CHAPTER 474: A LADDER MADE OF LIES

"Kai, I don’t know what you went through in the Azure Serpent Realm for the last one month, but I could tell you have suffered greatly."

Elder Wren didn’t expect Ethan to say he wanted to go home first; however, thinking about it, he understood.

"How about we go to the sect first and register your breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm?"

Elder Wren patiently explained, "After registering your breakthrough, preparing your disciple badge and your peak in the Sect, and a few more things, it would take at least one month. So, you can go and stay with your parents until then."

For Elder Wren, registering ’Kai’s’ breakthrough was more important than anything else.

Moreover, he was planning to learn what was happening inside the Azure Serpent Realm through Ethan and claim it as his achievement to get other rewards from the Sect.

Thus, Elder Wren explained that as a Core Disciple, he could stay out of the sect as long as he wanted.

"Also, after you get the title of a Core Disciple, you can bring your parents to live with you inside the Greenfire Realm."

Elder Wren ended with one of the major benefits the Core Disciples could enjoy.

"Is that so?"

Through Morwag, Ethan already knew about these benefits. But, he maintained his act and soon, Ethan agreed to go with Elder Wren.

’I know he won’t let me go anywhere else before registering me. That’s why I made sure to drop my cultivation to Level 1 Golden Core Realm.’

With his [Night Phantom Concealment Technique], Ethan could easily block the eyes of Golden Core Realm Cultivators and even some mid-level Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators.

However, it would be hard to escape the eyes of high-level Nascent Soul Realm Cultivators and those with special eyes inside the sect.

Therefore, at least when registering his Golden Core Realm breakthrough, Ethan wanted to have a genuine cultivation to fool the Greenfire Sect.

"Excellent."

Hearing that, Elder Wren heaved a sigh of relief as he and Ethan rushed to the Greenfire Sect.

"Kai, can you tell me what’s happening inside the Azure Serpent Realm? And if you don’t mind, can you explain how you broke through to the Golden Core Realm?"

Along the way, Elder Wren asked Ethan about the most important questions that the Greenfire Sect would generously reward for.

"Of course, I will tell you everything."

Ethan was waiting for Elder Wren to ask that question. So, nodding his head, Ethan started narrating the story he had created before coming out of the Azure Serpent Realm.

"Then... it happened."

"There was a bright azure light that suddenly burst out from deep within the skies. It was so blinding that I couldn’t even keep my eyes open. I tried to shield myself, but it was everywhere—like the entire realm was being swallowed by light."

Elder Wren furrowed his brows, listening intently.

"And then... I heard a voice. A powerful, ancient voice that echoed inside my mind and the entire realm."

Ethan lowered his tone slightly and mimicked the voice with an eerie solemnity.

’I... have finally awakened after a thousand years, and to celebrate my awakening, all Azure Beasts inside the Azure Serpent Realm, consider this... my gift.’

’Cough’

Mimicking the voice made Ethan cough; however, Elder Wren frowned, hearing Ethan’s mimicked voice as the Ancient Voice resounded in the Azure Serpent Realm.

Nevertheless, he didn’t say anything as he continued to hear Ethan’s story.

"As soon as the voice faded, all the Azure Spirit Beasts across the region collapsed—one by one—bathed in that strange, glowing azure light. They didn’t die... no. They fell asleep. It was terrifying and miraculous at the same time."

"I was hiding when it happened, but when I saw even the Rank 3 Azure Serpents fall unconscious, I... I took a chance."

Ethan sighed softly, as though recalling a burdened memory.

"I started killing them. One by one. The beasts didn’t wake up, not even when I struck them down. But each time I killed one, something strange happened."

"I received pure Spirit Essence. Unlike anything I’ve absorbed before. It was so pure, so condensed—it directly merged with my foundation bead in my Dantian. It didn’t feel like ordinary Spirit Essence or Beast Core energy. It was... something else."

He looked at Elder Wren with a subtle frown, masking his excitement with a quiet humility.

"It was like the realm itself was helping me grow stronger. And I took advantage of it. I fought for days and nights, hunted the beasts that were in their sleep. But not all of them stayed asleep."

Ethan clenched his fists slightly.

"Some of the Rank 4 Azure Serpents... they woke up. Especially the ones I was trying to kill. I had to run for my life several times. One time, I almost lost an arm. Another time, I thought I’d be eaten alive."

He laughed dryly, shaking his head.

"But... I kept pushing. I kept hunting. Killing. Escaping. Sometimes it was easy, sometimes it was hell. And there were days when I didn’t think I’d survive. But at the end of this past month... I broke through."

"The Spirit Essence I absorbed helped me refine my foundation and finally ascend to the Golden Core Realm."

Ethan’s voice was calm now, steady. "Once I stabilised my breakthrough, I found a moment when no guards were near the realm’s exit. So I quietly snuck out before anyone could notice."

He finished with a deep breath, as if he had just unburdened a lifetime of pain.

’...’

On the other hand, Elder Wren was silent for a long moment; however, inside, his heart was churning with jealousy.

If he were not the person who referred Ethan to the Greenfire Sect, Elder Wren would have been killed the moment he walked out of the Azure Serpent Realm... of course, after completing a thorough interrogation.

’He absorbed pure spirit essence from sleeping Azure Spirit Beasts? What kind of fcking heaven-defying luck is that?’

’Killing evolving spirit beasts while they’re unconscious? How hard can that be? Even a blind monkey could level up if given that opportunity.’

’He’s one hell of a lucky bstard... damn it.’

How could Elder Wren not know the phenomenon of Spirit Beasts falling unconscious while covered by a bright light?

No matter how strong a Spirit Beast was, during its evolution, they would be so weak that even the cultivators with one realm lower than the Spirit Beast could easily kill it.

So, how could Elder Wren not be jealous when he learned how Ethan was able to break through to the Golden Core Realm in such a short time?

And yet, on the surface, Elder Wren smiled.

"A miracle indeed... the heavens must really favour you, Kai. This is truly unbelievable. If this gets out, the entire Greenfire Sect will be shaken."

Although the entire story seemed a bit hard to believe, when the results were right in front of him, how could Elder Wren not believe it?

Moreover, after listening to Ethan, Elder Wren also got an answer to his question regarding why the Azure Serpent Leaders closed the entire Azure Serpent Realm for the whole month.

"We should report the sect about it. The sect will generously reward ’Us’ for revealing the mystery behind the Azure Serpent Realm’s sudden restriction."

Elder Wren smiled as he wondered, ’I wonder who has awakened after 1000 years? Don’t tell me there was some Ancient Spirit inside the Azure Serpent Realm.’

Since there was a Demonic Blood Dragon Evil Spirit inside the Primordial Beast Realm, Elder Wren was not thoroughly shocked regarding the existence of another spirit inside the Azure Serpent Realm.

Although the Greenfire Sect was the owner of the Azure Serpent Realm in name, they didn’t have much information on it because the Azure Serpent Leaders never allowed their Golden Core Realm Cultivators to fully explore the realm.

’Anyway, those things are for the sect to worry about. All I care about are my rewards.’

Elder Wren didn’t bother to think about other things and focused on his rewards.

Soon, they reached the Greenfire Realm and, using their tokens, both Elder and Disciple entered the realm.

’Swiish’

’Phew...it looks like he was not possessed by an evil spirit or corrupted by the Demonic Energy.’

Seeing that Ethan was able to enter the Greenfire Sect Realm without any issues, Elder Wren heaved a sigh of relief.

It was not a common thing for the disciples to stray from their path and become Demonic Cultivators to rapidly progress in their cultivation, and there were even cases where they were possessed by evil spirits.

That’s why the Greenfire Sect has come up with a powerful barrier that could sense such changes in their disciples, and now, Elder Wren was relieved that Ethan had no such issues.

"Kai, let’s go."

Now, with full confidence, Elder Wren brought him to the Administration Hall to register Ethan’s Golden Core Realm and to start the procedure for upgrading Ethan’s status to Core Disciple.

"Elder Wren, I need to talk with you."

However, before registering Ethan’s cultivation, the Old Elder in charge of the administration hall frowned to see Ethan’s details and decided to have a talk with Elder Wren.

"Huh?"

Ethan and Elder Wren both frowned; however, Elder Wren asked Ethan to wait outside while he discussed some things with the Old Elder.

"Yes, Elder Wren."

Ethan calmly nodded his head; however, deep down, his heart was racing. ’Was there a loophole in my plan? What is it?’

However, no matter how much he thought, Ethan was unable to figure out what went wrong with his plan.

Inside the Administration Hall,

"Brother Wren, since you are busy regarding the Azure Serpent Realm, you didn’t know something."

The Old Elder quickly informed, "Yesterday, the Supreme Elder Ranulf ordered me to kick out all the disciples from the Lin Family within a week."

"What?"