Melvin''s face contorted with rage at my dismissive tone. The veins on his forehead bulged prominently as he stepped closer to me, his aura ring dangerously.


    "You dare speak to me this way?" he hissed through clenched teeth. "Do you have any idea who I am?"


    I met his gaze steadily. "A man hiding behind his family name."


    The two Grandmasters nking him bristled, their energy signatures fluctuating with anger. One of them took a menacing step forward, but Melvin raised his hand again to stop him.


    "I''ll deal with this peasant myself," Melvin dered, his voice dripping with venom. "Knight, I''ll make you regret every word—"


    A sudden, brilliant sh of light interrupted him. We all turned to see a shimmering barrier materializing around the deeper section of the mountains. The air hummed with energy as translucent patterns spread across the sky.


    "The Divine Medicine!" someone shouted. "It''s revealing itself!"


    The crowd''s attention immediately shifted. Everyone, including Melvin and his guards, stared in awe at the spectacle unfolding before us. The barrier pulsed with ancient power, creating ripples of ethereal light that cascaded down the mountainside.


    Melvin''s face twisted with frustration before settling into cold determination. "This isn''t over," he warned me. "We''ll continue our discussion after I im what''s rightfully mine."


    He turned to Dirk Beaumont, who had been hovering nearby throughout our exchange. "Keep an eye on him. Don''t let him escape."


    Dirk''s face lit up with malicious delight. "With pleasure, Young Master ckthorne. I have my own score to settle with Knight."


    As the crowd surged toward the barrier, I exhaled slowly, relief washing over me. The Divine Medicine''s appearance had bought me precious time.


    "That was incredibly stupid," Conrad muttered beside me. "Antagonizing a ckthorne? Have you lost your mind?"


    "Probably," I admitted with a slight smile.


    Evelyn stepped closer, concern evident in her eyes. "Liam, you need to be careful. The ckthornes aren''t known for forgiveness."


    I nodded, acknowledging her warning. "I know. But I''m tired of cowering before family names."


    We moved with the crowd toward the barrier, staying slightly behind to avoid drawing further attention. As we approached, I felt a strange pull from within my jade pendant. The sensation was different from anything I''d experienced before—almost like recognition.


    While everyone else was focused on the spectacle ahead, I discreetly examined the pendant. The jade seemed to resonate with the barrier''s energy, glowing faintly against my chest.


    "What''s happening?" I whispered to myself.


    The pendant grew warmer against my skin. Suddenly, information flooded my mind—knowledge unlocking itself from the depths of my father''s inheritance. My eyes widened as I realized what I was receiving.


    "The Heaven Swallowing Skill," I breathed, barely audible.


    This wasn''t just any technique—it was legendary, a method to absorb and redirect energy that had been thought lost for centuries. My father had somehow possessed it, and now it was revealing itself to me at the perfect moment.


    Joy surged through me. With this skill, I could potentially withstand even Melvin''s attacks. More importantly, it represented another piece of my mysterious heritage—another connection to the father I''d never known. <em ss="story-note-vis">Spоt аn еrrоr? Visit thе оriginаl pоst оn М&VLЕМРY&R.</em>


    As we neared the barrier, Reginald Talbot appeared beside us, looking somewhat haggard.


    "Knight," he acknowledged with a nod. "Quite the scene you caused back there."


    I shrugged. "Not intentionally."


    He snorted. "Intentional or not, you''ve made yourself a very prominent target."


    "So I''ve been told," I replied dryly.


    The barrier ahead began to shimmer more intensely. Small openings appeared at various points,rge enough for people to pass through individually.


    "It''s selecting," Evelyn exined quietly. "The barrier will only allow those it deems worthy to enter."


    The crowd pushed forward eagerly. Some approached the openings only to be violently repelled, while others passed through without incident. I watched, fascinated by the ancient magic at work.


    When our turn came, I approached cautiously. The barrier pulsed as I neared it, and for a moment, I feared rejection. Then, to my surprise, the opening widened slightly, as if inviting me specifically.


    I stepped through, feeling a gentle warmth wash over me. Conrad and Evelyn followed, both expressing surprise at the ease of our passage.


    "That''s unusual," Evelynmented. "The barrier rarely shows preference."


    Inside, the environment transformed dramatically. What had appeared to be ordinary mountain terrain from outside was revealed as a lush hidden valley, filled with rare medicinal nts and bathed in soft, golden light.


    "Incredible," Conrad whispered beside me.


    I nodded in agreement, drinking in the sight. Throughout the valley, various cultivators were already searching frantically, racing to locate the Divine Medicine before others. In the distance, I could see Melvin ckthorne and his guards pushing others aside as they moved purposefully toward what appeared to be the center of the valley.


    "We should spread out," I suggested to mypanions. "Cover more ground."


    Before they could respond, a familiar, unwee voice cut through the air.


    "Going somewhere, Knight?"


    I turned to find Melvin blocking our path, his expression cold and calcting. Behind him stood his two Grandmaster guards, looking eager for conflict.


    "I think we have unfinished business," Melvin continued. "The Divine Medicine can wait a few moments while I teach you the proper respect."


    I straightened my posture, feeling surprisingly calm. The Heaven Swallowing Skill hummed within me, ready to be tested. "What exactly do you want from me, ckthorne?"


    Melvin''s lips curled into a cruel smile. "It''s simple, really. Kneel. Apologize for your disrespect. And swear that you''ll stay away from Isabelle Ashworth forever."


    The demands hung in the air between us. Around us, other cultivators slowed their search, eager to witness the confrontation.


    I looked at him for a long moment beforeughing softly. "No."


    "No?" Melvin repeated incredulously. "You refuse?"


    "Let me be clear," I said, my voice carrying across the now-silent valley. "I won''t kneel to you. I won''t apologize for speaking the truth. And I certainly won''t stay away from Isabelle because your cousin feels threatened by me."


    Melvin''s face darkened with fury. "You''re making a grave mistake."


    "Am I?" I stepped closer, emboldened by my newly acquired skill. "Tell me, Melvin, with all your family''s resources and connections, why is your cultivation level still so mediocre? Why does your cousin need his family to fight his battles? Is talent socking in the great ckthorne bloodline?"


    I''d struck a nerve. Melvin''s face went from red to purple, his entire body trembling with rage.


    "You know nothing about me or my family," he snarled. "I''ll kill you where you stand!"


    "Melvin," one of the Grandmasters cautioned, "remember your father''s instructions. No unnecessary bloodshed until after we secure the Divine Medicine."


    For a moment, Melvin seemed torn between his rage and his orders. Finally, he took a deep breath, regaining someposure.


    "You''re right," he said to the Grandmaster. He turned to me with a cold smile. "The Divine Medicine takes priority. But don''t worry, Knight. Your death is merely postponed."


    He gestured to someone behind me. "Dirk, since you''re so eager to prove your loyalty, why don''t you handle this insect for me? I have more important matters to attend to."


    I turned to see Dirk Beaumont step forward, cracking his knuckles with obvious anticipation.


    "With pleasure, Young Master ckthorne," Dirk replied, his eyes gleaming with malice. "This ant has been irritating me for far too long."