.The King's brows furrowed."What do you mean, Chairman Cole?"Adrian looked at him calmly."Your Majesty, how is what's happening in Medical City connected to sending one hundred elite Dragon Guards?"The King paused.Adrian continued before anyone else could answer. "From the way you're speaking, anyone listening would think the Cole Conglomerate is preparing for war."The room fell silent.Prince Robert lowered his head slightly.Adrian folded his arms. "This isn't a clan conflict.""It isn't an invasion.""And it certainly isn't something that can be solved by surrounding Medical City with powerful cultivators."Kai nodded in agreement. "He's right.""If someone deliberately poisoned the medicine, then the problem isn't outside."He tapped the table lightly. "It's inside."Adrian looked back at the King. "The enemy isn't standing at the gates. They're hiding among ordinary people.""Sending Dragon Guards will only attract unnecessary attention."Director Isabella also spoke up."

Director Isabella Reyes' eyelashes fluttered gently before she slowly opened her eyes.For a brief moment, everything around her was blurry. The unfamiliar ceiling... the wooden beams... the faint scent of medicinal herbs lingering in the room.Her brow furrowed. "...Where am I?"Then yesterday's events rushed back into her mind.Her eyes widened. She suddenly sat upright with a startled cry."The Dragon Clan!"She instinctively checked herself before looking around the room in confusion.Not far away, Kai, who had been quietly reading through several documents while keeping an eye on her, immediately threw them aside."Reyes!" He hurried to her bedside. "Don't move too quickly."His voice carried obvious concern as he gently supported her shoulders. "You just woke up."Without waiting for her response, he reached over and touched her forehead before checking her pulse.Only after confirming her breathing had stabilized did he finally let out a sigh of relief."You nearly scared me to

Adrian looked at both of them before breaking the silence."Since you're both returning to Medical City, there are a few things you need to understand."Kai immediately put away the prescription."We're listening."Adrian walked toward the window, his gaze resting on the distant mountains surrounding the Dragon Clan."The person who poisoned the medicine didn't act out of impulse.""He planned it.""He knew exactly when to strike.""He also knew I would be away."Director Isabella Reyes nodded."I reached the same conclusion.""The timing was too perfect."Adrian turned around."Which means the person is either someone with access to internal information...""...or someone receiving updates from within the company."The room fell quiet.Kai frowned."So we have a spy.""Most likely."Adrian continued calmly."But don't announce another investigation."Both of them looked at him."If the culprit realizes you've become suspicious, they'll disappear before making another mistake."Direct

A thoughtful silence settled over the ballroom after Adrian's explanation.Priest Heavenly remained seated, but his expression had become much more serious than before."So," he said slowly, "if you truly proceed with this method, what becomes of the former Dragon King?"Adrian answered without the slightest hesitation."Nothing I do will harm him."Everyone looked at him."The only thing I intend to destroy is the dark energy he willingly sealed inside himself. His soul has endured that burden for decades. Once the corruption is removed, his soul will naturally separate from the body."He paused before continuing."The body has already reached the end of its purpose. What deserves to be preserved is the soul."The old priest narrowed his eyes."And what technique do you intend to use?""The Soul Purification Cycle," Adrian replied calmly. "After that, I'll use the Heavenly Rebirth Guidance Technique to sever the remaining connection between his soul and the dark energy. Finally, the

A profound silence lingered inside the ancestral tomb.No one spoke for several moments.The former Dragon King's body rested peacefully within the crystal coffin, his expression far different from before. The strain that had marked his face for decades had vanished, replaced by a serenity that brought both comfort and sorrow to those present.The King slowly stepped forward.He stood beside the crystal coffin, gently placing his hand on its surface.For a long moment, he simply looked at his father.Memories flooded his mind—his father's teachings, his strict discipline, the rare moments of praise that had meant more than any reward.A tear rolled down his cheek."You've carried this burden long enough, Father."His voice was quiet but steady."Rest now."Behind him, the princes lowered their heads respectfully.Even the elders stood in silence, honoring the greatest King their clan had ever known.The King took a deep breath before turning to everyone present.His expression gradual