Chapter 50: Chapter 50
"This is but a small test from the Supreme Elder—you can refuse," Elder Azel intoned gravely as Ethan stood on the threshold of deeper darkness.
"Those sealed on the lower floors," Azel continued, "are demons and monsters as powerful as we elders—or even stronger. Their skills and methods surpass that demoness you recently faced."
Azel’s voice grew somber.
"Despite the protections of the formation restrictions, if your realm is insufficiently high, I fear for your safety. The demonic energy, and especially the monstrous demon fire below us, will ravage anything unprepared."
Before Azel could finish, Ethan cut him off smoothly.
"Does Elder Azel think this disciple reckless?"
Azel shook his head, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"You are not reckless, on the contrary... you are shrewd and cautious."
Ethan’s confidence flared. "If Elder Azel thinks so, then there is no cause for concern. This Disciple has his own means to protect himself. Otherwise, I would not have agreed to Mr. Burn’s offer."
Satisfied, Azel lowered his warnings. He too recognized Ethan’s talents and had no wish to dampen his confidence and spirit.
But from the shadows, a voice rang out, dripping with malice and scorn. It was the demoness from the succubus clan in the demon race who had confronted Ethan—not forgotten, but seething as she spat venom toward him.
"Haha! You overestimate yourself, human boy. Even with the formations, my demonic power will crush an mere ant like you in an instant. Dare descend now, and tomorrow will be your death anniversary!"
Her arrogant laughter echoed through the stone as she taunted.
Ethan met her eyes with a smirk balanced equally on disdain and cold amusement.
"So your mighty charm was broken by an mere ant? I’m truly ashamed for your succubus clan, such pitiful charm ."
Her eyes burned with fury, words laced with venom.
"You wretched human filth! You seek your own death!"
Undeterred, Ethan pushed closer and pressed with just words alone—wounding her clans pride and her own pride more than her flesh.
Enraged beyond measure, her defenses shattered, and demonic energy erupted unchecked. Wild, furious, her demonic energy clawed at the very cave walls of the cell that her imprisoned.
But even that power could do nothing against the carefully sealed formations of the Demon sealing cave.
Her illusions, ephemeral though deadly, slipped through and twisted reality, but every other assault failed to pierce the formations of the cave protecting Ethan’s path.
Seeing her fury cloud into impotence, Ethan bowed slighting to Azel with a mischievous grin.
"Elder Azel, if you will, please lead the way."
"Good," Azel replied. "Come along."
Leaving the seething succubus to roar within her prison, they pressed deeper into the cave.
Azel’s voice lowered with the gravity of knowledge.
"Eighteen floors form the Demon Sealing Cave. The sixteenth is typically the limit for ordinary disciples of the sect."
He paused at a winding stairwell that plunged farther down, his eyes glinting with warning.
"The seventeenth floor requires near strength and power of the Body Integration Realm—or better. Beyond this point, many of lesser strength than the Body Integration realm never return and even people stronger than the Body Integration realm get affected by the strong demonic energy down here."
Ethan’s expression hardened with resolve as he sensed the oppressive demonic aura swirling ahead.
"The demon fire here is too potent, Ethan, and it corrode the body and spirit alike," Azel cautioned.
But Ethan was no ordinary disciple. His body, tempered like nature’s fiercest beast, burned with its own rare, blue phoenix flame. Though still nascent, this blue phoenix flame clashed with the cruel, icy demonic aura with chilling confidence.
The pair spiraled downward until at last they reached the entrance to the eighteenth floor. Heavy breath escaped Ethan’s lungs as heat—raw and overwhelming—wreathed the opening.
"The demon fire energy here is undeniable!" he murmured, eyes flashing with excitement. "This is the innate spiritual fire!"
Azel’s brows knitted in concern at Ethan’s eager gaze.
"You are to tread carefully, young one. The eighteenth floor is unique—not only infused with the demonic energy but also the very essence of demon fire."
"That fire pulses like an unquenchable inferno—an eternal flame born of the abyss."
Ethan’s mind raced.
"I believe this is the flame that can nurture and evolve my blue phoenix’s fire into true innate spiritual fire—a dream long held."
The flicker of hope drew a faint smile from Azel. "You seem to covet the fire’s power. This is a rare will among the young."
"Yes," Ethan nodded steadily.
"Using flame energy to temper the body may be crazy, but my path is one of physical cultivation, and fire is its cornerstone."
Azel chuckled softly.
"Physical cultivation may be old-fashioned and declining, but your results challenge all that. It’s no wonder your strength exceeds many of your peers."
While Elder Azel’s knowledge did not reach the experience of Supreme Elder Burn, his years and insight ran deeper than most, enough to recognize a rare path.
"Understanding you are on the right path may be half the battle in body cultivation."
They crossed the threshold at the eighteenth floor, where Azel handed Ethan a jade token bearing ancient runes.
"This grants you passage—and signals your arrival."
"Thank you, Elder Azel. I will follow carefully," Ethan replied, offering a respectful cup of hands.
"It is my duty," Azel said, bowing briefly before stepping away into shadows.
Ethan faced into the cave’s belly—heavy waves of hot, demonic breath pouring like molten fire.
"Heaven- piercing Mind Eyes," he whispered, releasing his power as his pupils shone a spectral blue.
The cavern blazed to life beneath his mental gaze. Wisps of black mist swirled—imperious flame energy born of ancient magic and malice.
Where demon fire met the drifting mist, it sputtered and scattered—an unseen battle between furious elements.
Ethan’s eyes caught a movement in his storage ring—a faint flicker of energy.
"Well, did you feel it too?" Ethan looked at the blue flame in the jade bottle.