In a large hall, all the top 10 contenders were resting, trying to heal their injuries and return to peak condition. Most of them, including Luna and Lucas, were meditating and cultivating their spiritual energy.
Tim Clove, with his head held high and face full of arrogance, approached Luna. He gazed at her body shamelessly with eyes full of lust.
"You have good talent and a strong affinity with the thunder element," he said. "Good... very good. In the future, you can work for me."
Tim spoke—no, ordered—Luna, as if he were a supreme being casually addressing an ant. For him, his arrogance knew no bounds.
He believed that a commoner like Luna would be ecstatic just to hear him say she could work for him—Tim Clove.
Luna was not only extremely talented in cultivation; but she was also a top-tier beauty. Tim wanted her. He wanted to make Luna serve him faithfully, as his loyal servant.
Not far away, Lucas overheard everything, and a frown formed on his face. He was about to step forward when Luna raised her eyes, signalling him to stand down. He sighed in annoyance at his twin sister but did not move further.
Luna did not want to waste her time and energy on such trivial matters or people- especially right before the main battle.
"In that case, I'll be sure to show you some of my skills if we end up facing each other in the upcoming battles," said Luna with a subtle smile on her face.
The mockery in her tone was clear to everyone, except one. Drenched in arrogance, Tim failed to recognize the subtle insult. He chuckled and smiled, feeling pleased with himself. He truly believed Luna would now try to impress him by showcasing her abilities.
After all, getting close to him, and to the Clove family, was something commoners could only dream of.
Wearing the same smug and arrogant expression, Tim moved toward Iris. While she had not shown strength as overwhelming as Luna's, winning her stage battle was still a notable feat. More than anything, Tim was drawn to beautiful faces.
"You also have good talent," declared Tim standing in front of a mediating Iris.
"But you clearly lack resources. In the future, if you follow me, I will provide you with what you need. With my support, your strength will definitely grow."
Unlike Luna, Iris showed no reaction. She continued to sit with her eyes closed, focused on cultivating and tending to her injuries, her expression completely unchanged.
Tim was extremely displeased at being ignored, but he had enough common sense to understand he should not cause trouble within the jurisdiction of Star Sky Academy.
He clenched his fists and made a mental note of the incident, then moved to one side and began to cultivate.
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In one of the VIP rooms, Fexon and Felix, the two Clove brothers, were seated in the second row. In front of them, in the first row, directly facing the glass window, sat a mature woman with a calm and serene face.
Her eyes were a deep, pure black, while her hair was stark white- a complete contrast. Dressed in snow-white robes, she was the embodiment of serene beauty. Though her presence felt ordinary, the two brothers dared not act recklessly in her presence.
"Miss Snowfall, Tim is really talented. What do you think of him?" Fexon broke the silence with a question.
The woman did not respond immediately. After a few moments, her sweet, calm voice finally echoed through the room, "What business do you have, Mr. Clove?"
Fexon stiffened at his question about his son being blatantly ignored. But he dared not lose his temper.
He calmed his nerves, took a deep breath, and began again.
"Miss Snowfall, surely nothing has been hidden from you. You must have heard of Amden's talent and the advancement of Clara Vantistart to SSS Rank."
"And?" responded Miss Snowfall in a nonchalant tone.
Fexon fell silent. His words, though indirect, had clearly indicated his intentions. But the lady's act of indifference made him feel like a fool. Though he fumed internally, he kept his expression neutral.
Grinding his teeth, he continued, "The Vantistart family is becoming too powerful. This could shift the balance of power on our continent… in our world."
Again, the woman remained quiet for a few moments. The two brothers assumed she was contemplating the issue and silently hoped for a favourable response.
Fexon was about to speak again, trying to further persuade her, when the room was suddenly plunged into darkness. Along with the darkness, the temperature inside the room plummeted, turning the air frigid.
The two brothers, men capable of dominating entire cities, felt that their bodies, their organs, even their blood had begun to freeze.
Anxiety and an overwhelming sense of fear overtook them. They gasped for breath.
"Fexon, I'm letting you go this one time," the chilling voice of Miss Snowfall cut through the darkness. Her tone was like a blade, slicing into their skin with each word.
She continued, "Do not think that I do not see through your little scheme—trying to use me against the Vantistart family."
"Next time you try to drag me into your petty games and I will personally take your head. Deal with your problems yourself."
The next moment, the darkness and icy chill vanished from the room. The brothers could finally breathe again and their bodies returned to normal.
Looking ahead, they realized Miss Snowfall had disappeared from her seat. Only then did the fear begin to fade from their bodies.
Fexon immediately cursed in rage, "That bitch! Who does she think she is? Treating us like that? One day, I'll make her pay."
Even though he cursed loudly, the fear he had felt was still present in his eyes.