Chapter 67: The Shadow of Judgment Descends (Part 3)
The Shadow of Judgment Descends (Part 3)
Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, Adrian Valerius stood quietly before the open window, his hands clasped behind his back.
His eyes never left the distant Salvatore Estate.
The moment the Crimson Abyss Sect’s Great Elder dissolved into a cloud of blood after nothing more than a single spoken sentence, Adrian simply let out a quiet sigh.
There was no shock on his face.
Only a faint smile, carrying a trace of amusement, curved at the corner of his lips.
"What a bunch of fools..."
His voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"They actually believed they could challenge the Salvatore Family."
He slowly shook his head, the look in his eyes filled more with pity than ridicule.
"They never understood what kind of existence they were provoking..."
His thoughts drifted back to the day he had personally gone to meet Victor.
Even now, the memory remained vivid.
That day...
Even he—the City Lord of Aurelia City, a man respected throughout the entire region—had willingly lowered his head.
It wasn’t because of fear.
It was because he knew exactly where the line between confidence and arrogance lay.
Unfortunately, very few others possessed that same judgment.
Afterward, countless people had laughed behind his back.
Some claimed he had lost his pride.
Others insisted he had overreacted.
A mere young man, they had said.
What was there to fear?
Adrian had never bothered to explain himself.
Those who had witnessed Victor with their own eyes didn’t need explanations.
Those who hadn’t...
Would never believe them anyway.
Now, as he watched the crimson mist drifting silently across the night sky, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of sympathy for the Crimson Abyss Sect.
His eyes slowly closed before he spoke again.
"You should have listened."
"There are people in this world..."
"...who simply cannot be offended."
He opened his eyes once more, his gaze calm and unwavering as it rested upon the distant estate.
"Unfortunately..."
"You chose the wrong one."
Far above in the sky of The Aurelia City...
The remaining elders of the Crimson Abyss Sect had completely lost their earlier arrogance.
Only moments ago, they had descended from the sky like supreme judges, convinced they held the power of life and death over the Salvatore Family.
Now...
Every trace of confidence had disappeared.
Cold sweat soaked all their robes.
Their hearts pounded violently.
Every instinct screamed at them to flee.
Run or Escape just leave this cursed place immediately.
Yet...
None of them dared move.
An invisible pressure enveloped the surrounding space.
It wasn’t merely suppressing their cultivation.
It was suppressing their very souls.
The moment the thought of escape arose...
A terrifying premonition filled their minds.
If they fled...
They would die.
Not later.
Not after a battle.
Instantly.
Just like the Great Elder.
One of the elders clenched his fists until blood dripped from his palms.
His breathing became ragged.
"W-What..."
"What kind of monster have we offended..."
Another elder’s lips trembled.
"This... this isn’t possible..."
"Aurelia City is only a small frontier city..."
"How could such an existence possibly hide here..."
No one answered him.
Because no one knew.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
A calm series of footsteps echoed through the silent street.
The sound wasn’t loud.
Yet every step seemed to land directly upon the hearts of everyone present.
The gates of the Salvatore Estate slowly opened.
Victor stepped outside.
His expression remained as calm as ever.
The breeze gently lifted his shoulder-length black hair.
Golden eyes shone with quiet brilliance beneath the afternoon sunlight.
His black robe, embroidered with magnificent golden dragons, fluttered softly behind him.
He didn’t release any cultivation pressure.
He didn’t display any overwhelming aura.
Yet...
Simply by walking forward, he naturally became the center of the entire world.
Every member of the Salvatore Family instinctively lowered their heads.
Every citizen unconsciously stepped aside.
Respect.
Admiration.
Reverence.
None of it had been demanded.
It simply arose naturally.
Victor stopped beneath the city gates and slowly raised his eyes toward the remaining elders suspended in the sky.
His calm gaze swept across them one by one.
No hatred.
No anger.
Only indifference.
As though he were looking at a handful of insignificant insects.
Then...
He spoke.
"Kneel."
His voice wasn’t loud.
It was almost gentle.
Yet the single word carried an authority that seemed impossible to resist.
The remaining elders’ expressions changed dramatically.
Every bone in their bodies trembled.
Their knees shook uncontrollably.
They desperately tried to resist.
They were Heavenly Genesis Realm experts.
Elders of the Crimson Abyss Sect.
How could they kneel before a young man in front of countless witnesses?
One elder roared inwardly.
"No!"
"I refuse!"
"I’d rather die than kneel!"
But before anyone could make another move—
Bang!
A body exploded.
Blood scattered across the sky.
Another elder disappeared without leaving behind even a fragment of bone.
Bang!
A second explosion followed almost immediately.
Another cloud of crimson mist blossomed in the air.
The remaining elders froze completely.
Their faces turned deathly pale.
At that moment...
Elder Black’s ancient voice echoed once more.
Almost disappointed, Elder Black spoke with quiet authority.
"When my Lord speaks..."
"...heaven obeys."
"...earth submits."
"And you..."
"...still think you have the right to stand?"
"...Those who fail to obey..."
"...forfeit the right to live."
The heavens fell silent once again.
Not a single person dared utter another word.
Even the wind seemed to stop blowing.
Only the drifting crimson mist remained, slowly descending from the sky like the final judgment upon those who had dared offend the Salvatore Family.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading this Chapter!
If you’re enjoying the journey of Victor and the Salvatore Family, your support means more than you might imagine. Every read, library add, comment, review, recommendation, and gift helps this story grow and motivates me to keep bringing you bigger battles, stronger characters, and an even greater world.
Your support is the reason this adventure continues.
See you in the next Chapter!