Ethan's words hit the hall like a bucket of ice water. Never in the empire's history had a young cultivator dared to insult an entire territory and a Spiritual Transcendence Realm expert with such raw contempt right before the Emperor himself. The neighboring kingdoms' diplomats remained in absolute silence, holding their breath for the impending storm.
"You miserable big-mouthed brat!" Garth roared, the veins in his neck bulging to the bursting point. "I will slaughter you and skin your corpse!"
Without waiting another second, Garth crossed the line carved into the floor. The moment his foot touched Ethan's side, the mana of an intermediate Spiritual Transcendence Realm cultivator erupted as a dark golden aura, heavy and suffocating, enveloped his body like solid armor while his runic sword let out a deafening hum.
