Chapter 1502: Chapter 1502: Demonic Ridge of the Shadows
No wonder Milan Reid thought this way.
In the Moon Radiance Sect, even the Saint Realm experts, including the Sect Leader, couldn’t necessarily possess a Three-star Attack Dao Talisman.
As for Trevor Baillie, being a ’Three-star Saint Marking Master,’ perhaps he had other ways to obtain a Three-star Attack Dao Talisman.
"Young Master Barnes, this matter is indeed our Howard Family’s fault... Even I, as the Family Head, hadn’t expected Koen Howard to be so audacious, daring to covet Young Master Barnes and even attempt to harm you."
Valentin Howard looked at Wyatt Barnes with an apologetic expression and said.
As he continued, he feigned a look of relief, "Fortunately, Young Master Barnes has heaven’s protection, and Koen Howard has paid the price with his life. This truly is a happy ending for all."
"A happy ending for all?"
Wyatt Barnes sneered, looking at Valentin Howard with deep aning, causing Valentin Howard to feel a tinge of guilt.
"Nonetheless, Koen Howard was still the Second Elder of the Howard Family. Although his death puts an end to things, our Howard Family must bear the primary responsibility for this... While we may not be able to present a Three-star Attack Dao Talisman, we are willing to offer other compensation."
"Additionally, we are prepared to provide more items to ease Young Master Barnes’s distress."
As the current Family Head of the Howard Family, Valentin Howard was a shrewd and calculating man.
Seeing that his son’s life had been spared, he had already deduced Wyatt Barnes’s and Milan Reid’s motive.
It wasn’t difficult to figure out—they wanted to extort the Howard Family.
So, without waiting for Wyatt Barnes to bring it up, he proactively addressed it.
As for Leslie Howard, Valentin Howard didn’t ntion much, as he knew it wasn’t necessary for now.
"Family Head Howard is indeed a straightforward person! Since Family Head Howard is so forthright, I naturally won’t keep holding on to this matter... Leslie Howard can leave with you. However, I hope Family Head Howard handles certain issues with sincerity; otherwise, this matter might not end so smoothly."
Though surprised by Valentin Howard’s initiative, since his objective had already been achieved, Wyatt Barnes didn’t intend to push the issue further.
However, he subtly hinted at Valentin Howard.
The underlying ssage was clear—don’t plan to offer so token gestures and expect him to be placated.
"Certainly! Certainly!"
Hearing Wyatt Barnes’s words, Valentin Howard broke out in a cold sweat. He had indeed considered offering so less valuable items to settle the matter earlier.
But now, it was apparent that such a course was impossible.
Offending Wyatt Barnes was sothing he couldn’t afford, nor could the Howard Family as a whole.
"Three days from now, I will visit with Senior Brother Milan... At that ti, I hope Family Head Howard has prepared your ’sincerity.’ Personally, I am quite interested in items that ordinary people might not be able to recognize."
Wyatt Barnes cast Valentin Howard a penetrating look as he spoke.
The implication behind his words was tied to the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tower. Perhaps within the Howard Family’s unknown inventory, there might be materials needed to restore the tower.
Currently, while the Seven Treasures Exquisite Tower had its third layer repaired, Wyatt Barnes wasn’t satisfied.
The Seven Treasures Exquisite Tower had seven layers in total. Even with the third layer restored, it hadn’t even reached half its potential.
"Young Master Barnes, rest assured, I will make sure to satisfy you."
Despite feeling like his heart was bleeding, Valentin Howard managed to put on a smile as he responded to Wyatt Barnes. After bidding farewell to Wyatt Barnes and Milan Reid, he took Leslie Howard away.
As Leslie Howard departed, he displayed a look of relieved excitent, obediently following behind Valentin Howard, without speaking a single word.
This entire fiasco, after all, was of his own making, leaving him feeling deeply guilty.
"Father, if you want to scold , go ahead."
After leaving the Nine Sect Alliance headquarters, Leslie Howard, seeing Valentin Howard’s silence, grew uneasy and took the initiative to speak.
"I want to know the truth."
Valentin Howard finally spoke, but his tone was unnervingly calm.
Leslie Howard dared not continue lying and proceeded to explain everything about the incident in detail.
When he brought up the mont Koen Howard was killed, he noticed his father’s body slightly tremble. He quickly added, "It’s my fault that Grandfather Mountain died—it’s all my fault! It’s all my fault!"
"You understand it’s your fault, which ans there’s still hope for you... This ti, because of you, the Second Elder was killed. It’s not just you—his death brings sha upon
as well."
Valentin Howard spoke in a detached tone.
"Yes, I am ashad of Grandfather Mountain."
Leslie Howard nodded quickly, not daring to argue.
"When we return, I plan to send you to the Demonic Ridge of the Shadows."
Valentin Howard’s eyes flashed with resolution as he made his decision without reservation.
"The Demonic Ridge of the Shadows?"
Leslie Howard, who had been compliant monts earlier, instantly turned pale upon hearing those words. He scread in protest, "No! Father, I won’t go to the Demonic Ridge of the Shadows! Father, you can’t do this! I am your only son!"
Valentin Howard’s face turned icy cold.
Only son?
Perhaps before.
Recently, his mistress had birthed him a son.
This matter was known only to him and his confidants within the Howard Family.
Out of concerns that Leslie Howard might harm his younger son or that the family would marginalize the child because of Leslie’s position, Valentin Howard hadn’t publicly acknowledged the child.
When the boy was born, Valentin Howard had been delighted, but he never intended to bring him into the Howard Family.
The Howard Family had always been ant for Leslie Howard to inherit.
However, Leslie Howard’s recent behavior had deeply disappointed him, prompting this decision to send him to the Demonic Ridge of the Shadows.
If Leslie Howard perished there, it would simply be bad luck.
At that ti, Valentin Howard would bring his younger son into the Howard Family to groom him as heir.
"Father, I’ll die there! In the history of the Howard Family, none who’ve ventured into the Demonic Ridge of the Shadows have ever returned alive."
Leslie Howard shouted desperately, unwilling to face the prospect of entering the Demonic Ridge of the Shadows.
"You’re wrong. Once, a mber of the Howard Family did survive and return from the Demonic Ridge of the Shadows."
Valentin Howard replied indifferently.
"But that was tens of thousands of years ago, and they were a one-off case. Over the past tens of thousands of years, the Howard Family has sent nearly ten thousand mbers into the ridge, yet not one returned alive."
Leslie Howard’s face grew visibly pale, his voice trembling. Suddenly, he shot a wary glance at Valentin Howard and attempted to escape.
But escape was impossible under Valentin Howard’s supervision.
Effortlessly stopping Leslie Howard, Valentin Howard declared, "This decision is final... Don’t be so pessimistic. The Howard Family’s ancestor who survived the ridge was, like yourself, a direct descendant."
"So, your chances are significant. After all, the area within the ridge reportedly has ties to the Howard Family’s founder. Perhaps he will favor direct descendants like you."
Valentin Howard explained.
"Moreover, if you return alive, given ti, not just Wyatt Barnes—even the Moon Radiance Sect and the entire Nine Sect Alliance might be beneath you. Our family ancestor, upon his return, managed to defeat Saint Realm experts from Sixth-rank factions in his pri!"
"If not for provoking a major figure within a Fifth-rank faction, he wouldn’t have t his tragic end... and our Howard Family wouldn’t have fallen from grace."
Initially, Valentin Howard spoke with excitent and pride, but as he continued, his tone turned wistful, finishing with a sigh.
"Leslie, I genuinely believe you have the potential to beco the second mber of the Howard Family to erge from the ridge."
Valentin Howard addressed Leslie Howard.
"Father, don’t think I don’t know—nearly all mbers of the Howard Family who entered the ridge were direct descendants. What beca of them? Within three months, their soul beads shattered one after another."
Leslie Howard, stricken with fear, protested, his body writhing in Valentin Howard’s grip as he struggled to break free.
Finally, Valentin Howard struck him unconscious.
"Leslie, don’t bla . If there’s anyone to bla, it’s the magnitude of the trouble you caused... Your statents at the Nine Sect Alliance headquarters aren’t believable—not by , nor by the family elders. This matter requires closure."
Muttering softly, Valentin Howard sighed deeply.
Although he could have released Leslie Howard outright, he knew without a doubt that the family elders would unite to oust him imdiately.
Howard Family rules dictated that a family head who committed grave errors would lose the privilege of their lineage’s priority inheritance of the family head position.
Within the Howard Family, several influential elders shared his lineage but were from different branches. They had always waited for an opportunity to strip him of his position and transfer it to their branch.
To protect his branch’s rights, Valentin Howard resolved to make this difficult choice.
It was a choice that satisfied the elders and preserved a sliver of hope for his son Leslie.
The hope was indeed slim, and even he doubted Leslie could survive.
But at least it was better than eting death at the Nine Sect Alliance headquarters.
"The Demonic Ridge of the Shadows..."
Reflecting on his family’s infamous "land of peril," Valentin Howard couldn’t help but tremble involuntarily.
The Demonic Ridge of the Shadows was said to have ties to the Howard Family’s founder.
Among the Howard Family mbers for generations, a legend had circulated: anyone who managed to walk out of the ridge alive would undoubtedly beco a top-tier powerhouse.
Initially, as no one successfully erged from the ridge, people began to dismiss the legend.
Then, tens of thousands of years ago, a direct Howard Family descendant walked out of the ridge alive, showcasing imnse power, and proving the legend was not baseless.
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