After dispatching the critical news back to the Black Demon Sect, the young man wasted no ti and disappeared into the shadows. His mission complete, he vanished like a wisp of smoke.
Deep within the Black Demon’s Hall, the nerve center of clandestine operations, an elder briskly entered, urgency etched into his features.
"Impossible!" He rasped, voice tight with disbelief.
A slim woman, poised and elegant, sat nearby. Her slender white palms carefully adorned with newly painted blood-colored nails, she responded coolly, "What has you so rattled?"
"The news from Ashen is false!" The elder declared, falling to one knee in reverence.
The woman’s eyes flickered with sudden sharpness, her curiosity piqued.
"He’s not dead? Is this true?"
"Indeed," the elder continued. "Our informants within the Azure Origin Dao Sect have confird the intelligence. To ensure accuracy, we dispatched a long-term agent currently concealed on the sect’s outskirts. The truth is undeniable—Ethan lives. Not only that, he defeated the sixth prince of the Vernal Dawn royal family yesterday."
"He is that prodigy who triumphed over the four great sects in the Skreach Domain during the Spiritual Path Trial."
"This Ethan... He can defeat even a prince. Perhaps he truly is the one who our ancestors wants dead. Fascinating." The woman’s tone was laced with cold calculation.
"It seems Ashen’s reports were mistaken. Perhaps he has been compromised or eliminated. Spread the word: summon all secret disciples back to the Azure Origin Dao Sect."
"Though the sixth prince is not the most remarkable among his kin, his talent has long overshadowed ordinary geniuses. He was a formidable opponent in the Spiritual Path Trial."
"This Ethan opposing him indicates a strength at least at the threshold of the Tribulation Transcendence realm. We cannot kill him while he is inside the Dao sect."
"Deploy four Dark Devil Secret Guard commanders to the outskirts of the Azure Origin Dao Sect," the woman commanded calmly, murderous intent shining in her eyes. "Once Ethan and Althea step beyond the sect’s borders, they must be eliminated."
"Four commanders—is that not excessive?" The elder questioned.
"Precisely because he is formidable, we must prepare with overwhelming power."
"Moreover, assign her to shadow him. If she can personally slay Ethan, it will greatly advance her cultivation." The woman’s gaze darkened, the plan unfolding perfectly.
The elder hesitated, about to speak regarding ’the saint’, but wisdom prevailed—you do not question the sect leader.
.....
Away from the clamor of Serene Mirror Lake, Ethan noticed a sudden, piercing silence envelop the world.
Landing smoothly atop the holy peak, he proceeded along the stone pathway.
Today, Lyralei would lead him to the inheritance place.
Approaching the mountain’s summit, a familiar figure stood poised at the path’s end.
Ethan’s brows furrowed—the rising silhouette was Seraphina.
She stood erect, gaze fixed on him, her expression as unreadable as ever.
Yet Ethan ignored her entirely, bypassing her without a glance.
Seraphina’s brow knitted in confusion and so asure of indignation.
Though she acknowledged Ethan’s vastly superior strength, he was still bound to honor her status as a saint of Azure Origin Dao Sect.
And today, following her master’s orders, she awaited him.
His blatant disregard stung deeply.
"Ethan!" Seraphina’s voice rang sharp.
"My master sent to wait for you here. She will be here soon."
Ethan halted briefly, the cold invitation hanging in the air.
Seraphina pressed on cautiously, "The inheritance place holds great treasures, but is fraught with peril. I advise you—"
Before she could finish, Ethan smiled sardonically. "Have you passed the inheritance test?"
"...No." Her voice faltered.
"Then, do you still dare to lecture others?" His sarcasm was dripping, nearly palpable.
"Ethan! Don’t go too far!" she warned in vexation.
"If my master hadn’t instructed , I wouldn’t even care to speak to you!" Seraphina retorted sharply.
Seraphina bit her lips, montarily shaken by his ruthless words; she wasn’t used to being mocked, especially not by soone she once considered soone worthless.
’Is it just because you are a little more talented than , a bit stronger... why must you constantly look down on ?’
"I don’t need your advice," Ethan snapped. "If you want to stop failing the Spiritual Path Trial, spend your ti practicing harder."
Though the words were not cruel in essence, their delivery harshly stung Seraphina’s pride.
She ground her teeth, bitter anger flaring for reasons she herself could hardly grasp.
Despite everything, deep down she admitted Ethan had transford—his power was sothing she couldn’t touch, even Bram was no longer a match.
Yet, even so, Ethan shouldn’t be so arrogant.
He was humble and low-key enough already.
"Who can even control him?!" Seraphina clenched her fists, anger and helplessness mingling vividly in her eyes.
While Ethan waited silently, his mind churned with thoughts of heavenly laws and cosmic secrets.
A sharp sound shattered the quiet.
Swift as lightning, a sword intent whipped toward Ethan, whipping wind into his face and tousling his hair.
Soone was clearly here for an encounter.
"Who are you? State your na!" Ethan’s voice rang out, steady and commanding.
In an instant, a dark silhouette streaked toward him.
The figure halted, commanding and proud, sword extended so its blade hovered re inches from Ethan’s brow.
The sword’s fierce aura surged, but it was instantly swallowed by the crimson aura coiling around Ethan.
Ethan, unyielding, remained rooted in place, the faintest trace of a smile curled on his lips—confidence in his own strength radiated effortlessly.
"I am Jasper Vale, one of the four commanders of the Shadow Guard," the young man declared, voice solemn and fatherly.
His cultivation was formidable—at the late Tribulation Transcendence realm, verging not far from its peak.
His mastery of the Sword Intent was perfect.
Though this eting was but a trial, he spoke with the certainty of one who could unsettle even Ethan.
Especially as Ethan’s blood aura seed to lt away Jasper’s sword intent on contact.
The news of Ethan’s crushing victory over the Sixth Prince had flooded the sect, spreading like wildfire.
Not just a victory—the humiliation Bram suffered cented Ethan’s newfound centrality in their world.
Though Bram had only reached the half step Tribulation Transcendence realm, Jasper was far stronger, close to peak.
Though not one to underestimate the young man, Jasper saw Ethan as a dangerous rising star who might soon overshadow even him.
"Jasper Vale, right? I’ve seen you before. You’re playing with fire," Ethan responded calmly.
A/N:
Extra Chapters
100 power stones - 1 Extra Chapters
200 power stones - 2 Extra Chapters
Capsule - 1 Extra Chapters
Massage Chair - 3 Extra Chapters
Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters
Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters
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