"Conceding? Impossible!" Elder Ao Xiao scowled in frustration. His grandson Toby's Guardian Spirit was far stronger than Liana's. Toby's Vine Guardian was known for its powerful defenses; even if Ethan was strong, it wasn't without hope for victory. Yet Toby had chosen to surrender!
The Xiao family members watching buzzed with speculation.
"Could it be that Toby was scared off by what happened to Liana's Guardian Spirit?"
"That doesn't sound like him. Toby's been on training missions for two years and is no novice. There's no way he'd shy away from a fight. Plus, his Vine Guardian is formidable; it's not like he stood no chance at all. I wonder what made him give up!"
"Well, since Toby surrendered, Xena's Guardian Spirit is officially the champion. Who would've thought a low-tier Guardian Spirit could be so strong? It's amazing!"
"With a Guardian Spirit of limitless potential, ranking second in strength personally, and her Guardian Spirit ranked first, Xena certainly deserves her position as the head family's eldest daughter. Her talent is remarkable!"
"Both Xena and Leon have outstanding potential, which is a blessing for our Xiao family!"
Hearing the praise, Liana's mood soured. Until recently, these people had looked down on Xena along with her. They'd even dismissed the head branch of the family. But now they were praising Xena to the skies, quick to change sides and ally with the main line of the family.
"Xena, I won't let this go. One day…" Liana thought to herself bitterly.
After the family competition concluded, Elder Ao Xiao met with Toby that night in his study and immediately reprimanded him. "Toby, why did you surrender so quickly today? Even if you doubted your chances, you didn't have to give up entirely! Now everyone thinks you were afraid of that girl Xena."
Toby replied calmly, "Grandfather, which is more important—taking first place in the family competition or advancing to the Purification Stage?"
"Advancing to the Purification Stage, of course!" Elder Ao replied without hesitation.
A family competition win was only a title and a chance to display strength, but advancing to the Purification Stage was the real prize. It meant an enormous power boost and, more importantly, a chance to get into university. In today's world, a spot in university was highly coveted, with the Purification Stage as an entry requirement. If a student failed to reach it before the exams, they couldn't enroll in university and would only be eligible for vocational schools, which were leagues behind.
Universities were highly prestigious; there were only a handful on Earth, each with Federation Alliance experts on its faculty. A university student's standing was often higher than that of a small family's leader. Even a powerful family like the Xiao family could go years without a single university entrant. Last year, in fact, the Xiao family had none.
"Grandfather, I'm on the verge of breaking into the Purification Stage, and now isn't the time for my Guardian Spirit to be injured. If it gets damaged, my advancement will be delayed. Once I make it into the Purification Stage, what does Xena even matter? With only seven or eight months until the exams, I doubt she'll have any chance of getting in. My true aim lies with the elite students of the universities!"
"Well said, Toby. If there's anything you need, just tell me, and I'll make sure you have it," Elder Ao assured him.
"Thank you, Grandfather," Toby responded, visibly pleased. With his grandfather's support, he was confident he could reach the Purification Stage within a month.
Three days later, news of Xena's achievements at the family competition spread across Feilan City, and the details quickly reached the students at Feilan High. Many were stunned, and Xena's reputation at school skyrocketed. But Xena paid little mind to the fame. Her goal was straightforward: reach the Purification Stage and secure a place at university.
Shortly after the competition, Xena used her Indestructible Vajra Physique technique to break through to the eighth level of the Purification Stage. Meanwhile, Ethan had already reached the peak of the ninth level and was preparing to attempt the elusive tenth level.
Inside the Guardian Spirit Space, Ethan and Xena were deep in discussion.
"Xena, in this era, achieving the tenth level of the Purification Stage requires a complete body restructuring," Ethan explained, his tone serious. "If it goes wrong, my body could collapse entirely. And since we can't afford any advanced healing potions right now, I'll have to rely solely on my Vajra Physique's regenerative powers."
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Xena asked, concerned.
"I'm about eighty or ninety percent sure I can do it," Ethan replied confidently. "My mastery of the Vajra Physique is high enough that even though it's not truly indestructible, it should be enough to heal any injuries that arise. The body restructuring involves rearranging my inner structure, but my Vajra Physique's cellular vitality should see me through."
"Alright," Xena said, nodding in agreement. "I'll watch over you. If anything goes wrong, I'll intervene as your Awakener."
"Understood," Ethan smiled gratefully, nodding back at her.
Inside the Guardian Spirit Space, Xena's consciousness sat cross-legged at a distance while Ethan sat in a meditative position, ready to break through to the tenth level.
A powerful hum reverberated as Ethan activated the Indestructible Vajra Physique, pushing against the boundary of the ninth level with all his might.
Inside his body, a series of thunderous booms echoed like the tolling of a massive bell. If Xena could see Ethan's cells, she'd notice that each one was disintegrating and then reforming, cycling through a strange and powerful transformation.
Blood began to trickle from cracks in his skin, pooling around him within the Guardian Spirit Space.
Seeing this, Xena gasped, covering her mouth as worry clouded her eyes.
"Ethan, you have to succeed!" she whispered, her heart silently urging him on.
Soon, a cocoon of hardened blood encased Ethan, enveloping him entirely.
It was unclear how much time passed before the cocoon suddenly shattered, and a figure emerged, bare-skinned and glowing with fresh vitality.
It was Ethan.
Upon seeing him standing there, entirely unclothed, Xena froze for a few seconds, her gaze fixed on a particular spot before she let out the loudest scream of her life:
"Aaah, you pervert!"
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]