Adrian smiled; it was the first time he’d seen Jasper Emerson so flustered.“Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”At his words, Jasper’s heart settled. It seemed Philip Mason’s departure from the hospital was all but sealed.“I’ve already done preliminary work on the patients. Now, unfasten their clothing.”The ER team obeyed at once.Adrian opened his case, pinched four silver needles in one hand, and, without shifting his stance, sent them true—each one buried precisely where it needed to go.He repeated the process with the remaining four patients.“Done.”The tight band around everyone’s chests seemed to loosen. Only Philip Mason gave a dismissive chuckle.“Amateur.”Adrian ignored him and turned to Lorenzo Watson. “Do not remove the needles before I return.”Lorenzo nodded. “You can count on me, Master. With me here, nobody’s touching them.”He cut a glare toward Philip Mason. If this brat wanted to cross his master, he’d be watching him like a hawk.“I’m going. Time won’t wait.”“How lo

Damn it.Roy Thornton swore inwardly. He had no doubt about Adrian—but alone against that? Even he couldn’t believe it.The Daoist masters had already retreated from the mountain. Their teams wouldn’t be up there either. Adrian was walking into a slaughter.Eleven Lloyd pounded after Roy. As a practitioner himself, he could feel it—Adrian had already reached the heights.Please, let nothing happen.He breathed the prayer and ran harder.Inside the cave, a fire threw wavering light across rough stone.The black-cloaked warlock sat apart from the traffickers, a measured distance kept. The gang’s leader whispered with his men, glancing over at the cloaked figure.“Boss, if we’re getting out of here, he’s our only shot.”“Shut it. You think I don’t know? His price is obscene.”The leader ground out a bitter sigh. They had no other options.A year’s work, gone to ash.“Boss, maybe talk to him again. Otherwise, we’re dead men.”“Yeah, Boss—no life, no more money to make.”“Let me think…”He

Hearing the fatal resolve in Singh’s voice, Adrian had no intention of giving him the chance.The half-broken staff in Singh’s hand was about to smash across Adrian’s back—yet in the next instant, Adrian vanished.“Damn it!”Singh swung again, but now he couldn’t find the slightest opening to strike; even defending himself was growing harder by the second.Adrian’s blows came swift and relentless, steadily draining Singh’s strength and focus.A Daoist priest stared, dumbfounded, and sucked in a sharp breath.“This young man… he defies reason…”More than that—he was monstrous.The other two wiped cold sweat they hadn’t noticed gathering. This was beyond prodigy; it was monstrous.In all their lives they had never seen anyone like Adrian. Not because his cultivation was unfathomable—though it was—but because he was so young. Still so young.It would be hard to find a second talent like him in the entire Novaland Republic.“He’s already far beyond our master,” the priest finally said aft

Adrian knew this was no time to spar with Philip Mason and ignored his barbed tone.Before their eyes, Adrian picked up a silver needle and drove it swiftly into an acupoint on the commander’s body. Then he took the commander’s wrist and began a steady, focused pulse reading.Yet the tight draw of his brows and the grave set of his features made everyone uneasy. After so long a delay, all they could do was try.He exhaled sharply and drew the three-legged ancient bronze cup from his breast once more. The cup gleamed with a soft golden radiance as he tossed it into the air above the ward.“Out.”With a brighter flare, the bronze trembled, and threads of lucid light streamed from within, shaping themselves into one translucent figure after another. After Adrian and the others had cleansed and guided them, the souls shone immaculate, pale and weightless. Though half-transparent, each bore a faint likeness to its owner, gold limning their edges.The ward fell into stunned silence.“What i

At that, everyone shook their heads. Joking aside, a man like that deserved a beating. Two slaps were merciful. All their hard work had nearly been ruined by one petty schemer.Adrian almost laughed. Ophelia hadn’t broken any law—only internal discipline. Without a crime, what “abuse of power” was there to speak of?The commander shot a glance at Ophelia and Roy Thornton. They stepped forward at once and restrained Philip Mason.“The needle,” Ophelia demanded, her tone flinty.Philip, trembling, fished a silver needle from his pocket.Ophelia and Roy exchanged a look; she produced a sealed evidence bag and a pair of white gloves. Pulling them on, she took the needle and secured it.“Why did you pull it?” the commander asked. “Are you colluding with the traffickers?”Philip’s knees wobbled. “Sir, I swear I had nothing to do with them!”“Lies,” Ophelia snapped. “If you weren’t in league with them, why risk the commander’s life by removing the needle?”“I didn’t!” Philip babbled, despera