Twenty years ago, Gate Master Camilla took in a disciple she met on one of her missions outside the sect. It was similar to how Saintess Selene met Kent.
However, while the Saintess and Kent fought over a sword sheath, Gate Master Camilla and her disciple, Zaila, clashed over a misunderstanding and a sense of duty…
Back then, Zaila was a mercenary hired to guard a certain overprivileged heir of a noble family who had come to the Athea Kingdom for sightseeing.
Although Zaila hated the job, she had to feed herself and buy cultivation resources, so she chose to take on the well-paying task. Her only responsibility was to ensure the one she was guarding had a good time.
Unfortunately, while they were browsing through some stores in Vastport City, the young master spotted a certain necklace he wanted to buy for one of his many girlfriends.
Unfortunately for him, before he could make his move, Gate Master Camilla took the necklace and paid for it. This didn’t sit well with the young master, so he chose to walk the path of arrogance and immediately resorted to insults.
Unfortunately for him, Gate Master Camilla was a no-nonsense kind of gal, so she didn’t let him have his way. A single slap knocked out nearly all his teeth and left him unconscious.
This forced Zaila to step in, as it was her job to protect the heir. Despite her weaker cultivation base, she and the Gate Master clashed in a fierce fight.
Through the battle, the Gate Master noticed her talent and offered her a much better opportunity, which Zaila accepted. This led to her becoming a disciple of one of the strongest women in the world.
She began studying under her, honing her skills, and gradually gained recognition within the sect.
Over time, her fame spread throughout the sect, and just like Kent, she became a monster many wanted to challenge, though none succeeded.
This continued for six years until, one day, the Sect Master set his sights on her.
Back then, when the Sect Master decided to make Zaila someone the sect could rely on, the Gate Master of the Spear Gate was overjoyed.
In fact, she was so happy that she failed to heed the advice of the Sword Gate Master, who had been a Gate Master longer than her.
She only wanted what was best for her disciple and decided for Zaila to undergo more rigorous training under the Sect Master.
For four years, Zaila traveled with the Sect Master, going on missions, entering secret domains, and much more.
However, the moment of reckoning came ten years ago when Zaila went on a mission and never returned. Her life shattered, and the most talented and genius disciple was gone just like that.
This broke Gate Master Camilla to the point that for an entire year, she locked herself away and could do nothing but cry her heart out.
She just couldn’t understand what had happened. Zaila died on a Very High-ranked mission, yet she had survived dozens of calamity-ranked missions. It made no sense.
So, after a year of grieving, she began to investigate. However, no matter where she looked, she found no evidence. Eventually, she turned to the Sword Gate Master, who was happy to help.
Through her, Gate Master Camilla learned of similar cases where genius disciples had died under strange circumstances. After connecting the dots, everything pointed to the Sect Master.
They began investigating him, and though it was dangerous, the two women played their cards carefully.
Over the past ten years, while the Sect Master was in seclusion, they gathered enough evidence. After analyzing everything, they concluded.
They concluded that the Sect Master was an evil practitioner.
Evil practitioners do not follow the orthodox path of cultivation. Instead, they steal from talented cultivators through dangerous and malevolent rituals, which often result in the death of those they exploit.
Though not yet confirmed, this discovery was the only conclusion they could reach. The two women didn’t want to act without having all the facts, so on the surface, they continued their roles as Gate Masters.
In the background, however, they worked tirelessly to uncover the truth.
They aimed to understand what was happening and, if possible, put an end to it.
So they bided their time, waiting for the right moment until the Sect Master called them to discuss Kent.
Through the talk, Gate Master Camilla, who may have just gotten an answer to her disciple’s death, wanted to erupt. Luckily, Gate Master Mara kept her in check.
⟦I happened to sense something profound from him, and if my assumptions are correct, this kid is someone who can help all of us greatly.⟧
That was exactly what the sect master said to her years ago before she handed over her disciple to him, and now, he said the same thing about Kent. It was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
But now that they had their answer, the two ladies would do everything in their power to avenge those they had lost.
The Sword Gate Master hadn’t said anything about why he was doing this, but one doesn’t need a genie to know she, too, may have undergone a misfortune with the Sect Master.
Unbeknownst to them, while they were busy with what had to happen next, the Sect Master also began making his plans.
When they left to devise a plan on how to move forward with this discovery, the Sect Master arrived in an underground cave where thick red chains, slick with blood, could be seen connected to a large cauldron holding it in place
Blood and some human and monster body parts filled the cauldron.
He walked past the cauldron and stopped in front of another cave. The moment he entered, a sinister smile appeared on his face.
He was face to face with two cages. Inside one of the cages was Zaila, the disciple of the Spear Gate Master, who was supposed to have died ten years ago. She was still alive—barely.
But she was breathing, and connected to her neck was a chain tube that led to the cauldron. She was acting as a blood bank.
Inside the other cage was a green-haired beauty who still maintained her beauty and poise despite being locked up for over six decades. Just like Zaila, she also acts as a blood bank.
The Sect Master stopped in front of Zaila’s cage and spoke, “It seems your master still misses you and even seems to suspect me… though I am not sure just yet.” He walked around the cage and came to the front again.
“Though she doesn’t have your kind of talent, she will make do with her blood. If next I sense her suspicion, I might just consider bringing her here and making you watch her die.” The Sect Master laughed before walking away, glancing at the green-haired beauty seated with her eyes closed.
Zaila clenched her fist while gritting her teeth. In fact, the gritting was loud enough to force the green-haired beauty to open her eyes and sigh.
The two are like misfortune sisters down in the dark cave…
‘Little sister, I hope you are living a much better life than I am at the moment.’ A smile appeared on her face, and the image of a certain Sword Gate Master appeared in her head.
Yes… this was Nara, the older sister of Sword Gate Master Mara, who had gone missing 67 years ago while she was a core disciple of the Divine Palace Sect.
It was also the reason why Gate Master Mara joined the sect and began investigating the Sect Master.
‘I only wish one day I will be able to see you again,’ Nara said before closing her eyes again.
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Meanwhile, far from the sect, Uncle Drew, who was getting ready to kidnap a certain brat, closed his eyes and muttered something.
A few seconds later, a name appeared in his mind, along with where to go next—to bring the fourth member into the Night Riders.
“_”
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