"Drakon King, getting into Hilton's home is no easy task. We've observed that just the overt guards are no less than ten Celestial Dracarium Commanders or above. And I suspect that there are also Divine Commanders hiding in the shadows," Draluna reported.Bribing Hilton's household was almost impossible. For experts of such caliber, money was no enticement. They could amass vast wealth if they wished, and betraying Hilton for any reason other than loyalty was even more far-fetched."Then, intercept his calls around the clock. Report any updates to me immediately," Xayne commanded.Since monitoring was impossible, extraordinary means had to be utilized.Although intercepting Hilton's mobile phone through radio waves consumes a huge amount of manpower and material resources, it was worth it for the safety of Drakonia."Understood, we'll monitor his every move starting tonight," Draluna assured him."Have there been any movement in the major military theaters?" Xayne paced, hands be
In Drakonix, the ten elders of the Combat Division gathered once again in the secret chamber of the Emperor's Pavillion. This marked the first time all ten had been called together since the new Emperor had ascended the throne."Emperor, the Dragonbreakers Legion has been largely disbanded. Now, fewer than fifty thousand remain stationed at Northern Plains. Meanwhile, the northern nations are showing signs of restlessness, and the situation is growing more precarious," one of the elders, a white-haired man, frowned and said.Although many things shouldn't have happened in Drakonia since the new emperor took the throne, the Emperor was aware of the challenges since taking the throne and knew that while many things in the country could fall into disorder, the borders and the military must remain unshaken. Thus, the commanding power of each military theater had been firmly held by the ten elders of the Combat Division.Although the Drakonian Council was now under Hilton's influence, it
"Master Albert!" Hilton hurried to greet Albert with a respectful bow and personally pulled over a chair for him.Albert sat down impassively and said, "The Lord was originally set to arrive in Drakonix three days from now, but plans have changed. Tonight, you will join me in welcoming him!"Hilton felt his brows twitch slightly. This was earlier than expected. Drakonix was prepared for this, but he did not even have time to finalize matters with the garrison commanders. The Lord’s sudden arrival caught him off guard."Master Albert, does this mean the Lord intends to act immediately?" Hilton asked with a hint of surprise in his voice.Albert nodded with a slight, knowing smile. It was the element of surprise, striking, while no one was expecting it. In the guise of peace, few would anticipate a bold entry into the Emperor’s Pavilion to demand relinquishment. It was a brilliant move, though also a dangerous one."What, are you afraid?" Albert as he gazed with scrutiny at Hilton. "
The elder tightened his fingers slightly, and the two jade-like walnuts he held were crushed to powder instantly.Albert stepped forward and asked, "Lord, should we proceed to the Emperor's Pavilion tonight?"The elder shook his head slightly. "It's not time yet. We must wait for a monumental piece of news to reach Drakonix first," he replied as he slowly rose to his feet.The aura surrounding the elder was powerful and awe-inspiring, a commanding presence that conveyed an almost regal authority. Hilton began recounting recent events to the elder, who nodded approvingly as he listened. "Killing Hammond and his associates was a risky move," the elder said. "But given the current situation, I won't hold it against you. Three days from now, it will be our time to strike. This is our only chance. Success or failure rests on this!""Yes!" Hilton responded with a firm nod. The elder motioned for him to leave, and Hilton bowed and exited the room. Albert then continued in a confidential
Bram squinted and pondered for a moment before standing up. "It seems I'll have to rely on this old face of mine and test my luck once more. You two, come with me," he commanded. After giving his two sons a stern look, he instructed the butler to prepare the car as he was going to meet Serena.In Folksworth's old circles, Bram held an almost unassailable status. This was not because the Shaw family's business was especially large but due to Bram's deep connections with the region's three powerful circles. Years ago, he had helped the leader of Valiant Rose Circle survive a difficult time, a favor that was never forgotten. When Heaven's Feather Circle leader was still an unknown entity, Bram had provided substantial support, which that leader remembered fondly when he eventually rose to power. Furthermore, the head of Cyano Peak, the largest sect near Folksworth, was Bram's sworn benefactor.So, despite stepping back from the business world, few in Folksworth dared to disrespect
Serena calculated for a moment, then shook her head. There was no need to summon Master Esmond now.After all, if these people came to her company, it would likely make peace and not harm the people meeting them."No need, Evelyn. Take them to the conference room. I'll be right there," she instructed with a smile.Once Evelyn left, Serena organized the documents on her desk, selecting some financial statements from smaller firms and their submitted property contracts."Mr. Jean, these companies aren't very valuable. Besides, they were coerced. I think we should return these properties to them," she suggested."For the remaining six, find someone to reach out. Sell what we can, and for the unsellable assets, we'll manage them ourselves," she continued.Jean gave a slight nod, accepting the stack of folders from Serena's hands.Too many assets can sometimes be more of a burden than a benefit.The Bullard family had hoped to boost their influence with a showdown against Xayne. Une
Silas and his brother were left speechless by Serena's pointed questions.Beside her, Jean also rose, saying, "As I recall, it was the two of you who first suggested carving up the Serena Group. You both seemed quite thrilled about it back then. Where was this lack of choice?""Jean! No one asked for your input!" Amos snapped, his gaze icy.Jean smirked. "Mr. Bram, if this were a few days ago, I'd hardly have the right to speak to you this way. But times change, and now you'll need to answer for your words and actions."Mr. Xayne is a fair man, only asking you to hand over your assets while sparing your lives. That's about as generous as it gets."Before Jean could finish, Bram slammed the table as his old eyes blazed with cold fury. The weight of his authority bore down on Jean like a suffocating shadow.Although Bram said nothing, Jean felt the unspoken pressure."Ms. Serena," Bram finally spoke with a smooth yet commanding tone, "I believe our conversation here doesn't requir
Upon hearing Bram’s threat, Serena paused, glancing back at him with a steely gaze. “The day the Shaw family decided to go against Serena Group, we'd already drawn our battle lines,” she replied with a cold tone.With that, she turned and strode out of the office without another glance.Jean let out a mirthless chuckle, addressing Bram. “Mr. Bram, times have changed. The outcome might surprise you if you don’t surrender your assets.”He, too, quickly exited the conference room.Bram seethed, left sitting in the empty room. 'How dare Serena ignore me like this?!'“She got some nerves, that Serena! You really want to force my hand?” he snarled, slamming his fist on the table. “Let’s go. She’ll be begging us soon enough.”Bram stormed out as his sons followed in his furious wake.Just as they reached the hallway, Evelyn, preoccupied with her thoughts, accidentally bumped into him, scattering the files she was carrying.“Oh! I’m so sorry!” Evelyn quickly knelt, gathering the fall
As the purple lightning streaked through the window, Xayne closed his eyes halfway, focusing intently to bring his mind into a state of complete emptiness. It was only in this meditative void that he could attempt to recapture that fleeting sense of clarity.Though Xayne had once unleashed a similar formation in his duel with Lyuben, the essence of such formations remained beyond his comprehension. His execution was guided purely by instinct, a far cry from the mastery and stability demonstrated by Lyuben and Delwyn. Time-pressed against Xayne like a vice. He had less than a millisecond to react.If the purple lightning struck him, even as a Quin-Divine Commander at his level or if he was a level higher, the damage would be catastrophic, possibly fatal. Thunder Might of Heaven was something no human strength could withstand.The moment the purple lightning appeared in the suite, its devastating power became evident. Several elites who had been kneeling closest to the lightning's tra
Unfortunately, Heavenly Tome did not include the Three Absolutes Formation. There were, however, detailed descriptions of its complexity.This formation said to originate from the First Dragon, had long been forgotten, its full potential left unrealized by those who came after him. The Three Absolutes referred to: Heaven's Absolute, Earth's Absolute, and Man's Absolute. Among them, Heaven's Absolute was the most domineering, Earth's Absolute the most intricate, and Man's Absolute the most ferocious.Delwyn had only mastered the Heaven's Absolute. The pale-blue light curtain surrounding him seemed to embody the so-called Thunder Might of Heaven. If pushed to its limits, this formation could summon something akin to devastating lightning strikes, powerful enough to annihilate anything in its path. Be it life or matter, nothing could stand against such divine retribution. It bore an uncanny resemblance to the world-altering formation the Golden Dragon King had unleashed in times past.
Delwyn's confidence surged as he witnessed the effectiveness of his formation. Xayne's formidable Ravenclaw dagger had been effortlessly repelled, leaving Delwyn feeling invincible.No wonder the Christy family elders always stressed the importance of mastering their First formations. The Christy family's prominence wasn't solely due to their role as guardians of the First Dragon's tomb. Their mastery of ancient formations, some passed down from the First Dragon, was unparalleled, formidable enough to command respect even from the Five Great Mountains.Delwyn laughed triumphantly. The thrill of holding his ground against a Quin-Divine Commander filled him with elation. He had overestimated Xayne.Meanwhile, Xayne retrieved the Ravenclaw dagger, noting an unusual and elusive force surrounding it. Even he couldn't fully grasp its nature. As the dagger's momentum forced him back several steps, Xayne steadied himself, his eyes narrowing."Feeling humbled now, Xayne?" Delwyn smirked, hi
"You're courting death!" Xayne's words had barely landed when a figure rushed forward, grabbing his arm tightly."Mr. Xayne! Please, calm down! This might all just be a misunderstanding. You can't start a fight here, the consequences would be unimaginable!" Luther's face had turned pale with fear.Both men, Xayne and Delwyn were far beyond what he could handle. If anything happened to either of them in Folksberg, it would spell the end of his political career and likely his freedom."Misunderstanding?" Xayne's cold laughter echoed in the room as he pointed at Delwyn. "Using my name to scam and extort people was bad enough. Forcing women into unspeakable situations? If that's a 'misunderstanding,' then what isn't?"As he finished speaking, a powerful surge of energy erupted from Xayne, his aura soaring to its peak, a Quin-Divine Commander's aura, overwhelming and unstoppable. The force shook Luther's grip loose, leaving him stumbling back in shock.Luther took one look at Xayne's i
Xayne stepped into the suite with Yanny close behind, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The two men, Xayne and the imposter looked nearly identical.Even Yanny froze, her eyes darting between them.Before, when they weren't side by side, their resemblance had been noticeable but not striking. Now, face-to-face, their shared aura and presence were unmistakable.The difference was that Delwyn carried himself with an arrogant, almost oppressive authority as if the world were beneath him. In contrast, Xayne exuded a calm yet commanding energy, one rooted in confidence rather than superiority."What is going on here?" Luther stammered, clutching his wine glass.Delwyn was momentarily stunned to see Xayne, but he quickly regained his composure."Xayne!" he sneered.The charade was over. Delwyn saw no point in pretending anymore as he took a sip of red wine from his wine glass and an arrogant expression appeared on his face. Tr
"In Warren International Hotel. But, young man, we appreciate your kindness but you can't just throw your life away!" Channy turned toward Xayne, his face full of worry.Beside him, Renny chimed in, her voice urgent. "Serena is pregnant! If something happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to her?""I've told you. I'm Xayne too!" Xayne's tone was firm, his expression unyielding.What he left unsaid, however, was the truth: the so-called "Xayne" they'd met before was a fraud.The problem was that the Riller family had all seen Delwyn. Compared to Xayne, Delwyn carried himself with authority and charisma far superior to Xayne.No one believed that this seemingly ordinary young man before them was the legendary King of the North."Renny, take me there," Xayne ordered, casting a glance at the bedridden Yanny. Seeing that she was no longer in danger, he turned back to Renny."I..." Renny hesitated, unsure.Before she could decide, Yanny struggled to sit up on her bed. Her vo
Without wasting a second, he led a small group of servants up to the second floor at a brisk pace."Miss Yanny! Please open the door!" Loud, frantic knocks echoed from upstairs."Sir, the door to Miss Yanny's room won't open!" the butler called down, his forehead glistening with sweat as he rushed back downstairs, his breathing uneven."Then what are you all standing around for? Break the door open!" Channy's voice cracked with panic, his face flushed red with desperation. He stomped his foot and beat his chest, his heart filled with regret. He loved Renny and Yanny very much. The words he'd spoken earlier were out of desperation and now felt like a blade twisting in his gut. If anything happened to his granddaughter, he'd never forgive himself.Xayne didn't wait for anyone else to react. He stormed up the stairs, his movements sharp and purposeful. Pushing past the Riller family's servants, he raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick to the door. It burst open with a loud cr
Before the words were even finished, Xayne had already pushed open the car door and stepped out. Without hesitation, he brushed past the servants at the entrance and led Renny straight into the estate.The moment they walked in, they heard Channy pounding his chest in frustration, his voice thundering as he pointed toward the second floor. "Even if you have no regard for family, can you bear to see so many people dragged down with you?"Around him, more than a dozen servants stood in silence, heads bowed, not daring to make a sound. Two middle-aged men stood before Channy like chastised schoolchildren, their posture rigid, their faces full of unease.When Channy spotted Renny, his face twisted with a mix of surprise and anger. He barely spared a glance at Xayne. After all, in his opinion, Xayne was too ordinary, so ordinary that he didn't even deserve a second look."Renny?" Channy frowned deeply. "You're back just in time. Go upstairs and talk some sense into your sister. If she r
"Miss Riller, every move you make is under my watch. I even know when you left for Folksworth and when you came back. I have detailed reports here!" Zenn smirked as he pulled out his phone, scrolling through text messages before waving the screen in front of Renny's face."Move your car. I'm in a hurry!" Xayne said coldly, his tone sharp and unwavering.Zenn looked Xayne up and down, sneering. "Who the hell do you think you are? I'm here on Mr. Xayne's orders to wait for her. If you ruin his plans, can you bear the consequences?"As Renny had suspected, if he couldn't have her, he'd make sure no one else could either.When Zenn was having a fancy dinner with Delwyn earlier, he had spilled every detail about her. He praised the Riller sisters, calling them goddesses, but admitted that Renny was far prettier than her sister, Yanny. He mentioned how she'd gone to Folksworth and wasn't sure when she'd return.The moment Delwyn decided to send someone to drag her back to Folksberg, Zen