God-Tier Fishing System

Bram silently mocked Ethan with a cold, unreadable expression, choosing words more through gesture than speech.

His disdain hung heavy in the air, a palpable weight pressing down on the hall. Then, with an arrogant smile curving his lips, his gaze locked onto Lyralei's—the Empress who bore the weight of the Azure Origin Dao Sect upon her slender shoulders.

Seraphina's eyes flickered with urgent worry as she sent a message to Lyralei, her voice barely a whisper audible only to the Empress.

"Master, although Ethan shows some promise, do not entrust the fates of Senior Sister Althea and me solely to his hands!" Her concern was rooted deeply in reason, weighed by the cold reality of the stakes.

Though all the Peak Masters acknowledged Ethan's power—he was no weaker than the revered Saint herself—Bram was a different order of threat altogether.

As the Sixth Prince of the formidable Vernal Dawn Dynasty and a half-step onto the Tribulation Transcendence realm, Bram had crushed every genius in the Spiritual Path Trial across Skyreach Territory without breaking a sweat. Surely no mere prodigy like Ethan could hope to match him.

In the silent expectation, all sides awaited Lyralei's verdict. No one openly voiced doubts or objections—denying Bram outright would be a public admission of weakness.

Such a concession would stain Azure Origin's reputation across the entire territory. Everyone knew this unspoken truth.

Lyralei's eyes softened as she regarded the young man and then the hall itself. Understanding the tightrope everyone was walking, she turned to Ethan and asked, "What do you think?"

Without hesitation, Ethan's gaze met hers. "Since the Sixth Prince wishes to play, then I will play!" His words bore the unyielding confidence of a man who had nothing left to lose.

The assembled Peak Masters exchanged concerned glances, some sighing deeply. This Ethan was recklessly throwing himself into the lion's den.

"No!" Seraphina's sudden shout cracked through the hall, her voice sharp and urgent.

Bram's laughter—rich, cruel—cut through the tension like a guillotine. "Ethan, your sect's saintess doesn't believe you. If you lack the strength, why show such bravado?"

Just then, Althea rose, icy frost decorating her expression. She stepped beside Ethan, the embodiment of unwavering trust.

"If Ethan loses, spare yourself the trouble of choosing. I will accompany you willingly."

Bram was momentarily taken aback. The sheer belief that this beauty placed in Ethan unsettled him. How could he, Bram, be bested by a man backed by such faith?

Althea whispered quietly to Ethan, a calm reassurance in her voice. "I trust you. Fight with all you have."

Ethan felt warmth bloom beneath her words. This was the first real trust he had been given, a rare gift amidst the cold hostility of fate. He nodded firmly and turned his tenacity fully toward Bram.

"Tell me, if I survive ten of your attacks, what will become of you, Sixth Prince?"

Ethan's voice was steady, defiant.

Bram's laughter echoed again. "Do you really think something like that can happen?" he mocked with scorn.

Ethan kept his gaze sharp. "If I lose, I will hand over the Master of Sword Peak. But if you lose, you must not only kneel and call me master, but also surrender your Mahayana puppet!"

His finger pointed at the ominous figure standing tall beside Bram.

Bram's expression tightened imperceptibly. This puppet, his trump card, was not a prize to be risked lightly.

"Why... are you scared, Sixth Prince? Afraid to back your own challenge?" Ethan taunted.

"If you are, then go home, cry about it, and sleep like a child!"

Bram's frustration erupted into a fist slamming against the armrest as his eyes burned with fury. "Fine, bet it is! Do you really think you'll win?"

Ethan's voice was unflinching. "Very well. I will wait for you outside in the square."

Without another word, Ethan left the hall, every step radiating cold determination.

A shadow flickered and coalesced beside him as Bram appeared in the square's center. The distance between them was small, the tension immense.

"Remember, I give you only ten moves!" Bram declared, his voice filled with lethal promise.

"Ten moves, life or death," Ethan answered, matching his resolve.

Bram's eyes glinted dangerously. "An ant dares discuss life and death with me? Arrogance unmatched—I will kill you with one strike!"

Suddenly, Bram's momentum surged like a tide, waves of power spreading in ripples that tossed Ethan's hair wildly.

His aura already rivaled a cultivator at the half-step of the Tribulation Transcendence realm.

Seraphina caught her breath, watching Bram's power swell with unease.

Half a year had passed since the last Spiritual Path Trial, and Bram had grown far stronger.

"If he fully masters the inheritance, he may cross into Tribulation Transcendence soon. Althea will be in trouble because of Ethan, yet she brought this on herself. Why trust him?" Seraphina murmured, doubt and bitterness coloring her thoughts.

Bram's words came with derision. "Tremble, ant! This is the strength of the truly powerful."

A subtle smile played on Ethan's lips, his essence and blood surging in fierce response as crimson energy flowed like wild fire throughout his being.

The moment Bram's overwhelming force touched Ethan's vital energy, it shattered—annihilated by an unseen power.

Bram's eyes widened. "What secret technique is this?"

Drawing a golden spear that gleamed with heavenly intent from his hand, Bram prepared to strike with overwhelming force.

His Golden Dragon Spear—a heaven-level spiritual weapon—resonated with immense power.

As a half-step Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, Bram's spiritual energy was undergoing a transformative freshness, exponentially amplifying his strength.

A fierce cry escaped him as the golden dragon spiraled along his spear in a devastating attack—"Golden Dragon's Wild Dance"!

He lunged forward, his body and spear melded into a blazing golden dragon, surging with awe-inspiring might.

The force behind the strike could fell any cultivator newly entering the Tribulation Transcendence realm.

Seraphina exhaled sharply. "There is heaven beyond the sky, and more beings beyond this world."

Bram had honed his intent to near perfection, channeling a power difficult to resist, even at full strength.

Against this, Ethan's strength, equal at best to Seraphina's own, seemed fragile.

"It's over," murmured an elder. "Bram's perfect spear intent and heaven-level weapon leave no chance."

"He appeared without reservation, offering Ethan no hope of evading defeat."

"Hold on, just hold on a few more moves! Don't lose so shamefully!" whispered another voice.

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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Thanks for the Inspiration capsule: @Orlando_whaanga