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
Luke shook his head, a worried expression on his face. "I'm as in the dark as you are. It is most likely a secret only known to the elite titans."However, if the Eagle King himself detected danger, we'd be in for a rough time. We should brace ourselves."Berrty stood bold and unafraid. Her fist was tight as she said, "I am in it for the fabled path to dragonhood, the quest for immortality. No risk is too great for me. The Twin Dragon Bridge is our sign that good fortune is on its way. I will not back down because of a few discouraging words.""Miss Recinos is right. I'm with her all the way," Yago said, nodding respectfully."Forward it is, then. We'll follow the Eagle King's lead. He won't steer us wrong," Berrty said, slapping the horse's back. The spirited horse surged ahead, leading the pack.Tales of the Eagle King's bravery and feats were the talk of the group as they traveled.The Eagle King was a well-known Grand Domain Ruler in Southeast Daburin.Those Grand Domain Rul
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
Ashton did not seem to hear what she said and led Madeline to the cliff's edge.There were three cliffs in Dragon Valley. The Twin Dragon Bridge was in front of Ashton's eyes. He would fall to the bottom of the boundless cliff if he stepped on it carelessly, just like the previous person.Not everything the human eye perceived was real because of the magnetic field disarray, light refraction, and other problems there.For example, the tree before him might not even be a real object.He could also walk to an empty spot and hit his head on a tree.That was due to light refractions, which projected the scene to other locations, resulting in a mirage-like effect.However, that situation was easy for Ashton, as he had the spiritual power to explore around.However, it was still a little tricky for him.He discovered that the so-called Twin Dragon Bridge was just an illusion, and the real problem was not that but the special magnetic field in the canyon.If someone stepped onto the