Apotheosis

After they arrived at the stone gate to the city, the leader of the Xu Clan, along with his followers, stood to welcome them, and all of them respectfully bowed to Marco.

"Welcome, Young Master. We are greatly humbled and honored by your presence!" the head of the Xu Clan in Clear Lake said with the utmost respect.

In fact, the entire clan had confused expressions plastered across their faces.

The main line of the Xu Clan had been in charge of Vastness Mountain for a long time. The Xu Clan in Clear Lake was their ancestral land, but in fact, it was slowly declining as the collateral branch.

They were confused as to why an exalted personality like Marco would degrade himself to attend the Ripple Pavilion competition.

"Hmm," Marco responded indifferently without giving them a second glance. He walked past them. Then he led his three guards inside the city without waiting for them to escort him.

The people of the Xu Clan who stood with their heads bowed felt their cheeks burn in embarrassment. They thought they had displeased Marco by not giving him the reception he deserved. The head of their clan gestured his men with his eyes to go after Marco, and they quickly followed up under his orders.

As he stomped his way inside the city, Marco turned to the three guards and ordered them blatantly, "Grayson, Drystan, I'm holding you two in charge of locating that brat! I heard he met someone from the Su Clan at Dragon City. I'd advise you two to start from the Su City."

Taking caution to his surroundings, Grayson whispered in a low tone, "If we find this person, should we kill him on the spot?"

"No." Marco's eyes reflected lust for Zen's blood on his hands. "I will do it myself." He tightened his jaw.

Concerned for his master, one of the guards named Lazlo spoke up, to reason with him. "Young Master, please, I beg you to reconsider. Maybe it's wiser to let Grayson and Drystan kill him. Zen Luo is an elite member of the Flow Sword Sect. It is said that he has a close relationship with Athemar. If others find out you kill him, it will ruin your father's plan."

The three trusted guards that accompanied Marco were all members of Vastness Mountain's intelligence agency. They were powerful and were exceedingly loyal to the Xu Clan. Even if they were discovered after the killing, it would be difficult to find evidence solid enough to locate them. On the other hand, Marco was a man with a strong background. He could be easily traced. The situation would be different if he did it.

"Who would know?" Marco glared at all three of his accomplices and sneered at them with bloodshot eyes, "Do you honestly think I would travel all the way to Clear Lake personally for nothing? I did not ask for your opinions. I will be the one who kills him with my own hands."

Hearing Marco's persistent wish, Lazlo went silent. He knew there was no point in reasoning with him since he had the reputation of a bad temper.

Receiving their orders, Grayson and Drystan nodded to Marco and left to carry out their mission and disappeared in the shadows.

Meanwhile, in the Clear Lake, many children of great clans were being welcomed

Guards. The test is quite tough. Besides, a Oneness Guard has to fight on the front lines. It's too dangerous for you. Gant, you'd better stay in the Su Clan if you know what's good for you," Irving Su suggested with a ridiculing smile.

Although their words sounded considerate, the tone they took to emphasize them was of scolding and taunting him in an obvious way.

Gant frowned slightly. If it were in the past, he might have had a fallout with his cousins, but after he had been to the Mountain Viewing Province with Zen and encountered a life-and-death experience, he suddenly felt that these cousins of his were so naive and had such limited vision.

At that moment, a loud and clear voice resounded in the hall from the back. "Becoming a Oneness Guard is not the only choice in Dragon City. Gant is only one step away from being admitted by Oneness Mountain this year. The Oneness Mountain is much stricter than the other mountains. If it were Ivory Mountain or Azure Mountain, he would have made it by now."

Hearing what the voice had to say, the three young men frowned in unison.

After all, that person was right. Oneness Mountain's test was stricter compared to the others, but those words of wisdom still cut through them like daggers because it made them look inferior in front of Gant.

"And I guarantee that it will only take Gant one year to be ranked among the elite disciples," the voice continued to boost Gant's esteem.

Not able to take it anymore, Osrid Su retaliated, "One year? Give me a break! Such a person doesn't exist in the entire Oneness Sky Palace!"

"I wouldn't be so sure. It only took my Flag Master two months. It doesn't seem all that difficult," Gant said with a smirk recalling Zen's heroics in his mind.

"Your Flag Master?"

"A guy from Dragon City became an elite disciple in just two months?"

"Gant, stop uttering such nonsense! That is not possible!"

The three young men refused to believe a single word Gant said. They had never come across such a person.

As the endless quarreling refused to end, Cailen stepped with Zen into the hall.