"About this eighteen-level Asura Purgatory?" Ling Ye smiles.
He already knows what Mad Asura is truly asking.
"Not bad. I want to know—what exactly was imprisoned on these eighteen floors?" Mad Asura nods, his eyes gleaming with intensity.
"My mother died giving birth to me, but she left behind relics… messages she wanted to pass on before she died," he says.
"She told me that within the heavens and the myriad worlds, there are still many unknowns—deeper darknesses hidden beyond anyone's knowledge.
"She also told me… I am not a bastard child. My father was once a peak powerhouse of the Extreme God Realm. But he was swallowed by that deepest darkness."
His eyes darken as he continues.
"And that deepest darkness… is not you."
He grips the sword he is forging, his voice steady but edged with emotion.
"It has something to do with what was once imprisoned on the eighteenth floor of Asura Purgatory."
"Throughout history, countless disasters have plagued the world. But the greatest of them all… were caused by those unknown beings.
"You have swept across the heavens. You must know the truth.
"So tell me—what was imprisoned here?"
Mad Asura's grip tightens around the blackened blade.
"I want to know how my father died. And with this sword, I will cut down the one responsible. I will carve through the unknowns."
His words hang heavy in the air.
Ling Ye chuckles softly, his expression unreadable.
"Those unknown existences… the ones once imprisoned in the eighteenth floor of Asura Purgatory… they were indeed not good things."
Mad Asura's breathing slows, waiting for more.
Ling Ye meets his gaze.
"They are the deepest darkness of the heavens and the worlds. The kind of darkness that even gods fear."
His voice is calm, yet absolute.
"But telling you everything now is useless. If you must know, I will tell you when the time is right."
"For now, just understand this—I am not that deepest darkness.
"But those true darknesses… are under my suppression."
Mad Asura's eyes flicker.
"Under your suppression?" he repeats, his voice laced with something between awe and disbelief.
Then he grins, shaking his head.
"As expected. Across the universe, through chaos itself, you remain invincible."
He has always felt this—since the dawn of the heavens and the worlds, Ling Ye has always been invincible.
He was born that way.
"Then what do you plan to do now?" Mad Asura asks. "Ye Tian wants to kill you. You won't lose, but you won't win either? What does that mean?"
Ling Ye's gaze sharpens.
"You will understand when the time comes. I only hope that when I return… I will have worthy subordinates by my side."
"Return?" Mad Asura murmurs, thoughtful.
But he doesn't press further.
If Ling Ye doesn't want to explain, why bother asking?
Instead, he exhales and smirks.
"If you can treat me as a brother, I have no problem following you. I'd even be willing to call you my big brother."
Ling Ye's response is immediate, unwavering.
"A subordinate… is a subordinate."
The words are simple, but absolute.
Mad Asura sighs, shaking his head.
That's Ling Ye for you. No changing him.
"I don't need you to do anything now," Ling Ye continues. "Just wait for my return."
Mad Asura smirks.
"I don't recall saying I agreed to be your lieutenant," he says.
But deep down, he already has.
Ling Ye knew it. He always knows.
Is this the power of a king?
Or simply the charm of one?
Without another word, Ling Ye turns and walks away.
As he leaves, he speaks one last time.
"Forge your blade well. Someday… you will need it."
Then, in an instant, he is gone.
Mad Asura stands alone in the dim prison, hammering away at the sword in his hands.
A slow, knowing grin spreads across his face.
"Of course. I know when it will be needed."
Since Ling Ye understands those beings… since Ling Ye suppresses those beings…
Then one day, he will challenge those beings himself.
One day, he will learn the truth of the Chaos Universe.
—
Outside, the moment Ling Ye vanishes from the eighteenth floor, the entire Chaos Asura Prison exhales in relief.
"It's over? The Blood Shadow Demon Lord… has left?"
"It seems… the fight never even happened."
"Then who won?"
"Isn't it obvious? Who else could it be? Mad Asura may be powerful, he may have reached the Extreme God Realm… but he is still nothing compared to him."
"The result was clear before it even began."
"Who cares? At least the battle didn't continue, or we would have suffered again."
Everyone breathes easier.
The battle from years ago had been catastrophic.
That time, the Chaos Asura Prison was nearly erased from existence.
Today, the conflict barely even started before it ended.
Had they truly fought again, this broken prison—already on the verge of collapse—would not have survived.