Free Web NovelChapter 691: Chapter 691: The Invisible Threshold
"Excellent," said the Vice Sect Leader, his face radiating an intense, triumphant satisfaction as he lowered his hands from the martial salute. "I shall personally transmit the updates to your quarters the exact millisecond we approach the deployment threshold. In the meantime, please feel entirely free to explore the layouts of the vessel, or perhaps enjoy the high-altitude landscape from the observation platform."
"I would highly appreciate observing the landscape for a brief moment," Ethan replied, his gravelly voice relaxed and smooth. "It is rare to witness the frontier peaks from such a massive vantage point."
"Splendid!" the Vice Leader cheered, adjusting the heavy velvet trim of his robes. "Allow me to accompany you back to the primary viewing deck. It is always a pleasure to witness a master’s first ascent into the upper flight lines."
The three of them smoothly walked back toward the primary glass terminal of the bridge. Outside, the immense systems executed their sequences; the ship’s massive super-engines ignited with a low, deep thrum that vibrated gently through the floorplates, lifting the colossal silver fortress into the air with an almost unnatural smoothness.
The ship quickly reached the exact high-altitude coordinate of the waiting escort fleet. The moment the flagship aligned with the three silver Invictus dreadnoughts, the four massive vessels locked into their triangular vanguard formation and violently accelerated toward the deep northwest sky. Despite the truly terrifying, landscape-blurring velocity of the fleet, the interior of the command bridge remained static. There was zero turbulence or kinetic feedback, making it feel as though the entire room were motionless.
"What do you think, Master Ethan?" asked the Vice Leader, a proud, sweeping gesture directed toward the massive quartz viewing array. "An exceptional piece of craftmanship, is it not?"
"It is magnificent," Ethan said, his amethyst eyes calmly watching the mountain ranges flatten into tiny ripples far below. "We are moving at an impressively high velocity."
"Indeed! This flagship can comfortably match the flight speed of a peak master at the half-step Sea Spirit Realm," the Vice Leader explained, his smile widening.
"Are you significantly faster than this fortress, Vice Leader?" Ethan asked, his tone shifting into a casual, curious register. "Is that the reason why you rarely utilize these dreadnoughts for your personal travels?"
"A bit, yes... just a bit," the Vice Leader chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "But in all reality, I simply prefer to travel light. Moving alone allows me to reach any remote sector of our sect territory without triggering a massive public alarm. It makes it infinitely simpler to casually drop in and keep a sharp, unannounced eye on our various local leaders."
The old master’s smile suddenly sharpened, a cold glint flashing behind his eyes as his voice dropped into a dark register.
"Lately, the hidden infiltrators and espionage cells originating from the Soaring Dragon Kingdom have become increasingly insistent and bold within our borders," the Vice Leader added, his tone dripping with a ruthless malice. "However... we have hunted down and exterminated every one of them, without a exception."
The sudden, chilling shift in the old man’s tone hit the air like an icy brick. For a second, the sheer unexpected weight of the statement almost caused Ethan’s physical composure to fracture.
He was perfectly aware that he was a primary asset linked straight to the high-tier networks of that exact kingdom, and his own hidden shadow were currently resting right inside this very ship. Yet, his clinical, dominant mind clamped down instantly on his nervous system. He maintained a flawlessly empty, imperturbable expression, keeping his amethyst eyes calmly fixed on the passing clouds, avoiding a single micro-expression that could trigger the old fox’s acute political suspicions.
"How much time will it take to reach the northern frontline, Vice Leader?" Ethan asked, his voice smooth as he masterfully redirected the flow of the conversation away from the topic of espionage.
"At our current maximum velocity, it should take roughly thirty minutes," the Vice Leader replied, his posture relaxing as the momentary coldness in his eyes dissolved back into his usual affable mask. freewebnoveℓ.com
Ethan nodded slowly, turning his head slightly toward his powerful guardian. "In that case, I think it will be far more efficient for us to remain right here on the bridge until we arrive. Wouldn’t you agree, Elder Heidy?"
"The Master’s desires are my orders," Heidy replied instantly, her tone deadpan, cold, and entirely unyielding in front of the old master.
"Excellent, then, Master Ethan, Elder Heidy," the Vice Leader chuckled, thoroughly pleased by the young doctor’s cooperative demeanor. "Let us enjoy the high-altitude view together."
The three of them remained positioned near the primary quartz terminal of the command deck. The Vice Leader genuinely appeared to enjoy the passing landscape, pointing out various distant peaks and tactical border lines with casual pride. Ethan, meanwhile, focused every ounce of his control into maintaining a perfectly calm, unbothered posture, systematically ensuring his breathing and heart rate remained entirely level so as to not trigger a suspicion in the old fox’s mind.
Exactly twenty-eight minutes later, the colossal flagship suddenly ground to a dead halt in mid-air, the massive inertial dampeners humming loudly beneath their feet to absorb the kinetic force. Outside the viewport, the three silver Invictus dreadnoughts immediately broke their tight defensive formation, their massive hulls peeling away in different tactical directions to secure the upper airspace.
"We have successfully arrived," the Vice Leader announced, his eyes narrowing as he looked down through the clouds. "This is our designated forward outpost. The General and I will head down to the surface to personally execute a sweep and take a look at the base."
Ethan stepped forward without a single millisecond of hesitation, a cooperative smile playing on his lips. "Allow me to accompany you down to the surface, Vice Leader. If there are any wounded soldiers or hidden energetic toxins left behind by the Thunderdragon Sect, my medical insight might prove highly useful to the vanguard."
He was intentionally stepping directly into the line of fire, aggressively executing a play to thoroughly earn the old master’s trust before they ever reached the capital.
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From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels. freёwebnovel.com
Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.
Body Refinement Realm
Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement
Spiritual Gathering Realm
Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation
Spiritual Core Realm
Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)
Spiritual Soul Realm
Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion
Golden Core Realm
Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction
Spiritual Sea Realm
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
Dao Manifestation Realm
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
Spiritual Transcendence
Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??
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Sword mastery levels
Sword Intent.
Sword Aura.
