"Luca has already activated his innate ancestral pattern. His combat power will surge explosively," Kara said in a low voice. Her gaze remained fixed on Luca, who was now wrapped in demonic light like a living calamity.

"We're likely no match for him head-on."

She paused, then added calmly, "The innate ancestral pattern consumes terrifying amounts of energy. We can avoid him for now—hide and wait until it dissipates before acting."

"The innate ancestral pattern…" Ethan murmured. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Interesting. So this is one of Luca's trump cards."

As his words fell, faint blue light seeped from the corners of his eyes.

The Heaven-piercing Mind Eyes opened fully.

In an instant, Luca's physical condition was laid bare before him—every circulation route, every fluctuation of bloodline power, nothing concealed.

Ethan saw Luca's mental energy roaring like a raging river, surging violently into the ancestral pattern etched upon his forehead.

"So that's how it works," Ethan thought calmly.

"The ancestral pattern is condensed from bloodline power, but mental energy is the foundation. It serves as the medium, calling forth the power of the ancestors."

His gaze sharpened.

"The circulation speed is absurd. Most bodies would collapse instantly under such strain."

Even Luca—despite his terrifying bloodline—was barely holding on.

"This state can't last long," Ethan concluded inwardly.

"Once the mental energy is drained, the backlash will be catastrophic."

A desperate method.

Luca was gambling everything on a single decisive kill.

If he failed, he wouldn't even have the strength to flee.

"Junior Brother Ethan," Kara asked softly, "what's your decision?"

"You take your precious disciple and hide first," Ethan replied without hesitation.

"I'll play with Luca."

"Hide… where?" Kara frowned.

"Here." Ethan extended his palm.

A bottle surfaced in his hand—radiant, mysterious, shimmering with nine interwoven colors.

The Nine-Colored Soul-Living Bottle.

Before Kara could react, a gentle suction force enveloped her and Morwen, drawing them inside without resistance.

"What… what is this?" Morwen's surprised voice echoed faintly.

"I feel like my soul is being nourished. It's so warm… so comfortable…"

Luca's pupils contracted violently.

"That bottle…" His breathing quickened. "The aura—no, this isn't ordinary."

His voice trembled with greed. "Divine weapon. That must be a divine weapon!"

"You eyesight isn't bad," Ethan said indifferently as he put the bottle away.

"Hehehe…" Luca's laughter grew manic. "An artifact. A divine weapon!"

"Excellent! The heavens truly favor me!"

"Even if activating the innate ancestral pattern brings unbearable backlash, killing you and taking your treasures will make it all worth it."

His eyes burned with ambition. "With a divine weapon in hand, even if this Secret Realm yields nothing else, this trip won't be in vain!"

"By then, the Heavenly Demon Sect will dominate the southern Oceanreach Continent!" Luca roared.

"Who could oppose us?!"

He stared at Ethan with fanatic fervor.

"You're truly the lucky star of my Heavenly Demon Sect, Ethan!"

Then—

The ancestral pattern flared violently.

"Come and die!"

Luca vanished.

A streak of black lightning tore through the air, bypassing the suspended Star of Great Stillness and appearing directly before Ethan.

The speed was terrifying.

Ethan's expression finally turned solemn. His gaze tracked Luca's movements with absolute clarity.

"So this is the boost from an innate ancestral pattern," he mused. "Impressive."

But—

"Still within control."

His pupils remained calm.

He could follow Luca's speed easily.

"Interesting," Ethan said softly, a faint smile curling at his lips. "Very interesting."

Then—

The smile vanished.

Cold intent surged.

The Celestial Jade Physique Scripture activated fully.

Golden Original Power erupted from his body, flooding the surrounding space. His physical strength was pushed to the extreme.

Dense golden arcs crackled violently, shaking the entire cave as if the earth itself were groaning.

Huh!

Luca struck first.

He appeared before Ethan and slammed his palm forward.

Black demonic energy condensed instantly into a colossal palm print, crashing toward Ethan's face like a falling mountain.

Ethan clenched his fist.

No flourish. No technique.

Just a single punch.

Bang!

Golden energy collided with demonic energy. The resulting shockwave blasted outward, shattering stone and sending dust and light mist surging through the air.

Zila—zila—!

Black demonic fire reached its peak, black lightning entangling fiercely with Ethan's golden lightning.

"You blocked that?!" Luca staggered back a step, shock flashing across his face.

With a roar, massive black wings unfolded behind him—formed entirely from condensed demonic energy, beautiful yet deadly. They beat once, enhancing his agility to an even more terrifying level.

"Here comes the spear!"

Luca stretched out his hand.

The black spear returned to his grip.

The ancestral pattern flared again.

Without hesitation, Luca thrust.

The spear tore through space itself, arriving at Ethan's throat in the blink of an eye.

Ethan shouted.

Golden light erupted from his body.

The golden radiance condensed into an absolute defense, stopping the spear cold.

The shaft bent—more than sixty degrees—under the force.

But it did not break through.

No matter how Luca pushed, the spear would not advance another inch.

Disbelief flooded Luca's face.

He had sacrificed blood essence.

Activated his innate ancestral pattern.

Stacked layer upon layer of power.

And yet—he was still being suppressed.

"Hateful!" Luca snarled, eyes blazing.

"Break for me!"

He roared, forcing Ethan back two steps.

Ethan steadied himself mid-air, calmly brushing dust from his sleeve.

"Your Highness," he said lightly, "is this all?"

He shook his head, visibly disappointed.

"You—!" Luca's chest heaved violently. "You can't hold on much longer! You're just pretending!"

"I'll beat you into pieces!"

Rage consumed him. His aura surged wildly, eyes bloodshot.

"Ethan! Today, I, Luca, will kill you!"

"Kill me?" Ethan repeated softly.

A trace of ridicule surfaced in his gaze.

"Your Highness really dares to say that."

His voice turned colder.

"That's all for now!"

His mind moved.

The Star of Great Stillness—previously motionless like a silent judge of death—began to move again.

At this moment, its attack power reached its absolute peak.

The compressed fireball no longer rotated or trembled.

The power within had been condensed to the extreme—so unstable that even the slightest external force would cause it to detonate.

Once released—

It would unleash fire capable of destroying the world.

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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