“Thank you.”
Paxton laughed heartily.
Earlier, when Lord Valerian Nox had asked to meet Layla, Paxton had felt a bit uneasy. After all, just a few days ago, he had hoped to make Layla the daughter-in-law of the Clark family.
But now, he had let it go. With Lord Valerian Nox as his son’s godfather, his son’s future achievements would undoubtedly be extraordinary. By then, what would they lack? Even marrying Lila wouldn’t be a problem.
“Clark family, Woods family, do you even know what you’re doing? As an outsider, I’m embarrassed for you!” Carter Landford shook his head as he watched the heads of the elite families leave. Turning, he began walking up the mountain.
He knew Lord Valerian Nox’s identity and felt ashamed on their behalf. Paxton, however, seemed to be in good spirits.
“What’s going on lately? One good thing after another. Hasn’t the Clark family thought about improving its feng shui recently?” Paxton marveled as he sat inside his luxurious Rolls Royce.
Wealthy people valued feng shui greatly.
With Vicente Clark reaching the Greater Sovereign level, the medical manual they had acquired during their trip to Niarak, and now their connection with Lord Valerian Nox, the Clark family truly seemed blessed with extraordinary fortune.
But Paxton hadn’t made any changes lately-not even a visit to the ancestral shrine.
Tessa Watson, smiling with pride, explained, “A short while ago, I expanded the Clark family’s ancestral shrine. I had a plaque made for the family’s enemies and placed it beside the tablets of our ancestors.”
“They’re all the Clark family’s sworn enemies from past generations.”
“I even hired a master to perform a ritual and set up a Soul Suppression Array to trap the spirits of these enemies, draining the remnants of their earthly fortune for the family’s benefit.”
“Oh? It seems to be working!” Paxton smiled with satisfaction.
He thought highly of Tessa Watson. She was capable and resourceful-a perfect wife and mother.
Without her, how could the Clark family have thrived?
He had truly married the right woman!
In contrast, Adrianna was utterly despicable. He had practically begged her, yet she refused to hand over the medical manual.
What use were a few ancient prescriptions? Helping the Clark family dominate Slatin was not enough. He aimed to reach the peak of power in Ostrad!
“Adapt, or perish!”
Paxton regretted wasting five years on Adrianna. He should have schemed to get rid of her in the second year.
Back then, she was pregnant with Flynn. Her cultivation level, no matter how strong, was weakened by her condition. Killing her and the unborn child would’ve been simple.
One life for two. It should’ve been done.
“Mom, did you include that wretched woman Adrianna’s name on the plaque?” Vicente Clark’s eyes narrowed as he casually asked.
Adrianna and Flynn were thorns in his heart.
He was born during Adrianna’s third year with the Clark family, making him an illegitimate child.
To avoid suspicion, he and Tessa Watson had lived in hiding, unable to show their faces.
Now, Flynn had slapped his mother today, and even Vicente himself had been humiliated with a slap from Lyra.
Vicente hated Adrianna and Flynn to his core.
“Her name? Of course, it’s there!” Tessa Watson sneered coldly, her eyes flashing with vengeful hatred.
“I even suspect that the Clark family’s recent good fortune is thanks to suppressing Adrianna’s spirit.”
“She was the key element in the Soul Suppression Array I had the master create.”
“Oh?” Paxton raised an eyebrow and pulled Tessa Watson into his arms, laughing loudly.
“If it’s working, then that must be the reason. The Clark family has absorbed Adrianna’s remaining fortune, leading to today’s success!”
“Tessa, you’re the best!”
He kissed her cheek, his laughter booming in the car.
Tessa Watson glanced at the front seat, where Vicente Clark was sitting. Blushing slightly, she said, “Our son is here. Behave yourself!”
Paxton chuckled and thought for a moment. “Here’s an idea. On your birthday, we’ll use the auspicious day to hold a ceremony at the ancestral shrine. We’ll honor our ancestors and offer some rotten fruit to Adrianna’s spirit, thanking her for benefiting the family even in death. What do you think?”
Tessa Watson nodded. “I’ve already planned for it. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything.”
“Ah, a perfect match! A wife like you is all a man could ever ask for!” Paxton sighed dramatically, his satisfaction lingering.
—
On the mountaintop behind the Langford estate, Olive Dobbs was gazing at the scenery.
“Grandma, it’s getting late. Why don’t you come to my place?” Flynn asked with a gentle smile.
Olive snapped out of her daze and smiled apologetically. “Oh, I got lost in thought. Alright, let’s go.”
“Ah, this kind of beauty… there’s less of it to enjoy each day.”
After saying this, she glanced at Scott Chilton, who was sitting at a table picking his teeth. Disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Carter Landford approached, bowing slightly as he addressed Scott Chilton. “Mr. Chilton, if there’s any wine in the cellar that catches your eye, just let me know.”
“I’ll have it all delivered to Indigo Grove Estate.”
Scott Chilton smirked, his tone teasing. “What if I like it all?”
Carter Landford hesitated, his reluctance obvious. But gritting his teeth, he said, “Then I’ll send it all to Indigo Grove Estate!”
Scott Chilton burst into hearty laughter. “I was just messing with you. I’ll only take what I’ve got left.”
“Mr. Chilton, you’re too kind,” Carter Landford said with a forced smile.
Turning to Flynn, he asked, “Master, what should we do with the gifts at the Langford family’s entrance?”
“Send them all to Aunt Mabel,” Flynn instructed calmly before helping the two elderly figures down the mountain.
What Paxton and his ilk had done to Mabel over the past twenty years was unforgivable. The gifts were nothing more than a token of compensation.
Of course, no amount of trinkets could redeem their lives.
Carter Landford wasted no time. He immediately ordered his men to load the wines and personally retrieved eight barrels from the cellar to be sent to Indigo Grove Estate.
Even if Scott Chilton didn’t truly want them, Carter couldn’t afford to skimp on courtesy.
—
Meanwhile, at the Hussain family estate in Pelens, Zion Watson was feeding Maisie Carlisle, who lay in a vegetative state.
A phone call interrupted him, and he immediately put down the bowl and stood up respectfully.
Even though his master wasn’t physically present, Zion dared not sit while answering the call.
The voice on the other end was deep and commanding-a voice that could only belong to an Earthly Sovereign-level Blademaster.
Such a figure was terrifying, a living god capable of annihilating even Lord Valerian Nox.
The respect and reverence the world had for Lord Valerian Nox paled in comparison to what Zion’s master would command upon his return. The entirety of Ostrad would tremble.
“I’ve read the information you sent,” the voice rumbled. “It seems you’re being watched. I also suspect that Sebastian Evans, who died three months ago in Niarak, was killed by Flynn.”
Zion Watson’s breathing quickened. Yesterday, he had compiled detailed information about Flynn and sent it to his master.
“Sebastian Evans?” Zion frowned, realization dawning. “Ah! How could I have missed it? Flynn arrived in Niarak only three days before Evans’ death.”
“And from the carnage at the scene, it was clearly the work of a Greater Sovereign.”
The voice continued, “Not only that. Evans was connected to the great battle in Niarak ten years ago. Someone contacted him before the battle.”
“Greengate’s investigation revealed that Sebastian Evans arrived in Niarak that day but fled before the battle began.”
Zion froze in shock.
He had believed that all traces of that battle had been erased. How had Sebastian Evans suddenly surfaced?
“Why did he flee?” Zion asked, puzzled.
“He found the Heaven’s Punishment Ring before the battle,” the voice replied.
“That ring is now in Flynn’s possession.”
“Heaven’s Punishment Ring!” Zion’s heart pounded in terror and astonishment.
He was shocked that the ring was in Flynn’s hands.
And he was terrified of Greengate’s sheer power-they had uncovered so much in just a single day.
Luca Johnston’s entire clan had fled Niarak and hidden themselves, yet Greengate had still found them.
In just one day!
To offend Greengate was unthinkable. Their strength was overwhelming.
“You’re being watched. Kill Isaac Smith to maintain appearances, but keep your guards stationed to avoid suspicion.”
“Then find a way to evade the national security agents and bring the Dragon Slayer Powder to Niarak. Meet me there.”
“I’ll arrive by noon tomorrow.”
“Niarak?” Zion repeated, his voice trembling.
“Yes. Lord Valerian Nox killed your wife and father-in-law.
“He dared to monitor me, so I’ll make him feel the pain of loss.
“No one close to Flynn in Niarak will survive.”