Chapter 1974: 0434 Blood Battle begins, Crimson Emperor ascends! (Big chapter, please subscribe and ask for monthly tickets)_4

Before the blood battle begins, in the final quiet moments, everyone is striving to grow stronger, making their last preparations.

The Dawn Tower.

Lord Victor had just completed cultivating the seventh primordial soul spell. His spiritual force had long surpassed the maximum, and he spent most of his time studying and researching spells, so his progress was naturally swift.

“Now, I can be considered a proper Sixth-Circle Perfect Wizard. After branding eight Witch Marks and cultivating to perfection, I’ll be able to ascend to the seventh circle.”

The standard set by his true self was twelve marks, but Victor believed a man should be harsh on himself–he planned to brand fifteen.

After all, aside from learning spells and arrays, he had nothing else to do.

As for the path of the Energy Sect?

One only needed to practice their Absolute Skill, complete their daily exercises, and gain enlightenment occasionally. Cultivation progresses easily and quickly–it’s really not difficult. With a Spiritual Fetus Physique and the legacy of the White Emperor’s Son, it’s that straightforward.

In fact,

Cultivating the Energy Sect is all about letting things flow naturally, or in other words, maintaining a carefree mindset–it’s not about forcing results.

If one’s mental state and timing are not aligned, even diligent cultivation won’t lead to progress. On the contrary, it may lead to obsession, falling into ruin.

This is something that even those official Wizard Council members who’ve studied the path of the Energy Sect for years have come to recognize. The Energy Sect doesn’t follow the same predictable patterns as wizardry; its cultivation and enlightenment rely entirely on individual intuition.

“Tower Master, someone is looking for you.”

A subordinate sent word.

Victor extended his perception and, smiling faintly, replied:

“Understood.”

On the street.

A young wizard in a black robe, surrounded by eight secret swords, called out loudly:

“Greetings, Lord Victor.”

Victor responded:

“Why have you come again?”

Link spoke with determination and confidence:

“I still wish for a rematch with you in the art of secret sword mastery.”

Victor chuckled.

“Very well.”

He suppressed his own realm, matching Link’s Fifth-Circle Perfection Realm, then casually took out a fourth-circle secret wizard tool.

In the training ground.

Link clapped his hands, and the eight secret swords under his control shot into the sky, transforming into beams of sword light that formed an Octagonal Star Formation.

“Eight-direction Sword Rain!”

With a wave of his hand, thousands of Gold Element Sword Qi beams surged down from the sky, their might terrifying.

Victor nodded lightly.

With a flick of his finger, thirteen fourth-circle secret swords soared into the heavens!

“Heavenly Star Sword Formation!”

Rumble!

Sword Qi collided with Sword Qi, sparking an endless cascade of fiery explosions.

In an instant,

[Sword Falling in All Directions] was obliterated. High above, thirteen faintly glowing Heavenly Stars shimmered.

Victor smiled faintly.

“If you can withstand a single sword from me, I will gift you a fifth-circle top-grade secret sword.”

Link asked:

“Are you serious, Lord Victor?”

Victor confirmed:

“Indeed.”

Link, filled with bravado, transformed his sword array once again. The Octagonal Star formation glowed brightly as eight secret swords embedded themselves into the ground. Sword Qi formed an array barrier, shielding him at its center.

“Bring it on, Lord Victor!”

Victor gently pointed with his finger.

Above the Sky Dome, thirteen Heavenly Stars intertwined, finally taking the shape of a greatsword.

“Shattering Star!”

Boom!

A massive greatsword phantom, hundreds of meters long, appeared instantly above Link’s head!

Link’s expression grew tense. Feeling the overwhelming force pressing down on him, he began to doubt himself.

“I trust in my sword!”

With all his strength, he pushed his sword formation barrier to its limit!

In the next moment,

The greatsword shattered, never landing on the barrier.

Victor spoke:

“Not bad, you’ve passed.”

He was joking–the boy could never truly withstand his sword array attack. Even with Victor deliberately suppressing his realm to the fifth circle, it was impossible.

Link felt as if awakening from a dream; that strike was undeniably awe-inspiring.

“In comparison to such a sword array, my Octagonal Star is still far inferior.”

Victor asked:

“Let me ask you again–do you want to become my student?”

The Dawn Tower had recruited many pupils, yet none had been taken as Victor’s personal disciples.

Link was the only person Victor had admired in recent years. However, the boy had his own ideas–Victor had asked him before, and he had declined.

Link replied:

“Thank you for the kind offer, Lord Victor. However, I fear that becoming someone’s student might constrain my own sword skill style. I’d prefer to explore it on my own.”

Victor handed a top-grade secret sword to Link, saying:

“Very well, then stick to your path. You will become a Secret Sword Master. By the way, I suggest you visit the Ancient Dragon Continent sometime and take the Energy Sect’s heart-testing challenge–it might open up a whole new realm for you.”

Link responded:

“Thank you, Lord Victor. From now on, I won’t trouble you further–I’ve already signed up for the Demon Slaying List.”

Victor said:

“Good. Growth is quickest amidst slaughter, but remember, be mindful–stubbornness can lead to ruin, and safety comes first.”

Link felt warmth in his heart.

Though he didn’t wish to be Victor’s student, he held deep respect for him.

With a deep bow, Link merged with his secret sword and vanished into the void.

“Lord Victor, the next time we meet, I’ll have reached the sixth circle–and I’ll challenge you officially.”

Victor smiled and said:

“Be my guest.”

Through his Spiritual Fetus intuition, Victor had a hunch that Link might possess the [Golden Stone Heart]. This boy’s future was limitless.

“I’ve nearly grasped the knowledge points of the Heavenly Star Sword Formation already. I just need to ascend to the seventh circle to refine a true sword array.”

…

Two years later.

Nora Year 213.

Endless Sea.

Hundred-Eyed Demon Territory.

Once, this place gave birth to the Abyss Well and suffered devastating destruction from a legendary forbidden spell.

Lava Sea.

In the past, Levi discovered a wild sub-dimensional portal here, which was later destroyed by the Wizard Council after its discovery.