Despite knowing what was coming, Bia’xx still felt a deep, palpable shock from seeing Jack’s Aura first-hand. Never mind the fact that he should not have an Aura in the first place, how did his energy reach the 6th level of the Mortal Realm?

Cura’xx’s expression was one of utter bewilderment. He did not even consider the possibility of Jack producing an Aura, which was completely understandable. Cura’xx sent multiple Transmissions to his father, lacking the ability to hide his words.

“Why the hell does His Highness have an Aura!?”

Cira’xx did not respond. It was a good question, and no one here but Jack had an answer for it.

Cura’xx then looked to Bia’xx. As if she knew anything! Or maybe he was asking for permission?

“Just beat him until he concedes or stops moving.”

That should teach him to not give her a damn heart attack. And maybe completely shake the status quo to its core. He should stop doing that too. His power was sealed for a reason.

Half the room looked at her in confusion. There was no point in hiding the Transmission from them. Now, they had permission from Jack’s own personal guard to beat him silly. It would be foolish to let this chance to blow off some steam go to waste.

Surprisingly enough, it was Jack who made the first move, propelling himself forward at speeds far beyond his comprehension with his arm pulled back ready for a punch. Cura’xx sidestepped, caught off guard from Jack’s suddenness. Not by his speed, which was less than it should be at the 6th level of the Mortal Realm.

Far too easily telegraphed. Did he think he could throw away his fighting ability now that he had actual power at his disposal? Well, he would soon learn that would not be the case.

Jack stumbled a couple of steps past Cura’xx, underestimating his own newfound power. He was someone unused to the speed of someone at the 2nd level of the Mortal Realm, so acclimating to the speed and strength granted when having achieved the 6th level must have been difficult to say the least. It was already one hell of a surprise to find he could last more than five seconds in that state without his whole body turning to ash.

Those born into families with strong bloodlines and by proxy, naturally strong bodies, had it too easy…

Cura’xx did not miss his opportunity to strike, amber flames gathering in his palm as it shot out towards Jack’s cheek.

This would be a good lesson for him not to forget his training.

Though the smile never slips from Jack’s face, and it twists in concentration as he rotates his body and leaned backwards, scarcely avoiding the palm by mere centimetres, and kicked Cura’xx square in the chest, his heel digging into it hard.

A sonic boom sounded and Cura’xx was forced a few steps back with air and spittle flying out of his mouth.

Hm, not bad. He had not forgotten his training after all. Of course, a shoddy tactic like making yourself weak so you can go in for a surprise attack worked only once, and rarely ever worked when tried. Or ever worked in the first place against an experienced foe. Jack also had yet to learn many, if not any, Martial Techniques or even the most basic energy manipulation such as the Amplification of his strikes.

That was why Cura’xx had already recovered and began flaring his energy even more, his Aura thickening and the flames around his body bursting with vigour. Though, he was still hesitant to attack him back.

Jack rushed in with a flurry of blows, each one shattering the sound barrier and creating shockwaves like blades of wind with every repetition. Each time his fist came close, an Aura-hardened palm met it, swatting it away with ease.

A sudden kick to the stomach was dodged, Cura’xx still shaken at the idea of fighting back and countering. Judging from the last spars, he would have been able to predict and block that with ease, but now he was forced into a precarious position where Jack could land a clean strike.

Focusing the energy into his arm, bright flames erupted from Jack’s hand as his palm shot out at Cura’xx’s face. With his forearms in the shape of a cross, he blocked, a massive shockwave splitting the air and pushing Cura’xx back a few feet. The blow burned a hole through his sleeves and formed a large seared and crisp, blackening bruise on his arms.

Though almost immune to low-level fire, flames from those who inherited the Phoenix Bloodline were anything but low-level. A shame Jack had yet to master the manifestation of them. Though, even then, his flames seemed a slight bit impure.

His energy was about a 30% Fire Energy and 70% Pure Energy, hardly enough to constitute a proper Fire Cultivator. That must have been why.

Not wasting single second, Jack charged another attack from his palm, this time a small, concentrated beam of Pure Energy tinged with flame. Cura’xx moved in while ducking, the beam deflecting off the Heaven Reinforced wooden flooring, and punched Jack in the solar plexus, knocking the air out his lungs.

Despite the extra protective energy he sent, Cura’xx’s fist still broke through with ease. In the end, Cura’xx was his superior in cultivation, experience, control, and ability. Jack may have been a shocking genius who broke through a God Realm seal in 12 years and held out against a young talent seemingly immediately after, but he was still inexperienced and a practical new-born in the art of energy manipulation.

Cura’xx’s satisfied half-grin was wiped of his face as he realised Jack would not go down after a single punch to the gut. No surprises there. Mad Dog Dra’xx’s disciple was bound to be one hell of a tough nut to crack. Bia’xx would know. Jack could take multiple hits from the former General and keep fighting despite grievous injury. His willpower was far stronger than anyone she knew.

Jack took his stance and Cura’xx responded in kind. Neither were injured nor tired, though she could sense Jack’s meridians were more strained than before as he pulled more energy from the presumed ‘crack’ in the Seal.

“Now that the warm-up is finished, let’s sweat a little.”

Cura’xx responded with a non-committal grunt and a slight nod, followed by his energy bubbling even more and his Aura spiking. Yes, maybe Cura’xx could indeed take the coveted 4th spot for the Rei Ui in the tournament. In a couple months from now, he may be even stronger.

Jack strained every muscle in his body and squeezed all the energy he could out of the Seal and into his body and Aura, but he still could not compare to Cura’xx’s strength, and that was assuming he was not holding back.

Surely, he knew that, yet he stared Cura’xx down as if he could not sense his energy. Maybe he was incapable, his spiritual senses somewhat blocked by the Seal or too weak.

In which case, it was time to but in.

Just as she was about to move and stop the match, Jack took a deep breath, one which was for some reason familiar. Then his Aura underwent a fundamental change. It went from a chaotic downstream rapid flowing around his body to a calm and thick protective shield like an ocean.

No way…

“1st Breath…”

Cira’xx spoke under his breath. Despite that, all of the people in the room heard it and recoiled in shock. Cura’xx looked at him with a vague recognition of the Technique.

Then it clicked.

“What?” he muttered.

He knew the 10 Breaths all this time? And he did not tell anyone? Imperial Martial Techniques were infamous for being difficult beyond belief to learn, the 10 Breaths breathing technique one of the more renowned ones. He could not have possibly learned it during his time at the Manor, he would not have access to the Manual. So, the only period of time he would have had to learn the 10 Breaths was from birth to not long after his last birthday in the capital.

His 7th birthday…

The 1st Breath did not boost one’s power output like the other 9 breaths, it concentrated the energy in and around the user’s body in a much more controlled manner. Instead of spilling out of Jack’s body like an overflowing barrel, it flowed around and within it, strengthening every inch of it and shielding it from outside forces like a dense metal shell.

Though no more powerful than he was before, he was now much more fit to fight Cura’xx. But it was not free of cost. Jack’s flimsy mask was slipping as his brow creased with pain and dripped with bubbling sweat, opaque steam coming off his body. He was boiling himself alive.

Not to mention his energy was far too high a level for his frail body to handle in the first place.

Cura’xx gathered energy into the palm of his outstretched hand in the form of a sphere of fire. Before Jack could react, he threw it and rushed in to strike with a punch. He moved to block the fireball by swatting it away but on impact, it exploded in a shockwave of flames. A thick veneer of dust and smoke floated in the air around them, obscuring Jack’s figure.

Then, Cura’xx struck. His punch was filled with power beyond what Jack was capable of handling, he was finally taking things a little more seriously.

Rippling through the air, Cura’xx’s fist broke the sound barrier once more and tore through the heated dust around them.

Only to hit empty space.

[Palm of Bronze]

Shattering the air and blowing away the dust cloud, a massive see-through silhouette of a light brown palm manifested over Jack’s own momentarily before it smashed into Cura’xx’s abdomen in an eruption of scarlet flames.

Blood spewed from Cura’xx’s mouth as he was sent flying back to the far-wall, his energy flaring to stop him just short of flattening against it. He wiped the blood from his mouth, eyes squinted in anger.

Before he could rush in again, Jack’s Aura bubbled, reverting to its original chaotic state, and rising out of his body not for protection, but for something else.

Coalescing in the centre of his chest, his power surged forward in a concentrated blast which greatly obscured his own figure and dwarfed everyone in the room towards Cura’xx.

Cura’xx’s Aura too fizzed as he finally let loose and formed a bubble shield around his body instants before the beam turned him to ash. Cracks spread throughout it under like tree branches under the power of such an attack. The scorching heat scalded his hands despite the beam stopping just centimetres short of them. A mean feat to be able to burn a Fire Cultivator of Cura’xx’s calibre.

The Palm of Bronze, then an energy blast right after? How much had Jack been hiding from them?

After a few seconds, the wave of energy stopped, allowing Cura’xx to get revenge for the burns all over his hands. Now that he finally used his full power, even if Jack had some more hidden techniques, the fight was all but finished.

In the tiniest fraction of a second, Cura’xx tore through the air covered with scarlet flames and lashed at Jack with his strongest punch yet right to the nose.

“I surrender.”

Cura’xx’s blazing fist stopped not even an inch away from Jack’s face, the air pressure blowing back his black hair and sending a powerful gust of blistering wind throughout that whole side of the room.

Jack was not in a fighting stance, he merely stood with his hands behind his back as confident as ever. Pure mirth rose from his eyes at Cura’xx’s fury. Fury which he could no longer vent.

Wow. What an arsehole.

Bia’xx was sure that was a shared sentiment between her and the whole Manor by now. Especially Cura’xx. Enough power was packed into that punch to very easily cave Jack’s face in.

At least Jack was aware of his limitations. Somewhat.

Bia’xx heaved a deep sigh, the heat in the air warming the back of her throat and lungs a small bit. The sensation brought notice to the poor servants and musicians who had long fled the room due to the heat two Fire Cultivators clashing had produced. If a normal man was brought into the room, how long would he survive?

“Thank you for your guidance.” Jack bowed.

It took a few moments for Cura’xx to snap to attention and salute back.

Disrespecting Cira’xx’s son and by proxy himself would be a sure-fire way to get yourself killed without a body to leave behind. However, no anger showed on the usually animated man’s expression.

Only a deep shock behind his widened eyes.

He, least of all, expected Jack to be capable of using energy again in this lifetime. Of all of them, he knew best just what this meant.

Those who only knew of rolling hills could not imagine mountains, and only those who had climbed those mountains knew just how tall the highest of peaks were.

A God Realm seal was not something Mortal Cultivators could undo. Nor Heavenly Cultivators, nor Divinities. Not without outside influence.

Godly outside influence.

Taking a moment to gather himself, Cira’xx spoke with a thin veil of composure.

“Ahem, as expected of Your Highness and my own son. Neither of your prowess leaves anything to be desired. A truly wonderful match!”

“This prince believes Patriarch Cira’xx’s words are only true when speaking of your Young Master. Even after winning many hard-fought matches consecutively, Young Master Cura’xx left me unable to continue after a few short exchanges. A feat worthy of your pride.”

Discounting the fact Jack never should have been sparring Cura’xx in the first place, his words are not without reason. If not out of character for him to be praising the Rei Ui even a little.