In the purgatory of the myriad realms.

Jacopo was drenched in blood, his hair a tangled mess. He looked as though he had endured endless torment, beaten down to the point of misery.

All of this was the handiwork of the old thief Gladwin.

If not for the Dao source James had given him—powerful enough to sustain his Path and the Light of the Great Path—Jacopo would never have swallowed his rage to endure such humiliation.

Still, he knew deep down that Gladwin wouldn’t have dared this recklessness without Lord Goyo’s orders. That meant his identity as Waitara Path’s reincarnated creature wasn’t fully trusted. At the very least, suspicion lingered.

But then, when Lord Goyo appeared in person—falling to his knees, kowtowing furiously, and apologizing like his life depended on it—Jacopo understood what was really happening.

“Master,” Lord Goyo said, voice trembling, “I had only just returned from the Realm of the Heavens. I never expected these two dogs under my command would dare show you such disrespect. An unforgivable crime!