Chapter 114: Chapter 114 (Massage chair Extra Chapter)
With a thought, Ethan drew the Chaos Clock back into his palm, the dark golden artifact pulsing gently as if satisfied.
He exhaled deeply, the breath steady and calm, but inside lay a measure of sacrifice.
Using several drops of his essence and blood to activate the Chaos Clock was no small loss—it cost him greatly. Yet his formidable recovery ability meant he would fully restore himself within half a month of rest and focus.
Ashen was dead, and with the formation’s collapse, the tremors and dark energies around Echo Lake began to dissipate.
Ethan’s hand reached instinctively, catching Ashen’s storage ring and the black sickle that fell like a fallen star onto the frozen water.
A cultivator who had reached the late Tribulation Transcendence realm would surely have many precious treasures stored within their ring—and Ashen was no exception.
However, what piqued Ethan’s interest most was the lingering formation—the Black Death Formation that had nearly engulfed him.
This formation was no ordinary thing. It was clearly a high grade formation of terrifying capability.
If he could comprehend its mechanism and harness its power, he would add a powerful trump card to his own arsenal.
The method of voluntary living sacrifice—although horrifying and damaging to bloodlines and relationships—when wielded with caution, was undeniably potent.
"This time...we’ve gained much," Ethan murmured as he tucked away the ring and disappeared from the snow-covered shores of Echo Lake.
The wind and flakes of snow swirled unchanged, soon covering the area with their cold embrace once more.
Before long, three gleaming streaks of light sped from the distant horizon, halting gracefully above Echo Lake.
It was Empress Lyralei, accompanied by Seraphina and Flint.
Seraphina looked changed—there were subtle marks of transformation upon her, but her disdain and aloof temperament remained entrenched.
Her passage through the inheritance place had left its mark, catapulting her into the Body Integration realm and vastly strengthening her.
The swearing-in ceremony had just concluded when Lyralei detected something amiss from afar and hurried with her disciple and Flint to investigate.
"Master, why the urgency to bring us to Echo Lake?" Seraphina asked, confusion momentarily softening her tone.
"There is a great battle here," Lyralei replied quietly, eyes scanning the area with offense and concern.
Her brow furrowed, her expression tightening with a sense akin to déjà vu.
"Scythe intent?" she murmured, closing her eyes to sense the spiritual residue.
This was the very same scythe intent left behind on that fateful night more than ten years ago.
Could it be that the same senior cultivator that hid from the world’s gaze?
She pondered quietly.
"How?" she asked quietly, turning to Flint who had explored the surrounding area.
Flint returned, frowning as he unpacked his report.
"The body is lost, but demonic energy lingers," he said solemnly.
"Fragments of clothing found here belong to Ashen."
He handed over an elder token.
"Elden’s token...he must be dead," Flint added gravely.
Lyralei sighed deeply. "After monitoring him for decades, he’s gone just like that?"
"If fate called, fate came," Flint shrugged.
"It’s a shame we lost more chance to learn about the Black Demon Sect’s movements from him."
For years, she had kept Flint spying on Ashen, unwilling to act.
All she wanted was to manipulate events, extracting information on the demons’ plots.
Unfortunately, no substantial progress had ever been made.
"Ashen, elder of Azure Sky Peak?" Seraphina inquired.
"Yes. A demon spy," Lyralei confirmed.
"Despite Flint’s constant surveillance, we did not foresee his death."
"So this demon spy lurked in our midst...and we fear there are others?"
Seraphina’s voice trembled, the possibility chilling her.
Lyralei nodded gravely.
"Yes. But after decades of searching, no further clues have surfaced."
Seraphina’s brow tightened.
"Shouldn’t we send out the Law Enforcement Hall and have them investigate every disciple thoroughly."
"No need to worry," Lyralei assured her.
"We will soon head to the Mountains for the Spiritual Path Trial with clear minds. All demon affairs have been quietly taken care of."
"Master...you truly think long-term."
"But one question remains," Seraphina said hesitantly.
"Ashen himself was a powerhouse at the late Tribulation Transcendence realm. Who could have killed him so swiftly?"
"Remember when I brought you here ten years ago?"
"I remember."
"At that time, the energies of heaven and earth converged with that scythe intent," Lyralei explained. "Now, the scythe’s intent recurs—just as it did then."
"Perhaps it is one of our senior masters cloaked in the world’s shadows. If so, we must not disturb him."
"I understand, Master," Seraphina bowed deeply.
"Let us go." Lyralei cupped her hands in reverence toward Echo Lake.
Seraphina did likewise, honoring the senior presences surrounding the lake.
When they reached Serene Mirror Lake, Seraphina cast a glance toward the hillside buildings—Ethan’s residence.
But she was no longer the same person from years ago.
Ethan’s presence no longer pierced her quiet resolve.
Her focus now was the spiritual path trial—to grasp every chance for a grand inheritance.
Upon returning, the Holy Throne Challenge Trial would proceed as scheduled—a challenge required of every saint.
There, she would stand before all disciples of the Azure Origin Dao Sect in defense of her title.
As long as undefeated, her place as Saintess was secured.
One loss, and the sacred seat would pass to another.
Ethan, with his unyielding spirit and character, was sure to challenge her honor once again.
By then, all grudges and debts would be resolved.
A half month later, Ethan stirred from meditation, eyes snapping open with renewed clarity.
The essence and blood he had spent had been restored fully, his body once again perfectly whole.
Currently, the sect was in transition—the Great Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall temporarily serving as sect leader.
Lyralei had led Seraphina and a group of powerful cultivators to the Ancient Sect’s Mountain to participate in the Spiritual Path Trial.
Each spiritual path trial dictated the destiny of Skyreach Territory for decades, even centuries.
The Holy Throne Challenge Trial awaited on the horizon, but Ethan cared little for sect politics.
His solitary goal was to break through into the divine fire realm—nothing else mattered now.
Suddenly!
A deep rumble echoed.
Ethan’s eyes darted toward the blue flame not far away within his protective formation.
His treasured blue flame had just absorbed the Essence of Fire Jade and Purple Flame Chalcedony completely.
Now, it had engulfed the purple flame whole.
The body of flame swelled rapidly, power surging with urgent fervor.
And then...
It rose up, breaking the constraints of its enclosure, flaring into the air.
Suddenly, wings blossomed wide, painting the sky with brilliant azure light.
Boom~!
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
....
Thanks for the Massage chair: @Kaishepard28