Inside the cabin, Sovereign Glacia watched the scene with growing anxiety.

  "How do you expect to treat her? Your own injuries are worse than hers!" Lance said calmly, sensing the Sovereign’s restlessness.

  "I can transfer my soul energy to her! It will accelerate her recovery!" Glacia blurted out without a second thought.

  Lance paused. It was clear that Glacia genuinely cared for Selina, likely intending to truly cultivate her as a successor. Transferring soul energy in her current state would only exacerbate her own critical injuries.

  Even so, Lance couldn't release her—at least not until his soul rank reached the Grandmaster level.

  He didn't doubt her affection for Selina, but he had no guarantee she wouldn't try to kill him the moment she was free. Being imprisoned was an insult most powerhouses would avenge with blood, and Lance needed more insurance. His Eternal Soul Protocol contained a specific technique that required a Grandmaster-level soul and at least a ninety percent threshold in his Heavenly Demon Disintegration to execute safely. Until he reached that height, she stayed in the bell.

  "I can handle a simple soul restoration," Lance said with a faint smile. "I don't need your help. Just wait a little longer; it won't be much of a wait anyway."

  He ignored her protests and placed his hand gently on Selina’s forehead.

  Rumble!

  In an instant, a torrent of pure, refined soul energy surged into Selina's body like a tidal wave. Sovereign Glacia was left speechless.

  "You idiot! Are you trying to kill yourself for a girl?" Glacia barked in his mind. "Transferring that much energy will cripple your soul! You’re going to trash your own talent!"

  As an expert in soul-type arts, Glacia knew better than anyone how devastating soul trauma could be to a practitioner's future. She truly believed Lance was throwing his entire future away for the sake of romance.

  Lance didn't bother to respond. Under normal circumstances, transferring soul energy to heal another's trauma was a slow, arduous process that required a long period of convalescence for the donor.

  But Lance possessed the Eternal Soul Protocol—an [Immortal Grade] manual. Its chapters on soul healing contained numerous secret techniques designed for exactly this. Lance’s own cultivation method involved constantly tearing his soul apart; transferring a bit of energy was child's play by comparison. As for his potential being "trashed," the Eternal Soul Protocol had solved that issue long ago. If his potential dropped every time his soul was damaged, he would have been a cripple months ago.

  Under the influence of Lance’s energy, it took only a few minutes for Selina’s soul to be almost entirely restored. As for Lance, he was regenerating soul energy faster than he was spending it, even while keeping his own soul split into dozens of fragments for cultivation.

  "Ugh..."

  A soft moan escaped Selina’s lips, and her eyes slowly fluttered open. The memory of The Solaris Emperor hit her instantly, and she bolted upright, eyes darting around the room in a defensive panic.

  Her gaze landed on Lance, and a sudden wave of relief washed over her. Since her parents' death, only Sovereign Glacia had ever made her feel this safe.

  "What? She’s healed already!?" Glacia was stunned. "Is it because of that manual of his?"

  The terrifying speed of the recovery made her question her understanding of reality. She suddenly remembered that Lance was practicing an [Immortal Grade] technique—a tier of power she wasn't even qualified to look at, let alone understand.

  "Lance? Where are we?" Selina asked, looking at the advanced technology of the cabin.

  Outside the viewports, the stars were streaks of light, indicating they were traveling through dark space. It was obvious they were aboard a very high-tier starship.

  "This is Guardian Aether's ship," Lance said with a reassuring smile. "The Solaris Emperor is dead."

  He took a moment to explain the events that had followed her loss of consciousness. Selina listened, piece by piece, realizing what had happened. She had been blacked out since Glacia took over her body, so she had no idea that Lance had effectively captured her master.

  "Master? Master, are you there?" Selina called out in her mind.

  "Hmph. You ungrateful girl. The moment you wake up, you forget all about me and start worrying about Lance!" A disgruntled, sulky voice resonated in Selina’s head.

  Lance hadn't blocked Glacia’s ability to communicate with Selina. As for whether Glacia would tell Selina about her imprisonment, Lance wasn't worried. In the few hours he’d known her, he had realized that Sovereign Glacia was incredibly prideful. There was no way she would admit to her disciple that she had been stuffed into a bell by a fifteen-year-old.

  Selina exhaled in relief at the sound of the voice. She was used to Glacia’s constant teasing.

  "Are you alright, Master? You told me that using your power would damage my soul... I feel fine now. Did you use your own energy to save me?" Selina asked frantically.

  "I’m fine," Glacia grumbled, her voice thick with fake annoyance. "And for the record, I wasn't the one who saved you. Your little boyfriend was more frantic than I was. He had you fixed up before I could even lift a finger."

  "What? Lance saved me?" Selina blinked, stunned. She turned her gaze back to him. "Lance, was it you? Are you okay?"

  She reached out, her face full of concern. As an Awakened, she knew exactly how dangerous soul injuries were. Glacia herself was a prime example; she was only this weak because her soul was damaged. If it were just a loss of her physical body, she would still have ninety percent of her power. But with only half a soul, her strength had cratered.

  "Wow, look at you," Glacia teased, sounding genuinely jealous. "That face you’re making is way more worried than when you were asking about me! You aren't even married yet and you're already choosing him over your master. What's going to happen once you actually tie the knot?"

  Selina’s face turned a deep crimson as she realized how she must have looked.

  "The technique I practice is a bit special, so I’m perfectly fine," Lance said, comforting her with a laugh. He checked the ship's chronometer. "By the way, we're almost at Planet Silvermoon. Do you want to head home for a bit?"

  In reality, they should have arrived much sooner, but Guardian Aether had slowed their pace to discuss matters with the other High Guardians. Even so, the journey was nearing its end.

  "Planet Silvermoon?" Selina’s eyes clouded with a hint of pain. "I need to go back... to pay my respects to my parents and my kin. When it's time to depart for the Academy, I'll come find you."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Her entire clan was gone. Like Lance’s family, they had lacked the strength to defend themselves and had fallen prey to the Void Beasts. This was a shared trauma for much of humanity. It was the very reason they trained—to slaughter those beasts, reclaim their worlds, and ensure that humans would never have to live in fear again.

  "Alright. I'll see you then," Lance replied with a solemn nod.

  "Uncle, have you reconsidered? Lorraine is a descendant of House Sterling; returning to the fold is for your own good. Besides, it’s not as if we’re forcing you to do anything unreasonable, right?"

  Inside the manor of the Lorraine Consortium in Silvermoon City, a young man sat in the main hall, smiling thinly at Duke Lucius. He was Alaric Sterling, the eldest young master of House Sterling from the Imperial Hub. Lorraine’s mother had been his father’s younger sister.

  Years ago, Lorraine’s mother had severed ties with House Sterling to marry Lucius. The family had initially planned to assassinate Lucius and drag her back for a political marriage they had already arranged, but once she became pregnant with Lorraine, they were forced to abandon the plan.

  Since then, House Sterling had ignored them, treating them as if they didn't exist. In their eyes, even a successful merchant like Duke Lucius was nothing more than an ant.

  However, a few days ago, word reached them that Lorraine had awakened as a C-Rank Professional. House Sterling had come knocking immediately. It wasn't that a C-Rank was particularly powerful, but it meant she was a "presentable" piece to use in a marriage alliance with another noble house.

  They had done their homework and knew about the relationship between Lorraine and Lance. However, because Lance was an S-Rank (and now SS-Rank) genius, his true profile was restricted. Even after the public announcements, one needed the authority of a Chief Inspector to see the full details. This was why most people still thought Lance was older; they lacked the clearance to see his true age of fifteen.

  House Sterling was a prominent family in the Imperial Hub, but their strongest member was only a [Gold Tier, Rank 8]. While powerful—exceeding the strength of some provincial Inspectors—they did not hold the rank of Inspector themselves. Consequently, they only knew Lance was an A+ Rank genius.

  Their plan had shifted. Instead of marrying Lorraine off to another house, they wanted to bring her back and force Lance to marry into House Sterling. With Lance’s talent and their family’s resources, they believed they could groom him into a Grandmaster. It was a calculated move: Lance would get resources and a beautiful wife, and House Sterling would gain a future titan. To them, it was a deal Lance couldn't possibly refuse. After all, how could a boy with no background hope to reach the Grandmaster rank on his own?

  "I am not a member of House Sterling," Lorraine said, stepping into the hall with a face flushed with rage. "My name is Lorraine. I have nothing to do with your family. Have you forgotten that when my mother was on her deathbed, House Sterling was the one actively suppressing the Lorraine Consortium?"

  The tragedy of Lorraine’s mother was a bitter one. She had suffered from a genetic defect that was expensive and difficult to treat, even in this era. Duke Lucius had nearly worked himself to death to expand his business and save her. But just as they were about to secure the necessary funds, House Sterling noticed the Consortium’s growth and crushed them. Their reason was as petty as it was cruel: they couldn't stand to see someone they had exiled living a good life. Because of their spite, Lorraine’s mother had died in an age of miracle medicine, simply because they were short on Credits.

  And now, House Sterling had the audacity to ask them to return? It was shameless beyond belief.

  Alaric Sterling’s expression darkened instantly.

  "Cousin, don't think you can do whatever you want just because Lance has taken an interest in you," Alaric said coldly. "There are girls far more talented and beautiful than you who are begging for a chance to join House Sterling. With one word from me, I could have a dozen geniuses lined up to marry Lance. Do you really think he’ll still care about you then?

  "Furthermore, do you think his A+ status makes him untouchable? Remember this: a living genius is a genius. A dead one is just a footnote that no one cares about."

  As the scion of House Sterling, Alaric lacked talent, but he was a master of threats. An A+ genius was valuable, but until he grew up, he was vulnerable. He didn't believe Lance would throw away a brilliant future for a mere girl.

  Lorraine and Duke Lucius paled. They could handle threats against themselves, but the thought of Lance being targeted because of them was a different matter entirely.

  "Alaric Sterling, you're disgusting! Do you think the Silvermoon high command won't punish House Sterling for this?" Lorraine’s body trembled with fury, heat radiating from her skin as flames began to flicker around her.

  "Hmph!"

  The middle-aged man standing beside Alaric snorted. Suddenly, a powerful [Silver Tier, Rank 9] aura erupted from him, slamming into Lorraine like a physical weight. The pressure was so intense she could barely breathe.

  "House Sterling is backed by a [Gold Tier, Rank 8] powerhouse," Alaric laughed mockingly. "In all of Planet Silvermoon, how many people would dare provoke us? Punishment? You must be joking!"

  Just as he finished his sentence, a terrifying pressure descended upon the entire Sterling manor.

  BOOM!

  The [Silver Tier, Rank 9] powerhouse by Alaric Sterling’s side didn’t even have time to react before he was pulverized by the terrifying aura. In a heartbeat, he was detonated into a fine crimson mist that sprayed across the room.

  The horrific sight caused everyone's expression to twist in shock.

  "Who!? Who is it!?" Alaric Sterling shrieked, covered in blood. "I am Alaric Sterling of House Sterling! My great-grandfather is a [Gold Tier - Rank 8] powerhouse!"

  He frantically shouted his identity, hoping his family name would act as a shield. To kill his bodyguard with nothing but a release of pressure required someone at least at the Gold Tier, likely at the 5th Rank or higher.

  "Oh? A [Gold Tier - Rank 8]? Sounds impressive," a mocking voice drifted in from beyond the door.

  While everyone stood frozen in shock, a youth appeared, walking through the air.

  Step. Step. Step.

  With every step he took on the void, the air itself seemed to ripple and vibrate. As Lance approached, Alaric felt his own heart hammer in sync with those footsteps.

  "Walking on the void... A [Grandmaster]... You're a [Grandmaster]!" Alaric Sterling’s face turned deathly pale. Paralyzed by terror, he collapsed onto the floor, staring up at the approaching youth with wide, trembling eyes.

  "Lance! It's Lance!"

  Duke Lucius looked on in disbelief. Flight was a hallmark of the [Grandmaster] rank, but walking on the void as if it were solid ground was a feat that usually required the strength of at least a [Tier 2, 5-Star] Grandmaster.

  Lorraine covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes turning red as tears of relief and excitement welled up.

  "House Sterling, was it? You just said you were going to kill me," Lance said, his tone flat and devoid of emotion, yet radiating a bone-chilling coldness. "In that case, I won't be polite. Go back and tell your great-grandfather this: I will be visiting your doorstep in one hour. If a single soul from House Sterling is still alive by tomorrow morning, I’ll take my own name and write it backward.

  "By the way, if you’re going to run, start now. Hide wherever you like."

  Alaric Sterling didn't wait for a second invitation. He scrambled to his feet and bolted out the door, his heart racing. In his mind, he was already cursing Lance for being an idiot. This was the Great Cosmic Era—as long as they boarded a starship, they could leave Planet Silvermoon in the dust. Even if Lance was a [Grandmaster] or even a [Great Grandmaster], he’d never find them in the vastness of space. A flicker of triumph even crossed his face at the thought of his escape.

  Zap! Zap!

  The moment he reached the gate, two beams of light lanced through the air.

  "AHHHHHHH!"

  A blood-curdling scream tore through the manor as Alaric's legs were blown apart. Wisps of Solar Stellar Flame clung to the stumps, slowly cauterizing the wounds. The fire was controlled so precisely that it wouldn't kill him for a day, but it would subject him to agonizing torture every second of that time. With Planet Silvermoon's current technology level, there was no way to extinguish Lance's divine flames.

  "My legs! You said you’d let me go!" Alaric wailed, rolling on the ground in a frantic attempt to escape the pain.

  "Your expression was a bit too arrogant," Lance said with a thin smile. "It made me lose face."

  Alaric wanted to slap himself. He was still on the man's territory, and he had been stupid enough to show his joy. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he summoned his personal 3rd-rank vessel. He crawled inside, groaning in agony, and set a course for the Imperial Hub.

  Once the scion was gone, Lance drifted down to the floor and turned toward the father and daughter.

  "Uncle Lucius, Lorraine... I'm back." Lance smiled warmly.

  "Lance, you're finally home!" Lorraine’s voice trembled. The tears she had been holding back finally began to fall.

  Lance’s heart softened. He stepped forward and pulled her into a firm embrace. "It's alright. I'm here now. No one will ever bully you again."

  Held in his arms, Lorraine finally let go, sobbing into his chest. Duke Lucius watched the scene, a gratified smile spreading across his face.

  "Woah! You're back!" a high-pitched, excited voice suddenly shouted from the doorway.

  Lance blinked and looked over. Lillian was running toward them, her face lit up with joy. However, halfway through her sprint, she skidded to a halt as she realized she was interrupting a moment.

  "I didn't see anything! I saw absolutely nothing! Please, carry on!"

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