Elmer looked straight at him, her gaze sharp enough to chill the air. “Clan Head, explain what just happened. If not, I’ll report everything to my father.”Faces shifted instantly.Alderon’s expression drained. That sentence descended like a golden blade from the heavens.“Derrick,” Alderon’s voice cracked, “Apologize, now!”Derrick’s body was dragged by some unseen force, dropped at Javon’s feet.“Father… impossible,” he whispered, rage and despair tangled into one.Alderon slapped him so fast the air cracked. The sound echoed through the entire courtyard. “If you refuse to obey,” he hissed, “Prepare to face the wrath of the upper lineage!”Derrick looked at Elmer, one glance at her flawless face told him where escape lay. His teeth trembled, ego shattering, blood on his lip.“I… apologize, Young Master Javon,” he choked. “I shouldn’t have—”Elmer stepped forward, voice frost against steel. “Derrick Aljair. You stirred trouble, abused a guest with your cultivation, and nearly killed

Queen froze. Her breath vanished for a moment. “So this is the price of a sacred physique?”Javon nodded slowly, then flashed a mischievous smile. “Relax. The Dragon Pulse Technique I use can absorb your cold Qi. Its nature is completely opposite. Strong enough to neutralize your frost energy.”Queen’s face turned bright red. “So… without you I’d die? My constitution requires that we, we…”Javon almost laughed at the look on her face. “I only said it’s the safest method.”Queen didn’t get the chance to reply, because Javon pulled her closer. Their gazes locked. The air shifted, warmer, tighter, dangerously close.A few seconds later, the world around them dimmed, and the story’s camera quietly slipped out the window, leaving behind only the sound of uneven breaths and the soft creak of a wooden bed. More than enough to tell the audience everything, without showing anything at all.***Some time later, Javon sat upright, his breath steady. The lingering cold had vanished from his body.

Malrick snorted and casually raised his true-energy shield. In his eyes, Queen’s aura was still crude, clearly someone who had only just entered the Nascent Soul Stage.A perfect toy.But—Click.Fine cracks appeared on the shield. Malrick’s smile froze.“What…?”BOOM!The energy shield shattered completely. Dozens of spear shadows struck at once. Malrick violently swung his palm, dispersing most of the attacks, but one spear slipped through.PFFT!The spear pierced his chest.Malrick spat out blood. The wound wasn’t deep, but icy cold instantly spread through his body.“Little bastard…!” Malrick wiped the blood from his lips, his face pale.He tried to circulate his true energy, only to find it frozen solid.Frostborne Vein.The cold energy crawled through his meridians, locking his qi flow.“DIE!”Before Malrick could adjust, Queen was already moving.BANG!Her spear struck head-on. Malrick was blasted away and slammed into the ground, dust exploding upward. He crawled out of the sm

More than twenty figures sat inside the hall, all of them pillars of the Aljair family.Alderon Aljair smiled. “Javon, please have a seat.”Once the room settled, Alderon spoke. “In seven days, the Grand Alchemy Conclave will begin. The Aljair family must choose one representative.”A cold voice interrupted. “Clan Head, this is an internal meeting. You invited an outsider. Don’t tell me you intend to choose him?”The atmosphere in the hall instantly tightened.The speaker was a middle-aged man seated on the right side of the long table.Hector Aljair, the third elder of the Aljair clan.Aside from Alderon Aljair, the clan had eight elders. They were not merely experienced seniors, every major decision of the clan revolved around this table.Alderon cleared his throat lightly. “Isn’t this still the discussion stage?” he said with a faint smile. “Who said it had to be Young Master Forger?”Originally, this meeting had nothing to do with Javon Forger.However, Elmer, who sat not far from

Riven Aljair.He stood casually, a faint smile on his lips. Beside him, Elmer stood with a flat expression. Behind them, several guards carried a massive iron cage.Inside it was a gigantic white tiger.Its muscles were dense, its breathing heavy. From its back grew a pair of tightly folded silver-white wings. The creature opened its eyes, and a cold aura spread outward.“Elmer,” Riven said gently. “I bought it especially for you.”“I already told you,” Elmer replied without emotion. “I don’t need it.”Riven chuckled softly. “A Frostwing Tiger. Equivalent to an early-stage Great Grand Master. Its price, five thousand Aetherstone.”Waves of hushed amazement rippled through the crowd.Elmer showed no reaction.When Javon stepped closer, Elmer’s expression shifted slightly. “Javon!”The smile was small and brief. But it was enough to make Riven’s jaw tighten.Javon stopped in front of them. He glanced once at the tiger, then took out a small wooden box from his pocket. “This is for you.”