Chapter 2471

Cyrus, whose mind had been clouded, showed no concern for the lives of those around him. As he controlled the flying dagger in his hand, he sliced through a dozen disciples within moments, cutting them cleanly in half with his indiscriminate strikes.

Maxim, though unable to move his body, could still see everything happening

around him. At that moment, his face was void of any expression. All that remained was the same feeling he had experienced when his fellow disciples had once left him-pain.

Watching as the disciples he had lived with day after day were slaughtered before his eyes, Maxim's heart sank into despair once more. Just then, Cyrus turned and began walking toward Maxim again.

Maxim's body trembled uncontrollably.

"Lily, Kai, Liana..." In his mind, memories of the good times he shared with them flashed by. When Maxim lifted his head again, all he saw were their cold, lifeless bodies.

"This place... is hell," he muttered.

Cyrus stood before Maxim, ready to deliver the final blow. Suddenly, a terrifying force erupted from within Maxim.

"Why?! Why?!" Maxim screamed in rage, and it felt as though the very surroundings were being consumed by his anger.

Everything around him began to crumble in an instant. Even the sky turned crimson.

Before Cyrus could react, Maxim plunged his hand through his chest.

"Die! All of you, die!" Maxim's bloodshot eyes glowed with fury. At that moment, something darker took root within him amidst the pain.

It was hatred.

"Revenge! I'll take revenge!" Maxim cried out in madness, his appearance now eerily similar to the deranged Cyrus from before.

"The Wallace family, the Celestial Tree, the Goodes! You all will pay!"

...

"And that... is the story." Maxim finished, casting a desperate look toward Thresmund.

"Child, I want revenge against the Celestial Tree. It's the only thing keeping me alive."

Thresmund gathered his thoughts and asked, "So, you've been purging the immortal spirits from the East District of the Northern Territory for this reason?"

Maxim nodded, acknowledging the truth. "Yes. I can feel it clearly. The immortal spirits worshiped by the disciples and those who practice the Skyland Sun Technique... all of their power stems from the Celestial Tree.

"So, I thought that by erasing both of these forces completely, everything would be solved. But... I was too naive.

"After nearly wiping out all of the immortal spirits in the region, I encountered Howl, the current leader of the immortal spirits. He explained the origins of their power to me-balance. The forces of the immortal spirits and the Skyland Sun Technique are two opposing forces, balancing the light and dark energy of this region.

"If one were to vanish, the balance would be destroyed, plunging the entire area into chaos. That's when Howl and I struck a deal. I would allow the immortal spirits who wished to join the Lindejon Collective to stay while the rest could go freely.

"However, the spirits who joined the collective would have to follow the orders of the leader, which is me. That was the most crucial part of our deal."

"But you plan to take down the Celestial Tree... Doesn't that also disrupt the balance?" Thresmund asked.

Maxim nodded once more. "Of course, I know that. Which is why I organized the Myriad Immortals Gathering."

"W-What do you mean?" Thresmund asked, confused.

Maxim suddenly softened his tone, trying to sound emotional. "Take my advice and don't ask any more questions. Don't think about anything. For the next few days, just focus on finishing the competition."

"Why?" Thresmund pressed.

"There's no why, child. This is for your own protection. You don't need to know more."

Thresmund spat on the ground in disgust. "Stop treating me like a fool! Do you still think I'm a child?"