"Die, you arrogant trash!" the Vice Hall Master roared, his figure transforming into a streak of crimson fire as he launched himself forward, his blazing sword aid straight at Ethan’s throat.
But before the ancient alchemist could even cover half the distance, the space directly in front of Ethan violently fractured.
BOOM!
Like a demonic ghost materializing out of thin air, Elder Driz suddenly materialized into the vanguard space. His eyes were wide with a frantic, desperate terror—not of the alchemist, but of the apocalyptic consequences if Ethan were to be inconvenienced on his watch. With a savage, lightning-fast deflection, Driz slamd the flat of his heavy blade against the Vice Hall Master’s weapon, forcefully redirecting the trajectory away from the polished stone floor to ensure not a single brick of the pavilion suffered a scratch.
Then, without a single millisecond of hesitation, Driz executed a devastating, blinding counter-slash.
SPLUTCH!
The heavy, dark steel of Driz’s sword ripped cleanly and horizontally through the air. The strike was so phenonally brutal that it cleanly parted the ancient Vice Hall Master of the Alchemical Pavilion completely in half right at the waist. Before the screaming upper torso could even hit the ground, Driz smoothly shifted his weight and unleashed a secondary, vertical laceration, carving a deep, ragged, and bloody second scar directly along the old man’s right arm and shoulder, thoroughly dismantling his martial structure.
"Pick up your shattered elder and get the hell out of my sight!" Driz roared, his breathing heavy as he stood over the pooling blood, his terrifying glare locking onto the frozen, hyperventilating senior alchemists. "Consider this swift execution of justice to be my absolute piety and ultimate respect toward the Grand Master of this dical Pavilion! If your pathetic guild ever attempts a suicidal stunt like this again, I will not hesitate to personally march into your halls and thoroughly decapitate your Chief Master myself!"
The Vice Hall Master’s condition was instantly, catastrophically grave. The two severed halves of his ancient body were barely held together by a few hanging strands of shredded muscle and tattered orange silk. His golden core was wildly fluctuating, on the absolute brink of detonating from the raw shock.
"Master! Help the master!" the senior alchemists scread in a state of pure, unadulterated panic.
Completely terrified of Driz’s bloodthirsty aura and Ethan’s cold, mocking gaze, the orange-robed entourage desperately threw themselves onto the floor. They frantically ripped open their spatial storage rings, pulling out dozens of high-tier life-saving pills and pouring glowing dicinal liquids directly over the old man’s gaping wounds just to stabilize his fleeting lifeforce. Moving with a frantic, desperate speed, they scooped up the bloody pieces of their broken leader and sprinted out of the grand hall like absolute dogs, fleeing back toward the safety of the Alchemical Pavilion in pure terror.
Elder Driz watched the frantic, blood-stained retreat of the alchemists until their orange robes completely vanished past the periter gates. The heavy, tallic scent of Golden Core blood still hung thickly in the cool morning air of the reception hall. Slowly, the fierce, bloodthirsty aura of the enforcer began to recede, and he sheared his dark steel blade with a clean, fluid motion.
Turning around, Driz’s posture instantly shifted from a terrifying executioner to a deeply deferential subordinate. He took several paces forward, stopping exactly three ters away from Ethan’s towering fra.
Ethan remained perfectly still by the polished stone pillar, his hands still casually tucked inside his wide sleeves. His athyst eyes carried a calm, knowing glint. He instantly recalled the highly classified intelligence Ash had shared with him during their private contract negotiations—Driz was not just a random high-ranking enforcer; he was a deep-cover operative fiercely loyal to the faction of the Fourth Prince.
Recognizing the pieces moving on the imperial chessboard, Ethan offered a smooth, asured nod. "Greetings, Elder Driz."
Driz imdiately placed his right fist into his left palm, executing a flawless, deeply formal salute that went far beyond standard sect protocol. When he raised his head, his eyes held a profound, sharp intensity.
"I am a wanderer, and my path reaches the heavens," Driz replied, his voice dropping into a low, rhythmic cadence.
Ethan’s expression remained an unreadable mask, though he ntally cataloged the sheer depth of the forces the Fourth Prince was mobilizing on this frontier. "I thoroughly understand, Elder."
Driz let out a soft, controlled breath, his posture relaxing a fraction, though his eyes remained entirely locked on the young dical titan before him. "I deeply apologize for taking so long to personally introduce myself to your presence, young master. The political movents within the Discipline Hall required my absolute vigilance over the past few days. I can only hope that your excellence will not hold this brief delay against my account."
"There is nothing to forgive," Ethan said smoothly, taking a slow step away from the pillar, his deep baritone carrying an absolute, reassuring weight. "Your arrival just now was executed with immaculate timing. You protected the structural integrity of my pavilion, which is a service I will not easily forget."
Driz felt a distinct wave of relief settle into his chest. He had seen the terrifying, abyssal results of Ethan’s work with Great Elder Hestia, and he knew that this seemingly ordinary outer rookie was a dormant monster whose favor the Fourth Prince absolutely needed to secure.
"The Alchemical Pavilion has grown exceedingly arrogant over the decades, bloated by their unchecked comrcial monopoly," Driz stated, his tone dripping with a cold, political disdain. "The Vice Hall Master’s foolish stunt today will give them a severe, bloody reason to reconsider their aggression. However, the Chief Master will undoubtedly seek alternate, subterranean thods to stall your progress. My blade and my network are entirely at your disposal to ensure your operations remain completely unhindered."
"Let them try whatever pathetic gas they desire," Ethan replied, a dark, thoroughly cynical smile curling the corners of his lips as he looked toward the horizon. "A few bleeding alchemists make for an excellent opening advertisent. Now, Elder Driz... let us discuss how we shall permanently secure this mountain peak under our banner."
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From this mont forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.
Note: These are only the ranks ntioned so far to avoid spoilers.
Body Refinent Realm
Skin Refinent / Bone Refinent / Organ Refinent
Spiritual Gathering Realm
Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation
Spiritual Core Realm
Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)
Spiritual Soul Realm
Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion
Golden Core Realm
Pri Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction
Spiritual Sea Realm
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
Dao Manifestation Realm
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
Spiritual Transcendence
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
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Sword mastery levels
Sword Intent.
Sword Aura.
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