Under the gloomy, heavy twilight, the former luster of the Rainbow Welfare Institute had completely faded.

Only a mottled, dilapidated sign remained, hanging solitarily above the crumbling doorframe.

The three words, "Rainbow Welfare Institute,"

looked both ironic and desolate, weathered by the winds and frosts of time.

Every stroke carried endless sorrow and a forgotten past,

slowly gnawed away by the merciless teeth of time until they were unrecognizable.

Two wooden doors, heavy as lead, stood like aged guardians that had long lost their former dignity. Ajar, they exuded an air of desolation and solitude.

The wind threaded wantonly through the ruined walls, carrying a bone-chilling cold as it whipped the man-high thickets of weeds within the courtyard into a frenzy.

These weeds grew wildly in twisted shapes, their edges tinged with an ominous, dark green hue.

They swayed in the wind, making a rustling sound, 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

like low whispers, or perhaps mournful wails,

adding a touch of gloom and horror to this abandoned place.

The sky was shrouded by a thick, curtain-like haze, and sunlight struggled to pierce the heavy gray veil.

Only a few wisps of light, as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, barely managed to outline the building’s silhouette.

Every brick and stone seemed to whisper softly of past sins and suffering.

Inside the prison cells, forgotten instruments of torture lay scattered about.

Some were so corroded by rust that their original forms were almost indiscernible, while others still retained their gruesome shapes.

The dried bloodstains on them, like deep imprints left by time, silently spoke of past cruelty and injustice.

The air was thick with a stale, oppressive scent—a mixture of earth, dampness, and decay. Every breath felt like inhaling memories of the past.

Occasionally, a gust of wind would carry the faint sounds of weeping and wailing from a distance—the souls trapped here, still desperately seeking release and salvation.

On this land secretly watched by the eerie Evil Spirits of the Black Continent Grassland, the Rainbow Welfare Institute was about to become the next target to be devoured.

It would ultimately meet its end in some unknown corner, silently becoming a terrifying legend that existed only in the depths of memory.

The lingering Vampire Clan bloodline within Xiao Cangqing’s body was reignited by Ye Lingyun, restoring it to its complete state.

However, this bloodline’s power was no longer as formidable as that of an Ancestor.

It was now merely at the level of an ordinary Vampire Clan member.

To help Xiao Cangqing better disguise himself as this puppet of a supreme ruler,

Ye Lingyun specially condensed a drop of her essence blood and placed it inside Xiao Cangqing’s body.

This allowed Xiao Cangqing’s body to continuously exude the same oppressive aura as before,

but it was merely an empty facade.

Once Xiao Cangqing’s body had fully recovered, under the dual pressure of Chu He and Ye Lingyun,

he was forced to put on his previous imposing air and walk out of the Rainbow Welfare Institute.

However, this brought Xiao Cangqing some small measure of comfort.

At least he wouldn’t be mocked by scum like Ji Shengyue.

When the group walked out of the Rainbow Welfare Institute,

all eyes fell on Chu He and Xiao Cangqing.

No one noticed Ye Lingyun, who was completely wrapped in a black robe.

After mastering the true and complete power of the Vampire Clan’s Ancestor Cain,

Ye Lingyun’s physical features had inevitably changed.

For example, her blood-red pupils, the sharp teeth she couldn’t hide behind her lips, her slightly pointed ears, and her pale skin.

As Chu He’s only direct disciple, Ye Lingyun was also closely watched by many people and factions.

Therefore, before leaving the Rainbow Welfare Institute, they found a large black robe for Ye Lingyun to wear.

As expected, she didn’t attract any attention. After all, with two influential figures like Chu He and Xiao Cangqing present,

it was difficult for anyone to shift their gaze elsewhere.

"Due to special circumstances,

the champion of the first Martial Arts Academy Ranking Tournament is the National Road Academy from the Great Xia Empire."

Xiao Cangqing walked before the crowd and announced loudly.

His words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing an uproar among everyone present.

Even the viewers in the livestream chat exploded.

"What’s going on? They’re announcing the champion so hastily?"

"Didn’t they say the final ranking would be based on the weight of the Ruby resources collected? Why wasn’t there a weigh-in for the Rubies?"

"Something must have happened inside the Rainbow Welfare Institute."

The livestream viewers all zoomed in on the screen, searching for details frame by frame.

They saw that the strange phenomena at the distant Rainbow Welfare Institute had vanished,

and that many teams and unfamiliar faces had left from inside and never returned.

"I wish you all a safe journey home."

Xiao Cangqing said a few simple words, then turned and left directly.

A group of Vampire Clan members hidden in the shadows saw Xiao Cangqing leaving

and immediately appeared by his side.

The other powers from the various Empires present were no fools, either.

They knew something must have happened inside the Rainbow Welfare Institute.

They feared that only Chu He and Xiao Cangqing knew what had transpired, and they didn’t dare ask too many questions.

And so, the eagerly awaited Martial Arts Academy Ranking Tournament came to a hasty end.

The final winner, naturally, was none other than the Great Xia Empire’s National Road Academy.

"In that case, I must also be returning."

Guerrero’s current state

was like a spring bud blooming after a long winter; though still tinged with a weakness that hadn’t fully faded, his eyes already shone with the light of rebirth.

He looked up at the sky, which had long been obscured by the heavy gloom of the Black Continent Grassland.

At this moment, it seemed to sense a summons and became unusually sensitive.

Suddenly, a fissure split the sky—not with the violence of thunder and lightning, but with an ultimate brilliance.

Like the purest star in the universe falling, it pierced through the thick layers of clouds.

The light was completely untainted, sharp and dazzling, like the sword of a deity, cutting through the long-standing oppression and darkness.

It not only pierced the clouds but also the gloom in people’s hearts, making them hold their breath and stare involuntarily.

This light slowly condensed in the air, gradually forming a celestial ladder leading to the unknown heavens.

It was not built of any mortal substance but was woven from light of the utmost purity, shimmering with a heart-stopping splendor.

The ladder was straight and solemn, like the sole passage connecting the Mortal World and the Divine Realm, guiding believers and explorers toward a higher plane.

As the ladder materialized, the surrounding air seemed to tremble.

A melodious and sacred song quietly arose, its sound ethereal, neither human nor achievable by any instrument.

It was like a call from ancient times, or a resonance from the depths of the cosmos, each note holding the power to soothe and enlighten.

This hymn felt like the shared resonance of countless devout believers’ hearts, crossing the boundaries of time and space to sing in unison of their yearning for light and their desire for the unknown.

Guerrero took a determined step forward, each one in harmony with the rhythm of the celestial ladder.

His figure, illuminated by the light, appeared exceptionally tall as he gradually strode toward the domain of Deities.

The members of the Bright Holy See behind him had the same light shining in their eyes. They followed closely behind Guerrero,

their hearts filled with reverence and excitement, as if they were participating in a sacred and solemn ceremony.

As Guerrero and the others advanced, the ladder of light began to change miraculously.

It was no longer a static staircase but seemed to possess life, slowly contracting and tightly enveloping everyone within it.

When the last ray of light vanished into the sky, Guerrero and his companions merged into the firmament,

leaving behind only the purified sky and the lingering echo of the hymn, which resonated in the air for a long, long time.