## Liam''s Perspective


    The message from Fifth Elder Lin arrived at dawn. "The bait has been taken. Elder Foster of the Ascendant Saints Order is pushing for negotiations."


    I smiled, watching the sunrise from my hideout. Seven families destroyed. Hundreds of disciples dead. The secondarypound reduced to ashes. My strategy was working perfectly.


    "Send word that I''m considering their offer," I replied through themunication crystal. "Let them sweat a little longer."


    The crystal glowed briefly before Lin''s voice returned. "There''s something else. A contact in Oceana City ims Josiah is setting a trap."


    "Of course he is," I scoffed. "Did they expect anything else?"


    "What''s your next move?" Lin asked.


    I stood, stretching my muscles. "I need someone to broadcast my side of the story. It''s time to visit an old acquaintance."


    ---


    Oceana City sparkled like a jewel against the coastline. Unlike the ancient architecture of Veridia, Oceana embraced modernity – gleaming skyscrapers, floating tforms, and crystalmunication arrays dotting its skyline.


    The city was neutral territory, controlled by the wealthy Holt Family who had built their fortune on informationworks rather than martial prowess. Their news organization, The Oceanic Observer, was the most respected in three provinces.


    "Are you sure about this?" The Man with the Mustache fidgeted beside me as we walked through the busymercial district. "The Holts don''t get involved in cultivation world conflicts."


    "Everyone has a price," I replied confidently. "Besides, I''m not asking for their support – just their tform."


    The Holt Family estate rose before us, a massive crystal structure suspended above an artificialke. Guards in blue uniforms stood at attention along the bridge leading to the main entrance.


    "State your business," the head guard demanded.


    "Tell Spencer Holt that Liam Knight requests an audience regarding Michael Ashworth."


    The guard''s eyes widened slightly at my name before he hurried inside. Minutester, we were escorted through opulent hallways to a spacious office overlooking the city.


    Spencer Holt was younger than I expected – perhaps forty, with sharp features and calcting eyes. No trace of cultivation energy surrounded him.


    "The infamous Liam Knight," he said, not rising from behind his desk. "Half the cultivation world wants you dead."


    "The other half is too afraid to admit they want me alive," I replied evenly.


    A slight smile crossed his face. "What does Michael Ashworth have to do with your visit?"


    "I saved his granddaughter''s life. I believe he''d consider it a personal favor if you helped me."


    Spencer leaned back, eyes narrowing. "Michael''s influence has waned considerably since his retirement. His name doesn''t carry the weight it once did."


    I hadn''t expected such a direct dismissal. Time to change tactics.


    "Then forget Michael. I''m here to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement."


    "I''m listening." His tone remained neutral, but I detected interest. <mark ss="in-imprint-b">This chapter was made possible by themunity at *.</mark>


    "The Holt Family controls information, butcks martial power," I stated bluntly. "Your security is provided by mercenaries with mediocre cultivation bases. I''ve seen better protection at third-rate merchant guilds."


    The Man with the Mustache coughed nervously behind me.


    Spencer''s expression hardened. "That''s a dangerous observation to make in my home."


    "It''s the truth. And everyone knows it." I stepped closer to his desk. "What if I could change that? What if the Holt Family suddenly had ess to cultivation techniques that could rapidly elevate your guards to Grandmaster level?"


    "Impossible," Spencer scoffed. "Such techniques don''t exist."


    I raised my hand, summoning a small golden dragon that circled my palm. "I''ve achieved half-step Martial Marquis in less than three years. The techniques I possess are revolutionary."


    Spencer''s eyes tracked the dragon, hisposed demeanor slipping for a moment. "And in exchange for these... techniques?"


    "I want The Oceanic Observer to broadcast my confrontation with the Ascendant Saints Order. The full story – their crimes, their corruption, and my mission to rescue Pavilion Master Valerius."


    Spencer stood abruptly. "You''re asking me to dere war on one of the oldest sects in the cultivation world. Do you understand what you''re proposing?"


    "I''m proposing that you bet on the winning side," I replied calmly. "The Ascendant Saints Order is already crumbling. I''ve destroyed seven of their allied families and hundreds of their disciples single-handedly."


    "And tomorrow you could be dead," Spencer countered. "Why should I risk everything on an upstart, no matter how talented?"


    I smiled coldly. "Because deep down, you know the Order is corrupt. You know they''ve been manipting information for centuries. And you know that when I win, I''ll remember who stood with me."


    Spencer circled his desk slowly, studying me. "You''re either the most arrogant man I''ve ever met, or truly extraordinary."


    "Test me," I challenged. "Set a task. If I seed, you''ll know I''m worth the risk."


    He considered this for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. If you can rece the Ascendant Saints Order within a month, I''ll acknowledge your ability and agree to all your requests."


    The Man with the Mustache gasped audibly. Rece one of the oldest, most established sects in the cultivation world? In a month?


    "Define ''rece''," I demanded.


    "Destroy their mainpound. Defeat Josiah Hale publicly. And im their territory and resources." Spencer''s smile was razor-sharp. "Do that, and The Oceanic Observer will be at your disposal."


    I extended my hand. "Done."


    As we shook hands, Spencer''s expression turned curious. "Most men would be terrified by such a challenge. You seem almost pleased."


    "I was already nning to do everything you asked," I replied. "Now I''ll just have an audience watching."


    ---


    Back at our temporary lodging in Oceana City, The Man with the Mustache paced anxiously.


    "Have you lost your mind?" he hissed. "Rece the Ascendant Saints Order in a month? That''s suicide!"


    "It''s necessary," I replied, reviewing a map of the Order''s mainpound. "We need to shift public opinion. The Holts can make that happen."


    "If you survive!" he countered. "Even with your new strength, Josiah Hale is a full Martial Marquis with decades more experience!"


    I looked up from the map. "You''re forgetting something important."


    "What''s that?"


    "I don''t fight fair." I pointed to a section of the map. "Josiah thinks he''s setting a trap for me with this negotiation offer. He doesn''t realize I''ve been nning this confrontation for weeks."


    The Man with the Mustache sighed heavily. "And what about Spencer Holt''s challenge? A month isn''t much time."


    "I don''t need a month," I said confidently. "I need three days."


    His jaw dropped. "Three days to destroy an ancient sect?"


    I nodded. "One day to ept their negotiation offer. One day to set my trap. And one day to end Josiah Hale."


    "And if you fail?"


    I rolled up the map deliberately. "Then Isabelle will remain a captive, Mariana will continue to suffer, and everything I''ve fought for will be lost." My voice hardened. "Failure isn''t an option."


    Themunication crystal at my waist glowed suddenly. I activated it to find Fifth Elder Lin''s urgent face.


    "Liam, urgent news. The Ascendant Saints Order has moved Pavilion Master Valerius to their mainpound. Sources say Josiah ns to use her as bait during the negotiations."


    Perfect. Exactly as I''d hoped.


    "Tell them I ept their offer to negotiate," I replied. "Suggest meeting at their mainpound in two days."


    Lin''s expression turned concerned. "That''s walking straight into their territory. Into their trap."


    I smiled coldly. "Sometimes the most dangerous ce is exactly where you want to be."


    As the crystal darkened, The Man with the Mustache stared at me. "You''re actually excited about this, aren''t you?"


    "For three years, I was the weakest person in every room," I said quietly. "I was humiliated, beaten, and dismissed. Now I''m strong enough to challenge one of the most powerful organizations in the cultivation world."


    I looked out the window toward the distant mountains where the Ascendant Saints Order''s mainpound stood.


    "Yes, I''m excited. Because in three days, Josiah Hale will understand exactly who he''s been hunting."


    The Man with the Mustache sighed heavily. "And if Spencer Holt doesn''t keep his word even after you seed?"


    My expression darkened. "Then Oceana City will need a new ruling family."


    Three days until the confrontation that would change everything. Three days until I rescued Mariana. Three days until the first major step toward saving Isabelle.


    Spencer Holt had unwittingly given me exactly what I needed – motivation to make my victory as public and devastating as possible.