A test of power

***3rd POV***

Surrdon's entire body quaked from the sexual hunger bombarding his loins. He could have controlled the rising lust if he was in his original body, but this was a body he was not fully familiar with. His predecessor might have been sexually active, leading to such a sharp arousal.

     The warm water didn't help at all.

He had to get out of the tub and away from the spirit as soon as possible.

If she brought her soft-looking melons any closer, he would not be held responsible for whatever he would do to her.

This was the first time he had seen bare breasts. The urge to reach out and feel them with his hands made them shake like leaves struggling through a storm.

    "Leave!" He hissed.

"My Lo-"

"I said leave!" His roar was accompanied by a blast of iced aura which froze the once-warm water instantly.

The woman gasped as the powerful ice trapped her body from the waist down. She scrambled about, trying to free herself from the tub before the Demon Lord slapped her to eternal death.

    "My... My-"

Surrdon reached for his towel hanging from the bar close to the tub and tossed it back at her.

His right hand touched the frozen water, and slowly, the ice cleared.

Without saying another word, the young man rose to leave the tub, leaving a shivering female alone in the cold water.

He would deal with Azron in the morning. Ask her why she summoned a seductress and how she even did it.

------------------

*NOON*

Three circular stone platforms hosted a pair of disciples each. The air around them was tense to the bone. Nothing could break it, not even the scorching heat being blasted down by the sun. As traditional, all the disciples sat in the wooden arena seats according to their ranks.

The sect teachers, elders, and chief sat in the special section where the sun could not reach them. The shade shielding them from the harsh rays matched the brown seats they sat on.

   Murmurs from the countless disciples lifted in the air to form a cloud of annoyance in Surrdon's ears. He could not bear any more of the noise. Wishing he had the power to mute every one of them.

   "Master?" Azron whispered handing him a piece of soft bread placed on a blue cloth. It looked so much better than the dry bread the sect served them. "It's made from special wheat. It will help you after the fight."

  He eyed the bread, then at the innocent-looking girl who had almost snatched his virginity indirectly.

   "Yo-yo-yo!" A core disciple interrupted them from Azron's left side. He reached out and grabbed the bread arrogantly before showing it off to the other disciples who sat close to him. "Look what this little girl has given me as a token of appreciation. She must have been blown away by my handsomeness," he bragged to them, his face full of pride.

   "Give it back!" Azron ordered shooting on her feet. She could tolerate being called a slave, useless, and a freeloader, but she would not tolerate anyone snatching what belonged to her master. Her hands balled up into firm fists, her eyes blazed with anger. Anger that could burn down the sect if she was powerful enough.

   "Eyo!" The smug disciple rose to his feet, towering over a short Azron.

The scene caught the attention of the other disciples around them. Everyone was well aware of how prideful core disciples usually were. The three of them weren't even supposed to be seated here. Trouble was all they were looking for. Trouble which they were paid to cause for Surrdon.

   "Do you have any more gifts for me?"

"Give me back the-"

   "Little girl, you should sit down and be obediently quiet unless you wish to land in trouble. Do you know who I am? You're supposed to kneel and worship me."

More anger filled Azron. There was only one person she could worship. He was the person who had raised her for fifty years. He had saved her from the jaws of death... literally.

Only the Demon Lord deserved her love, loyalty, worship, praise, and death if need be.

   "How can she offend him?"

"Is she tired of living?"

"He killed an inner disciple during the last duels."

The gossip rose as usual. Surrdon had probably gotten used to the endless murmurs that always ended up irritating him.

Feeling bored of the same script, he got up and pulled Azron behind him protectively before facing the bully himself. "You're so noisy. Don't you have some pills to eat or beasts to hunt?"

   "You should sit your ass down little brother if you don't want your face turned ugly within a-"

   *Smack*

Surrdon laid a loud slap across his left cheek, leaving behind a fine handprint.

   Shocked gasps quickly replaced the murmurs, adding to the annoying ringing in his ears. They could not hide the surprise of witnessing Surrdon's bravery. Which outer disciple dared fight a core disciple?

  Core disciples were almost as powerful as the elders, more privileged, and had the right to request a death duel.

    "You are as arrogant and foolish as the rumors say," the core disciple hissed glaring at Surrdon who was as tall if not taller than him. "I'll teach you some manners today."

He quickly summoned his life sigil which appeared between them facing Surrdon. A powerful aura leaked from the sigil, instilling raw fear in every outer disciple close by. The power it radiated was an aura only a middle Gold realm cultivator could.

  Their hearts began pounding painfully in their chests, their eyes shedding tears of blood just like their ears.

Surrdon felt it. A strong coercion was trying hard to penetrate his ears and fill his chest. He admitted to himself, a core disciple was indeed strong, but he had endured Shihan's coercion which was three times stronger than this. He had also withstood the overwhelming power of Shihan's barrier which was more painful than anything he had ever experienced.

   What he was facing was reduced to nothing more than a little needle prickling.

But it annoyed him that Azron was being hurt by the pressure.

   "Watch and learn what real power feels like," the core disciple gloated as his sigil began spinning around like a fierce blade. A translucent hand slowly made its way out of the sigil, moving closer and closer to Surrdon. It aimed for his throat.

The core disciple was ready for the punishment of fighting a disciple off the arena. He mattered. Surrdon didn't.

At best, the punishment would be confinement, which would benefit him and his cultivation.

A  smug grin corrupted his face as he watched the hand wrap itself around Surrdon's neck who still held his ground without a single flinch. He would fulfill his mission without a doubt. The final prize would be his to-

     His egotistic thoughts were interrupted when his Dharma Hand began to gain a cold layer of white mana. The icy mana started spreading from the fingers and up the arm till it penetrated his life's sigil.

   "What-what is happening?!" He cried out, cold pain eating his life force from the inside out.

The Dharma Hand cracked, overpowered by Surrdon's Heavenly Ice aura which was more powerful.

Azron slapped her mouth to suppress the shocked gasps about to escape. The aura her master was emitting felt stronger than usual. This skill he was using was new to her, and it terrified her from afar. It was on par with his demonic sutra. If combined, she was sure he would easily kill the ignorant fool offending him.