He could only kick his legs wildly, his eyes burning cold as they locked onto Ethan with an intensity that seemed poised to kill.

Cain Ashenvale felt the terrifying sensation of his Four Spirit Holy Body slowly slipping away from him. The fear in his eyes deepened, a desperate terror no words could capture.

He would rather embrace death than lose the Four Spirit Holy Body.

Without it, how could he stand against the formidable geniuses that filled the cultivation world?

Losing the Four Spirit Holy Body was tantamount to losing his very worth; what distinguished him from a mere ordinary?

Ethan held Cain firmly, guiding his gaze toward Seraphina. He whispered gently but with deadly clarity,

"Look, this is what happens when you stand up for a foolish women. Have you ever considered that if it weren't for her, you wouldn't be reduced to this? What fate awaits you now?"

"You are about to lose your Four Spirit Holy Body and become nothing more than a corpse, yet Seraphina remains unscathed. Isn't that laughable?"

His voice was faint—like a deathly breath—stoking Cain's venomous hatred toward Seraphina.

"Seraphina!" Cain ground his teeth and fixed a glare at her.

But there was no time for grudges. To survive, he had one goal: to hold onto the Four Spirit Holy Body.

"Second Elder! Sixth Elder! He's trying to steal my Four Spirit Holy Body! Save me!" Cain tried desperately to send a plea.

The middle-aged beauty, long restrained by the strict duel laws in Noble Sun City, felt her murderous intent rise coldly as she heard Cain's cry.

"Ignorant child, stop where you are!" A loud shout echoed in Ethan's mind—it was the woman.

Ethan sneered in amusement and chose not to respond.

"Ethan, this is just a contest. You don't need to be so merciless," the woman's voice echoed.

"It's too late now. Let it stand as a draw. Our Ashenvale family will surely reward you generously—otherwise..." Noel Ashenvale's voice interrupted in Ethan's mind.

Ethan glanced toward the old man in black robes standing afar, lips curling into a mocking smile.

"Is this how you ask for help? Courting death?" Ethan taunted coldly.

Noel Ashenvale's face darkened with fury. He had no patience left for empty words.

"Skyler, remove the shield! The Ashenvale family owes you a favor!" came Noel's order.

Skyler, the deputy city lord, listened and withdrew the golden barrier enclosing the battlefield.

Once the golden shield vanished, Noel ducked swiftly and fled into the shadows.

A fierce wave of killing intent exploded from the sky, descending rapidly upon Ethan.

A black shadow streaked toward Ethan faster than lightning.

Reacting swiftly, Ethan retreated dozens of meters, still cradling the weakened Cain Ashenvale.

He paused merely a moment.

Noel Ashenvale crashed down, shattering the ground beneath him.

Bang!

The aura of a peak Nine-Turn Mahayana realm expert surged in an explosive outburst, unleashing immense pressure.

Ethan met this mighty foe fearlessly.

This momentum dwarfed his prior clash with Cain Ashenvale several times over.

Around Ethan, the edge of the blood-colored steam barrier flashed with vibrant red lightning interlaced with flickers of gold.

The barrier stood firm, withstanding the overwhelming pressure of a pinnacle Nine-Turn Mahayana cultivator.

The crowd watched, realization dawning.

Ethan had not unleashed his full power in the earlier duel.

He had barely taken Cain Ashenvale seriously.

This was Ethan's true strength.

His aura was robust enough to resist the pressure of even a cultivator at the peak ninth turn of the Mahayana realm.

Had Ethan gone all out from the start, Cain Ashenvale might not have survived a single blow.

"No! Let go of him—our young master!" Noel Ashenvale roared fiercely.

"Or you'll pay with your life!"

"It's over!" Ethan declared with a calm smile.

He sensed the Four Spirit Holy Body completely devoured within himself.

He released Cain's neck and turned, delivering a powerful kick.

A muffled crack echoed.

Cain's sternum shattered beneath the blow.

He flew, tumbling into the air, only to be caught by Noel Ashenvale.

Ethan expected the two expert cultivators backing Cain to intervene.

He could have ended Cain's life then and there, but he wisely chose restraint.

Devouring Cain's Four Spirit Holy Body was already a monumental gain.

Killing Cain outright would have provoked a desperate and wild retaliation from the two elders, turning them into furious mad dogs.

Though not afraid of being hunted, such chaos would disrupt his cultivation time and was extremely troublesome.

Besides, he wasn't certain if the Blood Tavern would risk intervening on his behalf.

For now, sparing Cain's life was prudent.

Cain Ashenvale's foundation lay shattered without his Four Spirit Holy Body.

His cultivation realm plunged, and recovery would be arduous.

Only after gathering enough heavenly materials and treasures within Noble Sun City might Ethan break through to the peak fourth stage, and enter the Nirvana realm.

Then roles will reverse, and the hunter will become the hunted.

Even if the Ashenvale family dispatched Supreme Realm titans, Ethan would not fear.

He could flee or take refuge within the Chaos Clock.

What could they do to him there?

If fortunate enough to ascend to Nirvana, Ethan's essence and blood would transform into Original Power, which then evolved into Divine Power.

He could unleash the full might of the Chaos Clock.

He might even suppress the most formidable Supreme Realm enemies.

"Cain, are you alright?" Noel Ashenvale's worried voice broke the tense air.

He carefully examined Cain's battered form.

"My holy body… is gone!" Cain gasped, desperation thick in his voice before collapsing unconscious.

Noel Ashenvale's eyes widened with shock, veins throbbing as fury flooded his expression.

"Ethan! You dare depose the young master of the Ashenvale family? You are ruthless, and you will die today!"

"No matter. Your young master was never as formidable as others. How can you blame me for cruelty?"

"More so, you, your young master, meddling in others affairs, should bear responsibility for his own downfall," Ethan chuckled.

Noel's gaze sharpened as he looked toward Seraphina, cold and unyielding.

He admitted that this was partly due to Seraphina.

But did Ethan think the Ashenvale family of the Holy Land were vegetarian?

"Don't worry, Seraphina cannot escape."

"You will die today!" Noel Ashenvale declared coldly.

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

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