Novel Full Chapter 192: Rescheduled Contest
Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Rescheduled Contest
Chapter 192: Rescheduled Contest
"Husband!"
Seris didn’t care about the evaluating stares of the Domain Master Realm powerhouses.
She dashed past the stunned High Preceptors, gracefully crossing the frozen pool, and threw herself directly into Rhain’s arms.
"I missed you," she whispered softly, "I missed you so much."
Her slender arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
She buried her face against his chest, her frost-white and silver-blue hair spilling over his dark robes like a river of moonlight.
Rhain’s arms closed around her waist, pulling her closer.
"I missed you too!" He spoke in a warm voice that was only reserved for her.
Behind them, the assembled elders of the Stormveil Academy stood in various states of bewilderment.
Several Preceptors exchanged glances.
They had all heard the incredibly absurd rumors circulating through the Inner Palace over the last few weeks.
The Essence Condensation youth who had shattered the Origin Insight Tablet.
The only disciple in the Academy’s history to be directly handed a Gold Badge without a single ranking duel.
The disciple who had completed the hardest entrance mission of the Battle Arts Division in a single afternoon.
And, most importantly, the husband of the peerless True Heavenly Physique standing before them.
Any of these were enough for them to notice Rhain.
"So this is the husband of our Heavenly Physique Prodigy," A grey-haired Preceptor murmured.
Fabian, who stood near the front of the group, shook his head with an amused smirk.
"He arrived remarkably fast," Fabian chuckled. "The pillar erupted less than three minutes ago."
At that moment, a burly, imposing man with short-cropped brown hair stepped out from the ranks of the High Preceptors.
The aura radiating from him was as fierce and untamed as a raging thunderstorm, clearly marking him as a true Domain Master Realm expert.
High Preceptor Octavius.
Octavius walked directly up to Rhain.
To the shock of everyone present, the Domain Master brought his hands together and offered a bow to the young disciple.
"Young man," Octavius spoke with a tone of gratitude, "My son told me everything that happened at the Thunder Beast Ridge. Jace is my only son. His arrogance often blinds him, but his life is worth more to me than my own. For saving him, our family owes you a debt of blood. If there is ever a day you require me, you need only speak my name."
He reached into his robes and produced a small token carved with the emblem of a roaring tiger.
"This is my personal token," Octavius said, pressing it firmly into Rhain’s hand. "If you ever encounter trouble within or beyond these walls, channel your essence into this token, and I will come. That is not a hollow promise. It is a debt I owe you, and I always pay my debts."
"High Preceptor is too polite," Rhain replied respectfully, storing the token into his spatial ring. "Jace fought bravely that day. He held his ground against a beast far beyond his realm and protected his companions without retreating. The credit belongs to him as much as to me."
Octavius’s stern face softened into a smile. "He said you would say something like that."
"Alright, alright, enough of this," a melodious, authoritative voice interrupted.
Myrielle stepped forward, her sapphire eyes looking at Rhain.
"Rhain. Your have come on right time," Myrielle greeted.
Rhain offered a polite nod. "Vice Dean."
He then looked at the assembled elders. "Greetings to the esteemed High Preceptors and Preceptors."
Aldren returned the nod, "Your accomplishments since arriving at the Academy have been noteworthy."
"Noteworthy is an understatement," the grey-haired High Preceptor laughed. "I have heard about him so many times from Preceptor Fabian, and Krell. It’s good to see you, young man."
Rhain maintained his polite demeanor, neither inflated by their praise nor dismissive of it, "Disciple is grateful for Preceptor’s kind words."
"Rhain," Myrielle spoke again, "There is something you should know. Dean has emerged from her closed-door seclusion two days ago."
Rhain’s eyes sharpened slightly.
"Now that Seris has successfully broken through and completed her True Awakening," Myrielle continued, "Academy intends to formally announce her identity to the world. We will present her to the entirety of Stormveil City, and beyond as the bearer of a True Heavenly Physique."
The words quickly attracted the attention of all gathered Preceptors.
"Many powerful figures from across the dynasty will be invited to witness this announcement. The three Noble Families, the heads of major sects, and even representatives from the Royal Court. It will be the single largest gathering Stormveil City has seen in decades."
She paused, looking deeply at Rhain.
""Furthermore, I have decided that the annual Inner Palace Contest will be moved forward. Instead of its originally scheduled date, it will now be held on the very same day as Seris’s formal announcement, exactly one week from today."
"With so many powerful figures from across the dynasty converging on Stormveil City, it is the perfect opportunity to showcase the full depth of our Academy’s talent. Inner Palace Contest will serve as a demonstration of our strength to the entire kingdom. And for Seris’s announcement, having it coincide with such a grand martial spectacle will amplify its impact tenfold."
A subtle ripple of surprise passed through the assembled Preceptors who hadn’t yet been informed of this scheduling change.
Rhain’s expression remained perfectly calm.
One week or one month — it made no difference to him.
"I have no objections," Rhain replied simply.
Myrielle nodded, visibly satisfied. She turned to address the gathered elders.
"Preceptors, please begin preparations for the tournament and the announcement ceremony immediately. I want everything to be perfect."
"Understood, Vice Dean!" The Preceptors and High Preceptors responded in unison.
With the essential matters addressed, and new responsibilities for the rescheduled Inner Palace Contest, the High Preceptors and Preceptors offered their final words of congratulations to Seris, and began to depart from the frozen domain.
Myrielle was the last to go. She looked at Seris.
"Very well. Two of you have been separated for quite some time. I will not intrude any longer. Seris, rest well for a while. We have one week to polish your combat techniques before you stand before the entire dynasty."
"Yes, Master," Seris replied, bowing her head respectfully.
Myrielle’s figure shimmered with blue light, and then she was gone.
Rhain and Seris stood together, hand in hand.
"Husband," Seris tilted her head to look at him with her pale purple eyes, "Tell me everything! What have you been doing all this while? Did anything dangerous happen while I was in seclusion?"
Rhain chuckled, gently guiding her to a carved ice bench near the edge of the lake and sat down, her hands refusing to let go of his.
"Where do I start?" Rhain mused, leaning back on one hand.
He began recounting the events of the past weeks in an understated manner.
He told her about the establishment of the Celestial Elixir Pavilion — how Vulcan and his mercenary brothers had secured a storefront, how the flawless Epic-Grade pills had shaken the entire commercial landscape of Stormveil City, and how the Thunderwood Family had become their partner.
Seris listened with wide, amazed eyes, occasionally letting out soft gasps of surprise, "You built an entire pill empire in just a few weeks? Husband, you are absolutely amazing."
"It wasn’t difficult," Rhain replied with a casual shrug. "I also ran into Liana recently. She joined Forging Division here at the Academy...."
Seris’s brows knitted together in concern as she listened to Rhain, " Sister Liana is under so much pressure right now. She must be feeling so overwhelmed."
"Husband, I want to see her and make sure she is okay," Seris requested earnestly, resting her head on his shoulder, "Let’s go visit her tomorrow."
"Alright. We will go tomorrow," Rhain agreed without hesitation.
They sat together in comfortable silence for a moment.
Then, Seris suddenly sat up straight. Her pale purple eyes shimmered with a competitive light.
"Husband," Seris said in a playful voice, "I feel incredibly strong right now. Could we... could we spar for a bit?"
"A spar?" Rhain looked at her eager, expectant expression and let out a low, amused laugh. He stood up, casually walking to the center of the frozen pool and folding his arms across his chest "Alright. Come at me. Let me see how much my girl has grown."
"Don’t underestimate me!" Seris giggled.
She immediately dashed to the opposite end of the frozen pool, putting roughly sixty feet of distance between them.
She then settled into a combat stance, her expression instantly shifting from a gentle maiden to a flawless, untouchable ice goddess.
"Be careful, husband!"
Swish—!
Without drawing a weapon, Seris simply pointed her delicate finger forward.
Hundred Flowers Sword Art!
In the blink of an eye, one hundred perfectly formed icy-blue sword lotuses bloomed into existence.
She had achieved one hundred percent mastery!
But these were fundamentally different from the lotuses she had used before. Infused with the evolved Heavenly Glacial Essence, the bone-piercing chill radiating from the one hundred lotuses was far greater than before.
The power output had multiplied several times over.
Even a peak Spirit Manifestation Realm expert would be instantly shredded into frozen mist by this attack.
"Go!"
Hundred sword lotuses shrieked through the air, converging on Rhain like a swarm of deadly meteors.