Chapter 68
Seven days later, the entire state seemed to hold its breath.
From early morning, headlines flooded every screen, every channel, every social feed.
“VENTRESS FAMILY DECLARES LIFE–AND–DEATH DUEL!”
“ONE MAN VS TWENTY–ONE IMMORTALS–MADNESS OR MIRACLE?”
“IS THIS THE END OF ADRIAN COLE?”
The news spread like wildfire, faster than rumor, heavier than fear. Commentators argued endlessly. Analysts speculated wildly. Betting platforms–both legal and underground–were overflowing.
Some claimed Adrian was already dead.
Others argued he had to be insane.
A few, very few, whispered that perhaps just perhaps he knew something the world didn’t.
The duel grounds had been prepared overnight.
What should have been a sacred arena for life–and–death combat looked disturbingly festive. Massive rings had been erected— seven concentric circles of reinforced stone and alloy, each etched with ancient symbols most spectators didn’t recognize. Security forces lined every entrance. Drones hovered overhead. Giant screens loomed on all sides, broadcasting live angles for those watching from afar.
Cheers erupted as crowds poured in.
Luxury sports cars screamed into the parking zones. Modified bikes roared. Private helicopters descended on nearby rooftops. Wealthy families, underground power brokers, rogue cultivators, and even foreign observers arrived in droves.
“This is history in the making!”
“I put everything on the immortals–easy win!”
“Even if he dies, that man’s got guts.”
“Legend? Please. He’s walking into a grave.”
Laughter echoed.
To many, it felt like a carnival.
To others, an execution.
Margaret arrived dressed in deep crimson, her face glowing with anticipation. Sophia clutched her arm, excitement barely contained, while Lucas adjusted his cufflinks, eyes fixed on the rings with thinly veiled satisfaction.
“I told you,” Margaret said smugly, settling into the front row. “This ends today. Tonight, we celebrate.”
Sophia smirked. “I want him to see us. I want him to know we watched.”
Lucas leaned forward, voice low. “A man who doesn’t know his place always pays the price.”
They weren’t alone.
Many who had mocked Adrian in the past deliberately chose seats near the front. This wasn’t just about the duel–it was personal.
Cameras panned across the crowd.
Millions watched live.
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If tickets had been sold, the organizers could’ve funded a city.
Meanwhile, In a quiet preparation room beneath the arena, the noise of the outside world felt distant, muted, like a storm heard through thick walls.
Adrian sat calmly on the edge of the bed, his posture relaxed, his breathing steady. He wore simple black attire–no insignias, no armor, no ostentation. The ring rested on his finger, faintly warn, as if alive.
Miss Reyes paced the room for the third time.
“The numbers are insane,” she said, glancing at her tablet. “Viewership is breaking records. People from outside the state are tuning in.”
Kai stood nearby, arms crossed, his expression serious but controlled. “Every major family has eyes on this duel. Even those who claim neutrality.”
Adrian smirked faintly. “Good.”
Reyes stopped pacing and turned to him sharply. “This isn’t a joke.”
He looked up at her, calm as ever. “I know.”
She walked over and pulled him into a tight embrace. Her voice dropped, trembling despite her attempt to sound strong. “You can still back out. No one would blame you. Not after what they’re doing.”
Adrian rested his chin lightly against her head. “Backing out now would mean they were right.”
“That’s not what I mean,” she said quickly. “I don’t doubt you. I just–what if something goes wrong?”
Kai nodded. “The twenty–one immortals aren’t myths. Some of them disappeared decades ago. Others are said to live in isolation, beyond conventional cultivation.”
Reyes swallowed. “You still don’t fully understand the ring. You said it overwhelms you. That scares me.”
Adrian loosened his hold and looked at her directly. His gaze was steady, reassuring. “The ring isn’t my strength.”
“Then what is?” she asked softly.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he raised his hand slightly, feeling the subtle pulse beneath the metal. “The ring protects what already exists. It doesn’t create it.”
Reyes searched his face, sensing there was more he wasn’t saying. I don’t want you dead,” she whispered.
A faint smile curved his lips. “I won’t die.”
Kai exhaled. “Master believed in you until the end.”
Adrian’s expression softened for a split second.
And then the world tilted, his vision blurred, and the room vanished as darkness folded inward, pulling him into a memory that did not belong to this lifetime..
Adrian felt himself falling–not physically, but deeper, as if sinking through layers of time.
Then he saw it.
An old hall.
Ancient stone pillars. Flickering torchlight. The air heavy with incense and grief.
An elderly man lay motionless on a raised platform, his body pale, lifeless.
It was him.
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Or… someone who looked exactly like him.
A woman knelt beside the body, sobbing uncontrollably. Her face was strikingly familiar–older, worn by time, yet unmistakable.
His late mother.
Two young girls stood beside her, clutching each other, tears streaming down their faces. Twins.
Adrian’s breath caught as recognition struck him all at once: their features were Reyes’s- not similar, but identical.
The woman shook the old man’s body desperately. “Master… please wake up… you promised…”
The twins cried in unison. “Grand Master… don’t leave us…”
The title Grand Master echoed like thunder, making the air tremble as something tore open inside Adrian’s chest. Memories that weren’t his flooded in ancient battles, broken vows, sealed powers, a choice made a century ago. Sacrifice, rebirth, a refusal to ascend, a promise left unfulfilled all crashed through his mind before his eyes snapped open.
He gasped, falling backward onto the bed, sweat soaking his clothes.
Reyes rushed forward. “Young master!”
Kai was already at his side. “What happened?”
Adrian sat up slowly, heart pounding. His hands trembled–not with fear, but recognition.
“That wasn’t a dream right,” he muttered.
Reyes gripped his arm. “What did you see?”
He hesitated at first, then finally spoke quietly. “A memory. From a hundred years ago.
Kai stiffened. “You’re saying–you’re starting to see it yourself?” he asked, and Adrian nodded..
A smile plastered on kai’s face. “I think we have hope” Kai let out..
