The atmosphere crackled with energy as the air thickened with mist from the presence of magic and
formidable power. With the sudden increase of potent energy around him, Austin slightly shivered but
held his ground as he raised his head to look up at the arrival of nine distinct figures who had hovered
above him. Straightening his posture and exhaling deeply, Austin schooled his expression into one of
seriousness.
Gathering his wits about him, Austin intently focused on the energy fluctuation coming in waves out of
the drifting cultivators. Without having to concentrate harder, he had felt their immense potential to
destroy by utilizing high-level magic. Gritting his teeth, he estimated that two out of nine were at the
primary level of Sky Realm, while four of their members had reached the medium level of Sky Realm.
Moreover, three of them had attained the status of the Sky Realm's high level.
Anyone with even an ounce of power in the Violet Orchid Empire knew and understood that directly
facing any of them could not just result in loss, but in death. The group of nine figures who hovered
ominously was a threat to everyone in that particular moment.
The two men beside him, Graham and Bruce, were just as astonished as the other cultivators of the
Empire. The surprise and slight panic from the two were evident in their postures, as well as the fact
that they kept nervously switching their gaze from the group and to Austin. Clenching his fist tightly,
Austin realized that even two of the ones with the lowest level in the assemblage were much stronger
and more powerful than Graham and Bruce, and they were both at the same primary level of Sky
Realm.
If worse comes to worst and they ended up battling, Graham and Bruce would not have stood a chance
against the two members from the Heavenly Dragon Holy Kingdom even if they were supposed to be
ranked at the same level. 'And who was going to fight the other seven?' Austin thought and grimaced at
the images in his head of a sea filled with the crumpled bodies of his friends and the triumphant yet
merciless eyes of the group staring down at him.
"Is this the true power and spirit possessed by the young generation of the Heavenly Dragon Holy
Kingdom?"
Murmuring to himself, Austin scanned his eyes among the regal forms of the group which radiated
authority and confidence.
All of a sudden, a booming voice echoed throughout the land and Austin had a hunch that he was
being addressed to.
Turning around, Austin faced a man full of passion and wrath. "It's you!" "I have found you at last!
You're the one who have wronged us!" The domineering voice continued as it chastised Austin.
Before Austin could begin to question as to why this man was accusing him, he was barraged with a
threat. "Coming from a weak kingdom, you have some nerve killing one of our talented members from
the Heavenly Dragon Holy Kingdom! I will avenge his life by taking yours!"
Floating in the air, a young man clothed in white was suddenly surrounded by oceans of coldness.
Feeling the chill, the crowd near the man shivered at the biting breeze that passed by, as well as the
frigid and clear intent of the man to attack. As soon as his frosty eyes landed on Austin, it seemed like
his rage rose ten-fold and he soared towards the male immediately.
"You. Get down and kneel in front of Chauncy's ancestral tablet and touch the ground with your
forehead no short of a thousand counts," the man declared, seething from where he hovered and
pointed his finger menacingly. "As a humble man from such a weak kingdom, you shall reveal to me the
name of your original sect and then—" The man in white threatened and glared accusingly at the man
who stood surrounded by gaping faces before continuing, "Kill yourself as punishment."
Settling a steely look on Austin, he spoke once more. "After you die, rest assured that none of your
sect will survive."
With a dangerous grin, the man in white followed up on his threat. "That shall be the ultimate price you
have to pay for killing Chauncy." A dreadful and uncomfortable silence filled the grounds before the
man carried on with his little spiel. "So, humble ant, do you have any feelings of regret?"
"Well, I admit it is useless to feel regretful at this moment. It would be better for you to just do as I have
said," the cultivator stated haughtily while he looked down on the grim face of Austin.
Waving his right hand, the young man in white configured a stream of water which flowed from his
sleeve. To everyone's intrigue, the liquid transformed into an ancestral table before it was dropped
ceremoniously on the ground. Peering on the newly made stone, they could see that the name
engraved on the tablet spelled out the word 'Chauncy'.
Confident that Austin would not dare to fight against him, the man commanded him to follow through
his demands. As he stood with his hands behind his frame, he was assured of his high rank and
tremendous skill if the other man decided to disobey him. 'Challenge my authority, if you dare, ' the
man in white thought internally, smirking at the displeased face of Austin.
The reason as to why he was certain of his victory was the fact that the power of the nine figures could
make the youth in the Heavenly Dragon Holy Kingdom bow their heads in submission and tremble with
fear. Moreover, the mere whisper of their name could be full of pure respect and admiration. Humble
people from a weak kingdom had more to lose and held more fear in their hearts compared to the
former. In their eyes, they were akin to little insects who came in contact with nine elephants; small,
insignificant, and powerless. Nobody in their right minds found the courage to oppose such supreme
beings.
At that exact moment, the nine high-level cultivators at the Sky Realm from the Heavenly Dragon Holy
Kingdom chuckled mirthlessly at the sudden realization of the meager level these people possessed.
Most of the young cultivators of the Violet Orchid Empire in the valley had their cultivation base at the
Earth Realm with only a few of their members having cultivated at the Mysterious Realm. 'Well, isn't
this a comical scene?' some of them thought humorously.
"Most of you have your cultivation base at the Earth Realm. I cannot say I feel a little bit of pity for such
useless cultivators," one of the figures spoke, indifferent at the situation at hand. Another one of them
added to the former's observation and spoke with such hilarity and arrogance. "In the Heavenly Dragon
Holy Kingdom, talented children who managed to cultivate right away have reached the Earth Realm at
the age of seven or eight!"
Loud gasps came from the gathered cultivators as they took offense from the statement but remained
quiet as their fear for them was greater. 'How arrogant of them to speak this way...' some of them
silently and bitterly reflected.
"What on earth made you think you could fight me and win?" the young man in white mocked and
crossed his arms across his chest, lifting his head defiantly.
Due to the taunts from the nine figures and most especially from the cultivator clothed with white robes,
Austin felt a startlingly strong passion to make them silent through all means possible. Deep in his
heart, a fiery purpose had started, desperately wanting to ignite and burn through the belittlement
asserted by the group to him.
"The man who admitted to perishing the life of Chauncy shall be tortured first," one of the men
declared, beckoning Austin with a lazy glance. "If my brothers are fully satisfied with your suffering, it
will only be then that you are allowed to die."
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