Chris looked at the woman, his face full of embarrassment. “Uh… sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I didn’t know you were bathing here…”
“Scoundrel! How dare you desecrate me! I’ll kill you!”
Before Chris could finish his sentence, the woman shouted angrily.
In an instant, a powerful aura enveloped Chris, pressing down on him like a tidal wave.
Chris’s expression changed drastically. He could sense it now-this woman’s strength was extraordinary.
He never would have imagined that she was this powerful.
Before Chris could react, the woman was already preparing to attack.
“Dear!”
Suddenly, Esther ran over, shouting.
The woman glanced at Esther, frowned, and immediately withdrew her oppressive aura.
She shot Chris a sharp glare before turning and walking away.
Her speed was astonishing; within the blink of an eye, she had disappeared.
As soon as the woman left, Chris let out a sigh of relief.
That woman was terrifying. Her aura alone had made his heart pound with fear.
What kind of mysterious family was the Jefferson family, to have someone so formidable among them?
At that moment, Chris felt the Jefferson family was shrouded in an air of mystery.
Esther approached him curiously. “Dear, who were you talking to just now?”
Chris shook his head. “No one.”
He had no intention of telling Esther about what had just happened.
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
Suddenly, the sound of a beast’s roar echoed in the distance.
Chris turned his head to look and saw a lion approaching them.
“Dear!”
Esther’s face was filled with fear at the sight of the lion.
Chris was equally stunned. The Jefferson family had lions?
And this wasn’t just any lion-it looked fierce, unlike anything one would see in a zoo.
The lion’s sharp eyes locked onto Chris and Esther, its mouth open to reveal razor-sharp fangs.
Chris asked in surprise, “Why does the Jefferson family have a lion?”
Esther shook her head. “I don’t know! The last time I came here, I was still a child. I don’t know much about this place.”
“Roar!”
The lion let out a deafening roar and charged toward Chris.
Seeing the beast rush at him, Chris didn’t dare let his guard down.
As the lion lunged, Chris threw a punch straight at it.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed as the lion was sent flying.
Chris, however, was forced back several steps himself.
He looked up, his face full of astonishment.
He hadn’t expected the lion to be this powerful-it must at least have the strength of someone in the Crescendence realm.
The lion steadied itself, its gaze on Chris now cautious and wary.
From their brief exchange, the lion realized this human wasn’t easy prey.
“Roar!”
The lion roared again and charged at Chris once more.
This time, Chris didn’t wait to be attacked. He decided to strike first.
Whoosh!
Chris moved with incredible speed, appearing in front of the lion in an instant.
With all his strength, he delivered a powerful kick.
Boom!
The lion was knocked back again, slamming into the ground.
But to Chris’s shock, the lion wasn’t dead.
Chris knew his own strength better than anyone.
He was certain that even an elephant wouldn’t have survived that kick.
Yet here stood the lion, still alive. There was definitely something unusual about it.
The lion rose to its feet, its eyes full of vigilance as it stared at Chris.
From their fight, the lion knew it wasn’t a match for this human.
Without hesitation, it turned and fled.
As the lion disappeared into the distance, Chris let out another sigh of relief.
What kind of family was this Jefferson family? They not only had a mysterious, powerful woman but even a lion with such incredible strength.
After the encounter with the lion, Chris and Esther lost all interest in exploring further.
Not knowing what other dangers might be lurking, they decided to head back.
—
Meanwhile, in the Jefferson family’s grand hall…
“That place is far too dangerous. I absolutely refuse to let the Jefferson family’s elite go there.”
Brian Jefferson, seated on a long bench, spoke with a grim expression.
“Ha! Patriarch, the elite of the Jefferson family are the future of our clan. That place may be dangerous, but young people need challenges. If they return from there, their strength will skyrocket, and our Jefferson family will rise to greater heights.”
The speaker was an old man sitting below Brian Jefferson.
This man was none other than Rafael Jefferson, known as Master Moonstone.
In the Jefferson family, only the patriarch Brian Jefferson had greater authority than Rafael.
As such, the Jefferson family was divided into two factions: the Patriarch’s faction and Master Moonstone’s faction.
Brian’s face remained cold. “No, absolutely not. That place is too dangerous. You know this as well as I do. Last time, members of the Dragon Order entered and are still trapped there to this day.”
Rafael smiled faintly. “Patriarch, the Sword Clan and Flower Clan representatives will be here shortly. I’m afraid this matter won’t be decided by you alone.”
Hearing this, Brian’s expression darkened.
At that moment, the butler entered the hall.
With a respectful bow, he said, “Patriarch, Master Moonstone, the Sword Clan’s young master Alexandre Leite and the Flower Clan’s Elias Dorneles have arrived and request an audience.”
Brian hesitated for a moment before saying, “Let them in.”
Soon, a man and a woman entered the hall.
The woman was dressed in purple, her beauty breathtaking.
If Chris were here, he would recognize her immediately.
She was the same woman he had seen bathing by the river.
This woman from the Flower Clan was none other than Elias Dorneles.
The man, with sharp, sword-like brows and a long sword slung across his back, was Alexandre Leite, young master of the Sword Clan.
“Master Jefferson!”
Brian greeted them calmly. “Please, have a seat.”
Once seated, Brian asked, “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit to the Jefferson family?”
Elias spoke first. “We’re here to discuss the cooperation we proposed earlier. Has the Jefferson family reached a decision?”
Brian frowned slightly. “The last time we ventured into that place, we suffered heavy losses. We need more time to deliberate.”
“Oh?” Elias smiled faintly. “I heard the Jefferson family is about to hold a clan assembly. We’ve always been curious about your family. Would you mind if we stayed to observe?”
Brian hesitated before replying, “Of course. If you two don’t mind, you’re welcome to stay and attend our family assembly.”
—
Chris and Esther soon received another invitation to the Jefferson family’s grand hall.
Brian Jefferson looked at them and asked, “Do you know why we are holding our family assembly this time?”
Esther shook her head. “No idea.”
Brian explained, “This assembly is to select talented young members of the Jefferson family. Those chosen will remain here to cultivate.”
“Cultivate?”
Chris frowned slightly, curious. “What exactly does this cultivation involve?”
Brian glanced at Chris and asked, “Do you know what Aetherbinding is?”