Training in paper charm spells was unusually difficult. It would take at least 20 to 30 years of hard work just to become a beginner.Sebastian didn't want to back Elton into a corner. After all, Elton hadn't hurt him, and there was no reason to make an enemy of Elton just for the sake of the Northmans."Mr. Ballard, I'm sorry, that was inconsiderate of me. Let me take you home. I hope you accept this token of my appreciation too." Zane took out a check from his pocket and gave it to Sebastian."Mr. Ballard, it's unfortunate that you had to witness the ridiculous affairs of our family. However, I hope that you will attend the auction with my son at the Skyline Hotel three days from now. What do you think, Mr. Ballard?" Theodore said very politely."An auction?" Sebastian asked, frowning."This is an auction restricted only to the elite upper class of Sunway. There will be many rare treasures there, and if any of them catch your eye, just tell Zane and let him bid for it for you. W
The next day, Zane went to Rosalie's office. With him was the contract with Arctic Snow Group, stating that they would collaborate to develop a new anti-cancer drug. Rosalie glanced at the contract. She frowned slightly as she said, "Mr. Northman, are you sure you have the right contract?"The contract clearly stated that Northstar Pharma would pay for all the expenses of research, development, and advertising. 70% of the profits would go to Arctic Snow Group, while Northstar Pharma would only receive 30%. It was such a good deal for Arctic Snow Group. It was basically giving them money.Zane smiled and said, "Ms. Griffin, the Northmans would have gotten into a disaster if Mr. Ballard hadn't been around. That's why my father decided to let him have 70% of the project's profits to thank him for saving his life."After all, Arctic Snow Group is the company with the most potential for development in Steinberg. In the future, our collaborations may not be confined to anti-cancer dru
Wyatt nodded and said, "Alright. After all, we're old men who have no idea about any of this. However, if you need any financial support, all you have to do is ask." As he spoke, Wyatt took a credit card from the guard next to him. He handed it to Sebastian and said, "There's no limit on this card. Just take it and use it as you wish.""The lives of my comrades will affect the safety of Dramon. I'll have to hand this matter over to you and ask for your help." Wyatt gave Sebastian a crisp, military salute."Mr. Holman Senior, please take this card back. I can afford a small sum like this," Sebastian said, giving the card back to Wyatt. Although Sebastian tried to refuse, Wyatt insisted. Sebastian had no choice but to take the card.After that, Wyatt ordered Liam to take Sebastian back to the convenience store.…Three days later, Zane arrived very early at Sebastian's shop. The moment he walked in, his face broke into a wide smile as he went up to Sebastian. "Mr. Ballard, I c
The old man, Joshua Sadler, nodded and said, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Stallone, Mr. Wolsey."Although he was apologizing, he looked very arrogant. He didn't look sorry at all."Mr. Sadler? Are you Joshua Sadler, the King of Geodes?""Oh it really is Joshua! How did the Stallones manage to invite someone so important?""It seems that the Stallones will win again at today's auction."Several people fixed their gazes on the old man. Joshua smiled slightly at the attention.Joshua was a very famous person in the state's cultural relic circles. He was rumored to have very sharp eyes. Any geode, emerald article, or antique that he picked out would turn out to be priceless.The Stallones had put in a lot of effort to hire Joshua and had given him an exorbitant annual salary of 80 million dollars. With Joshua backing him up, Jayden was even more confident."I think you'd better stay outside, Zane. You can't keep giving money to the sellers. The Northmans may have many asse
"Let's bet 100 million on the person who will get the highest value in auction items today. Do you dare to take the bet?" Sebastian asked, smiling.When Zane heard the amount that Sebastian was betting, he broke out in a cold sweat.Theodore had only given him 500 million. Even if he didn't get anything at the auction, he'd already have to give away 100 million for nothing!"Mr. Ballard… it'll be difficult for me to explain the 100 million to my father," Zane whispered to Sebastian anxiously, trying to deter him.Theodore wouldn't mind if the money was spent on Sebastian.However, if Zane lost 100 million in a bet because he had listened to a layman like Sebastian, his father would be sure to break both his legs.Joshua tossed a coin onto the floor and smiled arrogantly. He said, "That's already a big sum of money to you."There was a roar of laughter from the onlookers around them. Sebastian glanced at the coin and smiled impassively as he said, "Cut the crap. Will you take
If Jayden was able to get all the shops that the Northmans owned in Sunway, he would have made a major contribution to the Stallone family."How about this? Let's bet on all the shops that the Northmans have in Sunway. If you lose, all the shops will be ours. If you win, we'll give you half of the shops that we have in Sunway's city center." Jayden's offer sounded generous, but all of the Stallones' shops added together wouldn't even be worth as much as half of the Northmans' shops.After all, Northstar Pharma was established more than 20 years ago. Although they had remained focused on the pharmaceutical industries, they also dabbled in several side industries. They even had assets in the jewelry industry. Therefore, the Northmans were very meticulous in choosing the location of their stores. After a few rounds of renovation and rebuilding, even the elite of Sunway often visited them.The rich and wealthy were the ones who really drove consumption."Alright, but I have one mor
Zane's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't help staring fixedly at Jayden and Lucian."Don't look back," Sebastian reminded him.Zane inhaled sharply. They were over 30 feet away. How had Sebastian known what Jayden's reserve price was?Could he read minds?As for whether the bowl was a counterfeit product or not, Zane didn't care at all. After all, the organizer would reveal the truth after every item was auctioned off.That was the most exciting part of the auction.At other auctions, the organizer or seller wouldn't even admit the buyers had gotten a counterfeit product. This auction, on the other hand, had already made it clear from the start. The audience knew that there were both real and counterfeit items being auctioned off. The purpose of doing so was to test the participants' judgment. It was also a way for all the elite who were attending the auction to show off their skill in antique appraisal."Let's have our first item for the night! This is from the first batch o
Celeste smiled and approached Jayden. She said softly and gently, "Mr. Stallone, you don't have to be discouraged. Keep going!"However, Jayden couldn't help feeling like she was smiling scornfully at him."Mr. Sadler, you— What's going on?" Jayden asked grimly when he returned to his seat, red in the face."Uh… well, everyone makes mistakes. Don't take it to heart, Mr. Stallone. We'll win it back in a jiffy," Joshua said very awkwardly. He had turned red."The next auction item is a painting called 'The King's Son.'" Celeste smiled and gestured toward the stage. "The King's Son" was then pushed out from backstage."Mr. Sadler, what do you think of this painting?" Jayden asked, staring nervously at Joshua.Joshua had been rattled by his failure. If he failed again, he would lose this job, which had an annual salary of 80 million. Not only that, his reputation in the antiques industry would be ruined overnight."Do you even have to ask? 'The King's Son' is a national treasure. Ho
As the man in the black robe yelled, the entire hall fell silent at once. The thin old man threw the black-robed old man a disgruntled look, but he returned obediently to his seat.Once the noise had died down, Preston stepped forward and swept an icy gaze over the crowd who were present. "You call yourself the elders of the family?"The monument of our ancestral dragon is right in front of you. How could you bully two young members of the family in front of it? Don't you feel any shame?"Besides, how dare you speak before Arnaud does?"After the harsh scolding they received from Preston, no one in the crowd dared to protest. Sebastian nodded involuntarily. It appeared that Preston did have influence in the Ballard family. At least no one had interrupted his scolding, including Arnaud and the man in the black robe.Preston huffed angrily and bowed to Arnaud, who sat in the middle. "Arnaud, I've brought Samson and Sebastian!"Preston went over to the chair next to the black-robe
"Sebastian, I won't be going in. Remember, don't say anything without being spoken to, and don't be impulsive!" Andreas said softly in Sebastian's ear when they reached the door to the hall. He then walked over to the crowd, which was packed on both sides of the hall.Samson and Preston walked into the hall without any change in expression. Sebastian hesitated for a moment before hurrying to catch up.When they reached the entrance, the two old men reached out to stop them and said to Preston, who was in the lead, "Preston, I'm afraid that it wouldn't be a good idea for you to go in. Everyone knows that you're biased toward Samson's family. If you get into an argument with Arnaud, then—""Nonsense!" Preston yelled furiously. He spoke in a menacing tone to the two old men. "Don't try those tricks with me. Today, I'm going to be the voice of reason. Who among you can do anything to me?"With that, he pushed them aside and strode into the hall.The two old men gazed after his ret
The Ballard Estate's resources were unfathomable as it was. Could Isabella's family be even more powerful than theirs?Sebastian clearly remembered that both he and Samson were under the Sacred Medicine Society. They even had the same mentor.The Sacred Medicine Society was above all the other mystic martial arts sects. Even the sect leaders of the Nine Sects were very respectful toward his mentor.If Samson really was from the same sect as Sebastian, then his mentor had clearly been unable to save him. Wouldn't that mean that the Sacred Medicine Society was no match for the Ballards?Wouldn't that mean that Isabella's family was an even greater entity?"If my mother's family is really that powerful, why couldn't they rescue my father? There would also be no reason to let me join the Sacred Medicine Society either, right?" Sebastian asked probingly. It seemed as if Andreas had never even thought about such questions. He smiled and shook his head. "You probably don't know about a
As they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Samson suddenly turned and lowered his voice as he said to Sebastian, "I didn't treat you and your mother well. Please don't hold it against me."Sebastian felt even more conflicted. After everything he had been through, he knew very well that there were times when one really had no choice. When Samson saw that Sebastian was looking at him with a conflicted expression, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a warm smile. Then he took a token from Preston and walked out of the yard.They followed Preston as he walked toward the east, where there was a majestic-looking building."Why are you helping me?" Sebastian suddenly turned and asked Andreas in a low voice. Andreas glanced at him and gave him a long, cryptic smile. "Do you think I'm helping you? I'm helping myself while doing so!""Oh?" Sebastian looked at Andreas in confusion, his brow knitted. Even Rexton had mentioned that Andreas was in Arnaud's favor. Why would he need t
When Rexton and the others had gone, Preston turned to look at Samson and said irritatedly, "You little rascal. Would I ever hurt you?"Besides, you've been here in isolation for ten years. Why hasn't your temper changed at all? Couldn't you show me some respect in front of all those people?"Samson glanced at Preston but didn't answer.Preston huffed and ignored him. He turned and looked Sebastian up and down instead."Hey, kiddo. Over ten years have passed in just the blink of an eye. You've probably forgotten me. I even gave you candy back then! Come over here and call me Great Uncle Preston!"Sebastian looked at him in surprise. It was true that he didn't have much of an impression of what had happened over ten years ago. However, he could tell from what Preston had said and done that his attitude toward Sebastian's family was completely different from Rexton and the others.Beside Sebastian, Andreas kept shooting him meaningful looks. Sebastian finally smiled and said, "Hell
Although the old man looked as if he was over 60 years old, his expression was sharp and lively, and his skin was smooth as a baby's. It gave him a youthful air.Even the severely injured apprentices all scrambled up from the ground when they saw him. They hastily bowed and said, "Greetings, Great Uncle Preston!"Even Rexton had no choice but to suppress his anger. He bowed sullenly to the old man and said, "Greetings, Uncle Preston."Preston Ballard glanced at Rexton and turned to shout angrily at the apprentices, "If I hadn't come, were you planning to tear the Ballard Estate apart? Look at all of you! Get out of here right now!"Despite the scolding they had been subjected to, none of them dared to protest. They all lowered their heads and slunk out of the yard. Preston glared angrily at them as they went and snorted. "What an embarrassment to the family!"Then he smiled slightly and looked at Samson and Sebastian as he asked, "Samson, do you have anything to say?"Samson lo
Rexton's pupils constricted, and the muscles in his face twitched. He stared at Samson with a wary look in his eyes. He and Samson were two minor stages apart. It was no laughing matter. If the two of them began to fight, Rexton would be sure to die if he didn't have any external assistance."What's the matter? Are you scared?" Samson sneered as he asked in a cold, accusatory tone. That flipped a switch in Rexton's head. His expression changed instantly, and he turned a fierce look on Samson. "Afraid?" he asked through gritted teeth.As he spoke, Rexton seemed to make up his mind. He slowly reached into his pocket and took out a pale blue paper charm, which looked thicker than usual.The paper charm was oppressive to look at. Sebastian instinctively sensed a threatening energy approaching!Even Samson looked wary when he saw the paper charm."Uncle Rexton, this is a Soulcrush Charm. Great Uncle Arnaud has clearly said that no one in the Ballard Estate is allowed to use spiri
Sebastian immediately felt the pressure around him drop. The feeling of being pinned down disappeared as well."How dare you—"Before Rexton could finish, a shadow flashed past him, and Samson popped up right in front of him.Samson stuck out his finger as if it were a sword and tapped him on the chest. Although Samson hadn't used any strength, Rexton could see the murderous look in his eyes. There was a dot of scarlet light that swirled around Samson's finger. A crimson rune was gradually appearing, and there was a chilling, murderous sensation in the air. Sebastian gasped. He had finally realized how the mystic spells should be used, and he was in awe. It wasn't that Sebastian was unable to do it. It was just that up until then, he had only seen the mystic sect apprentices of the secular world. Perhaps their understanding of how to use mystic spells was too superficial, which was why Sebastian's perception had also been affected.Realization only dawned on him when he saw
At Rexton's roar of fury, everyone turned to look at Samson, who was still standing there quietly without moving."A traitor? Murder?"There was finally a flicker of emotion on Samson's face. A sudden glimmer of light flared in his eyes, which had been devoid of life for a long time."Rexton, you know very well how your father died!"As Samson spoke, he walked toward Rexton with a steady step as he said, "I admit that I've wronged Sebastian and his mother. I was just too soft-hearted back then. That's why I believed your lies and tried to keep the big picture in mind for the Ballards, but look at how you've treated me!"There was suddenly a cold glint in Samson's eyes, and he said in a thunderous tone, "You set up a series of traps and tried to kill and torture my wife and son!"You pursued them until the ends of the earth! If my mentor hadn't rescued Sebastian, do you think he'd still be alive today?"Did you just accuse me of murder? Did you ever think of the fact that we're f