Jared’s expression was a complex tapestry of concern and resolve as he cast a worried glance at Catina, who was moments away from being imprisoned within a crystalline coffin of ice. He then shifted his gaze to the grievously wounded Cloud and Feenix. Clenching his teeth with fierce determination, he hoisted them up, setting his sights on a desperate charge through the safeguarded territory of the Five Great Sects.
The sects’ sanctuary was shielded by an intricate arcane array, one that Jared could only circumvent by exiting through the designated entrance.
Time was a luxury he didn’t possess, the notion of dismantling the formation was an impossibility in such dire straits.
“Stop them!” came the stern command from Edward, prompting a flood of Celestial Sun Sect disciples to descend upon Jared like a swarm of vengeful spirits.
It was during this siege that an unexpected salvation manifested-a cascade of light poured from the heavens, forming a barrier that ensnared the cultivators.
“Mr. Chance, make haste and depart,” echoed a voice from above. The savior was Tyler, who had been drawn to the scene by the uproar. Recognizing the imminent threat to Jared, he conjured a temporary arcane array to impede the attackers.
Given the fleeting nature of Tyler’s hastily constructed defense, Jared knew he must penetrate the Five Great Sects’ territory posthaste.
Once he left, the fate of those remaining would be sealed; no further escape from the Five Great Sects would be possible.
The grim realization set in-there was no alternative route for departure.
“You can forget about leaving…” The path to freedom was abruptly obstructed by a cluster of figures. Before him stood Stuart of Celestial Moon Sect, flanked by his disciples.
Their presence was an ominous sign, no doubt drawn by the longstanding bounty placed by the Demon Seal Alliance.
Confronted by Celestial Moon Sect, a sense of utter helplessness washed over Jared.
With Cloud and Feenix incapacitated in his arms, the odds of breaching Celestial Moon Sect’s defenses were non-existent.
Within the turmoil, Jared’s mind was besieged by relentless visions of Arthur-a mentor who had always been his beacon of safety in the mundane world.
However, the grim reality that Arthur might never again come to his aid was clawing at his resolve, for Jared was under the impression that Arthur had perished ages ago.
That very instant, far removed from the chaos, Arthur sat in solitude within his mountain retreat, his pen dancing across the parchment. A sudden premonition drew his gaze toward the window, as if the winds themselves whispered of the turmoil afar.
With a thoughtful stride, Arthur approached the window, his eyes searching the horizon, riddled with contemplation.
“Mr. Sanders, the Demon Seal Alliance has proclaimed a bounty via distant telepathy. The one who ends Jared’s defiance will be graced with a century of the Alliance’s offerings,” an announcement broke the silence.
“Restlessness has taken hold among the sects and prestigious families. Jared finds himself ensnared within the grip of the southern region’s Five Great Sects, and I fear for his well- being,” a girl stated, entering the room.
Her silhouette was as elegant as her demeanor, and she queried Arthur with a question that hung heavy in the air.
“What’s his current cultivation level?” inquired Arthur, his voice carrying a weight of expectation.
“He has only just ascended to the second level of Tribulator,” the girl reported, a hint of concern lacing her words.
“Second-Level Tribulator…” Arthur exhaled softly, a tinge of disappointment in his tone. “That’s painfully slow, excruciatingly so. Despite outpacing his peers, he’s still not where he needs to be.”
“We shall not intervene. Let him navigate the perilous dance of mortality. It may well serve his growth. If he cannot stand against the Demon Seal Alliance, what hope does he have of liberating the Draconians?” Arthur’s voice was firm, a testament to a harsh but necessary truth.
“But Mr. Sanders, I’m afraid…” The girl’s words faltered, teetering on the edge of her resolve.
“Don’t worry, he won’t die. I have already seen the tribulation in his life.”
With the conversation at its end, Arthur signaled for her to leave.
As solitude reclaimed the room, a shadow of concern momentarily flitted across his eyes.
“Jared, have the burdens we placed upon you been too onerous?” Arthur pondered aloud, his solitude filled with introspection. “The fatigue must be unbearable. Yet, there is no other path. The legacy of the Golden Dragon lies with you.”
“It’s a heavy load, your mission, your fate. I hope you don’t hold it against us, this seeming coldness. I wish it were within my power to lift you up to the skies, to grant you the immortality you so deserve in a single bound. Yet I cannot. So many are depending on you, Jared. They’re waiting for you to come through, to solve the riddles, to be their salvation. How long can I stand between you and the world, I wonder? My only wish is for your quickening, for your power to burgeon swiftly…” he lamented.
Lost in his own ruminations, Arthur’s voice trailed off, his thoughts a tumultuous sea where waves of concern and hope clashed endlessly.
