The Cunning Treasure Hunter

It was unexpected that Celestial Sword Sect's Daoist Master, specifically one of the Celestial Sword Sect Elders, would step forward.

From the treetops, Dark Emperor observed the unfolding situation below.

Scheming and intricate plots? Such things never suited him.

He was confident in his abilities. No matter what formations or mechanisms the Everstone Clan had in place, he could break through them.

The reason for stabbing a Everstone Clan sword into the neck of a Celestial Sword Sect disciple and stirring up trouble was simple.

It was a request from Akrest Clan's leader, Ebon Akrest.

In exchange for the information he provided, Dark Emperor had agreed to this task.

"You kept your promise, Ebon Akrest."

His gaze turned to the distant Mount Eternity.

There. One of his mortal enemies was there.

It wasn't unusual for Dark Emperor to consider Master Nathaniel and Vera as his targets.

After all, Ebon Akrest believed so.

But how could he have known that Jordan, his illegitimate half-brother, would appear in that same place?

And to make matters worse, Master Nathaniel was nearing the pinnacle of mid-peak mastery, approaching the realm of completion.

If combined with the sword of that girl, who had just entered the threshold of peak mastery...

It would be enough to kill Ezekiel, who had already reached the completion stage of peak mastery.

"If I kill them both, the problem is solved."

If he could infiltrate the Everstone Clan, then surely, he could also infiltrate the Iron Fist Sect on Mount Song.

In terms of individual martial strength, the Iron Fist Sect was undoubtedly superior. But when it came to internal security, Everstone Clan was unmatched.

With that thought, Dark Emperor's figure dissolved into the shadows.

Inside the Second Young Master's study, Galen had received word of Aria's impending visit.

He stopped Clara, who was preparing to leave, and made her sit down.

"Let me reiterate. I—"

"Listen to what my sister has to say. You are my person, and your input will be critical in deciding my next steps."

His words carried multiple layers of meaning.

Next steps?

In the midst of the escalating conflict between the First and Second Young Masters, telling someone they were his "person" and would help decide the "next steps" was a weighty statement.

Clara's eyes narrowed.

"Young Master."

"What is it?"

"Do you think I will betray you?"

"No."

He knew who his brother's closest companion was, just as his brother knew who his own closest companion was.

The heirs of the Everstone bloodline were brilliant, but those who lost someone dear often sought revenge by taking away someone dear to others.

"You would not betray me. You are merely trying to find a path to survive."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

At that moment, three shadows appeared through the thin paper door.

Before anyone could say another word, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," said Galen.

The door opened immediately, revealing Aria stepping in without so much as a greeting, nearly barging into the room.

Behind her were two martial artists from Mount Suncrest Sect, both equally unapologetic in their demeanor.

"Aria, this is the study of the Second Young Master of the Everstone Clan. Why have you brought outsiders—"

"They are allies," Aria interrupted.

"…I see."

Aria glanced briefly at Clara, then looked back at Galen.

The look in her eyes asked if it was safe to speak in front of the maid.

Galen nodded slowly.

"I know that you didn't kill Julian, Brother."

"…You do?"

"Yes. The sword that pierced Julian's throat bore the unmistakable techniques of the Bloodshadow Pavilion."

"Bloodshadow Pavilion?"

Galen's brows furrowed deeply.

"Bloodshadow Pavilion. It was the Bloodshadow Pavilion."

In the study of the First Young Master, Crescent, Edwin was explaining the situation to his eldest son.

"There was a dense, chilling killing intent lingering around the scene. If not for a few coincidences, a conflict between the two of you might have erupted."

"…I am not so heartless as to suspect my brother of murder."

"Really? Not even for a single moment?"

Crescent fell silent.

That…was not true.

Ever since Edwin had entered closed-door training for half a year, Crescent and his brother had clashed repeatedly over the future of the Everstone Clan.

His brother believed in nurturing strategists and tacticians, the traditional strength of the clan.

Meanwhile, Crescent argued for accelerating energy cultivation and developing formations to suppress Deviation of energy while aggressively recruiting elite martial artists.

A younger sister talented in calculation stood by his brother's side.

A companion skilled in swordsmanship stood by his.

"…There were moments of doubt."

"Exactly. That's what someone wanted to exploit."

"What are these coincidences you mentioned?"

"The arrival of the two Daoists from Mount Suncrest Sect."

"So, you're saying that this child—or rather, this young hero—survived an encounter with an assassin from the Bloodshadow Pavilion?"

"She is my disciple."

Galen licked his parched lips, then nodded again.

Aiden sat silently, her gaze fixed on him as though waiting for his reaction.

"I understand the urgency of the situation, Brother. Just accept it. Aiden came to the Everstone Clan to introduce Vera as an ally. During their time here, they encountered Julian's body, murdered by an assassin from the Bloodshadow Pavilion, and confirmed this based on the lingering killing intent in the sword marks. Upon discovering that the Bloodshadow Pavilion was involved, I interrupted Father's closed-door training to inform him of the truth, and Father..."

"…deduced that it was the work of Dark Emperor."

"That's correct."

"And then, during that situation, a young martial artist from the Celestial Sword Sect was found dead, impaled by Julian's sword."

Galen ran a hand through his hair, his expression conflicted.

The situation had spiraled out of control, expanding from an internal clan issue to one involving the Celestial Sword Sect.

"Dark Emperor's revenge..."

Galen stared quietly at Vera.

Word had spread that this small child was Dark Emperor's disciple and had killed Ezekiel, the master of The Shadow's Sole Blade, a peak master nearing completion of peak mastery and a master of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Descend Sword Technique .

"So Dark Emperor truly believed that information, didn't he? Isn't that right, Aiden?"

"Yes, that seems to be the case. It's not an unreasonable assumption, considering that Master Nathaniel was also present."

"…And your disciple is a peak master as well?"

"That's correct."

"As unrealistic as it sounds, it's hard not to believe."

"So, you're saying that one of the three great disciples of the Mount Suncrest Sect is a peak master, Father?"

"Yes, Crescent. That is why Dark Emperor believed it. Two peak masters working together could indeed defeat Ezekiel."

"But in truth, it was the work of Jordan, the young hero of Reverse Heaven Unity."

"That's correct."

Crescent nodded in understanding.

It was likely that Aria had sent Jordan. He was the sharpest blade she could wield.

Yet even that blade was insufficient to pierce the throat of the Sword Master.

Reverse Heaven Unity needed a sharper and more refined blade.

It had been Aiden's role to identify someone with the qualities of such a blade.

And she had succeeded brilliantly in finding someone capable of striking at the heavens.

"This is our clan's responsibility. We must protect that child, Vera, at all costs."

"You're thinking quickly."

"I may not be as brilliant as my sister, but I am still a Everstone."

Crescent rose from his seat and strapped a sword to his waist.

At that moment, the door burst open, and Marco, the leader of the Crimson Hands, the Everstone Clan's martial force, entered and knelt on one knee.

"leader! An urgent report!"

"What is it?"

"The Celestial Sword Sect has sent people. Julian's sword…was found on Celestial Sword Sect, impaled through the neck of a Celestial Sword Sect disciple."

"Damn it! They're intent on dragging our clan into chaos!"

Edwin exploded in frustration.

If this were solely an internal issue, they could resolve it with formations and mechanisms.

But against one of the Nine Great Sects, especially the Celestial Sword Sect, known as the southern pillar alongside Northern Iron Fist Sect, the stakes were different.

Amidst the surface-level chaos, they could not afford to lose sight of the essence.

That was precisely what Dark Emperor was aiming for.

What he truly desired was...

To exploit the clan's internal conflicts and its friction with the Celestial Sword Sect, forcing them to neglect Vera's safety.

His goal was revenge.

And his target was Vera's life.

"Crescent, go to Galen immediately. Aria, Aiden, and the young disciple from Mount Suncrest Sect will also be there."

"…Understood."

"I will meet with the envoys from the Celestial Sword Sect. Marco, who has come?"

"That would be…"

Marco hesitated, his expression uneasy.

"Speak quickly!"

"The elder Clear Peace, known as Master of the Void Fist, and his disciple, the renowned Celestial Sword Sect Fist Disciple, Dominic."

"...And the deceased?"

"The deceased was Dominic's disciple, Jon."

"Damn it all."

Clear Peace, an elder of the Celestial Sword Sect and a martial artist at the early stages of the transformation realm, stood at the gates of the Everstone Clan.

Why was he called Master of the Void Fist?

Because he resolved all matters with his bare hands.

The sect leader, Sage of the Enlightened Sword, mastered the Grand Harmony Sword and became the unrivaled swordmaster of the Celestial Sword Sect.

But Clear Peace was different.

He delved deeply into Grand Harmony Fist, the foundational martial art of Celestial Sword Sect, believing its essence to be as profound as the supreme arts of the sect.

In fact, there was no martial art in Celestial Sword Sect superior to Grand Harmony Fist.

Eventually, his mastery of Grand Harmony Fist with his bare hands reached the level where it rivaled the Grand Harmony Sword, earning him recognition. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

His insights and realizations led him to compile the Grand Harmony Divine Fist Manual, a counterpart to the Grand Harmony Sword Manual.

Standing with him was his direct disciple, Dominic, the Celestial Sword Sect Fist Disciple.

The guards at the gate froze at the sight of them.

"P-please wait for a moment."

"Don't look so terrified. I'm old, but I'm not going to eat you alive," said Clear Peace with a grin.

"Master, you shouldn't scare them so much. You always take your jokes too far."

"An old man needs a bit of fun. It's better than throwing punches right away, isn't it?"

But their expressions held no humor.

Their gazes burned with the determination for vengeance, the pain of losing cherished disciples and successors weighing heavily on their shoulders.