Rise of The Abandoned Husband

The crowd parted like water as I walked through them, their faces a mixture of awe and terror. The naked Saints and Tyler Westwood were long gone, their humiliation complete. But I wasn't finished yet.

"Where's Daphne Grenville?" I called out, my voice cutting through the hushed whispers.

The crowd shifted nervously. After a moment, Daphne stepped forward, her composure intact despite the spectacle she'd just witnessed.

"Liam Knight," she said, inclining her head slightly. "That was... impressive."

"I need something from you," I said bluntly. "The ten-thousand-year-old Bleeding Heart herb you found earlier. I want it."

Her eyes narrowed. "That's quite presumptuous. Even after your display of power, such a treasure—"

"It wasn't a request." I stepped closer, golden light still pulsing beneath my skin. "Consider it payment for your life."

"My life?" Her confidence wavered slightly. "I've never moved against you."

"Your family has. The Grenvilles backed the Ashworths in their attempts to kill me multiple times." I held out my hand. "The herb. Now."

Daphne hesitated, glancing around at the silent onlookers. She was calculating her options, but we both knew she had none. Finally, she reached into her spatial ring and produced a small jade box.

"This herb is worth more than some entire sects," she said, reluctance clear in her voice.

I took the box without comment, opening it to verify its contents. Inside lay a blood-red herb shaped like a human heart, pulsing with ancient energy. Perfect.

"Thank you for your cooperation," I said, placing it in my spatial ring.

Daphne's lips tightened. "Will there be anything else, Master Knight?" The title dripped with sarcasm.

"Actually, yes." I turned to address the entire gathering. "I need one more ten-thousand-year herb. Who has something suitable to trade?"

Silence greeted me. These cultivators had risked their lives for their treasures. Even after my display of power, they were reluctant to part with them.

"I can offer something in exchange," I added, sensing their hesitation. "Saint-level cultivation techniques, rare elixirs, or spiritual weapons. I acquired quite a collection today."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. After a moment, a tall woman with a severe face stepped forward.

"I have a ten-thousand-year Cloud Root," she said. "I want the 'Heaven's Blade Formation' technique in return."

I nodded. "Show me the herb first."

She produced another jade box, this one containing a silvery root that seemed to float within the container. I examined it carefully before nodding my approval.

"Deal." I transferred the technique scroll from my spatial ring to hers. "Pleasure doing business."

With both herbs secured, I turned toward Pierce Cromwell, who had been watching these transactions with barely contained rage.

"Cromwell," I called out. "How long until the Mystic Realm naturally closes?"

His jaw tightened. "Three days."

"That's too long. I need an exit now."

"Impossible," he snapped. "The realm operates on its own rules. Even as a Palace Elder, I can't—"

"You can," I cut him off. "I've studied Mystic Realms extensively. The Palace always establishes emergency exit points. Activate one."

Pierce's face darkened. "Those are for emergencies only."

I gestured to the broken wall and the battered Saints who were just now being helped away. "I'd say this qualifies, wouldn't you?"

He glared at me, weighing his options. Finally, he nodded curtly. "Fine. But only to get you out of here before you cause more damage."

"Lead the way," I said.

Pierce led me and the remaining cultivators to a secluded corner of the Palace grounds. There, he revealed a formation hidden beneath an ornate stone slab. As he began activating it, I felt a strange pull from deeper within the realm.

"Wait," I said, looking toward the dark horizon. "There's something else I need to do first."

Pierce looked up in alarm. "The formation takes time to prepare. If you leave now—"

"I'll be quick."

I moved swiftly through the Palace grounds, following the pull of dark energy. It led me to a sealed chamber beneath the main hall. The door was marked with ancient warnings, but they meant nothing to me now.

Breaking the seal, I entered a small room containing a single pedestal. Upon it rested a pulsing black crystal the size of my fist—the Dark Heart, source of this realm's oppressive atmosphere.

I reached out, feeling its power resonating with the dark energy I'd absorbed. As my fingers closed around it, a jolt of pure darkness shot up my arm. For a moment, I thought I'd made a terrible mistake.

Then the crystal settled, its energy merging with mine. The oppressive atmosphere throughout the realm began to lift immediately—I could feel it dissipating like morning mist.

"What have you done?" Pierce's voice came from behind me, filled with horror.

"Taking what's mine," I replied, pocketing the Dark Heart. "The exit ready?"

"You fool," he whispered. "That artifact maintained the realm's balance. Without it—"

A distant rumble interrupted him. The ground trembled beneath our feet.

"We should go," I suggested. "Now."

We raced back to the formation, which now glowed with activated energy. The other cultivators were already gathered, looking anxious.

"The Saints you humiliated will recover quickly without the dark energy suppressing them," Pierce warned as he completed the activation. "You've made powerful enemies today."

"They were already my enemies," I replied. "At least now they know what I'm capable of."

The formation flared to life, creating a swirling portal back to the mortal realm. As cultivators began stepping through, I felt a surge of spiritual pressure from the Palace direction.

"They're coming," Pierce said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

I smiled. "Then we'd better not keep them waiting."

I stepped through the portal just as enraged shouts echoed behind me. The transition was jarring—one moment surrounded by dark energy, the next standing in bright sunlight on a mountainside outside Veridia City.

Several cultivators staggered, disoriented by the sudden shift. I kept my balance, immediately taking stock of my surroundings.

"Knight!" someone called.

I turned to see Daphne approaching, her expression unreadable.

"What you did in there... it changes everything," she said quietly.

"That was the point."

Her eyes narrowed. "The Saints won't forget this humiliation. They'll hunt you relentlessly."

"Let them try."

She shook her head. "You don't understand. They'll come after everyone associated with you. Your friends, your allies... no one will be safe."

I considered her words. She was right, of course. My display of power had painted a target on everyone connected to me.

"Thank you for the concern," I said, genuinely appreciating the warning. "But I've planned for this."

Without another word, I activated my movement technique and departed. I had little time before the Saints reorganized and began their hunt.

My first stop was deliberately conspicuous—the Immortal Slaying Sect headquarters in the heart of Veridia City. I strode through the front gates, ensuring I was seen by as many people as possible.

"Master Knight!" The sect disciples bowed respectfully as I passed.

"Tell your Sect Master I need to speak with him immediately," I commanded the nearest disciple.

Within minutes, I was seated across from Sect Master Zhao in his private chambers, several elders flanking him nervously.

"What brings you here so openly, Knight?" Zhao asked, eyeing me cautiously.

"I wanted to inform you personally that I'll be entering seclusion," I said. "The Martial Saints of the Westwood family attempted to assassinate me in the Mystic Realm. They failed, but they'll try again."

Zhao's expression remained carefully neutral. "I see. And you came here to tell me this because...?"

"Because I want word to spread," I said bluntly. "I want my enemies to focus their attention here while I cultivate elsewhere."

"You're using us as bait," one of the elders growled.

I smiled. "I prefer to think of it as a mutual arrangement. The Immortal Slaying Sect's reputation will benefit from being associated with me, especially after what happened in the realm."

"And what exactly happened?" Zhao leaned forward, curiosity getting the better of him.

"I defeated and humiliated two Martial Saints without using spiritual energy," I stated flatly. "Stripped them naked and sent them running before hundreds of witnesses."

Stunned silence filled the room.

"Impossible," one elder finally whispered.

"Ask anyone who was there," I replied. "The story will spread quickly enough."

Zhao studied me for a long moment. "Very well. We will... accommodate your strategy. Where will you actually be secluding yourself?"

"Better you don't know," I said, standing. "I'll return when I've broken through to the Saint realm."

I left as conspicuously as I had arrived, making sure plenty of people saw me departing the sect. Only when I was certain I'd been observed did I activate my stealth technique and change direction.

Hours later, I arrived at the hidden entrance to the Gyeon City Secret Realm. Kenneth Minnx was waiting for me, looking anxious.

"Master Knight," he greeted me with a deep bow. "Your quarters are prepared as requested."

"Any visitors while I was gone?"

"None, sir."

"Good." I handed him a jade slip. "These are my instructions. I'm not to be disturbed for any reason. Understood?"

Kenneth accepted the slip with another bow. "Perfectly, Master Knight. I will guard your seclusion with my life."

"See that you do." I followed him into the hidden complex, to a reinforced cultivation chamber deep underground.

"This room is sealed with multiple formations," Kenneth explained. "No energy signature can escape. You'll have complete privacy."

I nodded my approval. "Remember, Kenneth—no disturbances. The herbs I've acquired are extremely volatile. Interrupting the process could be catastrophic."

"I understand." His expression was solemn, earnest. "Rest assured, I will keep everyone away."

I entered the chamber and sealed the door behind me. Finally alone, I removed the herbs from my spatial ring and began preparations. The breakthrough to Saint realm wouldn't be easy, but with these materials and the Dark Heart's energy, it was possible.

As night fell, I entered deep meditation, expanding my spiritual sense to arrange the herbs in precise formation around me. The dual energies within my body—light and dark—began to resonate with the ancient plants.

Hours passed as I carefully guided my cultivation, balancing the opposing forces within me. I was completely absorbed in the delicate process when I sensed a disturbance—the chamber's door was opening.

Without breaking my meditation pose, I extended my spiritual sense toward the intruder. Kenneth Minnx stood in the doorway, a gleaming dagger in his hand, his expression twisted with hatred.

"Kenneth," I said without opening my eyes. "I gave explicit instructions not to be disturbed."

"I know." His voice was cold, different from his earlier subservience. "But this opportunity is too perfect to pass up."

I opened my eyes slowly, careful not to disrupt the energy circulating through my body. "Opportunity?"

Kenneth stepped closer, dagger raised. "You're vulnerable during breakthrough. All cultivators are. Even with your freakish powers, you can't defend yourself while managing those opposing energies."

"So this is betrayal," I observed calmly. "Who sent you? The Westwoods? The Saints?"

He laughed bitterly. "Nobody sent me. This is personal."

"Personal? I've barely interacted with you."

"And yet you placed your mental imprint on me," he snarled. "I can feel it, crawling inside my mind, forcing my loyalty."

I frowned. "I did no such thing."

"LIAR!" His hand trembled with rage. "I've served many masters, Knight. I know when someone's tampered with my mind. But I found the solution." His lips curved into a cruel smile. "As long as I kill you, the imprint you left in my mind will disappear as well! So... you might as well just die!"

He lunged forward, dagger aimed directly at my heart.