Purple clouds swirled majestically above White City, casting an otherworldly glow across thendscape. I gazed skyward, knowing well what this celestial phenomenon signaled—the legendary thousand-year divine medicine was finally emerging.


    The streets below teemed with excitement. Common folk and powerful cultivators alike crowded every avable space, all eyes turned toward the ethereal disy above. This wasn''t just any treasure; this was the kind of opportunity that appeared once in a millennium.


    "Eamon," I said, turning to my assistant who was carefully arranging my collection of rare herbs, "guard these with your life while I''m gone. If anyone but me tries to ess them, you know what to do."


    Eamon nodded solemnly. "Yes, Master Knight. I won''t fail you."


    Conrad Thornton stood at the doorway, his face etched with worry. The injuries from our recent altercation had mostly healed, but concern still clouded his eyes.


    "Are you absolutely certain about this, Liam?" he asked for what must have been the tenth time. "That mountain will be crawling with power-hungry cultivators. Many would kill for just a chance at the divine medicine."


    I secured my jade pendant beneath my robes. "That''s precisely why I must go."


    Conrad sighed heavily. "Then I''ming with you."


    The journey to the mountain was tense. As we approached the base, I could already sense the gathering of formidable auras. Conrad wasn''t exaggerating—at least a hundred powerful individuals had assembled, including numerous Grandmasters whose energy signatures rippled through the air like heat waves.


    "Stay close," I murmured to Conrad. "And remember, we''re here to observe first."


    We made our way through the crowd, my senses on high alert. I kept my own aura tightly controlled, hoping to avoid unwanted attention. Unfortunately, that n crumbled almost immediately.


    "Look! It''s Liam Knight!" someone shouted from nearby.


    All eyes turned in my direction. The excited whispers began instantly.


    "That''s him—the King of Eldoria!"


    "I heard he defeated three Grandmasters in a single day!"


    "They say even the Ashworth family fears him now!"


    I suppressed a groan. So much for maintaining a low profile. Conrad shot me a worried nce as the crowd parted before us, creating an unwee spotlight.


    "This is exactly what I wanted to avoid," I whispered to Conrad.


    He nodded sympathetically. "Your reputation precedes you. There''s no hiding who you are anymore."


    Four individuals detached themselves from the crowd. Even before they fully approached, I could feel the weight of theirbined power. Their auras were controlled but unmistakably potent.


    "The Four Great Geniuses of River North," Conrad whispered urgently. "Be careful." For a better reading experience, visit *).


    The tallest among them, a distinguished man with sharp features and calcting eyes, stepped forward first. "So this is the famous Liam Knight," he said, his voice carrying across the suddenly hushed gathering. "The man they call the King of Eldoria."


    I met his gaze steadily. "And you are?"


    "Reginald Talbot," he replied with a slight bow that somehow managed to seem condescending. "I''ve heard impressive things about your... unconventional rise."


    Beside him stood a woman of breathtaking beauty, her piercing eyes assessing me with cool interest. Conrad leaned in. "That''s Evelyn Norton. Don''t let her appearance fool you—she''s ruthless."


    The third member of their group—a muscr, broad-shouldered man with a perpetual scowl—stepped forward aggressively.


    "So this is themoner everyone''s been talking about?" he sneered, looking me up and down dismissively. "Doesn''t look like much to me."


    "ine Paxton," Conrad whispered. "Hotheaded and dangerous."


    Reginald smiled thinly. "You''ll have to excuse my friend''s manners. ine has always been... direct."


    I kept my expression neutral. "No offense taken. We''re all here for the same reason, I assume."


    "Indeed," Reginald agreed, his eyes never leaving mine. "Though some of us have spent decades preparing for this opportunity, while others..." he let his gaze sweep over me meaningfully, "...have simply stumbled into good fortune."


    The crowd around us had grown, eager spectators to this tense exchange. I could feel their anticipation building—they were hoping for conflict, for entertainment before the realpetition began.


    "Good fortune has nothing to do with it," I replied calmly. "Preparation meets opportunity—that''s all."


    ine stepped closer, his massive frame towering over me. "Big words from someone who was nothing but a live-in son-inw not long ago."


    My jaw tightened. This was exactly the kind of confrontation I''d hoped to avoid. Every instinct told me to remain calm, to not reveal my true capabilities before the hunt for the divine medicine began.


    "The past is the past," I said evenly. "Today, we all stand as equals before the divine medicine."


    Reginald chuckled, the soundcking any real warmth. "Equals? That''s a charming perspective." He turned to ine. "Perhaps our friend should demonstrate his worthiness for such... equality."


    ine''s scowl deepened into a predatory grin. "I was thinking the same thing." He cracked his knuckles loudly. "What do you say, King of Eldoria? Care for a friendly bout?"


    Conrad tensed beside me. I could sense his anxiety spiking.


    "This isn''t the time or ce," I answered, my voice level. "We''re all here for the divine medicine, not petty disys of strength."


    "Afraid?" ine taunted.


    "Wise," Reginald corrected, though his tone suggested otherwise. "Our friend simply recognizes when he''s... outmatched."


    I knew what they were doing. This was a ssic strategy—bait your opponent into revealing their techniques before the realpetition. If I showed too much power now, I''d be an immediate target for elimination. If I showed too little, I''d be dismissed as weak and potentially ganged up onter.


    "I have nothing to prove to you," I said firmly.


    Evelyn Norton spoke for the first time, her voice melodious yet sharp. "Everyone has something to prove here. That''s why we''ve alle."


    "Some more than others," Reginald added smoothly. "After all, those born to privilege need only maintain their status. Those who rise from... humbler beginnings must constantly justify their presence."


    The crowd was growing restless, hungry for conflict. I could feel their collective energy building, urging this confrontation toward its inevitable conclusion.


    ine took another step forward, deliberately invading my personal space. "I think the so-called King needs to show us why he deserves that title."


    Conrad ced a restraining hand on my arm. "Liam, don''t—"


    "It''s fine, Conrad," I said quietly. "Some lessons can only be taught through experience."


    Reginald''s eyes glittered with interest. "So you''ll ept ine''s challenge?"


    I shook my head. "I didn''t say that. I merely observed that some people need to learn their lessons the hard way."


    ine''s face flushed with anger. "You arrogant—"


    "Careful," I interrupted. "Your emotions are affecting your energy flow. A true cultivator maintains control, even when provoked."


    That was the final straw. ine''s aura erupted around him like a furnace, his face contorted with rage. The crowd gasped and stepped back, creating a wider circle around us.


    "Enough talk!" ine roared.


    Reginald made a show of stepping between us. "Now, now, ine. Let''s not be hasty. If Knight doesn''t wish to participate in a friendly exchange, we shouldn''t force him."


    His words, seemingly conciliatory, were perfectly calcted to further inme ine''s pride. I could see the maniption clearly, but ine was blind to it in his anger.


    "No," ine growled, pushing past Reginald. "I''m tired of hearing about this so-called king. Time to see if he can back up his reputation."


    Conrad''s grip on my arm tightened. "Liam, don''t do this. Not here, not now."


    I met ine''s furious gaze calmly. This wasn''t part of my n, but perhaps it could be turned to my advantage. Sometimes, the best way to hide your true strength is to show just enough to create doubt and confusion.


    "If you insist on this foolishness," I said, "then I won''t stop you."


    Reginald''s eyes narrowed with interest. Conrad stepped back reluctantly, his expression a mixture of resignation and concern.


    ine''s face twisted into a triumphant snarl. "You''ll regret your arrogance, Knight!"


    Without warning, he lunged forward, his fist zing with concentrated energy as he aimed a devastating blow directly at my face. The crowd gasped collectively as his attack cleaved through the air with terrifying speed and power.


    "Die!" ine roared, his punch carrying enough force to shatter stone.