Sylvia leaned forward slightly. “Tell me why is Neville protecting Jared, Grand Elder Elmer? Jared is only at Human Immortal Realm Level Three. Even if he’s talented enough to fight above his rank, he still wouldn’t count as a top expert in Level Nine. Why would Neville defy the Soul Devourer just to shield him?”
Elmer shook his head. “I have no idea. I only know that the Malevolent Path Hall is also after Jared. And in Jared’s hands, one of their celestial lords and one Dharma King have both fallen.”
“What?!” All three elders shot to their feet, stunned. A celestial lord and a Dharma King from the Malevolent Path Hall are practically unbeatable in Level Nine… How could they possibly die to someone at Human Immortal Realm Level Three?
“There’s no need to be shocked,” Elmer said calmly. “Jared isn’t even my match, so there’s no way he killed the Malevolent Path Hall’s celestial lord and Dharma King.”
Sylvia’s eyes narrowed. “So you’re saying there’s someone powerful backing him?”
One elder spoke up, “Isn’t Neville that powerhouse? He’s the one protecting Jared.”
Sylvia shot him a sharp look. “Neville couldn’t kill a celestial lord and a Dharma King from the Malevolent Path Hall. You know that.”
The elder immediately fell silent. He knew even Neville did not have the kind of strength to take down experts of that level.
Elmer turned to Sylvia. “Ms. Vale, are you suggesting there’s someone even stronger behind Jared?”
“Exactly.” Sylvia nodded. “When Soul Devourer arrived, he was badly injured, and he clearly hated Jared. But with Jared’s strength, even Neville’s strength, it would be impossible for either of them to hurt Soul Devourer like that. Which means someone even stronger must be behind Jared… Maybe someone at Level Ten… Or even from a higher realm.”
“Then it makes sense,” another elder added slowly. “Neville isn’t afraid of Soul Devourer because he’s counting on that expert.”
“Exactly.” Sylvia nodded. “I know Neville too well. He talks all day about honor and virtue, but if something doesn’t benefit him, he won’t bother doing it.”
“What should we do now, Ms. Vale? With Neville protecting Jared, it’ll be hard for us to make a move,” Elmer said.
Sylvia looked out the window and thought for a moment. Then she spoke slowly. “We’ll stop targeting Jared for now. I‘m going to the Nethergate Sect.”
“Why would you go there, Ms. Vale?” an elder asked.
“To apologize,” Sylvia said slowly.
Elmer quickly stepped forward. “Ms. Vale, Jared injured our men, and he even chopped off the chief guard’s arm from the Quartet Shadow Guards!”
“So what?” Sylvia shot back.
“If we forgive Jared… Even apologize… Won’t the other sects laugh at us? And Soul Devourer is almost done recovering. If he finds out about this, won’t he be upset?” Elmer asked.
“If Soul Devourer could be injured once, he can be injured again. We can’t gamble everything on him,” Sylvia said firmly.
“What if the person behind Jared really is an expert. Maybe even above Level Ten, or Level Twelve?” Sylvia asked.
“That’s impossible,” an elder said, disbelief written all over his face.
“Someone beyond Level Twelve? No way. Levels one to twelve are the lower celestial realm. Levels thirteen to twenty-four are the middle celestial realm. Anything above Level Twenty-Four is the upper celestial realm. To go beyond Level Twelve, the difficulty is obvious…”
“Ms. Vale, you know this. Whoever stands behind Jared can’t be stronger than Level Twelve.” Another elder nodded, clearly doubtful as well.
“Ignorant…” Sylvia rose slowly and walked toward the main hall doors. “As a Human Immortal Realm Level Three, Jared dared provoke the Malevolent Path Hall, dared provoke the Soul Devourer, and even dared wander around Level Nine like it was nothing. So tell me, how strong do you think the person behind him really is?”
The three elders and Elmer fell completely silent. Even with their cultivation and experience, none of them had the courage to do what Jared had done.
