Sebastian set down his coffee cup, a polite smile on his face. "Mom, as a matter of fact, I do have two friends here in Goldspire."One is in the business world and runs a sizable company. The other comes from a powerful underworld family and is the heir to a prominent faction."His words instantly elevated the room's atmosphere. Maisy and Kristian beamed with pride. Sebastian's connections bolstered their social standing, after all. Even Arnold couldn't help but feel impressed—Sebastian truly lived up to his reputation, rubbing shoulders with the elite from both business and underground circles.Meanwhile, Marion seethed silently, her frustration aimed squarely at Gideon. She could barely contain her disdain for Gideon, who had embarrassed her to no end. Her anger boiled alongside Elara's. Their thoughts aligned—Gideon was dead weight. Divorce was the only option to save their family's dignity.Arnold, oblivious to the tension, praised Sebastian, "Sebastian, you're quite rem
Arnold noticed the tension brewing and quietly pulled Gideon aside. "Gideon, this doesn't look good. I think Sebastian's trying to stir up trouble. You should just leave. There's no point staying here."Gideon smiled faintly. "Dad, don't worry. I'm not so useless that I'd let them walk all over me. Besides, what's the worst they can do? Eat me alive?"Arnold sighed heavily, unsure of what to say.Moments later, a commotion sounded outside the private room. A young man's voice rang out, loud and confident, "Sebastian, I'm here!"Sebastian rose and opened the door, greeting the newcomer with a broad smile. "Dawson! It's been a while.""Sure has," Dawson Hobbs replied with a laugh. "You've been so busy lately that I didn't think I'd catch you here in Goldspire."Turning to Kyla, Dawson grinned. "And this must be your wife. Stunning, as expected! You're one lucky guy, Sebastian.""Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour and Mr. and Mrs. Morin," he added, greeting the elders in the room with
After downing over a dozen glasses, the difference between the two drinkers became glaringly obvious.Sebastian's face was flushed, and sweat dotted his forehead. His movements also grew unsteady. In stark contrast, Gideon remained composed, his expression calm, as if he'd been sipping water the entire time.It wasn't lost on anyone—Gideon was winning.Sebastian, noticing the imbalance, felt a surge of unease. Gideon's drinking capacity far exceeded his expectations. If this continued, he'd be the one hitting the floor."Sebastian," Gideon said, his tone even but with a faint hint of mockery, "I'm feeling a bit lightheaded. Should we keep going?"Hearing this, Sebastian's confidence reignited. So, Gideon was finally feeling it. He was just good at hiding it. Sebastian grinned slyly. "Of course, Gideon! Tonight, we drink to our hearts' content. Here. Take this bottle.""A full bottle?" Gideon raised an eyebrow. "Straight up," Sebastian declared, uncapping a bottle of high-pr
"What are you doing? Are you really calling Rachel?" Elara looked at Gideon with skepticism.Gideon didn't reply, his calm demeanor unnerving. His silence made both Marion and Elara suspicious. Could he really have Rachel's number? They couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility. After all, Gideon was once the most prominent of Goldspire's Four Elites, while Rachel was among Goldspire's Three Beauties. A connection between them wasn't entirely far-fetched.But as Gideon dialed, his confidence wavered. The call didn't go through."What's wrong?" Arnold asked, noticing Gideon's momentary hesitation."She didn't pick up," Gideon replied. "She's likely in a meeting or dealing with something important."The change in Elara's and Marion's expressions was immediate—disdain and fury painted across their faces.For a brief moment, they had entertained the idea that Gideon might actually pull this off. Now, they felt utterly humiliated for even considering it.Even if Gideon once had
Dawson froze, Terrence's furious words still ringing in his ears. "You ungrateful brat! I've told you countless times to keep a low profile, but no. You had to flaunt yourself everywhere! "And now look at what you've done—our entire family is ruined! The Hobbs family is done for! Decades of hard work are gone overnight…" "Dad?" Dawson shouted, panic overtaking him.The call abruptly ended. Dawson's hands trembled as he stared at his phone, his entire body cold as ice. It felt as though the walls were closing in, suffocating him.Dawson slumped to the ground, his face pale and lifeless. His mind raced, trying to comprehend what had just happened.He wondered who did this. He racked his brain, desperate to identify the culprit. But in recent weeks, he had been careful to avoid offending anyone of importance. He had no enemies powerful enough to orchestrate something of this magnitude.Then, a face flashed in his mind."Gideon!" He gasped.But he quickly shook his head, dism
"What did you just say?" Rachel asked."Ms. Avila, our corporate account suddenly has five billion dollars deposited into it! What should we do?" The finance director was practically in tears, overwhelmed not with joy but with sheer panic.Five billion dollars wasn't just an astronomical sum—it was liquid cash. Even at its peak, the Avila family had never come close to handling this much cash. The finance director was terrified. Money of such a scale would undoubtedly attract attention from the banks, law enforcement, and regulatory authorities, making a joint investigation inevitable. How could they explain it? This wasn't just a financial windfall. It was a potential disaster."Ms. Avila, please think of something!" the director pleaded, nearly jumping out of his skin."Calm down," Rachel said, waving him off. "You can leave the room for now."The finance director hesitated but ultimately complied, shutting the door behind him.Rachel let out a long breath, staring at Gid
Maisy tried to console Sebastian, "That's right, Seb. That trash Gideon must be completely finished by now.""Sebastian!" At that moment, a burly young man strode into the room."Cameron!" Sebastian's eyes lit up.This man was his friend from the underworld, Cameron Mitchell, who came from a family with considerable influence. Rumor had it they commanded a force of 800 men, making them a mid-tier power in Goldspire's underworld.Cameron asked with concern, "Are you alright, Sebastian?""I'm fine," Sebastian replied dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Where's Dawson? Isn't he with you? Have you dealt with Gideon yet?"Cameron hesitated, his expression awkward. "Not yet."Sebastian frowned. Cameron went on to explain, "Something happened. The Hobbs family suddenly suffered a devastating blow. And their company is on the verge of collapse.""What?" The Morins were immediately alarmed. Sebastian asked, "What's going on?""I'm not quite sure," Cameron replied. "All I know is
The only solace Sebastian felt when answering the call was that it wasn't from his father—just an unknown number. He forced himself to remain calm and answered, "Hello, who is this?""Is this Sebastian Halton?" a cold and formal voice replied."Yes, it's me," Sebastian said cautiously."This is the Governmental Accountability Office of Aloport. We've received reports that you're involved in multiple instances of corruption and misconduct. You are hereby summoned for investigation. Where are you currently located?"The words hit Sebastian like a thunderbolt. His face turned pale, and his body trembled. No official could remain composed upon hearing from the Governmental Accountability Office—it was a bureaucratic nightmare capable of ending careers overnight."T-There must be some mistake," Sebastian stammered. "I'm—""No need for explanations. The office has issued an official summons. Where are you right now?" the voice interrupted."I-I'm in Goldspire, Verdura," he managed
Gideon couldn't quite explain it, but he sensed something deep within him. He decided it was the perfect moment to attempt to oversee the entire nation.The task proved to be quite challenging. Gideon wasn't a king. He had merely been granted the dragon vein's blessing. He walked up to the grand and revered statue of the king, aiming to harness the power of Chase's statue. Gideon discarded the imperial decree, causing the imperial essence blood within to erupt and surprisingly animate Chase's statue. Suddenly, thousands of beams of divine light appeared. The scene was both majestic and awe-inspiring. The statue of the deity wasn't a tangible object. It appeared to be formed from a combination of dragon vein energy and the nation's destiny, merging reality with illusion.Gideon boldly charged into Chase's statue. Instantly, he experienced a sensation of being the ruler of the world. Right now, his understanding of the eastern side intensified."Eastern plains!" Gideon's eyelids f
What an incredible compression! Gideon condensed the impressive and fearsome energy to its utmost limit, creating an energy sphere the size of an egg. That could be the ultimate core. Naturally, it was only a possibility.Gideon had no knowledge of how to form a supreme core. He was merely speculating, unaware of what the outcomes might be.As the pressure increased, the energy sphere shrank further, and the potential threat intensified. If Gideon lost control, the compressed energy sphere would rapidly expand and ultimately explode. He couldn't bear to think about the consequences.Colossus Dragon Mountain was on the verge of collapsing, potentially harming the dragon vein. This was a national treasure of immense significance. It wasn't just any ordinary dragon vein. If it was damaged, Dasovia's destiny would undoubtedly diminish to some degree.This was extremely important, so Gideon had to give it his all. The veins across his body popped out, and his usually handsome face con
Beneath Colossus Dragon Mountain, Gideon had undergone a complete transformation inside the underground palace. An immense energy enveloped his whole being. His core was incredibly strong and robust. The power of his physique had escalated to a frightening degree. His vital energy and blood were coursing intensely.Not even a creature at the half apex of an overbeast could likely rival Gideon in the intensity of his vital energy and blood flow. At that moment, he resembled a humanoid tyrannosaurus. Suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged behind him, slowly taking on a solid form. This was the Heaven-Earth Incarnation.Gideon was on the verge of completing his final effort. He was nearly there, just a bit more to go. Once he overcame this obstacle, his Heaven-Earth Incarnation would have reached the early stage.Just a little bit! Just a little bit more! In Gideon's imagination, the ghostly image of the king from Nethercult repeatedly surfaced, vivid and realistic. The shadowy fig
Bennett's face shifted quickly, but he soon regained his calm and smiled. "It's wonderful to have Ronan back. Yet, upon his return, he broke into the prison and freed criminals from the Inferno Order and Naesbrey Fortress. Why did he do that?""Bennett, enough. Marshal Snow is backing Umbra. You might not be aware, having been in the eastern plains, but Marshal Snow is fearsome. He's a prodigy who can call upon the nation's fate and can stand against a supreme warrior." "If he discovers anything has happened to Umbra, he'll surely head to the eastern plains for revenge. At that point, Martialgarde will be destroyed, and you won't escape death, either.""Is that really true?" Bennett's heart raced with anxiety. However, Derrick, standing next to him, reassured him, "Why worry? Martialgarde has joined forces with our clan. On top of that, my daughter is with your son, which means we'll be family eventually. If Martialgarde faces any trouble, our clan will definitely step in. "Our
"Show yourself!" Derrick's voice echoed through the air and across the ground, lingering for quite a while. It left Apollo and the others with ringing ears. The difference in power between them and Derrick was substantial. A powerful energy erupted from the prison, cutting off Derrick's voice.Ronan emerged slowly and remarked icily, "I've heard of Talonclaw. You all came to the eastern plains, interfered with Martialgarde, and created chaos. That's truly overstepping!" "Who are you?" Derrick questioned, squinting. He could feel Ronan's strength, and he wasn't sure he could overpower him."Ronan.""Are you part of Martialgarde, too?" "My identity isn't important. What matters is that I urge Talonclaw to withdraw from Martialgarde and even the eastern plains." Derrick chuckled. He replied with a mocking tone, "And what if I refuse?" "I'm genuinely trying to help you. You've overtaken Naesbrey Fortress and captured Umbra. Do you realize the severity of the situation? If you d
"If you agree to become my partner, I'll free everyone from Naesbrey Fortress. I understand, Umbra, that you have high standards. But with Talonclaw's assistance, I'm close to uniting the eastern plains and becoming its supreme ruler. I believe I'm deserving of you," Bennett declared. Although his son was near Umbra's age, Bennett had always desired her beauty. Now that a golden opportunity presented itself, Bennett wasn’t about to let it pass by. "Umbra, you need to think this through."Umbra cried, "Bennett, stop with your fantasies. You disgust me. All you're after is my pure-essence physique core. You want to use my essence to reach the Supreme level! You're delusional! I'd rather drain my essence completely and die than let you achieve your goal."Humph! Someone will avenge me soon enough. You, Martialgarde, and Talonclaw will all be reduced to ashes!" Umbra's beautiful face twisted with fury. Her anger was so intense that she wished she could tear Bennett apart."How pres
"Oh?" The three other elderly individuals turned their attention to Logan, their faces marked by surprise. The elderly woman asked, "Why do you hold him in such high regard? Is there a specific reason?" Logan simply shook his head and replied, "Just wait and see." Gideon made his way through the lengthy corridor and reached the subterranean palace located beneath Colossus Dragon Mountain. The area was filled with strong energy fluctuations. As the mightiest dragon vein in Dasovia, and with this being the dragon head's location, its formidable nature was beyond imagination.Successive waves of energy surged forward, colliding with Gideon's body and compelling him to engage his Solar Titan Physique for protection. He moved with caution, progressing gradually. Lost in a trance, he heard the mighty roar of a dragon echoing around him.Before Gideon, it seemed as if an actual dragon was gliding majestically through the sky and earth. It was truly awe-inspiring and divine! "Press
Gideon felt uncertain. At that moment, Morgan hurried over. Maximus had been the one to alert him. Earlier, upon discovering that Gideon had entered the Concubines' Quarters and worried he wouldn't be able to intervene, Maximus had informed Morgan while en route.Upon Morgan's arrival, he inquired, "Marshal Snow, the Imperial Palace is incredibly expansive. With so many places to explore, why choose to visit the Concubines' Quarters and disrupt the women here?" Gideon replied, "If I don't visit the Concubines' Quarters, then I'll head to Colossus Dragon Mountain. Is that alright?""Colossus Dragon Mountain?" Morgan was momentarily surprised. Recalling Chase's words, he continued, "Certainly, it's possible. But if I may, Marshal Snow, what is your purpose for going to Colossus Dragon Mountain? It's Forbidden Grounds!""I plan to examine the dragon vein."Morgan and Maximus were taken aback. Gideon asked, "Is that prohibited?""Marshal Snow, you certainly have a talent for sa
Gideon was taken aback and hurriedly exclaimed, "Sir, you mustn't say things like that!"Logan rose from his seat and paced around Gideon. His aged eyes shone with a vivid sparkle, secretly appreciating him. "Impressive. You've acquired another type of heavenly flame, and your Solar Titan Physique has advanced to the second level. That's quite swift.""Sir, based on your assessment, at which stage of the Solar Titan Physique do you think I can achieve the ultimate rank?" "You'll need to reach at least the fourth or fifth stage." "Then, sir, do you have any idea where a heavenly flame might be found?"Logan let out a frosty laugh. "You're attempting to deceive me into providing information. That's not happening. But if you manage to master the Heaven-Earth Incarnation technique within a month, I'll acknowledge your exceptional talent and offer you a hint about a heavenly flame.""Seriously?" "I don't lie." "Sir, could you offer some guidance? I have a vague sense of it, but s