"You''ve got guts, I''ll give you that," Dashiell said, turning to face me. His eyes gleamed with amusement rather than anger. "To still be mouthing off after I just mopped the floor with you."


    I stood my ground despite the pain radiating through my body. Blood trickled down my chin, but I refused to wipe it away. I wouldn''t give him the satisfaction of seeing me broken.


    "You may be stronger than me now," I said, my voice steady despite my injuries. "But that won''t always be the case."


    Dashiell threw his head back andughed. The sound echoed through my damaged home, mocking and cruel.


    "Listen to yourself! An ant challenging a lion." He shook his head, genuine amusement in his eyes. "Do you even understand the gap between us? It''s not just about cultivation or technique—it''s about our very essence."


    I took a step toward him, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs. "I don''t care about your family name or your status."


    "That''s exactly why you''ll always be a maggot crawling in the dirt." Dashiell''s smile vanished, reced by cold contempt. "You don''t evenprehend what you''re up against. The ckthorne family has produced warriors and leaders for generations. Excellence runs in our blood."


    His words stung, but I refused to let it show. Instead, I straightened my posture and looked him directly in the eyes.


    "I''lle to Veridia City," I dered. "Within a year. And when I do, I''ll challenge you properly."


    For a moment, Dashiell seemed genuinely surprised. Then his expression shifted back to amused disdain.


    "You?" He chuckled. "In Veridia City? You wouldn''tst a day before someone put you in your ce."


    "I''ll survive," I replied. "And I''ll find you. I''ll even bring a proposal for Isabelle while I''m at it."


    Something dangerous shed in Dashiell''s eyes. His amusement evaporated like morning dew under a harsh sun.


    "You''ve just signed your death warrant," he said quietly. "But I ept your challenge. Come to Veridia City if you dare. I''ll personally ensure you experience pain beyond anything you can imagine."


    He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "And everyone who stands with you—every friend, every ally—they''ll suffer the same fate. I''ll destroy everything you care about before finally putting you out of your misery."


    I didn''t flinch. "I look forward to it."


    Dashiell''s lips curled into a cold smile. "Such bravado. Let''s see if you still have it when I''m done with you."


    He turned to leave but paused at the door. "Oh, I almost forgot. A parting gift."


    Without warning, he unleashed a st of energy that tore through my living room. Furniture splintered, walls cracked, and the framed photographs on my walls shattered.


    My heart sank as I saw the picture of Isabelle and me hit the floor, the ss frame cracking into a spider web pattern.


    "Something to remember me by," Dashiell said with satisfaction. "See you in Veridia City, trash."


    The door mmed behind him, leaving me standing amid the destruction of my home. I wanted to chase after him, to fight despite knowing I''d lose, but I restrained myself. That would be foolish pride, not strategy.


    I walked over to the broken photo frame and carefully picked it up. Through the cracked ss, Isabelle''s smile still radiated warmth. I gently traced her face with my fingertip.


    "I''ll get stronger," I whispered to her image. "I promise."


    "Liam!" Eamon Greene burst through the front door, his eyes widening at the devastation. "What happened? I just saw some rich-looking guy driving away in a Bentley."


    "Dashiell ckthorne," I said, setting the photo down carefully. "Heir to the ckthorne family of Veridia City."


    Eamon''s face paled. "The ckthornes? What did he want?"


    "To send a message." I winced as I moved toward the stairs. "Help me pack. We''re leaving for White City today."


    "But you''re injured—"


    "I don''t have time to recover," I cut him off. "I have less than a year to be strong enough to challenge him on his own turf."


    Eamon looked skeptical but didn''t argue. Within an hour, we had loaded our essentials into his Audi RS7.


    As we pulled away from Jade Moon Vi, I looked back at what had briefly been my home. The ce where I''d first found some measure of peace after the Sterling family''s humiliation.


    "These big families," I said quietly, "they think their bloodlines make them untouchable. That the rest of us exist only to serve them or be crushed beneath their feet."


    Eamon nced at me. "And you''re going to change that?"


    "I''m going to try." I closed my eyes, feeling the frustration of my stalled cultivation. Despite all my efforts, I hadn''t advanced to the next level in weeks. "But first, I need to figure out what''s blocking my progress."


    The highway stretched before us, a ribbon of asphalt leading toward White City—and eventually, toward Veridia City itself. We drove in silence for nearly an hour, each lost in our own thoughts.


    The peace was shattered by the aggressive honking of a car behind us. A modified BMW M3 was tailgating us, its driver shing his headlights impatiently.


    "What''s this idiot''s problem?" Eamon muttered, moving to the rightne to let them pass. <i ss="in-imprint-b">Help us out by reading on *.</i>


    Instead of passing, the BMW swerved to stay behind us, continuing to honk.


    "Just ignore them," I said, not in the mood for petty road disputes after my confrontation with Dashiell.


    Eamon nodded and maintained our speed. After a few more minutes of harassment, the BMW finally elerated and pulled alongside us. The driver—a young man wearing designer sunsses—lowered his window and made an obscene gesture before speeding ahead.


    "Rich kids with nothing better to do," Eamonmented.


    I didn''t respond. After facing someone like Dashiell ckthorne, these highway bullies seemed insignificant.


    Twenty minutester, we approached a toll station. Traffic slowed to a crawl as cars funneled into the paymentnes. To our surprise, the same BMW was waiting at the side of the road just past the toll booths.


    As we paid and pulled through, two young men stepped onto the road, forcing Eamon to brake.


    "Get out of the car!" The driver of the BMW shouted, pointing at us. He was nked by his friend, both of them dressed in expensive clothes that screamed of wealth without taste.


    "Just drive around them," I said to Eamon.


    Before he could, the two approached our car. The driver—the one with designer sunsses—knocked hard on my window.


    "Roll it down," he demanded.


    Against my better judgment, I lowered the window slightly. "What do you want?"


    "You think you''re so important you can hog the fastne?" He sneered, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Do you know who my father is?"


    I''d heard that line too many times to count. "No, and I don''t care."


    His friendughed and leaned in. "You should care. His dad owns half of White City''s downtown properties."


    "Congrattions to him," I replied tly. "Now get out of our way."


    The driver''s face flushed with anger. "Nobody talks to me like that! Do you know how much this car cost? Probably more than your entire life savings!"


    I could feel my patience wearing thin. After being humiliated by Dashiell, thest thing I needed was to deal with these second-rate rich boys.


    "Your car is impressive," I said, feigning admiration. "Almost as impressive as your ability to waste oxygen. Now move."


    His eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in fury. "You''re going to regret that."


    His friend put a hand on his shoulder. "Forget it, Jax. Let''s just go. These losers aren''t worth our time."


    Jax shook his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "No way. This peasant needs to learn some respect."


    He snorted and pointed at me. "You''re so mad, remember to catch up with uster, or we won''t let you get off the highway!"


    With that threat hanging in the air, they returned to their BMW, the engine roaring to life as they pulled back onto the highway.


    "Should we take a different route?" Eamon asked, concern evident in his voice.


    I watched the BMW disappear ahead of us, my mind made up. "No. We continue straight ahead."


    After Dashiell''s crushing defeat, perhaps this was exactly what I needed—a reminder that not all battles were beyond my reach. At least not yet.