The sides of the sacred path were covered with inscriptions, protecting this sanctuary. After walking to the top of the sanctum, I stood quietly at the spot for the ceremony. There was no one else around; the awakening ritual could only be performed by two people—one to conduct the ceremony, and the other to receive it.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the person who entered was Ryan Scott. The kid looked absolutely thrilled!

“Ethan, I saw the Valkyrie Sarah Sutton!”

“How was it?”

“Beautiful, truly a stunning beauty!” Ryan Scott was almost suffocating, his face flushed red, as if he had just swallowed an entire bass.

I patted his shoulder and laughed, “Don’t get so worked up. Try to describe her with whatever words you can.”

“In short... I’m out of words. If I had to describe her, it would be... I’ve never seen such a knockout before. Ethan, you’ll see for yourself in a bit. She’s coming, I’m leaving now!”

With that, he dashed off.

I frowned, wondering how beautiful she could really be. This kid is hopeless, acting like he’s seen a fairy.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came, the curtain at the top floor of the sanctum was lifted, and a figure entered my sight. Instantly, it felt as if the air had frozen—

She had a stunningly beautiful face, her azure eyes seemingly spotless. She wore exquisite military boots and a high-ranking female officer’s uniform, the open-collared kind. Her pale golden hair flowed like water over her shoulders. The white shirt was stretched tight by her full chest, almost about to burst, her proud curves breathtaking. Three golden stars gleamed on the deep blue uniform at her chest. Below, a fitted short skirt outlined her graceful figure to perfection, and a blood-red cape draped behind her. Standing there, she exuded an otherworldly elegance.

My heartbeat sped up uncontrollably. This girl was unbelievably beautiful. Was she really the Valkyrie Sarah Sutton?

I’d long heard that Sarah Sutton was a great beauty, and also the commander of the 300,000-strong border legion. But to be this young and beautiful was just too much, right? She didn’t look a day over twenty—how could she be the thirty-year-old Sarah Sutton?

While my mind was running wild, her azure eyes turned to me, her voice ethereal and incredibly pleasant.

“Close your eyes, the ceremony is about to begin!”

As she spoke, she took out a small vial—it was the awakening potion—and sprinkled it over me, instantly drenching me in mist.

The scent of the awakening potion was a bit strange. Ningxue flower, that’s right, it was the scent of Ningxue flower. I’d seen this flower before, more than once, during that bloody battle!

My body suddenly trembled, as if sealed by some force. Streams of fiery light surged within me, about to burst out and shatter my organs. No, this feeling was definitely not normal!

When I opened my eyes, I saw orange sunlight pouring over my face, as if something was staring at me, locking onto my very soul.

Bathed in the orange sunlight, I felt drained, as if something within the light was staring at me relentlessly, and all I could do was stare back.

After dozens of heartbeats, I finally saw it clearly!

Amidst the surging, blazing energy, a person was trapped atop a stone pillar, surrounded by bronze-colored chains. But those couldn’t be real bronze, or they’d have melted long ago. This strange man’s muscles and skin were shriveled, looking like skin and bones. His eyes were closed, and he radiated an incredibly terrifying aura—truly forbidden.

As I struggled to break free from that force, he suddenly opened his eyes, as if seeing me, and gave a sinister grin.

“Hong!”

My whole body burned, a fiery sensation spreading everywhere, as if my entire being was instantly ignited.

“What’s happening!?”

I opened my eyes, only to see the Valkyrie before me in a panic. Flames devoured her body, consuming her clothes and revealing her perfect form beneath.

“Ah...”

I was stunned for a moment—what a breathtaking figure!

Impossible, right? There’s no way she’s thirty!

“Don’t look!”

She crossed her left arm over her chest, her beautiful face flushed with shame and anger. Suddenly, a blazing battle suit flared around her, and she strode forward, her right fist flying at me, transforming into a fiery red dragon that smashed into my eye socket.

“Bang!”

My mind reeled, and I instantly blacked out.

Chapter 2: The Journey

Nightmares—I had so many nightmares, seeing those I feared most in my heart. Strictly speaking, they were not people, but things.

Pain, an indescribable pain, as if countless streams of molten lava were flowing through every vein, devouring all my blood and muscles. This pain was unbearable for most people.

Then came weakness—my whole body felt weaker than ever before.

Outside, it seemed someone was speaking—

“Meridian burn, cultivation destroyed.”

The speaker was Mr. Johnson, one of the most respected people in Silverleaf City, but also one of its most notorious mystics. It was said he could foresee the future. He continued, “There isn’t a trace of spiritual power left in this child’s body. All his former cultivation is completely gone.”