The dragon landed on the broad platform outside one of Skyreach’s largest shopping malls, drawing more attention than any luxury car ever could.Nia was the first to look around excitedly. The building in front of them rose several floors high, its glass walls reflecting the evening lights while glowing signs stretched across the entrance. Cars moved along the road below, yet cultivators in long robes mixed freely with businessmen in suits and women carrying shopping bags. Skyreach had always been like that. Ancient houses still controlled power, but the city around them had long since learned to live in a modern world.Jayden stepped down first, then helped Mira and Nia.The moment they entered the mall, the atmosphere changed as several workers near the entrance froze before quickly straightening.“Lord Jayden!”One bowed and then another, within seconds, even the floor manager hurried toward them.“Welcome, City Lord.”Nia’s eyes went wide.Mira slowed beside Jayden, clearly not pr

For a second, Cassel simply stared at Jayden then he burst out laughing.The sound drew even more attention from the nearby shoppers, but Cassel did not care. If anything, having an audience seemed to make him more confident. He glanced back at the five men surrounding Jayden, then slowly shook his head as though he had just heard something unbelievably stupid.“You really have no idea who you’re talking to, do you?”Jayden looked at him without interest.Cassel’s smile widened. “House Ravelle.”That name alone was enough to make several people nearby react. Skyreach had many cultivation families, but only four were commonly referred to as the Four Great Houses, the families whose wealth, influence and cultivation foundations placed them above almost everyone else beneath the City Lord. House Ravelle ranked fourth among them, and even that was enough to make most smaller houses think twice before causing trouble.Cassel clearly expected the name to change everything but instead, Jayde

The elderly man who entered the room was Cassel’s grandfather, Alaric Ravelle, the current patriarch of House Ravelle.Unlike Darius, who wore his anger openly, Alaric rarely needed to raise his voice. He was already old with grey hair that brushed neatly away from his face and a walking cane in one hand, but no one in House Ravelle mistook his age for weakness. He had spent decades keeping their family among the Four Great Houses of Skyreach, and most of that had required more patience than strength.The moment he entered, his eyes moved from Darius to Cassel.He stopped.Cassel’s swollen face was impossible to miss, and the five injured guards standing awkwardly nearby made the situation even stranger.“What happened?”Darius turned toward him immediately. “Father, you came at the right time.”Alaric walked farther into the room and took a seat without hurry. “That usually means something has gone wrong.”Darius’s expression tightened, but he quickly explained everything. He told hi

Jayden looked at Elias for a moment before a short laugh escaped him.“I like your honesty.”Elias smiled. “I’m only stating the truth, my lord. There’s no point pretending I came here out of loyalty when we barely know each other.”That answer made Jayden respect him a little more. At least the man understood the difference between cooperation and flattery.“Fine,” Jayden said. “The arrangement continues. Crowne Holdings remains under the protection of the City Lord.”The relief on Elias’s face was immediate, though he kept himself composed. He stood and bowed properly. “Thank you, my lord. You won’t regret it.”“I’ll decide that later.”Elias laughed lightly, clearly understanding that Jayden was not the type to hand out trust together with protection. After promising that the city projects would continue exactly as before, he took his leave.Once the door closed behind him, Jayden leaned back for a moment and rubbed his brow. He had only been City Lord for a short time and already

Jayden remained on the broken watchtower for a few seconds, looking at the three beasts below.Something about the scene bothered him.Skyreach had always faced beast attacks from the western wilderness. That was normal. Most involved Level Nine beasts or Mid Level Eight creatures that wandered too close to the city, and occasionally a Low Level Seven beast would force the guards to mobilise properly. Even when something stronger appeared, it was usually a single Peak Level Seven beast.Three at once was different.Especially three completely different species.The Scarlet Ironback Ape roared and struck its chest, the metallic plates along its back vibrating with every blow, while the Stonehide Horned Bear dug one claw into the earth and lowered its head. The Twin-Tailed Razor Lynx was quieter, pacing sideways with its body low and both bladed tails moving behind it.They should not even have been hunting together.Jayden’s eyes narrowed.“Interesting.”The guards had already retreate