When Seraphina learned that Chris intended to rescue Candace alone, her face was filled with worry.
Chris shook his head and said, “No need. I can handle this on my own.”
To Chris, a mere Light Sin was hardly worth his concern.
Whoosh!
Just as he was about to leave, a figure descended from the sky.
Lord Valerian landed before Chris, his face cold as he declared, “Chris, today is the day I kill you!”
Chris frowned as he looked at him. “Lord Valerian, I have no interest in fighting you today.”
“You think your disinterest matters? Today, I will end you!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lord Valerian prepared to strike.
Suddenly, Seraphina interjected, “Lord Valerian, I know where your daughter is.”
“What?”
Hearing this, Lord Valerian immediately froze.
His eyes locked on Seraphina as he demanded, “You know where my daughter is?”
Seraphina nodded. “Yes. Your daughter was imprisoned by Hollow Frost in the dungeons of the Dragon Order. It was Mr. Shelby who killed Hollow Frost and rescued her.”
Footsteps echoed in the distance.
Moments later, Carol appeared.
When she saw Lord Valerian, she cried out, “Father!”
Rushing forward, Carol threw herself into her father’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Carol… is it really you?” Lord Valerian asked in disbelief.
Tears streamed down his face as well.
For ten long years, since being captured and imprisoned in the Obsidian Citadel, he hadn’t seen his daughter. Now, reunited with her, his emotions surged uncontrollably.
“Carol, what happened? Tell me.”
“Father, this is what happened…”
Carol recounted the events in brief.
After hearing her story, Lord Valerian gritted his teeth and said, “That Hollow Frost was inhuman. I should’ve killed him myself when I had the chance!”
Then, turning to Chris, he added, “Chris, you saved my daughter’s life. From today forward, I will no longer hunt you. I owe you a debt. If you ever need my assistance, I will be there.”
Chris replied indifferently, “There’s no need. Just stop trying to kill me.”
With that, he turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Chris stopped and frowned. “Lord Valerian, what else do you want? Are you still planning to kill me?”
“Chris,” Lord Valerian said solemnly, “I am a man of honor. You saved my daughter, and I cannot leave this debt unpaid. This is a fragment of the Dragon Emblem I obtained years ago. I’m giving it to you as repayment.”
He pulled out a piece of parchment from inside his robe and handed it to Chris.
Chris took the fragment, his face filled with disbelief.
Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Lord Valerian to give him a fragment of the Dragon Emblem-a priceless treasure connected to the legendary Lord Dragon’s hidden wealth.
If it had been anything else, Chris might have refused. But the Dragon Emblem fragment? He couldn’t turn it down.
Chris carefully stored the fragment and said seriously, “Thank you.”
Then, without another word, he got into his car and drove away.
—
Black Rock.
Located in a remote area on the outskirts of Middleton, it was a small mountain formed entirely of a massive black stone.
This was the meeting point Light Sin had chosen for Chris.
Chris parked his car at the base of the mountain and climbed to the summit alone.
Standing at the top, he shouted, “Light Sin, I’m here!”
“Hehehe…”
A sinister laugh echoed through the air.
A pale man dressed in white emerged from the shadows.
In his hand, he held a woman-Candace.
Seeing that Candace was unharmed, Chris let out a breath of relief.
Light Sin’s eyes burned with hatred as he glared at Chris. His face twisted into a sneer. “Chris, you killed my brother, Dark Sin. You’ve caused great losses to the Hall of Valerian and shattered the prince’s trust in me. Today, I will avenge my brother, kill you, and present your head to the prince!”
Chris glanced at him and said calmly, “Light Sin, according to our agreement, you should release Candace first.”
“Release her?” Light Sin sneered. “Chris, you’re far too naive. If you want me to release her, you must destroy your own cultivation. Otherwise, I’ll kill her!”
As he spoke, Light Sin drew a sharp sword and placed it against Candace’s neck.
Light Sin knew he was no match for Chris.
Even four elite cultivators working together couldn’t defeat Chris. What chance did he have alone?
That’s why he had kidnapped Candace.
Using her as leverage, he could force Chris to destroy his own cultivation.
Once Chris was powerless, he would be easy prey.
Chris’s expression remained cold. “If I destroy my cultivation, will you release her?”
Light Sin chuckled darkly. “Of course! The moment you destroy your cultivation, I’ll let her go.”
Hearing this, Candace screamed, “Chris, don’t do it! If you destroy your cultivation, Light Sin will kill you!”
As the head of the Nance family, Candace knew all too well what kind of man Light Sin was.
The Hall of Valerian was made up of selfish, treacherous individuals. They would never keep their promises.
If Chris destroyed his cultivation, Light Sin would undoubtedly kill him.
Light Sin’s smirk deepened. “Chris, what’s it going to be? Will you destroy your cultivation, or will you watch me kill her?”
As he spoke, the blade in his hand nicked Candace’s skin, drawing a thin line of blood.
“Ah!”
Candace cried out in pain, her face contorted with anguish.
“Hahaha!”
Light Sin laughed triumphantly. “Chris, do you see this? If you don’t destroy your cultivation, the next strike will cut her throat! You two grew up together, didn’t you? Can you really stand there and watch her die?”
Chris’s face darkened.
“Fine. I’ll destroy my cultivation.”
Bang!
Without hesitation, Chris struck his own abdomen with his palm.
Blood spurted from his mouth as his cultivation dissipated.
“No! Chris!”
“Don’t! Please don’t!”
Candace screamed in despair, tears streaming down her face.
She never imagined Chris would sacrifice everything for her.
Chris, his face pale, looked at her and smiled weakly. “Candace, this is what I owe you. Today, I’ve repaid it all.”
“Chris…!”
Candace broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.