Elder Yun’s face drained of color; his lips moved but no sound came.Liu raised a commanding hand.“From this moment, Adrian Lancaster is to be treated as one of royal blood.""Prepare the sacred chamber. The Ritual of Fire begins tonight.”Drums boomed from the outer courtyard.Attendants obeyed immediately.Meiling, still pale but standing tall beside her father, turned to Adrian and bowed with quiet grace.She immediately understood that this stranger had just saved her life.The sacred chamber pulsed with an ancient rhythm, each beat of the ceremonial drums summoned the ancestors, even the dead dragon lords.Incense smoke spiraled in the air.At the far end of the chamber stood a dragon statue It has black scales gleaming, jaws parted in a silent roar. Jewels glimmered in its eyes, and as the drums quickened, those eyes began to glow red.Adrian stepped into the center of the vast circle etched into the floor.Ancient runes inked in silver and fire flared as his boots crossed the

He lunged at Adrian.But Adrian struck first with a single strike by driving a fist into Yun’s sternum.The impact boomed through the chamber, sending the grandmaster skidding backward.A force like that should have shattered bone.But Yun only laughed, ragged and wild.“You think that hurts me?” His eyes burned with feral light. “After I kill you, I’ll hunt every soul you love. I’ll burn their corpse with dragon fire!”He leapt again, but this time around, he froze.The golden blaze around him grew brighter.Yun’s smile faltered as an inner heat began to eat him up It felt like a volcano was about to erupt from within.His skin cracked as fire slipped out of it like magma from a broken rock.His breath hitched.The air filled with the scent of fire.“No…” His voice thinned to a rasp. “No... this power is mine...”His words turned into a loud scream as the dragon force he had stolen turned inward, a furnace without end.Flames erupted from the seams of his own flesh, devouring him.A

He leaned back, a sigh escaping him. “This box, Adrian, is one of the oldest relics known to our world.""It contains a truth so profound that its original guardians deemed its power too immense, too dangerous, to be held by a single entity. The key was split millennia ago to prevent anyone unworthy from opening it.”Mr. Liu paused, his gaze growing distant, lost in the mists of history. “One half of that key remained with the Mountain Path Sect. They were entrusted with guarding the foundational truths of power, the very essence of cultivation.” He looked at Adrian, a faint smile touching his lips. “As for the other half,” Mr. Liu continued, a shadow of regret crossing his face, “I have no idea... all I know is that you will need both keys to open this box."He then rose and crossed to a hidden compartment in the wall. From it, he drew a rolled, ancient map, meticulously detailed. He opened it on the table.He pointed to a swirling symbol at the northern edge.“The Mountain Path S

Adrian met his gaze, voice steady as stone.“Are you the master of the Northern Path?”“I am,” the elder said with a slow nod.Adrian drew a scroll from within his cloak and unfurled it, the seal of the Dragon Clan glowing faintly.“I come from the Dragon Clan,” he said. “I am here to see you.”The master’s pupils contracted.For a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause.Then—CRACK!His open palm whipped sideways, striking the cheek of the disciple who had spoken.The sound rang across the courtyard like a gong.“You dared raise a blade against a messenger of the Great Dragon Clan?” the master thundered, his face carved with fury.“You fools have no idea the punishment you’ve invited!”The students, bruised and bloodied, stared in stunned silence.“Forgive me, honored one,” the master said, bowing deeply to Adrian.“My disciples have forgotten their place. I will deal with them later.”“Please, come with me,” he said to Adrian.“I sincerely apologize for their behavior. The Northern Pat

The General’s nostrils flared. His hand dropped to his sword hilt.“That’s it,” he snarled, stepping forward, shoulders broad as a charging bull.“I don’t care if you’re a guest. I’ll rip out your tongue myself!”The master raised a hand and moved quickly between them.“Stop, General!” he said, voice firm and commanding. “There is no need for this.”The General’s glare never left Adrian, but he halted, chest heaving.“We have a renowned appraiser here in the Northern Path,” the master continued, his tone brooking no argument.“He can tell us the truth, no need for bloodshed.”The General exhaled through his nose, a short, angry breath.“Fine,” he said at last, though his voice was still filled with menace.“But if he proves this relic is real, I will rip that tongue from your mouth with my own hands.”Adrian’s eyes stayed cold.“And if it’s fake,” he said quietly, “you’ll kneel before me and lick my feet.”A dark, rumbling laugh rolled from the General’s throat.“Deal,” he said, lips