2025-11-17 15:06:38Meanwhile, at the Anthony Mansion—a luxurious Victorian-style mansion that once belonged to the Ashford family—the atmosphere was full of festivities.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled on the ceiling of the spacious ballroom. Classical music flowed softly from an orchestra in the corner of the room. Dozens of formally dressed guests gathered, holding champagne glasses, laughing and chatting in low voices that sounded elegant. Tonight was Richard Anthony's 52nd birthday celebration. And not just any celebration—this was a party attended by the elite of Corholt City. Businessmen, politicians, high officials, and various influential figures. In the middle of the crowd, Richard Anthony stood in an expensive black suit, a satisfied smile plastered on his face. Beside him, Victoria wore an elegant red dress, looking like the queen of the night. Her arm was linked with a handsome man in his thirties—her boyfriend. The man was Charles Whitmore, heir to a wealthy family that owned a property business in Corholt City. He smiled broadly while raising his glass. "Mr. Richard," Charles said in a respectful tone. "Happy birthday. May Anthony Corp continue to grow rapidly. We hope to establish closer cooperation in the future." Richard smiled with satisfaction, patting Charles's shoulder. "Thank you, Charles. You'll make a good son-in-law." Victoria smiled sweetly—a fake smile she had perfected over the years. Margaret stood in the corner, greeting guests warmly. Meanwhile, Edmund Anthony sat in a luxurious armchair, like an old king observing his kingdom with satisfaction. Other guests joined in praising. "The honorable Mr. Anthony is truly visionary!" "One of the Four Great Families of Corholt City! It's truly an honor to be here!" "We hope to cooperate with Anthony Corp!" Everyone was trying to flatter. Everyone wanted to make a good impression on the Anthony family. Because now, the Anthony family had become tycoons—economic rulers of Corholt City. Richard enjoyed all the praise. He raised his glass, ready to give a speech, when— A large-bodied security guard approached him quickly, bowed, then whispered softly in his ear. "Mr. Anthony, sorry to disturb. There's someone outside who wants to see you." Richard frowned. "Who?" The guard hesitated. "A... young man, Sir. But his appearance... is very shabby. Worn shirt, torn jeans, carrying an old bag. He doesn't look like an upper-class person at all." Richard almost laughed. A beggar? At his party? But his mood was good tonight. Very good. He had just signed a 500 million contract with one of the largest property companies. His life was perfect. His wealth was overflowing. Why not share a little? He waved his hand casually. "Let that beggar in. As long as he gives me good wishes, give him some food then tell him to leave. Consider it charity on my birthday." The guests around him laughed softly, praising Richard's "kindness." The guard nodded respectfully. "Yes, Sir." He turned around, ready to return to the entrance. But before he took three steps— BANG! The large ballroom door opened violently, slamming into the wall with a loud sound that echoed throughout the room. The music stopped. Everyone fell silent. All heads turned toward the door. There, stood a twenty-six-year-old young man. Wrinkled long-sleeved shirt, worn jeans, old bag on his back. His hair was slightly messy. But his eyes... His eyes were sharp, cold, and full of blazing fire. Lein stepped inside with firm steps. Each of his steps sounded loud on the silent marble floor. Then, his voice thundered—loud, clear, and full of terrifying authority: "RICHARD! VICTORIA! COME OUT!" Total silence enveloped the ballroom. Everyone was frozen. Their mouths open. Their eyes widened in disbelief. Daring to call the honorable Mr. Anthony by his name?! Moreover, asking him to come out?! How bold! Was he looking for death?! Richard, who was holding a champagne glass, instantly his face turned dark. His smile disappeared. Victoria, standing beside him, frowned. Her eyes narrowed at the shabby man. Wait... That face... It couldn't be... Charles Whitmore, standing next to Victoria, immediately stepped forward with a red face. "How dare you—" But before he finished speaking, another security guard had already moved. A muscular man nearly two meters tall stepped quickly from the corner of the room. His name was Marcus—a former soldier, martial arts expert, and one of the Anthony family's best bodyguards. His muscles were clearly visible beneath his black uniform. "Enough!" Marcus shouted in a booming voice. "How dare you come in and shout like that in front of Mr. Anthony?!" He stepped quickly toward Lein, his hands already clenched into fists. "Get out now, or I'll make you leave by force!" Lein didn't move. Didn't even glance at Marcus. His eyes were fixed on Richard and Victoria. Marcus got angrier. He felt insulted. Ignored like dust! "You're looking for death!" Marcus threw a hard punch at Lein's face—a punch that had knocked down dozens of people, a punch honed over years on the battlefield. But— WHOOSH! Lein moved. Fast. Very fast. His hand caught Marcus's wrist in mid-air, like an eagle catching a snake. Marcus was shocked. His eyes widened. Strong! This man's grip... was so strong! He tried to pull his hand away, but couldn't—it was like being trapped in iron. Then, Lein twisted Marcus's wrist with a smooth but brutal movement. CRACK! The sound of breaking bone was heard clearly throughout the ballroom. "AAAHHH!" Marcus screamed in pain, his knees immediately hitting the floor. But Lein wasn't finished. With one quick movement, he pulled Marcus, then threw him aside—like throwing an empty sack. CRASH! Marcus's body, weighing over 100 kilograms, slammed hard onto the marble floor. His head hit the floor, his eyes rolled back, then he lost consciousness. Silence. The entire ballroom was completely silent. Everyone stared with their mouths wide open. Their eyes bulging in disbelief. Marcus—one of the Anthony family's best bodyguards, a former soldier who had defeated hundreds of people—was taken down in an instant. Not even three seconds. Who... who was this man?! Lein stood upright again, as if nothing had happened. He casually brushed off his hands, then looked back at Richard and Victoria. "Richard, Victoria," he said in a cold voice that froze blood. "Long time no see."
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Chapter 345
His expression had already changed before the door finished moving, shifting from an expression that revealed nothing into something that could not be completely concealed, even by someone as skilled at hiding almost everything as he was—the happiness of someone who had just seen the end of something long and arduous finally within his grasp.His right hand moved naturally, without any instruction from his mind, toward his waist.Making sure once again that the knife was still there.It was.“Come in quickly.” His voice was low, not a whisper, but far quieter than his usual volume. “Make sure no one sees you.”The Silent Reaper did not move.Bravan frowned.One second, two, and the silhouette before him was still standing in the same position, not turning around, not responding, in a manner unlike someone who had just finished carrying out a mission and returned to report its completion.“Damn it.” His voice dropped even lower, but something within it was different from the calmness t
Chapter 344
Lein stared at the corpse lying on the corridor floor.Nothing had changed in his expression from the way he had looked at the empty corridor before. Not because he was trying to maintain a particular expression, but because there was nothing to maintain. A corpse was the result of a decision, and the decision had already been made, and there was nothing left from it that needed to be kept within any expression.This woman had chosen a long road before reaching its end here.It was not his place to mourn her.Lein shifted his gaze toward King Vaelthorn’s chamber door.Behind the thick wood, the sound of steady breathing continued. Nothing had changed. The sleeping king had heard nothing of what had just happened outside his chamber because nothing had been loud enough to reach his ears.Lein stared at the door for several seconds.Inside his mind, something was being put together. Not a lengthy plan, but something simpler than that, a single step that, when viewed from the right angle
Chapter 343
Her hand trembled against the floor.She raised her gaze toward Lein standing before her, and within her, something that had not existed for a very long time found its place for the first time.Fear.Not a small fear. Not something that could be suppressed through sheer stubbornness or by reminding herself of how much she had already endured.This was fear that came from the deepest part of her, from the most primitive part of herself that still understood the difference between something that could be fought and something that could not.This man had defeated her without showing even the slightest expression that indicated he had exerted any effort. One finger to stop her sword. One flick to break a blade that had long surpassed the limits of ordinary iron. One punch to make the entire foundation of her abilities collapse.And the way he stood now had not changed from the way he had stood at the beginning, as though what had just happened was not significant enough to alter the way h
Chapter 342
The Silent Reaper did not answer.Her hand moved.The sword was drawn from the sheath on her back in a single, highly trained motion, so practiced that there was no sound of metal scraping against the sheath, no pause between drawing and attacking—the two movements were one and the same.Her body spun, her shoulder leading as the sword followed in a horizontal arc aimed not at his body, but at his neck, a point she had already identified from sound alone. In the darkness of this corridor, with the man’s presence emitting nothing at all, sound was the only reference she could use.It was fast.Faster than most Sky Realm cultivators Lein had ever faced.And incredibly silent.Yet Lein merely raised one finger to deal with the attack.His index finger was positioned directly in the path of the incoming blade, as if he had already read where the sword would end up before its swing had even reached halfway.The sword met his finger.And stopped.It did not slow down. It did not struggle ag
Chapter 341
Some time earlier.In Lyris’s territory within the Royal Palace of Vaelthorn, there was an ancient tree standing in the corner of the garden, its trunk larger than the others, with branches that had grown in directions no one had ever planned, yet somehow produced an incredibly dense canopy.On one of its highest branches, Lein sat cross-legged.His eyes were closed. His back was straight. Both palms rested on his knees in the manner of someone so accustomed to this position that his body no longer needed to think about adjusting itself into the proper posture.In Xollos, the spiritual energy flowing through the air possessed an extraordinary density.Because of that, not even a single day could be wasted without absorbing as much of it as possible.Sleep could be postponed, even ignored.Progress, however? Never.The night in Vaelthorn passed in much the same way as the nights before. A wind that was not particularly strong, the sound of crystals mounted on the outer pillars shifting
Chapter 340
The Silent Reaper did not move for two seconds.“Six thousand men.”It was not a question. It was more like someone repeating a number to verify that what she had heard was indeed what had been said.“That’s impossible.” There was no longer any trace of a smile in her voice. “You must be boasting.”“Enough.” Bravan took over before the conversation could continue in an unproductive direction. “There’s no need to discuss that any further. The point is, move quickly, don’t attract anyone’s attention, and finish the job efficiently.” His eyes remained fixed on the woman. “That is why we are paying you.”The Silent Reaper stared at him for a second.Then she nodded.“Understood.”Inside her mind, the number six thousand was still there, circling in a place that could not be cleared away with a simple nod.Impossible.No cultivator could defeat six thousand people alone unless they had already reached the God Realm, and throughout all of Xollos, only one name had ever reached that point. V
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