In the dormitory, Ethan was deep in cultivation. He visualized the undulating mountain ranges, the towering peaks, imagining himself as solid and unyielding as the mountains. With each breath, Yuan Force flowed into his body, cleansing his meridians in accordance with his will.
At the third level of the primary stage of "Contemplating the Mountains and Seas," Ethan was refining his body's meridians, the channels through which the body's energy flows. Strong and resilient meridians meant quicker movements and more explosive power.
Ethan knew from his studies that there were 485 meridians in the human body: 62 in the upper front, 126 in the middle front, 72 in the lower front, 127 in the back, and an additional 98 miscellaneous meridians.
Under the continuous influx of Yuan Force, one of the meridians was finally tempered. Using his inner vision, Ethan saw it glowing faintly, more resilient and capable of unleashing greater strength. He took a deep breath and ended his session.
Despite using 'Tranquility Elixir' for each session this week, Ethan had only managed to refine 42 meridians in the upper front of his body. As expected, the pace of cultivation had slowed at the third level. To complete this stage, he would need at least 70 days, which is why Marshal had mentioned the slow pace of "Contemplating the Mountains and Seas." Refining bones at the fourth level would likely be even slower.
After getting up, Ethan stretched and glanced at the clock. It was 9:30 a.m., half an hour before the deathmatch. He drank some warm water and donned the protective gear he had exchanged from the logistics department, more intricate and extensive than the set he wore in the forbidden zone, yet not restricting movement.
Next, Ethan injected himself with a dose of 'Red Poison Antidote'—the effects of his last dose were almost gone, and he couldn't risk an attack during the match. He also stashed 'Rejuvenation Elixir' for boosting vitality, 'Antitoxin Elixir' for most poisons, and 'Golden Frenzy Elixir' for stimulating nerves and maintaining an excited state. Finally, he picked up his longsword, 'Star Splitter,' and left the dorm, carefully closing the door behind him.
At Training Hall No. 3, Ethan arrived just as Bryce approached from the other side. Bryce was clad in dark armor, carrying a long spear with a flat blade resembling an oar, combining the piercing and lifting attributes of a spear with the cutting and chopping features of a blade.
The two stopped in front of the hall's entrance, locking eyes. Ethan half-expected Bryce to throw some harsh words his way, but Bryce was unexpectedly composed today, merely giving Ethan a brief glance before entering the hall. Ethan's vigilance heightened—Bryce's confidence was evident, radiating from within and without.
Of course, Ethan had his own confidence, drawn from his third-level primary stage cultivation, the newly learned 'Opening the Yuan Wheel' from Victor, his experience fighting two Behemoths in the forbidden zone, and his three years of survival on the surface.
Turning around, Ethan entered the hall to a round of applause. He realized that the training hall was packed with people—freshmen from the first year, students from the second and third years, familiar and unfamiliar instructors, and clearly some outsiders. Among them, he recognized members of the Surface Exploration Corps, their uniform reminiscent of Victor's, which brought him a sense of kinship.
One of the Corps' young, square-faced officers nodded at Ethan as he passed by. Then, someone on the stage called out, "Students Ethan and Bryce, please come up to the platform."
Ethan stepped onto the stage, facing Bryce as they stood opposite each other. "I am Bai Zixi, the student council president, and I will be the referee for today's match," the council president said with a smile. "Normally, we would conduct a check on both participants, but since this is a deathmatch, we'll skip that. Let me reiterate: a deathmatch is to the death, with no restrictions, no rules. Are you clear on that?"
Ethan glanced at his sword and calmly stated, "Once on the stage, I accept life or death without regret."
Bryce sneered and made a throat-slitting gesture.
Bai Zixi surveyed them both, "Alright. The deathmatch will officially begin in five minutes. You may step down and rest until then."
Ethan descended from the stage and had just sat down when Cedricl hurried over and whispered, "Ethan, be careful. I've heard that Bryce has reached the third level of the primary stage. Plus, the Luo family is wealthy. That spear he's carrying is at least 'Heavy Equipment' level, and it's a long weapon—you're at a disadvantage with a sword."
Ethan nodded lightly, "I'm aware."
Cedricl patted his shoulder, "I support you, and I believe you won't lose."
Ethan nodded again, his gaze shifting to the audience stands. Minister Lu Cheng was observing him, surrounded by people discussing Victor's interest in this 'wild man from the surface' and how he had personally visited the city lord's office to facilitate the deathmatch.
Lu Cheng shook his head, unaware of Victor's intentions. But he knew if Bryce lost today, not only would the Luo family suffer, but the entire 'Conservative Faction' would lose face, diminishing their influence on major issues. Perhaps Victor had brought Ethan from the surface to strike at their faction.
"I don't know Victor's intentions," Lu Cheng said, reassuring the uneasy 'Conservative Faction' members around him. "But I know that the young master of the Luo family will not lose. Lionel has engaged Gao Lin to coach his son for a week. Do you know who Gao Lin is?"
Someone gasped, "Gao Lin, wasn't he the former commander of the Exploration Corps? He retired two years ago, seemingly of his own accord, but rumors say he was forced out by Victor."
Lu Cheng smiled, "Whether he was forced out by Victor, I can't say. But I'm certain he knows Victor better than anyone else in this world. Therefore, his student will not lose!"