Ashton dashed into the cave.Cassia collapsed to the ground, her legs giving way. Her eyes widened with hope as she watched him.He reached out and gently helped her to her feet. "Are you okay?"Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she vigorously nodded. "I am okay. Really, I am."There was no greater joy than surviving a disaster or the relief of reclaiming what she had thought was lost. Cassia had both experiences in that single, miraculous moment.The girl in the black dress nearby was awestruck and could only stare.She thought men that gorgeous could not possibly be real.However, Ashton appeared to defy reality. His skin was radiant and almost translucent, with tiny flecks of black that added to his allure."Can you save me, too?" the girl in the black dress stammered.Ashton's gaze shifted to Cassia, waiting for her cue.Cassia, moved by the girl's desperate eyes, had already decided."If you can, please help them. Wilder Huntsville snatched them just like they did
[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
[What? For a woman? Has he lost it?][Holy smokes, that's nuts. At his level, he could have any woman he wanted. To risk it all for one woman? Doesn't he understand that going against a country and ticking off a superpower is playing with fire?][It's beyond me, really.][If Aarrowsmith decides he's a significant enough threat and triggers the God-Breaking Ultimate Plan, not even a legend like him could dodge the bullet.][A femme fatale? Is it possible for a legendary cultivator to fall because of a woman?][Youth and impulse—always a volatile mix. Those old heavyweights on the Chart of Legends would not dream of pulling a stunt like this.]Kyler's shocking revelation sparked a flood of comments and messages, and some people were clearly singing a different tune.The kind of passion that would drive a man to a furious rage for the love of a woman was raw emotion.One could also consider the recklessness of youth—if they had not been wild when they were young, they had not trul
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 blinked in surprise.What was that all about?Why did Dragon Valley's name stir such a reaction?Without delay, a motley crew burst forth.There were business types in sharp suits, adventure junkies in sporty gear, and seasoned adventurers and guides."Who's asking about Dragon Valley?""Who is it?""Right there! Those two want to go to Dragon Valley," the woman at the desk pointed at Ashton and Madeline.The men were startled by Madeline's appearance. It was not every day that they could see someone like her in those parts of the world—delicate, almost too perfect. Adventurous women did not usually have such well-kept skin or such a striking figure, which seemed to be more of a liability than an asset out there.She would be useless on a climb, incapable of scaling peaks or swimming across rivers. A woman like her taking on an adventure? The odds were not in her favor.However, Madeline's allure was just a fleeting distraction. There was a bigger fish to fry."You tw
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
"Well, I'm not a fan of pulling punches. Are you sure you're up for a real knock-down, drag-out fight?" Ashton stepped closer.Berrty scowled, ready to retort, but an old man stepped out of a tent just then. He hurried to the woman's side and murmured something in her ear.Berrty did not seem too pleased, but the situation forced her hand, and she nodded in consent."Alright, we'll skip your little test.""Take a breather. We're heading out in 20 minutes."Ashton's smile was fleeting, his keen senses picking up on every word the old man whispered."My lady, let's not waste any more time here. According to the first team, the Twin Dragon Bridge has appeared in Dragon Valley. We have to get to Bayonne Airport. The pickup crew is all set to go."Berrty ducked into the biggest tent and emerged with neatly packed bundles, which she fastened to the saddles. The rest of the crew hustled to get their gear together.In 20 minutes, the Pegasus Adventure Group was locked and loaded, ready
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