My Celestial Ascension Chapter 906: A Sparring Session (1)

"Share some details about yourself, Yuan. I want to learn more about you. What drew you to the Demonic Continent?" Nerith inquired, gazing at him with a warm smile that revealed her true fascination.

That enigmatic storm barrier, untouched by anyone before, had been boldly traversed by Yuan—something she herself had always avoided out of fear.

The seas surrounding the storm barrier posed deadly threats, featuring raging waves capable of sinking the mightiest vessels, along with beasts that could devour a whole ship in one gulp.

Furthermore, the fierce lightning storms there could annihilate whatever lay in their way, sparing no one, not even the most formidable warriors.

Despite all that, a group had succeeded in passing through it—not merely one individual, but several. And now, they stood right in front of her. Her eagerness to uncover their secrets was impossible to contain.

"From where do I begin? Before arriving here, I’ve journeyed across countless lands... Shifting from empire to empire, continent to continent..." Yuan replied, a faraway smile playing on his lips as he met her gaze.

"Begin with who you are... Don’t I deserve to understand my opponent better before we clash?" she suggested, her eyes sparkling with sincere interest.

After a brief pause, Yuan began. "Long ago, I was just an ordinary person... unable to awaken a Mana Core. Labeled a failure, I faced constant torment and bullying in my youth... My life holds no thrill."

"That doesn’t ring true at all... You exude strength, and you hardly seem like the type to endure bullying," Nerith responded, letting out a light laugh.

"I speak only facts, Princess Nerith. Born with a flaw—incapable of harnessing Mana—I suffered harassment from many back then," Yuan stated firmly, his face etched with earnestness.

"Ah, yes. Humans rely on Mana and are known as mages who unleash spells... It strikes me as pretty dull, though," Nerith remarked with a sigh upon the thought.

Yuan proceeded to recount the early days of his travels alongside his wives. Initially, the group consisted solely of him, Emma, Anna Grace, Lily, and Xi Meili.

Nerith absorbed Yuan’s tale without interruption. Her gaze stayed glued to his features as he narrated, and a rising thrill built within her with every word.

In the meantime, Dorian lingered apart, his eyes fixed on the pair with a scowl of clear displeasure. The irritation twisting his features was plain for all to see.

Yuan and his companions easily spotted the sour expression on Dorian’s face and detected the fury simmering in his stare. Yet, they chose to say nothing, aware that his affection for Nerith was probably unreciprocated.

Just as Yuan prepared to delve into more of his escapades, Nerith realized the training area had cleared out completely, with no spars ongoing at the moment.

"Yuan, we’ll continue your tale another time. The field’s open now—let’s spar," Nerith declared eagerly, heading straight for the training area.

"Agreed. Time for our match," Yuan affirmed with a grin, trailing after her.

"You all stay back and observe," Yuan instructed, glancing at his wives and halting briefly.

"Enjoy yourself, Darling," Anna Grace called out, offering him a tender smile and a wave.

They settled into a nearby spot that provided a perfect view of the impending duel between Yuan and Princess Nerith.

"Could the Demon Princess be developing feelings for our darling?" Anna Grace wondered aloud, a teasing smile curving her lips as she watched Yuan and Nerith.

"Well... She’s acting awfully chummy with him, especially for their initial encounter. As for true emotions, though, it’s hard to tell," Valeria answered thoughtfully.

"Remember, you basically pounced on him right after your spar loss. And that tent escapade later... we caught it all," Lily teased, her face alight with a sly, broad smirk.

Valeria’s cheeks flushed scarlet the instant Lily mentioned it, a wave of mortification washing over her.

"Oh? Now I’m dying to hear what my sweet daughter got up to in that tent... fufu~" Vanessa laughed softly, her interest in her daughter’s romantic tale obviously sparked.

"N-Nothing went on in the tent... Lily, quit inventing tales!" Valeria protested, her blush intensifying as warmth scorched her face.

"Hmph, inventing? You loved every second, admit it?" Lily pressed, grinning even wider.

"Okay, okay! Yes, I confess! And it was incredible, happy now? Can we drop this?" Valeria conceded with a groan, shaking her head while her face stayed vividly red.

"I’m hooked now. What on earth did my little man do to charm my daughter like that..." Vanessa tittered, then addressed Lily. "Lily, sweetie, care to enlighten me? Tell me all about that tent adventure."

"Mom!!" Valeria cried out, her complexion blazing as she clenched her jaw in dismay.

Lily bobbed her head at once and scooted nearer to Vanessa, a wicked smile spreading across her features.

"Listen closely..." Lily murmured into Vanessa’s ear, recounting the tent events with colorful, precise descriptions.

"Goodness me, such a bold daughter. Never imagined my proper girl could be so daring..." Vanessa gasped, hand over her mouth in mock shock.

’Ugh... Lily just poured it all out to Mom... How mortifying!’ Valeria wailed to herself, her embarrassment deepening as her cheeks burned hotter.

At the same time, Yuan and Nerith picked their armaments from the lineup of swords arrayed beside the training field.

Each selected a blade. These were standard practice swords, yet far weightier than usual—ideal for building physical prowess. To Yuan, however, they weighed next to nothing, like a mere feather.

"Prepared for the excitement?" Nerith queried with a sly smile, wielding her sword fluidly like a seasoned blade master.

"All set." Yuan confirmed with a nod and a grin, striding to the heart of the training field, his assurance shining through.

Nearby troops in training swiftly turned their heads, halting their drills to watch Yuan and Nerith intently.

"Hey, check it out! Princess Nerith’s about to spar with a guy!"

"True enough. But who’s that fellow? He appears really odd."

"No clue. He’s a total stranger to me too. First sight of him here."

"Your thoughts? Can he even compete with our Princess?"

Murmurs rippled through the group as buzz built across the training ground. Deep down, they figured the spar’s result was a foregone conclusion.

Still, they yearned to witness this enigmatic youth falter under pressure from their Princess. After all, she’d never been bested by anyone yet.

"Take the opening strike, Yuan," Nerith urged boldly, aiming to gauge him lightly before ramping up.

"I’ll pass, Princess Nerith. Feel free to attack first," Yuan answered steadily.

"Fine, but no regrets afterward," Nerith shot back with a broad smile, clenching her sword hilt tighter.

In a explosive lunge, Nerith bridged the gap instantly, her stare pinning Yuan like a hunter eyeing quarry.

Yet Yuan stayed utterly composed. He lifted his sword in a quick flourish, parrying her fierce blow with effortless grace, his expression unchanging.