God-Tier Fishing System-Chapter 629

"What I want from you is not servitude," Ethan said calmly, glancing at Elara.

"It is simply that you follow me. Nothing more."

"I don’t like forcing others into things they don’t want."

Elara lowered her eyes when she heard those words.

"I see... I understand."

Her voice was soft, but for some reason, a faint sense of emptiness welled up in her chest.

She did not feel forced at all.

On the contrary—if Ethan truly wanted it, she would have been willing.

But Elara was not foolish. Since Ethan had drawn a clear line, she would not step beyond it.

After a brief silence, she spoke again.

"There’s something I don’t understand."

"Say it," Ethan replied indifferently.

"Why do you want me to follow you, Mr. Ethan?" Elara asked seriously.

"In terms of realm, I’m weaker than everyone here. In terms of talent, I’m far inferior. Even in weapon refining—the one thing I’m best at—I’m still no match for the elders of my clan."

"My skills shouldn’t be of much use to you, should they?"

Ethan smiled faintly.

"You’re right. Your weapon refining means very little to me."

As he spoke, a fishing rod appeared in his hand. A wooden bucket manifested beside him, and with a casual flick of his wrist, he cast the line into the lake.

"But your Sky family," he continued, "means a great deal to me—and to the forces behind me."

Elara froze.

Then she understood.

In an instant, everything became clear.

Ethan did not need her talent.

He needed her position.

She was a bridge—a link between the Sky family and the power Ethan represented.

It was not much different from the relationship between the Palace of the Four Cycles and her own clan.

The only difference—

The Palace of the Four Cycles devoured people without leaving bones behind.

Ethan did not.

"I understand," Elara said after a moment. "When we leave the Training Trial Secret Realm, I will discuss this with my parents."

"Good," Ethan replied calmly. "I like intelligent people."

Then his tone shifted slightly.

"However, leaving this Training Trial Secret Realm will not be easy."

Elara’s heart skipped a beat.

"The Palace of the Four Cycles has likely already laid a net at the exit," Ethan continued.

"And your Sky family... may not escape unscathed either."

The moment those words fell, Elara and Risa’s expressions changed sharply.

They had overlooked this.

Ember had seen everything.

She knew the Sky family was cooperating with Ethan.

Once they left the secret realm, the Palace of the Four Cycles would never let the Sky family go.

"Mr. Ethan," Elara said quickly, her voice tightening, "I can’t stay any longer. I need to leave immediately and return to the Sky family."

"There’s no point in rushing," Ethan said calmly, not even lifting his gaze from the fishing line.

"If you leave now, you’ll just become a living target."

"Wait until I take you out myself."

"As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to the Sky family."

His tone was steady, casual even.

As if the Palace of the Four Cycles was nothing more than a passing cloud.

Elara slowly calmed down.

Ethan was right.

The Palace of the Four Cycles would definitely set a dragnet at the exit, waiting specifically for him.

If she left now, she would be walking straight into death.

As for the Sky family—

They were not helpless lambs.

With ancestral formations and deep foundations, the Palace of the Four Cycles would not be able to destroy them outright in a short time.

At most, they would suppress and blockade them.

Especially now, when Valerius and the other top experts were likely all stationed at the exit, waiting for Ethan.

They would not divert too much strength to deal with the Sky family yet.

"Also," Ethan added casually, "don’t touch anything in this valley."

"The Hibiscus Sacred Tree has awakened. Every blade of grass and every plant here belongs to her."

"If she doesn’t speak, no one is allowed to take even a single leaf."

"Hibiscus Sacred Tree..."

Elara and Kara sucked in sharp breaths.

Only now did they truly understand.

No wonder none of the treasures in the valley had been taken.

The legendary Hibiscus Sacred Tree—

It had awakened.

"Miss Lunara," Ethan said, turning his head slightly, "accept the Hibiscus Fruit as well."

Lunara shook her head gently.

"The Hibiscus Fruit is meant to break the blood contract technique. Mr. Ethan should keep it."

"I already have another one prepared for that purpose," Ethan replied.

"This one is for your cultivation."

Lunara was momentarily stunned.

Two Hibiscus Fruits.

Even one could overturn the outside world.

Yet Ethan handed her one so casually.

She did not refuse again.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

She put away the fruit and sat down cross-legged, beginning to regulate her breath.

Ethan continued fishing, completely at ease, as if the storm waiting outside the secret realm had nothing to do with him.

.....

Outside the Training Trial Secret Realm.

The entrance region trembled repeatedly.

Spatial ripples spread like waves.

Valerius and the high-level experts of the Palace of the Four Cycles had been waiting here for a long time.

Since the opening of the secret realm, cultivators had been crushing Sage Tokens one after another to escape for their lives.

They were already accustomed to such scenes.

Suddenly, several spatial distortions intensified.

Vortices formed.

Figures were violently spat out.

Ember. Eryon. Seris.

Others followed, scattered across the entrance region.

All of them were in miserable states.

A familiar aura brushed past.

Valerius, who had been meditating in midair, abruptly opened his eyes.

His gaze locked onto one figure.

Ember.

In the next instant, he appeared before her.

His hand pressed against her forehead.

The moment he sensed her condition, his expression changed completely.

Her aura was weak.

Her internal injuries were severe.

Bloodstains marred her pale face, lending her a tragic, fragile beauty.

Valerius’s heart twisted violently.

A terrifying killing intent surged within him, shaking the surrounding air.

He forcibly suppressed his rage and spoke in a low voice:

"My good daughter... tell your father."

"Who did this to you?"

Ember clenched her chest and replied weakly,

"Ethan."

"The guest elder of the Sky family."

"He never disappeared. He has been cooperating with the Sky family from the beginning."

"And he was the one who provoked you at the entrance, Father."

Valerius’s eyes turned icy.

"So it was him."

"Ethan..."

He slowly lifted his head and swept his gaze across the entrance.

His expression grew darker with every glance.

The geniuses of the other two clans were also beaten miserably.

"How can he, a mere human physical cultivator, beat you like this?" Valerius asked again, doubt on his face.