I stood in my damaged reception room, staring at the two arrogant n who thought they could assault my friend and walk away unscathed. Conrad lay on the floor, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Eamon was still on his knees, struggling to recover from the spiritual backlash.
"Did I stutter?" I asked, my voice dangerously calm. "You're not leaving until you make ands for this damage."
Dirk Buchanan turned back, his lips curling into a sneer. "Or what? You'll stop us with your mighty Sixth-rank cultivation?"
Burton Griffin placed a restraining hand on Dirk's arm, but his eyes remained fixed on with cold calculation.
"The man clearly doesn't know his place," Burton said. "Perhaps we should educate him."
I crossed my arms. "By all ans, try. I'm curious to see what Mighty Realm masters are capable of these days."
Dirk's face flushed with anger. Without warning, he charged at , his fist glowing with condensed Inner Strength. The attack ca fast—far faster than an ordinary cultivator could track.
But I wasn't ordinary.
I didn't move. I didn't even flinch as his fist connected squarely with my chest.
The impact should have sent flying through the wall. Instead, a muted thud echoed through the room as his energy dissipated harmlessly against my body.
Dirk's eyes widened in shock. "What the—"
I grabbed his wrist before he could pull away. "Disappointed?"
With a casual flick, I sent him stumbling backward. He crashed into a side table, shattering the expensive wood.
"That's another item you'll need to pay for," I noted dryly.
Burton's expression shifted from disdain to cautious reassessnt. "Interesting trick. Did Conrad teach you that defensive technique?"
"I have many teachers," I replied vaguely. "None of whom would approve of your behavior here today."
Conrad groaned, attempting to push himself up. "Master Knight... please... they're not worth it."
Burton stepped forward, suddenly all diplomacy. "My colleague acted rashly. Let's not escalate this misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" I echoed. "You attacked a man in his own ho after being welcod as guests. Where I co from, that's not a misunderstanding. That's an insult that demands blood."
Dirk scrambled to his feet, his face twisted with humiliation. "Do you know what happens to people who threaten us? They disappear!"
I smiled coldly. "Is that supposed to frighten ?"
Conrad finally managed to stand, though he leaned heavily against the wall. "Everyone, please calm down. Burton, I think it would be best if you and Dirk left for now."
Burton studied for another long mont before nodding slowly. "Perhaps that would be wise. We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot."
"More than a foot," I muttered.
Burton turned to leave, practically dragging the still-seething Dirk with him. At the doorway, he paused and looked back.
"We'll see you at White City for the Divine dicine gathering," he said. It wasn't a friendly goodbye—it was a promise of future confrontation.
After they left, Conrad collapsed into a chair, wincing.
"That was incredibly stupid," he said, pressing a hand to his injured chest. "Burton Griffin isn't soone you want as an enemy."
I moved to check his injuries. "And yet, here we are. Hold still, let see the damage."
As I examined Conrad, Eamon brought over my dical kit. The blow had cracked two of Conrad's ribs and disrupted his energy channels, but nothing I couldn't fix.
"They'll co after you now," Conrad warned as I applied a healing salve to his chest. "Burton doesn't forgive insults easily."
I shrugged. "Let them co."
"You don't understand," Conrad insisted. "Burton Griffin controls half the resources in Southern Eldoria. Dirk Buchanan's family has connections to three major sects. They're not just powerful individually—they have armies of followers."
"And yet neither of them knows about the Chaotic Body or my true capabilities," I replied. "That gives an advantage."
Conrad sighed, shaking his head. "Liam, your confidence borders on suicidal sotis."
Later that evening, after Conrad and Eamon had gone to rest, I sat alone in my garden, contemplating the confrontation. The stars shone brightly overhead, indifferent to human conflicts below.
My fingers traced the jade pendant at my neck—my father's legacy. So much power, so many secrets still waiting to be unlocked.
"Father," I whispered to the night, "am I ready for what's coming?"
Only silence answered .
---
In an opulent inn at the outskirts of White City, Burton Griffin paced the private dining room while Dirk Buchanan drank heavily from a wine jug.
"That little worm humiliated ," Dirk growled. "I'll skin him alive when I get the chance."
Burton stopped pacing. "Did you notice Conrad's behavior? He deferred to Knight despite having superior cultivation."
"Conrad's gone soft," Dirk spat. "Probably bewitched by so trick or potion."
"No," Burton said thoughtfully. "Conrad is many things, but he's not easily fooled. Knight has protection—powerful protection."
Dirk looked up, wine dripping from his chin. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying we need to be smarter about this. Did you see how Knight didn't dodge your attack? He took it directly and remained unhard."
"So defensive artifact," Dirk muttered dismissively.
Burton shook his head. "Perhaps. Or perhaps sothing more. Either way, a direct confrontation might draw unwanted attention."
"So we just let him get away with humiliating us?"
A slow, cruel smile spread across Burton's face. "Of course not. But the Divine dicine gathering offers... opportunities. Hundreds of powerful cultivators competing for a legendary treasure. Accidents happen. Bodies disappear."
Understanding dawned on Dirk's face. "Even the Ashworth family couldn't trace it back to us."
"Exactly," Burton nodded. "And with Knight removed, I can finally bring my family's full influence to bear on Eldoria. We've been patient long enough."
Dirk raised his wine cup. "To accidents, then."
"To accidents," Burton echoed, his eyes cold with murderous intent. The original source is *.
---
The next morning, Conrad found training in the courtyard, moving through ancient forms that channeled both light and dark energies through my ridians.
"You shouldn't be up yet," I said without breaking my stance. "Those injuries need ti to heal."
"Your dicine works wonders," Conrad replied, though he still moved gingerly. "We need to talk about what happened yesterday."
I finished my sequence before turning to face him. "There's nothing to discuss. They ca looking for trouble and found it."
"They're planning sothing," Conrad warned. "I know Burton. He never walks away from a confrontation unless he has a better strategy in mind."
"Let guess," I said, wiping sweat from my brow. "They'll try to kill during the Divine dicine gathering."
Conrad's eyes widened. "How did you—"
"It's what I would do if I were them," I replied simply. "A chaotic environnt, hundreds of powerful cultivators fighting over a treasure... perfect cover for an 'accident.'"
"Then you understand why you shouldn't go," Conrad said urgently. "The Divine dicine isn't worth your life!"
I laughed softly. "Conrad, the Divine dicine is exactly why I must go. Do you realize what it could an for my cultivation? For the future of Jade Moon Villa?"
"But—"
"I appreciate your concern," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But I've faced worse dangers than Burton Griffin and Dirk Buchanan."
Conrad shook his head in resignation. "There's no talking you out of this, is there?"
"None whatsoever," I replied with a smile. "Besides, sotis the best defense is to walk straight into the trap with eyes wide open."
---
In White City, thousands of cultivators had already gathered, drawn by rumors of the Divine dicine. Streets overflowed with practitioners from every major sect and family. Inns were filled to capacity, forcing latecors to camp outside the city walls.
Amidst this chaos, Caleb Thorne sat in a private chamber, overlooking the city from the highest tower. A servant knelt before him, head bowed.
"Master Thorne, they've all arrived as expected. The Ashworth representatives, the Griffin family, even the rogue cultivator Liam Knight."
Caleb nodded slowly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of his chair. "And the dicine?"
"Secured exactly as you instructed, sir."
A thin smile appeared on Caleb's face as he gazed out at the crowds below. So many powerful figures, all dancing to his tune without realizing it.
"They're all so predictable," he murmured. "Fighting over a prize they don't understand, forming alliances that will shatter at the first sign of adversity."
The servant remained silent, knowing better than to interrupt his master's thoughts.
"Burton thinks he's clever with his sches," Caleb continued. "He has no idea he's just another piece on my board."
"Sir, what about Knight? He's unpredictable. So say he has powerful backers."
Caleb's smile widened. "All the better. Chaos creates opportunity, and Knight certainly brings chaos wherever he goes."
He stood, walking to the window to watch the ant-like figures scurrying through the streets below.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "Everything is under my control."
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