A group of people stood faintly visible in the swirling dust. The night still lingered in the sky, with dawn yet to break.Despite the dust flying everywhere, Chase and his group stood quietly, waiting. This was the very place where they had all entered the secret realm together."Why haven't we seen the exit yet?" Slant asked impatiently.Although Chase could leave and return to Bactria at any moment, he remained standing there. He could see the outskirts of Bactria's Capital City through a thin veil.At the entrance to the secret realm, representatives from the major families had already gathered. There were the Hawkinses, the Coopers, the Salvatores, the Brennans, the Kaydens, and the Welches. They were eagerly waiting.Chase even spotted Gareth, who had brought an entire armed troop to prevent any trouble from these families. Not far from Gareth, Chase also saw a banner of the Flaming Sun Clan.The four elders who had opened the secret realm suddenly appeared, and the entranc
After speaking, Thelonius waved his hand and took his three disciples away, disappearing into the sky. Meanwhile, the remaining family heads of Capital City exchanged looks.What? Even a powerful clan like the Flaming Sun Clan had only three out of over ten people return?The family heads immediately focused on the entrance, each hoping the next person to come out would be their family's prodigy.Inside the secret realm, Mitchell was about to step into the exit when he suddenly found himself stopped by something.He realized instantly that Chase was behind it."Chase, what do you mean by this?" Mitchell asked, his voice laced with frustration.Chase smiled faintly. "Mitchell, swear a blood oath and I'll let you out."Though Chase wore a smile, Mitchell had no doubt that if he refused, Chase would kill him.There was no escaping this, after all. Mitchell's face twisted with indecision. The exit was right in front of him, but if he did not agree, it might as well be miles away.
The voice of the patriarch of the Coopers, Lennox, rang out from behind them."What's the matter? Are you blocking my way?" Gareth immediately questioned."You represent Bactria, so naturally, I wouldn't dare obstruct you. However, I need to ask Scott and Basalt's Collins about the Coopers' prodigy,'' Lennox began, apologizing to Gareth before turning to Chase.Seeing Chase and the others emerge with no one else following from the secret realm, the family heads felt a growing sense of unease.Hence, Lennox directly voiced his concerns."I don't know," Scott replied nonchalantly, his expression unchanging.Chase remained silent."We're leaving," Gareth declared once more."Gareth, you're free to go, but Scott and Basalt's Collins, you can't leave until you explain what happened in the secret realm," Carson, the patriarch of the Hawkins family, said. He also stepped forward to block Chase and Scott."How dare you?!" Though without any cultivation himself, Gareth felt a surge of
"Even the entire cultivation world has never heard of such a heaven-defying existence," everyone exclaimed in awe.The two mysterious martial lords in the sky turned their gazes toward Chase as well."As you're a stage-three martial lord, was it you who claimed ownership of this secret realm?" one of them coldly asked, staring at Chase."So what if it's me?" Chase replied calmly.The two previously enigmatic elders now seemed less intimidating to Chase, perhaps because they were near the secret realm's exit. He could vaguely sense their auras, revealing them to be at most mid-stage martial lords, no higher than level six."It really is you! Such audacity, young man. You've just broken through and already you're so arrogant, showing no respect for your elders. Do you think becoming a martial lord allows you to challenge us?" the elder retorted angrily."It's your condescending attitude that's provoking me. I had no intention of being disrespectful. What now? After knowing that I c
Facing the demands of Ripley, Chase straightforwardly refused, stating, "I have none. Not a single one!""You impudent brat! Do you truly believe your Basalt status can protect you? I've spoken to you respectfully, and you still dare show such disrespect!" Ripley was furious, unable to contain his anger any longer."Respect is earned, not given. It was you who acted shamelessly first, so why should I be respectful?" Chase retorted calmly, his words dripping with sarcasm."You insolent whelp! With your disposition, you're truly fit to be the remnants of the Collins family—always courting death!" Ripley suddenly withdrew his anger and sneered.Hearing this, Chase immediately questioned, "What do you mean?""You know exactly what I mean.""So, you're admitting that the incident at Green Hills Orphanage was orchestrated by the Coopers?""So what if it was? Chase, even if I tell you that not only was the Green Hills Orphanage incident orchestrated by the Coopers, but we were also inv
"Yes, who would've thought Basalt's Collins had such bloodlust? It's a shame. With his control of this secret realm, Basalt's Collins might've been able to restore the Collins family's former glory in Capital City. Why did he get into this ordeal?""Indeed, it's such a pity," the crowd lamented.Although they did not know exactly what transpired between the two, Chase's moment of losing control made everyone make some guesses.Not only independent cultivators but also Scott and Gareth, who were standing beside Chase, realized something was wrong.What could have happened to make Chase lose his composure so completely? However, now was not the time to find out."Hmph. How dare you try to attack Ripley? You're doomed, Chase Collins!" Lennox sneered, casting a mocking glance at Scott and Gareth."Yes. Although our families don't always see eye to eye, I have to agree with you on this," Carson chimed in, watching the spectacle with interest.High above, Ripley deliberately led Chase
In an instant, an immense secret realm enveloped the two elders.Unaware of the change around them, they continued their conversation, smiling and chatting."Who would've thought that a young lad could give you such trouble, forcing you to call me for help?" Harley remarked lightly."Indeed. The last time we joined forces was during the Collins family incident. After all these years, it's still someone from the Collins family," Ripley added casually."Seems like the rumors about a rift between the Cooper and Hawkins families are false," Chase interjected. Seeing them conversing like old friends, he could not help but comment."A rift? That's just a squabble among the younger generation," Harley said with a smile, clearly thinking that Chase was no threat with the two of them joining forces.Ripley also spoke up, "If we didn't create some discord, Bactria wouldn't let us stay in Capital City. But you wouldn't understand even if I explained.""Young man, you're trapped in my domai
"Is that so?" Chase moved his mind again. Harley looked on in disbelief as his body started disappearing from his feet upward, bit by bit."This... is impossible!" he exclaimed upon seeing such casual obliteration. "T-This isn't your domain. Is this your world?"Those were Harley's final words before dying.Though Chase did not fully grasp what a 'world' meant, he understood it was a level above a domain.This was his world? Even so, it was not the time to ponder. Chase's cold eyes focused on Ripley instead."Spare me, Basalt's Collins! I lied about everything before. It was all a bluff. Spare my life, and I'll give you anything you want!" Having witnessed Harley vanishing into thin air, Ripley now faced Chase's gaze with immense fear as he pleaded desperately."It's too late to beg for mercy now. If you had only targeted me, there might've been room for negotiation. But you shouldn't have involved the entire Green Hills Orphanage. "Don't worry, I said I'd bury the entire Coope