John placed his wine glass down and looked around the hall, taking in all the faces that were partaking in the celebration. Despite looking at everyone, he still didn't spot a face he had wanted to see.
"Where's Ryan?" John turned to his father who was seated next to him and asked. "I didn't see him on any of the funeral pyres, and I don't see him here."
"You don't need to worry," his father replied with a smile on his face. "Ryan is fine. He participated in the war and was injured, and he is resting in the Hall of Healing right now."
John breathed out a sigh of relief as he heard this. "He participated in the war?" John asked. "How strong is he now?"
When he had last seen Ryan, they were both in the Mist Creation Realm. Ryan had gotten the blessing of the mysterious spirit in the pocket realm to learn the Mage Art there, but that was the last John had heard of him.
"Quite strong," Barden replied.
"He was more than quite strong," Cade chimed up as he heard Barden's reply.
An inquisitive look appeared on John's face as he heard this, which Cade elaborated further.
"In the initial stages of the battle, Ryan unleashed a spectacularly powerful War Mage battle art many times, which decimated a good portion of the enemy force. The enemy eventually reached him and injured him quite badly, forcing him to retreat, but if it weren't for him, we would have fallen much faster," Cade elaborated.
"Such a thing happened?" John asked with great surprise.
"Why? Is that so hard to believe that I'm strong as well?" a voice sounded out behind John.
John turned his head to see the person of discussion standing behind him, smiling at him with a large smile.
"Ryan!" John called out as he stood up and embraced his lifetime friend.
Ryan smiled as he embraced him back, but quickly winced and backed up from John.
"Ow," Ryan cried out. "The wound on my chest is still quite fresh. Take it easy on me."
"Ah, sorry about that," John replied as he patted Ryan on the shoulder.
A medicinal pill suddenly appeared in his hand, and he handed it off to Ryan.
"Take this. It should help heal that wound of yours faster," John explained to Ryan.
Ryan took the pill and swallowed it without hesitation, as he trusted his friend fully. A rich medicinal energy instantly filled his body, causing Ryan to raise his eyebrows in surprise.
"This is good stuff!" Ryan exclaimed as he felt his wounds start to heal at a faster pace.
"It better be," John replied. "I spent several thousand spirit crystals for this one pill."
"That much!" Ryan exclaimed in shock. "Isn't this pill a little too valuable to give to me then?"
"Don't fret over such things, it's really not that much money to me right now" John replied. "Better yet, you better tell me what battle art you learned from that ancient spirit."
"Oh, that!" Ryan replied. "I guess I can tell you about it."
Ryan sat down next to John and began to explain what had happened to him after they had separated in the pocket realm. Ryan had spent all the remaining time in the pocket realm learning the Mage Art, and had managed to do so just in time before the pocket realm collapsed.
After that, he was raised to be one of the main youths of the Fenix Clan, and was given incredible resources. He managed to improve his cultivation to the Core Formation Realm, and had then used the Mage Arts to unleash devastating attacks on the enemy.
"What about you?" Ryan asked. "We've all been dying to hear your story."
John didn't even know where to begin, as he had been through more events and trials than he could explain in a single night. Those nearby, including his mother and father, all asked John to reveal what he had been up to this past year, and why he was unable to return earlier.
Just as John was thinking of how to start his story, the front doors to the Great Hall slammed open with great force, grabbing the attention of everyone in the hall. Everyone looked at the newcomer with stunned silence, as their performance earlier in the day was also one of the hottest topics of discussion within the Fenix Clan.
Without missing a step, the person who had opened the doors entered the Great Hall and confidently strided towards where John was sitting. They strode up to the table where John and his family were sitting, and gazed at each of his family members.
"Are you not going to introduce me to your family?" Lilian asked as she stared straight at John.
"John, who is this?" John's mother Rachel couldn't help but ask. "She's incredibly beautiful. Is she your girlfriend?" she continued with a mischievous expression on her face.
"Mom! What the hell are you talking about!" John exclaimed as he stared at his master, ready for her to beat him for such a thing having been said.
"This is the Vice-Sect Leader of my Heavenly Lightning Sect," John quickly clarified. "And also my Master!"
Cade and Barden immediately stood up and bowed his head towards Lilian as a sign of respect.
"Thank you for your assistance today," Cade Fenix said to Lilian. "Without your aid, our clan would have no doubt been destroyed."
"No need to thank me," Lilian replied with a calm voice. "I dealt with that man for my own personal reasons."
"Then I must thank you for watching over my son, and raising him as your disciple," Barden suddenly replied. "Clearly you have taken his power to incredible heights."
John rolled his eyes as he heard his fathers words.
"Tch, the only thing this crazy woman ever did for me was beat me," John grumbled, but quickly realized the error of his ways. His eyes widened in panic as he stared at his master.
Lilian's hawk-like gaze locked onto John, who quickly tried to flee from the Great Hall.
Bang!
A slapping sound resounded out across the entire hall, as everyone saw their powerful Young Master savagely beaten across the face by a woman holding a wooden stick. Their Young Master, whose power was far beyond their imagination, was yelling curses and profanities at the woman who was chasing him around the Great Hall, constantly beating him senseless with her wooden stick.. His pained cries echoed throughout the Great Hall as his stunned Fenix Clan looked on.
