Two weeks passed by and Kora was laying on his bed.
Kora's abnormal cultivation speed helped him to breakthrough to the Rank-7 Elementary Profound Realm. He was advancing too quickly even if compared to an Ace. On the other hand, Jazmine became his most loyal devotee and brought heaps upon heaps of spirit stones that she has collected over the years until she broke through to Spirit Realm. Kora also cultivated Kama Sutra with that 'Woman' and Jazmine at the same time, and she also became a Peak-Stage True Profound Realm.
Kora raised his hands and looked at the bandages over his palm, where a Tiran mark glowed green, revitalizing his body with Qi instantly, and removing all the fatigue. Even though Kora was a cultivator with higher stamina, his stamina was limited unless he reaches the Nascent Profound Realm, where one didn't need to eat, sleep, or shit, and could live as long as their lifespan lasts.
The 'Tiran Spirit' was multipurpose, as it healed, rejuvenated a cultivator's stamina, and along with Kora's bloodline abilities, it was a blessing as his awakened Ozonal bloodline amplified its effects to the limits making his regeneration very high. Furthermore, he could also perform all those things to the people around him, as long as he has enough Qi in his dantian by using his powers externally on an individual.
The bloodline abilities of Ozonal Demons also provided him with many benefits that he preferred to hide from the world as it was terrifying. He had no intentions of revealing his trump cards.
Kora wanted to integrate with another Dao Spirit as his cultivation rose. He had one that he got from Yelena, but it was another regeneration type Dao Spirit, and having two or more Spirits of the same type usually forces one to dominate others and devour them one by one.
"Time to go to the Academy..." He thought as he got up and, dressed in clean robes, and left his room as he approached Jazmine's room to give her some instructions.
..................
A carriage was set up for Kora and Athelisia. The Academy was at a 5 hours distance by carriage. Athelisia has only reached Rank-3 Elementary Profound Realm, which was very good for her talent.
But-
Kora was in deep thought when he sensed her cultivation as she was not hiding it and proudly showing it to the world.
'Scarlet's cultivation was too low. Even at the age of 36, she has only reached High-Level Elementary Profound Realm, even with an 'Ace' level talent?' He couldn't help but find something fishy. The Third Princess was rarely spotted outside the Royal Palace and even then she wouldn't unleash her cultivation level in front of others. Thus her cultivation level was veiled in mystery, some would say she is already Spirit Realm with her heaven-defying talent, some would find the rumors exaggerating, but Kora had felt her cultivation when he met her last time.
'Life happens, there is no point in being upset or worrying about things we can't control or change!' With these thoughts in his mind, Kora entered the carriage along with the haughty Athelisia.
...............
5 hours passed by in silence as the hubris refused to give Kora a single glance. Kora didn't care and only thought about the Fourth Princess who was hell-bent on recruiting him for some reason.
In the end, he didn't think too much about it as the Academy is a neutral zone and even a Princess will have to follow the rules of the Academy. Once inside, all students receive equivalent status and are not allowed to kill each other. Thus Kora was not worried about Arcene.
Sure, she could pressurize him, but that was all she could do. The Queen of Glipike Kingdom has made sure to help talented individuals and they don't face any kind of discrimination due to their low status.
Cultivators were good investments. If they turn out to be very powerful in the future with the help of the Kingdom, they could be great allies. And if they face injustice, and even then become powerful individuals, they could be a disaster. Queen understood this fact and when the Ancestors established Azure Syndicate Academy a few years ago, she decided to intervene and make some ground rules.
Soon an entire city came into the view. It was grand and majestic as the city gates were shining gold while the walls were made out of sturdy black bricks with several glowing runes engraved, indicating a huge formation for protection purposes.
Athelisia was the first one to get off the carriage as soon as she saw the Academy gates from the window. With a few steps and using her cultivation base to the extreme, she reached the gates like a blur.
Kora had no intentions to reveal his cultivation, thus he walked like a non-cultivator. After all, he had enough time in the world. The test for commoners would be taken in 2 days, and they only came so early because of Athelisia who had to join Arcene's faction.
'I wonder why Arcene called Athelisia two days ahead of the scheduled date of Academy opening.' Although the Academy was closed, with Arcene's help they would be able to get residence inside till it actually open two days later.
He watched Athelisia talking with the guards in the distance and entering the gates of the Academy. Soon he also reached the gates as the guards assigned him a room since they have already gotten instructions to guide Athelisia and Kora. He entered as well while he trod towards the assigned room for him. Originally, he would have followed Athelisia to Arcene's Faction Hall if he accepted Arcene's proposal, but since he chose to reject, he was assigned another room.
Suddenly,
*Swoosh!*
A heavy pressure descended upon Kora's shoulder and he could only drop to the ground.
'Fuck.' He thought as his vision turned fuzzy with a heavy hit on his head.
..........................
"...Ughh" Kora opened his eyes groggily and saw that he was tied to a chair as several heavy chains clasped around his hands and feet. As a Rank-1 Elementary Profound Realm, he could not break these chains, thus he looked around the dark room helplessly.
Kora would never have been captured as the person that kidnapped him was only a Mid-Stage Elementary Profound Realm and he was a High-Stage Elementary Profound Realm, but exposing his cultivation so early came with many risks, many questions, and unwanted attention.
"You woke up sooner than I expected..." A hooded figure came out of darkness and spoke softly.
"Princess Arcene, how can I help you?" Kora smirked as although his cultivation was sealed to Rank-1, his senses already sensed Arcene kidnapping him.
"How did you know?" Arcene asked as she took down her hood. Her wings were folded inside her robes as her silver hair fell on her back.
"As a loyal subject of the crown, how could a subordinate not recognize his superiors?" Kora asked genuinely.
"Hmm, Doesn't matter..." Arcene shook her head as she took out a nail clipper from her storage ring.
"What are you and Scarlet planning?" She held Kora's nail with the instrument and threatened to pull it out.
'I see... No wonder Scarlet's cultivation has not increased,' Kora could connect the dots and finally realized that Arcene has been pulling the strings.
'...Arcene is 'Queen' grade talent while Scarlet is 'Ace', but if it was just jealousy, her cultivation should not have halted for so long, after all, Arcene barely formed her dantian weeks ago.'
'Someone else is definitely behind Arcene, as Scarlet's cultivation must have been halted just after Arcene's birth, as it is not possible for a newborn child to snatch Scarlet's resources...' He maintained a neutral expression and didn't reply to Arcene.
"Originally, I wanted to take the gentle approach. Get closer and find out about you two, but you are just too smart with words..." Arcene displayed a dangerous smile as she added, "But I also prepared a plan if everything fails, that was Athelisia. I invited her 2 days earlier when the Academy is not functioning." She slightly pulled Kora's nails as she looked deeply into his jade eyes, looking for answers.
Kora's gaze was indifferent as kept his mouth shut.
"Not interested in speaking, huh?" Her face distorted as she,
*Snap!*
She pulled Kora's nail.
"..."
"...Huh?" Arcene looked at Kora's expressionless face that didn't hold a single trace of pain or fear.
Frustrated,
*Snap!*
She pulled another one of Kora's nails.
"..."
A sinister silence filled the room as Arcene felt maggots crawling on her spine. His gaze was chilly and held no emotions.
Blood poured out from two of Kora's fingers, but Kora kept looking into Arcene's eyes, indifferently. Completely unbothered by the state of his finger.
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
All the nails in his right hands were forcefully pulled out but Kora didn't flinch.
"W-What are you?" She muttered in horror as she saw his ice-cold eyes.
"Here," Kora replied while moving the fingers of his other hand, inviting Arcene to do the same.
"You!" Arcene shrieked.
In fury, she did what anybody else in her position would do.
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
*Snap!*
All ten bloodied fingernails of Kora were laying on the ground as he asked gently,
"Cut off my fingers as well." Arcene's whole body froze in terror. What kind of maniac is this?
*Gulp!* She gulped audibly as she didn't know what do to with Kora who was not willing to say anything.
Arcene couldn't kill him as the guards already saw Kora coming inside the Academy and if she kills him, even if she was a princess, she would have to face consequences for breaking the rules of the Academy, as powerful cultivators would easily be able to find pieces of evidence against her.
"What are you and Scarlet Planning!!?" She thought Kora was bluffing, thus she actually took out a sharp knife and point it over Kora's finger, which was already bloody.
"Death is nothing and Pain is nothing, but Cowardice is crime and disgrace,"
"Are you going to cut it or just keep threatening me?" He asked in a dead-pan tone which caused Arcene to flinch.
Infuriated, she sliced his finger as blood gushed out like a fountain.
*Thud!*
Kora's index finger dropped to the ground as his eldritch gaze dug holes inside Arcene's mind. She was terrified! The fine hair on her neck stood up in dread, fear, and horror. Kora's expressionless face had nothing but callousness.
"Another one," Kora ordered.
"..."
Scared, Arcene crawled back a little in trepidation. Kora was too horrifying!
"I didn't expect the Fourth Princess to be a Coward. How disappointing." Discontented, Kora shook his head.
Soon, her eyes brimmed with wrath as she cut another one of Kora's fingers.
"WHY ARE YOU NOT SCREAMING LIKE THE LITTLE PIG YOU ARE?" She shouted in anger. She couldn't believe how such a person could exist?
"Heh~" Kora displayed a scary smile.
*Slice!*
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He laughed like a crazy maniac.
*Slice!*
"HAHAHA *cough* haha," He laughed so hard that he had to cough up in between.
"Another one!" Kora ordered the Fourth Princess.