Chapter 385 A Conflict Before Departure


    While Austin and Maria chatted away, a young man with a strange jealous look in his eyes made his


    way towards both of them.


    "That is Michael Zhong. He is a strong cultivator yet no one knows much about his real power," Dewey


    whispered in Austin''s ear.


    Michael was aged about twenty. A chilly glow emanated from the surface of his body. With a stern look


    on his face, he carried a cold, indifferent aura with himself.


    The closer he came, the strong chilling out of his body could be felt; it was like countless cold


    currents had enveloped him.


    With Michael approaching nearer, the strong chill overwhelmed Austin instantly.


    Austin felt like the winter had set in and he froze at the spot where he stood. A strange freezing chill


    which could turn water into ice had covered the ce.


    Austin came to his senses and found that a thinyer of ice started to form on his clothes and hair.


    ''It looks like he has cultivated a skill which enables him to release this coldness, '' Austin analyzed.


    "It''s so cold!" Dewey said as his teeth chattered uncontrobly.


    Faced with the overwhelming cold, he stepped back.


    Noticing that Michael was making a move towards Austin, she arched her brows.


    "Michael, you..."


    Michael walked across to Maria''s side and red at Austin.


    With a dismissive snort, he bellowed at Austin, "Get lost! You''re not good enough to stand by Maria''s


    side!"


    The next moment, Austin felt the coldness around him increase abundantly. Big snowkes came out


    of nowhere and fell on the ground; and the ground of the square turned icy like an ice rink.


    Slowly the chill started to spread in all directions.


    The young cultivators who were nearby started to panic. To keep warm, they activated their energies


    which formed warm currents on the surface of their bodies.


    Austin stood still, though his body was covered in snow and the ice was up to his knees.


    Chilly winds rose from all the directions, and like sharp weapons they pierced Austin''s skin.


    With his hands behind his back, Michael stood straight giving off that strong chill. The infinite cold kept


    gushing out of his body, with a noise. The noise was like the waves roaring as they rose and fell on the


    surface of the sea.


    He seemed to be a top cultivator.


    "You''re nothing but a piece of trash. You''re proud of your stupid strength which you think is mighty; and


    that''s what makes you carry this air of attitude. You''re ridiculous, you know that? You''re just a loser!"


    Michael sniffed, leering at Austin.


    "Wow! Looks like you think very highly of yourself.


    Do you think you can really control me by this little trick?"


    Austin finally opened his mouth. His voice was full of contempt and he was annoyed by the behavior of


    Michael.


    "How dare you!"


    Michael''s face filled with anger. Suddenly, it started to snow heavily and all the snowkes seemed to


    be aiming at Austin. At the same time, a cold gust cut through the air like a sword and moved towards


    Austin.


    At this point, faint silver glows of vital energy appeared around Austin, and the hot vital energy swept in


    all directions.


    In a blink of an eye, the coldness and the chill in the air vanished.


    The snow started to melt.


    It was as if cold winter was reced with warm spring and then hot summer.


    "It''s warm!" said Dewey who stood beside Austin all this time.


    Ever since Michael activated his skill, Dewey hadn''t left Austin''s side, though his teeth kept chattering


    with cold. Rather, he used his vital energy force to protect himself.


    As the hot air rushed over his body, he felt quite warm andfortable.


    "You!" Michael faltered as he was startled by Austin''s action.


    He had initially thought that Austin just had strong body strength. He intended to freeze his target, but


    to his shock, thed easily broke his skill which he had been proud of all these years.


    "That''s amazing! How does this guy possess such hot vital energy? The vital energy he owns is the


    rival of the cold energy of mine!" Michael muttered to himself in disbelief.


    He didn''t look down at his opponent anymore. A feeling of anxiety rose in his heart.


    Swish! Swish! Swish! ...


    A strong sword aura filled the air.


    Nearly hundreds or probably thousands of sword radiance rushed towards Austin like tangible swords.


    Streaks of sword light cut through the air, making loud noises.


    ''It''s the level 8 sword intent!'' Austin thought as he watched.


    He was astonished to find that deep inside his soul the level 7 sword radiance which represented


    sword intent trembled out of fear.


    Apparently the person who gave off the sword aura had mastered the level 8 sword intent.


    With a sword wrapped in a ck cloth on his back, a teenager dressed in ck walked up to the four


    proudly.


    "Hello, Maria!" the teenager spoke, staring at the maid.


    There was a trace of tenderness in his eyes.


    It was quite obvious that the ck-dressedd had a thing for Maria, as did Michael.


    "What are you doing here, Philip?" Maria asked in surprise.


    She was dissatisfied with Philip''s rude behavior towards Austin.


    Austin snorted scornfully and was about to say something, when he heard


    Reubenughed as he interrupted them to announce, "The tournament is approaching. The three of


    you are excellent teenagers.


    Can you make peace with each other for my sake?


    The prince had hurried to the square after being informed of what was happening. A middle-aged man


    and an elder aged about sixty stood beside him.


    Judging by the vital energy he gave off, all the young cultivators spected that the middle-aged man


    was at the preliminary or medium stage of Mysterious Realm.


    As for the old man, he didn''t emanate any special aura. But his eyes were as deep and unreadable as


    the mysterious ocean. No one could read his mind.


    Austin had an intuition that the elder must be an extraordinary expert who was trying to maintain a low


    profile.


    The prince stopped the young teenagers from getting involved in a brawl for he didn''t want to see any


    of them hurt before the contest.


    Last time, he had been wrong to stand by and watch the young cultivators fight against each other. As


    a result, he lost Hasson and he regretted it a lotter. Of course, he would not repeat the same mistake


    again. He couldn''t afford to lose any of his team members who could help him win the game.


    As the prince hade and stopped them in person, Michael and Philip didn''t dare to defy him.


    "Stay away from Maria! You don''t deserve her!" remarked Michael coldly before he walked away.


    Philip gave Austin an icy re, turned and left off.


    Maria stared at Austin with a pensive expression.


    She had seen Austin tackle Michael''s energy and move without any difficulty.


    Besides, she didn''t notice any sign of fear on his face when he was faced with the level 8 sword intent


    which Philip disyed.


    "It looks like Austin is really something! He not just has good body strength but has a lot of powers


    which we are unaware of," Maria murmured to herself.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Reuben heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing the three of them separate.


    He collected all the young cultivators as it was time to head to the spot where the tournament was to be


    held.


    "Hello, everyone, the Outstanding Talents Exchange Games for which we have long waited finally


    begin.


    Now follow me to the site!" the prince announced.


    A group of people left Reuben''s residence.


    Reuben took the lead and was followed by the middle-aged man and the elder. Austin, Dewey and


    Maria stood at the end of the line.


    The royal pce was going to host the Outstanding Talents Exchange Games.


    Reuben''s residence was quite near the royal pce. Hence, on the way to the site, they didn''t meet


    many people.


    Sometimes they saw a group of armored soldiers patrolling the way to avoid any mishap from


    happening.


    Those men on patrol were at level six or seven of the Energy Gathering Realm. The captains were at


    the Earth Realm. All those people exuded a dangerous air, which could scare people away.


    Soon all the cultivators marched into a special area.


    A great number of imposing buildings were situated here and there. Scarlet doors and pirs could be


    seen everywhere and there wererge eaves which extended upwards like a dragon''s wings. Spiritual


    energy was on a high and enveloped the areapletely. The air was filled with the powers and


    energies of the various people present there.


    It looked and felt like the ce was blessed.


    "Listen guys. We''re already in the royal pce. No talking and shouting is allowed here. Or you will be


    sentenced to death because of offending the Highness! Do you hear me?"


    the middle-aged man warned the young anxious cultivators in a low voice. They nodded their heads in


    agreement and looked around in awe and amazement.