“Life and death are nothing to me. If you’re not convinced, just fight. I don’t care who you are.”

Ethan Clark looked at Eric Dawson's departing figure, his gaze complicated.

Alice Warren looked at Eric Dawson, her eyes still cold and clear, but now tinged with a hint of curiosity.

The others looked at Eric Dawson with nothing but admiration.

If the matter of the inner crystal furnace only made them aware of Eric Dawson's abilities, then his open confrontation with Elder Bennett truly made them understand what arrogance and dominance meant.

When facing Ethan Clark and others clearly inferior to himself, Eric Dawson, though wealthy and imposing, always remained calm and even-tempered.

But when facing someone like Elder Bennett, a high-ranking figure who usually made all the younger disciples too scared to even breathe loudly, Eric Dawson was sharp and unyielding, pressing forward relentlessly, utterly domineering.

Compared to the many treasured weapons, it was what happened next that truly made them feel that Eric Dawson was on a completely different level from them.

Eric Dawson no longer looked at them and walked on ahead. Jack followed by his side, and Eric Dawson glanced at him sideways.

Jack grinned foolishly, his big face shameless, and used his inner energy to quietly transmit his voice to Eric Dawson: “Young master, this time it was my negligence. I really didn’t expect that Ethan Clark would break through to another level in such a short time and successfully open his dantian and qi sea.”

Eric Dawson rolled his eyes. As for this matter, he wasn’t surprised at all.

The true chosen one, the protagonist’s halo—always making a stunning debut, blinding everyone, and slapping faces all around.

This kind of thing, Eric Dawson actually enjoyed too, as long as he was the one doing the face-slapping, not the one being slapped.

“Send someone to investigate and report back as soon as possible,” Eric Dawson also transmitted his voice. “That old man Bennett is trying to provoke me into resenting Ethan Clark; it can’t be that simple.”

“Even if, worst-case scenario, I really killed Ethan Clark and there was solid evidence, and I was convicted of harming a fellow disciple—as long as my father is still around, I’ll always have a chance to turn things around.”

“Besides, if I really wanted to do it, how could I be caught so easily?”

“This won’t have much effect on the competition between Second Uncle and my father,” Eric Dawson said. “There must be other reasons. Go investigate Ethan Clark’s relationships, especially within our sect. Be thorough.”

At this, Jack became serious, no longer joking around: “Yes, young master.”

Eric Dawson nodded and continued forward. After a while, he suddenly stopped: “Tsk, I almost forgot the main thing. Jack, go back to that side hall.”

Jack rubbed his fists eagerly: “Young master, are you still not satisfied? Leave it to me, I’ll go back and give that old geezer a beating.”

Eric Dawson waved his hand: “No, it’s about the sect mission this time, investigating the ritual at Zhenlong Abyss. I forgot to collect it. Go back and get it.”

Jack: “……”

That day, Chief Steward Elder Henry Bennett of the Steward Hall was dismissed for extorting and exploiting junior disciples, and was placed under investigation by the Disciplinary Hall.

……

Somewhere in a dark, quiet chamber within Guangcheng Mountain.

“The rumors are true—the inner crystal furnace really does have such marvelous uses!”

“Report the news immediately.”

“The current inner crystal furnace is still imperfect and can only forge lower-grade treasured weapons. Its value is still immense, but ultimately limited. Should we wait for further breakthroughs before taking action, to avoid exposing ourselves too soon and alerting Guangcheng Mountain?”

“We’ll remain hidden for now, but the news is too important and must be reported at once. As for what to do next, we’ll wait for instructions from above.”

“Alright.”

……

Elsewhere.

“The development of the inner crystal furnace is now in the hands of the sect’s upper echelons, but the foundation was all laid by that Eric Dawson.”

“With the basics in place, we can also try to deduce what comes next.”

“This time, he’s going to Zhenlong Abyss. Though he has guards with him, he’s still relatively isolated—this is the perfect chance to send someone to assassinate him.”

“Contact the remnants of the Five Spirit Banner. The Five Spirit Banner was destroyed by Eric Dawson’s father back then. The son pays for the father’s debts. If they act, no one will suspect anything. Just remind them not to actually kill Eric Dawson—at least not until we’ve gotten all the information about the inner crystal furnace. After that, they can do as they please.”

“As for news about the inner crystal furnace, don’t let the Five Spirit Banner people know for now. Just have them capture him.”

……

On the territory of Dongtang Kingdom, at the eastern edge of Tiandong Continent—one of the Five Domains of the Heavenly Realm—a massive rift runs through the land. This is the destination of Eric Dawson and his companions: Zhenlong Abyss.

“Junior Brother Clark, you’re from Dongtang Kingdom, aren’t you?” As the group passed through the capital of Dongtang, a young disciple asked Ethan Clark.

Ethan Clark nodded, somewhat emotional: “Yes.”

The most powerful holy lands of the current era each have their own ancestral mountains and vast territories under direct control, and from there, their influence radiates out to the surrounding lands.

Guangcheng Mountain, for example, directly governs the central Tianzhong Continent of the Five Domains, and from there influences the entire Heavenly Realm.

Outside Tianzhong Continent, the other four continents each have many sects, empires, or aristocratic families influenced by Guangcheng Mountain, developing independently but all acknowledging Guangcheng Mountain as their leader.

Dongtang Kingdom is one of the three great powers of Tiandong Continent, and is also the easternmost frontier of Guangcheng Mountain’s sphere of influence.