Chapter 191

"Alright, I'll stop. But this is just for his own good. This live-in son-in-law needs a little teaching, that’s all,” Tristan replied, smirking.

Darryl dismissed his comments, sending a quick text to Pearl instead.

As the auctioneer pounded the gavel, he called out, “Ninety million for the lady over there! Going once, going twice, going—”

“One hundred million!” Pearl interjected, raising her hand with a calm demeanor.

The crowd gasped collectively. A hundred million for a pair of high heels? Was she insane? Everyone stared at Pearl, who looked striking in her professional outfit, exuding grace and elegance that made a few men swoon. It was said, “A good horse deserves a good saddle,” and it seemed only fitting that someone as stunning as Pearl would own "The Worship of Crystal."

Though she appeared composed, Pearl felt a thrill of excitement coursing through her. Following Darryl's instructions, she had stepped in to bid for the shoes at the last moment. While she knew the heels weren’t meant for her, the exhilaration of participating in such a high-stakes auction on behalf of the President was exhilarating in itself. She planned to try the shoes on and take some photos once the auction concluded, which she found more than sufficient.

“One hundred million, going once, going twice, going thrice, SOLD to Ms. Hahn!” The auctioneer could barely contain his excitement.

The crowd erupted into applause, but Yvonne bit her lip in disappointment. It seemed she would never own a pair of "The Worship of Crystal."

The next item on the auction block was a small, intricately carved wooden box. When the auctioneer opened it, everyone gasped in astonishment.

Inside lay a dark Elixir pill.

In a high-end auction like this, the Elixir pill was sure to be something extraordinary.

“Everyone, I know that many cultivators are among us today. May I present to you the highlight of this auction!” the auctioneer announced. He continued, “This Elixir pill is called the Godly Pill. It can help cultivators break through their limits. If you are stuck at Level Five Master or Level Five Master General, this Godly Pill can help you ascend! This pill is extremely rare and magical.”

Excitement rippled through the crowd. Everyone knew that the journey of a cultivator was arduous and often filled with obstacles. Many became trapped at a specific level for their entire lives, unable to advance. Hence, the Godly Pill was not just rare and magical; it was also priceless.

Dax felt a surge of excitement as well. He had reached Level Five Master two years ago but had remained stuck ever since. According to his grandfather, some people peaked at Level Five Master and never broke through. While luck could help a few make it within three years, the majority would remain stagnant.

Dax had come to this auction primarily for the Godly Pill.

“A Godly Pill?” Darryl squinted, a frown crossing his face.

Darryl was knowledgeable about the process of making pills and even had a few left in his possession. However, the one being auctioned looked different from the ones he had extracted, and it seemed to lack some spiritual aura.

In such an exclusive auction, he doubted it could be a fake. Still, he suspected that the Godly Pill had been stored for too long, which might diminish its effectiveness.

As he contemplated, he recalled how he had obtained the Infinite Elixir manual near an ancient graveyard. He believed not many people today would know how to extract the pill correctly. Therefore, the pill being auctioned might have been made long ago and kept in storage for decades, or perhaps even centuries, resulting in a significant loss of potency.

Chapter 192

The auctioneer hammered his gavel, calling for attention. "The bidding for the Godly Pill starts at one billion! Let the bidding begin!"

The crowd buzzed with excitement, and soon the price climbed to four billion. Darryl was taken aback; he had thought selling his own Godly pills to Brandon and then Zachariah for two and three billion respectively was impressive. Who knew the price could skyrocket like this in an auction?

Dax was ready to bid, but Darryl held him back. Confused, Dax asked, "Darryl, what are you doing?"

Darryl could see Dax’s determination and shook his head. "Dax, don’t join in. The pill may be genuine, but its spiritual aura has faded. It’s lost its potency, and worse, the pill contains one-third poison. Normally, the spiritual aura would balance the poison, but with it gone, taking the pill would harm you."

Dax was taken aback. "Darryl, how do you know all this?"

Darryl grinned. “Trust me, Dax. I know what I’m talking about.”

Without a second thought, Dax nodded. He trusted Darryl deeply.

Tristan, sitting nearby, overheard them and burst out laughing. "Darryl, you’re something else! First, you mock me for not buying those heels, and now you’re saying the Godly Pill is a fake? Have you lost your mind from living under the Lyndons’ roof?”

Tristan’s outburst drew glances from the crowd, to which Darryl replied coolly, "Why does it matter to you? You can’t afford it anyway." Darryl viewed Tristan as little more than a nuisance.

Stunned, Tristan noticed the people watching him and retorted, "I might not have a few billion to throw around, but you’re not any richer. I bet after bidding for those heels, you’re practically bankrupt—probably down to a couple hundred!" Turning to the crowd, he shouted, "Everyone! This live-in son-in-law claims the Godly Pill on stage is a fake!"

The crowd erupted into laughter.

"Is he really a live-in son-in-law? What’s going on—anyone can join these auctions now?”

"And he’s talking nonsense!"

Their laughter caught the attention of Julian Roger, the auction coordinator, who approached with a few guards. He addressed Tristan politely but firmly, "Sir, please keep your voice down."

Tristan shrugged, smirking. "You’ve got the wrong person—I’m not the one causing trouble. It’s him." He pointed to Darryl. "This guy says your Godly Pill is a fake. Ask him yourself."

At this point, Yvonne, looking worried, quickly apologized to Julian. "Mr. Roger, I’m so sorry. We’ll be quiet. They were just joking around. Of course, there’s no way the items here could be counterfeit."

Chapter 193

Tristan was also agitated and said, "Yvonne, why are you defending him? He just claimed the Godly pill is fake. Don’t cover for him."

Julian frowned. He was responsible for maintaining order at the auction, and if it were anyone else, he would have escorted them out. But this was Yvonne from the Young family, so he chose to trust her. Nodding with a smile, he said, "Alright, if you’re joking, please stay quiet."

Just as Julian was about to walk away, Darryl spoke calmly, "Mr. Roger, your Godly pill has lost its medicinal effect; it shouldn't be sold."

The crowd turned to look at Darryl, thinking he must be crazy. How could a prestigious auction sell an ineffective pill?

Julian halted and asked, "What did you say?"

Yvonne grew anxious, tugging at Darryl's sleeve. "Darryl, please stop talking," she pleaded. Yvonne trusted Darryl’s expertise with antiques, but what did he know about cultivation? She had just managed to convince Julian, and now Darryl had spoken up again, making things even more complicated.

Julian glared and challenged, "I dare you to say that one more time!"

Darryl stood up slowly, looked Julian in the eyes, and said firmly, "I said the Godly pill has lost its effect. Consuming it could be fatal."

"Lost its effect?" Julian sneered, giving no further argument. Coldly, he ordered, "I don’t care who you are. Leave at once!" He would not tolerate disruptions at the auction.

Yvonne bit her lip nervously and pleaded with Julian, "Mr. Roger, please calm down. He doesn’t know much about cultivation, which is why he spoke out of turn. I apologize on his behalf. Please don’t kick him out."

Julian hesitated. The Young family was well-known for their antique collection, and he often crossed paths with them in elite circles. Ignoring Yvonne’s request might not reflect well on him in the future. He also noticed Dax Sanders seated nearby. How was Darryl associated with Dax? The Sanders were a respected family not to be trifled with.

Julian chuckled, signaled the guards to stand down, and left. 

Seeing the situation defuse, Tristan yelled in frustration, "Yvonne, why are you defending him? This guy is full of nonsense; he should be kicked out!"

Yvonne bit her lip. She liked Darryl, but certain things needed to be said. In high-profile events like these, one had to be careful with their words. If she hadn’t been there, Darryl wouldn’t just have been thrown out; he might have gotten a beating.

Quietly, she whispered to Darryl, "Please, stop talking. This auction would never sell counterfeits. Roger’s Auction has built a stellar reputation over the years. If you get kicked out, who’s going to help me identify antiques?"

Despite Julian's annoyance with Darryl, Yvonne’s words eased the tension. The truth was, if Darryl were removed, Julian wasn’t sure when he’d have another chance to see her.

Darryl fell silent, while the bidding for the Godly pill continued intensely. No one believed him when he claimed it was ineffective.

"Five billion from this gentleman!" the auctioneer announced, shocking the crowd.

Five billion? How could a single pill fetch such a high price?

All eyes turned to the elderly man in the front row, who wore a Chinese jacket and held a dragon-headed cane. His hair was white, and though he seemed to be in his sixties, he was lively and projected a powerful aura, clearly a man of significance.

"Five billion, going once, going twice, sold!" the auctioneer called out.

Silence fell over the room, followed by enthusiastic applause. The crowd was curious about who this man was to spend so much on a single pill. He didn’t appear to be a well-known figure in business circles.

The auctioneer quickly handed him the Godly pill. The old man’s face lit up with excitement. He exclaimed, "Ten years! After ten long years, I can finally advance from a Level Five Master General to a Master Marquis!"

Chapter 194

The crowd gasped in shock. This old man was a Level Five Master General? Just how powerful was he? Megan, a Senior Sister in the Emei sect, had been stuck at Level Five Master until she broke through to Level One Master General with Darryl’s Godly pill. Many cultivators struggled at the Master level, finding cultivation extremely challenging—even the best often reached only Level Five Master before stagnating for life. But this old man had reached Level Five Master General. It was astounding.

"Congratulations, Grandpa!" a young girl cheered.

The girl was stunning, barely eighteen or nineteen, and wore a long dress that highlighted her elegance. The old man was indeed fortunate to have such a lovely granddaughter. He nodded at her affectionately and then, to everyone’s surprise, immediately swallowed the Godly pill.

Everyone stared, filled with envy. With this pill, he could break through to become a Master Marquis—a level of power that was almost mythical and rarely witnessed.

Darryl, however, frowned, feeling uneasy.

Tristan jeered, "Darryl, didn’t you say the pill was ineffective and dangerous? It looks like the old man is just fine! Jealousy must have gotten the better of you."

A few people chuckled at Tristan’s remark.

Suddenly, there was a loud thud. The old man’s face flushed, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Grandpa!" the young girl cried out in alarm.

Chaos broke out among the crowd. How could this happen? He was supposed to break through, not pass out! Everyone was stunned.

Someone pointed at Darryl and said, "He did mention that the pill was ineffective..."

All eyes turned toward Darryl. He had indeed warned about the pill.

Tristan was bewildered, unable to believe what he was seeing. Was Darryl some kind of seer? It seemed impossible. He was only a live-in son-in-law with no real standing—what could he possibly know? This had to be a coincidence.

Yvonne was trembling, too, now in awe of Darryl. How many secrets did he hold?

"Somebody, help! Please!" the young girl pleaded as she knelt beside her grandfather.

Everyone gathered around, but no one dared to intervene.

Julian stepped forward nervously and asked, "Miss, does your grandfather have any pre-existing illnesses?"

"What did you say?" the young girl shot back, her eyes cold and intense. Her presence was intimidating despite her age.

"My grandfather has never been sick. This must be because of the pill! Don’t even think about avoiding responsibility," she warned, her voice sharp.

The crowd was amazed; for someone so young, she had an unexpectedly powerful aura.

Chapter 195

A young man in a suit approached the commotion. "What’s going on?" he asked. The man was Zack Roger, the eldest son of the Roger family, responsible for managing the auction.

Julian breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him. "Zack, this old man just collapsed, and his granddaughter is insisting that it’s because of the Godly pill we auctioned."

Zack frowned, then laughed coldly at the young woman. "Miss, I understand your concern, but the items we auction are all genuine," he replied. Roger’s Auction had run smoothly for years without issues. If this man had fainted, it was likely due to his own health. Zack, being the eldest son of the Roger family, felt secure in his authority.

"Stop talking and help me save my grandfather!" the young girl demanded. "If anything happens to him, I’ll make sure the Rogers are finished!"

Her voice was calm yet full of menace, sending a chill through the crowd. They couldn’t believe such a powerful threat came from someone so young.

Zack chuckled dismissively. "Miss, there’s no need for threats. As the manager, I empathize with your grandfather’s situation, but all we can do is call for an ambulance. Trying to intimidate me? You’re too young for—"

Zack stopped mid-sentence, stunned. He had noticed a gold token in the young girl’s hand, and his expression changed entirely. He began to tremble, and, deeply shaken, he stammered, "I’m… I’m so sorry. I was blind." His tone shifted to one of submission.

The young girl spoke coldly, "My grandfather is a Level Five Master General, with a powerful, resilient body. If anything happens to him here, I’ll make sure your family vanishes."

"Understood, fully understood," Zack replied, nodding anxiously. He then yelled, "Doctor! Quick, help this man!"

The sudden shift in Zack’s attitude surprised the crowd. All eyes turned to the golden token, intricately engraved with lifelike images of humans and beasts. Who was this young woman that had Zack Roger, of all people, so humbled?

Darryl watched, his frown deepening. He hadn’t anticipated that this auction would be filled with so many influential figures.

"Let me take a look." A petite woman in high heels approached. It was Shelly Sullivan, the Chief of Staff from Donghai City Hospital, known as a miracle healer in the city.

Zack had arranged for medical staff to be on standby for the event, and Shelly, who happened to be free, had decided to attend. She had been backstage, distracted by her phone, until she heard the call for a doctor and rushed over with a few nurses.

Darryl smiled upon seeing Shelly. "Thank goodness you’re here, Chief Shelly! Please, help this man!" Zack’s voice trembled with urgency.

Having Shelly there gave Zack some relief. If anything happened to the old man, the Roger family would face severe consequences.

Shelly examined the old man with her stethoscope. After a moment, she frowned and said, "From what I can tell, this is likely due to the effects of a harmful drug, which has caused a blockage in his brain, shutting down his body."

The young girl’s gaze remained fixed on Zack, her expression unforgiving. It was clear she believed the Godly pill was to blame.

The crowd murmured in shock—it seemed Darryl had been right about the pill after all.

Zack was almost in tears as he pleaded, "Chief Shelly, please, I beg you to save him!"

If the old man died, Zack’s family would be in serious trouble.

Shelly shook her head. "This is a complex situation. We don’t have enough medical supplies here, and my hands are tied. We’d need to get him to the hospital for surgery, but… given his condition, the chances of success are around 10 percent at best."

Chapter 196

Zack’s head was spinning, and he didn’t dare meet the young girl’s gaze. A ten percent chance was almost nothing. It was as good as over for the Roger family.

Suddenly, someone spoke up, “This situation is more complicated than it looks. Sending him to the hospital would be pointless; I’d say his chances are less than ten percent.”

Shelly frowned. Who would be bold enough to say that? She was the only doctor here, and her words should carry weight. Sending the old man to the hospital offered at least some hope. Furious, she turned to see who had spoken.

It was Darryl.

Shelly’s expression softened a bit, though she felt a hint of embarrassment; she wasn’t wearing any makeup. Ever since her last encounter with Darryl, she had come to trust him—he had made her feel safe. If he was saying not to send the old man to the hospital, he must have his reasons.

The crowd murmured in surprise, glancing at Darryl. Who was this person? Hadn’t he already predicted the Godly pill was dangerous, which turned out to be true?

The young girl looked at Darryl and asked flatly, “Who are you? And since you’re suggesting not to send my grandfather to the hospital, do you have a better solution?”

Darryl chuckled as he stepped closer to the old man. After examining him briefly, he replied, “Doctor Shelly is correct that your grandfather has a blockage in his brain, but his case is unique.” He explained, “Surgery wouldn’t work because the pill he took still has remnants of poison in it, affecting his blood flow. The hospital equipment wouldn’t detect it.”

Darryl continued, “Your grandfather only consumed the pill recently, so the poison hasn’t spread to his organs. I recommend pressing on his Way of the Spirit Acupoint and Transporter Acupoint to block the spread, and then using your cultivator’s Internal Energy to push the poison out.”

The crowd buzzed with skepticism. Could Darryl, the supposedly unremarkable son-in-law, actually know what he was talking about? Sure, he’d been right about the pill, but if he was so talented, why was he just a live-in son-in-law?

Tristan sneered, “Darryl, are you saying modern medical equipment is useless and only you can help? What, are you some kind of miracle healer? Maybe hospitals should close, and everyone should just come to you instead.”

The young girl remained uncertain. She understood Darryl’s instructions but didn’t know if she could trust him. She looked at him, visibly anxious. “Applying pressure to both points at once would disrupt his blood and energy flow. Are you sure?”

Darryl chuckled softly. “I know. That’s why I’m telling you to trust me.” He understood what he was doing. The Infinite Elixir manual he had studied included antidotes for all kinds of elixir-related issues, including ineffective pills. He wouldn’t suggest this without being certain—it was life or death, after all.

The young girl took a deep breath, saying, “I’ll make it clear: if anything happens to my grandfather, I’ll make you regret ever being born.”

‘Why is she so quick to throw threats? Can’t she be a little less fiery?’ Darryl thought. He shrugged with a small laugh. “It’s your choice. If you’d rather not, then go ahead and take him to the hospital.”

He thought to himself, ‘Unbelievable! I’m trying to help save your grandfather, and you’re here throwing threats?’

“You…!” The young girl’s face flushed, seething with anger.

Chapter 197

The young girl's expression darkened. With only a ten percent chance of survival in the hospital, she felt she had no choice. She cast a hard look at Darryl, then crouched by her grandfather’s side and began to follow his instructions. She pressed her left hand on the Way of the Spirit Acupoint and her right on the Transporter Acupoint, concentrating her Internal Energy to push out the poison.

Yvonne, worried, reached out to stop her. She looked at Darryl and asked, "Darryl, are you absolutely certain? This is life or death."

Darryl chuckled confidently. "Trust me," he said, "my method has a far better chance than anything the hospital can offer."

The crowd fell silent, though many cultivators were shaking their heads in disapproval. They believed Darryl was out of his depth. Pressing on those two vital acupoints was highly risky; if done incorrectly, it could lead to serious consequences—or worse.

Zack, meanwhile, felt his heart pounding. If the old man didn’t recover, not only would he be in trouble, but his entire family could be at risk. He silently hoped Darryl’s method would work, praying the old man would open his eyes.

Gradually, the old man’s color returned, and his breathing grew steady. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd of cultivators—it was working! Though the old man hadn’t yet regained consciousness, it was clear the danger had passed. The young girl exhaled a breath of relief. She walked over to Darryl, nodded, and said, "Thank you. May I know your name?" Her tone, though grateful, retained its icy edge—a prideful air deeply embedded in her character.

Tristan scoffed from the sidelines. "Got lucky, that’s all," he muttered. "Saved someone by pure trial and error!"

Dax, who had been quiet until then, lost his patience. “Bloody hell, are you still at it?” he bellowed, enraged. “The old man’s safe, and you’re just whining like a fool. Do us a favor and get lost!”

Tristan shot back, “And who are you calling a fool?” His tone was all bluster, but after Dax's punch earlier, he had lost his edge.

Dax took out his switchblade, stepping forward. His wife, Nancy, quickly intervened, calming him. "Honey, don’t let him rile you up," she said, knowing Dax’s temper. Dax, though powerful and respected, was known to use intimidation to deal with those who crossed him.

Tristan backed down immediately, his attitude turning sheepish. “Fine, whatever,” he muttered, losing all his bravado.

Darryl chuckled at the exchange, amused but staying quiet.

Zack approached Darryl and, with a genuine smile, said, "Brother, we owe you a great deal. I’m Zack Roger. You saved us from a serious mess."

He extended a hand. "If you’re willing, I’d like us to be friends."

"Sure," Darryl replied, shaking Zack’s hand. Darryl felt an instant camaraderie with Zack, sensing that Zack was a straightforward man.

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Darryl asked, “By the way, Zack, who were that grandfather and granddaughter just now?

Chapter 198

Zack quickly placed a finger over his lips to quiet Darryl, then guided him to a secluded corner. He leaned in and said in a low voice, "Those two aren’t just any ordinary guests. Darryl, have you heard of the Eternal Life Palace Sect?"

Darryl’s eyebrows raised. He was vaguely familiar with two powerful cults, the Grandmaster Heaven and the Eternal Life Palace. Both groups had hundreds of thousands of followers, and the Eternal Life Palace was especially mysterious and ruthless. Even the Six Orthodox Sects treaded carefully around them, as their top members were highly skilled cultivators.

Zack took a steadying breath and continued, "Those two weren’t just any members of the sect. Based on that pure gold token, they’re high-ranking. Regular members have silver tokens."

Darryl nodded, absorbing this. As they spoke, the auction wrapped up. Zack picked up a vase and handed it to Darryl. “Please accept this as a thank-you. I have other matters to handle now.”

Darryl took the vase—a rare piece from the Ming Dynasty, likely worth around two million—placed it casually in the back of his car, and closed the door. As he pulled away, he noticed the steering felt a bit stiff. His car, recently repaired after Shelly's incident, probably needed more servicing.

Not far from the auction house, he spotted Yvonne, Tristan, and Kingston. Tristan approached, noticing Darryl’s car. He rapped on the window with a mocking smile. “Looks like you borrowed your wife’s car for a spin.”

Darryl gave a calm smile. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is my car. Didn’t want to show off, so I went with something modest—an Audi R8.”

Tristan's jaw dropped. An Audi R8? Modest? Darryl’s words were loud enough to attract some stares from nearby onlookers.

Kingston frowned, looking embarrassed for Darryl. To him, Darryl was just a loud-mouthed, boastful son-in-law—someone hardly worthy of his daughter. But then, Pearl approached with a respectful demeanor.

“President, here’s the Worship of Crystal,” she said, offering Darryl the exclusive shoes. She’d taken a few photos in them and was now ready to return them to him.

“Thanks, Pearl,” Darryl nodded. “You can head back to the office.”

Pearl gave a quick nod, “Yes, President,” and walked off.

Tristan’s face turned white as the realization hit him. Darryl? President of Platinum Corporation? The thought was absurd—this was the same live-in son-in-law they all mocked.

Yvonne looked at Darryl, her eyes shining. “Are you really the president of Platinum Corporation?”

Darryl chuckled, shrugging as if it was no big deal. “Yeah. The company used to belong to the Darby family. Only difference now is I’ve been kicked out of the clan.”

Then he handed her the Worship of Crystal heels. “For you,” he said.

“For me?” Yvonne’s heart raced as her cheeks flushed. She took the shoes, stunned, while Kingston’s face went pale. A pair of heels costing a hundred million—just handed over to his daughter!

Chapter 199

Yvonne held the shoebox close, trembling with joy as she felt a new warmth blossom between her and Darryl. She wanted to pull him close and kiss him, but with her father nearby, she settled for a soft smile. “Darryl, since you’ve given me something so precious, let me treat you to dinner! It’s the least I can do, right?” Though she suggested it as a thank-you, her real hope was to steal a little more time with him, even if it was just over a meal.

Darryl considered her offer, then nodded with a laugh, “Alright, sounds good!”

Just as they were about to leave, Darryl’s phone rang, breaking the moment. He sighed, muttering about the untimely interruption, and checked the caller ID. It was Megan.

“What’s up, Officer Castello?” he answered.

A soft voice responded, “Are you free? I need your help urgently.”

Darryl raised an eyebrow. Urgently? Megan rarely showed any vulnerability, much less called him “good brother” with such ease. It was a stark contrast to the last time he’d managed to coax her into saying it, which had taken some effort.

He teased her with a grin, “So, my good sister, what kind of help do you need?”

Megan blushed, biting her lip. It was a strange feeling—she was usually in control, but around Darryl, she felt oddly flustered. After a pause to collect herself, she replied, “Just meet me. I’m at a café. We’ll talk when you get here.” Then, before he could respond, she hung up and texted her location.

Darryl let out a conflicted sigh, glancing at Yvonne. “Looks like I’m being summoned for coffee,” he said. “Want to come along?”

Yvonne’s expression shifted, her curiosity piqued. “Who was that?” she asked, trying to sound casual. She couldn’t help but notice the friendly tone between Darryl and the caller, though it clearly wasn’t his wife, Lily.

Sensing her curiosity, Darryl decided to keep things light. “Just a friend,” he replied with a smile, though he wondered why he suddenly cared about her reaction.

Yvonne’s face fell a bit. “Well, if it’s urgent, maybe I shouldn’t intrude,” she said, though her tone hinted at disappointment.

“Alright then. Let me at least drive you home,” Darryl offered, admiring her thoughtfulness.

As they drove, Yvonne bit her lip, wondering why she hadn’t just asked to go along. She thought, Why doesn’t he see that I wanted to be with him? Just then, his phone buzzed again with a text from Megan, urging him to hurry.

Meanwhile, in the Darby family’s mansion, Master Darby sat in a secret chamber, a knowing smile on his face as he made plans of his own.

Chapter 200

The two cups of tea filled the air with a calming fragrance. Across from Drake sat a man whose appearance defied easy age guesses; he seemed equally suited to be in his thirties or fifties. Dressed in a Taoist robe and sporting a topknot, he exuded an air of wisdom mixed with an unsettlingly ambiguous aura. This was Brian Cunningham, known to others as Priest Brian.

Drake raised his cup, nodding in respect. “My esteemed priest, it’s a true honor to have you here.”

Drake had sent word to Brian only two days earlier, fully expecting him to take a few more days to arrive. But Brian had shown up without warning the next day.

With a gentle wave of his hand, Brian replied, “No need for formalities between us. What pressing matter did you call me for?”

Drake took a steadying breath. “I want the entire Darby clan to begin cultivating,” he stated, anger still simmering over the chaos Darryl had stirred up in the family.

Brian’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Go on,” he prompted.

Drake’s expression tightened. “I need your help to secure something crucial,” he began. “To start cultivating, one must have the Spiritual Elixir. With a few hundred members in the Darby clan, we’ll need hundreds of these pills. If you can help me acquire them, I’ll do whatever you ask in return.”

Brian’s face remained thoughtful, his eyes calculating. “Very well,” he said after a pause. “But there is a condition.”

Drake’s spirits lifted. “Anything you need—just say the word!”

Brian chuckled, holding up a hand. “Don’t be so quick to agree. What I ask isn’t easy.”

Drake’s face fell slightly, his curiosity growing.

Brian took a slow sip of his tea. “I want the entire Darby clan to join the Eternal Life Palace sect.”

Drake’s eyes widened. The Eternal Life Palace sect? He knew its reputation all too well—one of the two major cults with a dark history of violence and intimidation, directly opposed to the Six Orthodox Sects. To make things worse, Drake himself was a disciple of Shaolin, one of those six orthodox sects.

“Aren’t you an elder of the Wudang sect? Why would you want me to join the Eternal Life Palace?” Drake asked, bewildered.

Brian smiled calmly. “I left the Wudang sect long ago. I gave years of loyalty to them, but what did I get in return? The truth is, I’ve been with the Eternal Life Palace for some time now. I just hadn’t told you yet.”

Drake felt a sense of clarity, though his spirits remained heavy.

“Think it over carefully,” Brian continued, rising to leave. “I’ll return in a few days for your answer. Only if your family joins the Eternal Life Palace will I secure the Spiritual Elixirs for you.”

Drake nodded, watching Brian leave while lost in thought. If he joined the Eternal Life Palace, it would mean severing his ties with the Shaolin sect—a betrayal that would shock the cultivation world. But without Brian’s help, his family’s path to cultivation would be closed.

---

Meanwhile, at Island Café, a popular spot for couples in Donghai City, Darryl entered to find Megan already waiting for him. The café buzzed quietly, with couples talking in soft murmurs. Megan, looking particularly striking in her fitted bell-bottom jeans, waved him over.

“Over here!” she called out, smiling.

Darryl couldn’t help but admire her, which she quickly noticed. “Excuse me—what are you staring at?” she snapped, though a slight smile played on her lips.

“Nothing, nothing,” he replied, grinning. “So, what’s up?”

Megan’s expression grew serious as she replied, “I need your help with something,” she said, a little more earnestly than she intended, even calling him “my good brother” without realizing it.

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