Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Arrival of Stormveil
Chapter 142: Arrival of Stormveil
High above the sprawling expanse of the Outer Frontier, a massive blue streak tore through the endless sea of white clouds.
Kiki’s colossal sapphire wings beat against the wind, generating sonic booms that echoed like distant thunder across the skies.
With a late-stage Core Formation Realm beast as their mount, the journey that would normally take ordinary cultivators weeks was effortlessly condensed into a fraction of the time.
In mere hours, the sprawling, behemoth silhouette of Mirravele City appeared on the horizon.
Rhain’s dark grey eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the massive city.
"Kiki," Rhain commanded calmly. "Descend here. Stop a few miles away from the main gates."
SCREEECH—!
Kiki let out a sharp, obedient cry.
Tucking its massive wings, she banked sharply and plummeted toward a secluded, forested ridge a safe distance away from the city’s bustling main roads.
"Master, why are we stopping here?" Vulcan asked.
"Kiki was present when we had destroyed Ashvele Clan, I don’t want anyone to know that it had anything to do with me." Rhain replied indifferently, helping Seris down from the eagle’s back. "We are here for the Stormveil Academy, not to cause another pointless scene."
Vulcan nodded heavily in understanding. He gently patted Kiki’s feathered neck. "Go hide in the mountain, Kiki. Stay completely out of sight until I call for you."
Kiki gave an affectionate nudge against Vulcan’s hand before spreading its wings and silently shooting back up into the highest cloud layer, vanishing entirely from view.
Rhain didn’t immediately go toward the city gates but turned to look at Vulcan.
"Vulcan, I have a question for you," Rhain said, his tone turning somewhat solemn. "Do you have any trusted Core Formation Realm experts? People whose loyalty you can absolutely guarantee?"
Trusted experts?
Vulcan was slightly surprised with this question.
"I do, Master," Vulcan replied after a short pause, "I run a small mercenary group back in the Inner Province. It’s not a massive organization, but there are a few good brothers of mine there. We have bled together, and they are men who would even sacrifice their lives for me if I asked them to."
Rhain’s dark grey eyes flashed with a glint of satisfaction.
A band of battle-hardened Core Formation mercenaries whose loyalty was bound by blood and brotherhood. It was exactly the kind of impenetrable shield he needed for his sect.
"Good," Rhain gave a nod. "Contact them immediately. Tell them to drop whatever they are doing and head straight to Greymist Town to oversee the Azure Cloud Sect."
Rhain casually clasped his hands behind his back, his voice rising slightly with deep authority.
"Tell them that as long as they serve my sect diligently, they will never lack for resources again. They will be abundantly rewarded with pills and treasures that their mercenary group could not afford in ten lifetimes."
Vulcan’s eyes burned with fanatical excitement. He knew better than anyone what his Master meant by "abundant rewards." Flawless, pill-veined Epic-Grade elixirs handed out like common candy! His brothers were going to lose their minds!
"This subordinate obeys! I will send them a long-distance transmission talisman right now!" Vulcan roared, bowing deeply. "They will be in Greymist Town within a few days!
"Make sure they operate in the shadows," Rhain added. "They are to act as the sect’s hidden trump cards. Only to intervene if the sect faces the danger of annihilation."
"Understood, Master!"
Having settled the final, lingering worry regarding his home, Rhain finally turned toward the towering gates of Mirravele City in the distance.
He glanced at the beautiful girl standing beside him.
He took Seris’s delicate hand, their fingers intertwining naturally, and they began walking casually toward the massive iron gates of Mirravele City.
Soon they arrived at the main entrance.
Rhain’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked ahead.
The line stretching out from the city gates was staggering.
But what immediately caught Rhain’s attention was the sheer quality of the crowd.
Everywhere he looked, he could sense the dense, oppressive auras of peak Essence Condensation experts, and even a large number of Spirit Manifestation Realm figures casually standing in line.
"There are so many people today," Seris murmured softly, "It’s way more crowded than the last time we came."
"It’s only natural, the news of Stormveil Academy’s arrival has drawn out every hidden talent from the outer frontier," Rhain noted calmly.
They merged into the bustling crowd and waited patiently.
When it was finally their turn, the silver-armored guards performed a brief, perfunctory inspection.
Rhain casually flicked the Aetherium Crystals into the guard’s hand, and without drawing any unnecessary attention, they slipped through the massive city gates.
After nearly an hour of navigating the labyrinthine streets, they finally reached the elegant, two-story building of the Glided Sparrow.
Even this high-end, exclusive teahouse was brimming with wealthy patrons and powerful experts, buzzing with loud discussions about the impending trials.
Rhain and Seris stepped through the wide open doors.
Behind the polished darkwood counter, a beautiful woman in a tailored crimson cheongsam was frantically directing attendants.
Rosanna.
Rosanna looked up, her professional smile already in place.
But the moment her eyes registered the handsome young man and the breathtaking, silver-haired girl walking through the doors, she hurriedly rushed out from behind the counter.
"Master Rhain! Lady Seris!" She greeted respectfully.
Ever since she learned that her own boss, Declan, had submitted to Rhain, her respect for this young man had ascended to the skies.
"You have returned!" Rosanna greeted, "Master Declan informed me that he would be remaining in Greymist Town for a while, but he left strict instructions! Your courtyard is still left untouched, and reserved for you."
"Thank you, Rosanna," Rhain spoke politely. "We will be staying for a short while."
Rosanna bowed her head slightly, "Please, allow me to offer my congratulations on your marriage. Master Declan informed me of your grand wedding, but due to the overwhelming influx of guests here at the teahouse during his absence, I was unable to travel to Greymist Town to offer my congratulations in person. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness for my lack of manners!"
Hearing her heartfelt apology, Seris smiled gently. "You don’t need to apologize, Rosanna. We understand your responsibilities."
Rhain also waved his hand dismissively. His dark grey eyes swept over the crowded, noisy lobby of the teahouse.
"The city is unusually chaotic today," Rhain remarked, "Is it the reason that I am thinking?"
"Master Rhain, you are right."
Rosanna lowered her voice as she spoke, "The envoys from the Stormveil Academy... they have already arrived!"
Seris’s pale purple eyes widened. "Already?"
"Yes, Lady Seris!" Rosanna nodded vigorously. "They descended upon the City Lord’s Pavilion late last night! The entire city has been turned completely upside down."
"When does the recruitment begin?" Rhain asked.
"Tomorrow!" Rosanna replied instantly,"City Lord Cassian issued the public decree just an hour ago. Stormveil Academy envoys do not wish to waste time in the Outer Frontier. The disciple acceptance trials will commence tomorrow at the first light of dawn."
She paused for a second, her face showing a deep awe as she spoke her next words.
"The trials will be held at the Grand Mirravele Colosseum."
Grand Mirravele Colosseum!
Built centuries ago during the founding of the city, the colossal amphitheater was constructed from indestructible yellow stone, heavily reinforced with hundreds of defensive arrays capable of withstanding the devastating clashes of late-stage Core Formation experts.
The sheer scale of the Colosseum was staggering. Its towering, circular tiered seating was vast enough to easily house more than hundred thousand spectators without feeling cramped.
Historically, it was a place of ruthless finality. Whenever there was a blood feud between peerless experts that wished to settle life-and-death grievances without destroying the commercial districts, they stepped into the Colosseum.
Its very foundations were soaked in the blood of countless fallen geniuses and proud experts.
"The Grand Colosseum," Rhain murmured, "It’s a really fitting stage."
"We’ll head there at dawn," Rhain said, turning back to Rosanna. "For now, we’ll rest in the courtyard."
"Of course! I’ll have refreshments sent over immediately!" Rosanna bowed and hurried off to arrange everything.
Rhain and Seris left the bustling lobby and made their way through the familiar path toward the rear courtyard.
_____________
The familiar tranquil courtyard greeted them exactly as they had left it.
Seris nodded.
They stepped inside the main redwood door together.
The grand central hall branched off into the same three separate bedchambers as before, but this time, without a single word of discussion, they naturally walked toward the same room.
Seris’s cheeks carried the faintest layer of pink as she followed him through the door.
Seris looked at the large, comfortable bed, then nervously bit her pink lip. She turned to Rhain, her pale purple eyes looking earnest.
"Husband..." she spoke softly, still very shy when using the title, "Since the trials are tomorrow morning, maybe we should spend the rest of the day cultivating. We don’t know what kind of brutal tests the Stormveil Academy has prepared. We must give our best tomorrow."
Rhain let out a low, amused chuckle, and suddenly grabbed her slender waist, pulling her delicate body directly against his chest.
Seris let out a soft gasp as she lost her balance, and in the next second, she found herself gently pinned against the soft mattress of the bed.
Rhain hovered over her, his dark grey eyes overflowing with boundless affection and a hint of mischief.
"You worry too much," Rhain whispered, lightly brushing his thumb against her flushed cheek. "With our current strength, no one in this Outer Frontier can stop us from entering the Stormveil Academy."
He leaned in closer, "Why don’t we do something much better than cultivating?"
"Husband..."
Before Seris could even formulate a flustered response, Rhain leaned down and captured her soft lips in a deep, consuming kiss.
Her initial surprise quickly melted away under his warmth.
The faint blush on her cheeks deepened as she closed her eyes, entirely abandoning her thoughts of cultivation.
With a soft, helpless hum, she wrapped her slender arms tightly around his neck, fully surrendering to her husband’s loving embrace.
