"Let them build whatever stage they desire," Alistair said softly, setting his cup down with a light click. "When a trap is laid with such obvious bait, only fools believe they are entering an unguided maze. As long as the Yin-Yang Chaos Fruit is genuine, the intentions of the Ramos family are irrelevant."Minutes later, the jet descended toward a lush, emerald island rising dramatically out of the ocean.Surrounded by jagged sea cliffs and shrouded in a thin, unnatural mist, Beverly Island looked more like a hidden domain from an ancient era than a modern luxury resort.The aircraft touched down smoothly on the runway.As the cabin door hissed open, a cool, sea-salted breeze swept inside, carrying with it a distinct, subtle hum of hidden spiritual energy.Alistair stepped out onto the tarmac, his pristine suit unblemished, his hands loosely folded behind his back.Waiting near the foot of the airstrip was a fleet of luxury vehicles and a reception committee dressed in matching purple

The silent awe was palpable.Yang Kai was no low-tier novice; as an inner disciple of the Sword Saint Sect, his cultivation was solidly at the intermediate tier, teetering right on the threshold of a pseudo-master.Yet against Alistair, a man who appeared to be his equal in age, he had been crushed into the dirt like an insect without Alistair even raising a hand.Whispers spread like wildfire among the onlookers.The perception of the "nameless rogue" shifted in an instant—he was no longer an easy target, but a terrifying dark horse of the upcoming tournament.Behind them, Yang Kai forced his battered body off the cracked tarmac, his knuckles bleeding as he clenched his fists in sheer, suffocating humiliation."I swear... I'll make you pay," he hissed through blood-stained teeth, his eyes burning with venomous hatred as he watched Alistair's back disappear into the lead vehicle. "I'll make you regret ever being born!"The procession of luxury vehicles smoothly navigated the winding c

Without waiting for permission, Adam turned and walked out of the lounge, his posture rigid and unbothered.The heavy oak doors clicked shut behind him.A heavy, suffocating silence descended upon the lounge.Moments later, the air behind a decorative silk screen shimmered, and Lady Violetta stepped out into the dim light.Her enchanting purple gown swished softly against the floorboards, her deep violet eyes fixed on the closed door."That man... and the cultivator he works with... will be a significant problem," Violetta said softly, her ethereal voice carrying a dangerous chill.Patriarch Ramos turned to her, bowing his head slightly. "Lady Violetta. Was he playing dumb?""He was on high alert from the moment he walked into this room," Violetta noted coldly, her eyes narrowing. "He didn't touch his drink, he didn't taste the food, and he didn't allow his eyes to linger on any distraction. Even when I projected my spiritual art to stimulate his deepest desires and force his submissi

"Master Reid," Adam murmured without turning his head, keeping his eyes fixed on the plaza as if casually enjoying the evening. "Patriarch Ramos invited me to a private meeting earlier. He tried to recruit me into a shadow organization—promising power, wealth, and immortality."Alistair didn't break his stride, matching Adam's subtle rhythm. "And?""I declined," Adam continued calmly. "He pushed, asking what I would sacrifice for eternal life. When I refused again, the mood shifted. They are operating with a fanatic level of ambition. Furthermore, after I left, I felt an unnatural pull trying to manipulate my mind, but your talisman completely neutralized it.""They are preparing a grand blood sacrifice," Alistair said softly, his voice a feather-light thread of sound meant for Adam's ears alone. "This gathering, the treasure hunt, the promise of rare herbs... It is all bait to draw high-tier cultivators into an ancient killing array beneath the island's central mountain. Ramos and th

Violetta had felt her charming domain sweep across the entire plaza, yet the tall man in the dark coat stood completely unaffected, speaking casually to his mortal companion without a single trace of desire in his posture.Alistair didn't bother returning her gaze.He ignored her presence entirely, treating her spellbound display as nothing more than background noise.Violetta’s manicured nails dug subtly into the velvet armrest of her chair, a cold, dangerous curiosity flaring within her heart."Silence!" Patriarch Ramos’s voice boomed across the plaza, suppressing the bickering crowd. "There is no need for bloodshed before the hunt! Step forward one by one in an orderly line. Let the Obsidian Stone reveal who among you truly possesses a foundation worthy of greatness!"The cultivators reluctantly suppressed their aggression, forming a tense, eager line before the six-foot pillar of dark glass.With the rules set and the crowd primed, the testing officially began.The first to step u