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
After Keith's request came through, Terry wasted no time in rallying his troops and hurrying to Emberstone with urgency.…Adrian was completely clueless. He had no idea what kind of powerful being he had provoked. His actions were about to bring a catastrophic disaster to Emberstone and the Linc family.In the afternoon, Adrian's Bentley pulled up to a huge manor. The grandeur of the place was breathtaking, with two white marble pegasus statues flanking the entrance. These pieces were adorned with gold and deep-sea black pearls for their eyes, making them worth a staggering 100 million dollars each. This was the mansion of the Lincs.Above the main entrance, in big fancy letters, it said "Linc Manor". Back in the day, only the homes of important officials and aristocrats were called "mansions".In modern times, there was only one mansion in Emberstone, known as Linc Manor. Its prestigious title spoke for itself!"Mr. Linc has returned." A cluster of attractive maids hurried ov
Truman was in the middle of his meditation when he heard a commotion. He opened his eyes and shot a glare at Adrian. "How old are you? Why are you still so impulsive?""Grandpa, I'm just so excited."Truman asked with great interest, "Oh? What's got you so happy? Could it be that you've hooked up with another beautiful woman?"Adrian smiled and said, "Sort of. This beauty has quite a remarkable identity!"Truman's brows furrowed. "What have you done now, you brat?""I wouldn't exactly call it causing trouble, but some may see it that way. Grandpa, I'll cut to the chase. I've captured Rachel Avila, head of the Avila family and chairperson of Avila Group in Goldspire!"Initially, Truman believed that Adrian had merely stirred up some drama in Emberstone. In that scenario, no matter who it was, it could be easily handled. But what he didn't anticipate was that this troublemaker had also caused trouble in Goldspire."You've captured the head of the Avila family in Goldspire?" Withou
"Rachel, don't be scared. Your grandfather, Simon, and I were once rivals. You have nothing to fear by marrying my grandson. The Linc family is just as prestigious as the Avila family."Before we continue, I want to ask you something. Is it true that Simon has disappeared?"Rachel stared at Truman and said coldly, "My grandfather is doing just fine. Thank you for your concern!"Truman's brows furrowed. "That doesn't make sense. If he never disappeared, how could you have become the head of the Avila family and gained control of Avila Group?"With a sneer, Rachel spoke coldly, "My grandfather had unmatched bravery. He entrusted me with the entire Avila family without fear that I would destroy it. Even if I brought chaos and destruction, he had unwavering confidence in his ability to fix any situation."That's true self-assurance. Do you possess that level of faith? Would you risk handing the control of the Linc family over to Adrian?""You!" Truman's brows knitted together in ange
"How many Rachels could there possibly be in Goldspire? Wasn't she the head of the Avila family? She was also known as the top young female entrepreneur in all of Verdura!""Really? Or is it just a rumor?""It's true, but I just saw Rachel from afar. She's stunning, like a queen who could take down an empire with her beauty. I can't help feeling envious of Mr. Linc for having such a breathtaking woman by his side."Silence filled the room.In Linc Manor, the members of the Linc family were talking about it heatedly. The Linc family had a thriving bloodline. It hadn't been long before there were already over a thousand family members in the manor, and this was just a part of them. Many more were still on their way.The manor was decorated with fairy lights and colored streamers. The household staff were busy arranging everything in a hurry. There was an air of festivity all around.However, they had no idea that a crisis was about to descend. At this moment, Gideon had already arr
"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