I held my breath as Michael Ashworth''s eyes fluttered open in his new body. Despite my own blood still dripping onto the ground beneath me, I focused entirely on his face, searching for signs of recognition, of consciousness, of sess.


    His gaze was unfocused at first, drifting across the night sky above us with confusion. Then his eyes found mine, narrowing slightly as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.


    "Where..." The word came out as a croak, his new vocal cords still adjusting.


    "Earth Fiend Valley," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the pain racking my body. "You''ve been... brought back."


    Michael''s brow furrowed as awareness slowly returned. He lifted a hand—young and strong now, not the aged one he''d died with—and stared at it in wonder.


    "I was dead," he stated simply, no question in his voice.


    "Yes."


    His eyes locked on mine again, sharper now, calcting. "You did this? You brought me back?"


    I nodded, wincing as the movement sent pain shooting through my skull.


    "Why?" he asked.


    "Isabelle needs you," I replied. "The family... things have gone wrong."


    At the mention of his granddaughter''s name, something shifted in Michael''s expression. The disorientation vanished, reced by the sharp focus of a man who had once led the most powerful family in Veridia City.


    "Isabelle," he whispered. Then, with sudden urgency, he pushed himself up to sitting position. "What''s happened to her?"


    Before I could answer, Conrad stepped forward, kneeling beside us.


    "Master Ashworth," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "It''s good to see you again."


    "Conrad," Michael acknowledged, recognition dawning. "How long was I...?"


    "Nearly two years," Conrad replied. "Much has changed."


    Michael turned back to me, studying my battered face with new intensity. "You... you''re Liam Knight, aren''t you? The one they call the Master of the Celestial Apothecary Guild now."


    I was surprised he knew me. "Yes."


    A faint smile touched his lips. "I''ve been watching from the other side. Not always clearly, but... enough." His expression grew serious. "The death aura that surrounded me—it''s gone now."


    That confirmed my suspicions. "Your death wasn''t natural."


    "No," Michael agreed grimly. "It wasn''t."


    I wanted to ask more, but now wasn''t the time. My wounds were taking their toll, and we had more immediate concerns.


    I gestured to the six Grandmasters who were watching our exchange with wide eyes. "These men helped bring you back. They took a great risk."


    Michael pulled himself to his feet with surprising steadiness. His new body was adapting quickly to his powerful spirit. He turned to the Grandmasters and bowed deeply.


    "I am in your debt," he said. "The Ashworth family will not forget this service."


    The oldest Grandmaster stepped forward. "Master Ashworth, it''s truly a miracle to see you again. But we must leave quickly. Such a powerful resurrection technique will not go unnoticed by the Martial Guild for long."


    Michael nodded. "You''re right." He turned to me. "Knight, we need to go. You require medical attention, and I need to understand everything that''s happened."


    I tried to stand but failed, my legs buckling beneath me. Conrad caught me before I hit the ground.


    "The energy restoration elixir is wearing off," Conrad exined. "He''s pushed his body far beyond its limits."


    Michael''s face showed concern. "We need to get him somewhere safe."


    As they discussed where to take me, I felt a distant pulse of energy approaching. Then another. And another.


    "Someone''sing," I warned, forcing myself upright despite the agony. "Three powerful auras. Moving fast."


    The Grandmasters tensed, preparing for a confrontation. Conrad helped me to my feet, supporting my weight.


    "Can you sense who it is?" Michael asked.


    I closed my eyes, focusing on the approaching energies despite my pain. "One feels... familiar."


    Before I could identify it, three figures burst into the clearing. At their front was Colt Knightwood, blood streaming from a gash across his face, his eyes wild with rage. Behind him were two other martial artists, both looking equally wounded and furious.


    My heart dropped. If Colt was here, then what had happened to Caspian?


    "YOU!" Colt roared when he saw me. "I should have known I''d find you here!"


    Michael stepped protectively in front of me. "Who are you to address him with such disrespect?"


    "Stay out of this," Colt snarled. "This doesn''t concern you."


    One of the men behind Colt stared at Michael with shock. "Wait, isn''t that—"


    "I am Michael Ashworth," Michael dered calmly. "Now state your business or leave."


    Colt faltered for a moment, clearly not expecting to face a resurrected Ashworth patriarch. But his rage quickly overcame his surprise.


    "Your precious apprentice killed four of my men tonight," he spat, pointing at me. "So I killed his friend. That Ashworth dog who protected him."


    My blood turned to ice. "Caspian? You''re lying."


    Colt''s face twisted into a cruel smile. "Hisst words were pathetic. Something about serving the Ashworth family with honor." He mimicked a dying gasp. "He died like a whimpering dog."


    The world around me seemed to blur. Caspian Kane dead. Because of me. Another person who had sacrificed everything to help me.


    "No," I whispered, rage building inside me like a physical force.


    "Oh yes," Colt continued, clearly enjoying my reaction. "And you''re next, Guild Master. Your little resurrection stunt just put you at the top of our kill list."


    The six Grandmasters stepped forward, forming a protective wall between us and Colt.


    "This man is the Master of the Celestial Apothecary Guild," one dered. "Harm him, and you dere war on the entire Guild."


    Coltughed. "You think I care? I''m acting on behalf of Corbin Ashworth himself. The true head of the Ashworth family." His eyes flicked to Michael. "No matter who else ims the title."


    At the mention of Corbin''s name, the Grandmasters exchanged nervous nces. One by one, they stepped back.


    "Master Knight," the oldest said apologetically, "we meant no disrespect, but the Ashworth family..."


    I understood their hesitation. The Ashworth name carried too much weight, even for skilled Grandmasters.


    "You have fulfilled your contract," I said, trying to keep the bitterness from my voice. "You may go." Find this сhаptеr''s sоurсе оn МV-LЕМ-РYR.</abbr>


    They didn''t need to be told twice. With apologetic bows, they vanished into the night, leaving only Michael, Conrad, and me to face Colt and his men.


    The fury inside me continued to build. First Isabelle, now Caspian. How many more people would suffer because of me? How many more would die?


    "I will kill you for what you did to Caspian," I said, my voice dangerously quiet.


    Colt smirked. "You can barely stand."


    My hand slipped into my pocket, clutching a small jade bottle. I''d been saving these pills for emergencies. This certainly qualified.


    I pulled out the bottle, removing the stopper. "Everyone here knows who I am," I announced. "The Master of the Celestial Apothecary Guild. I can create pills that most alchemists would give their lives to study."


    I turned to Conrad and Michael. "I will pay any martial artist who kills Colt Knightwood a Supreme Rank pill."


    Conrad''s eyes widened. "Master Knight—"


    "Not enough?" I cut him off, my voice cold. "Very well. I offer a Celestial Rank pill."


    Even Michael looked stunned. Celestial Rank pills were almost mythical, capable of advancing a cultivator''s power by an entire realm.


    Still, neither moved against Colt, who continued to smile mockingly.


    "They know better than to cross the Ashworth family," he taunted.


    The rage inside me reached its breaking point. I reached deeper into my robe and withdrew another bottle, this one made of crimson crystal that pulsed with its own light.


    "Then I offer this," I said softly. "A Divine Rank pill. The only one I''ve ever sessfully created."


    Gasps echoed through the clearing. A Divine Rank pill was beyond price—a treasure that could make its owner invincible for a time.


    "I swear on my position as Guild Master, whoever brings me Colt Knightwood''s head will receive this pill," I dered, holding the glowing bottle high.


    The atmosphere in the clearing shifted instantly. Conrad''s eyes locked onto the bottle, calcting. Michael''s expression was unreadable.


    Even Colt''s smug confidence faltered as he sensed the change.


    "You can''t be serious," he said, taking a step back. "Do you know what Corbin Ashworth will do if—"


    "I don''t care," I interrupted. "Caspian Kane is dead because of you. Nothing else matters."


    Conrad was the first to move, his body shifting into an attack stance. "For a Divine Rank pill," he said quietly, "I''ll risk the wrath of the entire Ashworth family."


    Michael followed, power emanating from his new body. "And I am an Ashworth. Corbin has no authority over me."


    The two men behind Colt also stepped forward, their eyes fixed on the glowing bottle in my hand.


    "Sorry, boss," one said to Colt. "But that''s a Divine Rank pill."


    Colt''s face contorted with disbelief as he found himself suddenly surrounded. "You fools! You''ll all die for this!"


    "Perhaps," Conrad replied, drawing his sword. "But whoever survives will be holding that pill."


    As Colt realized his predicament, fear finally reced his arrogance. He backed away, finding himself trapped as his former allies advanced toward him from all sides.


    "Wait," he pleaded, his voice cracking. "We can discuss this—"


    "There''s nothing to discuss," I said coldly, clutching the Divine Rank pill. "Your life for Caspian''s. That''s the only bargain I''m offering today."