Ethan looked at the arena.

Four figures stood quietly upon it.

Each of them carried a terrifying aura, clearly distinct from ordinary cultivators. Even without releasing their full strength, the pressure they exuded alone was enough to make many spectators instinctively step back.

The realms of the four were vastly different.

One was at the peak of the Ninth Turn of Mahayana.

One stood at the peak stage of the Inferior Supreme.

One stood at the peak stage of the Intermediate Supreme.

And the last—silent, steady, and oppressive—was at the peak of the Upper Supreme.

They were the strongest existences within their respective realms.

Each of them was an elite among elites, carefully selected by the Sky family, their combat prowess tempered through countless battles. These were not flower-vase cultivators, but true killing blades.

"Brother, what are the rules for recruiting guest elders?"

Ethan turned his head slightly and asked the young man with cat ears standing beside him.

The cat demon glanced at Ethan, then at the arena, and replied casually, "The rules are simple. Go up, choose one of the four as your opponent. As long as you defeat them—or last longer than one stick of incense—you pass."

"And if I pass, can I obtain the Sage Token?" Ethan asked calmly.

The cat demon laughed and shook his head. "Brother, you're also here for the Sage Token?"

He looked Ethan up and down again, his gaze lingering on the faint aura of a third-level demon. "Then I'm afraid you don't have much hope."

"Even if you pass and become a guest elder of the Sky family, you still won't get the Sage Token."

"There are many guest elders in the Sky family. In just the past two days, more than one person has already qualified."

"But the Sky family only has two Sage Tokens. One must be kept for their own descendants. The other will only be given if they recruit a guest elder who truly satisfies them and possesses overwhelming combat power."

He lowered his voice slightly. "The Training Trial has been held many times. The Sky family has participated many times as well."

"Only three times in history did a guest elder accompany their juniors into the secret realm."

"Just imagine how high their standards are. Recruitment is only the first step."

"I see." Ethan nodded lightly.

"Thank you, Brother Cat."

"You're welcome, just a small matter." The cat demon waved his hand.

Just as he was about to say something else, he suddenly realized—

The white fox beside him was gone.

The cat demon froze.

He rubbed his eyes and scanned the surroundings.

Nothing.

No white ears. No fox tail. No trace of the person who had been standing beside him just moments ago.

"What… what's going on?"

"Did I just see a ghost?"

A chill crept up the cat demon's spine. He stood there in a daze, doubting his own sanity.

But before he could think further, the crowd suddenly erupted.

Gasps, exclamations, and sharp intakes of breath echoed in waves.

The cat demon followed everyone's gaze and looked toward the arena.

There—

A young man with a snow-white fox tail had already landed at the center of the ring.

Silent.

Effortless.

Like he had always been there.

"It's him!" the cat demon's pupils shrank. "He was too fast—I didn't even react!"

Only now did he understand.

It wasn't that the fox demon disappeared.

It was that his speed had exceeded his perception.

"Clearly only showing the cultivation of a third-level demon… so why is he this fast?"

"Hiding his strength… pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger?"

The cat demon's breathing quickened as excitement and unease intertwined.

"Interesting…"

"Then let me see who this white fox really is."

On the arena, Ethan stood with his hands behind his back, posture relaxed, gaze calm.

He bowed slightly toward the people seated on the high platform.

Those seated there were clearly extraordinary.

At the center sat a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a dignified presence. Beside him sat a elegant woman dressed in a golden robe, her demeanor noble and restrained.

Their auras were deep and unfathomable.

Divine power rippled faintly around both of them.

Ultimate Supremes.

Ethan instantly understood their identities.

The patriarch and the matriarch of the Sky family.

However, Ethan noticed something subtle.

The divine power around the woman was unstable, flickering faintly like a flame threatened by wind.

Half-step Ultimate Supreme.

She had likely failed to fully overcome the tribulation, leaving her divine power incomplete.

Such cases were common.

Out of a hundred Supremes, fewer than ten could successfully convert their spiritual energy into divine power.

And among those who succeeded, most still required decades—or even centuries—to stabilize it.

Once divine power stagnated, one's cultivation path was nearly sealed.

Even so, an Ultimate Supreme remained an existence capable of dominating a region.

"Who is stepping onto the stage?" the Sky family patriarch asked calmly.

"State your name."

Ethan's appearance caused both the patriarch and matriarch's eyes to brighten.

Leaving aside strength—

His temperament alone was rare.

Calm, restrained, and carrying an invisible sharpness.

"Ethan," he said, cupping his hands. "A white fox."

"I heard the Sky family is recruiting guest elders. Permanent residence in Blue-Wave City, no need to pay spiritual crystals."

"So I came to try my luck."

The patriarch nodded slightly.

"Very well. Mr. Ethan, please choose your opponent."

Ethan's gaze swept across the four figures.

On the surface, this was about becoming a guest elder.

In truth, it was about the Sage Token.

He needed to display strength—

But not too much.

After a brief pause, his gaze settled on one person.

"Then… this one," Ethan said, pointing lightly.

"I hope the beauty will be merciful."

The chosen opponent was the only woman among the four.

Short hair, sharp eyebrows, well-proportioned figure.

A battle-hardened aura surrounded her like tempered steel.

Peak stage of the Intermediate Supreme.

The patriarch and matriarch of the Sky family were both momentarily stunned—

Then, delighted.

In the past two days, this was the first person who had chosen Sasha.

She was an existence nearly invincible below the Upper Supreme.

Even against powerful Intermediate Demon Lords, she had fought evenly—and even claimed victory.

In the past two days, those who came to participate had chosen the Ninth turn of Mahayana and the Inferior Supreme.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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