Owen's face was darker than a chimney sweep's.
Helen laughed and said, "General Owen, can you escort out now?"
Her words left Owen speechless amidst the chaos of the Radiant Sky Grotto.
He stared at Helen for a long mont, then sighed and led her out.
anwhile, in the Radiant Sky Grotto's beast enclosure, Julian sat cross-legged on a stone block.
"That's better."
He inhaled the scent of gunpowder, a smile spreading across his face.
After all these years of enduring humiliation within the Radiant Sky Grotto, this explosion had blown away all his grievances!
Suddenly, he looked up and saw an elderly man with a benevolent face appear before him.
Julian hadn't even noticed his arrival.
His family had always called him simple-minded, but he could tell at a glance that this old man was no ordinary person.
He could even guess his identity.
However, Julian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the old man's eyes, the relaxed smile from his earlier outburst still lingering on his face.
"You did this?" the Radiant Sky Grotto's Grandmaster asked, surprised by Julian's composure.
Even without Quinn Daoist's report, he could easily deduce everything that had transpired within the Radiant Sky Grotto with his level of cultivation.
He knew about the stolen AI Bionic Robot, the explosions that had rocked the grotto, and even... Helen's departure with Owen.
Julian nodded.
"Yes."
Intrigued by the silver-skinned, bald giant's honesty, the Grandmaster warned, "Let make one thing clear, boy. Cause trouble in my Radiant Sky Grotto, and I'll crush you with a single hand!"
"That's why I'm not running," Julian replied, rising from the stone block and leaping before the Grandmaster.
He rubbed his bald head, a guileless smile on his face.
"I sought refuge in the Radiant Sky Grotto and worked as a handyman for many years. I've heard tales of the Radiant Sky Grotto's Grandmaster, how outsiders call your path unorthodox, yet you possess true power in this world. I knew I couldn't hide anything from your eyes."
"I've long yearned to et you, Grandmaster, but the path to enlightennt seed closed to . Others coveted my talents, and I feared revealing my true thoughts would lead to my demise. This display was a desperate attempt to draw you out."
With that, he knelt before the Grandmaster, his action surprising even the ancient master.
Prostrating himself on the ground, Julian spoke with conviction.
"Blackwood Julian, at your service, Grandmaster! For decades, I've honed my skills within the Radiant Sky Grotto. I've reached the sixth level in crafting mystical equipnt, formations, and AI Bionic Robots. Talismans, beast control, astrology... I've studied them all and possess true skill. Please, Grandmaster..."
"Take as your disciple!"
Julian clenched his fists, dirt clinging to his fingers.
He stared intently at the Storage Ring in his hand, his jaw set with determination.
No one knew what he had endured all these years.
He constantly replayed Larry's sacrifice to save him.
He had awakened within the Storage Ring, already aware of the Heavenly Path Venerable's destruction of his family.
He had experienced despair, confusion, and helplessness amidst the hostile environnt of the Radiant Sky Grotto.
But the day Forebearer appeared, he knew he had to change.
He couldn't remain the clueless, simpleton his clan mocked him for.
He had waited for this day, for this gamble.
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Only by becoming Grandmaster Reid's disciple and learning from his vast knowledge could he avenge his family and Larry!
When Reid remained silent, Julian gritted his teeth and repeated, "Please, Grandmaster Reid, accept as your disciple!"
Reid studied the kneeling Julian, his fingers drumming thoughtfully within his sleeve as he calculated.
Finally, he looked at Julian with approval, though his tone held a hint of reprimand.
"You chose such an extre thod to beco my disciple?"
Julian explained honestly, "I needed to draw you out, Grandmaster. Also, my people stole sothing from the Radiant Sky Grotto. I knew I couldn't hide it from you. So I gambled!"
"If you deed worthy, my cris would be insignificant. If not, then death would be my only reward."
Reid's delight grew.
"And did you win your gamble?" he asked softly.
Julian slowly straightened his back, eting the benevolent old man's gaze.
Behind Reid, flas painted the Radiant Sky Grotto red, and the shouts of its disciples still echoed through the air.
A smile spread across Julian's face, and he kowtowed three tis before Reid.
"Disciple Julian greets Master!"
Later, Julian followed Reid deeper into the Radiant Sky Grotto.
He glanced back at the grotto's entrance, where Helen had departed.
Far beyond the Radiant Sky Grotto lay their holand, Azure Cloud and Glory City, where his vast clan had once thrived.
He had never been one for thinking, for bowing and scraping, or for taking risks.
But this ti, he had gambled correctly.
He had spent years planting explosive AI Bionic Robots throughout the Radiant Sky Grotto.
He had toiled tirelessly as a handyman, not just to steal knowledge but to gather discarded scraps and even beast droppings.
He could have escaped during the explosions, but he chose to stay.
The mont Reid sought him out, he knew he had won.
His two hundred explosive AI Bionic Robots, his secretly cultivated psychic abilities, the resolve he displayed before Reid—he believed these proved he was more worthy than that sycophantic Quinn Daoist, the Grotto Master who only served the powerful.
"Father, Forebearer," Julian murmured, his eyes welling up as he trembled, unseen, "I won."
The explosions at the distant Radiant Sky Grotto reached even the ears of those at Amber Hill, leaving them astonished.
"Radiant Sky Grotto... what could have happened there?" they wondered.
Declan, ever sharp from his ti alongside National Advisor Lance, felt a surge of alarm at the news.
He noticed Donna, standing within the protective barrier at Amber Hill, betray a flicker of delight.
His keen mind instantly connected the events at the Radiant Sky Grotto to the Blackwoods, specifically Julian!
Brody, who had been leading a group of projections in an assault on Donna and her allies, also froze at the distant detonations.
He stared grimly towards the Radiant Sky Grotto, his expression darkening.
He, too, had Heavenly Path projections stationed in the market outside the Radiant Sky Grotto, and through them, he was already aware of the unfolding chaos within!
"Brody, what do we do now?" one of the projections asked.
As the question hung in the air, Declan, sensing sothing amiss, sent a ntal ssage: "Brody, what have you learned?"
"Owen is erging from the Radiant Sky Grotto," Brody replied, his eyes flickering.
"No one knows what transpired inside, but it seems they are involved."
"And now..." he continued, his voice laced with tension, "He's heading this way!"
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