Chapter 95: Chapter 95 (Massage chair Extra Chapter)
The arrival of the three peak masters caused immediate chaos and excitement to ripple across the martial arts arena.
Elden, Gale, and the others stood up at once, cupping their hands in respectful greeting. "I didn’t expect that the three of you would grace us with your presence today," Elden said.
Edwin’s sharp gaze settled on Althea, the Sword Peak Master whose reputation had only grown in recent years.
"You haven’t even been peak master for a decade, yet your sword intent has surpassed expectations and you’ve stepped into the Tribulation Transcendence realm. Most impressive!"
"Uncle Edwin is too kind," Althea replied with gentle composure.
"Compared to your mastery, my sword skills are still lacking."
Edwin shook his head, a faint smile curving his lips as he cast a sidelong glance toward his daughter.
"You’re far too modest. If Liana were half as talented or focused as you, I’d be content. But this girl’s mind always wanders far from cultivation."
Althea smiled as well. "Junior Sister Liana’s carefree nature is enviable. Some people are happy without tasting the bitterness of hardship."
Before the nostalgia could settle, Gale interrupted with a forced smile and a wave of his hand.
"You three, please take your seats. I didn’t expect such interest from you all." Deep inside, his mood soured—yesterday, Ethan’s victory had humiliated his Golden Light, and now the entire sect gathered to watch a contest that might deepen that wound.
The master of Celestial Lotus Peak chuckled lightly. "Curiosity gets the best of us! I want to see just how a disciple imprisoned in the Serene Mirror Lake managed to rise up so quickly."
Carefree Peak’s master nodded in agreement, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Pure physical cultivation at this level is almost unheard of. It’s a rare chance to observe."
Althea joined in, her tone elegant and serene. "I’ve never met Ethan, but stories abound that he caught the Empress’s favor before his exile. To return and reach such heights after ten years in hardship—there must be something unique about him."
At that moment, two more streams of light descended on the highest viewing platform.
The figures resolved into Seraphina, the Saint, and Lilith, the Black Oath Commander.
Seraphina moved gracefully, cupping her hands.
"My respects to all the peak masters—and to Master Edwin."
The assembled elders and masters returned her greeting.
Seraphina and Lilith took their seats.
Seraphina’s gaze flickered uneasily as she caught sight of Althea—a familiar tension twisting her elegant features. When Seraphina accepted the saint’s position, rumors had swirled accusing her of usurping Althea’s rightful place, despite Althea’s own choice to step aside. Seraphina had endured many doubts until her cultivation silenced the voices, but seeing Althea again stirred up all those buried uncertainties.
Ethan watched the observing platform from his own. Althea’s beauty and bearing were impossible to ignore; her sword intent flowed around her like an invisible robe, waiting patiently for battle.
Tribulation Transcendence realm—though newly entered—yet none of the other peak masters dared claim superiority over her.
Ethan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
"Azure Origin Dao Sect is truly filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons."
Althea’s sharp mind felt that sigh from across the arena, her spiritual senses tingling. She frowned, focusing in Ethan’s direction.
"Such a powerful mental fluctuation... Who is this?" Her gaze probed sitting area, filing away her impressions.
Seraphina, meanwhile, glanced at Ethan out of habit, but quickly shifted her attention to Kain.
A look of disappointment flickered across her eyes as she realized Kain’s condition, sending a chill through his soul.
Kain’s eyes squeezed shut, fists trembling as the sting of her disappointment sliced deeper than any wound.
Elsewhere on the platform, Ashen sat quietly, keeping to himself with a studious air—more interested in the powerful newcomers than the competition. His sharp gaze roved over Edwin and Althea with increasing concern.
"Edwin is on the verge of Mahayana breakthrough, and Althea just entered Tribulation Transcendence. Given a few more years, these two would be the greatest obstacles to our Black Demon Sect’s ambitions."
His thoughts twisted with frustration. "With this lineup, unifying the Skyreach Territory becomes even harder for us. The fate of this sect is damnably stubborn—how infuriating."
Deciding not to linger among such a dangerous crowd, Ashen quietly withdrew, calculating when best to strike and who to target.
He blended back into the waves of disciples, cautious not to draw the gaze of top cultivators.
Ethan tracked Ashen with cool disinterest, noting his departure.
"Cunning old fox. He won’t expose himself when so many powerful eyes are watching."
Flint stood up next to Ethan, his movements deliberate and silent. "I’ll go keep watch on him."
Ethan nodded without a word. If the Empress had plans for Ashen, Flint would be her hands and eyes; there was no need for Ethan to interfere.
A hush fell as Dorian, the competition’s host, walked onto the central platform. "The second round is about to begin!" he called, and the crowd’s attention snapped to the rings below.
Four matches ran simultaneously. Lightning-fast efficiency—fifteen battles wrapped up within the hour.
Amidst the whirlwind, Ethan noticed a hostile gaze.
Turning, he locked eyes with Allen, who stood beside another man on the Voidshade Peak platform. The older man, face hard and cold, seemed familiar.
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Allen’s brother, Sam."
He vaguely recalled past danger—the assassin Alex, a close associate of Sam, whose death had ended a sequence of plots. Seeing Sam today confirmed Ethan’s suspicion; Alex’s actions had been ordered, the old feud deeper than he thought.
Sparks flashed in their gaze, but for Ethan, only one truth mattered: If Sam was behind it all, Ethan would not forget, nor forgive.
Just then, the twenty-ninth competition was called.
Ethan stepped onto the arena, every gaze drawn by his silent confidence. His opponent: Mira, a well-known disciple of Azure Sky Peak, who had respectfully greeted him the previous day.
Dorian called the start.
Mira faced Ethan—hesitant, nervous. The pressure from Ethan was suffocating, heavier than she’d ever known. He stood motionless, expression unchanged, the presence of a mountain before her.
Within five seconds, her breath caught. With a flush of embarrassment and resolve, she raised her hands. "I surrender!" she declared.
A wave of disappointment surged through the audience.
They’d hoped to see Ethan unleash his power again, to witness another breathtaking instant defeat. Instead, Mira’s quick surrender denied them their spectacle.
Ethan bowed with the martial greeting. "I accept your surrender."
Dorian’s voice rang out. "In the twenty-ninth competition, Azure Sky Peak’s Ethan wins!"
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: @Josh776