Chapter 111: Chapter 111
[Reward: World Tree stem]
[Won a surprise grand prize: Martial Arts inheritance - Five Elements Escape Technique.]
[Congratulations to the host, you have completed 2,000 fishing trips and received the title: no one understands the joy of fishing more than you!]
[At the same time, you will receive the title reward: Divine Fire Pill*3.]
Ethan glanced at the string of system notifications floating before his eyes, bemused at how easily the titles and rewards stacked up.
"No one understands the joy of fishing more than you!"—the phrase hung above his head like some ill-conceived badge from a low-budget online game. Still, he couldn’t deny the sense of satisfaction, the quiet pride of a thousand silent moments cast across lake and mist.
He nodded absently. His eyes sharpened—a flicker of thought—and Alicia vanished from his perception.
The koi was released, as always, back to the water. Ethan resumed his solitary fishing with a faint smile as the snow thickened around Echo Lake.
...
Across the frozen expanse, hidden behind a monolithic stone, six black-robed figures crouched in silence.
Ashen, their masked leader, was a demon spy who had watched Ethan’s every move for a decade. He clenched his fists, excitement and anxiety battling in his chest.
Today, nearly every disciple and elder had headed to the Holy Peak to see off the Saint and her protectors.
For Ashen, the timing was perfect. For ten years, he’d sought a chance to strike—but Ethan’s residence was always locked down in arrays and crowded by disciples. Not today. The lake was empty save for the lone disciple Ethan.
After Ethan’s meteoric rise during the martial arts competition, Ashen fully understood the danger Ethan posed.
The sect’s orders were clear—kill him before he became a threat.
To the Black Demon Sect, Ethan was a rising catastrophe; if left unchecked, he might one day block their ambitions.
Ashen would have preferred to corrupt Ethan with the demonic seeds of the chaotic minds. But Ethan’s heart was iron, his spirit impenetrable.
There was no weakness to exploit, no fear, no hesitation—just steady focus and inner will.
In the end, Ashen chose brutality.
Over ten years he’d quietly manipulated five gifted disciples, feeding them demon seeds until they became his puppets—willing sacrifices for today’s assault.
And this time, he’d deployed an ancient horror of the Black Demon Sect: the Black Death Formation, a killing array renowned as one of the Five Great Formations of the Black Demon Sect. With his late Tribulation Transcendence cultivation and five life sacrifices, the formation’s lethality would be doubled. Even elders at Tribulation Transcendence realm will fall with a noise.
There would be consequences. Exposure was certain.
But with Azure Origin Dao Sect so preoccupied, Ashen’s escape would be simple; by the time trouble brewed, he’d be long gone.
"I’ve explained how to open the Black Death Formation," Ashen whispered. "Take your positions."
"Understood," came five curt replies.
Ashen’s followers flashed out, vanishing to activate the five key positions. On the frozen shore, the final steps of the ambush fell into place.
...
Ethan watched patiently, fishing rod steady.
He had known for years that Ashen lurked nearby, waiting for his chance. The sect’s distractions today all but guaranteed a strike.
"Let’s see," Ethan mused, "how a century-old demon spy will choose to act."
Ten years had tested him and left him stronger than ever.
Seven years ago, after condensing the third blood elixir pattern, Ethan had entered the soul refining realm. He forged a soul tower in his soul sea, the secret of ancient body cultivators—each floor stacking soul power and physical strength until the tower stood at eleven perfect levels.
Building the soul tower was almost impossible.
It demanded vast reserves of essence, blood, rare herbs, and heaven and earth treasures. No wonder so few walked the path of pure physical cultivation; it was a bottomless pit for resources.
But Ethan endured, rising to the peak—now, half a step from touching the divine fire realm, at the early fourth stage of the Celestial Jade Physique Scripture. His weapon intent had reached perfection. His martial arts and mental techniques were perfected. Only the blue phoenix flame held him back, awaiting final transformation.
His current strength dwarfed the Body Integration Realm and even challenged Tribulation Transcendence experts. Late-stage cultivators, even those in peak of the Tribulation Transcendence, were no longer real threats.
...
A sudden black shadow streaked across the frozen lake. Ashen surged forth, wind and snow parting about him. At the same time, black spiritual light erupted in a five-pointed net, and massive runes carved across half of Echo Lake. Ethan stood dead center in the trap.
"Well now," Ethan murmured, amused, "such strong demonic energy."
He set aside his fishing rod and rose to his feet, body relaxed, gaze on the incoming shadow.
Ashen snarled, voice venomous. "Ethan, you deserve death!"
Ethan faced the threat calmly, hands folded behind his back.
"Old dog Ashen, I’ve waited years for you to step into the light."
Ashen stiffened—the mask could not hide his shock. "You... recognize me?"
Ethan’s smile deepened, a cold gleam in his eyes. "I recognized your stench long ago. Today seemed as good a time as any for you to try your luck."
Ashen flung aside his cloak and mask, exposing fierce intent and bloodshot eyes.
"The Black Death Formation is active. Unless the Empress herself intervenes, you are dead!"
His tone brimmed with hatred and certainty—decades of planning, ambition, and hunger for credit surged all at once.
"Don’t blame me for being merciless. You simply shouldn’t have existed in Azure Origin Dao Sect, flaunted your gifts, drawn attention—now you’ll be swept away. Our Black Demon Sect can extend its hand for a kill across any sect, any domain."
Ethan only sneered, confident in his own power.
Ashen laughed coldly, tone oozing with certainty.
"You’re doomed. Our control is absolute, even across millennia and realms. Ready to die?"
Ethan’s gaze never faltered, his stance solitary amid the snow, mist, and murderous energy.
A/N:
Extra Chapters
100 power stones - 1 Extra Chapters
200 power stones - 2 Extra Chapters
Capsule - 1 Extra Chapters
Massage Chair - 3 Extra Chapters
Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters
Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters