Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1431 Rivalry between halls!
Previously on Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100...
Right after Lady Virelila wrapped up her words, a figure drew near from the side, moving with purposeful, leisurely strides. A subtle aroma of smoldering incense trailed in her wake, while the atmosphere surrounding her held a piercing trace of contained fiery power.
Max shifted his gaze a bit and spotted yet another woman coming to a halt just a few paces from their group. She seemed to be around her early thirties, with elegant features that radiated a chilling beauty, clad in scarlet robes featuring intricate silver-threaded designs of twisting dragons.
The softness in Lady Virelila's eyes faded as they turned to the approaching woman.
"Elder Seraphina Vale," Lady Virelila greeted with composure.
The woman offered a smile devoid of any real kindness. As the elder of the Twenty Third Hall, renowned for its bold cultivation approaches and expertise in forging flame masters, Seraphina Vale let her eyes scan the disciples clustered behind Lady Virelila, pausing momentarily on Max before fixing back on Virelila.
"Virelila," Seraphina remarked casually, her voice silky yet laced with mockery, "looks like you've assembled a few talented recruits this round. Word is, your hall just scraped by with a handful of decent picks in the previous selection."
The statement came off as courteous at first glance, but its underlying jab was obvious.
Lady Virelila's mouth formed a subtle smile in response. "It's surprising to hear your interest in the Thirty Third Hall's affairs. I wasn't aware the Twenty Third Hall had extra time to fret over rivals."
Seraphina's eyes tightened a fraction, but her smile held steady. "Curiosity is only human. Especially since the Thirty Third Hall hasn't exactly led the charge in the Path to Eternal Flames lately. I remember that in the last round, not a single one of your disciples made it past the sixth pillar."
A few disciples trailing Lady Virelila tensed up at the comment.
Seraphina directed her focus to Max and his companions. "The Path to Eternal Flames shows no mercy to the unprepared. It'd be a shame if your hall's followers once more faltered just trying to hold steady in the opening pillars."
The mockery now rang clear as day.
Max stayed quiet, watching the back-and-forth impassively, even as he picked up on the growing strain in the air around them.
Lady Virelila held off on replying right away. Her eyes drifted instead to the disciples grouped behind Seraphina. A number of young cultivators among them displayed obvious arrogance on their faces. One stood a touch ahead, his energy pulsing subtly like he was itching for attention.
"It appears the Twenty Third Hall has again prioritized flashy shows over solid grounding," Lady Virelila countered steadily. "That one out front looks awfully keen. Let's hope his fires hold firm past the fourth pillar this go-around."
A couple of muffled laughs bubbled up from the group behind Max.
Seraphina's grin grew a shade thinner. "You talk big for a hall that's always trailing. My students at least dare to charge ahead. Maybe the Thirty Third Hall settles for safety instead of true prowess."
Lady Virelila's gaze grew keener, yet her voice stayed even. "Playing it safe keeps the worthy ones moving forward. Rash moves create dazzling bursts that snuff out fast. The Path to Eternal Flames honors stamina and insight, not empty bluster."
The feud between the halls hung out in the open now. It bore the burden of past rivalries, where egos had taken hits and standings clashed time and again. The Twenty Third Hall boasted fierce fire arts and sheer blasting might. The Thirty Third Hall stressed precise honing and profound grasp of dragon core.
"Why not throw a little wager into the mix?" Seraphina suggested breezily, but the spark in her eyes showed it wasn't offhand at all.
The air nearby grew taut in a heartbeat.
A change flickered across Lady Virelila's face. The mild poise in her look turned steely and grave. She knew Seraphina too well to dismiss this as mere boasting. Bets between hall elders were never light—they could shake up the power dynamics across the Black Dragon Palace.
"What sort of wager?" Lady Virelila inquired steadily, her tone stripped of its prior ease.
Seraphina linked her hands at her back and edged forward deliberately, dropping her voice to carve out an intimate bubble between them, though the disciples close by could still feel the weight of the talk.
"Nothing complicated," she stated. "We'll bet on which hall's disciples climb the tallest pillar in the Path to Eternal Flames this time."
A handful of disciples from each side went rigid at her declaration.
Seraphina pressed on, her words flowing assuredly. "No looking at overall results. We'll judge by the top single feat. The hall that sends the disciple farthest up a pillar claims the win."
Max detected the quiet change in Lady Virelila's presence. It wasn't dread—it was assessment.
The Path to Eternal Flames proved fickle. Fire creatures, concealed chances, sudden force changes, and individual endurance all factored into progress. Even a powerful cultivator might stumble in bad conditions. Betting on the best outcome pinned it all on one person's showing.
Seraphina's smile stretched a touch as she noted Virelila's pause.
"Naturally," she tossed in offhandedly, "a stake-less bet holds no thrill."
Lady Virelila's stare intensified. "So what stakes do you have in mind?"
Seraphina wasted no time. A faint glow from her storage ring appeared with a small gesture. Seconds later, a deep red item rested in her hand. It was an irregular bone shard, about forearm-sized, its face etched with innate fire-resembling marks. Even from afar, intense warmth poured from it, paired with a thick dragon essence.
"This," Seraphina announced calmly, holding it up a notch.
Max's eyes instinctively narrowed while feeling the timeless force from the item. 'If I snag this, I could boost my Draconic Essence and Dragon Scales to advanced stages, and then I'd attempt unlocking the second vein of the Seven Divine Veins.'
A hint of greed sparked in his eyes as he stared at the dragon bone she held.