Bruce no longer cared about dignity.

He did not want to see Ethan standing there so calmly, as if everything was under control. He did not want to endure the mocking gazes from the crowd, nor the silent judgment weighing on him like mountains.

At this moment, it felt as if he were trapped in a sea of blades and fire—no retreat, no escape.

There was only one path left.

Fight Ethan head-on.

Defeat him.

"Take the move, Ethan!"

Bruce roared and leapt into the air.

In an instant, the spear intent surrounding him surged upward, merging with the sky itself. The violent intent condensed, layered upon itself, and rapidly formed a complete world.

A world of spear intent.

As it expanded, space shattered wherever it passed. Cracks spread like spiderwebs, explosions roared endlessly, and the air collapsed into chaotic turbulence.

In the blink of an eye, Ethan was swallowed by that spear world.

At the same time, the purple spear in Bruce's hand began to accumulate terrifying power.

Spiritual energy surged violently, thunder and lightning intertwining around the spear shaft. All spear intent condensed to a single point.

Boom!

Thunder roared from the heavens. Thick bolts of lightning crashed down from the clouds, striking the spear repeatedly.

Each strike refined it further.

Each strike amplified the lightning within.

The spear hummed like a living beast, eager to devour everything in its path.

Bruce stared at it—then clenched his teeth.

"Still not enough…"

He knew it clearly.

This level of power could obliterate a late-stage Inferior Supreme, perhaps even cripple one beyond recovery.

But against Ethan—

It was still insufficient.

If this attack failed, then what awaited him was utter defeat.

There would be no second chance.

"Secret technique… Extreme Thunder Violence!"

Bruce silently chanted the incantation.

A terrifying aura surged from his body.

The sky darkened instantly.

Thunderclouds rolled violently, blotting out the light. Streaks of lightning like writhing dragons descended from the clouds, striking Bruce's body again and again.

Yet they did not harm him.

Instead, they fed him.

Each strike strengthened his aura, forcing it upward.

Bruce's pupils turned blue-white, lightning flickering wildly within them. His hair stood on end, dancing chaotically as if possessed by thunder itself.

He spread his arms wide.

Thunder exploded around him.

For a moment, he looked like a thunder god descending upon the mortal world.

"Blood essence, burn!"

Bruce roared hoarsely.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, which splashed onto the purple spear.

Boom!

His aura surged once more.

In that instant, his strength forcibly climbed into the Intermediate Supreme level.

This was no longer a mere increase.

It was a qualitative transformation.

Boom boom boom!

A thin ring of blood light enveloped his body, and the spear followed suit. The power within it skyrocketed explosively.

Bruce stared at Ethan's position inside the spear world, eyes blazing.

"Ethan," he growled, "I admit you're strong."

"But this move—this is everything I have!"

"How will you block it?!"

The next second, he locked onto Ethan and hurled the spear with all his might.

Whoosh!

The spear tore through the sky like a meteor, dragging thunder and blood light behind it.

Yet...

Something unexpected happened.

Crack.

A thin fissure appeared in the spear intent world.

Then another.

Then dozens.

Golden light burst out from the cracks.

Before Bruce could even react, the entire spear world shattered violently, collapsing without warning.

Boom!

Bruce coughed up blood mid-air as backlash tore through him. His aura plummeted instantly.

In the blinding golden light, a figure flew out.

Ethan.

He raised both hands, fingers curled like claws, and slammed them shut from above and below.

Clang!

The spear—capable of shattering mountains and tearing apart worlds—stopped dead in mid-air.

Its tip was firmly trapped between Ethan's palms.

The spear spun violently, thunder and lightning exploding outward, trying desperately to break free.

But the moment those powers touched the golden barrier around Ethan...

They collapsed.

Like mice meeting a cat.

"Stop."

Ethan smiled faintly.

The spear froze.

All power vanished instantly, as if wiped clean.

With a thought, Ethan sent the spear spinning upward. It arced through the sky, then fell straight down.

Ethan descended calmly.

The moment his feet touched the arena floor, he raised his hand and caught the falling spear.

He casually placed his palm on the spear shaft.

The mental imprint left by Bruce shattered instantly.

The weapon's ownership changed hands.

"This is a good spear," Ethan said lightly. "I'll take it."

"Consider it an apology… for offending me."

With a wave of his hand, the holy-grade spear disappeared into his storage ring.

Bruce stared blankly.

His spear world was gone.

His ultimate killing move had been dismantled effortlessly.

Both body and soul suffered catastrophic backlash. He spat out another mouthful of blood, clutching his chest as he staggered backward.

"This… this is impossible…"

Bruce pointed at Ethan, eyes filled with disbelief and despair.

"That was my strongest blow… even an Intermediate Supreme would be punished taking it head-on…"

He staggered two more steps.

Then collapsed.

Unconscious.

The arena fell into deathly silence.

Tyler's expression turned extremely solemn.

"Bruce's final strike was his ultimate trump card," Tyler thought grimly.

"Yet Ethan dismantled it with ease."

"This man's true combat power… is not much weaker than mine."

Every time Ethan revealed more, Tyler was shaken anew.

Yet deep down, he told himself—

This must be his limit.

Ethan turned toward Elara, cupped his hands slightly, and smiled.

"Miss Elara, I'm fortunate not to have failed this fate."

Elara froze for a heartbeat, then replied softly, almost subconsciously.

"…Thank you."

The silence shattered.

The audience erupted.

Shock. Excitement. Awe.

Bruce had descended like a thunder god—yet was crushed in moments.

The impact was overwhelming.

Bella's face flushed with excitement.

"It seems we truly made the right choice," she said to Max.

"Ethan's combat power is absolutely enough to contend with Tyler."

Max nodded, joy evident in his eyes.

"Our Sky family… may truly gain something extraordinary from this Training Trial."

Whoosh!

A sharp sound rang out.

Tyler appeared on the arena, lifting his unconscious disciple.

He looked at Ethan, eyes deep and sharp.

"Ethan," Tyler said slowly, "you are very good."

"You grow more interesting by the moment."

"From today onward, my Heavenly Palace will remember you."

He paused, gaze heavy.

"Are you planning to use the Sky family's Sage Token to enter the Training Trial Secret Realm?"

"But..."

"The Training Trial Secret Realm has its own rules."

"Are you certain you can enter it?"

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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