Because, the connection between myself and the power of the curse is truly severed.

Oswin could detect no abnormality in Aether's body.

This could only mean one of two things: either the power of the curse had vanished completely—or it had never invaded him at all!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Oswin's voice cracked with anger and disbelief.

His forbidden secret technique had never been blocked by anyone of the Mahayana realm before.

Yet here stood Aether, still in his Dharma Body realm, immune to the curse's grip.

"How could this be?"

"Old man, nothing is impossible!" Ethan spread his arms, a sardonic grin playing on his lips.

"If you have no other business, I shall be on my way."

"Aether, you rat! Come fight me if you dare!" Oswin roared furiously.

His forbidden technique had failed to contain Aether.

Now, he could only strive to provoke the youth, baiting him into an open battle.

If a fight could be provoked, Oswin still believed he had a chance to kill him.

"Haha, old man, do you take me for a child?" Ethan chuckled lightly.

"But worry not. I will face you in combat—just not today."

"Remember this, Oswin: the next time we meet, you will meet your death."

Cold steel laced his tone, murderous intent glimmering deadly in his eyes.

Aether, Oswin, and the entire Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets were now locked in a fight to the death.

When they crossed blades again, one would fall.

With those final words, Ethan spread his vast phoenix wings and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing swiftly into the heavens.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Oswin coughed violently, spitting two mouthfuls of blood in frustration.

"Aether!" he howled in fury.

Eyes blazing with rage, Oswin stared at the rapidly fading figure.

He wanted nothing more than to tear Aether to pieces.

But Aether was no fool. Now that he had manager to escape with the treasure, Aether would tread carefully.

He would avoid appearing near the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets.

To catch him again would prove no easy feat—not while he soared so close to him in strength.

Had Aether not acquired the ancient treasure, there would have been no issue letting him slip away.

But now he escaped with the ruin's treasure—a situation Oswin found utterly unacceptable.

The ruins were under the watchful gaze of their superiors.

Oswin knew he was in deep trouble. Losing his position as branch manager was trivial.

Worse awaited.

He faced potential grave penalties: censures severe enough to imprison him for centuries.

He could be stripped of cultivation and locked away in a dark dungeon, never to emerge.

"Aether!" Oswin clenched his fists, grinding his teeth.

His face grew dark as shadows.

Though enraged, Oswin did not cease his efforts.

He swallowed two pills, replenishing spiritual energy before turning back.

Shortly thereafter, Oswin returned to Sun Moon Lake.

He descended into the ruins beneath the lake.

Michael and several powerful cultivators from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets spread out, searching meticulously.

The heads of the three great families conducted their own searches, hunting treasures.

But the hall was steeped in ancient decay.

Only shattered stone, moss, and clinging vines remained.

No treasure was found.

Except, of course, for a few boxes already seized by the Pavilion's members—taken forcibly from the hands of the direct descendants of the three noble families.

The three families dared not voice protest; the weak had no standing here.

"Old Oswin, where is Aether?" Michael approached as Oswin returned.

He saw the grim expression on Oswin's face.

The answer was clear: Aether had escaped.

But Michael could not fathom how a mere Dharma Body cultivator eluded an expert at Oswin's level—the peak of the eighth-turn Mahayana Realm.

"Old Oswin, why did you let a mere Dharma Body cultivator escape?" Michael asked, baffled.

"It's not just that he is Dharma Body," Oswin said darkly, "even you felt his power firsthand."

"This kid possesses an inheritance escape technique and incredible speed aided by a Phoenix Wings spiritual relic. Even with essence and blood consumption, his speed rivals mine."

"Besides, he's a physical cultivator filled with essence and blood; I cannot exhaust him. I had no choice but to use the forbidden secret technique, which he stopped with an iron clock—an immortal-grade spiritual weapon of at least the lowest rank."

"An immortal spiritual weapon can stop your forbidden technique?"

Michael's voice was heavy with disbelief.

"How did this kid get so lucky? Could his weapon be the most precious treasure from the ruins?"

Oswin shrugged, uncertain.

"How do you stand on the search?"

"It's over. Except for the treasures Eunice and her group hold, there was nothing of value."

"And what they have are mostly spiritual stones, average-grade elixirs, heavenly materials, and earthly treasures," Michael replied, sighing.

"As expected, that brat took out the finest treasures from these ruins!"

The thought of Ethan made Oswin's jaw ache in rage. He strode toward Eunice and the others.

"You three, do you know what Aether stole from the ruins?"

Oswin's voice was low, his aura darkening, suffusing the air with an oppressive pressure.

The three flinched, their scalps tingling beneath his watch.

Fearing the consequences, they confessed everything that had unfolded inside the ruins.

"A stone tablet, and a crystal containing the rich essence of the sun and moon…"

Oswin pondered silently upon their words.

He grew colder and colder.

The source of the essence energizing Sun Moon Lake must be that crystal stone.

It was the ruin's most precious treasure.

According to the trio's accounts, its sun and moon essence was hundreds or even thousands of times stronger than what filled the Sun Moon lake above.

Such concentrated essence could greatly advance cultivators in the Supreme Realm.

"Mr. Oswin," Michael said cautiously, "Sun Moon Lake has drawn the attention of those above. What shall we do next?"

"Our superiors care little for the disturbances below Sun Moon Lake. We shall keep this matter hidden for now. Immediately, we will send messages to every Pavilion sect across Skyreach."

"A wanted order will be issued forthwith—we must capture that brat!"

Oswin's voice was steely cold.

"Understood," Michael nodded grimly.

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

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