"Ms. Trott, the Carter family is all set. We just need the funding. When will Ms. Avila decide to invest?" Matthew got the message from Maggie and rushed over right away."Today, and as we discussed, a one-time payment of one billion dollars."Matthew's head was spinning. One billion dollars! Oh, my God! It really was one billion dollars! He was rich!Matthew tried to keep his excitement in check and not lose his composure, his face turning bright red.He said, "Please thank Ms. Avila for her trust. I won't let her down!"Maggie said, "Before we proceed, we need to sign a contract. Could you please take a look at it?"Matthew's mind was preoccupied with the thought of money, so he wasn't in the mood to read any contract.Maggie continued, "It would be best if you could review it to avoid any misunderstandings in the future. Since we are making a full investment, Avila Group will hold 90% of the shares in your new company, making us the majority shareholder with a veto right."
Jacob's eyes widened. "Could it be… 100 million dollars?""100 million dollars? Multiply that by ten." Matthew laughed."What?" Jacob's eyes sprang wide open. He swung his hand and delivered a stinging slap."I'll teach you a lesson for spouting such nonsense. And don't you think you're blabbing like it's a simple joke! This is one billion dollars, not a measly one hundred dollars.""Ouch!" Matthew clutched his face, grimacing in pain.Brad quickly helped Matthew to his feet and asked, "Matt, are you okay?"Then, he turned around and glared at Jacob, shouting, "What's wrong with you? How can you act so rashly and lose control like that?""Uncle Brad, this brat…""Shut up!" Brad snapped.He patted Matthew's shoulder and said seriously, "Matthew, I believe in you."Matthew was moved to tears.His phone suddenly beeped, signaling a new message.He eagerly opened it and couldn't contain his joy. He exclaimed, "It's here! Avila Group has transferred the money. One billion dollar
Rachel, despite her young age, managed the Avila family. With an impressive investment of five billion dollars, she was confident that within just two or three years, she would transform Avila Group into a trillion-dollar powerhouse.In Dasovia, very few 25-year-old financial leaders had such high aspirations and remarkable capabilities.A man had to be exceptional in order to win over Rachel. Gideon, in Rachel's eyes, was exactly that perfect candidate. Even though Rachel didn't know Gideon's true identity, it didn't matter to her.Gideon had already demonstrated significant power, enough to cause ripples throughout the entire Dasovia.Rachel already realized that the recent turmoil in Goldspire was due to Gideon's actions.The respected Cabinet Elders of Dasovia, who held the highest positions of power and were the nation's key decision-makers, second only to the highest authority, even paid Gideon a visit.Rachel wouldn't allow anyone to take Gideon away from her."Maggie, I
Elara asked, "Why can't I call you 'darling'? Aren't we married? We'll be sharing a bed every night, after all.""Huh?" Gideon was shocked. He quickly backed away. "Uh, I have some stuff to do. I'll catch you later."Elara pounced and grabbed Gideon's arm. "No way you're getting away from me!""Please, just listen to me…""Absolutely not! We are married, and as such, we should share a bed. Darling, do you no longer love me?" Tears welled up in Elara's eyes.Gideon felt like crying. What did he do to deserve this? At one point, he suspected that Elara's memory loss might be an act, but now, it seemed impossible. How could it be fake when they were going to sleep together?The door at the end of the hallway was ajar. Kyla watched everything with furrowed brows. "Is it possible that Elara has truly lost her memory? Damn it! This is going to be a difficult situation. Gideon is completely vulnerable to her now. I don't stand a chance.""Don't leave yet, Gideon. Let's have a drink tog
Adrian's thought was actually right, and it made sense. To most girls, he was someone to look up to and admire. But unfortunately for him, he had met Rachel. As a woman who had once been with a lion, she was not easily impressed by a mere leopard or jackal. Gideon was the lion, whereas Adrian was merely a jackal. There was a significant difference between them.In the past, if Gideon hadn't been in the picture, Rachel might have been kind to Adrian and possibly formed a bond with him. This could have resulted in a collaboration with the Linc family.Now, she couldn't have cared less. She had the confidence and never needed to worry about the Linc family in the slightest.Furthermore, Rachel was already angry since Gideon had failed to show up. She snapped impatiently, "Just go away and don't bother me!""Huh?" Adrian's expression became tense.His subordinates were angry in an instant.This was the first time! They had never seen a woman treat Adrian with such indifference befo
Adrian sneered, "What the Linc family lacks the least is money!"Hey, kneel down and give my legs a rub. If you do as I ask, I'll be nice to you. If not, don't complain when I become merciless. In the past, many women have met their demise at my hands. If that's what you desire, I can make it a reality!"Adrina's face was cold and menacing.Rachel forced herself to stay calm and said firmly, "Adrian, this is Goldspire. This is not a place where you can act recklessly. You may see me as a feeble woman, but I am actually the head of the Avila family.""Hmm?" Adrian raised an eyebrow.Once known as the most influential in Goldspire, the Avilas had lost some of their prestige over the last two years but still held significant power."Are you really the head of the Avila family?""Yup!" Rachel held her chin up proudly.In that instant, one of the underlings said, "Mr. Linc, it appears that the leader of Avila Group is, in fact, a woman. Are you Rachel Avila?""Yes!""She really is f
Gideon and Arnold planned to take a break once they finished their drinks. However, before they could do so, Gideon's mind drifted to Rachel."Could she still be waiting for me at the restaurant?"He felt that he hadn't been nicer to her. Rachel had done so much for him during this time, but he hadn't really appreciated it."Are you going out?" Arnold asked."I have something I need to take care of," replied Gideon.He didn't wait for Elara and quickly drove off. He had a sense of urgency as he made his way to Dawn Restaurant.However, Rachel was missing without a trace, and her phone appeared to be turned off. So he reached out to Maggie."Mr. Snow, didn't Ms. Avila have a dinner date with you?""Got it!" Hanging up the phone, Gideon couldn't help but smile wryly.Rachel's phone was off, and she hadn't gone back to the company. It appeared she was upset. But never mind that now. She was a woman. She'd bounce back soon enough."Those individuals in positions of power and weal
"Hurry up!" Gideon roared.Out of nowhere, Maggie called and said, "Mr. Snow, has something happened to Ms. Avila? I'm Dawn Restaurant, and I heard she may have been abducted!"It had been a while since Ms. Avila put effort into her appearance. Today, she took the time to dress up and invited a boy to join her for dinner at Dawn Restaurant. How could this happen? Mr. Snow, weren't you there at that time?"Maggie's words pierced Gideon's heart like a knife, causing him to feel overwhelming regret.His tone was intense and ominous as he said, "I will find Rachel and bring her back safely, no matter the cost. If anyone has harmed her, they will pay dearly for it. I am not afraid to turn Emberstone upside down to get answers."After hanging up the phone, Gideon shouted, "Faster!"The pilot was horrified and pushed the speed to the maximum.At the same time, Nino and Leopold, the two leaders in the criminal underworld of Goldspire, followed Gideon's instructions and sprang into actio
"Go check it out," the chief ordered.The squad rushed forward. Immediately, they were scared out of their wits."Sir!""This… This is…""It's Brightbane Sect's Francis… and Giles!""How is that possible?"Everyone was stunned.Francis and Giles were monstrous talents known throughout the entire eastern plains. Even as rogue cultivators, they had heard of them.But now, they had been killed!Who had the audacity to do this?"Sir, what do we do? Should we retreat? This is serious. We can't get involved.""No, fortune favors the bold. We're not far from Brightbane Sect. We must report this to their higher-ups immediately. That way, they can track down the killer in time. Maybe we can even get a reward, or better yet, a chance to join Brightbane Sect."The subordinates hesitated for a moment, then came to an agreement.They quickly chopped down trees and crafted two simple coffins, placing the bodies and heads inside. Carrying the coffins, they rushed toward Brightbane Sect.
The ground trembled.Giles' eyes widened. "This is bad. Francis is about to use that move!"That scared him so much that he immediately retreated.At the same time, Francis had finished gathering his energy. He slashed downward with his blade. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary strike, but it sent a chilling sense of danger through Gideon."It's Bane Sabre's fifth form, the Soul Severing Slash!"Just a moment ago, he was only using the second form, and now, he suddenly jumped to the fifth. It was no wonder the power skyrocketed!Gideon's morale flamed on. His mighty frame trembled, unleashing the raw power of his flesh and blood. He showed Francis' attack the respect it deserved. "Doombringer Knuckle!"At that moment, both the fist and sword energy collided, shaking the earth.The shockwave blasted Giles, leaving him covered in blood. He collapsed unconscious on the spot.Just then, a figure shot out of the battlefield, diving into a descending military aircraft."Tr
Gideon's declaration left Francis momentarily stunned. Overcome with anger, he let out a laugh. "You want to take our heads? Fine. I hope you have the strength to back up such claims and aren't just making empty threats!" He stomped hard, causing the ground to crack, and launched forward like a cannonball."Francis, be careful! Don't underestimate him. He defeated the Shadowgnaw Overlord with a single punch!" "What?" Francis' heart skipped a beat. His momentum waned, and in that instant, Gideon struck with his palm, sending him flying. Francis flipped in the air a few times and landed awkwardly, stumbling back more than 30 feet away. His expression turned grim. "What did you say!" "Francis, he took down the Shadowgnaw Overlord with one punch, and this inner core is from that beast." Francis was furious. "Why didn't you mention that earlier?"Naturally, Francis was aware of the Shadowgnaw Overlord. Over a year ago, he had faced it in battle but had retreated in a miserab
Gideon declared coldly, his voice void of any sympathy, "That's not something I can allow. I'm afraid this is the end for you." The instant the young man clad in black stole the inner core, his fate was sealed."No!" The man screamed in desperation, his face contorted with unwillingness.Suddenly, a fighter jet roared into view, and a startled voice called out, "Giles, what are you doing here?"The young man in black, Giles Terrell, looked up to see a figure dressed in purple standing at the jet's cabin door. Hope surged within him, as if he'd found a lifeline.Giles cried out, "Francis! Help me!"However, Francis Hurst's eyes were riveted on the inner core, a greedy gleam flickering within them.Francis thought that it was fate for him to stumble upon the alpha beast's inner core. If he seized it and used it for his cultivation, he'd surely surpass the young leaders of factions like Martialgarde and Warbringer Gate. Giles had truly given him a wonderful opportunity.Wi
"Why are you pursuing me so persistently? Whoever reaches the inner core first should rightfully claim it. You were careless, so consider this a learning experience. Isn't that reasonable? Must we really end in a situation where both of us lose?" the young man taunted. "A learning experience? That's truly amusing. You steal my inner core and have the nerve to call it a lesson. You certainly have a lot to say," Gideon retorted coldly. He extended his hand, and a massive shadow hand materialized from above. It was the Clausum Palm. The alpha beast, ridden by the young man in black, sensed the immense power of the handprint and froze in fear, dropping to the ground. "Blast it!" The young man in black was so furious that he nearly coughed up blood. Forced to leave the alpha beast, he continued fleeing on foot. He retaliated with a punch, smashing the hand. "Oh? You still have the energy to fight back. Impressive. You're quite the young talent. What a shame you chose to seek you
Out of nowhere, a chain shot up from below, snagging the inner core and swiftly dragging it away. "What?" Gideon erupted in fury. Who would dare snatch from a tiger's jaws? This person had some guts. "Stop!" he roared. With a thunderous force, he cut through the toxic miasma, reaching for the chain. But the thief was no ordinary being. They were a formidable opponent, retracting the chain with remarkable speed. Gideon caught a glimpse of a flickering figure in the jungle. "The inner core I captured isn't something just anyone can take. Let's see if you can escape my clutches," Gideon threatened, his voice resonating with intensity. The figure in the jungle hesitated, a chill running down their spine, yet they didn't relent and fled with the inner core.The fighter jet descended rapidly. But with the dense canopy of ancient trees in the jungle, aerial navigation was not possible. Gideon landed a backhand strike on Kori, rendering him unconscious to prevent any interferenc
Jake let out a terrified scream. He quickly adjusted the fighter jet's course, but just then, a tentacle burst forth from the dense, poisonous fog. The tentacle was black and moved with alarming speed, reaching the jet in mere moments as if intent on tearing it apart. "Fire!" Jake activated the attack system, and over a dozen missiles were launched. The attack was successful, as the tentacle was blown into a gruesome mess. In the distance, a thunderous roar echoed, shaking the heavens and earth—the Shadowgnaw Overlord had felt the pain. Suddenly, more than 30 black shadows emerged from the toxic cloud."Damn it!" Jake swore. He struggled to continue operating the fighter jet amid the overwhelming number of tentacles. Their firepower was no longer enough. Desperately, he called out, "Sir!" At that moment, Gideon sprang into action. Rather than destroying the tentacles, he reached out and seized the one lunging at them. With a powerful yell, he unleashed the strength of
Luckily, Gideon's fighter jet was a state-of-the-art model, so flying through the poisonous haze wasn't a significant problem. Suddenly, a piercing scream reverberated inside the jet, making it shake violently. Kori's face went white as he yelled, "This is bad! It must be the Shadowgnaw Bug. They're venomous creatures that can survive in this toxic fog. An adult Shadowgnaw Bug can reach the size of a lion or tiger, and the Shadowgnaw Overlord is even scarier, being as big as an elephant." Just as he finished speaking, another high-pitched cry sounded. The fighter jet shook uncontrollably and began to dive. Jake did everything he could to keep the jet stable. If the jet had been a regular aircraft, it would likely have broken apart by now. Kori looked deeply concerned. "Based on the strength of that cry, it seems we've run into the Shadowgnaw Overlord." "What's the big deal about one bug? Can it really be that dangerous?" Gideon scoffed, signaling Jake to open the cockpit door.
Gideon trusted Kori completely, as Kori's life depended on him, leaving no room for hidden agendas. The fighter jet soared eastward at high altitude. Gideon was immersed in studying the Book of Medicamentum. He vaguely remembered Titus once mentioning the pure-essence physique and other rare physiques, such as the pure solar physique. These were subtly referenced in the Book of Medicamentum. His current task was to uncover information about the pure-essence physique in the latter part of the Book of Medicamentum. If successful, he might learn how to harness the methods concerning the pure-essence physique himself, enabling Elara to fully awaken and transform. Silence enveloped the entire fighter jet.That evening, the jet touched down on the summit of a large mountain. The pilot, Jake Clythe, was weary from hours of flight, was instructed by Gideon to take a one-hour break. Gideon and Kori also disembarked from the aircraft.The landscape was filled with overlapping mountains