"You owe me an apology!"Benton's voice boomed, his words infused with the power of mystic arts. The towering man beside him came to a halt, bowing his head.Benton was taken aback. "Mister Bames, this nobody should be apologizing, not the other way around."Rowan Bames brushed him aside and approached Ashton with a deep bow. "I am Rowan of the West Sea. I have failed to recognize you and have offended you, Mister Levin. I seek your pardon.""What? Mister Bames, what are you doing? Bowing and apologizing to him?"Benton was stunned. Rowan was a revered figure in the martial arts community. He was someone Benton aspired to emulate on his journey to master both the legal and martial disciplines, just like Mount Lindsey's founders. He even went to great lengths to secure Rowan's guidance. After all, the man was the renowned martial arts grandmaster from the West Sea.Rowan was known for his no-nonsense demeanor, always serious, and never one to bow or apologize lightly. He would not
"I've killed him. Are you satisfied?" Ashton turned his gaze to Rowan."Yes, yes, I'm completely convinced!" Rowan kept his head down, too afraid to even look.What was Benton to him, anyway? He had only taught Benton for his own benefit. They shared no blood ties.Mount Westeclaud? It was merely because Benton's mystic arts skills were ancient and powerful that he, a martial arts grandmaster, had allied with them to foster the growth of martial arts in West Seaty. Nothing more.Mount Westeclaud had foolishly crossed paths with a modern-day myth. If they were wiped out, they had only themselves to blame.The others felt a chilling dread grip them, their hearts plummeting into darkness.The Janson family, Mount Westeclaud, and the other elite clans in attendance were all titans who had weathered countless storms over decades, if not centuries. They might have done some heinous things, things that would send shivers down one's spine, but nothing like that casual execution.At his
"Let's offer them 20 percent of our shares as a peace offering." Briscoe exhaled a weary sigh, suddenly looking years older."What? Dad, are you out of your mind? Twenty percent? That's billions in value!""All the money in the world is worthless if you are not alive to spend it. Sure, we may lose some money, but we will recover. But if we die, the Janson family is finished, and our wealth will end up in someone else's hands," Briscoe said, his voice laden with worry.It hurt to let go of such a significant chunk of their shares, but he feared it would not be enough to appease Ashton, a man who defied all conventional wisdom.When the rest of the family heard that, they had no choice but to accept it.Everyone gathered in the Janson family's grand hall at the elder's request.The presidents from the various companies under the Janson Group banner were also there.The presidents were unaware of the recent upheaval, unaware that the Janson family's surrender of a sizable 20 percen
"No, please, I don't want to die!"Dad, save me, I don't want to die!"Enoch, save me, please save me."Her boyfriend, Enoch Jaber, stood by. His face was pale, head bowed in silence.He wanted to save her, but how could he?He did not dare to speak against that fearsome man, afraid that one wrong move would cost him his head. They were outmatched, dealing with someone who did not care about rules, morals, or laws and who followed his every whim.So, to survive, they had to play along to satisfy Ashton and make him happy."I can offer 60 percent!"We are willing to offer 60 percent of our shares, making Miss Lockwood our largest shareholder!"Mister Levin, with Miss Lockwood holding such a hefty slice of the pie, she's got the Janson Group in her hand. She can flip our fate like a coin."If that doesn't cut it for you, Mister Levin, then just finish us off. It's the same for my family if we're powerless!" Tymone declared, his voice heavy with a mix of defiance and despair."
Two leaderboards stood out in the Lindorm section—the Chart of Prodigies and the Chart of Supremes.Ashton's name topped the Chart of Supremes, unrivaled in his position. Indeed, the top five names had remained constant, dominated by the same elites.However, significant changes had occurred in the Western domain's Celestial Rankings.The second-place holder, Son of Darkness Yoel, and the fourth-place holder, the Con Artist Bruno, had been removed from the list. As a result, everyone from the fifth rank onward had risen two places.The Witch's Daughter Team held the second spot, with Sorro trailing in fourth place.However, Ashton knew that Sorro actually outmatched the Witch's Daughter Team in terms of sheer fighting prowess. However, Sorro lacked the all-around abilities of the Witch's Daughter Team, which could summon ghosts to wreak havoc across large areas. Their summoned specters, particularly the rule-bound ones, could transform a bustling city into a desolate ghost town in
Madeline's gaze was fixed on the attic, where a magical moment was about to unfold. A man stepped out, his blue robe flowing around him, holding a jade amulet the size of his palm. "Success." Ashton smiled, gently caressing the jade amulet as a whisper of core essence breathed life into it. Medicine Valley's mountains shimmered in an instant beneath a vast, translucent blue shield, an elegant oval that seemed almost too delicate to be real. Intricate patterns danced across the shield's surface, demonstrating the artistry that went into its creation.As Ashton's mental focus shifted, swirling Cyan Royal Dragons appeared from all directions, roaring as they moved gracefully across the aqua-hued veil. Those vortexing Cyan Royal Dragons would effortlessly penetrate the array via a mere mental focus, launching a deadly precision counterattack.With Madeline's assistance, Ashton had transformed the Mountain Guardian Array into a magical fortress, combining illusions, stealth, and a strong
"Seedlings of Cultivation Immortality.""What is it? Seedlings of Cultivation Immortality?" Ashton was puzzled."Yes." Wren confirmed with a nod."Martial arts are all about honing a warrior's spirit and charging forward without hesitation. But self-cultivation? That means nurturing a heart yearning to unravel the universe's mysteries, tirelessly seeking cosmic wisdom, and pursuing the ultimate truth. The Seedlings of Cultivation Immortality are like a shortcut that saves you from spending lifetimes in meditation. It is your personal key to the heavens, and once you have it, you are well on your way to becoming what is known as an innate cultivator."And as an innate cultivator, they have officially transcended the realm of humanity." Wren added."Wait, what is that?" Ashton blinked in confusion. "Not human anymore?"Wren laughed. "Oh, kiddo."An innate cultivator is something else entirely. It's more fitting to call them celestial beings. Your insides get a total makeover, tran
As soon as he stepped off the plane, Wren reached out to Juliana. She kept her reasons for coming to Summerfield Island to herself, saying she wanted her son to experience the island's rich culture and sights.Ashton could tell the two had not spoken in years as he listened in.It all made sense. Wren had vanished from the public eye after Hamilton City declared her dead over six years ago, cutting off all contact. Juliana was unsure whether her grandson was dead or alive.However, Ashton had never met his grandmother, so it did not matter to him.Juliana presided over the gathering of top leaders at the Leonard Group headquarters on Summerfield Island, in the executive conference room with its long, imposing table.The phone call ended, and a joyful smile spread across her face, concealing her 70-plus years. She was overjoyed to learn that her long-lost daughter was visiting the island along with her grandson.She ran the company as a hobby rather than a necessity. Given her bit