Trent’s death a few days ago caused an uproar. No one knew who the man in the ghost mask was, but Alex knew that it was James, the Black Dragon of the Southern Plains.James asked, “How’s the partnership going with Eternality?”“All good, Mister Caden.”“Terminate the partnership. Tell the Callahans that Celestial will only work with Thea. Now that Thea is no longer part of the family, the partnership is terminated. As for the rumors between you and Thea, sort it out yourself. I don’t want Thea to be in trouble due to those rumors.”“Of course. I’ll get it done right now.”Alex took a deep breath.After he hung up, he made the necessary arrangements at once. He told whoever was in charge of dealing with the Callahans to terminate their partnership.At the same time, the current executive chairman of Eternality, Howard Callahan, rushed into the Callahans’ villa. He shouted, “Dad, something’s happened!”Lex raised an eyebrow. “Howard, why are you still behaving like a child at th
Looking at how happy Thea was, James’ mood lifted as well.“Jamie, I’m going home. I’m going home!”Thea could not stop cheering, just like a little girl whose time-out session was over.James did not say much. He merely hugged her tightly.Once Howard learned where Thea was, he drove to Nine Dragons Street.Some of his family went along, including his children Tommy and Megan, as well as Tommy’s wife Yvonne Lewis.As Howard had always been the executive chairman of Eternality, he drove a pretty swanky car. It was a BMW 7 Series worth millions.In the car, Tommy complained, “What is grandfather doing? How could he allow Thea to come back? Dad, once Thea returns, you will no longer be the executive chairman. We can’t let Thea come home.”His wife Yvonne agreed. “Tommy’s right. If she’s the executive chairman, how will we benefit from the company? How did Thea even get to know the chairman of Celestial?”Megan interrupted, “Rumor has it that Thea is Alex’s lover.”Howard cut ev
James knew that Thea cared about her family’s opinion the most.Over the past ten years, she had been looked down upon. She desperately wished for her family’s acknowledgment and approval.“Thea, do you want to go back?”Thea nodded lightly. “Yes.”James looked at Howard and his family, still standing at the entrance. Mildly, he said, “Thea will return under one condition. Kneel and beg her to.”“James…” Tommy got angry at once, a vein pulsing on his face. “You have no authority in the family. Thea didn’t even say anything. Who are you to make these demands?”James said, “If you won’t kneel, have Lex come personally. Otherwise, she won’t be returning.”Thea pulled on James’ sleeve gently, telling him to stop talking. They were a family after all, and she did not want things to be awkward.“Thea, you’re too softhearted. Since they’re at your mercy, they’d grant all your requests.”“R-really?”“Of course! Think about it. With Celestial terminating the partnership, it’s their lo
At the Callahans’.Lex saw Howard and his family, but Thea was nowhere to be found.His wrinkly face darkened. Angrily, he shouted, “Where’s Thea? Why didn’t you bring her home?”Megan looped her arm through his immediately. “Grandfather, calm down. Please hear me out. Thea has crossed the line. She asked all of us to kneel, which we did, but she still refused to come home. She even requested that you transfer ten percent of the group’s shares to Benjamin. Also, she said that you’re just a biased old man since everyone else in the family owns some shares except for her family.”Lex turned green with anger.Hurriedly, she said, “Grandfather, they’re not my words. Thea said all of that.”“How dare she.”Lex was furious. Viciously, he said, “Just because she knows Alex Yates, she’s behaving as if she owns the world. She doesn’t even respect me anymore.”Tommy exaggerated the story as he recounted how they went to pick Thea up. He told Lex all about how they knelt before Thea, how
As ten percent was a substantial amount, she was worried that grandfather would not agree to it.The only thing she could do now was wait.Soon, Howard returned to Common Clinic.Alone this time, he had the transfer agreement for the shares with him.“Thea, dad has signed the agreement. Once Benjamin signs here, he will own ten percent of the family’s shares. Now that you have the transfer agreement, could you call Alex and tell him to resume the partnership with Eternality?”Thea studied the agreement carefully.Once she verified that it was authentic, she cheered in joy. “Jamie, grandfather has agreed! Yes! Finally, my dad will have some standing.”“Thea, please call Alex. The trucks are at Eternality taking the materials away. Once we get this out of the way, we can celebrate properly later,” Howard said.Thea looked at James.James nodded, saying, “Call him.”“S-should I?” Thea was nervous. Alex owed James a favor after all, not her.James said, “Of course. Go for it.”
Gladys was out the entire day, so she missed the news.She was unaware of the press conference the chairman of the Celestial Group had held, the fact that Celestial Group had canceled their partnership with Eternality, and how Thea had leveraged her return to the family against Lex by making him pass ten percent of the shares over to them.She froze at Thea's words. "Transfer letter for ten percent of the shares? What shares?"Gladys stared blankly at the document Thea held out."Mom, grandpa wrote this transfer contract," Thea said. "He signed it himself. If Dad signs it too, ten percent of the family's shares will be his."Gladys promptly snatched the file from Thea's hands and read through the contents carefully. She cheered in delight when she was done, hugging and kissing the contract. "Haha! It's real!" she squealed. "It's an actual transfer contract! We finally have ten percent of the shares! The old man finally came to his senses!""Let me see that, Mom," David said inc
The Gourmand was famous in Cansington. It was the grandest restaurant around, though its establishment was divided into several tiers.The private rooms it had available in order of the most luxurious were Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Black Iron. Apart from that, it also had a public hall.Even at the public hall, a meal at The Gourmand costs thousands of dollars.It was peak time, so the public hall was filled with customers. The line they had to wait in was more than thirty people long.Gladys started complaining again."You're useless, Benjamin. Look at Howard. He's a Bronze member of The Gourmand. He doesn't even have to wait when he comes here, he can just walk straight into the private room."And you. Some soldier you are. No money, no power… Look at John's son-in-law. Now that's a respectable man. He's a Silver member of The Gourmand. Just one phone call from him will send a waiter straight out to welcome him in. Ugh. Why did my daughter have to marry a poor man?"G
Thea had been the object of ridicule for ten years. Every time she stepped outdoors, her face would be hidden under a veil.She thought she was used to this. But right now, the crowd's words pierced into her like knives. She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet the onlookers' gazes. Self-hatred started rising inside her."This is it? I wouldn't want her even if you paid me.""The most beautiful woman in Cansington? The media must've been blind when they said that."Thea may have been staring at the ground, but she could vividly picture the sneers that were on the crowd's faces. It was too much to bear. The lump in her throat grew and a single teardrop fell from her eyes. Belinda was pleased with Thea's reaction. She lifted Thea's chin, staring at the scabbed-over cuts on her face that were still in the process of healing. "Such a beautiful face," Belinda said with a laugh. "What a pity. Haha!""W-what are you doing?!" Thea jerked herself out of Belinda's grip in a panic a
The sky was a brilliant blue, accented by white clouds. Vast plains stretched out with rolling peaks, rivers, and seas crisscrossing the expansive land, while an aura of Spiritual Energy permeated everything. This was a new world, brimming with life and vitality, existing independently from the myriad realms.Countless cultivation resources awaited discovery here. Unending adventures beckoned the brave, and limitless opportunities awaited those with exceptional talent.This was the new world James had created, based on the Forty-Nine Daoisms and merged with his own Daoism, to resolve the Leere Tribulation and save countless beings across the myriad realms.In this world, there was no powerful Heavenly Path, no hierarchy of races, no strict rules or oppressions, and no fate governing everything. Instead, actions were judged by karma. Fortune and misfortune, as well as success and failure, were determined by karma.Though it adhered to the principle of survival of the fittest and res
“No wonder,” Lord Goyo finally understood after an extended contemplation.He distinctly remembered that back at the Yin’s Void, Jacopo, the incarnation of Waitara Path’s Soremsia, had abruptly ordered him to move all foundations out of the Dark World. In hindsight, everything now made sense. It was likely that Jacopo had foreseen all of this.Realizing this, Lord Goyo felt a chill run down his spine as cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Despite doubting Jacopo’s identity as an incarnation of Waitara Path’s Soremsia, he had followed his advice. Otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous.Snapping back to reality, Lord Goyo looked down at the Yang governor and Gladwin from his elevated position.“You fool, do you realize your mistake?”The Yang governor and Gladwin looked up simultaneously, their faces full of fear.“Lord Goyo, I truly didn't notice this. I had no idea when the Dark World was separated.”“Lord Goyo, there is something fishy about this. If James has
At the peak of Mount One in the myriad realms, the Yang Governor, disguised as James, descended with Gladwin. Both looked deathly pale, as if they had just escaped a life-threatening disaster. They were filled with panic.They stopped simultaneously upon arriving beneath a massive platform in a grand dojo.“We need to sort this out first,” the Yang Governor glared fiercely at Gladwin. “Who's going to explain this later, you or me?”Gladwin swallowed nervously. “Of course, it should be you.”“Why should it be me?” the Yang Governor scoffed. “Haven't you always claimed to be Lord Goyo's top confidant and meddled in our alliance's affairs? Now you're chickening out when there's a major issue?”Gladwin's face twitched. “This has nothing to do with cowardice. It's your duty as the leader of the Path Guardian Alliance.”The Yang Governor laughed in exasperation. “You've always been the one gathering intelligence across the myriad realms, boasting that you're better than Yegor from Skyn
That was the first thing he asked after surviving a monumental battle. James patted his shoulder. "The twenty thousand men…" "As long as it's broken," Wyot interjected, staring into the emptiness. "It's a pity the Dark World is gone forever."James wanted to respond, but the other survivors gathered around them. After the battle and the aid of the path source, they had ascended to Path Emperors, becoming top powerhouses in the myriad realms.James nodded, then waved his hand, summoning a path pearl that gleamed with holy light. The light and aura it radiated were enough to make any living being kneel before it.Just as James was about to act, Wyot knelt on one knee, followed by his warriors.James frowned. "Wyot, brothers, you have the right to stand…""We will not be Deified until the Leere Tribulation is broken!" Wyot declared loudly, clasping his fists. His warriors did the same."We will not be Deified until the Leere Tribulation is broken!"Their voices were unified, echo
Then, the Formation of Perception shook violently. When he snapped out of it, he realized that the twenty thousand Doom Race warriors led by Xezal had almost all perished.Among the remaining ones, three were losing their bodies. Hastily, James tossed three path sources into the formation, but it did not stop their bodies from crumbling."Move them out, quickly," urged Zella. "They're under immense pressure inside."James waved his hand and broke the Formation of Perception.Xezal and his remaining warriors—just three of them—appeared in the void. They were tattered and covered in blood. Their hair was unkempt, and they were barely recognizable. These were heroes who had experienced hell.Though wobbling, they stood in battle stances. Their valiance and undying will moved James. He turned his hand and covered them with four path sources, then told them to sit and heal."That's the Doom Race for you. The fact that they survived this titanic battle says a lot about their talent," Z
"Fourth, I have left some treasures for the Yaneiri Clan. They should be enough to establish yourselves in the new world. Fifth, do not be Deified. Never, ever do that. You must keep the Yaneiri Clan safe."Wynton's body contorted, plunging him into further pain. Cracks spread across his skin. "You owe me, James! You owe my clan!" he roared for the last time in his life before crumbling into dust.The light strips that imprisoned him shattered as well, and purple flames lunged at James' light wall, the shockwaves splintering it into fragments before rampaging toward the inconsolable Zella.James flew to Zella, scooped her up, and they took off. The shockwaves from Wynton's self-destruction rapidly spread, obliterating the surrounding formations.But that wasn't the end. Once freed, the shockwave rippled across the Dark World, annihilating everything in its path. Countless universes met their demise.Meanwhile, James protected the remaining Doom Race warriors within the formation,
Wynton was hysterical, but James merely shrugged. “Wynton, they say the last act people do before they die is to be kind. I see none of that in you, and you lost to me.”“And so what?” Wynton roared. “You’re just luckier than me, James! You have a Yin governor as your wife, and she has your back all the time! You would never have come this far otherwise!”James smiled. “Keep going.”“I know you don’t want to owe me any favors.” Wynton glared at him angrily. “You gave me three free attacks to repay me for sparing you in the River of Time.“Now, I’ve given you your children’s past selves back, and you owe me once more. You’re waiting for my terms, aren’t you?”James looked resigned.“Wrong,” Wynton sneered. “I won’t ask for any promises, nor will I give you any chance to repay this debt. Now, you shall owe me a favor you can never repay!”James sensed something was wrong and was shocked. “Wynton!”Wynton, imprisoned, began to burn, flames flickering and licking his body. He roare
"That’s…" The sight of that token filled Wynton with shock. "Y-You’re working with the Shadowborns?""Will you give it to me?" James shot him a threatening look.Wynton shivered, taking a deep breath. Then, a flash of purple light burst forth, and a brilliantly shining mirror flew out from the top of his head.James released Wynton and grabbed the mirror. It resonated with the token, and both items shone blindingly, responding to each other.'It’s true,' James thought. 'The Shadowborn token the master gave me before he left can sense the Nothingness Path Mirror. But why?' Questions swirled in his mind."That mirror will do nothing for you," Wynton said. "I can’t control it, so you can’t either. The only one who can is the Yin governor."He looked at James. "And she’s cleaved in two. Unless you can merge them together, the mirror will not work. However, with just your wife’s half-self, finding Wuia’s current and future selves will be a nigh impossible task."James tucked the mirr
James remained silent. He couldn't muster a response. Now, he finally understood why the Leere Tribulation had been orchestrated and the role his wife played in it.He had initially thought that by destroying the past version of Wuia concealed within the River of Time, he could hurt Wuia. Even if he couldn't stop the Leere Tribulation, he could at least delay it.With more time, he planned to gather additional clues and eradicate all three versions of Wuia, permanently solving the problem. However, his conversation with Wynton had changed his plans.Wynton observed James standing in silence and smirked. "Of course, there's a way to do this."James furrowed his brow.Wynton, brimming with glee, continued, "Kill your wife and the Light Heavenly Path. If they vanish entirely, Wuia will never obtain the Void Spiral. Even if the Leere Tribulation materializes and he returns, his strength will be no greater than before his reincarnation. You'll have enough power to fight him."That was