Tunde felt the presence of Varis behind him as the master dropped into the area around him. His duel with the wooden puppet was momentarily interrupted, a glancing blow from the creature catching his shoulder and spinning him with a dull ache. Gritting his teeth, Tunde retaliated, his leg snapping up to crash into the puppet’s skull, imbued with Ethra. Perhaps by luck, or maybe due to the sheer force of his attack, the strike dislodged the Ethra crystal powering the construct, effectively shutting it down.

  "That was careless of you," Varis said, hands folded behind his back as Moyo pressed a fist to his palm.

  "I apologize to the venerable master," Tunde said, bowing at the waist.

  Varis, in his usual manner, said nothing at first, merely looking him over with an unreadable expression. Then, he spoke. "You look significantly better."

  Tunde bowed lower in response. "The hospitality of the great clan has been benevolent," he replied as he straightened.

  "Already, the powers of the clan are converging ahead of the event. It seems what you said earlier about a new faction has, in fact, been proven. This is major and worrying news for the cultivation world," Varis mused, almost to himself.

  Tunde kept his lips sealed, listening intently as the master continued.

  "Unfortunately, I thought I would have more time to spend with you, to train you, but events are moving faster than I anticipated, and my attention is being drawn elsewhere. Either way, you will not be left unprovided for." He dipped his hands into his robe and brought out a jade-colored medallion, tossing it to Tunde, who caught it reverently.

  "That is the symbol of the Talahan clan," Varis said as Tunde examined it, noting the word "infinity" emblazoned perfectly on its surface.

  "With that, anything you buy will be charged to the clan, along with granting you unrestricted access across the capital—with the exception of the palace itself. See that you do not lose it," Varis warned.

  Tunde’s eyes widened in surprise. "The master is truly benevolent," he praised genuinely.

  Varis snorted to himself, turning away. "I wanted to come see you before the tournament started. Hegemons know I will be busy. However, a few things before I go," he stated as Tunde tucked the medallion into his robes.

  "Firstly, hundreds of clans, sects, and schools have been invited, along with some… cults I would not consider allies. They have been warned of the consequences of instigating fights within the capital, but as my student, I would warn you to be careful. Some will seek you out to fight. Learn to temper your emotions," Varis cautioned.

  Tunde nodded solemnly.

  "Secondly, just because you serve the Talahan clan doesn’t mean everyone within the clan looks favorably upon you. Be cautious of those who seek your attention. You do not have friends in the capital—except for the odd bunch you move around with: the Acacia clan heiress, the monk, the barbarian, and the odd master."

  Tunde said nothing, simply listening.

  "And finally, take your time to learn what you can. Few, if any, have the unrestricted access you now possess with the medallion—especially to the knowledge hall and the Fierce Thousand Burning Flame Smith within the capital," Varis finished cryptically as he made to leave.

  "Oh, and that vial with you contains the Serene Ghost Elixir. Hard to procure, worth more than Black Rock in its entirety. Whenever you intend to actually begin training, drink it. You should notice the difference almost immediately," he added.

  "You are going up against not just powerful cultivators but the future powers of the Bloodfire Continent—some who are already known as the Ten Prodigies of Bloodfire. A bit immature if you ask me, but I don’t make those names," Varis said before vanishing like smoke, leaving Tunde staring at the empty space.

  He inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly as he pondered his first steps. Perhaps he would check up on Sera and the rest, see what they were up to, and start from there. The capital was now open to him, and Tunde intended to make full use of it.

  ****************************

  Making his way across the vast expanse of the capital took time, the labyrinthine streets causing him to lose his way more times than he cared to admit. He had to stop repeatedly to ask the guards for directions. At first, they seemed unwilling to help, their expressions laced with disinterest, no doubt wondering why some lowly lord would dare bother them. However, the mere appearance of the medallion in his palm reversed their moods instantly, and they practically fell over themselves to assist him, much to Tunde’s satisfaction.

  Before long, he arrived at the expansive estate where the rest of his team was staying. Only then did he realize just how far he had wandered from the palace to this secluded area. The sheer size of the capital struck him once again. Even more impressive was that everything he had traversed was still considered the outer parts of the palace grounds—a testament to the immense domain of the Talahan clan. The inner sanctuaries were off-limits, accessible only to those of direct Talahan bloodline, but Tunde had no interest in sticking his nose where it wasn’t wanted.

  The estate’s gates stood wide open, and a flicker of alarm shot through him. Had something happened to his friends? But he quickly dismissed the thought with a snort. Only an idiot would dare attack the Talahan clan so close to their stronghold. Adopting a more relaxed gait, he casually strolled toward the main building. However, he soon noticed the eerie absence of people in the immediate surroundings. Yet, his senses picked up heavy presences in the distance, his brows furrowing in response.

  Ifa knew better than to let his aura run wild like that. Besides, this energy didn’t even feel like the master’s—it was drenched in bloodlust, and something about it was unsettlingly familiar, though he couldn’t quite place it. He hopped slightly, his limbs imbued with Ethra, and stepped silently onto the roof of the building. Moving swiftly across the red-tiled surface, he let the sunlight’s reflection help mask his movements.

  From his elevated position, he spotted the source of the disturbance: a gathering of dozens surrounding what appeared to be a training stage. His eyes immediately found two figures standing at its center, poised to fight. Surprise flickered across his face as he recognized Sera, her fiery red hair untamed, gripping what looked like a wooden blade instead of her usual slaughter instrument. She was dressed in clean black robes tied neatly at the waist. Opposite her stood another female—one unfamiliar to Tunde—but the pressure of her lord-rank presence was unmistakable.

  His sharp gaze quickly found Ifa, Daiki, and the others sitting in a corner, chattering excitedly among themselves. Just what was going on? Then, his eyes landed on a familiar figure—an elder who had once challenged him when he had first arrived at Talahar. But something was different. Tunde no longer felt the presence of a mere Highlord; what he now sensed was the restrained power of a true master. A cold realization settled over him—when they had first fought, he had been mere inches from complete annihilation.

  Crouching low on the roof, he masked his presence as best as he could before slipping off and merging into the small crowd gathered around the stage. His height made him stand out slightly, but he kept his aura in check, careful not to draw attention.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  The opposing female stood nearly at Sera’s height, sharing the same sun-kissed skin tone characteristic of Talahan bloodline members. She, too, wielded a wooden blade, and her storm-grey eyes held an unmistakable air of disdain. Sera, on the other hand, seemed utterly indifferent, running a hand through her messy hair, the strands whipping lightly in the breeze. She hadn’t even bothered to comb or tie it into a respectful shape.

  Tunde took note of Zhu’s absence but still felt the trace of Ethralite nearby. He briefly considered tracking the divine beast’s location but decided against it. Doing so would draw unnecessary attention, and he wasn’t ready for that just yet. For now, he would simply observe.

  A man unfamiliar to him stepped between the two female combatants, his voice carrying authority as he announced, “This will be a simple duel—no fatal injuries or strikes. First to surrender loses!”

  Tunde raised an eyebrow. A duel? Who had initiated such a thing? Most likely Ifa, if his suspicions were correct. But what truly intrigued him was the presence of the other Talahan master. Could this girl be the elder’s student?

  The announcer’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Begin!”

  The tension in the air was palpable as Sera and the young Talahan woman circled each other, their wooden blades poised for battle, auras bristling as they flared to life—crimson red for Sera and a startling white lightning-like aura for the other woman. The sun cast sharp shadows across the training stage, its heat barely felt against the electric charge that crackled between them.

  Sera’s stance was aggressive, her sharp red hair whipping in the breeze as she lunged first, a streak of raw, untamed power accompanying her path. The Talahan girl, her storm-grey eyes unwavering, pivoted smoothly, parrying Sera’s strike with an almost casual grace.

  Sera didn’t relent. She pressed forward, each swing of her blade backed by sheer ferocity. The impact of their wooden weapons sent sharp echoes through the training grounds, but for every powerful strike Sera delivered, the Talahan girl countered with pinpoint precision. Lightning crackled subtly around her form, her movements swift and honed to near perfection, making her a formidable opponent.

  The onlookers gasped as the Talahan girl feinted left before twisting her wrist and redirecting her blade, narrowly missing Sera’s shoulder. Sera barely managed to step back in time, frustration tightening her features as she snarled softly. She adjusted her grip, her aura flaring as she channeled more energy into her movements. With a battle cry, she charged again, her wooden sword swinging down in a brutal arc meant to tear violently through any defense, reminiscent of the devastating strikes of her usual weapon.

  The Talahan girl met the attack head-on, her blade flashing as she twisted her body and delivered a punishing counterstrike. The force of the impact sent Sera staggering back, her feet skidding across the training platform. The Talahan girl didn’t hesitate—she advanced like a storm, pressing her advantage with relentless efficiency. Her strikes became a blur, forcing Sera onto the defensive, her frustration mounting slowly but surely as she struggled to find an opening.

  Then Tunde saw it—the subtle shift in the Talahan girl’s stance, the buildup of energy in her aura. She was preparing a strike that would do more than just knock Sera down—it would injure her. Tunde’s Ethra sight calculated the raw strength coursing from the base of the wooden weapon to its tip, a conflagration of raw, practiced brutality. Instinct took over. Before the wooden blade could land, Tunde moved. In a flash, courtesy of Void Step, he was between them, his hand clamping down on the Talahan girl’s wrist with unyielding force. The impact never came.

  A stunned silence followed as the assembled crowd held their breath, no doubt expecting the attack to connect. Instead, all they felt was the rushing gale of force that came from Tunde’s presence. Sera panted heavily, her blade still raised, while the Talahan girl’s eyes flashed with indignant fury.

  Elder Tianlei’s deep voice broke the stillness. "A wise intervention," he said, his gaze fixed on Tunde. "You acted swiftly, but you seem to forget—you are Varis’s student. Every action you take carries weight."

  Murmurs broke out as Tunde felt dozens of eyes assessing him in that moment. He inclined his head toward the master.

  “I greet the venerable elder and master,” he started, his tone respectful. “And I also apologize for my actions. I couldn’t stand by and watch my friend take a lethal injury.”

  The elder chuckled, but the Talahan girl yanked her arm free, her stormy expression darkening. "You had no right to interfere," she snapped, her voice sharp with anger.

  “You were about to infuse Ethra into your attack for whatever reason. I apologize, but it felt like you somehow lost control in that moment,” Tunde responded calmly.

  The girl’s eyes widened in shock and embarrassment, and Tunde caught Ifa’s chuckle over the noise.

  "If you think I lack control, then prove it—fight me yourself." She snarled, gripping her wooden weapon so tightly Tunde expected it to shatter from the raw force.

  Tunde met her glare evenly. "I accept, but on one condition," he said, his voice steady. "If I win, Sera is to receive a new weapon, along with high-quality pills and body-strengthening elixirs."

  Elder Tianlei chuckled, shaking his head. "I would have provided those regardless. But I will add something extra—a token granting you both access to the clan’s Forgesmith. You may have custom weapons crafted to your specifications."

  Tunde inclined his head in acceptance, not voicing that he already had the Talahan medallion in hand.

  The Talahan girl’s grip tightened on her wooden blade, bringing it to her chest, tip pointed toward him. To her, his acceptance was nothing short of an insult. "Then let’s begin."

  ************************

  Tunde gripped the wooden blade he had been given, tuning out the hollering noises from Zehra and the stoic gaze from Daiki. The monk’s concerned expression struck him as absurd—Daiki had seen him fight before. Most of all, he ignored the deathly glare of Sera burning into the back of his head. Amusement flickered on his lips, though the girl in front of him mistook it for gloating, her storm-grey eyes narrowing in fury.

  He hadn’t asked for her name. He doubted she would have answered him anyway, given the thunderous rage twisting her features. Gathering his aura, he was keenly aware of the destructive nature of his path. The Void Devourer’s way was not meant for practice. Nevertheless, he imbued his body, feeling the familiar rush of Ethra course through his frame.

  “There will be no use of Ethra, no lethal damage. Remember, this is a friendly spar,” Elder Tianlei reminded, his gaze sharp as he looked between them.

  Tunde inclined his head in acknowledgment, though his Ethra sight had already flared to life, measuring the girl’s stance. Her lightning Ethra was undeniable, and there was a possibility she also possessed a weapon affinity. As she gathered her aura, he realized just how much she had been holding back against Sera. Perhaps he had stepped in too early.

  “Begin,” the elder commanded.

  She vanished; her form blurred in a streak of lightning. A mirage of wooden blades danced before his eyes, carried on the storm of her lightning aura—each strike so sharp it could slice through metal.

  It would have splintered his wooden weapon in an instant, maybe even left him with a scar—if he hadn’t anticipated it. His weapon, imbued with Ethra despite the slow degradation it would cause, met hers with a resounding crack. He parried, redirecting the strength of her blow with practiced ease. She pivoted immediately, an imbued kick flashing toward his side.

  Tunde dodged, moving fluidly with the battle’s rhythm. She pressed forward, increasing the tempo of her blows, her strikes a relentless torrent of speed and force. He matched them effortlessly, feeling the scalding touch of her aura as she sought to overwhelm him.

  Well, at least she started it.

  Letting his force affinity seep into his aura, his blows remained just as swift, but now they carried a weight that drove her back. Her eyes widened in realization as her wooden blade clattered faster and faster against his, the force of each collision pushing her onto the defensive. Her strikes turned desperate, reckless in their attempt to bypass the crushing momentum of his attacks.

  And then he triggered it all at once.

  With a sharp burst of Ethra, he flooded his hands with energy, amplifying the force aspect of his affinity. The next strike shattered her wooden blade in her grip. A stunned silence followed as splinters embedded themselves in her palms, crimson drops seeping from the wounds. His own weapon came to rest at her throat, its edge unwavering.

  She froze, shock flashing through her gaze.

  Tunde’s eyes flicked down to her hands before he spoke softly. “You’ll need to have that looked at.”

  As if in defiance, she clenched her fists, pressing the splinters deeper into her skin. A flicker of pain crossed her features, but she said nothing.

  Elder Tianlei was the first to react, his applause breaking the tension. Others soon followed, the sound swelling into a resounding ovation. Tunde lowered his blade, bowing at the waist first to his opponent, then to the elders, before tossing the weapon aside and striding toward Ifa, who was already on his feet, grinning shamelessly.

  “Today couldn’t have gone better,” Ifa said, laughter in his voice.

  Tunde sighed, shaking his head as he spied Sera grumbling to herself. He pulled her closer, draping an arm over her shoulder as she crossed her arms in protest.

  “Tunde, meet the esteemed Elder Tianlei of the Talahan clan,” Ifa announced.

  Tunde turned to the elder, bowing respectfully. “We have met before,” he replied.

  Ifa raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  Tianlei chuckled. “Indeed. And I see you cherish your friends. Well, in that case, you should know that Sera is now my student.”

  Tunde froze, blinking in surprise. Sera sighed loudly, grumbling again, though there was no real irritation in her tone.