Chapter 167: Legendary Sword

Outside of her dynamic with Theo, Sylvia was not one to swallow grievances. Faced with moral blackmail over the Primeval Obsidian Sword, she had been fully prepared to leave the Academy. But the Grand-Patriarch’s personal plea and incredibly generous offer made her hesitate. Ultimately, she chose to stay.

It was not without reason. In truth, she could not bear the thought of facing Theo’s other women at the Abyssal World-Forge. When she was alone with him, she could justify her yielding nature as helplessness. But stepping into his Syndicate stronghold, alongside his other fiercely loyal female operatives?

Unthinkable.

So, Sylvia thanked the Grand-Patriarch and stayed.

The ancient ancestor smiled, nodding respectfully to Theo, assuring him that Sylvia would face zero political grievances in the future.

Theo returned a polite smile. But inwardly, he scoffed. *Old fool, if I give you another Primeval Lifespan Elixir, I am a dog.*

Seeing his former Professor’s decision, he did not argue. Unlike Cassia or Seraphina, Sylvia was not perfectly at peace serving as his subordinate. She was his former mentor, a woman with her own unyielding will, not merely his accessory. He respected her choice.

Sylvia, seeing his easy acceptance, finally relaxed.

Everything seemed settled.

***

But Patriarch Corvinus could not swallow the humiliation. He wasn’t foolish enough to actually follow through on his threat and leave the Academy. His growth relied heavily on the sect’s vast Aetheric veins. Without the backing of a major faction, even a Supreme-tier expert would eventually scrape by in mediocrity.

But he felt deeply wronged. As the Corvinus clan’s direct prodigy, his own Ancestor had chosen Sylvia without hesitation. Even the Aether-Origin spot, promised to him a century ago, had been handed to her. It was entirely stifling.

Seeing Lady Livia’s deepening frown, his heart sank. Without the Obsidian Sword to offer as a grand gesture, he could not aid her faction. His chance to deepen their political and personal bond would vanish. All his plans, ruined!

Gritting his teeth, he glared at Theo. It was all because of this Syndicate upstart. He suspected the Grand-Patriarch favored Theo’s boundless potential, hoping to secure a path to true immortality through Sylvia’s connection.

To regain Livia’s favor and the Academy’s respect, he had to prove himself. Corvinus unleashed his fury on Theo. His Aether erupted, his robes whipping wildly as his blade-intent soared into the heavens.

The sheer pressure of his aura shook the Academy’s warding arrays. His might as a Supreme-tier Holy Master was undeniable.

Everyone was stunned. The Grand-Patriarch glared down from the void. Was this brat, in his rage, daring to challenge him?

Noticing the Ancestor raising a hand to strike, Corvinus shivered and quickly redirected his focus, explaining, "I have long heard of the Abyssal Sovereign’s monstrous talent! Seeing you today, your reputation holds! I, Corvinus, have hit a bottleneck in my Aether-Blade arts. I seek a strong foe to hone my path and break through. I hope the Sovereign will indulge me in a spar!"

The Grand-Patriarch’s frown deepened. Challenging the Abyssal Sovereign? That was worse than challenging the Ancestor himself. His Divinity Separation aura surged, ready to reprimand his descendant.

But Theo laughed. He saw Corvinus’s rage for what it was. Yet, challenging him? Madness.

Theo was irked, too. He had been interrupted at a key moment, and Corvinus had been gunning for his Professor’s sword. The Grand-Patriarch’s political maneuvering had smoothed things over, but this direct challenge? No mercy.

Theo raised a hand, halting the Ancestor. "Of course. I have recently dabbled in Blade Arts myself, just scratching the surface. Since Patriarch Corvinus is a renowned blade genius, you are the perfect whetstone to help me sharpen my skills."

His words caused a monumental uproar. Not for accepting the duel, but for explicitly choosing to fight using Blade Arts. Since when did the Abyssal Sovereign know Blade Arts?

When Theo fought the Imperial Senate, he relied on his monstrous physical might, or the crushing force of his Primeval Abyssal Hammer. Defeating an opponent at their own specialty was prestigious, but wasn’t this far too arrogant?

Corvinus’s mastery of the blade was exceptional. The elders were stunned.

Sylvia’s beautiful eyes flickered with confusion. Theo knew Blade Arts? As his Professor, she had never taught him swordsmanship. But she didn’t doubt him. The boy was a formidable polymath. He had mastered arrays, alchemy, forging, and combat tactics effortlessly. Blade Arts was likely just another side project. Still, she was genuinely curious about his proficiency.

Lady Livia’s disdain only grew. Theo was showboating. Riding into the Capital on a wave of Syndicate wealth, wielding supreme artifacts, and now choosing to fight a Holy Master at his own specialty? He would die without flaunting his ego!

True combat meant using one’s greatest strengths to crush enemies efficiently. Her Ares Vanguard despised such theatrical nonsense. But with the Primeval Aether-Forge possibly in his hands, she endured her irritation, watching closely.

***

Corvinus, initially stunned by the arrogance, smirked coldly.

*Hone your Blade Arts with me? You are unworthy.* Corvinus sneered inwardly. *My Corvinus Nine-Fold Matrix is perfected. I have mastered the ancestral stances and studied the Sword Grass relics for decades. My Blade Arts might surpass even our Grand-Patriarch. You, a Syndicate thug, dare compare blades? Laughable.*

In a pure clash of Aether-Blades, Corvinus was supremely confident.

He rose, floating into the sky above the courtyard. An ornate, azure jade sword appeared in his grasp, radiating the oppressive might of a Provincial-grade artifact as he unsheathed it.

Holding the Viridian Aether-Blade, his entire presence transformed. His sharpness pierced the air, forcing even Supreme-tier elders to avert their eyes. It was a true mark of his mastery.

Staring down at Theo, who was still grounded, Corvinus spoke with overflowing confidence. "Please, Sovereign, draw the Empyrean Edge! I have long anticipated testing myself against the divine sword gifted by the Emperor. Facing it sets my blood ablaze!"

Compared to Theo the man, Corvinus valued the legendary sword far more.

Theo’s lips curved into a mocking smile.