readytorunbook Chapter 266: The Purple Sword Monarch Arrives
Chapter 266: The Purple Sword Monarch Arrives
The Purple Sword Monarch Arrives
Then—
A figure emerged.
Dressed in midnight robes embroidered with faint amethyst patterns.
Long black hair flowed behind him.
Purple eyes shone beneath the crimson sky.
He stepped out of the void calmly.
As if taking a casual walk.
As if the terrifying battlefield meant nothing to him.
The moment people recognized him—
The crowd erupted.
"Leon!"
"It’s Leon!"
"The Purple Sword Monarch himself!"
Disbelief filled countless faces.
Leon walked through the void step by step.
Invisible sword intent spread from his body.
The surrounding world seemed to resonate with him.
The sea quieted.
The wind slowed.
Even the raging Mana seemed to submit.
Every step felt natural.
Yet every step carried overwhelming pressure.
Then—
People noticed something else.
An aura.
A terrifying aura.
One that surpassed the Sage Realm.
One that belonged to a Pinnacle Realm expert.
The crowd exploded into chaos.
"This..."
"He already broke through to the Pinnacle Realm?"
"How is that possible?"
"It’s only been a few days!"
"Did he obtain some heaven-defying opportunity inside the Martial Emperor Tomb?"
Shock spread everywhere.
Nobody could remain calm.
Leon’s cultivation speed was simply absurd.
An old expert swallowed nervously.
"This monster..."
Another replied bitterly.
"Calling him a monster might be an insult to monsters."
"He grows too fast."
Soon—
Excitement replaced shock.
People began whispering among themselves.
"Hehe, this is becoming interesting."
"A Pinnacle Realm versus a pseudo Pinnacle Realm."
"Let’s see who is stronger."
"Back then, Leon defeated Dario and humiliated the entire Sky Breaker Academy."
"The old grudges and new grudges will finally be settled."
The crowd immediately retreated.
No one wanted to be caught between those two.
A battlefield naturally opened between them.
Across the crimson sky—
Dario stared at Leon.
His face darkened instantly.
Then—
Pure hatred erupted.
"Leon..."
His voice sounded like a growl.
Among all the humiliations in his life—
Two names stood above the rest.
Zeon.
And Leon.
Teacher and student.
Both from Amethyst Summit Division.
Both had humiliated him publicly.
Both had shattered his pride.
The moment he saw Leon—
The strange source inside his body became even more unstable.
Black aura erupted wildly.
His eyes turned blood-red.
The pressure surrounding him increased further.
Meanwhile—
The void beside Leon distorted once more.
A graceful figure stepped out.
Long blue hair.
Beautiful blue eyes.
Sky-blue robes fluttering gently in the wind.
It was Maya.
The moment she arrived—
She immediately sensed something wrong.
Her expression changed.
Her gaze locked onto Dario.
The black aura.
The corruption.
The madness.
Her brows furrowed deeply.
She stared at him for several seconds before speaking.
"This is... the source of strangeness?"
The moment Maya spoke, her blue eyes narrowed slightly.
The black-red aura surrounding Dario felt disturbingly familiar.
It wasn’t ordinary corruption.
It wasn’t demonic Mana.
It wasn’t some forbidden Sacred Art either.
It was something older.
Something that didn’t belong in this world.
The red sea beneath them continued to churn violently, while the black heavens above seemed to grow darker with every passing second.
Countless cultivators felt an instinctive discomfort merely standing near that strange energy.
Yet Leon remained completely calm.
His midnight robes fluttered lightly in the wind as he observed Dario with interest, as though studying an unusual specimen rather than facing a life-and-death enemy.
Leon touched his chin thoughtfully.
"Interesting."
His purple eyes carefully examined the black aura.
"I’ve studied this power for a period of time."
The statement instantly caught Maya’s attention.
"You have?"
Leon nodded.
His purple eyes narrowed slightly.
"I’ve encountered this power before."
The calm statement immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Even Maya looked at him in surprise.
Leon continued while studying the strange energy.
"A Month ago, I discovered traces of this source hidden deep within a crack near the Black Rift. At the time, I only investigated it briefly."
A thoughtful look crossed his face.
"The power itself is extraordinary. It can force open limits that normally take centuries to overcome."
He paused before adding,
"But every shortcut comes with a price."
The strange aura reflected in his eyes.
"The stronger the power becomes, the more it consumes its owner. If the balance is lost, the person eventually stops being themselves."
A cold wind swept across the sea.
The surrounding experts unconsciously listened.
Even Tobias, Sirius, and Hektor focused their attention on Leon.
After all, nobody present understood this mysterious source better than the man standing before them.
Leon looked back at Dario and smiled faintly.
"I never expected someone reckless enough to merge with it completely."
His gaze sharpened.
"Yet somehow, this old fool managed to survive."
Leon muttered to himself thoughtfully.
The terrifying pressure radiating from Dario didn’t affect him in the slightest.
In fact, he appeared almost relaxed.
As if the difference between them was already decided.
Maya studied Leon’s expression.
The confidence in his eyes wasn’t arrogance.
It was certainty.
She knew him well enough to recognize the difference.
Still...
She couldn’t stop herself from worrying.
After all, the current Dario had become something neither human nor beast.
His strength had already reached an absurd level.
Leon glanced at Dario again.
It had to be admitted.
After absorbing the strange source, Dario’s strength had indeed increased by an entire major realm.
Had this happened before the Martial Emperor Tomb opened...
Things might have ended differently.
If Leon were still at the peak Sage Realm.
If he hadn’t condensed his Supreme Physique.
If he hadn’t stepped into the Pinnacle Realm.
Then perhaps even he would struggle against the current Dario.
But unfortunately—
There were no ifs.
Leon had already broken through.
He was no longer the same person.
He was a genuine Pinnacle Realm expert.
A true one.
Dario, meanwhile, had merely forced himself into that territory through borrowed power.
His realm had risen.
His body had not.
His foundation remained incomplete.
The difference seemed small.
In reality, it was heaven and earth.
Maya stepped closer.
Her beautiful blue hair danced gently behind her.
Concern flashed across her face.
"No matter what, you should be careful."
Her voice softened.
"This fellow has already been possessed and has become inhumane."
Her eyes lingered on Dario.
The madness.
The bloodlust.
The corruption.
Everything about him felt wrong.
"If you can’t do it, don’t force yourself."
Leon blinked.
Then slowly turned toward her.
A playful smile appeared.
"Senior Sister, how do you know If I can’t do it without trying?"