Chapter 3 Isabella

Hayley shot him a cold glance. "The contract doesn't say I have to tell you any of that, so I don't have to answer." Melissa smoothed her hair, speaking softly, "These are things you don't need to know. This isn't child's play—some secrets come with deadly consequences, and it's not worth risking your life over curiosity. Anyway, let's get back to business. We're about to transfer the Ultimate Vein to you." Sebastian sat cross-legged on the ground, focusing his mental power and preparing himself to receive the Ultimate Vein. Hayley and Melissa pressed their hands against his abdomen, and a black and white mist began to emerge from their hands—Hayley's Ultimate Negative Vein in black and Melissa's Ultimate Positive Vein in white. The sight was almost otherworldly. Inside Sebastian's body, currents of black and white energy began to flow, weaving through his muscles, bones, and meridians, strengthening him with each cycle. His meridians widened, his bones and muscles grew stronger, and with every rotation, the black and white energy converged at his energy center, forming a Celestial Mark—the Ultimate Celestial Veins. Watching Sebastian successfully fuse the Positive and Negative Ultimate Veins, both Hayley and Melissa were visibly moved. They'd initially believed that combining these Veins would be nearly impossible and had agreed to try it on Sebastian only as an experiment. They never expected it would succeed. The two women slowly stepped back, watching Sebastian with his body emitting black and white mist. They exchanged a look—a mixture of awe and complexity in their gazes. In all their knowledge, no one had ever possessed both Positive and Negative Ultimate Veins. Now, looking at Sebastian, they realized that if he received proper cultivation, he could become immensely powerful. Sebastian opened his eyes, feeling an unfamiliar yet exhilarating sense of strength coursing through him. He felt as though he'd become stronger. "So, this is the Ultimate Vein, huh? Feels incredible. Do you think I'll be able to reach the Primordial Realm now?" Sebastian asked with excitement, a mischievous smile appearing on his face. It made him look almost devilish, a far cry from his usual honest demeanor, causing both Hayley and Melissa to feel a hint of unease. In the warrior's world, the Earthly Realm is the foundational stage, encompassing ten levels: essence refinement, body-forging, warrior's form, meridian flow, true energy, divine sense, true vitality, divine power, true form, and ultimate completeness. Above the Earthly Realm lies the Primordial Realm, a level many warriors can only dream of achieving. Reaching that realm grants immense strength and even extends one's lifespan by a thousand years. Sebastian had been stuck in warrior's form, unable to break through to meridian flow. "Just the Primordial Realm?" Hayley scoffed, unimpressed. "That's practically an insult to the Ultimate Vein." Melissa's expression grew serious. "Now that you possess the Ultimate Celestial Veins, you need to set your sights higher. The power in this world is limitless, and there are countless realms beyond. This Astral Continent where you are now? It's nothing more than a tiny piece of the mortal world." "Remember our contract—you promised to help us regain our full power. This won't be an easy task," she warned. Sebastian nodded firmly. "As long as I'm alive, I'll uphold the contract and do everything I can to restore you both to your peak strength." Hayley nodded in approval. "The quickest way to restore our strength is through high-grade elixirs. Of course, they'll have to be top-tier. Once we're fully restored, our contract will be complete, and we can go take our revenge on our enemies." Sebastian felt a pang of disappointment. If these two stunning beauties could stay by his side forever, it would be pure bliss. Melissa reached into her lustrous hair and pulled out a ring. Tossing it to him, she said, "Bind it with your blood; it works like a storage bag. Put me and Hayley inside, then climb up yourself! We can't stay here long—this is an area where giant demonic beasts often roam." As soon as Sebastian's blood touched the ring, he felt a connection established between him and the ring. The space within was small, barely the size of a single room—nothing like the vast spaces he'd heard legends about. According to those tales, a storage ring was supposed to have boundless space, like an endless sea. This ring, however, could store living beings, a rare feature that left Sebastian in awe. Even ordinary storage bags were hard to come by, with most of them originating from the sects on Mount Celeste, let alone a storage artifact capable of holding living creatures. Following Melissa's instructions, he carefully placed both women inside the storage ring. Once he slipped it onto his finger, the ring turned invisible, making him marvel at its mysteries. Afterward, he consumed the elixirs Ronan had given him, which restored his energy, and began the grueling climb up the sheer cliffside to escape the deathly abyss. The ascent was a formidable challenge. The climb was arduous, as Sebastian couldn't see anything through the thick death mist, which made each movement treacherous. After an entire day and night of painstaking effort, he finally reached the top. What he'd thought impossible was made achievable by his Ultimate Vein, which drew in spiritual energy from the surroundings as he climbed, constantly refreshing his stamina and giving him bursts of vitality. With the cliff finally behind him, Sebastian set off on his journey home. Though he couldn't see Hayley and Melissa inside the ring, he could still sense their presence. "Hayley, Melissa, when will you start teaching me those sacred and demonic techniques?" Sebastian asked eagerly, his curiosity about the powers growing. Hayley's cold voice replied, "Your body's still too weak. You're not ready for my demonic techniques." Melissa added, "You can start practicing my sacred techniques anytime. Wait until you're back in your quarters to begin. I'll also teach you alchemy and potion-making." Overjoyed, Sebastian quickened his pace, breaking into a sprint. In the southern region of Naverra lay Tiberia, a vast, bustling city of a million people. Within its limits was the renowned Warrior's Creed family of Naverra—the Stones! The Stones family had a history spanning thousands of years and remained powerful and well-respected. Their enduring legacy was a testament to their strength. They were the wealthiest and most influential force in Tiberia, with the Stone Mansion sprawling across thousands of acres, filled with countless courtyards and gardens—enough to disorient any intruder. Sebastian made his way to Tigre Villa, the residence of Ronan, a high-ranking member of the Stones. A grand estate was to be expected for someone of his father's stature. "Dad, I'm back!" Sebastian called out as he hurried toward the study, knowing that was where Ronan would be. Ronan chuckled warmly. "You're finally back. Did you know a little beauty has been waiting for you? Remember the Schumans' daughter? Your little fiancée." Sebastian's brow furrowed as the memory of a pretty young girl's face popped into his mind, taking him back to when he was five or six. "Dad, you mean Isabella?" he asked. Isabella was a cherished daughter of the Schumans. When she was younger, she had spent some time living with the Stones, and she and Sebastian had become close, playing together every day. It was then their engagement was arranged. Ronan nodded. "That's right. She's in the mansion. She arrived just after you left and has been asking to see you." After Ronan finished speaking, he turned to look out the window with a smile, and Sebastian followed his gaze. Just beyond the courtyard was a tall, graceful girl approaching. She wore her long hair loose, dressed entirely in white, with a golden hairpiece that shimmered in the light. With her ethereal appearance, she looked almost like a fairy, and Sebastian couldn't help but stare in amazement. The girl looked to be about 14 or 15, her skin flawless and fair, her features delicate and captivating, making it nearly impossible to look away. Seeing Sebastian through the window, her beautiful face lit up with joy, and she called out, "Sebby!" Her voice was sweet and melodic, striking a chord deep within him. Sebastian had to admit, though she was still young, that her poise and beauty could rival the two beauties he kept in his storage ring—and she hadn't even fully grown up yet. Swallowing hard, Sebastian let out an awkward laugh. "You look completely different! The little girl from back then has turned into a little fairy." This girl was none other than Isabella, the Schumans' beloved daughter. "My fiancée!" Sebastian thought, his heart racing. In the past, he would have felt a pang of insecurity, burdened by the fact that he lacked a Soul Vein. But now he had the Ultimate Celestial Veins! With time, reaching the pinnacle of the Warrior's Creed was no longer a mere dream. Isabella smiled softly, a charming dimple appearing on her cheek, with a faint blush that left Sebastian momentarily dazed again. Ronan laughed heartily, giving Sebastian a pat on the shoulder. "You two should catch up." Sebastian chuckled, then darted out of the study. In the courtyard, he wasted no time, taking Isabella's delicate hand and swiftly leading her away from his father's sight, just as they used to sneak off together when they were kids. He brought Isabella to his estate, catching the envious stares of many younger Stones family members along the way. "Isabella, how long will you be staying with us here?" Sebastian teased, reaching over to touch her cheek, and brushing his fingers over her cute dimple. Isabella blushed, glancing down as she replied softly, "Sebby, I'm only here for a short visit. My dad and I stopped by Tiberia on our way through, so I won't be here long." When she was little, Isabella had come to Tiberia seeking treatment for a strange illness that had left her frail and tiny. At the time, she was often bullied, both by the Stones and Schumans. But Sebastian had always been there for her, playing with her and lifting her spirits. That time was precious to her, as he would encourage her to fight her illness and had even given her a few precious elixirs. Isabella had treasured those memories, and even though she knew Sebastian lacked a Soul Vein and had no apparent future, she had still made up her mind to marry him. Sebastian felt a twinge of sadness. He'd always cared deeply for Isabella. After the family determined he didn't have a Soul Vein, he'd been left with no friends his age, and his time with Isabella had been his only comfort. "Sebby, the family initially wanted me to break off the engagement with you, but I refused. So, they're taking my dad and me to meet the Andersons and that genius alchemist." Hearing this, Sebastian's expression darkened. The Schumans were trying to set Isabella up with that alchemist. It seemed they'd already made up their minds to have her marry him instead.