Chapter 87: Chapter 87
Kain glanced at the number printed on his bamboo stick and felt a pang of regret—just barely missing the chance to face Ethan in the opening round. For a moment he lingered, his expression frosty as old grievances simmered in his heart.
"Doesn’t matter," he muttered, voice laced with cold determination.
"If you escape one fight, you won’t escape me forever. Now I won’t even need to use my full strength to deal with you."
With that, he turned away, vanishing into the crowds as the martial arts competition began its crescendo.
Today, only the first thirty-two matches were scheduled. The remaining battles would resume tomorrow morning, promising another day of fighting and competition.
After observing a handful of matches,
Ethan left quietly, returning to his cultivation and preparations for the next stage. The fiery spectacle of combat was never enough to distract him from the path ahead.
—
Late at night, at the base of Serpentwind Peak, a more personal scene unfolded beneath the cold moonlight.
Seraphina and Kain walked together, their robes trailing soft whispers behind them.
"Seraphina, I will definitely win a place in the top five this time!" Kain declared, his voice brimming with hope.
Seraphina’s gaze was clear and merciless. "Just the top five? That’s not enough."
Kain’s fist tightened.
"If top five isn’t enough, then I’ll strive for the top three. If top three doesn’t suffice, then I will take first. I will become your protector—no matter what!"
She studied him with a cool detachment.
"There are many competitors this year equal to you, especially Allen. Do your best. If you really can take the championship, I’ll recommend you to my master."
Kain nodded fiercely. "I will win first place!"
He knew in his heart that victory would not come easy. Luck alone could not guarantee results—not against so many gifted disciples.
"Don’t worry, Seraphina... I’ll work harder than ever!"
Her brows knitted in subtle displeasure.
"I’ve told you before, don’t call me by name inside the inner sect. Address me as the Saint."
Kain bowed in submission.
"Understood, Your Highness the Saint." He hid his frustration, understanding the reality of his station—only victory could elevate him to her side, only strength could close the gap.
Kain changed the subject with quick finality.
"After Ethan’s release, he joined Azure Sky Peak and now he dares to enter the martial arts competition."
"How dare he?" Seraphina echoed, disgust flaming in her chest.
"With his meager strength, he’s asking for trouble," Kain scoffed.
"What happened today—did he win or lose?" Seraphina asked coolly
"Ethan was lucky. He got the final draw and received a odd in the first round," Kain
answered.
"He won’t last. Luck is empty without strength. Tomorrow, I’ll watch the battles myself. I intend for him to pay—for everything he’s done," Seraphina said, a cold edge beneath her words.
She stared into the night sky, signaling the end of their conversation.
"It’s late. I’ll go now."
"I’ll see you—"
"No need." With a single leap, Seraphina vanished into the darkness, leaving only a lingering whisper of ice.
Kain stared after her, resolve burning anew. "Middle Void Amalgamation Realm... Seraphina, I’ll work and train until I can stand on equal ground with you. One day, the sect will acknowledge me."
—
Afterward, Kain returned to the Serpentwind Peak disciple’s residence and sought out Jork’s courtyard.
Jork had drawn him as an opponent—an early Core Formation cultivator, this would be no contest.
A subtle bribe or a favor could persuade Jork to abstain, and then Kain would advance effortlessly.
—
The next day, the martial arts competition swelled to its peak. By noon, under the blazing sun, the final match-ups of the first round took place.
Just after the sixtieth bout, Ethan lifted his gaze to the distant heavens, sensing a fierce aura racing toward the arena.
Flint stood nearby, mirroring Ethan’s caution.
A glorious stream of blue light descended on the viewing platform; gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Look—it’s Her Royal Highness the Saint!"
"Saint Seraphina is here to watch the battles!"
Ethan spotted two figures stepping from a sky-soaring carpet.
The first, dressed in emerald, was Seraphina herself—the Ice Fairy, a woman of unparalleled beauty and chilling presence.
Beside her stood another striking figure: a short-haired beauty with a formidable air, her features hidden beneath a mask—Commander Lilith of the Black Oath.
"The other one—she must be one of the four commanders of the Black Oath under Her Majesty the Empress! She’s a beauty too!"
"Only Saint Seraphina gets this kind of protection! She’s destined for the Spiritual Path Trial. In just over ten years, she’s advanced to the middle stage of Void Amalgamation. Such terrifying talent!"
"With her ice spirit soul body, she’ll reach the Body Integration Realm in the next ten years!"
As whispers flitted through the crowd, Ethan deployed his Heaven-Piercing Mind Eye, studying Seraphina.
The spiritual weapon she wore might have shielded her from ordinary scrutiny, but Ethan’s vision—enhanced by his condensed blood pill—pierced straight through.
On the surface, she appeared to have achieved only the middle stage of Void Amalgamation Realm, but Ethan saw the truth—her aura neared the peak, and a primordial ice power swirled within.
"Ice spirit soul body—an ancient spiritual constitution indeed," Ethan thought, narrow-eyed.
—
Saint Seraphina’s arrival sent ripples through the sect’s hierarchy. The four peak masters greeted her respectfully; Seraphina nodded in return and, after brief courtesies, took her seat beside Lilith.
Her gaze swept the arena, pausing briefly on Ethan before moving on with frosty indifference.
"Oh, she saw me," Ethan mused, a quirked smile on his lips.
Seraphina’s thoughts turned inward.
"Ethan... but he has no bearing on my practice or my Dao. Master told me—my mind has been clouded and unstable for too long. I must correct it. There are too many fools in this world; to be distracted by any of them is ignorance."
This was why she came: to witness Ethan’s fall with her own eyes and to finally put the matter to rest.
As Seraphina arrived, Kain’s excitement peaked—his eyes flashing with cold promise. "Ethan, you’ll lose today."
Under Dorian’s careful control, the competition pressed onward to the final match of the round.
Standing atop the central stone platform, Dorian’s voice boomed: "Sixty-fourth match—Serpentwind Kain versus Serpentwind Jork!"
Kain strode forward with confidence, but Jork was nowhere to be found.
Five minutes ticked by—Jork still absent.
Dorian announced, "Serpentwind Peak disciple Jork is abstaining! The disciple who drew the odd number—Azure Sky Peak’s Ethan—will take his place!"
A/N:
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