"I heard the family head brought the fifth young master back, the cripple! And I heard a piece of interesting news" One of the maids whispered to her friend while heading towards the main villa. "The fifth young master? What happened to him?" "I have a friend working in his courtyard, she heard he was taken in as a disciple by the head of royal guards in the imperial palace!" "Isn't he a cripple? Why would anyone consider taking him in as a disciple, unless it's to befriend the Frostmoon family." She asked with a curious expression, seemingly interested in the juicy gossip. "I don't know either, I just know he was taken in as a disciple, he would probably join the royal guards." She replied with a light shrug. "Are you joking? Royal guards? How is he supposed to join if he can't cultivate? The discipleship must've been to create ties with the Frostmoon family, there's no cultivator who would seriously train a cripple, there's nothing profitable in it." 'He's still alive?

The Frostmoon family prohibited battles between cultivators but if there was an irrefutable duel with both parties agreeing to the duel, they could host a challenge at the family arena. A life or death duel was only accepted for the outer members, the main bloodline members were not allowed to engage in life or death duels. The regulators wouldn't permit a life or death duel between two main family members but when it came to a duel between the golden child Gerald who had a royal bloodline, impressive physique, an extremely high talent and Draxus the cripple who lost his mother, lived with another useless cripple and lived his whole life just like a timid little chicken, the family head would probably not notice or even ignore it if he died, they obviously knew who to side with. On the Frostmoon family's arena ground, Gerald and Yan Ming stood facing each other, a crowd had gathered on the seats to view the spectacle about to unfold. In reality they were just there to watch the f

Velmora Jade River City, whispering Jade forest. A group of hunters formed by four cultivators were walking across the forest, each of them held onto a spatial pouch to keep their spoils and hunts. "We've been here for over a week, I suggest we go back to Jade River City and recuperate for a few days before we return to search for the treasure." One of the cultivators suddenly said prompting the others to halt and glare at him. "We've been searching for over a week, we're almost at the point located on the map and you suddenly want to chicken out?" The first man sighed, his shoulders slumped when he realized the other three didn't have any intention to change their minds. "We're already drained and you know that, we've struggled all the way from the outer and inner zones of the forest, at least we have an idea of where we're going now, I didn't say we'll give up on it, just give it enough time for us to slowly map the area out and scout the forest for hidden dangers." He r

"A duel?" Bennett asked once again, he felt his outlook on the world had changed. 'A spiritual awakening realm kid requesting for a duel from an ember core realm cultivator, if this isn't courting death what is it? He could've requested for a spar or training but a duel?' The main difference between a duel, a spar and training was the intent, teachings would only require soft methods, with no intent to injure or kill attached, spar occured between fellow cultivators of the same level who went all out to "win" but not to kill or injure. A duel on the other hand could even involve killing or crippling the opponent, Yan Ming requesting for a duel had obviously crossed Bennett's line. He watched Bennett's expression change, he knew what was going on in his mind so he decided to pull even further. "Don't tell me you're scared to have a duel with me because you might lose." "Lose? There's no way I would lose." Bennett replied amidst laughter, he had full confidence and assurance

A crowd had gathered near Bennett's villa, the commotion there was way too loud and obvious to ignore, the courtyard was wrecked, torn to bits under the intense force released by both parties, the infernal zone unleashed by Yan Ming using elemental possession had burnt away a quarter of the courtyard. The two clashed with each other repeatedly, creating shockwaves spreading through the guards quarters, the duel had turned into a prolonged battle after Bennett used his soul manifestation, neither of the two could gain an edge over the other, Yan Ming could create and manipulate the flames into any form or skill he wanted it to be. As his main element and the element his very existence represented, even though he couldn't utilize it's full power his title as the sovereign of flames enabled him to meld flames into whatever he wished for it to be. In his prime, he could even create life from flames. The longer the fight dragged on the more perturbed Bennett felt, it didn't feel like