Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

On the morning of the second day after the ranking competition ended, just as dawn was breaking, Lynn arrived at the secret training ground behind the academy.

This is a training ground opened by the Guardian Academy specifically for high-level instructors and core disciples. Far from the hustle and bustle, the concentration of light ether in the air is three times that of ordinary training chambers. Within the secret realm, there are also many ether trial arrays that can simulate battle scenarios of different intensities, helping cultivators to quickly improve their strength.

Grand Instructor Gavin was already waiting by the training ground in the center of the secret realm. He had shed his usual seriousness, and his aura of ethereal energy was gentle. When he saw Lynn walking over, he nodded slightly: "You've come at the right time. It seems that you haven't been blinded by the honor of being the champion. This kind of composure is rare."

Lynn bowed and said, "Disciple understands. Winning the ranking competition is just the beginning. To fight against the dragons and protect everything we want to protect, we need to keep getting stronger and can't slack off in the slightest."

A hint of approval flashed in Gavin's eyes as he gestured for Lynn to step forward: "It's good that you have this understanding. Although you are exceptionally talented, have keen combat intuition, and have broken through to the Winged Realm in battle, your foundation is still insufficient. While your ether manipulation is precise, it lacks a systematic approach. Your combat skills rely heavily on instinct and practical experience, lacking the support of orthodox high-level combat techniques. More importantly, your understanding of Atreia's history and the power structure of the three factions—the Heavenly Demon Dragon, the Heavenly Demon Dragon, and the Heavenly Demon Dragon—is too superficial."

He paused, then continued, "Next, I will tailor a training plan for you, which will be divided into three parts: First, to hone your etheric foundation, expand the etheric sea, and improve the purity and control precision of the etheric energy; second, to teach you the orthodox high-level combat techniques of the Celestial race to make up for your shortcomings in combat skills; and third, to explain to you the ancient secrets of Atreia, the details of the feud between the Celestials and the Demons, and the distribution of the Dragon race's power, so that you will understand that the mission of a guardian is never just about fighting and revenge."

"Thank you so much, mentor!" Lynn was overjoyed and bowed deeply in gratitude. He knew very well that Gavin's guidance was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him, allowing him to avoid countless detours and quickly grow into a true powerhouse.

In the days that followed, Lynn devoted himself entirely to rigorous, exclusive training.

Every morning, under the guidance of his mentor Gavin, he would enter the Aether Tempering Array in the secret realm. With the help of the array's power, he would repeatedly compress and condense the Aether within his body, expanding his Aether Sea. The pressure of the Aether Tempering Array was immense. Each tempering was like having his meridians burned by raging fire, causing unbearable pain. Yet, Lynn never retreated. Even with cold sweat all over his body and his meridians throbbing, he always gritted his teeth and persevered, relying on his unwavering will to gradually hone his Aether foundation.

At noon, it was time for combat skill training. The first advanced combat skill taught by Instructor Gavin was the Celestial Clan's basic advanced combat skill—Judgment of Light. This combat skill differed from the sharp and direct nature of the basic light blade; instead, it condensed ether into the sword body, forming a light sword imbued with the power of judgment. It could both launch a direct attack and precisely penetrate defenses, its power far exceeding that of ordinary basic combat skills.

Lynn was highly perceptive and had rich practical experience. With the personal guidance of his mentor Gavin, he mastered the basic moves of the Judgment of Light in just three days. Within ten days, he was able to use them skillfully. Although he was not as proficient as his mentor Gavin, he had already gained some power.

As evening fell, the theoretical lessons began. Instructor Gavin sat at the stone table in the secret realm, explaining to Lynn the ancient secrets of Atreia: the specific duties of the twelve Olympian gods, the detailed process of the collapse of the Tower of Eternity, the core truth behind the falling out between the Celestial and Demon races, the respective power and abilities of the five Dragon Emperors, and the secrets hidden in the dust of history—for example, it seems that a portion of the power of creation was lost when the Tower of Eternity collapsed, and the rise of the Dragon race may be related to this lost power of creation.

"The Celestial and Demon races are not natural enemies." During a theory class, Instructor Gavin looked at Lynn with a complicated tone. "A thousand years ago, we were both guardians under the twelve Olympian gods, fighting side by side against the Dragon race. It was only because of ideological differences, coupled with someone secretly instigating conflict, that a civil war broke out, causing the Tower of Eternity to collapse. Over the years, I have been investigating the truth of that year and discovered that the civil war was not as simple as it seemed on the surface. It seems that the shadow of the Dragon race was secretly at work."

Lynn's heart skipped a beat. He recalled the demon boy, Kairo, whom he had met at the Fortress of Light, and the two times Kairo had saved him. His doubts deepened: "Mentor, do you mean that the civil war back then was instigated by the dragons?"

"It's just speculation, there's no concrete evidence yet." Instructor Gavin shook his head slightly. "But what's certain is that the biggest beneficiary of the conflict between the Celestials and Demons is the Dragon Clan. They reap the benefits, recuperating and expanding their power in the Dragon Realm, waiting for their chance to make a comeback. Therefore, one day in the future, the Celestials and Demons might reconcile. Only by joining forces can they truly fight against the Dragon Clan and protect Atreia."

Lynn silently took his mentor's words to heart, and his understanding of the feud between the Celestials and Demons completely changed. He no longer blindly believed the Celestials' claim that "the Demons are utterly wicked," and he began to understand that the conflicts in Atreia were far more complex than he had imagined, and that beyond hatred, there was a more important mission.

The days of training were tedious and rigorous, but also full of rewards. Lynn's strength increased rapidly at a visible speed: the Ether Sea expanded by nearly double, the purity of the Ether increased significantly, the Judgment of Light had been cultivated to the minor completion stage, and his flight speed and explosive power had both made a qualitative leap.

Lina also frequently visited Lynn in the secret realm. Her strength was steadily improving; although she hadn't yet condensed her wings, she had mastered basic combat skills to a high degree. Seeing Lynn's growth, she was genuinely happy for him. As for Karen, since his defeat in the ranking competition, he hadn't appeared before Lynn again. It was said that he had lost face due to the defeat and had volunteered to go to the border fortress for training, intending to bide his time and seek revenge on Lynn in the future.

Lynn didn't care about this. Karen's revenge was just another trial on his path of cultivation. He was now focused on improving his strength, learning combat skills, and understanding the truth.

Little did he know that a deadly plot against him had already been quietly brewing.

Dragon Realm, Black Dragon City.

In a dark and damp palace, several enormous figures sat around a black stone table, exuding a suffocatingly violent aura. Leading them was a dragon-man general clad in black dragon-scale armor with a ferocious face—Morlock, the high-ranking dragon general who had appeared at the Fortress of Light that day.

"Lord Morlock, news has arrived that the Celestial Clan youth named Lynn has won the championship in the Guardian Academy's ranking competition and has been personally taken as a disciple by Gavin. His strength has improved extremely rapidly. In just a few days, he has already mastered a high-level combat skill to a minor level. His talent is terrifying." A spy dressed in a black robe with a sinister face bowed and reported, his tone carrying a hint of apprehension.

Moloch slammed his fist on the stone table, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Useless! A bunch of useless trash! Back in the Fortress of Light, I gave you the opportunity to eliminate him, but you failed miserably. Now he has grown up and become a genius that the Celestial Race is focusing on cultivating. He will surely become a great threat to my Dragon Race in the future!"

"My lord, please calm your anger." The spy quickly bowed and apologized. "Lynn is currently in the core area of ​​the Guardian Academy, heavily guarded, with Gavin by his side day and night, making it difficult for us to get close. However, I have already arranged for men to take advantage of the fact that Lynn is going alone to the edge of the secret realm tomorrow to gather ethereal herbs, and kill him to eliminate any future trouble!"

Moloch's eyes turned cold, and a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "Fine! If you fail again this time, you will all come back with your heads! Make sure to bring that boy's corpse back to the Dragon Realm. I want to see for myself what's so special about this Celestial Clan boy who can condense wings in battle!"

"Your subordinate obeys." The spy bowed and acknowledged, then turned and quietly left the palace, disappearing into the darkness.

Morlock gazed at the sky, his eyes filled with bloodlust and ferocity: "Atreia will ultimately belong to my dragon race! Anyone who stands in our way must die!"

The next morning, as instructed by his mentor Gavin, Lynn went to the edge of the secret realm to collect ether herbs. These herbs, called Lightheart Grass, are the core material for refining low-level healing potions and are also an important medicinal material for him to help condense ether in his daily cultivation. The Lightheart Grass at the edge of the secret realm has the highest purity and the best effect.

Instructor Gavin had intended to accompany Lynn, but received an urgent matter from the academy. He could only instruct Lynn: "Although there are academy guards at the edge of the secret realm, there are still monsters that may appear. You must be careful. If you encounter danger, immediately activate your wings and escape. Do not linger in battle. I will come as soon as I finish my business."

"Disciple understands, Master, rest assured." Lin En bowed and replied, his golden wings unfurling as he soared toward the edge of the secret realm.

At the edge of the secret realm, vegetation grew luxuriantly, and the air was filled with a rich aetheric aura. Patches of emerald green Lightheart Grass grew among the grass, emitting a faint golden halo. Lynn folded his wings and carefully entered the grass to begin gathering Lightheart Grass, while remaining constantly vigilant for any movement around him.

Just as he had collected most of the Heartgrass and was preparing to return, a cold, foul aura suddenly erupted from the surrounding woods.

This aura was different from the Celestials' Light Aether and the Demons' Shadow Aether. Instead, it carried the unique ferocity and filth of the Dragon Clan, exactly the same as the Dragon Clan aura encountered in Falling Phoenix Village and Light Fortress that day!

Lynn's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly became alert. He immediately summoned the Judgment of Light in his hand and turned to look. From the forest, several black figures slowly emerged. Leading them was a man in a long black robe, his face sinister, surrounded by dense, foul ethereal energy. His eyes were icy, fixed on Lynn with murderous intent. Behind him followed four Drakhan warriors clad in heavy black armor, wielding massive axes. Their powerful auras and imposing physiques indicated they were elite members of the dragon race.

"Lynn, you didn't expect this, did you? We'd be waiting for you here." The man in black robes sneered, his voice hoarse and carrying a nauseating, metallic stench. "By order of Lord Morlock, today is your death day."

Lynn gripped the Judgment of Light tightly, his eyes icy. A burst of luminous ether erupted around him, and his golden wings unfurled once more, preparing for battle: "Dragon minions, how dare you infiltrate the Guardian Academy's secret realm! You're courting death!"

He knew perfectly well that this group of dragon spies were clearly after him. It seemed that his fame in the ranking competition had attracted the attention of the dragons, making him a thorn in their side.

"You're courting death!" The man in black robes sneered, waving his hand to signal, "Attack! Take his corpse back to the Dragon Realm!"

Four Drakhan warriors roared in unison, brandishing their giant axes as they charged toward Lynn Mengpu. The axes were wreathed in murky dragon ether, carrying a fierce and unstoppable force.

Lynn's eyes were firm, showing no fear whatsoever. After this period of dedicated training, his strength was now vastly different from what it used to be, and he remained calm and composed even when facing the combined attack of four Drakhan warriors.

"Judgment of Light"

Lynn let out a low growl, and the light sword in his hand shone brightly. The golden blade, imbued with the power of judgment, slashed towards the leading Delacran warrior.

boom!

The lightsaber and the giant axe collided violently, unleashing a burst of golden light and murky black energy. The shockwave rippled, and the Drakhan warrior froze, his arm going numb, the giant axe nearly slipping from his grasp. His eyes were filled with astonishment. He hadn't expected this seemingly young Celestial youth to possess such formidable strength.

Lynn gave his opponents no chance to react, using his Instant Step to move like a ghost among the four Delacran warriors. His lightsaber flashed, each strike carrying a sharp, decisive force, precisely targeting their vital points.

The battle erupted instantly. Golden light and black turbidity intertwined in the grass. The sounds of clashing weapons, roars, and ether explosions rang out one after another. Lynn's figure moved nimbly amidst the attacks of four Drakhan warriors, showing no signs of being at a disadvantage.

But he knew in his heart that the black-robed man in the lead was far stronger than the four Drakhan warriors. The fact that the man had not made a move was obviously a test of his strength, hoping to reap the benefits.

"We can't linger in this fight. We need to finish off these four Drakhan warriors as quickly as possible, then retreat and wait for our mentor to arrive!" Lynn made up his mind, and the Light Judgment in his hand erupted once again, its power increased to the maximum.

He seized an opening, his lightsaber precisely piercing the throat of a Drakhan warrior. Golden aether erupted instantly, completely destroying the opponent's meridians.

"roar!"

The warrior of Drakhan let out a mournful roar, and his massive body fell heavily to the ground, lifeless.

Seeing this, the other three Drakhan warriors were filled with rage, and their attacks became increasingly ferocious, but also increasingly panicked.

With his keen combat instincts and skillful fighting techniques, Lynn pressed forward relentlessly, constantly searching for his opponent's weaknesses. In just a quarter of an hour, he killed two more Delacran warriors, leaving only one Delacran warrior, who was covered in wounds, his aura chaotic, and no longer possessed his previous strength.

The man in black robes stood to the side, watching this scene. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he sneered, "You've got some skill. No wonder Gavin values ​​you. But the game should end now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the black-robed man's body erupted with foul ether, and he flashed forward, lunging at Lynn. A black claw materialized in his hand, surrounded by dense dragon energy, and its powerful strike aimed straight at Lynn's chest.

That's incredibly fast!

Lynn's pupils constricted; he tried to dodge, but it was too late.

At this critical moment, a golden light suddenly rushed from afar, carrying unparalleled pressure, and instantly blocked Lynn's path. With a wave of his hand, a golden light shield steadily blocked the black-robed man's claws.

boom!

After the loud bang, the man in black robes was sent flying backward and crashed heavily to the ground, a trickle of black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with shock and fear.

Lynn looked up and saw that his mentor, Gavin, was standing in front of him. His body was filled with radiant light and ether, his eyes were cold, and he was staring at the man in black robes. His aura was so powerful that it made people's hearts tremble.

"Mentor!" Lynn felt relieved and quickly called out.

Gavin nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the man in black robes, his tone icy and chilling: "A spy from the Dragon Clan dared to infiltrate my Celestial Clan's Guardian Academy and slaughter my Celestial Clan disciples. Today, you will not escape!"

The man in black robes slowly stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with arrogance and resentment: "Gavin, I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly! However, even if I can't kill Lynn today, I will definitely not let you get away with this!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the man in black robes suddenly detonated the etheric power within his body, and the murky black energy around him surged, clearly intending to self-destruct and perish together with Gavin and Lynn!

"Not good! Get out of the way!" Gavin's expression changed, and he immediately shielded Lynn behind him, his light shield condensing again to resist the shockwave of the self-destruction.

boom--!!!

A deafening explosion rang out, as the murky black gas and golden light collided violently. The shockwave swept across the entire secret realm, leveling vegetation and creating a huge crater in the ground.

As the light faded, Gavin, protecting Lynn, stood firmly at the edge of the pit. His protective light shield was shattered, and a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth, indicating he had also suffered a significant impact. The black-robed man had already been reduced to ashes in the self-destruction, leaving only the last Drakhan warrior. Taking advantage of the chaos, he quietly turned and fled towards the outside of the secret realm.

"Trying to run?" Gavin's eyes turned cold. He raised his hand, conjured a blade of light, and shot it towards the Delacran warrior, instantly killing him.

The crisis has finally been resolved.

Lynn looked at her injured mentor Gavin beside her, her heart filled with guilt: "Mentor, I'm sorry, it's all because of me that you got hurt."

Gavin waved his hand, his tone calm: "It's nothing, just a minor injury." He looked at Lynn, his eyes full of approval, "You did very well. Facing the siege of the dragon spies, you not only didn't panic, but you were also able to kill three Drakhan warriors. Your strength and composure far surpass those of other students of the same level."

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "However, this incident has also served as a wake-up call for us. The Dragon Clan has taken notice of you and has gone to great lengths to infiltrate the academy and assassinate you, which demonstrates just how much of a threat you pose to them. Your cultivation will become even more dangerous in the future, and the Dragon Clan will not let this go unpunished; they will send people to kill you again."

Lynn gripped the Judgment of Light tightly, his eyes resolute: "Disciple is not afraid! No matter how many people the Dragon Clan sends, no matter how dangerous it is, I will not back down. I will continue to grow stronger, not only to protect myself, but also to become a true guardian as soon as possible, to fight against the Dragon Clan, and to avenge Fallen Phoenix Village!"

Gavin looked at the unwavering determination in the boy's eyes and nodded slightly: "Good, that determination is enough. Next, I will strengthen your protection and accelerate your cultivation progress, teaching you stronger combat skills and defensive techniques so that you can quickly gain the ability to protect yourself and even contend with high-level dragon warriors."

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on the two of them. At the edge of the secret realm, a faint aura of filth and ethereal fluctuations still lingered.

Lynn knew that this assassination was just the beginning of the Dragon Clan's attack on him, and that more dangers and challenges awaited him in the future. But he was no longer afraid, because he had the guidance of his mentor, the belief he wanted to protect, and the determination to take revenge.

His path as a guardian is destined to be filled with thorns and war, but he will overcome all obstacles, forge ahead, and grow stronger step by step, uncovering all the long-buried truths, protecting the future of Atreia, personally destroying the dragon race, and seeking justice for his family and villagers in Falling Phoenix Village!