Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!

Hearing those words, Ethan was stunned.

"What? Sister Orange?"

He instinctively swept his soul sense over Dominic.

"Holy crap… she really is a woman!"

She shot him a fierce glare. "I'm Amber, you're such a sissy!

"Hehe… not many people know Sister Orange is a girl. Even the entire House of Zane doesn't know!

Originally, we planned for Sister Orange to win first place, marry Sister Lyla, and then everything would be fine. But we never expected…"

As Kiara spoke, she looked up toward the platform—just in time to see Melody fighting.

Ethan had a thousand and one questions to ask concerning Amber, because some things didn't just add up, but what Kiara said last quickly caught his attention.

"You and Lyla knew each other before?"

"I don't know her! But Sister Orange is Sister Lyla's best friend! I met Sister Lyla in the game, and you introduced us! After coming here, I learned that Miss Silverwood was Sister Lyla. Sister Orange and I have known each other since we were little!"

At this point, Ethan nodded, feeling comfortable entrusting Kiara to this woman who'd been disguising her gender for who knows how many years. He also realized why she'd looked at him that way when she saw Evelyn dragging him around earlier. Maybe she'd originally sought him out to discuss rescuing Lyla.

Really… sigh…

Even so, Ethan still felt uneasy. He glanced up at Seamus Zane.

"Don't worry," Amber said, clearly seeing through Ethan's concerns. "The House of Zane is the House of Zane, and I am me."

After speaking, she pulled Kiara and jumped off the arena. Ethan saw she was heading toward Melinda and the others. She probably knew that staying with the Whitmore family was the safest option right now.

Boom, boom…

Violent crashes came from overhead. Ethan looked up to see Lachlan Silverwood and Matriarch Whitmore locked in fierce combat atop the hundred-foot statue!

This… Lachlan could actually fight Matriarch Whitmore to a standstill?

Just as disbelief set in, Amber's voice reached his ears:

"Lyla is imprisoned in the Silverwood Forbidden grounds, at Frostveil Cavern!"

Ethan froze.

"What?"

Damn it…

If he'd known, he would've gone to the Forbidden grounds with Donovan. When Donovan had invited him, he'd refused.

Now he regretted it deeply.

Getting his bearings, he jumped off the arena and burst into speed, charging toward the Silverwood family's inner territory. With the family in complete chaos, Ethan faced no obstacles. Midway, he grabbed a Silverwood family member and demanded directions to the Forbidden grounds.

There was no time to think. He charged through recklessly.

When he reached the Silverwood Forbidden grounds, resistance finally appeared.

"Bro… Brother Ethan…"

Among the guard squad stationed at the entrance, Ethan spotted a familiar face.

It was Lars—the one who'd been scared off by Markham that day. Both men froze.

But now, Lars was no longer a captain. He was just a subordinate, following behind the others.

"Those who trespass in the Forbidden grounds shall die…"

Over twenty Silverwood disciples swarmed forward at their leader's command, throwing knives and hidden weapons. Their technique was unmistakable: the Silverwood family's signature Veilhand. These weren't just guards—they were direct lineage!

But their attacks were utterly futile. They couldn't even scratch Ethan.

Clang, clang…

Everything bounced off harmlessly.

Half a minute later, only two people remained standing: Ethan and Lars—though the latter was dangling from Ethan's grip by his collar.

"Bro… Brother Ethan… I didn't attack!"

It was true. Lars had stood at rigid attention from the moment he saw Ethan.

"Take me to Frostveil Cavern," Ethan ordered coldly, releasing him.

"Y-Yes, yes, yes…" Lars nodded like a pecking chicken.

The so-called Forbidden grounds was just a valley. The true restricted area was Frostveil Cavern.

Under Ethan's urging, Lars led him expertly through various formation traps until they reached the cavern entrance. The rock walls within three meters of the mouth were frozen solid. Even from ten meters away, Ethan felt the bone-chilling cold gnawing at his skin.

Ethan's heart ached.

'Lyla… you've suffered so much.'

The next second, Lars watched Ethan charge straight into the cave.

"Hey… Brother Ethan…" Before Lars could finish, Ethan had already vanished into the cavern.

"Uh… well, if there's nothing else, I'll just leave…"

He hadn't even turned around when—whump!—his collar tightened again. Someone had grabbed him.

"Where's Lyla?" It was Ethan. He'd gone in and come back out—but now his hair and eyebrows were covered in white frost. In his other hand, he clutched a black cloak.

"Lyla? Th-The young miss?" Lars looked miserable.

Ethan nodded.

"Y-Yes… yes… yes…"

"Stop your damn stuttering and speak properly, or I'll rip your tongue out!"

Furious, Ethan lifted Lars higher, his grip ironclad.

The cavern wasn't large—only about ten meters in circumference. Aside from the spring pool, everything inside was visible at a glance. But there was no trace of Lyla.

The only thing inside was this black cloak.

Terrified by the threat, Lars quickly corrected himself: "Yesterday… the young miss… disappeared from Frostveil Cavern!"

"Disappeared?" Ethan repeated.

"Yes… The guards never saw her leave the cave—she just vanished inside!"

Ethan frowned.

Yesterday… could it be that Donovan came here and rescued Lyla?

If it really was Donovan, sneaking past the guards would've been no issue for someone of his strength. But if that were the case, why hadn't Lyla come to find him?

Ethan released Lars, deep in thought.

So where had Donovan taken Lyla?

"Bro… Bro… Brother Ethan! Please let me go!" Lars stammered.

"Mhm. Let's go. Together."

Ethan started walking off.

Lars blinked, stunned. "Brother Ethan, you're just leaving like this?"

"What else should I do?" Ethan looked puzzled.

"This…" Lars hesitated, glancing back at Frostveil Cavern.

"What's wrong?" Ethan was more confused now.

"Aren't you going to take some water before you leave?" Lars asked, genuinely surprised.

"What?"

Ethan was about to ask what water, hen suddenly, Morzan's voice rang out in his head.

"Such good stuff. It'd be a shame not to take some!"

"What's it good for?" Ethan asked mentally.

"Brewing wine… making tea… uh, enhancing soul power!"

Morzan casually mentioned two uses, then quickly added a third when he sensed Ethan's mood shifting.

"Really? I don't have a bottle though… how would I carry it…"

As he spoke, Ethan looked down at the clothing he held in his hand—the black cloak from the cavern—and lifted it slightly.