Chapter 94: Cloud City

In the early morning, as the sun just began to rise, Muria emerged from a teleportation circle wielding a war hammer, surrounded by fine arcs of electricity and blades of wind. He had just enjoyed a thrilling fight in the arena against a fourth-tier golden Titan youth.

"Is the big cat awake?" Muria dropped his war hammer and asked Cassiopeia, who had already formed her ethereal body beside him.

"Still sleeping."

"This lazy cat," Muria chuckled affectionately. He didn't make a big deal about it; after all, Troy had no scheduled duels or anything like that. Being a bit lazy was normal for him.

"Muria, you must be close to a breakthrough."

"Yes, I feel like I'm about to advance to the fourth gold tier," Muria nodded in response.

"So, are you ready for your fight with Migalela?"

"I can hardly wait." Muria gazed at the mithril mountain in the courtyard, his golden pupils sparkling with an intense light. He was eager for the battle to come, not only to rightfully pursue the goddess who had captured his heart but also to claim the reward promised by Ulysses, the Abyssal Lord of Epic Titans.

Time passed quietly, and Muria had never imagined that after feeling on the brink of a breakthrough, it would take over a year of constant training to finally advance to the fourth gold tier.

A year of waiting and relentless battle-hardening had sharpened Muria's demeanor, making him as fierce as a prominently displayed war halberd, eager for combat.

Now taller, Muria stood in the courtyard and turned to his spirit, "I've just broken through, and the Celestial race has already sent a challenge. They move quickly."

"Could they move any slower? Their prodigy has been suppressing his strength for over a year just waiting for you," Troy, the white tiger, scoffed as he looked at Muria wrapped in storm and thunder. "If it weren't for the Titan lands protecting you, a Celestial scion would have troubled you long ago."

"What did they say? Where will the fight take place?" Muria asked after rubbing the white tiger's head, turning to Cassiopeia.

"Cloud City."

...

"Is that the Celestials' Cloud City?" Muria stepped out of the teleportation circle onto a mountain and looked ahead.

Nearby, suspended between blue sky and fluffy clouds atop a mountain range, lay a city glowing with a misty white light. Angels with pristine wings occasionally flew up and down within the city, all servants of the Celestial race.

"Yes." Troy nodded with a hint of wariness as he looked up at the serene white city emitting peaceful radiance. "That's the Celestial race's war fortress, Cloud City."

"It looks quite impressive, very majestic." Muria nodded. His own luxurious white jade palace was nowhere near the grandeur of Cloud City; they were not comparable. "But such a peaceful city, used for war? It doesn't look it. I'd believe it if you said it was the home of the Celestial scions."

As soon as Muria and Troy appeared near Cloud City, the city reacted, and a formation of over twenty angels, led by a six-winged angel, flew towards the mountaintop where Muria stood.

In the short time it took for Muria and Troy to exchange a few words, this group of beautifully armored angels had neatly aligned themselves beside Muria. The leader, a six-winged angel, had just overheard Muria's comment.

"Prince Muria, during times of peace, Cloud City serves merely as the dwelling of the Celestial elders, but when war comes, it becomes a fortress."

"Where is Migalela?" Muria looked down at the stunningly handsome male angel, six meters tall, with indifference to his explanation.

"Please follow me, Lord Muria. Princess Migalela awaits your arrival."

The six-winged handsome angel spread his wings, sprinkling pure white light elements that gave him an aura of sanctity. Muria, however, was unimpressed by such fanciful appearances; to him, the angel was merely a servant of the Celestial race.

Beyond acknowledging his peak Soul Intent strength, which forced Muria to take him somewhat seriously, the rest didn't matter much to Muria. The genteel demeanor of the six-winged angel reminded him of the phrase "hothouse flower."

"Which Celestial scion owns this Cloud City?" As Muria and Troy entered the majestic Cloud City, encountering occasionally hostile glances from the city's angels, Muria casually asked the six-winged angel guiding him.

"This Cloud City belongs to Prince Silveste."

"Silveste?" Muria paused, then recalled the heroic Celestial scion he had seen at the abyss training ground, dual-wielding swords against a legendary serpent demon. "He's Migalela's brother, right?"

"Yes, Lord Muria."

"I see." Muria nodded, understanding why the surrounding angels looked at him with subtly hostile gazes; this was their territory.

"My prince, please forgive us; we all hold great affection for Prince Silveste and Princess Migalela." Noting the surrounding angels' glances, the guiding six-winged angel apologized somewhat.

"Hmm, no matter. More curiously, aren't only legendary Celestials entitled to own a Cloud City? Silveste is just at the peak of Soul Intent right now, so why does he already possess one?"

Muria inquired curiously. Before teleporting, Cassiopeia had briefed him on the Celestial race, including their legendary war fortresses like Cloud City, almost a symbol of their status.

"The Celestial elders believe that with Prince Silveste's bloodline and talents, reaching legendary status is merely a formality, hence they granted him a Cloud City ahead of time."

"If Migalela's bloodline is stronger than her brother's, and he got a Cloud City ahead of schedule, then as the stronger sibling, she should already have one too, right?"

"Lord Muria, you are indeed perceptive." The six-winged angel in the sky turned around, surprised. "Princess Migalela's Cloud City is currently under construction and is expected to be completed when she advances to Soul Intent level."

"..." Hearing this, Muria was momentarily speechless, realizing just how extravagantly wealthy the Celestial race was. Compared to Migalela, Muria felt as poor as a beggar.

"My prince, please enter." The six-winged angel led Muria to a grand building, pointing to a corridor. "Princess Migalela is waiting for you at the end."

"Yes." Muria nodded and walked confidently through the rune-covered archway. He was in the Celestial's Cloud City, yes, but this city was on Titan lands, so he wasn't worried about any trickery. Besides, with the pride of the Celestial race, they were unlikely to resort to underhanded tactics.

"Please excuse me." As Muria entered the corridor, Troy naturally followed, but before he could enter, the guiding six-winged angel stopped him. "Only Titans and Celestial elders are qualified to observe the battle; other creatures are not."

"Move aside!" Troy's azure tiger eyes glared at the diminutive six-winged angel. Although just a golden-level creature with a

 White Tiger bloodline, he had enough confidence to look down on the six-winged angel, even if he couldn't beat him right now.

"Please forgive us." The six-winged angel apologized with his words, but his actions were quick as he drew a rune-engraved shield, and bands of pure white Soul Intent appeared around his body.

"What are you doing?" Muria, already down the corridor, turned back, noticing the twenty-four bands of Soul Intent around the six-winged angel, his fists clenched, with golden thunderbolts flickering around him.

"Lord Muria, this is a duel between you and Princess Migalela. By Prince Silveste's orders, unrelated beings are not allowed inside."

"He has already signed a contract with me." Muria's eyes sparkled with golden thunder as he pointed at Troy. "This is now, and in the future, my life-bound companion, and you dare call him an unrelated being?"

"This..." The six-winged angel hesitated, seemingly worried about something.

"Step aside!" Muria commanded, "Rest assured, I won't let him interfere in my duel with Migalela. I disdain to win by such means."

"Even with this White Tiger at your side, Princess Migalela will not lose." Hearing Muria's words, the six-winged angel could no longer obstruct Troy, but as he stepped aside, he stated firmly, confident in Migalela's martial prowess.

Muria ignored the comment, uninterested in arguing. Facts would prove everything; all else was irrelevant. "Pfft," only the White Tiger Troy scoffed disdainfully as he passed by the six-winged angel.

"Step," "Step,"... Muria walked at an even pace down the corridor and soon saw a celestial maiden in a platinum war robe, eyes closed in anticipation.

Muria looked around; the arena was surrounded by spectator seats sparsely filled with dozens of Titans and Celestial scions radiating intense power, like miniature suns. He recognized many familiar faces among them.

For instance, Migalela's brother Silveste, Heloise and Gerald, and the Titan Atreyan and Celestial Ilves, who had demonstrated the true power of the Soul Intent level to Muria...

"They're all here." Looking at the many familiar faces in the spectator seats, Muria squinted slightly, feeling a hint of pressure.

"Muria, Titan and Dragon's Child. You asked for a fair fight, and I offer you fairness." Migalela, having removed her legendary armor, opened her eyes, which seemed to burn with incandescent flames. "Are you ready now?"

"Of course."

"Boom!" As soon as Muria spoke, Migalela, unarmed, turned into a white rainbow and swung a fist at him. The immense power and terrifying speed caused the air to crack violently, sending shockwaves in all directions. The celestial maiden struck with a vacuum force.

Without a moment's thought, Muria's arm swirled with thunder, dragon fire, and azure wind, and he threw a punch without hesitation, meeting Migalela's delicate fist head-on.

"Bang!" The fists collided, sending out a wild shockwave. A powerful force impacted Muria, and brilliant patterns lit up under his feet as he grounded the force; the arena responded to the immense power.

After blocking Migalela's first punch, Muria raised his leg, swirling with storm and thunder, and kicked towards the abdomen of the celestial maiden, whose wings blazed fiercely...

Yesterday afternoon, I made minor changes to Chapter 92 and major changes to Chapter 93, cutting over two thousand words, almost rewriting it completely. Those dissatisfied with the original can take another look.