His words stunned the guards.They had only intended to put the students in their place and teach them a little humility—especially that arrogant Storm heir who had repeatedly offended them.They certainly hadn't expected their attempt at asserting authority to end with a potential sack notice.“What's that supposed to mean?” the guard's companion barked. “We were only following the rules!”“What rules?” Ragnar sneered. “All I see is a bitter old man trying to stress me after a hard day. I'm certain you knew every student in this complex returned around this hour. I didn't see you harassing anyone else.”Ragnar took another step toward them.“Admit it, you only stopped me because you recognised my face. Wanted to throw muscles and get revenge, huh?”Vonn grabbed Ragnar by the arm and pulled him back. “Let's not do this here. I'm feeling sleepy. I also need to go cultivate and heal my injuries.”Zhuge Qingyun hissed impatiently and pushed the entrance wide open before walking through.

Ragnar remained silent.It wasn't that he didn't understand what Zeraya was saying.He did.Too many people had been watching the Storm family, waiting for the right opportunity to carve it up. Their enemies existed both within their own walls and beyond them. There was simply nowhere completely safe.The Storm family's seasoned older generation had died off, leaving people several generations younger to manage an organisation that had once commanded immense respect.Of course the old monsters sitting on the High Council would see them as an easy target.Some would question whether people their age were even qualified to sit among them.Others wouldn't bother questioning it at all.They would simply wait for the Storm family to stumble.Ragnar's fingers tightened around his phone.He understood Zeraya's fear.But he also understood something she rarely considers.While caution could keep them alive, and steady growth could strengthen their foundation, it wasn't enough for long tern.N

Ragnar quickly pressed on before she had another chance to dissect his story.“He vehemently refused to tell me what it was, saying that coveting what I shouldn't brings danger. But he later caved in.”“He needed food, water and energy bars. I refused to give him till he made an exchange. Apparently, he had been betrayed by close subordinates and dumped there for dead. But he managed to survive till I appeared.”Zeraya's eyes narrowed.When had Ragnar become calculating enough to refuse help to someone in need until he got something in return?“He needed food, he needed money and robes. He also couldn't go home without his enemies finding out he survived. I was his only solution.”“In exchange for the cash, spirit stones and food supplies on me, he gave me two bottles of the restoration elixir.”“According to him, it takes six months to produce a new batch. The herbs and items required were especially hard to find.”Ragnar straightened and leaned closer to the screen.“He agreed to me

CRAIG MANOR — 7:26 A.M.Mathilda finally hissed, some of the anger having been vented.She kicked the girl aside and headed toward the side room to take the call.Two maids remained behind and immediately rushed to help the girl up.The girl's lips trembled as more tears rolled down her cheeks. One maid hurriedly supported her away, leaving a trail of blood across the polished floor.The other quickly gathered the shards of broken glass and wiped away the blood, desperate to clean everything before Mathilda returned and saw it. Which would definitely raise another round of hell.Meanwhile, inside the side room, Mathilda quickly dialed the number of one of her men whom she had placed close to Zeraya within Storm Group.The call connected after the second ring.“Miss,” the person on the other end whispered, his tone cautious, as if expecting someone to suddenly appear and catch him.“You useless piece of trash!” Mathilda snarled. “What exactly am I paying you for? Didn't you assure me t

Red Earth Headquarters, Eadom The room was dark. A young man dressed in expensive spirit silk sat in the center, three men trembling before him. His brown hair caught the faint light as his fingers tapped absentmindedly against the armrest. The glow from the spiritual crystals illuminated part of his face, revealing his identity. He was Zerath Blackveil, the young master of Shadowbound Hall. [Recall that Shadowbound Hall is number six on the list of the most powerful organisations in Eadom, the province where the Academy is located.] [He was that young master from Red Earth who had tried to cover up the issue of fake Jades in the Obsidian Conclave, when Ragnar, Thane, Vonn and Zeraya had gone to the night market for jade gambling. Nicknamed Pufferfish by Vireille Tempest.] Although young, his presence alone inspired fear in the men before him. His cultivation had grown considerably since the last time he fought Ragnar at the Obsidian Conclave. He had advanced from the