SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

Three days had passed since Kent locked himself in the Link family. Meanwhile, the King family officially announced that Kent King had reached the mid-level Earth Immortal Wizard stage. News of Kent's unprecedented rise shook the entire Red Silk Immortal Country like a thunderclap in clear skies. For many, this was simply too unbelievable to be true.

Following Kent's previous instructions, his father, Daku King, sent out a formal challenge letter to the Gao family—one of the oldest noble houses in the country. The challenge was clear: Kent King would face Bai Gao, the young master of the Gao family, in an official duel for the 33rd position on the Genius List of the Red Silk Country.

-

Inside the grand Gao family hall, an explosion of rage shattered the calm atmosphere.

BANG!

A thick wine bottle shattered against the marble floor as Patriarch Gao, a man of imposing presence and sharp eyes, hurled it in fury. His aura flared with raw spiritual pressure, making even the seasoned elders in the hall tense up.

"How dare that bastard of the King family issue a challenge to my son?!" Patriarch Gao's voice thundered across the hall like an earthquake. "Has the King family lost all sense of shame?"

In the center of the room, Bai Gao, the so-called genius of the Gao family, clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The challenge letter trembled in his grip before he tore it into shreds and flung the pieces to the ground.

"You useless frog!" Bai Gao snarled, glaring at the servant who had delivered the letter. "Who does that disgrace think he is? A mere waste like Kent King challenging me? What an absolute joke!"

Without another word, Bai Gao lashed out with a violent burst of energy, sending the unfortunate servant flying across the hall and crashing through the ornate wooden doors. The family guards rushed to assist the poor soul, but none dared to question Bai Gao's fury.

Patriarch Gao's voice dropped into a deadly calm. "Thirty days from now, the fight will take place before the Emperor's arena. When the time comes, Bai Gao, I expect you to humiliate that arrogant brat. Rip apart the King family's foolish pride in front of the entire empire."

Bai Gao smirked, his voice dripping with venom. "By the end of the duel, Kent King will wish he had stayed buried in the lower realms."

The news of the challenge spread like wildfire, fanned by the eager gossip of the King family's servants. Every tavern, market, and noble estate buzzed with discussions of Kent King's sudden rise.

At the Imperial Palace, the news soon reached the ears of Emperor Amar himself. Reclining in his ornate chair, the Emperor's sharp eyes gleamed with interest as a servant delivered the report.

"Your Majesty," the servant said, bowing low. "Kent King has issued a formal challenge to Bai Gao for the 33rd position on the Genius List."

A bemused smile crept across Amar's face. "Oh? That arrogant fool actually dares to challenge someone of Bai Gao's caliber?"

Another minister, standing nearby, added, "Your Majesty, it's said that Kent King reached mid-level Earth Immortal in less than a year since arriving in the Immortal World. A feat unheard of… perhaps there's merit in his challenge?"

The Emperor chuckled softly, swirling the wine in his goblet. "Even if the King family is confident, it matters little. Bai Gao is no ordinary genius. This challenge will bury Kent King's arrogance once and for all—and save me the trouble of punishing him for attacking the Seventh Prince."

"Indeed, Your Majesty," the servant nodded in agreement. "Let the Gao family handle this matter. We need not soil our hands."

-

7th Prince Min Kai residence…

The daughter-in-law of So Mu, Juli Mu arrived to deliver the news to her beloved, the Seventh Prince Min Kai. Min Kai, who had been sulking in his chambers since his public humiliation at the hands of Kent King, perked up at the mention of his rival's impending downfall.

"You're telling me… Kent King challenged Bai Gao?" Min Kai's eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure.

Juli Mu, her voice soft and venomous, nodded. "Yes, my prince. Thirty days from now, the entire city will witness Kent's defeat."

Min Kai's lips curled into a sneer. "Excellent. That bastard humiliated me in front of the entire city. Soon, Bai Gao will break him like a twig—and I will be there to watch every moment."

Juli Mu hesitated for a moment, recalling her grandfather's suggestion that she consider marrying Kent King instead. But shaking the thought away, she chose her ambition over sentiment.

"Kent King is a disgrace," Juli Mu whispered. "A fallen star clinging to false pride. After Bai Gao finishes him, no family will dare speak his name again."

-

Meanwhile, at the Link family estate, Kent King remained immersed in his own world of study. He was seated in the grand alchemical library, surrounded by towering stacks of books and ancient manuscripts.

The once-dismissive servants now watched him with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. Word of Kent's growing strength had reached every corner of the estate, and whispers followed his every movement.

"Is that really the same Kent King?" a servant murmured.

"I heard he reached mid-stage Earth Immortal in less than a year. That's… impossible," another added.

"And look at him—reading like a scholar from the Celestial Academies."

At the heart of this growing storm of doubt was Lina Link, the daughter of Patriarch Don Link. Determined to humiliate Kent, she had brought him countless dense and obscure alchemical texts from her personal collection, each more complex than the last.

Yet Kent's focus never wavered.

He flipped through the pages with ease, absorbing every detail with frightening precision. His calm demeanor, sharp gaze, and unshakable focus unnerved even Lina.

"No… this isn't the same fool I expected. Could he actually be… talented?" she thought, biting her lip in frustration.

To cover her growing unease, she placed yet another stack of obscure manuals before him. "Still not giving up, Kent King?" Lina sneered, arms crossed.

Kent didn't even look up. "Giving up? I thought you were supposed to stop helping me. Instead, all you've done is hand me free knowledge."

Lina's jaw tightened. "Don't think mastering a few books will make you an alchemy expert."

Kent finally raised his gaze, locking eyes with her. "Oh, I don't think that at all. I know it."

The servants around them gasped quietly, exchanging wide-eyed looks.

"How arrogant can he be?" Lina's thoughts raced, though deep down, she couldn't deny that Kent's confidence seemed… justified.

-

As days passed, Kent's name became the hottest topic in the entire Red Silk City.

-

Tq all ;-)