Hearing this, Adrian's expression paled instantly.
"Damon, choose your words carefully."
A wave of Golden Core energy burst out from his body, rippling through the arena like an awakened beast. Feeling the pressure, Damon didn't hesitate; a surge of dragon-like energy erupted from his body, wrapping around him like a shield. The bystanders were equally amazed and terrified by the clash of energies.
On the other side, Alistair narrowed his eyes in shock.
"9th layer of Foundation Establishment…?"
Hearing his master's words, Adrian's face changed again.
"Ninth layer? That's impossible! How can he be at the ninth layer?! His bone age is barely thirty! How can someone around barely thirty reach the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment?"
Adrian muttered in disbelief.
"It seems his luck is good," he continued bitterly. "He must have stumbled upon some heavenly material… or some kind of inheritance."
"If it really is an inheritance," Alistair said solemnly, "then it must be no less than a Soul Transformation inheritance."
Adrian froze, and a faint greed surfaced on his face.
The Soul Transformation Realm… a realm capable of destroying a kingdom in an instant. His master was also a powerhouse of that level.
If he could obtain such an opportunity… he might even break into the Void Piercing Realm, combining with his talent.
"Master," Adrian said sharply, "if we let him live, he'll become a huge problem for us. It's better to eliminate him today."
Alistair nodded.
"It's better to pluck the bud before it blooms."
At the same time, Damon looked up from the arena and spoke toward Adrian.
"Adrian, this is a life-and-death match. Even if you're a core disciple, you don't have the authority to question sect law. Do you intend to defy the sect's authority?" Damon growled, his energy rising.
"Damon, even if it's a life-and-death arena, Vincent is a member of the Heavenly Feather Clan. Don't you think you should act carefully?" Adrian warned.
Damon scoffed.
"Heavenly Feather Clan? A clan? Hahahahaha, more like the Heavenly Mouse Clan. You just don't want Vincent's wrongdoings exposed!"
Suddenly, the space trembled. A suffocating pressure erupted from Alistair's body, spreading like a hurricane throughout the entire Outer Sect.
"How dare a mere junior… have the audacity to disrespect my clan… and even call us mice!"
Every disciple in the Outer Sect felt a mountain-like pressure crush them into the ground. Even many Outer Sect elders in seclusion could not withstand it. The entire outer sect was visibly shaken.
Everyone knew Alistair's identity: an Inner Sect Elder of the Celestial Sect and the core elder of the Heavenly Feather Clan, bearer of the Astral Crane bloodline, one of the high-grade bloodlines.
And a Soul Transformation realm powerhouse, an absolute authority within the sect. Defying him meant death was absolute.
Stiles, on the other side, struggling under the overwhelming pressure, forced himself to remain standing despite his trembling legs.
"Hell with all this drama…" he gritted.
Damon, crushed beneath the terrifying might of Alistair, refused to kneel. He stabbed his sword into the ground to support himself. But this pressure came from a Soul Transformation cultivator three major realms above Golden Core. Blocking Adrian's energy didn't mean he could resist Alistair.
Unable to withstand the pressure any longer, Damon released all the energy within him.
A dark lightning erupted from his body, forming a shell around him.
In the sky, Alistair's expression changed drastically.
"How could it be…?! That's the Genesis Lightning Soul Body! A sacred-level physique! No, this child must not live!"
Without hesitation, he vanished and reappeared beside Damon.
Damon couldn't even react.
Just as Alistair raised his hand to strike...
A thunderous voice echoed through the sect, shaking heaven and earth.
A colossal palm descended from the sky and struck Alistair. Even as a Soul Transformation elder, he couldn't react in time. Instinctively, he summoned his semi-saint-grade Tempest Shield.
The palm struck.
A visible crack spread across the shield.
Alistair's eyes widened.
This shield could block even a Void Piercing realm powerhouse!
Panic washed over him. Without hesitation, he used all his means to escape.
But the mysterious figure's cold voice echoed across the sky:
"Dare to run after trying to injure my disciple?"
A second attack descended far stronger than the first. Blue lightning smashed into Alistair's chest, sending him flying across the sky before crashing into the ground.
Only a handful of disciples remained conscious enough to see it, while the rest had already fainted under the overwhelming pressure.
Stiles, hiding in a corner, felt his blood run cold. It was his first time he had witnessed such terrifying power.
He silently made a vow: never provoke anyone unnecessarily.
Even if he grows strong, never expose his strength.
On the other side, Adrian panicked and rushed toward his fallen master.
"Master! Master, are you alright?!"
Alistair struggled to stand. Turning toward the figure near Damon, he hesitated before speaking.
"Your Excellency… Who are you? What business do you have with the Celestial Sect?"
The figure looked at him coldly.
"Business? You harm my disciple and still dare ask what business I have?"
His voice thundered again.
"It seems just reaching the Soul Transformation realm has made you blind. You dare interfere with a life-and-death trial?"
Alistair's face went deathly pale.
"I did not know Damon was your disciple… but he insulted and mutilated a fellow disciple. As an elder, it is my duty to punish this misconduct."
"Insult? Who?" The Figure sneered. "Your lousy clan? If you dare utter another word, I don't mind plucking your entire clan's feathers myself. Perhaps renaming it as Heavenly Featherless Clan!" said the figure mockingly
Alistair trembled in humiliation.
He...the pride of the Heavenly Feather Clan threatened like this?!
His killing intent surged....
"What? You want to bite me?" the mysterious elder mocked.
Then he turned to Damon.
"Do as you wish. I want to see who dares to harm my disciple now."
Damon slowly walked toward Vincent, who lay on the ground drenched in blood. Vincent's earlier confidence had shattered, and terror filled his eyes.
At first, he had been relieved when his brother and Elder Alistair arrived. But now, despair swallowed him whole.
He regretted everything.
If only he hadn't provoked Damon… he wouldn't be facing death.
Damon glared down at him.
"What now? Regretting everything? Tell me, why did you do it to my sister?"
Vincent sobbed.
"I'm sorry, Damon… it was my fault… Please don't kill me! I shouldn't have assaulted your sister! Please spare me!"
The disciples around them were stunned and disgusted. Many had suspected Vincent, but with his backing, no one could expose him; that's how powerful he was within the outer sect, but now...
"Vincent! You dare. Adrian roared.
But before he could finish, a crushing force pressed him into the ground. Cracks spread beneath him as his bones screamed.
Alistair shouted, "NO!"
But the pressure vanished a moment later.
On the arena, Damon lifted his sword. Hearing Vincent confess to harming his sister, he did not hesitate.
His blade flashed, reaching Vincent's head at lightning speed.
Vincent's head rolled across the arena floor.
Adrian, crawling weakly, felt the bond with his brother sever. Tears filled his eyes as hatred burned in his heart.
Most disciples, felt relief because Vincent had tormented many within in the outer sect.
But now his death felt like justice.
Most disciples were happy that there will be no character named Vincent in the future.
In fact, many of them where grateful that Damon had eliminated Vincent
Damon stood still, breathing heavily. His master placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, obstacles will always appear on your path. Only diligent cultivation and determination will make you truly formidable."
"As for your sister, she will be fine. The Heavenly Dew I gave her has already begun healing her foundation. She will wake up within a month."
Damon's eyes teared up in relief. After his sister's assault, she had isolated herself and fallen into depression, damaging her soul and foundation.
So Damon had gone into the wilderness seeking the Nine Phoenix Grass to help her, but instead stumbled upon a mysterious inheritance that awakened his Genesis Lightning Soul Body
As per the record, Genesis Lightning Soul Body is one of the saint-grade physiques.
Which has the potential to achieve immortality, which is one step above the Void Piercing Realm
While returning to the sect, he met Elder Rudra, who hid his face behind a mask. Damon feared being discovered, but instead, Rudra asked him to become his direct disciple.
But this made Damon even more suspicious. However, When Rudra revealed Damon's physique and that he himself also possessed a thunder-type physique,
This not only made him accept Rudra but he also came to learn his master's identity, which made Damon completely acknowledge him
Without his master, Damon would not be standing where he is today.
He bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Master… for taking me in… and for saving my sister."
Rudra chuckled.
"Hahaha! What are you saying, brat? You're my disciple. This is what I should do."
As the two spoke, another powerful figure descended onto the arena.
It was none other than the sect leader of the Celestial Sect.
A thunderous voice echoed:
"What commotion is happening here?"