Ether Mountain is divided into three main areas from the foot of the mountain to the mountaintop: the outer court, inner court, and the peak of Ether Mountain.
Both the outer court and inner court have guesthouses, with the inner court guesthouse mainly serving more special visitors.
While Billy and his two companions hastened their pace, a group of people stood in a square outside the guesthouse of the inner court. Most of them were young people.
Everyone stood clearly divided into two camps.
One side naturally consisted of the juniors of the three ancient families, led by Trystan Long and Gilberto Vaughan. Abby Meskill, the eldest daughter of the Meskill family, was also among the crowd.
The other side consisted of the people from Ether Mountain, with two young women in blue standing at the forefront, who were none other than the sisters Aleah and Annika.
With delicate features, well-proportioned figures, and a hint of ethereal elegance about them, they truly deserved the title of fairies.
The senior figures from both sides did not show up, presumably intentionally avoiding such occasions.
“If I guess correctly, both of you should be from Floating Cloud Peak, right?” Trystan Long’s gaze swept over the two sisters before he spoke.
“I heard that you want to challenge all the young people on Ether Mountain,” Aleah addressed them, her voice as melodious as a valley thrush, pleasant to the ear.
“Heh, it’s not exactly a challenge!” Trystan Long smiled lightly.
“Ether Mountain is the holy land of martial arts in Glavale, producing outstanding talents. Gilberto and I happened to have some free time, so we took this opportunity to spar with the outstanding individuals of Ether Mountain.”
“Hmph, you talk big!” Annika snorted coldly. “If it’s just a spar, why hurt them so badly?”
Since yesterday, Trystan Long and Gilberto Vaughan had challenged around thirty young people from Ether Mountain in succession, and several of them had been seriously injured by the two, still lying unconscious.
“Sorry, we got a bit carried away in the heat of the moment, my apologies!” Trystan Long continued speaking with a nonchalant expression.
“But I thought that the elites of Ether Mountain should be outstanding talents, not so fragile!”
“We made a misjudgment in this matter, where we were reckless, please forgive us!”
“Shameless!” the two sisters simultaneously snorted coldly.
Having grown up in Ether Mountain since childhood and not as worldly as Opal and Amber who often ventured into the world, they naturally had no guile, wearing their emotions plain on their faces.
“If you want to spar, spar with us. How do you want to do it?” Annika spoke up.
“Are the two pretty ladies really going to spar with us?” Gilberto Vaughan raised a slight smile.
“However, I must make it clear, don’t blame me if I hurt you.”
“Don’t worry, if we are inferior, Ether Mountain will not hold you responsible!” Aleah interrupted him.
“Hehe, as you wish. Since the two pretty ladies want to spar, we will be on it.” Trystan Long smiled and then turned to Gilberto Vaughan.
“Gilberto, how about I have a go first against them?”
“Haha, sure!” Gilberto Vaughan laughed.
He had already checked the cultivation level of the two sisters, both being third-rank Saints in strength, clearly not a match for Trystan Long. He was happy to watch the show.
“Thanks for your understanding, Gilberto!” After Trystan Long finished speaking, he looked at the two sisters and said, “Shall we change locations, or stay here?”
“No need to make it complicated, let’s do it here!” Annika replied.
“Alright!” Trystan Long nodded.
“Annika, he’s very powerful, be careful, you and Aleah should stay on guard!” a disciple from the inner court of Ether Mountain looked at them with a hint of concern.
“It’s okay, you all back off a kilometer!” Annika waved her hand.
Naturally, she had already sensed the martial aura of a fourth-rank Saint emanating from Trystan Long, one level higher than her. Among the young generation of Ether Mountain who were still on the mountain, their cultivation levels were the highest. If they didn’t act, the same-age people of Ether Mountain would truly be beaten to a pulp by the other party.
Soon, both sides retreated a kilometer from each other.
Abby Meskill of the Meskill family opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, she gave up and followed the others in stepping back.
“Two ladies, let’s save some time and have both of you attack together!” Trystan Long then looked at the two sisters.
“Ether Mountain does not bully the weak with numbers!” Annika replied coldly.
Then, she turned to Aleah, “Sister, let me spar with him first. If I’m not a match, you can step in!”
“I’ll go first!” Aleah responded. “You step back first!”
“Sister, let me go…” Annika continued.
However, before she finished speaking, Aleah had already walked toward Trystan Long.
“Let’s begin!” Aleah said to Trystan Long.
“Very well!” Trystan Long’s eyes narrowed slightly. He then placed the large knife in his hand into the ground by his side and launched an attack towards Aleah.
Clearly, he had not intended to use his weapon against Aleah, who was one level below him in cultivation.
At the same time, Aleah also made her move, flipping her wrist and sending a sword aura towards Trystan Long.
Bang!
Their attacks collided, and they each took several steps back.
Then, without stopping, they immediately readied themselves for another exchange. The scene erupted in a fierce clash of sounds, appearing to be an evenly matched battle.
However, to the discerning eye, it was evident that Trystan Long was not giving it his all, showing a level of ease and intentionally holding back.
Occasionally resorting to some underhanded tactics, he caught Aleah off guard, leaving an expression of anger on her delicate face.
After more than ten rounds of exchanges, Trystan Long once again used a dishonest move, extending his hand in a claw-like shape straight towards Aleah’s chest.
“You scoundrel!” Aleah exclaimed, quickly evading to the side.
Crack!
Although she managed to dodge, her left sleeve was torn by the opponent, revealing her fair and tender forearm.
“You scoundrel!” Annika, who was watching on the side, flushed red with anger.
“I’m really sorry, it was not intentional. Please forgive me!” Trystan Long ignored Annika’s outburst, turned his head, and spoke to Aleah with a slight smile.
His purpose in coming to Ether Mountain this time was to humiliate the younger generation of Ether Mountain.
He wanted outsiders to know that Ether Mountain was not as unapproachable as rumored, and that the Long family and Vaughan family had the strength to compete with Ether Mountain!
“Ether Mountain Sword Art!” Aleah’s face turned a grim iron-green color as she gripped her ancient sword and unleashed her trump card.
Swish!
In the next moment, four incredibly sharp sword energies shot towards Trystan Long, stirring up a piercing sound of breaking air.
“Is this your trump card, fairy?” Trystan Long raised his mouth in a smile. “Although it’s impressive, it lacks power.”
As he spoke, several afterimages were pulled out from his hand, forming a mysterious pattern that met the four sword energies.
Bang!
A loud noise reverberated through the scene, powerful waves of energy rippling out, causing several large trees nearby to collapse, their leaves swirling in the air.
Spit!
At the same time, Aleah spat out a mouthful of blood and flew out, crashing heavily on the ground, somersaulting several times before coming to a stop, her breath in disarray.
“Sister!”
“Aleah!”
“…”.
Annika and the other brothers of Ether Mountain called out simultaneously.