"Are you done laughing?" Gideon asked, causing Eric and his group to fall silent immediately. "If you're done, get out of my sight," Gideon continued. "And Eric, don't forget about the acquisition—tell your father to prepare the contract."Eric's face twisted in fury. "You've got some nerve, Gideon! Talking like you actually can do it. Well, I came here for two things today—first, to buy this worthless company, and second... to settle the score for what you did to me."At that moment, about 60 intimidating men burst into the lobby. Fred and the others paled instantly. They could tell at a glance that these men were clearly dangerous criminals and were far more than their 20 security guards could handle.Eric sneered, his tone dripping with malice as he said, "Since you're such a tough guy, Gideon, we brought some friends for you. These 58 gentlemen are hardened criminals with blood on their hands. I hope you don't disappoint them." In seconds, the thugs encircled Gideon, makin
At the same time, the young heirs of the Torres, Campbell, and other families received similar harsh scoldings from their fathers. The five men exchanged bewildered looks, uncertain of what was happening."What's going on, guys?" Eric asked in confusion, but they could only offer apologetic looks. "I'm sorry, Eric. There's an emergency at home. I need to go right away," Ivan said hurriedly. "Same here..."The others echoed similar excuses and quickly bolted out of the building with their hired muscle. What had been a crowd of 58 thugs now dwindled to just eight."Surround them!" Fred commanded quickly, and their 20 security guards encircled Eric and his remaining thugs. The tables had turned, bringing relief to the Snows, while Eric stood there dumbfounded, unable to understand why his allies had suddenly abandoned him."Fred, I'll let you handle this," Gideon said casually. "No problem," Fred replied with a cold smile. Though he did not know exactly how, he was certain Gid
"Ms. Avila, please follow me," Fred said, leading Rachel to Gideon's office without asking questions.Rachel pushed the door open and walked right in, calling out, "Gideon!"Fred's eyes flickered. Rachel's tone and attitude suggested an unusual relationship between her and Gideon. If Gideon had managed to win over Rachel, the Snow family's fortunes were about to change dramatically.The other members of the Snow family were equally intrigued, and someone eagerly asked Fred, "What's the story?""From what I can tell, he and Ms. Avila have a special relationship. This means we'll likely get support from the Avila family. Our revival is within reach, so let's get back to work—and don't worry about the Gross family. They're nothing now!""All hail Mr. Snow!" they cheered. At that moment, Gideon had completely solidified his position as the backbone of the Snow family. Inside the office, Gideon looked surprised and asked, "What brings you here?""If I hadn't shown up, you'd be cri
"At this rate, in a few years, we'll end up like your family—fallen from grace," Rachel said.However, she quickly realized her insensitivity and added, "Gideon, you were once Goldspire's business prodigy. With your talent, I'm sure you can revive the Snow family." "So you want me to take on the Yovarian Guild?" Gideon asked.Rachel gave a bitter laugh. "The Yovarian Guild is a massive organization. I doubt you could handle them, but my grandpa's letter said you could help, so I wanted to try.""What a hassle," Gideon mumbled as he rubbed his temples. While Rachel saw the Yovarian Guild as an unstoppable force, they were small fry to Gideon. He could have world-class powers crush them within an hour, but that was not his way. Natural selection and survival of the fittest were laws of nature that applied to human society, too. Using his power to destroy the Yovarian Guild just because of his connection to Rachel would make him no better than a murderer.Besides, Titus taugh
Rachel and Gideon got into the Maserati, where Wilder was waiting behind the wheel. He asked with a smile, "Where to, Ms. Avila?""Home!" Rachel replied urgently. Wilder froze for a moment, his mind racing. He wondered if Rachel was bringing Gideon home to announce their relationship to the family, and he could not help but think they had progressed too quickly.Before he could overthink it, Rachel added sharply, "Mr. Morrick, step on it! Max from the Yovarian Guild has broken into our estate and threatened to burn it down if I don't show up in 20 minutes.""What?" Wilder's demeanor suddenly turned fierce.Gideon was surprised as he realized this elderly driver was clearly more than he appeared, which explained why he served as Rachel's driver and bodyguard."Hang on, both of you," Wilder warned, slamming the gas pedal.The Maserati sped down the streets, arriving at the Avila estate within 15 minutes. When they arrived, they were greeted by a tense standoff in the courtyard. T
Rachel and the other Avilas were seething with anger as Max lifted his chin arrogantly and questioned, "I'll ask you one more time, Rachel—are you selling Emerald Lake or not?" "Not a chance! Now, get out!" Rachel shouted.Max's expression turned grim. "You ungrateful bitch, you're really pushing it! You're signing that contract today, or things will get ugly."Wilder stepped forward with a cold smile. "You little punk, how dare you act so bold at the Avila estate? Looks like you need to be taught a lesson."For a brief moment, something flickered in Max's eyes—Gideon immediately understood that Max's real target was not Emerald Lake. Obviously, the Avila family would never sell such a crucial property, so Max was deliberately provoking them to get to Wilder. Gideon pieced everything together. Wilder was Rachel's bodyguard and a skilled fighter. If the Yovarian Guild could eliminate him, Rachel would be defenseless. It seemed that the guild was going all in to crush the Avila fa
Max stood dumbfounded. His skilled fighters had been defeated in seconds, thrown through the air like ragdolls, and knocked unconscious in the most humiliating way possible."Who the hell are you?" Max demanded. "The Yovarian Guild knows everyone in the Avila family, but we've never heard of someone like you!"Gideon scoffed. "It doesn't matter who I am, but what does matter is that you leave now and stop harassing the Avila family. Otherwise, I'll make sure to beat you up every time you show up."Max's face turned beet red, overwhelmed with rage. "What did you just say? Do you know who you're talking to—"Before Max could finish his outburst, Gideon's strike sent him flying, knocking out two teeth as he landed with a bloody face."Still think I'm bluffing?" Gideon smirked. Even though Max was burning with rage, he did not dare to lash out, fearing he might not make it out of the estate alive."Fine! Rachel, the Avilas, and you—I'll remember this!" Max retreated with his tail b
"Under pressure, Cormac handed Qyra over to the Yovarian Guild's deputy leader..." Rachel trailed off.Suddenly, an explosive wave of murderous intent filled the room, causing the temperature to plummet instantly.Wilder's hair stood on end as he stared at Gideon in disbelief. The killing energy was terrifying, and he wondered what kind of experiences could have forged such intensity. In Wilder's eyes, Gideon had transformed into a harbinger of death.Rachel was not a martial artist, but even she felt the suffocating pressure. The cold air prickled her skin, and Gideon's murderous glare sent her heart racing."Go on," Gideon uttered through clenched teeth.Rachel steadied herself and carefully continued, "After Qyra was given to the guild, the Snow family got a brief respite. But it didn't last long. Apparently, Qyra made some mistake and was thrown into the guild's prison."That was the final blow the Snow family couldn't withstand. Other families piled on, and eventually, the S
"Is this truly the Mystic Supreme Bone?" Gideon asked, still in disbelief that a fragment of a ninth-level apex overbeast's bone was now in his possession. Orabella smiled and replied, "You've got incredible luck. They've unknowingly set the stage for you, and they must be furious about it now." "By the way, what exactly can this Mystic Supreme Bone do? It has a majestic presence, but what is its actual use?" Gideon asked."You aren't familiar with it, are you? The Mystic Supreme Bone has numerous remarkable uses," Orabella explained seriously. "Firstly, it can be used to create weapons. The bone is extremely durable. "Although this small finger bone alone isn't sufficient to make a weapon, you can refine it and integrate it into your own hand, allowing it to merge with your finger bone.""Merge with my finger bone?" Gideon asked."Yes," Orabella said with anticipation, "If you succeed in the fusion, your finger bone will become unbreakable, and the power of a single finger st
At the same time, Gideon and Pacino sprang into action, causing the three forces to clash and the glowing object to be tossed aside. As it landed, everyone could see it clearly. "A bone?" they exclaimed in surprise. They had anticipated discovering a rare treasure or a divine weapon, not a mere piece of bone. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a finger bone. It was as large as a palm and incomplete. It was evident that it couldn't belong to a human. It was clearly from a beast."Mystic Supreme Bone." Orabella gasped in amazement. At that moment, Pacino's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and his aged eyes flashed with a fierce intensity. "Gideon, seize it quickly. That's the finger bone of an apex overbeast. It is Mystic Supreme Bone, with countless incredible applications. We can't let it slip away." In reality, as soon as Orabella had cried out, Gideon had already activated his Solar Titan Physique, exuding an air of dominance. "Doombringer Knuckle!" he shouted,
"Harmoni, are you positive there's treasure here?" Brantley asked, wiping the sweat from his brow. He was standing at the bottom of the large pit, peering up at Harmoni with a doubtful expression. "I've dug this far, and there's still nothing. Is it possible you got it wrong?""No, it's definitely here," Harmoni insisted confidently. "Just keep trying." With no other option, Brantley resumed his digging. Just then, Gideon appeared at the doorway. Harmoni spun around, her eyes narrowing in surprise. "What are you doing here?" she exclaimed. "Hmm?" Gideon looked utterly confused. "Do we know each other?"Harmoni pressed her lips together and stayed quiet.Earlier, during the epic clash between Brightbane Sect and Naesbrey Fortress on the eastern plains, Gideon appeared and defended Umbra from Draven and his allies. He showcased remarkable strength during that encounter. Both Harmoni and Brantley had witnessed the battle, leaving them with a lasting impression of Gideon.W
Gideon looked at Orabella with indifference and said, "Quit having your sights set on Elara!" "You think too highly of me." "What do you mean?" Gideon asked, but Orabella didn't respond. Instead, she turned away and left. Her hands, tucked inside her sleeves, had turned bluish, a sign of frostbite from the pure essence energy. Earlier, Orabella had indeed tried to use the Hellrend Severance Technique to seize Elara's pure essence core. However, she had not anticipated the strength of the core and nearly faced a backlash. Luckily, she stopped just in time, so only her hands ended up frostbitten.… A series of bombing sounds echoed at the entrance and exit.Cinque and Sei hurried over, furious at the sight. "You kids have a lot of guts coming to Bandit's Hollow to wreak havoc! Who gave you the audacity to do this?"As they spoke, a massive handprint struck toward them. Brantley glanced up, his eyes gleaming like lightning. He launched a punch. With a loud boom, the ha
"We're almost there."Under the night sky, a massive winged beast raced through the air. On its back sat a man and a woman—Harmoni and Brantley."Harmoni, what exactly is this treasure you keep talking about?""Let's keep a little mystery. You'll know when we get there. But…" Harmoni's expression grew serious. "This treasure isn't going to be easy to obtain.""What do you mean?""Up ahead is Bandit's Hollow. The treasure is hidden within it. But Bandit's Hollow is home to seven fearsome hooligans. We are no match for them."Brantley smirked. "Then, why the hell are we even going?"Harmoni replied, "Talonclaw has some history with the leader of the seven hooligans. My grandfather once fought alongside him, so there's a bit of a connection."But my grandfather has long since passed. Our clan hasn't contacted him in years. I don't know if he'll honor my grandfather's memory and let us take the treasure."Brantley frowned. "If the treasure is in Bandit's Hollow, wouldn't they have
As everyone knew, the Spirale Clan controlled highly advanced technological weaponry, a power that many coveted. Even the beast tribes kept a watchful eye on them, waiting for an opportunity.Once The Light Council and Gideon's forces launched their attack, chaos would inevitably follow. Various factions—including the beast tribes and those apex overbeasts—would all get involved, each seeking a share of the spoils.If word of this got out, it would shake nations across the world."This is big!""This isn't just any battle. It's an upheaval!""Gideon, Ms. Corthopp, you aren't messing with us, are you? You're seriously going after the Spirale Clan?"The seven hooligans suddenly felt that Gideon storming into Bandit's Hollow to humiliate them wasn't such a big deal.After all, he was now planning to attack the Spirale Clan.They could feel their perception of him shifting once again, elevating Gideon's status to an entirely new level.Orabella nodded. "Yes, we are. The Light Coun
"Hm?" Pacino was taken aback.With a meaningful look, he asked, "Ms. Corthopp, what do you want to learn that for? The Hellrend Severance Technique is a vicious and sinister art. As a member of The Light Council, how could you study something like that?"Orabella smiled. "No technique is inherently good or evil. It all depends on how it's used."Pacino was no fool. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Ms. Corthopp, are you planning to strip Elara's pure-essence core?"She replied, "If the opportunity arises, I will.""For Gideon? Tsk! It seems Gideon holds quite a lot of weight in your heart." A strange smile spread across Pacino's face.Orabella asked again, "Mr. Albe, would you be willing to teach me? Consider it a favor. I'll repay you in the future."Pacino laughed and said, "Ms Corthopp, you hold a prestigious position in The Light Council. Having someone like you owe me a favor, that's a deal well worth making. I'll teach you the Hellrend Severance Technique right now.""I'd ap
They had actually suffered a setback at the hands of some snot-nosed kid. If word got out, people would die laughing."How much farther are you planning to retreat?"At that moment, Gideon stopped in his tracks, took a deep breath to steady himself, and spoke in a detached tone, "Honestly, we're not even enemies. Ivo is dead. Why make an enemy of me for his sake?"Think about the consequences of crossing me. I could just leave Bandit's Hollow, but from that moment on, none of you would ever know peace again."Pacino's face darkened. "Are you threatening me?"Gideon shook his head. "I'm simply stating a fact. Making an enemy of me over a dead man is not a wise move."Besides, I have means of dealing an irreversible blow to you all. Initially, I intended to take you by surprise, but since I've already mentioned it, let me show you. Be careful!"Gideon waved his hand, and immediately, a mist began to spread.In an instant, the hooligans were horrified. They frantically retreated.
"No!" Mea screamed hysterically.The broken blade was pulled out. Ivo's corpse collapsed to the ground like a pile of rotten flesh, making Mea dizzy, her vision going black."You're not dead! How is that possible?" Pacino was in disbelief.His aged eyes flashed with sharp light as he scrutinized Gideon, realizing that not only was Gideon alive, but his energy was still as powerful as ever, too.It was as if the past half hour inside that eerie mist hadn't affected him in the slightest.How could this be?Gideon sneered. "What? Disappointed? That mist is indeed strange, but unfortunately, it has no effect on me.""Impossible!" "Nothing is impossible. There's a lot you don't know." Gideon was full of mockery, but his face quickly turned cold. "Now, I'll give you a chance. Hand over Elara, and we can go our separate ways peacefully. Otherwise… suffer the consequences!"Pacino sneered. "Gideon, so what if you're still alive? Do you really think you can escape?""Pacino, kill him