## Liam''s Perspective


    "Your face looks terrible, Emerson." I stood before him, savoring the fear in his eyes. "Did you expect this day would evere?"


    Emerson''s lips quivered. The proud Martial Guild elder was barely holding himself together.


    "You crippled my dantian," I said, each word dripping with cold fury. "Today, I''m going to kill you for that."


    His facial muscles twitched violently. Gone was the arrogant man who had looked down on me with contempt. In his ce stood a cornered animal.


    "You... you''re insane!" he sputtered. "Do you know who I am?"


    Iughed. "A dead man walking."


    Emerson''s eyes darted around the chamber. The broken meditation altar. The cracked floor. The shattered artifacts. No escape route in sight.


    "You want to fight?" He suddenly straightened his back. "Fine! Let me show you what true power looks like!"


    He mmed his palm against the ground. The entire Dragon Vein chamber trembled. Cracks spread across the floor as golden light erupted from beneath.


    "Dragon Vein Ultimate Technique: Divine Dragon Manifestation!"


    The golden energy swirled violently, coalescing into a massive serpentine form. A dragon made entirely of energy rose behind Emerson, its eyes burning with malevolence.


    "Behold the true power of the Dragon Vein!" he shouted, newfound confidence in his voice. "This is why I''m destined to be a Martial Marquis!"


    The energy dragon roared. The sound was deafening, shaking the very foundations of the pavilion.


    "Impressive light show," I said with a smirk. "Now let me show you something real."


    The dragon lunged at me, jaws wide open. I crossed my arms to block, but the impact sent me flying backward. My back mmed into the chamber wall, cracking the ancient stone.


    Pain exploded through my body. The dragon''s energy burned like acid where it touched my skin.


    Emersonughed maniacally. "Not so confident now, are you? The Dragon Vein has been collecting power for centuries!"


    I pushed myself from the wall, wiping blood from my mouth. "Is that all you''ve got?"


    His smile faltered. "Die!"


    The dragon attacked again, faster this time. Its massive tail whipped toward me. I dodged, but the edge caught my shoulder, spinning me around.


    Before I could recover, its ws raked across my chest. My shirt tore open, blood spattering the floor.


    Emerson''s confidence grew with each sessful hit. "You interrupted my ascension. For that alone, you deserve a slow death!"


    The dragon circled me, golden energy rippling across its scales. Its movements were bing more fluid, more natural. Emerson was gaining better control.


    I needed to end this quickly.


    "Time to stop ying around," I said, straightening my posture.


    I closed my eyes briefly, focusing my energy. When I opened them again, Emerson''s smug expression had returned.


    "ying around? You''re barely standing!" he taunted.


    I didn''t respond. Instead, I activated the Ancient Cosmic Body Cultivation Technique.


    Golden light erupted from every pore of my body. My form began to grow, expanding until I towered over Emerson. A giant made of golden energy, dwarfing even his dragon.


    Emerson''s jaw dropped. "What... what kind of technique is that?"


    My voice boomed through the chamber, resonating with power. "Something you couldn''t possibly understand." <cite ss="meta-ref-static">Check for thetest updates on My Virtual Library Empire (*).</cite>


    His eyes widened with recognition and terror. "That form... it can''t be! Only those connected to the Cosmic Ancestors can manifest that aura!"


    I didn''t know what he was talking about, but his fear was palpable. Whatever he thought I was, it terrified him.


    "Who are you really?!" he demanded, backing away. "Which ancient family are you from?"


    I reached out with my giant golden hand and grabbed his energy dragon by the throat. The creature thrashed violently, but couldn''t break my grip.


    "I''m just a man you shouldn''t have crossed," I said.


    With a single squeeze, I crushed the dragon''s neck. The creature let out an agonized roar before shattering into fragments of golden light.


    Emerson staggered back, his face ashen. "Impossible! The Divine Dragon can''t be destroyed that easily!"


    I advanced toward him, each step shaking the ground. "Yet here we are."


    He scrambled backward, panic recing his earlier confidence. "Stay back! I have more techniques!"


    "Then use them," I challenged. "Show me everything before you die."


    Sweat poured down his face. "You... you''re not human!"


    My cosmic form towered over him, golden light bathing his terrified face. I reached for him, my giant hand descending slowly.


    Suddenly, he pulled out a small dagger. It glowed with ancient runes, clearly a high-level Martial Marquis weapon.


    "Take this!" he screamed, throwing the dagger at me with all his might.


    The weapon struck my giant form in the chest. For a moment, intense pain radiated through me. The dagger had real power behind it.


    But it wasn''t enough.


    I plucked the dagger from my chest and crushed it in my palm. "Is that all?"


    Emerson''s face contorted with pure terror. He fumbled in his robes and pulled out a small cube covered inplex formations.


    "Spatial Escape Artifact!" he shouted, crushing it between his palms.


    A spatial tear opened behind him, swirling with chaotic energy.


    "Coward," I spat. "Running away again?"


    He backed toward the portal, eyes wild with fear. "Tell your master I meant no disrespect! I didn''t know who you were!"


    Before I could grab him, he leaped into the spatial tear. It closed immediately behind him, leaving me grasping at empty air.


    I let my cosmic form dissipate, returning to normal size. The remaining Veridia City Martial Guild members cowered at the edges of the chamber.


    "Your leader has abandoned you," I announced coldly. "Anyone else want to challenge me?"


    They exchanged terrified nces before fleeing the chamber, tripping over each other in their haste to escape.


    Meanwhile, Emerson Holmes sped through the spatial tunnel, his heart pounding in his chest. The artifact deposited him miles away, on a direct path to Veridia City.


    "This boy must not be allowed to live," he muttered frantically as he raced forward. "Once I inform the higher-ups, they will definitely do everything they can to kill him!"


    His face twisted with determination. The boy had humiliated him, but soon, the full might of the Veridia City Martial Guild would descend upon Liam Knight.


    And not even someone with connections to the Cosmic Ancestors could survive that.