The atmosphere was thick with tension. Sebastian, the Yates family patriarch, sat across from Theodore, head of the Ahsbourne family, their faces etched with worry and thinly veiled frustration. For a long while, neither man spoke. Finally, Sebastian broke the silence.

"Brother Theodore, if we keep sitting on our hands, the Thrumpwood family is going to eat us alive. We can’t just wait for them to stomp us into the dirt!"

Theodore rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "And what exactly do you suggest? Asmon isn’t exactly a pushover these days."

"Simple." Sebastian’s eyes gleamed coldly. "We get rid of Asmon."

Theodore let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "Easier said than done. The boy knocked out Stelter Thrumpwood with a single punch and tamed the Blood Fiend Gang solo. He’s not some random upstart we can just swat away."

"True," Sebastian admitted, but his tone carried a sharp edge. "But even if he’s as strong as Victor in his prime, if you and I join forces, we might stand a chance. Think about it—someone like Asmon doesn’t rise to power overnight without some big secret. Don’t tell me you’re not curious, Brother Theodore."

Theodore’s eyes narrowed, interest piqued. He’d heard the same rumors: Asmon, a so-called "waste" stuck at the second level of Body Tempering, had somehow skyrocketed to the top of the city’s food chain in record time. There had to be something behind his transformation—something valuable. Something worth killing for.

"Alright," Theodore said, his lips curling into a sly smile. "If you’re willing to take the risk, I’ll follow your lead. When do we strike?"

Sebastian shook his head. "Not yet. Right now, Asmon is surrounded by heavy hitters—Merilyn Snow from Silvercrest Martial Institute and two masters at the eighth level of Imperial Qi realm. We need to wait for the perfect moment. He won’t stay holed up in the Thrumpwood family estate forever. The day he steps out is the day he dies."

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to the scheming happening across town, Asmon sat cross-legged in his room, staring at an oval object about a foot long, etched with intricate flame patterns. His brow furrowed in curiosity.

This mysterious object had come from a storage ring handed over by the Blood Fiend Gang leader. When Asmon first pulled it out, two familiar system notifications rang in his mind:

[You’ve found a dormant Fire beast egg, effect amplified! Maximized comprehension has been triggered, instantly mastering the method to revive the Fire Beast egg.]

Asmon blinked, his brain struggling to keep up. "Wait, hold on—did you just say Fire Beast egg?!"

Beside him, Merilyn’s normally calm demeanor shattered. Her eyes widened as she stared at the object. "That’s…an ancient beast egg?"

"Yep," Asmon said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

"The Fire Beast?" Merilyn Snow whispered, her voice barely audible. "You mean…the legendary creature with the bloodline of the Fire Qilin?!"

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Asmon gave her a crooked grin. "That’s the one. No big deal, right?"

Merilyn Snow shot him a look that could’ve melted steel. "No big deal? An adult Fire Beast is a sixth-rank monster, Asmon! They’re practically on par with human experts in the Regal Realm!"

Asmon whistled low, turning the egg over in his hands. "Well then, looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me. Time to fix this little guy up."

Merilyn stared at him, a mix of awe and exasperation in her eyes. "You’re completely insane."

"And yet," Asmon said with a wink, "you’re still here."

Merilyn Snow eyed the FireBeast egg sitting before Asmon, her heart prickling with jealousy. ’This guy’s luck is downright unreasonable. ‘

Hatching eggs of ancient beasts were rare treasures that most people could only dream of. And this wasn’t just any egg—it was a sixth-grade Fire Beast egg infused with sacred beast blood! To call it priceless was an understatement. If this fiery monster hatched and matured, it could easily dominate the entire Avalon Empire.

Her lips twitched as she muttered, “Why would Dante give up something so valuable? Surely he knew what it was worth. Why not hatch it himself?”

Asmon flashed a confident grin. “Because it’s dormant. The average beast trainer wouldn’t stand a chance at hatching this thing.” His voice dropped slightly, just enough to add an air of mystery. “This egg is like your Lunar Destiny Physique—something only I can handle.”

Merilyn blinked in surprise, her eyes widening as she studied him. The more time she spent with Asmon, the more he seemed like an enigma wrapped in a riddle. Was there anything this guy couldn’t do?

“But hatching this egg isn’t going to be easy,” Asmon added with a soft sigh. “I’ll need Divine Spirit Milk.”

The mere mention of it made Merilyn’s breath hitch. Heavenly treasures like Divine Spirit Milk weren’t just rare; they were practically mythical. A single drop could instantly restore anyone below the Regal realm to their peak. It was the stuff of legends—and certainly not something you stumbled upon by accident.

Merilyn’s brows furrowed. “If you’re looking for Divine Spirit Milk, you should head to the Thunder Cloud Mountain Range,” she said thoughtfully. “I saw some there about half a year ago during training.” She paused, her tone turning serious. “But be warned—a monster as strong as a Nine level of Imperial qi realm is guarding it. That’s why I left it alone.”

Asmon’s eyes lit up like a kid who’d just been handed a map to a treasure chest. “Seriously? Then let’s head to the Thunder Cloud Mountain Range!”

After a quick word to Cole, Asmon pulled Merilyn, and the two of them set off for the mountains without wasting another moment.

As they left Goldenridge City, a shadowy figure slunk after them.

“Asmon,” Merilyn whispered, her voice barely audible, “I think we’re being followed.”

Asmon’s eyes narrowed, a glint of icy determination flashing through them. “Pick up the pace,” he said coolly. “We’ll find a quiet spot and deal with this rat.”

The two of them sped up, weaving through the forest until they disappeared into the cover of trees and rocks.

Moments later, a man dressed in black appeared in the clearing, his sharp eyes scanning the area. But the prey he was stalking was nowhere to be found.

“Damn it!” the man growled, his frustration evident.

“You looking for us?” Asmon’s calm voice rang out from behind him.

The man whirled around, his face draining of color as he saw Asmon and Merilyn standing there, smug expressions plastered across their faces.

Asmon’s tone was as cold as winter frost. “If I’m not mistaken, only Evan Shadowfall, one of the Yates family’s elders, has your skills. So tell me, what does the Yates family want with me? Maybe I’ll let you live long enough to finish your sentence.”

The man barked out a laugh, trying to mask his nerves. “Big words for someone so young. And what about your secrets, Asmon? You’ve gone from being a useless nobody to this. Care to share your tricks before I kill you?”

Asmon’s expression darkened. “You’re courting death.”

“Ha! Says the kid who doesn’t realize his time’s up!” Evan sneered, his hand shooting skyward as he fired a flare.