I seized control, settling into the chair with a cold smile. "Let''s talk."


    Voices drifted from the darkness where the executives hid.


    "Mason Raymond, you don''t hold any deep hatred against the Capital City Martial Arts Association."


    "We established the Capital City Martial Arts Association to gather talented individuals."


    I drummed my fingers on the table. "Continue."


    "Now, the Capital City Martial Arts Association has been thrown into chaos by your actions, causing us to lose numerous talents. This goes against what we originally intended."


    "As you can observe, the Capital City Martial Arts Association desperately needs someone to lead it."


    "If you''re interested, we want you to take that position."


    Their words made me chuckle.


    "Make me a leader?" I arched an eyebrow.


    "Are you saying I''ll haveplete authority over the Capital City Martial Arts Association moving forward?"


    "That''s right," the executives confirmed.


    "You''ll be the one guiding the martial artsmunity."


    "This must be what you''ve always wanted, correct?"


    I narrowed my gaze, scanning the eight vacant chairs, and let out a coldugh. "You believe my reason for all this was to control the martial arts world?"


    "What else? Your end goal is to take our ce, isn''t it?" one executive chuckled.


    "Mason Raymond, there are no permanent enemies, just permanent benefits."


    "With our support, bing a Martial Saint is only a question of when."


    This made me break into loudughter.


    "What''s so funny?" an executive asked with a grave tone.


    I sneered. "I just think you''re all pathetic."


    "A leader? In simple words, I''d just be your marite, and you could remove me whenever you pleased."


    "Plus, you''d want someonepliant, right? Too bad I''ve never followed orders, not even as a kid."


    "And about controlling the martial arts world like you mentioned... it means nothing to me, and it''s never been what I wanted."


    My words left the executives quiet.


    "What is it you want?" one executive inquired.


    My expression shifted. "How about this? To prove you''re serious, you could start by exining how to break the spirit binding technique. What do you say?"


    The executives spoke gravely. "The spirit binding technique is merely a minor skill we can share with you anytime."


    "Then don''t waste my time and spill it now," I said, getting to my feet.


    The executives went silent for a moment.


    Eventually, one spoke up. "We can provide you with the spirit binding technique, but you must ept one term."


    "Let''s hear it." I gave a nod.


    "You must visit the Second Secret Realm and receive our technique," an executive stated.


    I raised my eyebrows and smirked. "Your technique? A method to control me, right? Like Ms. Zackary? So if I step out of line, I can be eliminated instantly?"


    "Precisely," the executive didn''t try to hide it.


    "We need some way to control you; this also proves your dedication."


    I raised my eyebrows and considered for a moment before saying, "I have additional demands."


    "State them," the executive said seriously.


    I sneered. "I want the Second Secret Realm. I want to own it."


    This immediately made all the executives go silent.


    For several minutes, none of them made a sound.


    I sneered. "What, you won''t agree?"


    "Jensen Coleman, who controls the Second Secret Realm, is a peak Martial Saint; if you reach Martial Saint level, we''ll think about it," one executive said gravely.


    Iughed. "Reaching Martial Saint is inevitable, why rush?"


    "Besides, once I be a Martial Saint, would I still need you?"


    The executives stayed quiet, seemingly epting my logic.


    "We can hand over the Second Secret Realm, provided you ept our technique," the executive went on.


    I couldn''t help but raise my eyebrows.


    I never thought the executives would actually agree!


    I pondered and said, "What if I refuse your technique? After all, I hate being controlled."


    "Refuse the technique?" The executives'' voices showed confusion.


    After a brief pause, a woman''s voice emerged. "Alright, we''ll ept that."


    "You''ll ept?" I was even more shocked.


    "Naturally, we''ve always valued talent," the woman''s voice returned.


    I rubbed my chin. "From this point forward, you cannot go after Mabel Sean."


    "We can agree to that," they kept agreeing.


    This made me burst outughing.


    "Do you take me for an idiot? You want to lure me to the Second Secret Realm and then murder me?" Iughed.


    "Don''t think I''m unaware that the moment I set foot in the Second Secret Realm, the Martial Saints will move fast to eliminate me!"


    An executive said icily, "Mason Raymond, we have no such ns."


    "Go to hell! You think I''m stupid?" I mocked.


    "You can throw away your own people without hesitation, much less someone who stands against you?"


    "Mason Raymond!" The executives seemed provoked by my words.


    "You''re truly shameless!"


    I sneered. "Let me be clear, I''ve got my eyes on the Second Secret Realm, and I''m taking it."


    "Sometime next year, I''ll personally visit the Secret Realm, eliminate Jensen Coleman, and im the Second Secret Realm!"


    "I expect to encounter you all in the Second Secret Realm next year."


    After saying this, I stood up and got ready to leave.


    "Mason Raymond, you''ll be sorry!" a voice called out.


    "You''ll suffer for your disrespect toward us!"


    "We won''t just kill you, but we''ll tear Mabel Sean apart! We''ll trap her in endless reincarnation, never letting her break free!"


    I stopped walking, my voice turning icy. "Let''s see who gets the final victory."


    "Fine, fine! Next year will be when you die!" The executives'' cold voice rang out.


    I couldn''t be bothered with them anymore. I walked out of the meeting room and stood in the Capital City Martial Arts Association office.


    Right after, I stomped my foot, and a devastating force rippled outward from beneath me.


    "Rumble..."


    The entire Capital City Martial Arts Association felt like it was hit by an earthquake with ground-shaking tremors!


    The structure began crumbling, and the office turned into debris!


    In no time, the once-impressive Capital City Martial Arts Association had be ruins!


    Everyone walking by was stunned by what they saw.


    They pulled out their phones, quickly recording the scene.


    "Did the Capital City Martial Arts Association get hit by an earthquake?"


    "That''s nonsense, does an earthquake only affect one spot? If I had to guess, they must be doing construction!"


    "Construction my foot, who tears down their building to the foundation?"


    While the bystanders talked, I emerged from the wreckage.


    I nced back at the massive Capital City Martial Arts Association ruins with cold eyes and raised my palm.


    Golden light glowed on my palm as a golden hand burst forth, striking toward the destroyed Capital City Martial Arts Association!


    The entire Capital City Martial Arts Association waspletely turned to dust!