Gatlin furrowed his brow, equally puzzled. “I can’t figure it out either. What could he be planning? Is he deliberately provoking us into taking action against him?”
Seth chimed in, equally baffled. “But why would he do that? There’s no way he could stand a chance against the three of us, right?”
Ruth’s sharp eyes narrowed. “Isn’t it obvious? This guy must have Allardland backing him. If we attack him, they’ll use it as an excuse to retaliate.”
Gatlin’s expression darkened. He couldn’t discern Jared’s true intentions, and the uncertainty left him wary. “That’s possible. For now, let’s just follow him. Let’s see where he’s headed and what he’s really up to.”
With that, the trio shadowed Jared.
Just as Gatlin and the others were preparing to tail Jared, the air around them suddenly quivered, rippling with an unseen force. Without warning, two elders materialized beside them.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Gatlin’s face at the sight of the newcomers, though he quickly masked it.
“Gatlin, Mr. Lefterov was concerned this task might be beyond your abilities, so he sent us to assist,” said one of the elders, a black-robed man with notably long eyebrows. His tone carried an air of condescension.
Gatlin was displeased. “Cayan, he’s just a Seventh Level Tribulator. Why can’t handle him?”
Cayan’s lips curled into a faint, derisive smile. “If you were capable, you wouldn’t have let Jared slip away and resorted to merely following him like a shadow.”
The second elder, Milton, joined in with a mocking chuckle. “An Ultimate Realm Level Four cultivator, afraid to confront a mere Seventh Level Tribulator. Seems our leader had the right idea sending us here.”
“Milton, spare me your smug remarks,” Gatlin retorted, his irritation now barely concealed. “If you’re so confident, why don’t you take the lead and capture Jared yourself?”
As Ultimate Realm Level Four cultivators, all serving in the Demon Seal Alliance, friction and rivalry among them were commonplace. In the Ethereal Realm, pride and the refusal to lose were ingrained in nearly everyone.
“Fine, I’ll show you,” Milton said with a sneer, stepping forward. His hand moved in a fluid arc, and the empty space before him rippled as if disturbed by an unseen force.
Jared, who had been making his way forward, suddenly sensed an intense wave of danger behind him. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on the Dragonslayer Sword, his senses sharpening to the threat.
In a seamless motion, the sword flashed in his hand, its gleam slicing through the undulating void.
Milton let out a cold snort, his eyes narrowing. With a casual flip of his right hand, he commanded, “Get back here!”
Boom!
In an instant, the air seemed to condense, forming an enormous, spectral hand as massive as a mountain. It lunged toward Jared with astonishing speed, its five fingers closing around him like an iron cage. For a moment, Jared was caught in the crushing grip.
Bang!
But he soon swung the Dragonslayer Sword, channeling his energy into the strike. The sword’s radiant blade cleaved through the spectral hand, triggering a thunderous explosion. The massive hand shattered into fragments.
In a flash, Jared retreated several kilometers, his movements swift yet strained. A thin trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and his Dragonslayer Sword trembled slightly in his grip.
He struggled against the surprise assault of a formidable opponent.
Jared glanced toward Milton, his expression grim. The strength of his adversaries was undeniable-they were Ultimate Realm Level Four cultivators, and worse still, they were working together. The odds were heavily stacked against him.
Just as Jared got ready to escape, he realized his path of retreat had already been cut off. Shadowy figures loomed in every direction, encircling him. His brows knitted together, and he had no choice but to come up with something else.
“If I can’t escape, then I’ll fight…” he muttered through gritted teeth, his resolve hardening like tempered steel. His eyes blazed with an unyielding determination. The fierce fighting spirit within him ignited, and as it surged, it awakened the sword intent. The Dragonslayer Sword released a powerful resonance that reverberated through the air, its hum like a war cry echoing across the battlefield.
Milton’s eyes narrowed as he studied Jared, his voice tinged with surprise. “You’re certainly not like any average Seventh Level Tribulator. To shatter my giant palm with a single strike… your strength has undoubtedly touched the Ultimate Realm.”
Wiping the blood from his face, Jared charged forward. “Enough with the chatter. Let’s see how I deal with you today!”
