Still, he couldn''t deny that I had a valid point.
The higher-ups were thinking the same way, nning to use me to restrict the Capital City Martial Arts Association''s influence and even weaken their authority.
"Commander Richard, I''ll do my best to gather intel from the other three organizations, but half a month won''t be enough." I stood up as I spoke.
Ignacio Richard didn''t rush to answer. "In three days, I''ll bring you to meet the Mystic Realm Master."
"Three days is way too long." I shook my head.
Ever since witnessing the Ice Pce Master nearing Martial Saint status, I''d been consumed by anxiety.
"If we could, I''d rather leave immediately." I said.
Ignacio Richard''s brow furrowed. "It''s New Year''s. You think it''s right to bother people now?"
"Not everyone is like us, without family or parents."
I had no option but to ept. "Fine, I''ll follow your lead. I''lle find you in three days."
After saying goodbye to Ignacio Richard, I turned and walked away from that ce.
I rushed back to the Divine Alchemist Pavilion that very night.
The Divine Alchemist Pavilion waspletely deserted too.
Every alchemist had returned home for New Year''s, even Mya Winona was gone.
Only Ricky, whom I''d brought back from the Mystic Realm, Jerry Sean, the new recruit Violet Seth, and the Pavilion Master remained.
Right now, they were gathered around a circr table, celebrating New Year''s.
When the Pavilion Master saw me return, he gestured and smiled. "Perfect timing."
But I could only manage a forced smile. "Lord Pavilion Master, I''m afraid I can''t afford such luxury."
The Pavilion Master''s eyebrows lifted. "You''ve worked nonstop all year. Now that it''s year-end, you should take a break."
I answered seriously, "Every moment matters."
Then I exined to the Pavilion Master about the Ice Pce Master being on the brink of the Martial Saint realm.
"The world is enormous. No one can promise that someone won''t suddenly break into the Martial Saint realm." I let out a sigh.
After hearing my words, the Pavilion Master stopped pushing.
"You,e with me." I grabbed Violet Seth, spinning around and heading downstairs.
Once we reached the bottom floor, Violet Seth yanked her hand free and snapped angrily, "You might have gone crazy, but that doesn''t mean I want to get dragged into chaos during New Year''s!"
I looked at Violet Seth. "You should realize I could''ve ended you ages ago, especially when you betrayed me."
Violet Seth''s expression shifted slightly.
She''d assumed I was clueless, but it turned out I''d seen right through her from the start.
I pulled Violet to my quarters in the Elder''s residence.
After that, I retrieved an Ice zed Heart from my Spatial Magic Artifact.
The Ice zed Heart glowed with an eerie dark blue light in the darkness, appearing incredibly mystical.
"So, how exactly should this be used?" I asked.
Violet Seth nced at it and said, "How should I know? This item was off-limits to everyone except the Pce Master."
I frowned.
I attempted to hold the Ice zed Heart above my head, but nothing happened at all.
"Maybe the Ice zed Heart has lost its power?" I whispered to myself.
"Actually, I''ve heard Victor say that the Pce Master nned to devour this thing." Violet suddenly spoke up.
"Devour?" I was startled.
"Swallow this thing whole?"
Violet Seth shrugged. "I wouldn''t know the details, but the Pce Master had been using this item for cultivation all along."
I stayed silent.
The ''devour'' that Violet Seth mentioned probably didn''t mean literally eating it, but rather represented some kind of absorption technique.
Like my previous Heaven Swallowing Skill, for example.
So I tried using the Heaven Swallowing Skill to sense this Ice zed Heart.
As expected, the instant I activated the Heaven Swallowing Skill, this Ice zed Heart started glowing with traces of blue essence.
This essence flowed into my body.
This essence was peculiar; it wasn''t qi or dark energy, yet it could rapidly stream into the golden core.
"This truly is a Dharma Treasure." I suddenly opened my eyes, somewhat amazed.
The speed at which this essence merged far exceeded both qi and dark energy!
If I couldpletely absorb this object, even if I couldn''t reach the Martial Saint Realm, I could at least achieve Half-step Martial Sage status!
But I wasn''t rushing things. Breaking through here wouldn''t be safe.
I stored away the Ice zed Heart, consumed all the golden cores I''d collected recently, and slowly processed them.
It took me the entire night to absorb all the golden cores I''d umted over the past few days.
The following day was New Year''s Day.
This was when everyone came together in the streets andmunities.
And right now, the Capital City Martial Arts Association was still undergoing major reconstruction.
With their resources and influence, rebuilding wasn''t an issue.
Besides, what I had destroyed was just part of the exterior; the deeper sections remained untouched.
——
On this day, numerous luxury vehicles were lined up outside the Capital City Martial Arts Association entrance.
Inside a deep office within the Capital City Martial Arts Association, the room was packed with people.
The one leading the meeting was none other than Garcia Coleman, the current head of the Capital City Martial Arts Association.
He sat at the front with his eyes half-shut, seemingly waiting for someone.
More and more people entered the office, quickly filling the entire conference room.
Looking around, at least a dozen people upied the meeting room.
These individuals were all elegantly dressed with distinguished bearings.
At this moment, Garcia Coleman finally opened his eyes.
He surveyed the group and spoke casually, "Sorry for calling everyone here during the holidays. I hope you''ll understand."
"Mr. Coleman, you''re being modest. It''s our privilege to serve the Capital City Martial Arts Association." The crowd responded in unison.
Garcia Coleman cleared his throat and stood up, saying, "Just yesterday, a sect contacted me, asking for our Capital City Martial Arts Association''s protection."
"The reason is straightforward. Because of Mason Raymond, who destroys any sect that disagrees with him."
At this point, Garcia Coleman''s face immediately turned ice-cold.
The seated people seemed to have anticipated Garcia Coleman''s purpose, so they weren''t particrly shocked.
"From today forward, I want everyone to band together and work as one to eliminate Mason Raymond!" Garcia Coleman dered coldly.
Once he made this statement, everyone started murmuring among themselves.
"Mr. Coleman, it''s not that we''re unwilling to help, but Mason Raymond''s power is incredible. How can we possibly stand against him?" Someone rose and spoke.
"Exactly. Even Half-step Martial Sages are worthless against Mason Raymond, unless there''s a Martial Saint involved."
Garcia Coleman looked at the crowd and said icily, "You''re underestimating Mason Raymond. His goal isn''t individualbat, but to start a war in the martial arts world!"
"War isn''t something one or two people can aplish! It''s a massive conflict between martial artists!"
Just as Garcia Coleman stated, Mason Raymond was indeed preparing tounch a war in the martial arts world.
This was also why he created the Heaven Gate!
Once hepletely broke with the Capital City Martial Arts Association, it would signal the start of a prolonged Great War!
Even so, the crowd still had concerns.
"Don''t worry, the Capital City Martial Arts Association will provide resources for you." Garcia Coleman said calmly.
"Mr. Coleman, our family head wants to join as well."
Just then, someone suddenly entered from outside.
This person waspletely wrapped in a ck robe, making it impossible to detect any aura.
Garcia Coleman frowned slightly and asked, "Who is your family head?"
The ck-robed figure spoke quietly, "Our family head is Iris Darren."