Chapter 266 - Calm before the storm (part 1) (2/2)

I guess the intelligence department of the headquarters did a good job preparing this guy for this mission.

”Tell me, who was tasked with grooming this youth?”

As soon as everyone settled in their seats, the emissary asked.

”It was this humble elder.”

Without a second of delay, one of the high elders that I didn't really like presented himself in front of the saint.

”Take those pills. Treat them as recompensation for all your efforts, but abandon the thought of this idiot eve reaching Saint realm.”

Out of nowhere, a bomb struck everyone gathered. While the elder accepted a bunch of precious pills that possessed even greater aura than the one that Verilel received from the emissary, they didn't possess this strange savage aura.

”I beg your pardon if I managed to raise him so fast, why should I kick him after he came so close to reaching maturity? It's not that I'm doubting yours words, respectable senior, but I seek your guidance to avoid potential mistakes in the future!”

Bowing his head to the emissary, the elder was clearly dumbstruck. While the pills he received were great and would be able to help him break through establishing dominion realm to the collapsing spirit stage or even all the way to the Saint realm, the rewards that one could receive from grooming such a promising disciple didn't pale in comparison!

”With how his cultivation bases on the residual energy of the medicinal pills rather than a healthy accumulation, this duel will be as far as he will ever reach. If you count the core devouring pill that I gifted to him, as soon as his fighting drive dies off, he will end up as a cripple!”

Only now openly showing his vicious smile, the emissary looked around at the confused and angry faces of the remaining elders. At this moment I could only bless my luck and wit that made me pick the seat as far from this person as it was physically possible!

”Don't look at me like that! If this Eve turns out to be the genuine descendant of Katenari's family, forcing her into obediently following me to the headquarters will be worth far more than just a single, stupid disciple. Not to speak about the fact that his cultivation is already tainted by the use of forbidden, blood arts!”

If emissary's previous words sounded serious, this last sentence of his was akin to a bomb detonated right in the middle of the tribune.

Forbidden blood arts referred to the set of techniques that allowed one to refine the blood of his own kin, allowing him to immensely improve his own, inborn talent upon consumption. As this action broke all taboos present on the continent, it was no wonder why the emissary didn't hold any qualms about sacrificing this damned youth for the sake of obtaining this mysterious girl!

”I beg your pardon, senior, but the stake of the duel refers only to a single session of clashing essences! If we were to attempt to snatch the girl afterwards, we wouldn't be able to avoid a full-scale war with the heavenly sword sect that is backing her fiance! While I do not doubt senior's powers, it's hard for me to believe that those people won't have a protector on their own!”

Unable to suppress my inner thoughts any longer, I voiced my protest.

Years of serving as an elder taught me that it was the best to keep one's place in the line, never stepping out even for the length of one's nose, but with everything that was recently happening in the city, the emissary's words finally broke through the limit of shenanigans that I could accept.

”It's not something you will have to worry about. We already prepared a whole set and actors that will save the girl from this fucker and make her unable to oppose to our proposition. But let's not linger on this topic any longer, it seems that the fight is about to start!”

Just like he said, while we were all talking, not only did the tribunes filled just as much or even more than during the closing ceremony of the first phase of the tournament, but both of the contestants were already exchanging some kind of taunts, preparing to start the fight.

Due to the low volume of their voices as they stood merely one meter apart from each other, I was unable to discern what they were talking about, but it didn't mean that I was completely blind.

Switching to my spiritual vision, I could see slight fluctuations in the aura of both men, only to get suddenly blinded by a bright outburst of the Veriel's opponent!

It was something that I never saw before in my life outside of those few occasions when the saint protectors decided to emit killing intent! But from what I know, this was something that only those at the pinnacle of the realm master stage could ever dream of achieving!

”Interesting…”

Those were the last words that the emissary spoke before a loud ringing of the bell announced the start of the fight.