At the sight of the crimson figures, the pursuers realized what was happening — Shelley Chan’s reinforcements had arrived!
Unlike other cities, Crimson Dragon City revered the Chan family above all, with almost every awakened talent among its people related to fire, a distinctive characteristic of their kin.
“Retreat, quick!”
Aware that further pursuit was futile, the chasers sought to withdraw.
However, Shelley Chan, having been hunted for so long and having endured so much, was seething with pent-up fury.
With the arrival of her reinforcements, how could she possibly let them escape?
With a glint of cold determination in her eyes, Shelley Chan swiftly turned, her single hand weaving signs.
The fire within her burst forth, transforming into a majestic phoenix soaring into the sky.
“Phoenix Inferno!”
As the piercing cry resonated, the phoenix, ablaze in flames, took flight.
With every flap of its wings, it scattered firelight, rapidly creating a sea of flames that halted the pursuers in their tracks.
Given the incredible speed of the mighty, even a momentary pause was costly.
By the time they thought to charge through the sea of flames, it was already too late.
The sound of air tearing filled the air as the temperature around them soared wildly, making the pursuers sweat as if they were in a furnace.
Howard too felt the rising heat, yet, to his surprise, he experienced no discomfort. On the contrary, there was an almost soothing quality to it.
“Spare no one, kill them all!”
With Shelley Chan’s cold command, the reinforcements showed no mercy.
They charged forward, and a terrifying battle erupted once more.
Outmatched in both strength and numbers, the pursuers stood no chance.
In mere moments, they were on the losing side.
“Stop, I surrender!”
Soon enough, a voice from the pursuers rose above the chaos, “I can reveal the mastermind behind all this!”
The cry made the reinforcements instinctively turn to Shelley Chan for guidance.
Yet, Shelley Chan’s expression remained icily detached, her voice resolute as she decreed, “Kill them. Leave no survivors!”
With Shelley Chan’s grim command, the slaughter unfolded without surprise.
It did not take long for the pursuers to fall to the hands of the reinforcements.
Other than their Space Rings and Storage Bags, their bodies were consumed by fire, reduced to ashes that dissipated into the wind.
Meanwhile, a man clad in fiery red armor flew to Shelley Chan’s side, eyeing Howard with curiosity yet addressing her with deference, “Greetings, Third Elder!”
Shelley Chan gave a slight nod, offering no verbal response.
Given her esteemed status within the family, Shelley Chan had no need to explain herself to the ranks before her.
With her silence, none dared to speak further.
Only after the battlefield had been thoroughly cleansed did she signal the group to accompany her as they set off towards Crimson Dragon City.
And Wales?
In Shelley Chan’s heart, Wales had died buying time for her escape.
She would not seek out a dead man, especially not now when her mind was preoccupied with how to report the day’s events to the ruling powers of her clan.
After all, her mission had failed.
Though she had returned alive, and the Oriental Divine Dragon had not fallen into the hands of the Alliance, it had been bound by a Soul Blood Pact with Howard!
Deciding how to deal with Howard posed a particularly thorny issue.
With more than ten LV80 and above warriors, all well-equipped, providing escort, the journey became much safer and more stable.
Howard, carried by Shelley Chan, started to size up the group out of boredom.
Among those who had come to support, the majority were men, with only three women among them.
In terms of class distribution, warriors were the main force with magi in support, and surprisingly, there were no other classes present.
Clearly, their innate talents were both an advantage and a disadvantage.
With classes so rigid, should a full-scale battle erupt, they would almost certainly perish if specifically targeted due to the predictability of their skills.
After a while, as Howard was observing the reinforcements, the whooshing of the wind by his ear suddenly quieted down, and the group began to descend.
Lifting his gaze, he was greeted by the sight of a majestic city of crimson hue.
Carved upon the city were two formidable and valorous Oriental Divine Dragons!
At last, they had arrived at Crimson Dragon City!
Back on her home turf, Shelley Chan couldn’t help but release a long sigh of relief.
The population of Crimson Dragon City was substantial, bustling even more than Adia City. .𝒎
However, Howard was taken aback by the comparatively smaller stature of its inhabitants.
Having only experienced two cities, Howard was unaware that different geographical environments led to variations in the physical build of its people.
The abrupt realization of this disparity took him by surprise.
Furthermore, the architectural style was completely different.
In contrast to the preference for towering edifices constructed of white jade in the other city, Crimson Dragon City was mostly comprised of single-story buildings, with red bricks and green tiles that rendered a more vibrant aesthetic.
When Howard arrived at the Chan residence, the look of astonishment never left his face.
The Chan estate sprawled over an immense area, divided into several courtyards, each with its long corridors, towering rockeries, clear ponds, and even an array of different plants and trees.
To Howard, it was as though these weren’t mere courtyards, but a succession of scenic spots!
After weaving through countless enclosures, only Shelley Chan remained by Howard’s side.
Eventually, they traversed a rockery to enter into a secluded chamber.
Upon entering the chamber, oil lamps along the walls ignited by themselves, throwing light upon a narrow passage.
At the end, Howard’s eyes were drawn to a figure seated on a cushion.
An elder, with a beard as white as the winter frost but a complexion that was notably ruddy, radiated vitality. His skin, devoid of wrinkles, was as taut as that of an infant.
This stark contrast furrowed Howard’s brows in an instant.
It was the first time he had seen such an enigmatic person.
As Howard was scrutinizing the elder, he, too, opened his eyes, and with just a glance at Howard, he chuckled, “A Soul Blood Pact… quite intriguing!”
“The Grand Elder, I have disappointed you!”
With a sigh of resignation, Shelley Chan explained, “At that time, I was in the Nirvana State, powerless to fight. I had hoped to utilize the explosive power of nirvana to fend off the pursuers. Unexpectedly, someone had anticipated this move and had circled to our rear, cutting off my escape route. In that moment, to save his own life, Howard signed a Soul Blood Pact with the Divine Dragon.”
At these words, Howard couldn’t help but give Shelley Chan a surprised glance.
He wasn’t foolish; he could tell that Shelley was speaking in his favor.
The elder shook his head and spoke reassuringly, “Worry not, for the Chan family is not bloodthirsty. That the young one has, by a stroke of fate, formed a Soul Blood Pact with our Divine Dragon is indeed fortunate.”
Howard held back any retort.
The elder was right; that Oriental Divine Dragon was the Chan family’s Guardian Divine Dragon.
It was through the expenditure of its own soul and bloodline that it revived a lifeless egg, rightfully belonging to the Chan clan.
“Young one!”
Abruptly, the elder addressed him, “Would you be willing to stay with our Chan family? Should you agree, I would betroth the pearl of our clan to you. In time, we would only ask that your firstborn bear the Chan surname, with no other obligations imposed upon you!”
“Moreover, all your needs for daily cultivation will be provided by us. Whatever path you choose, the Chan family will be your staunchest support!”
Upon hearing these advantages, Howard was inwardly moved. If he hadn’t awakened a supreme talent, he would have surely agreed.
What’s wrong with marrying into a family?
Why struggle when one can rightfully rely on others’ strengths?
But possessing supreme talent, Howard was confident that he could grow swiftly without marrying into the family.
He promptly refused, “I am honored by your high regard, elder, but I have already joined an academy and cannot remain long in Crimson Dragon City.” 𝑖.𝑐ℴ𝑚
“An academy?”
The elder chuckled, “Our Crimson Dragon City boasts top-tier institutions as well, and I could secure your placement in one of them!”
“Oh, and I have forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Quin Chan, and I am one of the ten council members of the current Alliance!”
As Quin Chan’s words fell, Howard’s pupils contracted sharply.
A council member – that was among the highest echelons within the Alliance, whose every decision could sway the entire world!
Yet, after a moment’s hesitation, Howard shook his head, declining, “I would still prefer to return to my homeland.”
Quin Chan’s eyebrows arched slightly, his demeanor remaining serene, with even a hint of a smile, betraying none of his emotions.
This made Howard inevitably tense; after all, provoking a council member could likely mean survival was out of the question, right?
“Ah, Shelley, take this young one to rest,” Quin Chan waved his hand dismissively, signaling for Shelley Chan to escort Howard away.
“Yes, Great Elder!”
With a slight nod, Shelley Chan led Howard back the way they came, exiting the secret chamber.
Once back in the courtyard, Shelley, after a few turns, brought Howard to a secluded courtyard and warned, “Be cautious. These courtyards are laced with arrays and mechanisms. A misstep could either bind you or, worse, end in death. Do not wander!”
Pausing briefly, Shelley Chan spoke in a hushed tone, “You… might not be able to leave the Chan family anymore. After all, the Divine Dragon is the most prized possession of our lineage.”
.