The True Beyond Realm, and What Makes a Sage

Deep within the base's underground prison, moisture condensed on the stone walls and trickled down along the grooves of the runic patterns.

Inside the iron-gray water cell, an intricate water-element Restraining Formation operated continuously. Countless dark-blue motes of spiritual light flowed beneath the surface, and with every pulse, fine ripples spread outward from the heart of the formation.

Chou Chou sat cross-legged at the center of the formation, his hands resting on his knees and his body slightly hunched. There was not the slightest fluctuation of True Essence around him, because the Restraining Formation had completely sealed his Qi Sea and Spirit Veins.

Red Aunt stood on the dry platform with her arms folded, a calm victor's smile hanging at the corner of her lips.

She looked at Chou Chou, her tone carrying the amusement of a cat playing with a mouse. "Still unconvinced?"

Chou Chou lifted his eyelids. Anger filled his eyes, but not the savagery one might have expected. Instead, there was a weariness even he himself had never noticed. He replied, "I'm not unconvinced. The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit. Even mortals understand that principle. How could I not?"

He paused, his voice lowering. "I'm just... a little unwilling to accept it."

"Unwilling to accept what?"

Red Aunt asked with interest, "You ran the Withered Glory Society for so many years. You've seen your share of storms. You shouldn't lack even this much composure."

Chou Chou lowered his head, his gaze falling on his reflected face in the water. That face had long lost the sharpness it possessed when he first arrived in this world. All that remained was an ordinary outline, its edges worn away by time and defeat.

After a long silence, he finally spoke again. "You wouldn't understand."

Red Aunt laughed. "I've