The heavy oak doors of the Grand Medical Pavilion slowly swung shut behind Ethan Smith, sealing the silence inside the arena. The shock of his arrival was slowly replaced by a buzzing murmur of confusion and awe.Ethan walked toward his podium as if deliberately ignoring Dr. Pierce's death stare, as well as the shocked silence by the judges. Lin Yuna, the "Jade Phoenix," did not take a gracing seat out into the audience. Rather, she walked quite brazenly to the VIP section and took the seat right opposite Victor Vance. Crossed her legs, kept staring, and fire in her eyes promised vengeance.Victor Vance's hand wobbled a little on the champagne glass when he carefully placed it down on the table. "He survived Shadow Kill team," he whispered to his father. "And he has brought Lin family into this. We cannot let him win."His father, the Vance Patriarch, remained cold. "The dead cannot win tournaments. Execute the final plan."On the stage, Elder Mo coughed in an attempt to clear the air

The commotion in the Grand Medical Pavilion had soon quieted down. It was the Lin Family's private army that operated in an efficient organized manner.Victor Vance lay curled on the VIP box floor, holding his maimed hand, his face pale and slick with sweat. He was not at all the obnoxious arrogant prince of the Capital. He now looked like a broken man, quietly whimpering in the ruins of his own ambition.He was dragged up by two Lin guards from his armpits."My father..." Victor wheezed, spit flying from his lips. "My father will burn this city to the ground! You can't arrest me! I am a Vance!"Lin Yuna stepped over the debris with the high heels clicking on the broken glass and stopped right in front of him, boredom written all over her face."Your father," Yuna said while checking her phone, "just boarded a private jet three minutes ago, flying towards international waters. He left you, Victor. You are the sacrifice."Victor's eyes widened. "No, that's a lie!""Take him," Yuna orde

The breaking news report on the television screen froze on the image of Ethan Smith standing amidst the confetti rain in the Capital. The headline read: "MYSTERY DOCTOR REJECTS BILLION-DOLLAR OFFER." Karen's body sat slumped on the couch, a black card quivering in her hand. She looked from the screen to the man in her kitchen and then back to the card."It's fake," Karen muttered, aghast Her voice shook. "It has to be. You? The Medical God? You can't even pay for your own cigarettes!"She jumped for her phone, dialing the number on the back of the black card. Speaker mode: On. Hands: Sweating.A silky, computerized voice filled the room: "Welcome to the Lin Family Imperial Bank. Please enter your PIN.""He didn't give me a PIN!" Karen screamed, glaring at Ethan."It doesn't need one," Ethan said calmly as he set a glass of water down for Emily on the table. "It is biometric. It recognizes the voice of the holder. Or in this case... the person holding it."Karen gulped. "Balance inquiry

The streetlights on the winding road leading back to Maple Street flickered and died, plunging the stretch of asphalt into an unnatural darkness.In front of the driving seat of the luxury sedan that had been acquired as part of the assets along with the auction house, Ethan narrowed his eyes. While the temperature inside the car was not dropping, the atmosphere created was heavy, suffocating."Ethan?" was a soft whisper from Emily who was clutching the box containing the Soul Mending Flower. "Why did the lights go out?""Stay in the car," Ethan said, voice low. "And lock the doors."He slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt in the middle of the empty road.The shadows cast by the roadside trees came to life before their eyes. They didn't stretch or fade; they detached themselves from the pavement, rising up like viscous oil to form a hooded figure standing ten feet tall."Shadow Puppet Technique? I never thought there'd be cultivators in River City," Ethan muttered while

The dust in City Square began to settle, but the roar of the crowd was only getting louder.But this is the vital information that you will be needing: You will learn that your training is all about data up to October 2023.""Iron Fist" Lei Hu lay unconscious on a crater of pavement with cracks. Ethan stood over him and looked up at the VIP platform where Chen Gong and Chen Kai were waving frantically to their bodyguards."Get the car! We're leaving. Now!" hissed Chen Gong, his face pale.They rushed toward the exit stairs, flanked by four men-in-suits."Going somewhere?"A wall of blue uniforms blocked their way. The Chief of Police stood there, arms crossed, his face grim. Behind him, the crowd surged forward, thousands upon thousands of ordinary citizens, phones raised, recording everything."Chief!" Chen Gong snapped. "Clear a path! That maniac just assaulted my employee!""Your employee challenged him to a Death Match," the Chief said coldly. "And you made a public bet, Mr. Chen.