This speed was simply too fast.
Sylren's heart was still pounding violently when Ethan appeared beside him like a ghost. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
"You may co and go as you please," Sylren said hurriedly, forcing himself to bow slightly. "We will never interfere."
After speaking, he decisively led his eight brothers and sisters far away, not daring to linger even half a breath longer.
This ti, Sylren truly learned his lesson.
He finally understood one thing clearly—if Ethan wanted them dead, there would not even be ti to regret it. The only way for the three-legged Golden Crows to survive was to behave.
Ethan did not spare them another glance.
As long as these so-called guardians knew their place, he had no interest in slaughtering them like poultry.
He walked slowly to the lakeside.
The surface of the lake was calm, reflecting the sky like a mirror. Ethan sat down on a bluestone by the shore, his expression relaxed for the first ti since entering the Training Trial Secret Realm.
With a thought, the nine-colored Soul-Leaving Bottle appeared in his palm.
A flash of multicolored light burst forth.
Elara, Risa, and Kara appeared behind him.
The three of them had been resting inside the Soul-Leaving Bottle. Being suddenly released, they were montarily disoriented.
"Where… is this?" Kara muttered, rubbing her eyes like she had just woken from a deep sleep.
"It's still the valley," Elara said, pressing her fingers to her temples as clarity returned to her gaze.
"…We're out already?" Kara froze for a mont before turning to Ethan.
"Junior brother, what's the situation now?"
Ethan gazed at the lake, his tone calm and steady.
"It's over."
"The Hibiscus Fruits have been obtained."
"The people from White Emperor City have left."
"And the Palace of the Four Cycles… has been repelled."
"Repelled?" Risa repeated blankly.
Then her eyes widened.
"By you alone?"
A look of disbelief flashed across her face, followed by complete numbness.
At this point, she had grown used to being shocked by Ethan.
One person forcing back the Palace of the Four Cycles—an existence feared throughout the Demon Territory.
She didn't even dare imagine how terrifying Ethan's true combat power had beco.
The only regret was that she hadn't witnessed the battle with her own eyes.
What a loss.
"Junior brother," Kara said eagerly, her gaze sweeping across the valley, "aren't you going to collect the dicinal herbs here?"
The valley was filled with rare plants tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of years old—treasures unseen in the outside world for generations.
Even if they couldn't compare to Hibiscus Fruits, picking just a few would be enough to ignite a bloody storm.
Converted into cultivation resources, they could support a top-tier cultivator for decades.
More importantly, these were treasures with price but no market.
Who didn't covet such things?
"If you're not afraid of death," Lunara said indifferently from the side, "you can try."
Elara and Risa turned toward the voice.
At first glance, they were stunned.
Only now did they truly notice Lunara's presence.
Instinctively, the two took several steps back.
"Y-Your Highness the Saintess… the Saintess?" Elara blurted out before quickly calming herself.
She didn't know why Lunara was here.
But since Ethan said nothing, it ant Lunara was not an enemy.
"I wonder what Her Majesty ans by that?" Elara asked cautiously.
"You don't need to call Saintess," Lunara replied with a gentle smile.
"I've already left the Palace of the Four Cycles."
"We are friends now."
Her smile was light and relaxed—far freer than it had ever been before.
Since leaving the Palace of the Four Cycles, she felt as though invisible shackles had finally been removed.
Her heart had never been this calm.
"Friends…" Elara murmured.
Truth be told, she was burning with curiosity.
The Saintess of the Palace of the Four Cycles—future Chief Palace Master—had openly betrayed the Palace and chosen to follow Ethan.
What in the world had happened?
Her gossip-loving nature stirred uncontrollably.
"I hope you don't mind asking," Elara said carefully.
"What exactly happened between Miss Lunara and the Palace of the Four Cycles?"
Lunara's smile faded.
"I am not a mber of the Golden Phoenix clan," she said slowly.
"I was nothing more than Valerius's puppet."
"If not for Mr. Ethan, I would still be trapped there."
"All my life, I've only had one thought—revenge."
"I want to kill Valerius with my own hands."
The mont Valerius's na was spoken, Lunara's expression darkened sharply.
Her fists clenched.
Hatred surged in her eyes like raging flas.
Elara felt the intense resentnt and imdiately fell silent.
She knew better than to continue probing.
If Lunara truly lost control, even a single slap would be more than she could endure.
Ethan waved his hand.
The three won stepped closer.
With a thought, two Hibiscus Fruits floated out.
One landed gently in front of Elara.
The other hovered before Lunara.
"This one," Ethan said calmly, "is for the Sky family."
Elara's pupils shrank violently.
She hurriedly extended her hands, catching the Hibiscus Fruit glowing with green brilliance and boundless vitality.
Her heart trembled.
She had wanted a Hibiscus Fruit—of course she had.
But she never expected Ethan to give one to her family.
After all, with Ethan's current strength, he owed her nothing.
Even if he took everything, no one could say a word.
Yet he still gave.
Surprise, excitent, gratitude, and even a trace of disbelief surged through her heart.
"This is what your Sky family deserves," Ethan said evenly.
"But after this, Don't ask for anything else."
"N-No—thank you, Mr. Ethan," Elara said hurriedly.
"A Hibiscus Fruit is already more than enough."
Then, her cheeks flushed faintly.
"From now on… I, Elara, belong to you."
"I'll be your slave—your maid—whatever you decide."
Her voice grew softer and softer, almost inaudible.
In na, she was already his fiancée.
The mont those words fell, subtle changes appeared on the faces of Kara and Lunara.
Lunara remained calm.
It was only natural—an outstanding man like Ethan would never lack admirers.
She was rely surprised by Elara's straightforwardness.
Wasn't Miss Elara known to be cold and aloof?
It seed that before absolute strength and brilliance, even the proudest woman could soften.
Kara, however, was far less composed.
She stared at Elara intently, snorting inwardly.
"This fox…"
Her gaze imdiately shifted to Ethan, waiting anxiously for his response.
Ethan shook his head slightly.
"Miss Elara, there's no need."
"As I said before, I only joined the son-in-law selection for the Sage Token—and to help you along the way."
"There's no need to be a slave. I, Ethan, don't like forcing others to do things."
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