Celestia's voice was sickeningly sweet as if she did not care who might hear. "Boyfriend? How could I have a boyfriend, Derek? Who's spreading these rumors? "He's just pursuing me, I never accepted. I only want you, Derek." Her voice faded with the closing door. Lost in thought, Ingrid lay in bed with her eyes open. Dawn broke. Edwin had prepared a lavish breakfast to win over Fergus at the Carver family villa on the mountainside. Ian had even arranged for Poeta to sit beside him. He wanted to observe them quietly, to see if there was still affection or if something had gone wrong. Ian had not slept well as this was what he had been pondering all night. This morning, he found out about the social media drama through Edwin. Fergus was not the only one sitting at the breakfast table now. A few shareholders had arrived together, supposedly to play chess with Ian. Ian could not leave them standing, so all were seated. Only Fergus seemed unaware of what was happening. "Granduncl
"Mr. Fergus, please tell Mr. Carver Senior to take care of his health. Young people have their own ideas, so he shouldn't force things on them." "Yes, Mr. Fergus, you really should help calm Mr. Carver Senior down." Everyone knew not to meddle in other people's family affairs. This commotion was clearly meant to upset Warren. Fergus had not understood before, but seeing it now made him wish he could call Percy immediately. He would sue them all and send them to prison. Aria had tipped him off, saying that they were just waiting for these people to walk into their trap. These seemingly insignificant figures had been quietly corroding Carver Group for years. Fergus wouldn't have noticed them at social events before. It just showed how cunningly Ian had played this. Ian was familiar with such scenes. After all, he was the one who had encouraged Owen to partner with Krowonian businessmen back then. It was all to make his brother Warren face reality. He had invested so much effo
"Mr. Veyrith!" Everyone rose from their seats. They had thought things were over for Owen, given the recent investigations. But he had kept an ace up his sleeve. Malric Veyrith was a real disciple of Mount Dracotigris. Hailed as the most likely to achieve transcendence, his gift for divination and fortune-telling was unparalleled. They said he had recently solved Janovin's flooding problems. It was extraordinary. Could someone really control the weather? But that was not even his most impressive feat. They had witnessed him restore a lost soul, and just recently, he had solved that crisis with the Furler boy. Also, the shopping center they had invested in had been struggling until he suggested adding a fountain plaza. Business immediately boomed after that. That was why their faces shifted into obsequious smiles. "What brings you here? Weren't you debating with overseas scholars?" Ian smilingly welcomed him too. Malric Veyrith seemed familiar with Ian but remained aloof. "
But Owen felt he should steer Fergus in the right direction. So he approached Fergus and spoke quietly, "Fergus, stay out of today's matters. There's something wrong with Aria. You'll understand when your grandfather arrives." If Fergus could show emotion, he would have scowled. Warren was right. Their ancestors must have done something terrible to be cursed with a father like Owen. He regretted defending this man in the family chat. Owen stood there confidently. He had always been so self-centered that he had never even checked on Fergus when he was abroad. He had only asked about Fergus' relationships since his return. Fergus would never accept Owen's claim that he hadn't attempted to sow discord between him and Warren. Connecting the dots now, Fergus felt an increasing disgust for Owen and Ian across the room. They were clearly trying to break Warren. When one attempt failed, they would try again. They kept trying to humiliate Warren. And there were even proposals for partne
Malric's words sparked a commotion. "Concerning birth signs? What does that mean?" "It's obviously nothing good." "I'd heard Ms. Carver had a harsh fate. It must be true..." "It's so disrespectful of her to make her elders wait. What kind of young lady behaves this way? Poor upbringing, clearly." Fergus could not stand it anymore. His worthless father had brought this priest to declare Aria's birth signs inauspicious. They clearly just wanted to brand her as a bad daughter who brought misfortune to her father. As Fergus' eyes narrowed, he was about to explode. A soft laugh echoed from upstairs. Aria appeared in her black T-shirt and pants. Her gleaming hair and eyes were dark as usual. "It seems I went too easy on fixing the Carver Group last time." These minor shareholders did not even qualify for board meetings. Aria studied their unfamiliar faces. "If I remember correctly, all of you rely on the Carvers for your livelihood. As the current CEO, I have a question, Fergus
Malric was unsure of the Carver family's inner workings, so he glanced at Owen. "What nonsense are you saying, Aria?" Owen's face reddened with anger. "When did I ever abandon you?" Aria spoke slowly, "I have proof, so just wait. Can you honestly claim your kindness to Mindy wasn't motivated by the benefits of her birth signs?""I..." Owen started. Aria cut him off, "Don't lie, Mr. Veyrith is watching. Lying before a priest might just bring karma knocking on your door."As a superstitious man, Owen grew fearful. He fell silent with his fists clenched. Malric could not bear hearing her words anymore. "Ms. Carver, you shouldn't treat your father this way as a daughter. The gods are watching." "Let them watch then." Aria was brazen and unconcerned. "You may not know this, but I never fall for any guilt-tripping tactics. "I repay kindness with kindness, and I return cruelty with vengeance—even if that person is my own father. As for others..." Aria surveyed the room. "Even more
Others were wondering the same thing. Ian would not want anyone going to the backyard, so he glanced at Edwin. Edwin quickly replied, "It's just a crow. Someone's shooing it away." "A crow?" Fergus, ever sharp, smiled. "Where? I've never seen one." Poeta descended the stairs in fresh makeup. "That crow's been in the tree since midnight. Didn't you see it, Fergus?" The sky-blue gown she wore for today's performance was custom-made and well beyond her financial reach. She'd even borrowed money for the jewelry on her wrist. But she was confident that after today, she would cement her place in the Carvers and ascend to Janovin's elite.Surely Fergus bringing her along meant that he was ready to cut ties with Warren. She had waited years for this. She had been too young and naïve before, so she had simply accepted Warren's offer to further her studies abroad then. Thinking back, she should have schemed to stay with the Carvers. But thankfully, Fergus had not forgotten her. Desp
This so-called prodigy cultivator was not part of Aria's plan. But since Owen had eagerly brought this man over, she might as well put Malric to full use. Her words about bad omens carried less weight than Malric's. After all, they trusted him most. Malric did not contradict Aria. Though crows were traditionally auspicious, they were also known as harbingers of death. With such persistent calling, could something actually be here? Malric's brow furrowed. "Please, everyone, follow me to have a look." With a prodigy like Malric speaking, even Ian had no excuse to stop them. He wanted to throw Owen out. He was really a fool who caused more harm than good. Of all the people to invite, he chose Malric. Sure, he would work for money, but he was not truly on their side. Owen had not expected his plan to backfire. He had brought Malric to prove Aria's harsh fate would harm him as her father, not to investigate some crow! Despite his frustration, Owen had to follow since Malric was
"I'll ask Boss if she needs a bellboy!"Harry hadn't changed a bit. With his flashy gold chains and oversized watch, he was always quick to jump at any opportunity to make money. If Aria invited him to meet other businessmen, he'd be on board without hesitation.Everyone who did business with Aria shared a common trait—they would get addicted. Every entrepreneur dreamed of growth. The longer they toil in the market, the stronger their desire to expand. It was a universal truth among business leaders.For these dreamers, an investor like Aria was a godsend. She thrived on improvement, making her an ideal partner.Harry, as enthusiastic as ever, bombarded Aria with messages. Aria had planned to visit Ludwiten before, but things kept happening, delaying her trip. Her frequent nightmares and the unresolved tension between her mother and uncles weighed on her mind. Now, with Barron leaving some important items for her in Ludwiten, she had no choice but to go. Sneaking there was neve
"Honestly, you shouldn't let Boss go to Ludwiten. If she insists on going, at least send me along! It's not as if you're unaware of how messy their business circle can be. This isn't Janovin we're talking about!"Harry's voice rang loud and clear as he slammed his palm on the CEO's desk, a bold move no one else at Grand Construction Corp would dare attempt. The employees outside exchanged curious glances, whispering among themselves. What could have dragged Harry back from his vacation in such a state?Harry was worried. "We have plenty of employees. How could you let a lady like her go over there by herself? What if she gets harassed? At least here, our influence can protect her. People would think twice once they know who she is. Stop sipping that coffee and answer me already!"Tavian Montague, the vice-CEO, sighed and powered off his computer. He removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Harry, calm down. Do you really think Aria got this far on luck? Don't let her lo
The eight figures sat together, ostensibly discussing Aria's arrival. In truth, their agenda was far less noble—they were determined to keep the items they had long appropriated, refusing to return what rightfully belonged to others. After holding onto these possessions for so long, they had convinced themselves they were entitled to them.Their plan was to maintain a façade of respect toward the Carver family to avoid public scrutiny. However, they were equally resolute in protecting their own interests. They intended to demonstrate the influence of Ludwiten's business elite on Aria. It would be much better if she could be persuaded to invest billions in their ventures.It was a strategy they'd employed before, notably with Owen, and found it amusing.Yet Percy, despite his youth, was not so easily deceived. His calm demeanor and precise legal arguments left little room for manipulation. The Carver family's resilience, after all, stemmed largely from their grandchildren.Sti
Tobias once said that Aria was the most gifted person in the Decatorian way. Yet, for all her supposed talent, she couldn't use the Emperor Coins just by casually throwing them on her first attempt. She had to study them before she could wield them effectively.Thankfully, Leon chose the entertainment industry. If he had chosen to be inducted in the Decatorian way, the disciples of Mount Dracotigris would have been disheartened. "Leon, have you ever considered going into another industry?" Aria asked. Leon shook his head, a rebellious smirk on his face. "Aria, look at me. This face was born to be a celebrity. It'd be a crime to waste it."Aria sighed, accustomed to his narcissism. It was hard to argue—Leon's rebellious charm and striking looks had won over both women and men. Yet, his popularity brought challenges of its own."I still have Emperor Coins with me," Aria said, pulling out a beaded bracelet adorned with the coins and securing it around Leon's wrist. "Take it. For yo
Warren's eyes reddened as he gazed at Fergus, the grandson he had once hoped to raise personally. In that moment, he felt his life had been worthwhile. As one grew older, they came to understand a fundamental truth—if their descendants could grasp their thoughts, rather than dismissing the ways of the past as irrelevant, it was something to celebrate. Warren could now pass on everything to his grandchildren, finally feeling worthy within the Carver family.…Meanwhile, Leon furrowed his brows in the second-floor bedroom. "What are they talking about?""It's probably about Ludwiten. They have some business to settle. Why?" Aria had intentionally given Fergus and Warren some time to talk. As for her, she stayed with Leon in his room, playing games and snacking.When she heard his question, she smiled. "Are you interested as well, Leon?""I'm not cut out for business." Leon couldn't sit still and kept pacing back and forth. His silver hair, falling perfectly, made him look like a
That night, Warren stood before the memorial hall and spoke to his ancestors."Aria will be returning to Ludwiten tonight. Things will be different this time. There will be many obstacles ahead of her, but we must return eventually. Aria will finish what I couldn't. Please protect her."The Carver family was forced to shift their business from Ludwiten to Janovin at the time. And back then, they believed they could return at any moment. Yet, over 70 years had passed since then.Both Warren and Stephen were sentimental individuals, always hoping to return to Ludwiten. However, circumstances had shifted over the years. Moreover, the business landscape in Ludwiten had grown increasingly complex, with rising foreign investments. Their commitments in Janovin, especially after Owen married Fiona, kept them from returning.Warren had expected Owen to stay in Ludwiten, as he had promised the Grisham family. But Owen broke that promise.Warren's greatest wish had always been to return to
Although the crow was unsure of its owner's thoughts, it was indeed afraid of the dagger made out of Oracle bones.In fact, it wasn't made of ordinary animal bones. It was from the Oracle, one of the Four Perils. Most importantly, it carried spiritual energy from heaven and earth.Back then, the crow didn't expect the insignificant sect, which was consistently at the bottom of each tournament, to have the purest spiritual energy. Plus, all of their members were not to be underestimated. The crow would have never believed it if it hadn't come to live in the mountains with Landon. After all, Landon was bewitched to become the woman's boy toy. He stayed behind only because he liked the sect's spiritual energy. At that, the crow shifted its body and didn't continue to disturb Landon. Since Landon mentioned he needed the knife sheath, the crow would go and get it. Apart from the curved dagger in the wooden box, there was also a somewhat inconspicuous emerald and a turtle shell-lik
The box included a protective membrane. Carrying bones around would raise questions in modern days. Even Aria worried about inspections. Sometimes, Tobias acted just like those arcane seekers from Mount Dracotigris. When her fingertips touched it, heat surged through her bloodline. The blade felt like it belonged in her hands; even its tassel was exquisitely crafted. But she remembered something when she entered the manifestation and got the Soul-Summoning Plaque. She had been an arcane seeker in her past life, hadn't she? Could an arcane seeker use a blade? She had mostly seen them wielding swords, just like those TV shows with flying swordsmen. Perhaps she had to use a blade because she came from a smaller guild. As Aria traced the bone blade, her initial attraction grew into fascination. Tobias wouldn't leave her just any blade. Since she'd encountered it in the manifestation, it must be connected to her. "Do you like it?" Suddenly, Landon's voice came close. It was low,
Breaking the Eight Trigrams Manifestation required precision instead of force. The path led from the East Gate of Life through the Southwest Gate of Rest, finally striking through the North Gate of Opening. But this was not just about breaking a manifestation. The lock had eight marks—Life, Rest, Harm, Block, Vision, Death, Awakening, and Opening. These were the eight gates within the manifestation. As Aria studied the corresponding numbers, she was suddenly struck with inspiration. Following the sequence, she pressed them. The lock then opened with a click. She raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar combination. "0715, my birthday." Aria casually opened the box. "Typical of Mr. Revelare to choose that date." She knew she was born on Twilight Hallows, a day when parents would urge children home early. Owen had always believed Aria's birth signs were not the best, and he thought this was likely because of this day. People considered it the Day of Spirits. On this day, a