Everyone stared at Xia Longyuan, seated motionless on the high platform, each lost in silence.0

The man who had once seemed invincible, whose shadow loomed so large that hatred of him had to be swallowed in silence, was gone. His death felt surreal. 0

Before he shattered the sword spirits, his wounds had not been severe.0

That single slash from Bo’e’s curved blade—perhaps because it was a Profound Control Realm strike—might have resulted in lingering damage that was hard to heal. But it should not have been fatal. Once the burst of borrowed power faded, at worst, he would have become a frail old man, still possessing cultivation of the Profound Mysteries Realm, with a few good years left to live.0

Yet everyone present understood Xia Longyuan’s choice.0

After decades of ruling with an iron fist, would he accept a life of frailty, incapable of defeating those around him? Would he choose to live out his days under the protection of his well-connected son...0