Chapter 1233
Raon squinted his eyes, tracking Glenn's movements as they descended into the subterranean levels beneath the grand audience chamber.
'It goes quite deep.'
This was a stark contrast to the chamber he had accessed through the left-hand door previously; these stairs seemed to plunge into an infinite darkness. The most striking feature, however, was the staircase itself. Vibrant golden flames flickered atop each step, illuminating the path with such clarity that no torches or lanterns were required.
'There is no heat.'
The fire sprouting from the stone wasn't literal combustion, as it emitted no physical warmth. Yet, oddly enough, observing the dancing light didn't warm his skin but seemed to provide a strange comfort to his very soul.
'Not a single grain of dust.'
Whether through meticulous upkeep or some magical ward, the walls and steps were pristinely clean. It was becoming clear that this location held far more significance than he had initially imagined.
"This area for solitary meditation was established during the era of the First Patriarch and has been preserved until this day."
Glenn spoke with a leveled voice, seemingly reading the curiosity written on Raon's face.
"It is a hallowed ground accessible only to the sitting head of the family and their designated heir."
He gestured downward, confirming that only the leader of the house and their chosen successor were permitted to set foot in this depths.
"Is it truly permissible for me to be here?"
Raon paused, staring at Glenn’s retreating back as the older man continued downward.
"Technically, I haven't been named the successor yet, have I?"
A flicker of apprehension crossed his mind, given his unofficial status regarding the inheritance.
"Cast those worries aside."
Glenn offered a faint, reassuring smile and shook his head.
"My personal acknowledgment is all that is required."
He dismissed the concern with a simple wave of his hand.
"I see..."
Raon gave a small click of his tongue and resumed his descent, trailing behind Glenn.
"Furthermore, it appears the sanctuary itself has accepted you."
Glenn glanced back toward the path below and spoke once more.
"The place acknowledges me? What do you mean by that..."
Raon tilted his head, struggling to grasp the hidden meaning behind those words.
"Observe the stone beneath your own feet, then look at where I step."
Glenn gestured toward the staircase, suggesting the evidence was right in front of him.
"The stairs? Wait..."
Following the instruction, Raon looked down and his eyes stretched wide in surprise.
'They are different.'
The steps beneath Glenn’s boots merely shimmered with a golden radiance, but the ones Raon occupied were erupting with actual golden flames. To test it, he descended another step; instantly, fire bloomed specifically where he stood. Given that the First Patriarch had built this place, it was clearly reacting to the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation or perhaps the Ring of Fire he had mastered.
"The golden fire gracing these steps."
Glenn watched the soft, burning light beneath Raon with a gentle expression.
"When I was first named successor and walked down here, I harbored a deep desire to manifest such a light one day. The essence of the First Patriarch’s flames was precisely this magnificent golden hue."
He touched upon the history of Zieghart's founder, coming to a brief standstill.
"I possessed absolute confidence. Back then, I was hailed as the most gifted prodigy in the annals of Zieghart, standing without a peer. And yet, the founder’s martial path never revealed itself to me."
Glenn let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh as a spark of crimson lightning—distinct from the gold—crackle at his fingertips.
"Conversely, his specific flames have found a home in you—the one who once battled a lethal malady and was branded the least talented of the direct bloodline. Perhaps this is truly the work of providence. It is quite fascinating."
He looked on with warmth at the flames licking around Raon’s feet.
"The edge of your blade will likely reshape many things within Zieghart—and across the entire continent. That, too, must be predestined."
Glenn lowered his gaze, his anticipation for Raon’s growth seemingly reaching new heights.
"Providence..."
Raon tightened his grip into a fist, whispering the word Glenn had used.
'It certainly feels that way.'
Finding the Ring of Fire in his previous life, being reborn into the Zieghart line with his consciousness intact, and being selected by the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation—there were few words other than destiny to describe such a sequence.
'And I suppose this pest played a part in it as well.'
Raon felt a surge of irony as he looked at Wrath, who was currently letting out a massive, disinterested yawn.
-What are you staring at?
Wrath merely patted his protruding stomach with his small, round hands, looking as though his next meal was his only priority.
'Actually, never mind.'
Raon let out a quiet chuckle, thinking back to their first encounter. Initially, Wrath had been a terrifying and irritating burden, but now that he had evolved into a companion he couldn't imagine being without, the sentiment was complicated.
-You’re acting as dull as a piece of unseasoned fish.
Wrath wrinkled his nose, signaling Raon to stop his inner monologue and move on.
"We have arrived."
Glenn stopped and gestured toward a portal at the base of the stairs. In contrast to the ornate staircase, the entrance was a plain, heavy slab of rectangular iron.
"Beyond this door lies the training hall where our secluded practice will take place."
As he gripped and rotated the handle, a soft golden glow spilled out, accompanied by an oppressive, heavy atmosphere emanating from within.
"Step inside."
Glenn moved through the thick air with practiced ease and crossed the threshold.
"Right..."
Raon cleared his throat and followed. Whoooosh! The moment he stepped through, his entire body felt as if it had been struck by a physical weight. It was as if a massive slab of lead had been dropped onto his shoulders. It wasn't just a mental sensation; his physical form was genuinely struggling under the load.
'Wait, there's more...'
The sensation deepened. Raon’s fingers trembled, and he had to exert significant effort just to keep his head level.
'This environment isn't just weighing down my body; it’s crushing my soul and my very aura!'
He had seen plenty of training grounds designed to tax the muscles. The family had even installed gravity-altering mechanisms in the recently finished fifth training ground.
However, this was a nightmare of a facility. It exerted a suffocating pressure on one's physical self, spiritual essence, and internal energy simultaneously, making it virtually impossible to exercise one's true combat potential. The sheer absurdity of the challenge forced a dry, breathless laugh from his throat.
"I see you’ve already grasped the nature of this room."
Glenn turned his head slightly, stroking his chin with an approving look.
"Yes. It’s putting a strain on my body, my spirit, and my energy all at once."
Raon ground his teeth, acknowledging the ridiculousness of the environment.
"Indeed. This is a treacherous place that taxes every facet of a warrior. Furthermore, the more power you possess, the more the pressure scales to match you."
Glenn admitted that even he found the location taxing. He turned fully to face Raon, and Heavenly Tremor was already gripped firmly in his hand.
"Wait!"
The moment Raon caught the glint of the Heavenly Tremor’s blade, his instincts screamed. Shhhhk! He attempted a full-body evasion, but the spiritual and physical weight slowed his reaction just enough. The blade bit into his shoulder, and a spray of crimson hit the floor.
"Grandfather...?"
Raon stared at Glenn, the sharp sting of the wound beginning to radiate through his arm.
"Since you have stepped into the realm of the absolute, there is no longer any reason for me to hold back."
Glenn lifted his chin, his gaze cold and deliberate, making it clear the strike was no accident.
"Defend yourself."
He pointed the tip of Heavenly Tremor toward the floor, signaling for Raon to take a stance.
"From this moment on, we fight in earnest."
"Our sincerest congratulations!"
"You have finally attained the position that was meant for you!"
"Palace Master—no, we should be addressing you as Head of House now!"
"Indeed! You are now Head of House Karoon!"
"It’s clear the Head of House placed his ultimate trust in you, Palace Master!"
Within the audience chamber, the high-ranking members of the Central Martial Palace stood below the dais, showering Karoon with praise. Their eyes shone with genuine fervor; to them, Karoon had already ascended.
"I am the acting head of house, not the permanent one."
Karoon made a clicking sound with his tongue, his attention focused on a stack of administrative papers.
"Mind your words."
He shook his head, warning his subordinates to be precise, though he didn't even look up at them.
"Oh, come now! Good news is good news!"
"Exactly! There’s nobody else here to listen anyway."
"They say that spoken words have power. If we keep calling you the head of house, it might just become a permanent reality!"
"Head of House! That's the only title I want to use for you!"
Despite his correction, the officials of the Central Martial Palace continued their enthusiastic chanting, wide smiles on their faces.
"Wouldn't you agree, Sir Roenn?"
One of the officers turned to Roenn, who was standing quietly near Karoon.
"Hehehe."
Roenn gave a soft chuckle, seemingly amused by the sight of Karoon occupied with the duties of the throne.
"It isn't entirely inaccurate. Even a temporary leader carries the weight of the office."
He wore a faint smile, indicating he had no personal objection to the title being used.
"Well, the Head of House did officially hand over the reins to you."
Sheryl chimed in, shrugging her shoulders as if the semantics were irrelevant to her.
"There is only one true head of house. I am merely a placeholder for the time being."
Karoon remained firm, refusing to accept the full title even with the nods of Roenn and Sheryl. However, by using the phrase "for the time being," he subtly betrayed his own ambition while his eyes remained glued to the reports.
"Brother, you’ve become incredibly dull."
Balder let out a wide, exaggerated yawn, his tone dripping with mockery toward Karoon.
"I didn't summon you, so you can leave."
Karoon dismissed him with a flick of his hand, never breaking his focus on the paperwork.
"Stop worrying about those boring scraps of paper and let’s do something worthwhile."
Balder stepped closer to the platform, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
"Something worthwhile?"
Sheryl narrowed her eyes, curious about what Balder was hinting at.
"Our father and my nephew are buried deep underground in seclusion, where they can’t hear a thing we do. This means my big brother has total control to reshape this family however he sees fit!"
Balder stomped his foot for emphasis, acting as though the opportunity was obvious.
"Let’s be honest, that nephew of ours has been overshadowing you lately. If you were to track down and strike at Eden right now, you could rack up achievements that would rival his! Actually, since you’d be doing it as the acting head of house, your prestige would skyrocket even higher!"
He insisted that the timing was perfect, gesturing wildly to sell the idea.
"Hehehe."
"It would certainly be a sight to see if we could pull that off."
Roenn let out another hollow laugh, while Sheryl crossed her arms, watching Balder with a skeptical look as if inviting him to try his luck.
"......"
Finally, Karoon lifted his eyes from the documents and looked directly at Balder.
"What do you think? Brilliant, right? If you put me in charge of the vanguard..."
"You are correct."
Karoon nodded slowly at Balder, whose face lit up with a grin.
"Locating Eden and launching a successful assault would indeed bring immense prestige to the house."
"Then—"
"However, I believe the true obligations of a head of house begin not with chasing glory, but with mastering the intricate details of the family’s daily governance."
Karoon returned his attention to the papers, shaking his head. He resumed his reading of current affairs and legal clauses with a calm intensity, appearing genuinely dedicated to understanding the inner workings of Zieghart.
"What?"
"Hmm!"
Roenn’s eyes widened, and Sheryl couldn't suppress a small gasp of surprise. Both of Glenn’s most trusted confidants were visibly taken aback by Karoon’s newfound maturity.
"Sir Karoon..."
"Th-that's exactly right! One must build from the foundation to reach the heights!"
"Whatever the Head of House decides, we are behind you!"
"We will follow your lead in everything!"
The Central Martial Palace executives bowed low, their loyalty solidified by this shift in Karoon’s character.
"Well..."
Balder stood there with his mouth hanging open, clearly not expecting that kind of response.
"You moron! He isn't the same petty, envious man you used to know!"
Alice slapped the back of Balder’s head and let out a derisive snort.
"Ugh, I knew he’d changed, but I didn't think he'd be this different."
Balder rubbed his head and looked at Karoon with a mixture of discomfort and awe.
"Acting like that... he actually feels like the head of house..."
He shivered slightly, muttering about how the change gave him the creeps.
"Not head of house..."
Karoon looked up at Balder once more. His eyes, now burning with a fierce red light that mirrored Glenn’s, remained steady.
"Temporary head of house."
Clang! Raon narrowly parried a barrage of sword thrusts from Glenn, biting his lip in concentration.
'He isn't holding back!'
His grandfather was coming at him with full intent. This wasn't the measured, instructional sparring of the past; Glenn was unleashing strikes laced with genuine lethality, seemingly unconcerned with whether Raon was gravely wounded. Raon’s waist and shoulder were already bleeding, and the peculiar environment made the pain from the slashes feel exponentially worse.
"If you just stand there taking it, you’ll be carried out of here half-dead before you’ve learned a thing."
Glenn’s eyes were like ice as he drove Heavenly Tremor forward with the aggression of a mortal enemy. Whoooom! Raon tried to pivot his body, but the combination of his fresh injuries and the crushing pressure of the room slowed him down. The blade grazed his thigh, opening a thin, stinging cut. The scent of fresh blood began to permeate the heated air of the training ground.
"Huu!"
Raon drew both the Heavenly Drive and the Wooden Ring Sword, his breath coming in heavy, rhythmic cycles.
"Fine. If this is how we’re starting..."
A defiant grin spread across his face as he planted the tips of his dual blades into the ground where his own blood had spilled.
"Don't go regretting this later!"
