Sign-In System: Starting With Invincible Physique

Chapter 289: Chapter 289: An Impending Storm

Chapter 289: An Impending Storm

A thousand masked killers sat stared down at the blood-soaked sands where a towering, spike-armored Domain Master knelt at the feet of a slender youth in a demonic mask.

The stunning silence in the colosseum lasted for a full five seconds.

Then someone finally spoke.

"ASURA!"

A single voice screamed it from the upper tiers.

"ASURA! ASURA! ASURA!"

The frenzied chanting shook the foundations of the Crucible Arena.

The hundred thousand masked spectators felt their blood boil with an unprecedented fervor.

They threw their arms into the air, their voices converging into an earth-shattering roar.

They had just witnessed a miracle—a Silver Rank 1 youth subjugating a Gold Rank 1 veteran.

Even ninth seat hadn’t done something so absurdly domineering.

In the middle rows of the stands, the masked man who had earlier swindled Rhain felt a bucket of ice water pour over his head.

’He... he actually won... and enslaved Skullcrusher!’

Terrified that the monstrous man would seek revenge for the blatant price gouging, the scammer scrambled out of his seat and fled the spectator stands like a frightened rat.

However, not everyone in the colosseum joined the manic cheering.

Scattered among the highest tiers of the stands, several masked figures remained completely silent.

Their eyes behind their masks were incredibly dark and solemn.

In the lawless hell of the Crucible Arena, the emergence of a new, unfathomable monster meant only one thing—a lethal threat whose true strength was completely unknown, and who could very well kill them in the pits tomorrow.

Down in the arena, Rhain completely ignored the deafening chants.

With a swirl of his dark robes, he turned his back and walked leisurely out of the blood-drenched ring, heading toward the registration hall to collect his winnings.

Behind him, the massive, heavily armored Skullcrusher dragged his broken body up from the dirt and obediently followed his new master like a chained dog.

At the exchange counter inside the Registration Hall, the same old clerk who had mocked Rhain earlier that morning was trembling uncontrollably.

He hastily pushed a heavy leather pouch across the desk.

"Y-Your winnings, Lord Asura," the clerk stammered, bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the wood. "T-The initial wager of one hundred and thirty Blood-Iron Tokens, minus the ten percent arena fee... making it one hundred and seventeen."

Rhain calmly accepted the pouch.

But that was not all.

Normally, in the aftermath of a death match, the loser’s corpse was stripped of all valuables by the arena guards, and the winner was merely awarded the wagered tokens.

But since Skullcrusher survived and submitted via a Heavenly Vow, his personal wealth naturally remained intact.

Rhain turned his head slightly, his dark grey eyes locking onto Skullcrusher.

Skullcrusher didn’t need to be told twice.

Gritting his teeth, the towering giant respectfully pulled a heavy spatial ring from his thick finger and offered it to Rhain with both hands.

"Master," Skullcrusher bowed deeply, enduring the agonizing pain of his ruptured internal organs as he respectfully handed over his heavy spatial ring. "These are all the Blood-Iron Tokens I have accumulated over my years of slaughter in this arena. They belong to you now."

Rhain casually swept his Spiritual Sense inside the ring.

Added to the hundred tokens from the wager, he now possessed a staggering total of over eight hundred Blood-Iron Tokens.

It was an astronomical fortune in a world where a single token was worth ten million Aetherium Crystals.

For a newcomer to accumulate this much wealth on their very first day was a feat unheard of in the history of the Crucible Arena.

"Not a bad harvest," Rhain murmured, storing the ring away. "Take me to a place where we can rest."

"Yes, Master. Please, follow me," Skullcrusher nodded respectfully.

--------------

Guided by Skullcrusher, Rhain navigated away from the chaotic outer rings and stepped into the inner city.

This district was vastly more refined, and heavily warded with profound arrays.

"Master, this area is exclusively owned by the Third Seat of the Crucible Throne," Skullcrusher explained in a low, reverent voice. "It costs ten Blood-Iron Tokens for a month, but safety from random street slaughter and thievery is guaranteed here."

Rhain simply nodded.

They eventually stopped before a modest, yet heavily warded stone suite which belonged to Skullcrusher.

Once inside the secure inner chamber, Rhain sat down on a stone chair. He crossed his legs, his dark grey eyes locking onto the kneeling giant.

"Take off your mask," Rhain commanded flatly.

Skullcrusher didn’t dare to delay.

He reached up and unlatched the heavy, spiked iron helm that completely obscured his face.

Beneath the helm was a middle-aged man with rugged, deeply scarred features and a thick, unkempt beard.

His face was pale from blood loss, but his eyes held the weary resignation of a man who had accepted his fate.

"Who were you outside of this place?" Rhain demanded, "And why are you here?"

Skullcrusher lowered his head.

"My real name is Haldor, Master," the middle-aged man replied respectfully, "Three years ago, I offended a powerful Noble Clan in the Inner Province. In a fit of rage, I killed one of their late-stage Domain Master elders. They mobilized their entire military might to hunt me down. To save my life, I had no choice but to flee into the Crucible Arena."

Rhain nodded slowly.

It was exactly as Dean Qaylus had described.

A haven for the damned.

"Tell me about the power structure of this place," Rhain asked. "What do you know about the Nine Seats?"

It was always better to know about the laws and rulers of a place.

"They are the supreme rulers of this dimension," Skullcrusher shivered slightly at the mere mention of the title. "They are monsters who have slaughtered their way to the pinnacle. They have a complete monopoly over everything, the auctions, the pill trade, the premium accommodations. No one dares to disobey them."

Skullcrusher paused, a hint of deep, instinctive fear flashing in his eyes.

"Especially the Ninth Seat... He arrived just two months ago. Like you, Master, he was at the Core Formation Realm, yet he mercilessly slaughtered his way through several Domain Masters in the death pits before challenging and killing the previous Ninth Seat, claiming the throne for himself."

Rhain’s dark grey eyes narrowed with a calculating light.

So, the Nine Seats controlled the auctions.

That meant the secret auction Vulcan had reported—the one holding the disguise technique capable of blinding a Monarch—was directly orchestrated by these rulers.

But another, far more ambitious plan was rapidly taking shape in Rhain’s mind.

Vulcan was currently utilizing the limitless wealth of the Celestial Elixir Pavilion to recruit rogue Domain Masters, paying them ten flawless Mystic-Grade pills a month.

It was an effective strategy, but purchased loyalty was always fragile.

Here, in the depths of the Crucible Arena, he didn’t need to bribe anyone.

He could simply step into the blood pits, beat the most lethal, blood-soaked Domain Masters to the brink of death, and force them to swear a Heavenly Vow of submission.

A ruthless smirk curled beneath the Asura mask.

"This hell," Rhain murmured, "is my paradise."

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Thousands of miles away, inside the majestic, golden halls of the Royal Palace in Solathane City.

Lucius sat on his opulent throne, swirling a glass of deep red spiritual wine.

Kneeling on the marble floor before him was a trembling informant.

"Your Highness," the spy reported, his voice shaking with dread. "The assassination attempt outside the Valdris Royal Academy... failed completely. The executioners were forced to flee. And..."

"And what?" Lucius hissed coldly.

"Our spies in Valdris City confirm that after the ambush, Rhain Voss met directly with the Patriarch of the Vaelstrum Clan inside their ancestral estate."

CRACK!

The exquisite crystal wine glass in Lucius’s hand shattered into a hundred pieces.

The deep red wine spilled over his pale fingers like fresh blood.

"Vaelstrum Clan?" Lucius whispered, his amber eyes narrowing dangerously.

Why would the Vaelstrum Clan, a foundational pillar of Valdris City completely reliant on his Royal Alchemist for their Ancestor’s life, suddenly entertain a meeting with a man marked by a Royal Decree?

Lucius’s brilliant mind spun at lightning speed.

He pieced the fragmented puzzle together in a matter of seconds.

First, Rhain Voss leaves the Azure Cloud Sect.

Immediately following his departure, the mysterious Grandmaster Korryn appears and annihilates the enemies of Rhain’s Azure Cloud Sect.

Second, Rhain arrives in Stormveil City.

The Celestial Elixir Pavilion miraculously opens its doors, establishing a monopoly and partnering with the Thunderwood Family—the exact same family protecting Rhain.

Third, Rhain flees to Valdris City. Instantly, the Celestial Elixir Pavilion establishes a massive branch in Valdris City.

And their very first act of business?

Blacklisting the Vaelstrum Clan—the only clan in Valdris City loyal to him.

And now, Rhain Voss casually strolls into the Vaelstrum estate, undoubtedly offering to sever their loyalty with him.

The pieces snapped into perfect alignment.

"They are deeply connected," Lucius murmured, a chilling smile spreading across his handsome face. "Rhain Voss and Grandmaster Korryn... they are inextricably bound."

It was suddenly glaringly obvious why the Celestial Elixir Pavilion had repeatedly and rudely rejected his royal envoys.

They were never going to be his allies.

They existed entirely to support his greatest enemy.

Lucius casually wiped the spilled wine from his fingers with a pristine silk cloth.

"I see," Lucius said softly, his amber eyes burning with malice.

If the Celestial Elixir Pavilion was allowed to expand further, their limitless wealth and flawless pills would assemble an influence and strength that even the Imperial Families would find troublesome to eradicate.

Lucius stood up from his throne, his imperial white robes flowing behind him.

"Since the Celestial Elixir Pavilion refuses to serve me," Lucius spoke, "Then they must be completely and utterly destroyed."

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