"Since Lord Ashbourne has made such an offer, what reason would I have to refuse?"Nick Crane had been interested in the Heavenly Flame from the start, so naturally he agreed to join the Ashbourne family."Excellent! You truly have extraordinary ambition, my young friend. The bearing of a hero!" Gordon Ashbourne raised his teacup with enthusiasm, his weathered face breaking into a genuine grin. "I shall toast you with tea in place of wine!"He lifted the porcelain cup higher, the amber liquid catching the lamplight. "Thank you for extending your hand to aid the Ashbourne family in our time of need!"Nick saw the older man's sincerity and accepted the gesture, drinking his own cup. Families of the Northeast were forthright and magnanimous in their dealings, traits he appreciated. He found their directness refreshing compared to the schemes and posturing common elsewhere.This competition for the Heavenly Flame would give him the perfect opportunity to probe t

Gordon Ashbourne's words caught Nick Crane completely off guard. It seemed Iris Ashbourne's strength was only at the Warlord level. Sending her to compete for the Heavenly Flame seemed like an unreasonable demand, almost cruel in its difficulty.He spoke up, his voice tinged with concern. "But from what I can tell, Miss Ashbourne only has Warlord level strength. If she enters the arena, there's no guarantee she won't get hurt."Gordon Ashbourne sighed heavily, his gaze settling on his carefree daughter. Helplessness colored his expression, deepening the lines around his eyes. "The Ashbourne family bloodline has thinned over the years. She's my only child."His voice grew quieter, weighted with the burden of legacy. "One day, everything the Ashbourne family has built will fall into her hands. If she doesn't train properly now, if she doesn't face real challenges and learn from them, she'll never be able to control the entire family when that time comes."Iris bris

Before long, Elder Benedict led the Ashbourne family delegation to the outskirts of the Thousand Arrows Forest, where they were to meet with representatives from the Goldwyn family.Both families had mobilized substantial forces for this occasion. Though the official rules stipulated that only one Warlord Ascendant could bring nine Warlord Saints, the reality was far different. Each side had brought numerous elite fighters from their respective factions, a precaution against potential conflict spiraling out of control.The Goldwyn family had already arrived and was waiting outside the Thousand Arrows Forest. As they caught sight of the Ashbourne family approaching, contempt flickered across their faces, one after another.The Goldwyn family had originally intended to claim sole dominion over the Heavenly Flame. Unfortunately, the Ashbourne family refused to recognize their superiority and insisted on competing for it, tooth and nail. If not for the fact that the Ashbo