For everyone present in the court, their ages spanned millions, perhaps even eons. By their standards, these two young figures were mere infants less than children, even, akin to embryos in a mother's womb.
After all, Ray was just a boy. No, not even a boy merely a baby when compared to the celestial lifespans of those gathered. Their cultivation levels were so profound that even the guards present could obliterate these "children" with a single breath. Yet none dared act; the matter was too grave, too intriguing.
Ray's voice broke the silence, calm and unwavering. "I don't care for such matters. What I care about is whether what I'm hearing is true." Without a hint of fear, Ray raised his hand, cutting off the Sovereign mid-sentence a blatant show of disrespect. He turned, his gaze falling on Ember, the one person he had loved more than himself. Though his face remained emotionless, his eyes searched hers deeply, asking a silent question.
"Yes, that's true. I did it myself," Ember replied, her tone as emotionless as her expression. Her violet eyes locked with Ray's, giving nothing away.
Aetherion laughed, his voice booming through the hall. "Ahahaha! And the punishment for such a crime is cultivation dest"
"I see," Ray interrupted, his voice cutting through the Sovereign's mockery. Without hesitation, he swung his left hand through the air. A tattoo of a silver rose on his right hand began to glow, emanating a powerful magical aura. The glow intensified until it erupted into a dazzling burst of light.
A trickle of blood threatened to escape from Ray's lips, but his pride wouldn't allow it. He swallowed it back without flinching, refusing to show weakness.
Fwoom!
The room fell into a deafening silence. Even the air seemed to still.
For the briefest moment, a flicker of horror crossed Ember's eyes before she concealed it, her composure returning almost instantly.
Destroying your own cultivation—such an act was considered the cruelest punishment one could inflict upon themselves. Even Aetherion's eyes widened in shock.
This boy was no ordinary figure. He was a direct lineage of the primordial imperial family of the cosmos. His cultivation talent was unparalleled, capable of reaching the very apex of existence. When Ray was born, his cultivation level had already reached that of a Heavenly King a level that would take even the most exceptional geniuses thousands of years to achieve.
To destroy such a talent, to willingly cast away the potential to become a Sovereign or even an Imperial, was nothing short of unthinkable. Even Aetherion, for all his mocking and amusement, wouldn't have dared to propose such a punishment. This was a matter meant to be resolved between primordial families, not dictated by any external force. Yet, here Ray was, standing alone, having made the unthinkable decision himself.
Aetherion leaned back, shaking his head in disbelief. "I must say... you're a psychopath and a disappointment. Now I can see why no one in your family shows any interest in you. Perhaps they were right all along."
His words were sharp, each one striking like a blade. "You really aren't worthy of standing among people like us."
The Venerable, an ancient figure whose age surpassed even that of some young planets, finally spoke, his tone filled with disdain. "This world of cultivation, this world of higher beings... it isn't for someone like you. You're nothing but an undeserving fool—a disappointment."
The Venerable sneered, tilting his head as he regarded Ray with contempt. "So emotionally unstable that you can't even handle a minor setback. No hatred, no fight left in you... And don't tell me"he leaned forward, his voice dripping with mockery"don't tell me you actually loved that girl."
Ray said nothing. His body screamed in agony from the pain of destroying his own cultivation. The higher the cultivation, the more excruciating the process of losing it. The fact that he was still standing was a miracle in itself. Even cultivators ten stages higher would have collapsed, writhing in unbearable torment.
Aetherion smirked, his amusement undiminished. "Don't tell me you really loved this girl?" he asked again, his tone mocking and cruel. To him, Ray was no longer a potential asset to the imperial family just a broken, useless figure.
Ember remained motionless, her gaze still fixed on Ray. Her violet eyes betrayed no emotion as she stood there, silent and cold.
Ray didn't answer. His body trembled, wracked with pain from his self-inflicted cultivation destruction, but his expression remained unreadable. The silence stretched, thick with tension.
Aetherion, finally recovering from his earlier shock, let out a soft chuckle. "Tragic, really. To think a child of such potential could fall so low." He leaned back on his throne, the smirk on his lips widening. "You've gone from a shining star to nothing more than a worthless pebble."
Ember stood still, her violet eyes locked on Ray. Her expression was as calm and unreadable as ever. Yet, beneath the surface, there was something else something only someone truly perceptive might have noticed. A flicker of sadness. A hint of horror buried deep within her gaze, hidden from all but the most discerning eyes.
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