They stepped through a private transit array, and the scenery shifted from the bureaucratic ivory of the capital to a more rugged, untamed grandeur. This was Isabella’s personal estate—a sprawling fortress-palace of white stone nestled against the jagged peaks of the Eastern Frontier.

"I prefer it here," Isabella said, walking toward a wide, open-air balcony that overlooked a massive expanse of dark, misty forests and towering peaks. "My father’s palace has too many eyes. Here, the air is sharper, and the rules are... flexible."

She pointed a gloved finger toward a distant, purple-hued mountain range that pierced the clouds like broken teeth. "Do you see those mountains, Ethan? That is the Border of Sorrows. It marks the edge of our kingdom and the beginning of the Crimson Sect’s outer territories. That range is a ’Free Field.’ My garrison stays to the north to guard the main passes, and the Sect stays to their own side, but the valley in between is a lawless zone."

She turned to him, a dangerous glint in her golden eyes. "Small sects and Crimson disciples often go there to hunt spirit beasts or gather rare herbs. Since it’s a disputed territory, my guards don’t report what happens in those shadows. If you ever feel the need to... release some tension, you understand?"

Ethan’s heart gave a cold thrum. She wasn’t just giving him a view; she was giving him a license to hunt. She was offering him the chance to slaughter Crimson members without diplomatic consequences.

"I understand, Major," Ethan replied, his voice low. "Thank you for your ’care.’ I will find a way to repay this grace."

Isabella stepped closer, her fingers trailing lightly over the lapel of his uniform. "Oh, you’ll repay me, handsome. But it’s a bit early for that."

The blatant coquetry made Ethan’s heart race. Within his core, the Amethyst Lineage flared with a sudden, primal hunger. His instinct told him that she was a "prize" of a level far superior to his own. If he were to cultivate with a woman of her royal blood and power, the breakthrough would catapult his cultivation forward by several ranks in a single night.

But he suppressed the thought instantly. To touch a Princess of the Dragon without the strength to protect that act was a death sentence. Even with his Amethyst Eyes, the power gap was too vast to see through her. He had once tried to focus his sixth sense to peer into the threads of her destiny, and his intuition had screamed a warning so violent he nearly collapsed—it was the feeling of a blade at his throat. In this kingdom, curiosity could get you killed before you even finished the thought.

"Come with me, pretty face," Isabella said, her tone shifting back to that of a commander. "I want to see exactly how strong someone who ’grew up fighting to the death’ really is. I’m curious."

She led him to a massive stone courtyard. In the center, several warriors were training. They wore heavy white-alloy greaves and vambraces, but their torsos were bare, gleaming with sweat and marked with the scars of a hundred battles. The moment Isabella stepped into the light, they snapped to attention with a precision that was terrifying.

"My personal guard," Isabella said with a smirk. "The White Unicorn Corps."

"We fight for Her Highness! We live for Her Highness! We die for Her Highness!!"

Their roar was a singular explosion of sound that shook the very air in the courtyard. Ethan felt his skin crawl. Their power was suffocating—he couldn’t even accurately gauge their level, but the pressure alone made his knees want to buckle. Their eyes weren’t just loyal; they were filled with a terrifying, absolute fanaticism. To these men, Isabella wasn’t just a leader; she was their goddess, and they were her willing crusaders. Their loyalty bordered on a beautiful, disciplined madness.

Ethan stood before them, a "lamb" among wolves once again, feeling the weight of their judgment.

"Which one of you wants to test our guest?" Isabella asked, her smile growing wide and predatory.

The air in the courtyard grew heavy with the weight of unsheathed intent. One of the senior officers, a man with a chest as broad as a stone wall, stepped forward and bowed deeply to Isabella.

"My Lady," the officer began, his voice like grinding gravel. "The guest is only at the Half-step Spiritual Core realm, is he not? I’m afraid none of our forces are... that weak. Even our newest recruits would be a mismatch."

Isabella let out a light, musical giggle, covering her mouth with her hand as she glanced at Ethan. The look in her eyes was playful but stinging—a silent confirmation of the officer’s words. Too weak.

Ethan’s smile didn’t falter. Instead, it sharpened. He looked past the officer toward a younger soldier standing near the weapon racks. "Someone at the Peak of the Spiritual Core realm will do just fine."

The senior officer stopped smiling. His eyes narrowed into slits as he scanned Ethan, looking for the source of such suicidal confidence. He gestured to the young soldier. "Recruit! Front and center!"

The young man scrambled forward, snapping a salute that cracked like a whip. "Sir! Reporting for duty, sir!"

"You will be the opponent for our guest. Do not bring shame to the Unicorn," the officer commanded.

The recruit turned to Ethan, his muscles tensing, his eyes filled with the fanatical fire shared by the rest of the corps. "I am the newest recruit of the White Unicorn Corps. I shall provide the test you seek."

Isabella leaned back against a marble pillar, crossing her arms. "Now, now," she said, her voice dripping with mock concern. "Ethan, try not to hurt the poor boy too much."

She let out a delighted laugh, but the glint in her eyes told a different story. It was a deliberate provocation. By telling Ethan not to "hurt" a superior cultivator, she had effectively ordered the recruit to hold nothing back. She wanted to see if the "lamb" from the Dome really had teeth, or if he was just another pretty face destined to be crushed by the weight of the higher realms.

Ethan took a slow breath, his amethyst lineage beginning to thrum deep within his marrow. The "Tony Stark of Temu" was gone. In his place stood a man who had survived the end of a world.

"Don’t worry, Princess," Ethan said, his voice dropping to a predator’s whisper. "I’ll be careful."

-------------------

From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Dao Manifestation Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??