[Aarrowsmith's CI has dug up the dirt. We'll soon find out why Ashton barged into Rachwalik, why he's hell-bent on war, and why he would go toe-to-toe with Rachwalik to take down Wilder Huntsville and its boss.][So what's the hold-up? Don't we have a CI hotshot around? Spill the beans already!]Nixey, who had returned in one piece from the Lindorm-Norcisco war zone, wasted no time. She dispatched her Rachwalik agents to document every detail of the operation.Her heart? Well, Ashton's potent, carefree swagger had snagged her heart.Jessica and Yushma lingered in the command center with her, not in a hurry to leave. They had witnessed everything, and there was still some debriefing to be done with them."We've got an inside man," someone said to Nixey. "Paid top bucks for a staffer in charge of the dark web ops to snag us a copy of the live feed."A worker, escorted by a communications officer, stepped in and handed over a disk."Alright, you're dismissed," Nixey said."General

He would have to venture to the Divine Dragon's Treasure to quell his restlessness.His power was such that he feared no schemes and could turn the gravest of dangers to his advantage.Nonetheless, he could not leave without first making preparations. His first mission was to protect Medicine Valley.With the resources at his disposal, Ashton created an army of steel puppets imbued with the essence of his golden flame through the arcane arts of the Dark Thunder Sect.He then concocted a series of elixirs, some of which could boost a warrior's prowess in battle. They were of little use in peacetime, but they could turn the tide in battle, increasing a cultivator's strength by a notch for ten minutes.With that, Ashton set out, accompanied by Madeline.Madeline might not have been a warrior, but she was a master at weaving illusions and slipping into disguises. She was the go-to person for a lifesaving trick in the face of a crisis that could not be fought head-on.The pair set ou

Ashton did not refuse him; instead, he accompanied him.Back at base camp, rumors about Ashton and Madeline flew around like wildfire.Everyone was speculating about Madeline's background and the extent of her abilities.That lightning-fast sword move, capable of dicing off an arm or sending a tongue flying, was not something the average Joe—or, in that case, cultivator—could pull off. That kind of skill was the mark of Southeast Daburin's ancient cultivators or someone with a serious talent for swordplay.However, she did not appear to be from Southeast Daburin. That left Lindorm and Sunoria as the likely hotspots for her sword skills in Daburin.Lindorm cultivators were legendary, and the samurai swordsmanship of Sunoria was nothing to scoff at, either."You think she's got the powers for the Meridian Stage?" someone murmured from the shadows.The Meridian Stage was the cultivation realm for ancient cultivators in Southeast Daburin, comparable to Lindorm's inner strength culti

Yago was floored by Ashton's flat-out refusal.Did the guy not get it? They were as good as dead out there, without food or warmth at night."We don't need your charity. However, if you've got the lowdown on Dragon Valley, that might pique my master's interest," Madeline said calmly, eyeing him."Sounds about right." Ashton agreed with a nod.A flicker of something passed through Yago's eyes before he shook it off and headed back to where Berrty stood."That punk's playing hardball, turning down a friendly offer. Maybe we should ditch him, teach him what happens when he crosses us—he'll be begging for mercy!" a young guy said, clearly ticked off."Easy now, let's keep our eyes on the prize," Luke said, opening his eyes."Nobody's a fool, and that goes double for a seasoned cultivator. I bet the guy's a wilderness pro. Over in Lindorm, they've got all these magical factions with young disciples heading out into the world to face all sorts of trials once they come of age."I'm th

He should have been standing on the solid crystal but instead stumbled through thin air, tumbling into the incomprehensible depths of the cliff.The onlookers let out a collective gasp, but Yago, Luke, Berrty, and the other insiders were unfazed, as if they had seen it all before."The Twin Dragons Bridge appears to be right there, but the light is playing tricks on us. The true location might be a meter to the left, a meter to the right, or completely opposite of where it is now. It's a gamble to find out," Luke said solemnly.Berrty overheard that and yelled at Ashton. "Hey, you two, cross the bridge now.""Are you talking to me?" Ashton asked, his smile not quite reaching his eyes."Who else am I talking to? Remember our deal before we got here? You agreed to follow my lead. I'm telling you to cross the bridge. You have any problems with that?"Berrty's bodyguards glared at Ashton, ready for a fight."You think I guided you to Dragon Valley to risk my neck as your guinea pig