Chapter 84: Chapter 84
The elder did not utter a single word; instead, his brow furrowed deeply as he mobilized his spiritual energy.
With a fierce grip, he attempted to yank the disciple token from Ethan’s hand.
Ethan’s fingers, however, clamped down like a relentless vise. No matter how much the elder struggled, the token would not budge.
"How is this possible?" The square-faced elder’s expression morphed from determination to utter disbelief.
He was no ordinary man, his cultivation realm stood firmly in the Void Amalgamation stage, a powerhouse of a cultivator.
A crowd began to stir behind them.
"What’s happening over there?"
"Why is it suddenly so slow?"
Murmurs rippled through the gathering.
The elder’s face flushed crimson as he poured every ounce of his strength into pulling the token free.
Yet his efforts were in vain. The cold, contemptuous smile that played on Ethan’s lips stung him deeper than any physical resistance.
Humiliated, his muscles straining, the elder’s legs wobbled.
Suddenly, the strength slipped from Ethan’s grip, and with a lurch, the elder staggered backward. The chair beneath him tipped with a loud clatter as he nearly fell to the ground.
Thankfully, he managed a swift backward step and regained his balance, avoiding a complete public disaster.
Laughter burst forth from the crowd, uncertain and confused at first, but soon hearty and unabashed at the elder’s predicament.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
Amid the laughter, a sharp voice cut through the din.
"elder, what is the meaning of this?"
Quill Stone, the third elder of Serpentwind Peak and overseer of the registration, strode over with a measured expression.
"It’s nothing," the elder hastily assured him, hastily righting his fallen chair and resuming his task.
"Work efficiently. We cannot waste time and hold up the afternoon events," Quill reminded with a glance toward the waiting crowd.
Though pride burned, the elder knew better than to challenge Ethan’s strength further. The gap between them was clear, Ethan was far stronger than rumor had suggested.
The man had faced and defeated every challenge thrown his way this day.
He swallowed his bitterness and chastised himself for his earlier arrogance.
"elder elder, perhaps it is best to keep your mouth closed from now on."
Ethan’s chuckle was low and mocking as he reclaimed his token and turned away from the scene.
He left the crowded square and made his way to the northern foot of Serpentwind Peak.
Here lay a broad valley, etched into the landscape like a natural arena—this was the martial arts performance ground where the Four Peaks competition would unfold.
The place buzzed with life. Apart from the disciples of the four major peaks, many from the other twelve peaks of the Azure Origin Dao Sect had convened.
The competition was not merely a test of strength but a grand spectacle. The crowd was drawn by excitement, opportunity, and the chance to peek into the current power balance among the sect’s elite.
As Ethan entered the arena, a familiar voice called out beside him.
"Hello, we meet again."
He turned, revealing a young man with short, unruly hair and a long sword sheathed across his back. His demeanor was calm yet carried an unyielding undercurrent of power.
Recognition settled over Ethan like a shadow. This was the man he had glimpsed near the library door days before and at the Echo lake near the Empress.
Flint Hollow.
Beneath the surface, this man concealed strength at the late stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, a realm where one could become a peak master.
Ethan recalled the night at Echo Lake when he saw Flint standing close to the Empress herself, a silent sentinel perhaps.
Now, Flint’s aura was denser than ever, a clear sign of growth and improvement.
"We meet again. I don’t know what to call you," Ethan asked.
"Flint Hollow, disciple of Azure Sky Peak."
"Then I am Ethan, a fellow disciple of Azure Sky Peak; I shall call you Senior Brother Flint," Ethan replied respectfully.
"Whatever," Flint responded dismissively, indifferent to titles.
"You are strong," Flint observed coolly.
"No one in this competition stands a real chance against you."
"Senior Brother Flint is the strongest competitor here," Ethan concurred with a faint smile.
"If I meet you in the ring, I might as well surrender right away," he joked, though beneath the humor his mind raced.
Flint was a master of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, coming here to play at this competition was like a mighty tiger pretending to be a pig. Such praise was strategic, no doubt veiling far deadlier intent.
"I’m merely going through the motions; no need to worry," Flint replied with a sly grin.
Ethan nodded slowly.
"May I ask... why are you here, Senior Brother Flint?"
"Ordered to be," Flint answered curtly before turning toward the grandstand and seating himself.
The weight of that answer lingered.
Ordered by whom? The question hung unanswered, but Ethan’s instincts spoke volumes.
He had seen Flint alongside Lyralei that night. Without a doubt, Flint should be here on her command.
What role did Flint play in Lyralei’s plans? Perhaps monitoring Ashen, the demon spy.
Ethan rubbed his chin thoughtfully and took a seat beside Flint.
Suddenly, voices drifted nearby.
"I heard Her Royal Highness the Saint will personally attend this competition!"
"When Her Royal Highness watches, every move counts. If you perform well, you could be chosen as a protector—imagine the bright future and the possibility of winning a beautiful woman’s heart!"
"Don’t get your hopes up. Kain of Serpentwind is very close to Her Majesty the Saint. He’s talented and handsome."
"Seraphina... ha! That’s amusing," Ethan sneered silently.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang sharply across the arena.
"Ethan!"
He turned to see Kain approaching, wearing light yellow robes, his fists clenched tight and teeth gritted in determination.
"I didn’t expect you to join Azure Sky Peak," Kain said, his tone edged with challenge.
"When we face off in this competition, you’ll see that today is not like before.. I’ll defeat you, utterly."
Ethan chuckled, eyes narrowing with cold amusement.
"It’s true... we are enemies on a narrow path."
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