Zane's expression shifted slightly before he sneered dismissively. "I've heard the rumors. He's back, is he? Good. Times have changed. The Snows have fallen, so Gideon's nothing now." "Mr. Farrell, do you want us to act?" the man inquired cautiously. Zane waved his hand dismissively and said, "No need. Instead, intensify the pressure on the Tate family. Within a month, I want Tate Corporation to go bankrupt and out of the picture. Let's see how Gideon feels when that happens." A cold smile spread across Zane's face as he leaned back into his chair. …Meanwhile, at the villa on Beaker Island, Waverly had awakened. Thanks to Gideon's meticulous care, her condition had improved dramatically. Her physical state was much better, and her emotions were finally stabilizing. The moment her gaze fell on Gideon, she became overwhelmed again. Her body trembled uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry," Gideon said, his voice laden with guilt. He leaned fo
The man sneered, "You know, your wife is quite the beauty. Selling her off might help clear some of that debt."Ronald erupted like a thunderclap, his face contorted with fury. "You bastard! You're courting death!" he roared."That little bastard Zane ruined my daughter, and now, he dares come for my wife? I'll kill you!" Ronald snapped.Ronald lunged at the man, fists flying.But the middle-aged man was no ordinary opponent. He sidestepped Ronald's attack effortlessly, his movements smooth and precise. With a cold smirk, he swung a fist at Ronald's head.Before it could connect, a hand shot out, catching his fist mid-swing."What the—" The man's expression twisted into shock.The next moment, a sickening crack echoed through the room.A sharp, guttural scream filled the air.The man's hand was crushed. His bones were shattered beyond repair. He staggered back, clutching his ruined hand and howling in agony."My hand! My hand! You've destroyed my hand!" he shrieked. His eyes
Gideon had spoken with unwavering confidence, his tone firm and resolute. However, Ronald remained skeptical. He sighed inwardly, disappointed by what he perceived as Gideon's lack of self-awareness. To him, Gideon's words were nothing more than empty bravado—a desperate attempt to maintain pride after the fall of his once-glorious family.Ronald understood. Anyone in Gideon's shoes would struggle to accept such a downfall. "Mr. Tate, you don't believe me?" Gideon asked, his sharp eyes fixed on the older man. Ronald shook his head gently, his expression weary. "Gideon, I understand how you feel. But the Farrells are an unstoppable force. Take your time. For now, you're far from being a match for Zane." After a pause, he added grimly, "This latest move from Zane of sending someone to buy out my company shows that he's eager to crush me completely. And now that you've injured his man, this won't end quietly. Both of us are in danger."Gideon's gaze hardened. "Mr. Tate, wha
"I'll repay you a thousand times over in the future," Gideon said, his tone calm but resolute. Rachel scoffed, crossing her arms. "If you were really that rich, why would you need to borrow money from me?" Her voice carried a hint of exasperation.She knew Gideon had a habit of making grand promises, often with no intention of following through.Gideon replied with a faint smile, "My money's tied up overseas. Getting it back isn't exactly quick or easy. How about I give you an IOU? Would that work?" "An IOU?" Rachel's sharp eyes glinted with interest. She twirled a pen in her hand for a moment, then shook her head decisively. "Forget the IOU. Instead, agree to one condition, and I'll lend you the money." "What condition?" Gideon leaned forward, curious. Rachel's serious expression betrayed a rare trace of pleading. With a soft yet firm voice and tinged with an unexpected vulnerability, she said, "I want to see my grandpa just once. I miss him so much. Can you make it
Ronald stood in stunned disbelief.He could never have imagined that Leopold and Nino, two of the most notorious crime bosses in Goldspire, would show up at his villa."Mr. Duran, Mr. Sullivan, why are you here?" Ronald asked, his voice trembling with both fear and uncertainty.Leopold gave a faint smile and said, "Mr. Tate, there's no need to be so nervous. We're not here to harm you. Quite the opposite, actually. We're here to save your life.""What?" Ronald's confusion deepened as his brows furrowed.Leopold explained calmly, "Rowan Wolfe, a criminal underling of the Farrell family, is on his way here with an army of men."The words struck Ronald like a thunderclap, leaving him visibly shaken.Nino added, his tone cold and resolute, "Don't worry, Mr. Tate. As long as we're here, Rowan won't leave this place alive."Ronald hesitated, still trying to process the situation. "Why would you save me?"The two men exchanged a knowing look before Leopold replied nonchalantly, "Rowa
"Get them!" Rowan shouted, his voice strained. His ribs were shattered, and his chest was in agony. He had little strength left to fight. Nino and Leopold had him completely outmatched.However, despite his cry, there was no movement outside.Nino smirked and said, "There's no point in yelling. We didn't come alone. We each brought three to five hundred men. He added, "While you have just over a hundred, we have over a thousand. They're all around you, and they're not going to move a muscle. There's no one coming to save you."At that moment, Rowan's face twisted with despair.Leopold walked forward, with a machete in his hand. Rowan pleaded as Leopold walked closer to him, "Mr. Sullivan, please have mercy. I'm backed by the Farrell family. You may have great power, but you surely don't want to cross the Farrells."Leopold's lips curled into a mocking smile. "The Farrell family? What's that to us? With a single word from our boss, the Farrell family would be reduced to ash."
There were two good news for Ronald.First, Zane had been taken into police custody. While it was unlikely that he would face a harsh sentence, at least it had delivered a significant blow to the Farrell family, and Zane had been humbled. Secondly, the promised 300 million dollars had finally been transferred into his account. The debts were settled. Now, his focus shifted to keeping the business afloat. In high spirits, Ronald drove to Gideon's villa in Beaker Island to meet Lucinda and Waverly. "Dad!" Waverly called out as he entered."Waverly," Ronald replied, his voice cheerful.Seeing Waverly looking thinner than before tore at Ronald's heart. Ronald nearly broke down in tears. He pulled Waverly into a tight embrace and comforted her, "It's over now. Don't worry. That bastard Zane has been arrested." "Really?" Waverly asked, her voice filled with hope.Ronald replied, his tone steady, "Yes. But don't get your hopes up. It's just temporary, and there's no guarantee
Brody let out a relieved sigh. Killing off street-level thugs wasn't a problem, but this… The underworld of Goldspire was about to undergo a dramatic shift. Brody knew it well. Zane's mention of Owen wasn't to be taken lightly.Owen was a top-tier assassin. He'd reportedly joined a world-class assassination organization, eliminating countless powerful figures. While Leopold and Nino were strong, even they would stand no chance against an international assassin of Owen's caliber. It was both tragic and ironic. Leopold and Nino had just wiped out the Yovarian Guild, strengthening their forces, only to meet an untimely end.The balance of the Goldspire underworld would be thrown into chaos.Brody said carefully, "Mr. Farrell, with Leopold and Nino gone, the underworld will be thrown into disarray. We could use this opportunity to gather power, unite forces, and create a new organization under the Farrell family banner."Zane scoffed, his voice determined, "Gather power? What n
"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
"This eerie mist, once it invades the body, brings unspeakable disaster and doom. Some die sudden and violent deaths, while some melt into puddles of pus. Some wither away entirely."The variety of deaths is truly horrifying. If Gideon has been in that mist for half an hour, he will have already reached his limits. He's doomed," Pacino explained.Orabella said, "If the mist is so powerful, and you can control it, doesn't that make you unbeatable?""No, no, no." Pacino shook his head and explained, "We can't control the mist. But we can control that stone gate, sealing Bandit's Hollow. And once the gate is sealed, or rather, once it falls shut, the mist naturally emerges."Orabella suddenly understood.So, as long as the stone gate was opened, the mist would disappear.Pacino said, "Ms. Corthopp, are you thinking of opening the gate to dispel the mist and save Gideon? Don't even think about it."She retorted, "Aren't you after Gideon's Solar Titan Body? That's a rare treasure. If
Ivo used the last of his strength to unleash an attack, successfully blocking Orabella. In doing so, he also shattered Gideon and Orabella's final chance at negotiation."Gideon, you're as good as dead. You destroyed Moblathos. How could I not take revenge? Killing you won't be enough."Once you fall, I'll head to Goldspire and butcher every last man in the Snow family, hacking them to pieces while they're still alive. As for the women, they'll all become my cultivation furnaces, used and discarded until they die."As for Umbra… That wretched woman dared to side with you? Unforgivable! Once I obtain Elara's pure-essence core and ascend to the next level of power, I'll crush Umbra beneath my feet and make her my obedient slave!"Ivo's face twisted with malice, his sinister laughter never ceasing.Gideon had already made up his mind. Ivo had to die.Orabella retreated to Gideon's side, her expression grave. "This is bad. Escaping Bandit's Hollow won't be easy."Seeing that Gideon
Pacino's eyes darkened. He actually discarded his serpent-headed staff and engaged Gideon in hand-to-hand combat.What shocked Gideon was that Pacino's strength was terrifying. Every punch was devastatingly heavy.Most crucially, Pacino's combat skills were extraordinarily refined. Out of ten punches, he could land eight on Gideon, whereas Gideon could only land two or three in return.The difference was clear."Heh! Kid, how does it feel? You might have raw power, but you don't know how to use it. Your fighting technique is pathetic. And you think you're fit to brawl with me? What a joke!"The moment those words fell, Gideon took a heavy blow. Pain shot through his entire body, and he crashed straight into the ground.The other hooligans unleashed a flurry of deadly attacks, bombarding the massive crater."Gideon!" Orabella cried out.Just then, a brilliant light shot skyward, slicing through the hooligans' attacks.Gideon burst out of the crater, looking battered. He panted
"Go!" After throwing that punch, Gideon decisively chose to retreat. Orabella also pulled Elara along with her.Ivo lunged forward in pursuit. "Do you think you can escape? Did you even ask for my permission?""Why the hell would I ask you? Get lost!" Gideon raised his hand and slapped Ivo midair, sending him flying.Orabella struck with Ex Cathera.However, it wasn't aimed at Ivo. He was nothing more than a minor obstacle. The real target was the seven hooligans chasing them down."This…""Woman, you're from The Light Council!"Orabella remained silent.The seven hooligans scowled. If The Light Council was getting involved, things were about to get troublesome."Even The Light Council has no right to act recklessly in Bandit's Hollow.""The Pope himself came here once, and he even treated us with respect. You, a mere little Episcorprie, think you can pull this off?""Hold them back!"At that moment, the seven hooligans finally unleashed their full strength.They moved lik
Blood splattered across the sky.Gideon struck again, aiming to obliterate Ivo. The sight sent Ivo into a panic, scaring him out of his wits."Stop!" Mea shouted in fury.The Hellrend Severance Technique was broken. The villains knew full well that Gideon was a ruthless force to be reckoned with. At this point, there was no way to seize the pure-essence core anymore. They had to deal with Gideon first.On the sacrificial altar, the pure-essence had also stopped its rampage and fallen into a state of calm. The condensed pure-essence energy transformed into a massive shield, wrapping itself around Elara.In the dense jungle, Orabella let out a long breath."That Ivo guy is such a waste of space. He couldn't even take a single hit. If only he had held on a little longer, the seven hooligans' Hellrend Severance Technique would have successfully stripped Elara of her pure-essence core!"Orabella felt a deep sense of regret. She was well-versed in the ways of the world. Gideon might n
"Hellrend Severance Technique… Damn, these hooligans have some seriously bizarre methods. If I could even learn a little, it would be enough to last a lifetime. But…"A trace of resentment flashed deep in Ivo's eyes. "These old bastards won't teach me a thing! It's utterly infuriating."Ivo felt disgusted, especially with Mea. To win their support, he had forced himself to roll in the sheets with her, nearly scarring himself for life.Regardless, once he became a ninth-tier peak transcendent, crushing these old farts and taking their ultimate techniques will be effortless.Ivo plotted in silence.What he didn't know was that, in the distant woods, two figures were secretly watching—Orabella and Gideon. With such a huge commotion in Bandit's Hollow, it was impossible for them not to notice and rush over."We can't wait any longer. We need to act!" Gideon was anxious.He had arrived just in time to witness this scene, but he had no idea it was the Hellrend Severance Technique. All