CHAPTER 291: CHAPTER 291.AN UNFATHOMABLE BACKING

"I’ve finally managed to learn at least the rune alphabets required for some basic Rank 0 runes."

Kailen was currently seated in a lotus position in one of the training facilities of the Sword Tribunal Society. It had been a week since the life-and-death battle between Lian Yu and Farrell Reaverson.

After his conversation with Everlong, he had holed himself up, vigorously learning the rune alphabets. Farrell may have been a bastard, but even Kailen had to admit that his usage of runesmithery during battle had honestly improved his impression of the craft—in the area of helping him boost his battle prowess.

Finally, after seven days had passed in a flash, he had managed, with the help of the study guide, to learn the basic rune alphabets required for basic Rank 0 runesmithery. He had asked for the help of the Time Dilation Artifact, but she had told him she wouldn’t spoon-feed him and that he should figure this one out on his own.

Kailen stood up, then disappeared from the room.

****

"It’s today, right?"

He mused to himself as he used Umbral Replacement and appeared at the life-and-death arenas. Surprisingly, the place was packed to the brim. Several members of the society were already waiting for him in the bleachers.

Today’s life-and-death battle was very important. If the president of the Sword Tribunal Society lost and died, the society would automatically collapse, and many would say he overestimated himself and fought with the wrong opponent. If he managed to win, it would mean they had underestimated him—that he was a terrifying person who couldn’t be judged with common sense—and many would think twice before offending him, which would be a good thing for the society.

Nodding politely towards his society members, Kailen flew towards the arena where his opponent waited. He didn’t want to waste time on this battle.

It was time to finish this. It seemed today he had to use all his trump cards. A Rank 1 Supreme Stage Ascendant-level lifeform was not someone he could look down upon. Well, that would be a good thing. At least many would think twice before messing with him if he demonstrated his power.

Jin was a Rank 1 Supreme Stage Ascendant-level lifeform, and his opponent was a Rank 1 Beginner Stage Ascendant-level lifeform, yet none deemed this battle some sort of joke. This was an extremely rare occurrence, to be honest.

***

Standing somewhere in his house, Professor Ross Kadmen stared at the holographic screen displaying the life-and-death battle, alongside his son, Arnold.

"Is this really okay? Shouldn’t we talk him out of it? Or couldn’t we have gotten rid of this Jin bastard?"

Henritta stood by the side, observing the whole thing with a nervous expression on her face. She knew Kailen Darkhaven was terrifying, but they couldn’t just watch the benefactor of their family throw his life away just like that, right?

Inasmuch as during her uncle’s time as the dean of the academy, he had always preferred being in the shadows and allowed the vice-dean to assume the front stage on his behalf, and only the higher echelons of the empire knew of his position as a dean of the academy before he stepped down due to Arnold’s predicament, he was regarded by the public as one of the most mysterious men in the empire, due to the kind of respect even the royal family had to give him. With just a word, Jin would have just been taken care of, and none of this would have happened.

At her words, Ross merely smiled.

Arnold brushed his hands through Henritta’s hair.

"Cousin, don’t tell me you’ve fallen so much for Kailen Darkhaven that your feelings for him are getting in the way of your reason?"

Henritta almost choked at his words. What kind of preposterous nonsensity was this perverted uncle of her uttering? Her expression left the two men chuckling.

Ah! Youth! So lively!

They sighed.

Arnold replied seriously, his words unveiling the thoughts behind his father’s earlier smile.

"That young man is careful. Not only is he very combat-oriented, he has a sound head. He won’t venture into something he’s not certain he can win—a proof of that is his rejection of the life-and-death duel invitation of Tyrax Tantamount. I do not know how he’s gonna do it, but I can say that that boy from the Arcane Empowerment Sect has already lost.

Also, someone who was able to escape the bounty of the Harkers and Darkhavens, and instigate a commotion between them by killing the daughter of the Harkers, is not a careless person. He thinks before he acts."

Ross nodded at Arnold’s words. His son had judged right!

Also, the kid seemed unfathomable, even to him. He was one of those anomalies—those individuals who appeared in the universe every once in a while and did things that derailed everyone’s common sense!

Others may not be able to perceive it, but he had cultivated long enough and had a terrifying eyesight for these kinds of situations.

"The Seragun Planes is a region that rejects anyone above the Ascendant level. The mission I posted had been tried by various Ascendant-level students but they failed. Not only did he find the Solar Achelum Herb, he actually managed to save Arnold by creating an elixir of such a monstrous purity level—a purity level that someone at my level of alchemy can only hope to achieve!

It is not just a matter of being a genius. This young man has a terrifying backer, an extremely unfathomable one. That is the only reason why a seventeen-year-old could accomplish something that some of us who have existed for thousands of years have failed to accomplish!

It’s such a shame that these buffoons attempting to antagonize him are failing to realize that his backing is only remaining quiet because they probably want him to grow by letting him handle these troubles on his own! Else, they would have all been silenced already!

Do you now get why I’ve decided not to interfere? Apart from being confident he can handle this on his own, it’s because I can’t disrespect the intention of the terrifying party that backs Kailen Darkhaven! It will disrupt the party’s intention to train him, might anger the party, and even lead to severe consequences on my part!"

Arnold and Henritta widened their eyes in surprise at the conjecture—no, conclusion—Ross had arrived at!

So that’s how it was?

It all made sense now!

If this guy had the support of an entity that even the man before them feared, then it made sense how he was so monstrous!

As for Ross ,he inwardly wondered if even universe level life forms, the hegemons that stood at the Pinnacle of the universe could account for this level of monstrosity.

How terrifying was the entity that backed this young man.

He sighed.

Never mind !

The universe was vast with many mysteries , full of unpredictable possibilities.

His quiet gaze like that of several individuals,foes and well wishers alike of Darkhaven returned to the life and death battle about to ensue.