## Liam's Perspective
The sound of retreating footsteps echoed through the chamber. I watched as the remaining Guild mbers huddled together, their faces pale with terror. Erson Hols had abandoned them, fleeing through his spatial tear like the coward he was.
"Your leader ran away," I said, my voice calm but firm. "What do you plan to do now?"
A man with a square jaw and broad shoulders stepped forward. Unlike the others, fear hadn't completely consud him.
"My na is Brian Bradford," he said, his voice steady despite the situation. "I'm the deputy leader of this expedition."
I sized him up. Strong, but not exceptional. Definitely no match for after I'd just crushed their leader.
"And?" I asked.
"We surrender," he stated simply. "None of us wish to die today."
Smart man. I nodded slowly. "I have no interest in killing those who yield. But I want sothing in return."
Brian's eyebrows rose slightly. "What do you want?"
"All your herbs. Every single one."
Murmurs broke out among the Guild mbers. One of them stepped forward, his face red with anger.
"Those are Guild property! We can't just—"
Brian silenced him with a sharp look. "Do you want to end up like Erson? Or worse?"
The man fell silent, stepping back into the group.
"A wise decision," I said. "Start gathering everything."
The Guild mbers reluctantly began emptying their storage bags. Piles of herbs, roots, and other dicinal materials ford on the chamber floor. Most were common varieties, but I spotted several rare specins that made my heart race.
Brian approached as his colleagues worked. "You're different from what we expected."
"How so?"
"You're letting us live." He looked genuinely surprised. "The Guild said you were a savage upstart."
I laughed coldly. "And what do you think now?"
He hesitated. "I think... you're dangerous. More dangerous than they realized."
One of the Guild mbers called out to Brian. He turned and walked toward three small jade boxes they had just removed.
"These are our most valuable acquisitions," Brian explained, opening the first box. "Five-thousand-year-old Spirit Root. The second contains Serpent's Tongue Herb. And the third..."
He opened the last box with reverence. Inside lay what looked like a miniature golden tree with crystalline leaves.
"Cosmic Dewdrop Plant," he finished. "Extrely rare. We were fortunate to find even one."
My eyes widened. These herbs alone were worth more than most people would see in several lifetis.
"Why are you showing these?" I asked suspiciously.
Brian shrugged. "You were going to take them anyway. I thought you should know what you're getting."
"Are you trying to buy goodwill?"
"Maybe." He looked at directly. "The Guild won't stop coming after you. You've made too much noise, gained too much attention."
I frowned. "Just because I refused to be stepped on? Because I fought back when they tried to crush ?"
Brian's expression was resigned. "The Guild doesn't exist just to practice martial arts. Its true purpose is to protect the established families and keep people like you from rising too high."
"People like ?"
"Outsiders. Those not born into the right families." He gestured vaguely. "The world runs on ancient bloodlines and connections. Your rapid rise threatens that order."
I stored this information carefully. The Veridia City Martial Guild wasn't just after because I'd embarrassed a few mbers. I represented a fundantal challenge to their system.
"Is that why you're with them?" I asked. "To maintain this precious order?"
Brian smiled wryly. "I was born into a third-tier family. The Guild was my only path to advancent."
"And now?"
"Now I'm wondering if I chose correctly." He glanced at his colleagues who were finishing the collection. "We're done here. All herbs have been gathered."
I nodded. "You can leave. Take your wounded."
Relief washed over the Guild mbers' faces as they helped their injured comrades. Brian lingered.
"That form you used," he said quietly. "The golden giant. I've only heard stories about it."
I remained silent, waiting.
"They call it the Cosmic form," he continued. "There are legends about cultivators who could harness cosmic energy directly. The last one nearly destroyed our organization a century ago."
With those cryptic words, he bowed slightly and left with the others, leaving alone with a mountain of valuable herbs and even more questions.
The Man with the Mustache poked his head into the chamber minutes later.
"Are they gone? Nobody's going to suddenly leap out and stab , right?"
I couldn't help but smile. "They're gone. All of them."
He strutted in, examining the piles of herbs with undisguised greed. "My goodness! What a haul!"
"Can you start working on the Dragon Vein?" I asked.
He blinked, montarily distracted from the herbs. "Oh, yes! Given what we found, I should be able to begin the process. But it will take ti."
"How long?"
"Days, at least." He waved his hands dramatically. "These things cannot be rushed! Proper attunent requires precision!"
I nodded. "Then get started. I need to prepare for what's coming."
"What's coming?" he asked nervously.
"Sothing big," I replied, rembering Brian's warning. "The Guild won't take this lying down."
---
Miles away, Erson Hols burst through the grand doors of the Veridia City Martial Guild headquarters. His robes were torn, his face haggard, and terror still lingered in his eyes.
Two guards imdiately blocked his path.
"Elder Hols," one said sharply. "The Council is not receiving visitors."
"Get out of my way!" Erson shouted. "This is urgent!"
A door opened at the end of the hall. An imposing figure erged, face hidden in shadow.
"Let him pass," commanded a deep voice.
The guards stepped aside imdiately. Erson hurried toward the figure, dropping to one knee.
"Master, I bring grave news—"
"You abandoned your team." The voice was cold, emotionless. "Explain yourself."
Erson swallowed hard. "Sir, I had no choice. The information I carry is too important to risk—"
A blinding flash of movent. Pain erupted across Erson's face as he flew backward, crashing into the marble floor. Blood trickled from his mouth. This сhаptеr is frоm thе соllесtiоn аt
"Your cowardice dishonors our Guild," the figure stated flatly.
Erson trembled but managed to look up. "Master, please. The boy... Liam Knight... he used the Cosmic form."
The hall fell silent. Even the shadows seed to still.
"What did you say?" The voice was barely a whisper now.
"The Cosmic form," Erson repeated desperately. "Golden light, enormous size. The sa technique described in our ancient texts."
A flutter of whispers spread through the hall as more figures erged from the shadows.
"Impossible," soone muttered. "That bloodline was eradicated."
"I saw it with my own eyes!" Erson insisted. "He destroyed my Divine Dragon Manifestation with a single hand! No ordinary technique could do that!"
The primary figure stepped forward into the light. An elderly man with a face like carved stone and eyes that had witnessed centuries.
"Do you understand what you're saying, Erson?" he asked. "The last wielder of that technique nearly brought our organization to ruin. We lost seven elders before finally subduing him."
Erson nodded frantically. "That's why I rushed back! We cannot allow him to grow stronger!"
The elderly man turned to confer with the others. Hushed, urgent voices filled the chamber.
Erson rose shakily to his feet. Blood dripped from his chin onto the pristine floor.
"Masters," he said, his voice growing stronger. "I suggest we deploy our strongest forces imdiately to eliminate Liam Knight!"
The room fell silent again, all eyes turning to the trembling man who had just advocated the Guild's most drastic asure.
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