Chapter 776: The Weight of Legend
Ethan swallowed hard in silence, quickly composing his expression so as not to display any weakness before Vorian’s overwhelming presence.
"Tales of Lord Vorian cross borders," Ethan said, keeping his head held high while displaying a calculated level of respect. "It is impossible not to have heard of the man whose blade decides life and death in a single heartbeat."
Vorian offered a satisfied smirk, taking another step toward the edge of the pit.
"Flattering words for someone claiming to be a mere peasant," Vorian commented, crossing his arms as he sized Ethan up with an inquisitive gaze. "However, I didn’t step down here to listen to praise. That final move of yours caught my attention... ’Hunting Crane Strike.’ A classic technique of the Heavenly Sword Sect, executed with a precision that doesn’t belong to an ordinary disciple."
Ethan felt a subtle chill run down his spine. Vorian’s eyes seemed to pierce straight through his gala robe, reading the intricacies of his energy flow with terrifying ease.
"It is merely a technique I picked up during my travels," Ethan replied without batting an eye. "A useful asset to survive desperate situations."
"I see..." Vorian whispered, tilting his head. "Surviving or not, killing an intermediate Spiritual Transcendence Realm cultivator while you are in the Dao Manifestation Realm is not something achieved solely through ’useful assets.’ You possess a extraordinarily sharp killing instinct, kid. And that potion you drank..."
Vorian paused deliberately, glancing up toward the platform where the Emperor observed their conversation in silence.
"Even within the imperial capital, an elixir capable of healing mortal wounds and regenerating divine flesh within seconds is exceedingly rare," the legendary swordsman continued. "You have drawn many eyes tonight, Ethan. Not all of them will be friendly."
"I am accustomed to hostile glances, Lord Vorian," Ethan answered with a faint, brazen smirk. "As long as they don’t break His Majesty’s rules, they won’t lose me any sleep."
Vorian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
Vorian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head with a touch of amusement.
"Well, what I came down here for was to test you," Vorian said, locking his golden gaze directly into Ethan’s eyes. "You tried to hide it, but you can’t conceal it from us... You possess a complete Dao Sword Heart."
The moment those words left the imperial enforcer’s mouth, the entire banquet erupted into a deafening roar of whispers. Diplomats, kings, and grand elders sprang to their feet, staring at Ethan in fascination. A complete Dao Sword Heart? That was the exact same level of mastery over the way of the blade and space that Vorian himself possessed.
The minds of everyone present began racing at a breakneck speed. If Vorian had personally stepped down into the arena to expose the kid’s greatest secret... was the legendary swordsman intending to strangle the young prodigy in his cradle before he became a threat to the empire?
Ethan stood frozen. Up on the balcony, King Alaric clenched his fists unable to intervene. There was no way to attack, rescue Ethan, and escape; they were in the very heart of the imperial capital. With Vorian present, not even counting the army or the Emperor, facing him was absurd. No matter how hard they tried, the gap between them was an unbridgeable abyss.
"Relax, I didn’t come to kill you," Vorian said, breaking the tension with a serene smile. "We want to test you. If you manage to beat me, the Emperor himself will grant you a wish. What do you think? Will you try?"
Ethan thought about it for a moment. He knew the risk, but the reward was something he couldn’t pass up.
"I will try with my life on the line," Ethan said, locking eyes with the enforcer.
"Excellent!" Vorian exclaimed enthusiastically. "Now that you’ve decided, we can try. But I’m just curious... what is the motive driving you? You are fighting with your life on the line and I might kill you by accident, so what makes you fight? What is it that you desire most in this life?"
Ethan didn’t hesitate. He looked up at the balcony, where Isabella was watching him with a pale face and trembling lips.
"I wish... I wish for Isabella von Draconia to be released from her marriage contract with the Silver Dragon Kingdom," Ethan declared, his voice echoing across the entire hall.
"Hahaha!" an estruendous laugh erupted from Vorian, shaking the marble walls. "Interesting! Just as interesting as you! A woman motivates you? You face life and death before me... for a woman! Hahaha!"
"This is outrageous!" the King of the Silver Dragon Kingdom suddenly shouted, leaping to his feet with his face flushed red with rage. "Attempting to steal another man’s woman right in front of the entire court! I demand Your Majesty honor the agreement that has been upheld for generations! This is unheard of!"
Vorian stopped laughing instantly. He slowly turned his head toward the Silver Dragon Kingdom’s balcony and locked his gaze on the monarch.
An invisible, crushing pressure slammed directly onto the sovereign. The King of the Silver Dragon Kingdom widened his eyes in horror and coughed up a spray of blood before collapsing to his knees, trembling convulsively.
"Did I give you permission to speak, insect?" Vorian said, his voice so icy it froze the blood of everyone present. "If the Emperor gave his word, who are you to interfere?!"
The hall fell into silence. Due to his noble, refined, and youthful appearance, anyone might erroneously assume Vorian was a kind and polite man. But they couldn’t be more wrong: Vorian wasn’t His Majesty’s enforcer out of kindness, but because he was a bloodthirsty beast who possessed not the slightest shred of mercy.
"Get ready," Vorian said, drawing a slender sword whose edge seemed to dissolve the light around it. "I won’t be too rough on you. I won’t use my cultivation, as the difference in realms would be ridiculous... We will only fight using our Dao Sword Heart."
Ethan gripped his black sword with both hands, feeling the space within the pit begin to warp before the first exchange even began.