In the hall of the Crimson Demon Gate, a martial artist clad in crimson robes knelt before the Gate Master, Adrian, delivering grim news.
"Ashen is dead."
Adrian stared down at his subordinate with a look of disbelief.
"Dead? Are you telling me that a martial artist who had reached the Peak Realm's Entry Stage is dead? And not in an honorable duel, but during a skirmish?"
"Yes, Gate Master. He was… killed."
"By whom?"
The subordinate shifted uneasily, his eyes darting. To hesitate so much in giving a report—just who could have been responsible?
"Did the Sword Sovereign appear?"
"No… quite the opposite, actually."
"Opposite? What do you mean?"
In Eastern Mountain, only a handful of martial artists could have killed Ashen. Perhaps the heads of the Fiery Blade clan or Golden Peak Clan, both renowned clans. But beyond them?
