After defeating the three Spirit Saints, Aiden and his group continued forward until they encountered another leader of the Heavenly Serpent Sect.

    "No, he''s the Ancestor of the Heavenly Serpent Sect," Serina said, halting the group. "He was the sect leader before the previous one."

    The old man, leaning on his cane, opened his eyes slightly and looked at Aiden and the others. "If you''re all here, it means you either killed all the others to get here or they let you in voluntarily, which is impossible," he said, standing up.

    As he straightened, his hunched back reverted to an upright position, revealing a man who no longer looked old but rather like a middle-aged man at his peak.

    "He''s burning through his lifespan," Serina said solemnly. "Thanks to this, I now know what realm he''s reached."

    "And that is?" Aiden asked while summoning the three Spirit Saints he had killed earlier, turning them into his Eternal Followers. He also summoned Mikhail and Ryman as he faced the middle-aged man.

    "He''s a mid Spirit God," Serina said, summoning her spirit as well. It was a beautiful flaming bird-type spirit called the 7 Prismatic Flames Luan, bathed in rainbow-colored flames and hovering behind her with a screech.

    The transformed middle-aged man narrowed his eyes at her martial spirit. Then, he tapped his cane on the ground, summoning his own spirit—a massive Black Serpent. This was the Black Heaven Venom King, the most venomous martial spirit to appear in the last five centuries.

    Aiden then told Spirit Saints to test the waters.

    The Ancestor surveyed the summoned warriors with disdain. Then, with a subtle gesture, he unleashed his power. The air grew thick with an oppressive energy, suffused with the deadly venom of his will. Aiden''s group braced themselves, feeling the weight of the battle that was about to begin.

    The first of the Spirit Saints stepped forward, wielding a spear radiating a dark, necrotic aura. He thrust the spear towards the Ancestor, a swift and deadly strike meant to pierce through any defense. The Ancestor, however, moved with blinding speed, sidestepping the attack and countering with a backhanded swipe.

    The force of his blow sent the Spirit Saint skidding backward, his weapon vibrating with the intensity of the clash.

    Next, the Spirit Saint with the Ashen Cobra King spirit engaged, a cloud of ashen smoke enveloping the battlefield. The mist was thick and toxic, aiming to disorient and weaken the enemy. Yet, the Ancestor''s eyes glowed with a cold, penetrating light. He moved through the haze with ease, his movements precise and deadly.

    Despite the Ancestor''s taunts and menacing aura, Serina held her own, her strength growing with each passing moment. She met each of his attacks with unwavering resolve, her movements fluid and controlled. The Ancestor, while powerful, found himself unable to easily overpower her, and a flicker of frustration crossed his face.

    Aiden knew they couldn''t let the battle drag on for too long. The Ancestor''s experience and cunning were formidable, and although Serina''s newly enhanced strength allowed her to match him evenly, she couldn''t sustain this power indefinitely. Unlike Aiden, she couldn''t fully harness her newfound strength, and time was running out.

    Determined, Aiden bit his thumb and began to inscribe a complex magic circle on the ground with his blood. The Ancestor noticed this several times and tried to intervene, but Serina, with her versatile Martial Spirit, thwarted his attempts. Her flames had seven distinct properties, making them incredibly versatile. They could heal, purify, and provide both offensive and defensive capabilities.

    Every attempt by the Ancestor to poison her was futile, as her Martial Spirit''s purifying aspect cleansed her system continuously, even without manifesting her spirit fully.

    Realizing this, the Ancestor shifted his tactics, using corrosive poison to directly attack Serina. This forced her onto the defensive, as the poison not only corroded but also corrupted her spirit energy. Although she could heal herself within seconds, the brief moments of vulnerability caused her intense pain, momentarily stunning her. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Seeing an opening, the Ancestor charged towards Aiden, who was still focused on completing the intricate pattern on the ground. The sight of Aiden using blood to draw something ominous made the Ancestor uneasy. He roared, his fist glowing with a venomous black light, and aimed it directly at Aiden''s face.

    As Serina recovered from the pain, she rushed towards Aiden, her heart pounding in fear. Shelly, struggling to control her own instincts, nearly leapt to Aiden''s aid. But just as the Ancestor''s fist was inches away from Aiden''s face, it suddenly stopped, held back by something invisible.

    Serina sighed in relief, chastising herself for letting her guard down. She resolved to train harder if she survived this encounter. Shelly also breathed a sigh of relief, eager to see what the pulsating red crystal Aiden had used to draw the strange magic circle would do.

    Aiden wiped the sweat from his face, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he looked at the Ancestor, who was now restrained by red lightning chains. The Ancestor struggled fiercely, his face contorted with frustration and disbelief.

    Without wasting time, Aiden completed the spell. "Ruined Fate," he intoned, his voice steady. The Ancestor''s eyes widened in horror as blood erupted from his body, forming a cocoon around him. The cocoon pulsated and then dissolved, revealing a strikingly handsome man.

    The man had raven-black hair cascading down to his waist, sharp eyebrows, and a chiseled jawline. His upper body was bare, showcasing muscles that seemed to radiate raw, unbridled power. But what stood out most was the man''s expression—wide-eyed and stunned, as if he couldn''t believe what had happened.

    Shelly, Serina, Ryman, and Mikail all turned to Aiden, their expressions a mix of confusion and shock. They looked at him as if he had betrayed them, unsure of what to make of the transformation.

    Aiden looked at the transformation and sighed in relief seeing old man state.