Chapter 5649

“How I obtained it is irrelevant,” Jared said, expression unshakable. “From this moment, the entire Celestial Palace answers to me.”

His tone carried the chill of iron drawn across stone-no anger, no boast, only immutable fact.

Doubt shadowed Celestial King’s brow. Jared’s cultivation, after all, sat only at Human Immortal Realm Level Three-scarcely equal to even a mid- level hall master, let alone someone capable of commanding the whole Celestial Palace.

Sensing that skepticism, Jared continued, his words threading urgency and truth. “Back on level eight,” he said, “Enaricus conspired with Malevolent Path Hall to seize your Celestial King Palace. Maxwell intervened, and Onneas witnessed every moment. Onneas was the one who sought me out when you vanished—she could no longer reach you. It was then that I learned Jaehaerys and Brennan had imprisoned your mind, planning to deliver you to Malevolent Path Hall. Had I not arrived when I did, you would already be chained in their dungeon.”

At the mention of Maxwell-a name no imposter would dare invoke lightly-Celestial King’s resistance wavered. Conviction settled over his features, and for the first time, he regarded Jared not as a trespasser but as the unexpected savior he claimed to be.

“Where is our founding ancestor now?” Celestial King asked, his voice low yet echoing through the broken colonnade like a bell struck at midnight.

The question lingered in the air, heavy as storm clouds gathering over a battlefield.