The Eve father and son stood there stunned, their throats working as they swallowed hard.


    They couldn''t fathom how three half-step Martial Sages had just died in front of me like that!


    What level had my cultivation reached by now?


    Why was my advancement so ridiculously quick?


    I walked over to the three corpses, extracted their golden cores, and tucked them into my Spatial Magic Artifact.


    Then I turned my cold gaze toward Aiden Eve.


    "Give me the Stone of Heaven and Earth, and I''ll let you live," I said tly, settling onto the sofa.


    Aiden Eve found some backbone and said, "The Stone of Heaven and Earth came from our forefathers. If..."


    "I don''t want to hear your excuses. The Stone of Heaven and Earth isn''t essential to me. Either fork it over, or I''ll forget about it," I said with clear menace in my voice.


    Aiden Eve clenched his jaw and said, "If you want the Stone of Heaven and Earth, fine, but I''ve got one condition. Return the Spatial Magic Artifact you stole, and I''ll give you the Stone of Heaven and Earth!"


    "You''re not in any position to make deals," I said icily.


    "I want both the Stone of Heaven and Earth and the Spatial Magic Artifact."


    Aiden Eve snapped, "Mason Raymond, aren''t you beingpletely unreasonable? Isn''t this going too far?"


    I frowned, lifted my hand, and smacked Aiden Eve across the face.


    "Mind your tone when you speak to me," I said coldly.


    Aiden Eve opened his mouth, but no words came out.


    He never could have pictured himself in such a situation!


    Aiden Eve couldn''t stop himself from shooting a bitter look at Vivi Eve. If it wasn''t for him, he wouldn''t have crossed me!


    "My patience has limits, so I''m giving you three seconds. After three seconds, if you haven''t decided, I''ll end you," I said coldly.


    Aiden Eve realized he couldn''t escape this mess, so he could only clench his teeth and say, "Alright, I''ll hand it over!"


    Right after he said this, Aiden Eve suddenly pulled out a Spatial Magic Artifact, attempting to flee!


    A ck portal materialized before him!


    Aiden Eve seized Vivi Eve and bolted!


    But I stretched out my palm and struck forward.


    "Boom!"


    The ck portal shattered instantly, and the Spatial Magic Artifact exploded along with it!


    This sent shivers down the Eve father and son''s spines!


    "Do you understand what happens when you try to trick me?" A freezing aura radiated from me.


    Aiden Eve was so terrified his nerve broke, and he quickly said, "I...I lost my head, I...I''ll fetch the Stone of Heaven and Earth for you right now!"


    I said coldly, "You''ve already tried to fool me once, and if there''s a second time, you know what''ll happen."


    "I wouldn''t dare, I wouldn''t dare..." Aiden Eve said with a shaky voice.


    He spun around and hurried out of the room. After more than ten minutes, Aiden Eve returned carrying a sandalwood box.


    "This... This is the Stone of Heaven and Earth," Aiden Eve said reluctantly.


    I took it, opened the box, and saw a palm-sized stone resting quietly inside.


    "This is the Stone of Heaven and Earth?" I studied it closely.


    The stone had a subtle luminescence, and an odd energy swirled around it.


    I ced the Stone of Heaven and Earth back in the box and stored it away.


    Aiden Eve''s heart was breaking, his teeth ground tight, and he wanted nothing more than to kill me.


    "Aiden Eve, do you know why I let you live?" I suddenly asked.


    Aiden Eve shook his head, showing he had no idea.


    I didn''t borate much. With a flick of my palm, the bronze swordnded in front of Aiden Eve.


    "You''re an Artifact Refiner. Help me forge this sword properly," I said.


    This sword held the bones of a mighty realm cultivator, but my refining skills weren''t refined enough to unlock its full power.


    Aiden Eve picked up the bronze sword and studied it closely.


    "Geneiron, premium spirit stones, and... the skull of a mighty realm cultivator!" Aiden Eve stroked the bronze sword and whispered to himself.


    I raised my eyebrows and chuckled, "You do know your stuff. So, can this sword be enhanced?"


    Aiden Eve said seriously, "Yes, and there''s significant potential for improvement."


    I got to my feet and said, "Then I''m leaving it with you. I''lle back for the sword after the new year."


    After saying this, I turned and walked away.


    ——


    When Mason was long gone, Vivi Eve nervously asked, "Dad, he took the Spatial Magic Artifact, and he took the Stone of Heaven and Earth too. Are we just going to let this slide?"


    Hearing this, Aiden Eve pped Vivi across the face!


    "If it wasn''t for you, how could our Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets have taken such massive losses!" Aiden Eve seethed.


    Vivi held his face and didn''t dare utter another word.


    "This Mason Raymond is beyond what you and I can handle now. Unless a Martial Saint emerges, who could possibly stop him!" Aiden Eve said coldly.


    Vivi gritted his teeth and said, "The Capital City Martial Arts Association definitely won''t let him get away with this."


    "I hope you''re right," Aiden Eve sighed.


    ——


    The statement I had posted on the Martial Arts Forum was still creating waves.


    Because I had only called out the Capital City Martial Arts Association by name, they weren''t overly worried.


    Plus, it was year-end, so they didn''t have the bandwidth to handle it.


    Every year during the Lunar New Year, Pyro became very quiet.


    Everyone seemed to set aside their feuds by mutual agreement, and all scores would be settled after the new year.


    But there was one exception: me.


    At this moment, I returned to the Divine Alchemist Pavilion.


    I positioned the Stone of Heaven and Earth as the Array Eye of the killing formation and gave control of the killing formation to the Pavilion Master.


    "With this killing formation, even Half-Step Martial Sages will struggle to get close," I said seriously.


    Though I said that, the formation still had weaknesses.


    If a skilled formation master destroyed the Array Eye, the array would crumble by itself.


    So I concealed the Array Eye in an extremely hidden location.


    "In a week, it''ll be the new year." In the Pavilion Master Building, the Pavilion Master murmured.


    I nodded in response, muttering, "This is going to be an unusual year."


    "If you don''t have anywhere else to go, just stay at the Divine Alchemist Pavilion," the Pavilion Master said.


    I looked at Mabel Sean, who was lying in the medicinal pool, and felt waves of anguish in my heart.


    Whenever there were holidays and festivities, the longing for loved ones grew stronger.


    I was no different. I took a deep breath and shook my head, "No, I need to head to the northwest."


    "What are you going to the northwest for?" the Pavilion Master asked, puzzled.


    I said coldly, "ughter, northwest, Walters family."


    "We''re about to ring in the New Year. It might be better to wait until after the New Year to avoid stirring up public outrage," the Pavilion Master advised.


    I nced at the Pavilion Master and said, "No, not only will I act, but I''ll do it on New Year''s Day itself."


    "I want them to understand that once they cross me, I have no limits!"