Reign of Exiled

Chapter 101: Descent into the Blight

The air, already heavy with the ancient decay of the Desolate Maw, now pulsed with the unspoken tension of Lilith's watchful presence. Kael's bold flirtation had elicited only a fleeting flicker of surprise from the Queen of Lilin, a testament to her millennia of composure. Yet, her challenge to him—"Show me how a 'Sovereign of Sin' truly treads the cosmic path"—echoed in his mind, a silent, powerful imperative. He couldn't afford to hesitate.

"We proceed," Kael announced, his voice firm, projecting confidence despite the overwhelming power observing them. He met Lilith's gaze once more, a subtle nod acknowledging her presence, before turning his full attention to the gaping fissures that scarred the earth before them. "Valeria's truth lies beneath these scars, and this land cries out for healing."

Valeria, her earlier unease replaced by a resolute determination, stepped to the edge of the deepest chasm. The faint, sickly grey tendrils of corruption, visible now through Kael's Vision Beyond the Veil, seemed to writhe deeper within the earth, beckoning them. "The core will be deep," she warned, her voice low. "Its corruption has seeped into every layer. We must be prepared for its guardians."

Selene, Evelyne, Thalaria, Nysera, and even Aelisa arrayed themselves around Kael, their unified aura a defiant beacon against the oppressive atmosphere. The Sovereign Union pulsed, a tangible force of interwoven power.

"Emberfang, Vira," Kael commanded, his voice echoing. His Infernal Flamebeast Cub and Sky Serpent Hatchling materialized. "Stay close. Be ready." Emberfang's growl was low and eager, Vira's tiny form darting with serpentine grace.

With a shared glance, Kael led the way, stepping into the first, largest fissure. The air grew colder, heavier, clinging to them like a shroud. The light from the surface quickly faded, plunging them into a gloom pierced only by the faint glow of their own cultivation energies. The walls of the chasm were jagged obsidian, occasionally revealing unsettling veins of the grey corruption, pulsing weakly like diseased blood vessels.

They delved deeper, the descent steep and treacherous. Kael's Worldpiercer's Will allowed him to sense subtle shifts in the earth, guiding them along the most stable paths, while Vision Beyond the Veil highlighted hidden pockets of concentrated corruption, hinting at dangers lurking within. The deeper they went, the more potent the sense of ancient malice became.

After what felt like hours, they reached a vast, subterranean cavern. It was less a cave and more a hollowed-out abyss, its floor a chaotic landscape of broken black rock and twisted, petrified roots. In the very center, a sickly, greenish-black glow emanated from a swirling vortex of energy. This was it—the core of the corruption Valeria had sensed.

As they approached, the air grew thick with a palpable sense of decay and despair. From within the swirling blight, grotesque forms began to coalesce. They were not beasts of flesh and blood, but amorphous masses of dark, viscous energy, lashing out with spectral tendrils.

"Corrupted Manifestations," Nysera murmured, her own shadow energy rippling in anticipation. "Guardians of the blight, formed from pure despair and ancient malice."

"They draw power from the core," Valeria stated, her stance resolute. "We must clear a path to it."

"Then let's clear it," Kael said, his eyes burning with renewed resolve. Lilith was watching. This was their trial.

He unleashed his Infernal Domain, a wave of scorching sin-fire erupting outwards, pushing back the oppressive gloom and making the shadowy manifestations recoil. Selene's lunar flares shot forth, freezing and shattering the ethereal forms, while Evelyne's starlit embers incinerated them. Thalaria's lightning arced, disrupting their cohesion, and Nysera's shadow hexes wrapped around them, constricting their movements.

Valeria, her verdant aura flaring, began to push back against the pervasive corruption itself, creating small, temporary pockets of purified air. "They are endless as long as the core feeds them!" she cried out.

Kael focused his gaze on the swirling, blighted core. His Vision Beyond the Veil showed him the intricate pathways of energy feeding the manifestations. There was a faint pulsation, a rhythmic beat of malevolence. He understood. This wasn't just about fighting the manifestations; it was about striking at the source.

STATUS WINDOW: KAEL VIREN

System Level: 49

EXP: 2,522,850,000 / 80,000,000,000

Realm: Worldpiercer Realm — Tier 2/9

HP: 105,000 / 105,000

Mana: 118,000 / 118,000

Stats (with buffs applied):

Strength: 980 × 2.8 × 2 = 5,488

Endurance: 950 × 2.8 = 2,660

Willpower: 970 × 2.8 = 2,716

Charm: 1080 × 2.8 = 3,024

Intellect: 870 × 2.8 = 2,436

Dexterity: 980 × 2.8 × 2 = 5,488

Sin Points: 30,480,000 / 100,000,000,000

Sin Tier: Warlord Rank

SKILL WINDOW

Active Sin Skills:

• Sovereign Flame Crush [+Max]

• Wrathflare Lance [+Max]

• Flamebind Chains [+Max]

• Infernal Domain [+Max]

Passive Traits:

• Crown of Dominion → Throne of Ascendancy [+Mythic]

• Sovereign Union [+Enhanced]

• Nullfire Core [+Enhanced]

• Phoenix Mantle [+Enhanced]

• Worldpiercer's Will [+New]

• Vision Beyond the Veil [+New]

Bloodline / Physique Traits:

• Carnal Sovereign Core [+Enhanced]

• Sin Catalyst Matrix [+Enhanced]

[Skill Upgrade Available — Spend Sin Points to enhance or evolve active/passive/bloodline skills]

[Bonded Partner Skills Eligible for Sin Point Upgrade]

Bonded Wives (Mythic Bloodlines/Physiques Active):

Selene — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Mythic Eclipse Matron)

Evelyne — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Starlit Ember Empress)

Thalaria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Stormheart Valkyrie — Advanced 11 tiers)

Nysera — Skyshatter 9/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Scarlet Hexmistress)

Valeria — Skyshatter 8/9 → Worldpiercer 2/9 (Verdant Windborne Queen)

Aelisa — Heaven's Echo (Peak Rank) (Lilin Duskkissed Queen)

Pet Panel:

Emberfang — Infernal Flamebeast Cub (Tier 5)

Vira — Sky Serpent Hatchling (Tier 2)

Cultivation Realms:

Initiate → Essence Drawn → Veinwoven → Soulroot → Starforged → Sunbound → Moonglade → Skyshatter → Worldpiercer ← Current (2/9) → Heaven's Echo → Celestiaflame → Worldbreaker → Eternal Crown → Primordial Ascendant

Next: Heaven's Echo (Unlocks at Worldpiercer Tier 9/9)

QUEST WINDOW — BONDED WIFE: VALERIA

Quest Title: "Echoes of the Verdant Queen"

Quest Type: Legendary Bonded Quest (Unique — Ongoing)

Status: Active

Time Limit: None

Difficulty: ★★★★★

Quest Summary:

Valeria, the once-exiled princess of the Verdant Sylvan Courts, bears not only the weight of betrayal but also a deep-rooted divine potential hidden within her bloodline. Her rise was halted when a corrupted elder, jealous of her gifts and favored by the ruling council, framed her for treason.

But fate changed when Kael claimed her bond. Now, to unlock the full power of the Verdant Windborne Queen, Kael must help Valeria reclaim her birthright—and awaken the sealed nature godblood within her.

🌿 Objectives:

Uncover the Truth — Investigate the downfall of Valeria's lineage and find the true orchestrator behind her exile.

✅ Progress: 50% (Current actions in Desolate Maw aim to advance this)

Reclaim the Sylvan Crown — Defeat the false leader ruling the Sylvan realm and restore Valeria's name.

⬜ Pending

Awaken the Nature Godblood — Trigger Valeria's transformation into her Mythic Bloomborne Sovereign form.

✅ Achieved (Transformed: Mythic Bloodline Unlocked)

Verdant Legacy — Build a sanctum or forest-dominion infused with Kael and Valeria's power.

⬜ Not Started

Sacred Union (Final Trial) — Engage in a sacred union under the ancient Verdant Moon during an elemental bloom to permanently unlock her highest potential.

⬜ Not Attempted

💎 Rewards:

Mythic Trait Unlock: Verdant Sovereign's Heart (Passive regeneration aura for all party members within 500 meters)

Skill Evolution: Sylvan Tempest → Arboric Cataclysm

EXP Bonus: +8,000,000,000 EXP

Sin Points: +10,000,000

Passive Trait Unlock: Shared Bloom (Increases Charm and Intellect of bonded partners by 8%)

Title: Warden of the Verdant Sovereignty

With the core of corruption emanating noxious energy and endless manifestations, what strategy will Kael and his wives employ to reach and cleanse it, all while under the watchful gaze of Queen Lilith?