Chapter 110: Chapter 110
"Huh..." Althea exhaled a soft breath as she turned away from Ethan, pausing just long enough to clench and unclench her fists.
The relief of opening her heart to new connections—this one a stranger and yet remarkably intriguing—had been exhausting.
"It’s really hard to communicate with people, but Ethan is truly interesting and mysterious."
Her gaze lingered for a moment on Ethan’s retreating back, framed by the wild mountain air and fading light. When would she feel ready enough to approach him again, share her thoughts, explore what lay beneath his calm exterior?
"Enough for today," she mused, stepping away from the cliff’s edge.
"I’ve used up my communication quota for the month." With a final glance, she disappeared down the path leading away, leaving Ethan alone with the quiet majesty of the mountain.
Back in his residence, Ethan gently extracted the cold jade bottle containing the notoriously wild purple flame—the essence of the purple-eyed white fox. Unlike the familiar blue flame he had nurtured from its earliest, weakest state, this beast fire was untamed and volatile.
As the bottle was uncorked, the purple flame surged impulsively, snapping and licking as if furious at confinement.
Bang!
Without hesitation, Ethan produced the Chaos Clock from his treasures—a artifact that could both contain and regulate spiritual forces—and quickly sealed the purple flame inside.
"Go ahead," Ethan said under his breath. "Make as much noise as you want."
His focus shifted immediately to the blue flame, nestled within the jade bottle Holding Fire Jade and the Purple Flame Chalcedony—two rare and powerful heavenly treasures that fed and nurtured the flame’s growth ceaselessly.
The blue phoenix-shaped flame, curled protectively around the two precious stones, stirred subtly with newfound vigor. The fusion of heaven and earth treasures with the fire was the perfect catalyst to awaken the blue flame’s next evolutionary step—a transformation into an advanced innate spiritual fire.
Minutes in the stillness passed. Nothing more stirred inside the Chaos Clock. Ethan carefully closed it, mindful and patient.
The purple flame’s spirit form—a small white fox—lay tranquil now on the floor, no longer resisting but resigned to its fate. Since resistance had proven futile, it had accepted the protection surrounding the blue flame.
Ethan threw the subdued purple flame into the protective barrier enveloping the blue flame and turned away.
Now, all that remained was time and patience—spiritual flames’ transformations were notoriously slow, sometimes taking five or six years, sometimes longer.
Stepping outside, Ethan sought the mountain forest. With practiced precision, he set a protective formation and seated himself cross-legged on a smooth bluestone.
With a flick of his wrist, he withdrew several rare spiritual plants from his storage ring—vessels of essence that promised to aid his steady advancement—and began chanting, focusing deeply on the Celestial Jade Physique Scripture to press toward the pinnacle of the third stage.
As the weight of concentration settled over him, the sprawling rumors and news of the martial arts competition echoed widely through the Azure Origin Dao Sect.
Ethan had become an instant legend, his name spreading like wildfire, praised as a peerless genius rivaling even the Saint’s legends.
The stories whispered and roared across the sect within hours, certain his name was destined to be forever etched among the sect’s greatest on its ancient monument.
Late that night, deep within the Empress Palace, Seraphina’s voice broke the still air, tinged with determination and a hint of doubt.
"Master, there are still ten years until the Ancient Sect’s spiritual path trial. I want to enter the inheritance place to practice."
Lyralei rose from her futon with quiet composure. "With your current strength, entering is dangerous, but if you have resolved to go, I will not stop you."
Seraphina nodded resolutely.
"But Master..." her voice lowered, vulnerable. "Do you think I am truly no match for Ethan?"
Since the martial arts competition, doubt had crept relentlessly into her mind. The whispers repeated, "If the fight had continued, the Saint likely would have lost."
"Whether that is true, you have to find out yourself," Lyralei replied firmly.
She paused, her tone shifting to gentle wisdom.
"Seraphina, I once told you that as cultivators, striving for strength and victory is natural, but never let desire for victory rule your heart."
Seraphina bowed her head, clenched fists tightening with frustration and yearning. She could not accept the reality—that Ethan had risen beyond her reach.
"If you cannot clear this mental hurdle, how will you stand against the geniuses of Skyreach Territory in the future?" Lyralei’s gaze was intense yet encouraging.
"As long as you calm your heart and practice peacefully, it will not be hard to surpass Ethan in time."
Lyralei’s words were firm but cloaked in truth—words meant both to foster hope and to heal wounds.
"I understand what Master teaches," Seraphina whispered.
"But I fear that if I really lose to Ethan, or to other unknown challengers, will you, Master, abandon me?" she breathed out, vulnerability in every word.
"Do not worry," Lyralei assured, warmth creeping into her rare smile. "You will always be my good disciple."
"Even if Ethan defeats you one day, so what? Even if he wins next time, I will not allow him to become Saint simply because you were beaten once."
"Even as your Master, I was not invincible. I lost many times in my youth."
She sat and reflected before continuing, "When I first met Ethan, I intended him as your protector for the Ancient Sect’s spiritual path trial. But I never imagined how far he would grow. It’s astonishing."
Seraphina’s eyes steadied. "It’s alright, Master. I need not have Ethan as protector. As long as I have a protector skilled in physical cultivation, I will pass the trial and bring the Ancient Sect’s inheritance back."
Her voice was strong again, eyes blazing.
Master was right—her obsession with winning and losing had clouded her judgment.
Now the path was clear: correct her mindset, dedicate herself to practice, repay the Master’s kindness, and revitalize the sect.
As for Ethan—he was but a small physical cultivator favored by fate.
After she emerged victorious from the inheritance place and the spiritual path trial, she would face him again.
She would eliminate those darkest demons within her.
"Very good," Lyralei said with rare warmth, a smile touching her lips. "You may enter the inheritance place tomorrow."
"As ordered," Seraphina replied, resolve firm.
...
Time swept by in silent rhythm.
Ten years vanished like fleeting shadows.
In the late winter, under a sky heavy with snow, mist rolled lazily over Echo Lake. The air was crisp, the mist thick as distant secrets.
A figure dressed in simple blue cloth fished quietly in the cold wind and snow alongside a wooden barrel.
A Dao Sect disciple hurried along the path, breath distended from exertion.
"Senior Brother Ethan!"
"You kid, you scared my fish away!" Ethan shook his head.
"Sorry! Senior brother Ethan, Don’t be mad. The Ancient Sect’s Spiritual Path Trial is about to begin. Her Royal Highness the Saint will lead four protectors out. The oath-taking ceremony is at the Holy Peak. Don’t you want to see it?"
Ethan lifted his gaze to the heavy snow above, now soft and dense. "The Spiritual Road Trial is about to begin? Ten years have passed so quickly..."
He gave a faint wave and dismissed the thought, "There’s nothing worth seeing. Just go on."
The disciple nodded respectfully and turned away.
Within three minutes, Ethan’s fishing rod twitched sharply.
Huh~!
A koi fish took the bait at last.
Immediately, a blue shadow shimmered and transformed beside Ethan—an ethereal figure, intellectual and graceful.
[Congratulations to the host for completing this fishing mission.]
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