Chapter 267: A Moment of Rest
Chapter 267: A Moment of Rest
"Dean," Rhain spoke, his tone turning serious. "What exactly happened to you? Why is your condition like this?"
The light atmosphere instantly vanished.
Seraphine’s proud expression crumbled, replaced by a deep sorrow.
"It is because of the fire poison that has affected her for decades," Seraphine explained, her voice dropping. "And I blame myself entirely. It is all because of me."
She looked down at the wooden path.
"When we were young, before either of us had reached the Domain Master Realm, we decided to explore the Sunless Umbral Basin."
Rhain’s eyebrows rose slightly.
He recognized the name from the description of the disciple on Crimson Skiff.
The Sunless Umbral Basin was one of the most notorious hazard zones situated directly between the Outer Frontier and the Inner Province.
"The Sunless Umbral Basin is a very dangerous place, even for some Domain Masters," Seraphine continued bitterly. "We were arrogant at that time, and paid a heavy price for that. We encountered a powerful Domain Master-level fire python. Although we managed to flee... to save my life, Carmilla took a grave, direct hit from the python. Its lethal fire poison entered her body."
Seraphine clenched her fists.
"Later, we reached out to several Grandmaster Alchemists across the dynasty. But every single one of them said the same thing—the poison had gone so deep into her meridians that it could only be suppressed. It could never be cured."
Seraphine suddenly lifted her head, looking at Rhain with a look of hope."Rhain, aren’t you the legendary Grandmaster Korryn?" she pleaded. "Perhaps... what those other alchemists couldn’t find, you can. You might be able to cure her!"
Carmilla let out a weak sigh, placing a gentle hand on Seraphine’s arm.
"Sera, please," Carmilla said softly. "Do not pressurize Rhain. I know my own body. It is impossible for me now. I have lived long enough, and I have already made peace with my situation. You don’t have to feel guilty either, whatever has happened was destined, and it couldn’t be changed."
"No."
Rhain stopped walking.
He looked directly into Carmilla’s resigned eyes.
"I don’t care what those other useless alchemists told you, dean," Rhain declared firmly. "But you risked your life to save mine, and I will not let you die. I will definitely save you."
A trace of astonishment flashed in Carmilla’s eyes. She was stunned by the sheer certainty in Rhain’s voice.
But she decided to not say anything. She knew better than anyone how powerful that fire poision was.
"There’s something I want to tell you all," Rhain turned to face the entire group, his tone turning deadly serious. "No one outside of this circle must know that I am Grandmaster Korryn. My survival depends on the Royal Court not knowing the true extent of my value."
Everyone immediately nodded in agreement.
Elara asked hesitantly. "Rhain... may I at least tell my father? Although he was forced to stand against you, I know him. If he knew you were Grandmaster Korryn, he would absolutely try to protect you."
Rhain looked at Elara, appreciating her intent, but he shook his head decisively.
"No, lady Elara. I cannot take any risks right now. Your father is currently bowing before the Emperor to save your family. If he accidentally reveals even a hint, we will lose our greatest advantage. Please, keep my identity a secret until the right time comes."
Elara understood his logic perfectly. She gave a solemn nod. "I understand. I will not say a word."
One by one, Seraphine, Myrielle, Liana, Lyra, and the High Preceptors raised their hands, swearing solemn vows that the true identity of Grandmaster Korryn would die with them before they ever breathed a word of it to the outside world.
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Everyone was exhausted after the long, tense journey, so after a while, they all departed for secluded guest sector of the Academy.
Rhain and Seris were escorted to a grand courtyard in the sector, a beautiful, tranquil pavilion surrounded by blooming flora.
As the the doors clicked shut behind them, all the tension of the day came crashing down.
Seris immediately turned to face Rhain.
Her pale purple eyes, usually so gentle and accommodating, were now fixed on him with a look of strictness.
"Bed. Now," Seris commanded, pointing a delicate finger toward the luxurious silk-draped bed in the inner chamber.
Rhain blinked, slightly taken aback by her sudden forceful tone. "Seris, I am mostly healed..."
"I don’t care about that right now," Seris interrupted, stepping forward and placing her small hands firmly against his chest, pushing him toward the bedroom. "You are not doing anything today, other than going to lie down, close your eyes, and rest."
Looking at the fierce look in his beautiful wife’s eyes, Rhain could only surrender.
"Alright, alright," Rhain let out a helpless, defeated chuckle. "I will do as say."
He allowed Seris to guide him toward the massive, luxurious silk bed at the center of the chamber.
He stripped off his outer robes and lay back against the soft pillows.
Seris immediately crawled in beside him, wrapping her arms securely around his waist and resting her head against his chest.
Rhain gently stroked Seris’s silver-blue hair, although she wasn’t physically hurt in the battle, the mental trauma she felt seeing him almost dead was simply unimaginable.
He can’t even imagine how much painful that moment should have been for his gentle wife.
And all of this was because of the royal family.
Rhain’s mind spun rapidly, coldly and rationally analyzing his current situation.
’I am safe,’ Rhain thought, ’But this safety is nothing more than a cage.’
He was trapped inside the Valdris Royal Academy.
The Old Dean had made it explicitly clear: the Monarch’s protection extended only to the borders of this Academy.
If he were to take even a single step outside these warded walls, the Emperor’s executioners would descend upon him like a swarm of ravenous wolves.
The Royal Family’s wrath for the destruction of the Crown Prince’s clone would not be satisfied with anything less than his total annihilation.
’I cannot stay trapped here forever. I cannot entrust my life, or my wife’s life, to the charity of others,’ Rhain’s dark grey pupils flickered with a dangerous light in the darkness.
To shatter this cage, he needed power.
Power that could rival the Solathane Dynasty itself.
’Celestial Elixir Pavilion must expand, and it must expand now,’ Rhain strategized.
Stormveil City had been an excellent starting point, but Valdris City was at a whole different stage.
It was the second most prosperous metropolis in the entire dynasty, its market scale and wealth dwarfing Stormveil by tenfold.
’I will establish the very first branch of the Celestial Elixir Pavilion right here in Valdris City.’
This wasn’t for wealth but power.
Valdris City was an independent territory. It was a haven for rogue experts who refuse to bow to the Royal Court.
If he offer flawless Mystic-Grade pills here, or enough Aetheruim Crystals, he can recruit a legion of Domain Master Realm experts.
He plans to build an impenetrable wall of powerhouses that answers only to him.
Yet, an army of Domain Masters was still external power.
In this ruthless martial world, external power could betray, crumble, or be overwhelmed.
The only absolute truth was one’s own personal strength.
Rhain’s left fist clenched silently by his sides, ’Right now, I am at the peak of Spirit Manifestation Realm, it will only take me a few more days to perfectly solidify my foundation.’
He had to reach the Core Formation Realm. And he had to do it as soon as possible.
Once he shattered that major bottleneck, his Abyssal Sovereign Physique would undergo another qualitative evolution.
His origin Domain of Darkness would expand, and the sheer volume of his essence would multiply to an unimaginable degree.
At the Core Formation Realm, he was confident he could effortlessly slaughter early-stage Domain Masters without relying on external artifacts or surprise attacks.
But that was not his only path to power.
Rhain’s consciousness drifted toward the ancient, translucent Spirit Ring he had obtained from the founder.
Hidden within that ring was an Emperor-Grade finger technique—a supreme martial art that the Founder himself had relied upon during his prime.
’An Emperor-Grade martial art,’ Rhain mused, his heart burning with anticipation. ’A technique that sits above the Mystic-Grade. The destructive output of such an art, combined with my strength will be catastrophic.’
It would become his ultimate trump card.
A lethal strike capable of threatening even the middle stage Domain Masters.
Lying in the quiet darkness, with the soft weight of the girl he loved more than life itself resting against his heart, Rhain’s dark grey eyes turned as cold and resolute as a blade.
He would fiercely advance every single inch of progress possible, tearing through every obstacle in his path, until he became an existence so unfathomably strong that he alone would dictate his own fate.