"There are police to protect our safety in a civilized society. We don't need your protection," Hyrum said confidently.Ashton said nothing more. He led everyone from the restaurant to Champions Village's center.A team of heavily armed soldiers checked IDs at the entrance."What is this? So formal? Are they troops from the warzone? Which important figure will be here?" the boy beside Hyrum whispered.A place with soldiers, guns, and ammunition usually had a prominent politician or official. Only a major event could explain that."It's good to have important figures around, proving it's safe here." Hyrum glanced at Ashton. "Regardless of the security, it shows that they are all first-class."Ashton looked away without speaking. A strong wind blew from afar, and he saw a dark shadow stumble.People only noticed a middle-aged man in a black military uniform when they stopped. Blood covered his arm, which was half cut off. It hung limp on the side, only connected by loose skin. His
She looked beautiful but haggard.Alora also saw Ashton. He wanted to turn around and walk away but did not expect her to walk straight to him."Long time no see."Ashton stopped. "It's best if we don't see each other.""You hate me?" Alora pursed her lips and laughed miserably. "Yeah, how can a woman like me have a man who likes me? But no matter how things are between us now, you can't deny we had a relationship for several years, right?"Ashton frowned. "Say what you want. I still have things to attend to."Alora asked, "You know many warriors, right?"I hope you can be a middleman and introduce me to some of them. I can pay you."Ashton understood the situation when he heard it.Ophelia previously stated that the Latham family's fighter defected. The Latham family had no one to defend them. That meant the Latham family would be eliminated from the top 15 and dethroned as an aristocratic family in the Battle of Champions. Thus, many of their rights and interests would be re
"I said fuck you. Do you understand that? Little bitch? You are the little bitch here."Kaia scolded him frantically. Hudson's expression darkened."Get her, that fucking bitch. Today, we will all take turns and have fun with her."Hudson had five or six tall, powerful bodyguards.Hyrum and others shielded Kaia. The two sides fell into a tension-filled confrontation."Hyrum, now you look like a man." Kaia nodded in appreciation."What man would even bully a woman? This is despicable." Hyrum said proudly. He was flustered when he was praised."Those who bully women are cowards, and you call yourself aristocrats? You're just a low life." Kaia poked her tongue out.Hudson's anger distorted his face."Mister Hudson, don't cause a scene here. This is a critical time. It's easy to be caught by others. If it affects the Battle of Champions, it will get you into a lot of trouble with the family." A man next to Hudson advised him."The overall situation is important. Don't forget. Thi
In the Champions Village, there was a service not listed on any official brochure—one could hire an assassin.If one's pockets were deep enough, they could hire a killer to kill anyone—even a grandmaster. The cost of defeating a grandmaster was high. Only a grandmaster could handle another of their kind, and just getting one would cost Howard too much to afford.He emptied his life savings, and it was just enough to hire an inner strength cultivator.Howard was a newbie to the martial arts scene and did not understand its pecking order. So after he handed over the cash, he skipped the scrawny-looking inner strength cultivator and went straight to a hulking brute of a horizontal cultivator.The shopkeeper did not know whether to laugh or cry. Did Howard know what he was doing?Looks could be deceiving—that phrase was tailor-made for some of the greenhorns in the martial arts world.There were those muscle-bound cultivators who looked like they could squash their opponent, but most
The girl sat there, stunned, as she realized he would not name a price. Ashton turned on his heel and left.Cassia and Kendra kept quiet. They never meddled in the man's choice. They knew they had no right to tell anyone what to do unless they had walked a mile in their shoes."If you can save my grandfather, I'll give you this." She pulled out a small, wilted red flower."My grandfather got badly hurt from hunting this," she said.Ashton examined the red bloom. "A Red Spider Lily?"The Red Spider Lily was a common perennial, nothing unusual.She shook her head vigorously. "No, this is the Red Devil Lily. According to Grandpa, it holds a wicked force. Only one Red Devil Lily exists in every hundred million Red Spider Lilies. It's super rare.""Really?" Ashton stepped closer to take the red flower from her. His mind's energy seeped into it.In an instant, a bone-chilling coldness enveloped him as if demons had yanked him down into the depths of hell.It was clear that the flowe
"At last, I have found you." A deep voice from behind interrupted the manager mid-sentence.The restaurant went quiet when he arrived.The manager's face went pale. "Evil Wolf?"She knew him, and the fear in her eyes was unmistakable.Evil Wolf shot her a look. "Ah, someone I know? Don't sweat it. I'm not here for you. You're not on my radar, so stay cool. Just don't get in my way."The manager was quick to agree. "Lord Wolf, you have my word. I'll turn a blind eye to whatever happens.""Good girl," Evil Wolf said and gave her a thumbs up.His eyes locked onto Ashton as if he was worried he might slip away again."You need something from me?" Ashton asked. He vaguely remembered the guy—he had been jeering when he helped that old man. However, Ashton did not care enough to remember him well.Evil Wolf rubbed his chin. His eyes gleamed with greed as he looked at Kendra and Cassia."Seeing the company you keep, with their soft, smooth skin, you must be loaded, huh?" he asked."
After all, the information exchange would offend no one. As for the gold nugget? Champions Village's peak season was worth two months of work. The elder and the two youngsters went upstairs and knocked on Ashton's door."Enter," someone said in a deep voice.The old man entered politely, his eyes briefly registering surprise. The young man and two women before him were so beautiful they seemed otherworldly. It seemed unlikely that one of those youths had sent a man plummeting into the earth."And who might you be?" Ashton asked casually. He continued to enjoy his meal as he turned to greet the newcomers at the door.The elder's face broke into a wide grin. "Greetings, sir. Allow me to introduce myself. I hail from Alara, and my name is Solax. These two are my apprentices, Kevar and Kelma.""People from Alara?" Kendra frowned, indicating a negative first impression of the people from that country.Cassia remained nonchalant.Ashton casually asked, "What brings you here?"Solax s
"Welcome to the Green Vine Club's finest offerings, Mister Levin. Please, enjoy to your heart's content," Solax said, beaming.His two young apprentices knelt at the side, unfazed by the scene, as if it was just another day at the office.Alara had a clear hierarchy—the strong ruled and enjoyed their power, and no one dared criticize them. Thus, whatever happened in public was accepted as normal."Where's the manager?"Ashton was not interested in the women."Just a moment, Mister Levin. We have a bit of a queue, and we need to serve everyone in turn. Make yourself comfortable, and I'll bring the manager once he's finished with the other cultivators," Solax said, then signaled his apprentices to hurry out.Ashton was left in the room with the two scantily clad maids."Sir, I am Snow Aerwynn, and this is my sister, Blossom Aerwynn. We are at your service, untouched and pure," the woman in the flowing white robe said with a hint of an accent.Her sister in the soft pink robe nodd