All Chapters of FROSTBORN: Rise of the dark legend: Chapter 31
- Chapter 40
52 chapters
Ch. 031 Too inexperienced to play with masters
Zeraya’s heart skipped multiple beats on seeing the empty stone, a cold lurch in her chest. Vonn’s shoulders slightly deflated and he sighed, the sound small and defeated. He never expected Ragnar to win, but how could the very first stone which got cut open be empty? It felt like a verdict. Ragnar himself stood there, unbothered, watching impassively, as if the laughter were rain on a roof he didn’t own. “He talked a big game. Who knew he was the father of incompetence?”“Didn’t he claim his master was legendary? Did he get taught to be a failure?”“Not even a low grade jade?”Briggs scoffed, stylishly touching his nose to hide the sneer playing around his lips. “Please be kind. He’s way too young, and doesn’t understand the business. It’s perfectly reasonable for him to pick a defect.”Ragnar chuckled, eyes glacial, winter at midnight. “Idiots.”The soft mocking smirk on Briggs’ face faltered. He did hear Ragnar’s low insult, and it stabbed, sharp and brutal, straight through the
Ch. 032 Unable to take a loss
In the crowd, an old man was watching the exchange, his face partially obscured by a raffia hat that threw his eyes into shadow. Those eyes were sharper than a falcon’s, missing nothing, weighing everything. In his hands was a snake-head staff which acted as a walking stick, the wood worn smooth by years of grip. He chuckled on seeing the clam pearl jade which was cut open, the sound dry as old leaves. “Interesting. It seems those fools are about to meet their Waterloo.”A young girl was standing behind him, closer to the exit, posture coiled like a spring. “Grandpa, is something wrong with the clam jade?”The old man chuckled mysteriously, eyes glinting. “Who knows?”The girl stamped her foot against the floor, displeased with the ambiguous answer, a flush rising to her cheeks. If anyone saw the girl standing in ordinary clothes, with the old man, and pouting like a child, they would have fainted from fright. Her hair was a fiery auburn shade, her eyes a contrasting sea-green that
Ch. 033 Shameless beyond bounds
One last stone to go. Thane exhaled, the breath shuddering out of him. The quality so far wasn’t too bad. This should be enough to pull through. His fingers ached from being clenched. “The quality of the two piles appear similar. So who’s the winner?”The same question was in the minds of other people. All the jades exposed were of a higher grade. It was truly too hard to determine the winner. The crowd was split, buzzing, uncertain. “I think the one chosen by Eagle Eyes has the higher quality. It’s clear, and shiny. There’s no visible splotch nor calcite veins on his own.”“I disagree with you. The boy’s jades are of a higher quality. His jades all have powerful spirits and energy embedded in them. Rare treasures martial practitioners would kill for. It’s full of spirituality with high grade purity. If I’m the one buying, I will go for his.”“I think it’s too early to speculate. Average quality is what’s being judged. If the last stone in his hands is a trash grade jadeite, it woul
Ch. 034 Master appraiser, James
Inside the crowd, where Vireille and the old man stood watching, they noticed the flashing shadows. The old man chuckled. “A snake truly doesn’t shed its scales.”“It seems they intend to kill that boy, judging by the number of assassins lying in wait.” Vireille shook her head. “Choosing to do business and gamble with such shameless people… he should have known better.”A shrill ringtone from a communication device interrupted them. Vireille’s eyes flicked to the bag hung at the old man’s waist, where a soft light now blinked from within.The old man’s gaze never left Ragnar, even as he reached for the phone vibrating inside the bag. His expression darkened as he listened to the panicked words of the subordinate on the other end.“Mitigate it. I will be there shortly.” He returned the phone to his pocket, brows furrowed.Vireille raised an eyebrow. “What happened?”“An emergency occurred at Sacred Cove. I will have to make a quick trip back.” The old man exhaled, his eyes drifting tow
Ch. 035 You sell fake jades
Everywhere went silent. Even the wind slowed down, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Zeraya’s gaze sharpened. She tapped a button on her watch, and a faint blue pulse answered. “How’s that possible?” Vonn shouted, still bound by spirit restraints. The hope and excitement in his eyes had died out long ago, replaced by something colder. This was bigotry in its purest form, and they weren’t even bothering to hide it. Ragnar chuckled, the sound low and cutting. “Since your eyesight’s that bad, why didn’t you retire with honor instead of coming here to disgrace yourself?” Old James’ face darkened, fury taking root in the lines of his skin. The crowd that had jeered with Ragnar moments ago began to turn, scenting blood in the water. “What’s wrong with this boy? He’s so arrogant.” “Master James is a renowned appraiser, yet he won’t even give him face.” Ragnar smiled and stepped forward, boots scraping against stone. “I’ve learned everything about spirit jades. I can
Ch. 036 Vireille Tempest
The voice sliced through the noise, and everyone turned toward it as one. Briggs’ gaze sharpened. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, ushering a young woman to the forefront. She was tall, with thick fiery auburn hair that caught the lamplight and sea-green eyes that didn’t. Slender, perfectly shaped waist, flat belly. But no one dared to stare lustfully. She had a holy and untouchable aura, like a goddess who had descended to earth and found it wanting. Her eyes were cold, sharp, and assessing, the kind that weighed sin by the gram. She was Vireille Tempest, the young mistress of Sea God’s Hall. “Isn’t that Mad Thunder Lana?” “If she hears you calling her that, say bye to your tongue.” “How come she’s in the Obsidian Conclave? Wasn’t she said to hate crowds?” “I heard people called her ‘mad’ because she’s heartless and psychotic.” The moment that person spoke, Vireille turned toward him, her stare landing like a gunshot straight to his heart. His breath ceased. His limbs qu
Ch. 037 Wicked young master
Zerath’s face turned glacial, a creepy smile spreading across his lips like frost over a blade. “Miss Tempest, you’ve broken the alliance agreement by coming here to hurt a member of Red Earth.” A guard hurried to help Briggs up. Briggs’ face was burning with humiliation, unable to believe that a sixteen-year-old girl could beat him, a Profound Realm master, like a dog without even breaking a sweat. His eyes were filled with hatred as he glared at Ragnar. He couldn’t do anything about Vireille, the little monster. But with this so-called young master who seemed to have zero cultivation, there were many ways to handle him. Many ways to make him scream. “When did the alliance support allied forces to sell fake stones?” Vireille asked, checking her nails for non-existent dirt, boredom sharpened into a weapon. Zerath’s lips curved wickedly, something deadly and cunning flashing in his eyes. “Slander is a very big crime. I hope you can stand tall when it’s time to pay.” Vireille
Ch. 038 Duel
Shock was an understatement. Zeraya’s heart was thudding erratically, each beat a drum of panic. Before she could think of ways to dissuade Ragnar, he was already moving to the circle, with Vireille standing at the edge as the moderator, arms crossed, unimpressed. Thane moved the stones to a box, held by a Storm guild guard, and also freed Vonn, taking advantage of the opening created by the uproar. The chains fell with a clatter no one heard. “Is he crazy?” “Zerath might look like a lazy playboy, but he’s quite capable. Almost made it to top twenty of the youth genius ranking list.” Vireille raised her palm. Zerath reached for his sword, the steel whispering free of its sheath like a promise. As for Ragnar, he stood, face serene, both hands behind him, with only three stones in his grasp. His eyes were fixed on Zerath, unblinking. “Master Storm, for the final time, are you sure you don’t need a weapon?” Vireille asked loudly, projecting for the crowd, not for him. “I’m goo
Ch. 039 Making a powerful enemy
Ragnar turned to look at the man who had just entered. The sword light and killing intent wrapped around Zerath dimmed immediately, as if a storm had been told to sit. Zerath turned too, sheathing his blade with a snap, and offered the man a military salute, spine straight, eyes forward. The man was dressed in plain trousers and a T-shirt. But the materials were rare and expensive, woven from storm-silk and dragon-cotton, the kind that stopped knives as well as looks. On his wrist was a bracelet depicting a hammer crossing a sword, made of pure spirit platinum and inlaid with golden spirit jade. The insignia of a man who didn’t need to shout. His height stood out, broad and unhurried, and he appeared easygoing. But no one dared to breathe loudly. Even a child knew exactly who he was. He was a regular face on Vaelon’s military news. One of the top three generals of Vaelon’s Federation Army. Cassian Goldspierg. The Iron Wall of the North. Briggs quickly stepped back, blood drainin
Ch. 040 When predators get cornered
The general was basically vibrating by the time the test was finished, rage held so tightly it made the stone under his boots crack. As for Ragnar, he stood there impassively, hands clasped behind him, brow slightly arched like he was merely a spectator at someone else’s downfall. “What’s this? So Red Earth’s stones were really defective and synthetically engineered?” “How come people never knew this?” a young man asked, bewildered, his voice too honest for this crowd. The person beside him motioned him closer, eyes darting. “You may not know this, but there have been whispers of people who went to Red Earth in the past to register dissatisfaction for fake spirit jades, but…” The other man’s ears perked up, same with those closest to them, hunger for gossip overriding caution. “But what?” The second man’s brows furrowed. “They all seemed to have met accidents mysteriously after that.” The man chuckled, the sound empty of humor. “It could be their bad fate.” The general nodd