Chapter 820: The Radiance Beyond the Gates

Chapter 820: Chapter 820: The Radiance Beyond the Gates

As the third day reached its conclusion, the monumental bronze gates of the Imperial Treasure Pavilion emitted a heavy sound and began to open. The sunlight from outside flooded the foyer, dispelling the gloom surrounding the structure.

Isabella emerged from her cultivation trance with a soft breath. Around her, a thin frost mist dissipated into the air, revealing eyes that now shimmered with a purer sapphire hue. Her posture emanated an elegant composure thanks to her assimilation of the Manual of the Primordial Frost Dragon.

Ethan opened his eyes at that exact moment, breaking his communion with the Black Chaos Sword. With a fluid motion, he sheathed the weapon at his waist and stood up, looking at Isabella with a smirk.

"Seems like you made good use of your time," said Ethan, taking in the princess’s refined aura.

"The manual is incredible...", Isabella replied, stepping over to take his arm. "My spiritual sea feels twice as dense, and my control over the element is far more fluid. What about you? Did you find anything worthwhile?"

"Something useful for the future," answered Ethan, patting her hand before they walked out together.

Upon crossing the pavilion’s threshold, the shadow sentinels bowed deeply in respect, parting to let them through. Waiting in the outer plaza were King Alaric and Great General Vaelen, accompanied by an honor guard from the Soaring Dragon faction.

"You’re finally out!" exclaimed King Alaric with a broad smile, walking up to meet them. "Three full days in there... I bet you found treasures worthy of your efforts."

"The Empire spared no resources for the champions, Your Majesty," commented Great General Vaelen, regarding the couple with approval. "However, you should know the capital is calm only on the surface. The emissaries from neighboring empires who arrived late have been pressing the Emperor at the central palace."

Ethan raised an eyebrow with amusement, maintaining a nonchalant expression.

"Pressing the Emperor?" asked Ethan. "Do those envoys have a problem with the tournament’s results?"

"Of course they do," chimed in the deep voice of the pavilion’s guardian, who appeared beside the stone stairs. "The premature end of the trial and the imperial edict decreed in your favor made neighboring nations feel this empire is hiding a power they cannot gauge. To them, an unforeseen genius is always a latent threat."

Ethan formed a faint, icy smirk as he adjusted his sword’s hilt.

"If they have doubts about my strength, they’re free to come test it themselves," said Ethan in a calm tone.

Before the group could continue toward the sacred mountain’s exit, an officer clad in golden armor approached hastily, holding a jade tablet with the royal seal.

"Lord Ethan, Princess Isabella," proclaimed the officer, bowing. "His Imperial Majesty requests your presence in the Grand Audience Hall prior to your departure."

Ethan and Isabella turned to look at King Alaric, seeking his approval before responding to the summons.

King Alaric smiled calmly and waved his hand gently toward them.

"Go, go," King Alaric told them. "Do not keep His Imperial Majesty waiting."

Both nodded, and Ethan turned his gaze back to the officer sent by the crown. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Lead the way," requested Ethan.

"This way, please," replied the officer, offering a bow before guiding them toward the marble stairs that led to the central palace.

As they moved through the vaulted corridors adorned with golden banners, Ethan subtly slowed his stride to narrow the distance between him and his fiancée. Without turning his head, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead, he spoke in a whisper that only she could hear.

"Stay behind me," whispered Ethan. "If anything happens, don’t hesitate and just run."

Isabella lightly squeezed Ethan’s arm, nodding in silence without questioning his caution.

The officer leading them, possessing an ear sharpened by cultivation, caught the youth’s words. The guard shook his head in silence to himself. He pondered with irony whether there was truly the slightest chance of fleeing if the powerful figures gathered in that audience hall decided to strike. However, knowing his place, he said nothing inappropriate and simply guided them in silence up to the majestic doors of the Grand Audience Hall.

Upon crossing the colossal bronze and gold doors of the Grand Audience Hall, the silence inside the room became absolute. The gazes of dozens of nobles, generals, and foreign delegations instantly locked onto the couple.

Atop the dais, the Emperor rested upon his jade throne. Seeing them enter, his majestic face formed a broad, approving smile.

"Ethan, Isabella," the Emperor’s voice echoed with power throughout the hall. "I congratulate you on successfully completing your stay in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion. Your achievements in the tournament have been etched into the history of our empire."

Given the presence of so many foreign envoys, the monarch acted with caution, omitting any mention of the specific artifacts or manuals the couple had retrieved from the Pavilion.

Before Ethan could respond with the ceremonial greeting, a dry, sarcasm-laced laugh disrupted the atmosphere.

The Prime Minister of the Radiant Sun Empire stepped forward, adjusting the wide sleeves of his golden robe while measuring Ethan from head to toe with a contemptuous glare.

"So this is your grand champion, esteemed Emperor...", said the minister, letting out a mocking sigh. "Judging by his appearance, he looks more like a farm boy who barely learned how to hold a sword than the terrifying prodigy your edicts boast so much about."

Beside him, the envoy from the Eternal Night Empire, a pale-faced man with a cadaverous aura named Duke Vaelthor, narrowed his dark eyes and let out a cold huff.

"A cultivator with no registered bloodline or background...", murmured Duke Vaelthor, stroking the hilt of his ritual dagger. "Forcing the closure of a domain is no symbol of greatness, but of recklessness. In our empire, a subject of such dubious origin would have been subjected to a soul interrogation before being allowed to touch the crown’s rewards."

Finally, the representative of the Divine Wind Empire, the feared Commander Morgana—a woman in silver armor with a scar crossing her cheekbone—slammed the hilt of her heavy saber firmly against the marble floor, echoing through the entire hall.

"Too much arrogance for someone so young," declared Commander Morgana, locking a glacial stare onto Ethan. "If the rules of this tournament were not so lenient, I wonder if this ’hero’ would have even survived against the true warriors of our armies."