Chapter 24: Calm Before the Storm
The grand banquet hall of the Kilvish Clan glittered under the warm glow of floating lanterns. Jade ornaments adorned the walls, and hundreds of cultivators from various clans were seated in rows of elegance and authority. At the head of the hall stood Charles Kilvish, the patriarch, his aura dominating yet composed. The celebration followed the awakening of two ancient bloodlines during the trial of Nirvana Tower, yet two central figures, Kaal and Divya, were conspicuously absent.
Charles stood, his voice echoing across the grand hall.
"Let this night be remembered. The True Dragon Completion path has begun anew, and history watches us. Today, we honor the one who climbed the Nirvana Steps with unyielding will, Ashen Kairn."
Ashen, clad in a sleek robe with the Kilvish emblem, walked to the center, his expression calm but inwardly sharp. Charles continued:
"Not only did he perform exceptionally in the trials, but Ashen also broke the stigma of his status. As of today, he is no longer a servant of the Kilvish Clan, but a recognized cultivator under the direct patronage of this hall."
Polite applause followed. Some elders murmured in surprise; a few disciples looked jealous. Ashen bowed with practiced grace but did not smile. His mind was elsewhere.
Seeing the applause, Charles had a satisfying expression with rewarding Ashen, a servant of the clan, which indicated that the clan does not ignore the effort of the non-clan member, giving them hope to change their destiny, and ultimately, as a result clan becomes stronger.
Charles then raised his wine cup. "Now, I declare the second phase of the True Dragon Completion Path. A Survival Trial. One hundred selected cultivators will be transported to the Verdant Deathwood, a mystical forest in the depths of Nirvana Tower. You must survive for seven days. No storage rings allowed. Killing is permitted. Only thirty will move on."
Shock rippled through the hall. Some cheered, others paled.
{ Later That Night – Private Chamber of Charles Kilvish }
Kaal stood before his father, his expression unreadable. Charles sat quietly, studying him with the eyes of a leader and a father.