Chapter 6

The moment Aeron returned to the Black Zenith Order, Elder Ena and several others rushed over.

Elder Dyo looked close to tears. "You little menace, you're finally back."

Aeron had only been gone a short while, yet the entire order had nearly turned upside down. They had sent people all over Rovern City to search for him. Before his return, the elders had been worried sick, fearing something might have happened.

"Let's take a look. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Young Lord, why did you leave without telling us?"

"If you want to go out, at least inform us. We can send someone to accompany you."

The elders surrounded Aeron and examined him from head to toe. Only after confirming he was completely unharmed did they finally relax.

The anxiety on their faces left Aeron both touched and ashamed. The order had been through a great deal recently. Several elders had suffered serious injuries, and those who remained had taken on even more responsibilities.

Because they were so busy, Aeron had not wanted to disturb them and had gone to the Lunewells alone. He had not expected it to cause them such worry.

Aeron felt genuine gratitude and respect for these elders. Since childhood, they had treated him with great care. Even when his talent had seemed mediocre and others had mocked him as a waste, the elders had always comforted him and urged him to ignore those voices. They had never stopped treating him as the Young Lord.

Whenever the order obtained high-grade spirit herbs, they set aside the best portion for him first. Only what remained was shared among the elders and acolytes.

After confirming Aeron was safe, the elders gradually dispersed. Only Elder Dyo remained behind, as he was on duty that month.

"Elder Dyo, you don't need to follow me anymore. I'm not going out again," Aeron said.

"Young Lord, your status is extremely important. Nothing can be allowed to happen to you," Elder Dyo replied.

Aeron dug at his ear. "I've heard that line so many times my ears have grown calluses."

Since childhood, the elders had repeated the same words again and again about how his status was precious and how he must never be harmed.

Elder Dyo chuckled and continued following him anyway. Aeron did not bother to argue.

After entering the order grounds, Aeron noticed several core acolytes practicing combat techniques. He then realized something: he had never trained in any combat techniques himself.

The Black Zenith Order had a rule. Acolytes had to reach the Grand Circulation Realm before they could learn combat techniques. Anyone below that realm could not practice them. Their energy channels were too fragile to withstand the strain and could easily be damaged.

Aeron had only been a Spirit Refining realmstrider, so he had not qualified. Now he had reached the Spirit Condensation Realm, and he also possessed the All-Devouring Vein. Learning combat techniques should no longer pose a problem.

"Elder Dyo, why are Senior Grayson and the others back?" Aeron asked.

He had spotted several familiar core acolytes. They spent most of their time training outside and rarely returned to the order, yet today they were all here.

"They were summoned back a month ago," Elder Dyo explained. "You didn't see them because they were undergoing secret training. They were only released today. They're preparing to participate in the Grand Tournament of Ten Orders in Rovern City the day after tomorrow."

Aeron nodded in understanding. "Time moves fast. In the blink of an eye, the five-year Grand Tournament is here again."

The Grand Tournament of Ten Orders was a major regional event. Ten from across the vast region surrounding Rovern City gathered to compete in the acolyte battles, and the final rankings determined how resources were distributed. These resources included mineral mountains and forests rich in spirit herbs. The higher an order ranked, the larger its share.

In recent years, the Black Zenith Order had placed only around seventh. With fewer resources, its development slowed and had recently begun to stagnate.

As Aeron watched the core acolytes train with such determination, he quietly resolved to participate in the Grand Tournament of Ten Orders.

In the past, he had lacked the strength to compete. Now he held more than enough confidence.

During the earlier fight at the Lunewell estate, he had made an important discovery. His frame had grown incredibly powerful. With that strength alone, he could defeat opponents stronger than himself.

…

After returning to the Cloud Pavilion, Aeron shut the door to his residence. He took out the spirit herbs he had obtained from the Lunewell family and began devouring them once more.

The All-Devouring Vein was truly terrifying. It absorbed every trace of medicinal power within each herb completely. Each bite felt like consuming a supreme-grade pill, and his realm rose at a rapid pace.

Before long, Aeron came to a stop. He had already reached Level 9 of the Spirit Condensation Realm.

The next stage was the Grand Circulation Realm. To break through, ordinary spirit herbs would not suffice. He needed something far more potent.

Aeron took out the Grade 9 spirit herb and refined it on the spot. Its medicinal power surged into his body, and a rushing sound echoed within him. His spirit energy began to circulate through his energy channels, completing a full great cycle before settling.

Then it surged again like a roaring flood, coursing through every channel in a continuous, unbroken flow. This marked the breakthrough into the Grand Circulation Realm.

Even after the breakthrough, nearly half of the herb's power remained. Aeron's strength continued to rise, advancing from Level 1 to Level 2, then climbing steadily until it stabilized at Level 6 of the Grand Circulation Realm.

"The effect of a Grade 9 spirit herb is incredible," Aeron murmured as he felt the immense power coursing through his body. "It's like swallowing dozens of supreme Grade 9 pills at once."

For the first time in his life, he felt truly strong. At the very least, he was no longer weaker than his peers.

Meanwhile, at the Beastmaster Order…

Helena stood at the center of a circle of core acolytes, like the focal point of a constellation.

Moments earlier, she had tested her potential again. The result revealed an even stronger aptitude: the Terra Spirit bloodline. If she continued training, she would have a chance to fully awaken it.

Upon hearing the result, the Beastmaster Grandmaster immediately named Helena a Deputy Master. As long as she continued to grow, she would eventually rise to full master and become a candidate for the future Grandmaster.

Helena lifted her chin, pride shining across her face. Leaving the Black Zenith Order to join this order had been the best decision of her life. If she had remained there, she would have been bound to Aeron, that useless waste, for the rest of her life. Worse, she might have been dragged down along with the declining order.

A Lunewell housekeeper arrived at the Beastmaster Order and handed her a letter. "Deputy Master Lunewell, Lord Lunewell asked me to deliver this letter to you."

After reading Cassian's message, Helena's expression darkened.

"What's wrong?" Garrick asked gently. Helena was now his most prized apprentice.

Helena said, anger sharpening her voice, "Lord Ironclaw, Aeron deceived me. That liar hid his true strength. He was never in the Spirit Refining Realm. He was already a Level 5 Spirit Condensation realmstrider.

"Not only did he deceive me, he went to my family and killed my cousin and distant cousin. He even injured my father.

"Lord Ironclaw, you must stand up for me."

Garrick frowned. "Aeron is the Young Lord of the Black Zenith Order. It will not be easy to move against him directly."

The order protected him completely. Even the High Ascendant had intervened on his behalf earlier, and that was not someone Garrick could defeat with ease.

At that moment, a long-faced man spoke. "Lord Ironclaw, Deputy Master Lunewell, even if we cannot touch Aeron for now, we can still target the core Black Zenith acolytes.

"The Grand Tournament of Ten Orders will be held the day after tomorrow. Their core acolytes will certainly attend. If we focus on them, we can eliminate them all."

Helena's eyes lit up. If they could not deal with Aeron for now, they could strike at the core Black Zenith acolytes instead. If they were wiped out, the order would lose its future and inevitably decline. Once it fell, Aeron would have no one left to support him.

Even if he had concealed his strength and reached Level 5 of the Spirit Condensation Realm, it made no difference. In Helena's eyes, that only made him a slightly stronger piece of trash, and a slightly stronger piece of trash was still trash.