When Elara heard this, her delicate brows knit together, and a solemn light flashed through her eyes.

Zeph's intention was obvious now.

He was not here for idle provocation.

He was here for Ethan.

Why would Heavenly Palace suddenly care about Ethan's whereabouts?

Before entering the Training Trial Secret Realm, her father had clearly told the Chief Palace Master of the Palace of the Four Cycles that Ethan had already left Blue-Wave City and gone missing.

Could it be that Heavenly Palace had discovered the truth?

Or worse—

Did they know that, besides the two Sage Tokens allocated by the Palace of the Four Cycles, the Sky family had secretly hidden a third one?

"Impossible."

Elara rejected the thought instantly.

Absolutely impossible.

The existence of the third Sage Token was known only to her parents, Uncle Ghost, and a handful of the Sky family's highest elders. Even within the clan, it was a tightly sealed secret.

The Palace of the Four Cycles was powerful, but its reach had not yet penetrated the core of the Sky family.

For years, the Sky family had guarded against infiltration with extreme caution.

Risa's expression grew grave.

She glanced at Elara, uncertain how to handle the situation. Zeph's attitude was aggressive, and his purpose was clear—he wanted information about Ethan.

Which meant one thing.

They were already suspicious.

Elara lowered her palm slightly, signaling Risa to remain calm.

Then she lifted her head and looked at Zeph with a gentle, composed smile.

"Young Master Zeph," Elara said softly, "before entering the Training Trial Secret Realm yesterday, you were also present when my father spoke with the Chief Palace Master."

"You should have heard clearly—Ethan did indeed join our Sky family for a time."

"But when the secret realm was about to open, our Sky family asked him to remain and act together."

"He refused."

Elara's tone was steady, unhurried.

"You have never met Ethan in person, Young Master Zeph, but you must have heard of him. His strength is extraordinary, and our Sky family had no ability to force him to stay."

"After leaving the Sky family that day, Ethan disappeared. As for where he went, or whether he entered the Training Trial Secret Realm… I truly do not know."

Zeph listened quietly, the smile on his face never fading.

Then he chuckled.

"Haha. As expected of the third young lady of the Sky family."

"Every word flawless. Not a single crack."

"But," Zeph's eyes sharpened slightly, "who can say whether the Sky family truly spoke the truth about Ethan's disappearance?"

"Or perhaps—Ethan secretly entered the Training Trial Secret Realm."

"What Young Master Zeph says is reasonable," Elara replied calmly.

"But reason is not proof. I cannot tell you something I do not know."

Zeph's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it.

"Miss Elara, stop pretending."

"Ethan possesses such terrifying combat power. Do you really think I would believe your Sky family simply let him go?"

"That day, when your Sky family recruited guest elders, I personally heard Commander-in-Chief Tyler speak of him."

"He openly trampled the dignity of Heavenly Palace."

"He was courting death."

Zeph's tone cooled.

"As the future Palace Master of Heavenly Palace, I must settle this account."

"Your Sky family refines spiritual weapons for the Palace of the Four Cycles. For that reason, I will not implicate your clan."

"But Ethan?"

"I will make him pay the price."

He took a step forward, pressure rolling out like a tidal wave.

"Now," Zeph said calmly, "tell me where Ethan is."

"I'll give you a 10 minutes."

"If I do not receive an answer that satisfies me—"

His eyes flicked briefly to Risa, then back to Elara.

"You will bear the consequences."

Silence fell.

Elara's fingers tightened inside her sleeve.

At this moment, she felt her own weakness with painful clarity.

Without strength, status meant nothing.

Outside the secret realm, Zeph still had to restrain himself to maintain the balance between forces.

But here—

In the Training Trial Secret Realm, laws were blurred, and deaths were silent.

"…Miss."

Risa's voice sounded through a mental transmission, tight with urgency.

"You said Ethan would arrive soon."

"But if he comes now, our plan will be exposed."

"What should we do?"

Elara remained silent.

"Miss," Risa continued anxiously, "Zeph is a genius among the Palace of the Four Cycles younger generation."

"The two behind him are suppressed peak-stage Upper Supremes."

"Even if Ethan comes—"

"Even if there were three or five Ethans, they might not be his opponents!"

Her fists clenched.

For her, Elara's safety came before everything else.

If necessary, she was prepared to stake her life.

Risa stepped forward half a pace, her aura rising.

"Third Miss," she said firmly, "after 10 minutes."

"I will hold Zeph and the others back."

"You leave first."

"In the Training Trial Secret Realm, without absolute realm suppression, they may not be able to kill me quickly."

Elara shook her head slightly.

"There is still time left," she replied softly. "Calm down. Wait for my signal."

Behind her back, a jade token silently appeared in her palm.

Her mental energy flowed into it, seeking connection.

According to Ethan's words, this jade token could transmit sound within a limited range.

…

High above the forest.

Ethan stood on the crown of a towering tree, Kara held casually at his side as they paused briefly.

His gaze fell upon the valley ahead.

That was Elara's location.

"Mm?"

Ethan took out the jade token.

It flickered rapidly.

He poured his mental energy into it, and Elara's anxious voice sounded in his ears.

"Mr. Ethan, Mr. Ethan—can you hear me?"

"I can hear you," Ethan replied calmly.

"Why are you so anxious, Miss Elara?"

"Something has happened," Elara said quickly. "People from the Palace of the Four Cycles are here."

"The Palace of the Four Cycles?" Ethan frowned slightly.

"Aren't they your allies? They shouldn't act against you."

"They're not here for me," Elara replied. "They're here for you."

"Zeph—the Heavenly Palace prodigy, young patriarch of the Tengu Clan."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

Then, a faint smile appeared.

"A member of Heavenly Palace… the young patriarch?"

"Interesting."

In an instant, Ethan understood.

That day.

When he participated in recruitment.

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