reinforced.

Ten minutes passed.

Princess extracted the DuPo poison. The vine carried it back.

With a wave of her hand, a chrysanthemum bloomed midair. The poison fell onto it.

The flower withered. Eroded. Vanished.

Kiaria ceased the healing mist.

The man opened his eyes.

He saw a God-like person near him.

He saw his parents.

"Father... Mother... this is–?"

"Bei Tian," his father said with trembling reverence, "he is our Lord God. He saved you."

Bei Tian’s pupils shrank.

He sprang up and knelt before Kiaria, kowtowing repeatedly.

"God! I don’t know how or why–but please! Save my brothers! I beg you!"

Kiaria said nothing.

He returned to his companions.

"As planned yesterday," he said, "three of you follow me. The rest stay here. Protect them."

They stepped through the entrance formation.

Appeared outside fortress.

The vast Dandelion-Feather Land lying ahead of them.

Kiaria looked forward planning to walk through.

But–

Within the spatial ring, the World Tree seed pulsed.

Two waves spread outward.

Across Dandelion-Feather Land, the vast field split apart on its own, forming a clear path.

Even Kiaria paused.

"...Thank you," he murmured–to the land, and to the seed.

They vanished.

When they reappeared, it was only a mile away from enemy territory.

The moment their feet touched the ground, Kiaria turned back and looked at Diala and Princess Lainsa. As he spoke, Spore Balls slipped soundlessly from his ring, falling into the land. The earth accepted them without resistance like the past night.

"Big Sister. Dia," Kiaria said calmly.

"Both of you stay here. Fairy Fu Cai and I will meet them in person."

Diala nodded. "Alright. Be careful."

Kiaria returned the nod.

He then leaned closer to Princess and whispered a few words. Her expression shifted–subtle, sharp, understanding.

Without further delay, Kiaria turned.

At the Yaksha Queen’s silent action, space tore open.

A rift formed–smooth, controlled, and precise.

Kiaria and Fairy Fu Cai stepped into it.

–

They emerged inside the enemy camp.

The shielding formation remained intact. No alarms were triggered. No defensive response activated.

The rift had opened directly within their buffer zone.

Kiaria took a single step forward–

Before any patrol could notice.

Before any shout could be raised.

His foot descended.

In that instant, the entire Yaksha Tribe’s cultivated pressure poured down through him and crashed upon the camp like a descending sky.

The result of a whole night of discipline and synchronization.

Campfires extinguished in unison.

Tents shuddered.

Knees slammed into the ground.

Breathing became a struggle.

Kiaria’s Patron Purification skill flowed simultaneously, cleansing the pressure of all Yaksha traces–no source, no signature, no trail to follow.

Only domination remained.

"Yaksha Queen," Kiaria ordered through the black ring, voice steady,

"Which tribe is this? Tell me everything."

Inside the ring, the Yaksha Tribe remained concealed.

"The guarding half-bloods are from the Shu Earth Elemental branch," the Yaksha Queen replied.

"The training and patrol battalions belong to the Shu Fire branch."

Kiaria eased the pressure–just enough to allow breath.

Three groups moved forward.

The Elders of Shu Fire, Water, and Earth.

"The Shu Tribe is part of the Rat lineage," the Yaksha Queen added.

"They are untrustworthy. They only respect strength."

Kiaria’s pupils shifted.

A monochrome hue spread through them.

He looked down at the leaders.

Every single Shu Elder dropped to their knees and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, God and Goddess," they said in unison.

Kiaria did not respond.

Silence stretched.

The chill from the earlier pressure had already rooted itself in their hearts. Now, uncertainty crept in–far more terrifying than force.

Fairy Fu Cai watched from the side, eyes sharp.

Per her master Lord Fushan’s order, she was not intervening–only observing. She recorded every action, every pause, every deliberate omission.

So this is how mortals wield authority, she thought.

The Shu Elders exchanged glances.

"What are you staring at?" the Shu Fire Elder snapped at the others, masking his unease.

"Can’t you see we have honored guests? Arrange proper quarters. Prepare a feast immediately."

No response.

Kiaria stood unmoving.

His expression remained unreadable. Neither approval nor rejection surfaced.

Even Fairy Fu Cai felt a strange tightening in her chest.

The Shu Elders looked at Kiaria again.

They still couldn’t tell.

The silence pressed harder than any technique.

"L-Lord..." the Shu Fire Elder finally spoke, voice unsteady,

"if there is something you wish to say... please speak openly. Your silence is... chilling us."

Kiaria’s gaze remained fixed.

Unblinking.

Unyielding.

The forced delusion had begun.