Chapter 124
Chapter 124 Jade Emperor
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In a small teahouse, two men dressed in traditional robes sat across from each other, deep in
conversation.
“Have you heard? Alek Peterson is dead!” one of them said.
“Alek Peterson? You mean the patriarch of the Peterson family, one of the Great Seven Martial Clans of Cloudveil?” the other replied, his face filled with astonishment.
“Exactly,” the first man nodded.
“That’s impossible! How can he be dead? He was a legitimate Martial Sovereign, a renowned expert in Cloudveil’s martial world for decades. He’s only in his fifties, which is considered middle–aged for a Martial Sovereign, with decades of life left. How could he suddenly die?” the second man asked, utterly incredulous.
“My friend, I was more shocked than you when I first heard the news, but it’s the truth. Alek Peterson is dead, and he was killed–struck down in a single blow p>
The second man’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. “Killed? In one blow? That’s impossible! Who could kill a Martial Sovereign? Could it have been one of the Four Extremes p>
He pondered for a moment before nodding as if the answer had come to him. “It must have been. I’ve heard that the Jade Emperor from the Four Extremes has long had grievances with the Great Seven Martial Clans of Cloudveil. And Grayson Shire happens to be in Listin Star Peak. If he made a move, it’s possible Peterson could have fallen to him p>
But just as quickly, he shook his head. “No, that’s not right. Shire has been in seclusion at Shire Peak for over a decade, not involving himself in the martial world. It couldn’t have been him. As for the other three members of the Four Extremes, they have no quarrel with the Peterson family. So, who else could have possibly killed Peterson p>
The first man paused before responding, “I was just as shocked as you, but fortunately, I have my sources. I received confirmed information just moments ago. Peterson was killed by Jeff Ashcroft p>
The second man’s expression turned to utter disbelief. “Jeff Ashcroft? The same Jeff Ashcroft from Mornwick who killed Mason Tarlyn, the second–in–command of the Tarlyn Guild, with one punch p>
The first man nodded solemnly, his face filled with deep respect.
It took the second man a long moment to recover from the shock. “That’s impossible, isn’t it? Martial Sovereigns are like dragons, not so easily killed. Even if Ashcroft could defeat Peterson, killing him should have been next to impossible. Could it be that Ashcroft used some sort of
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Chapter 124 Jade Emperor
underhanded trick p>
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The first man shook his head slowly. “At first, I thought the same, but according to internal sources from the other six families of the Great Seven Martial Clans, Peterson died in a direct confrontation with Ashcroft. Ashcroft killed him with one punch, right there on the spot.
The second man fell silent, his eyes slowly filling with an increasing sense of dread.
In martial circles across Astria, conversations similar to this one echoed. The news of the battle between Leander and Alek, in which Leander had decisively killed Alek, had spread like wildfire, causing waves of shock throughout the martial world. With Alek’s death, those who stayed informed about the latest events quickly learned of this monumental clash. Leander had already gained widespread fame across Astria after killing Mason, but now, with Alek’s death, the entire martial world erupted into chaos, as if a storm had swept through, shaking every
corner.
On Brooke Mountain, at the Crestgate Halloway Residence in Mornwick, Raymond, who had previously lost a wager in medical skill to Leander, sat cross–legged on the ground, circulating his inner strength throughout his body.
Ugh!
After a short while, Raymond coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face losing what little color remained. His breath grew weaker with each passing moment.
“How could this be?” he muttered to himself in disbelief. This was the 98th attempt he had made to heal himself over the last two months, yet his condition had only worsened. His injuries had not improved; instead, his cultivation had regressed. He had fallen from the level of Grandmaster to Martial Master and continued to weaken by the day.
Ever since Leander had injured him, Raymond had returned to Brooke Mountain to heal, planning to recover before journeying to Listin’s Shire Peak to meet his master. However, despite trying nearly a hundred different treatments, nothing had worked.
“Ruthless moves, Ashcroft!” he cursed aloud. With no more hesitation, he dragged his broken body down the mountain. He knew that if he delayed any longer, he wouldn’t just become a cripple–he might lose his life altogether.
Listin Star Peak, located in the southern part of Listin, consisted of seven peaks, each linked like a constellation of stars, hence its name. The highest of these peaks was Shire Summit, and at its very top was Shire Peak, a place of incredible beauty and grandeur that few could reach.
This remote Shire Peak would have remained unknown were it not for the presence of one man, whose seclusion there had made it famous throughout Astria’s martial world.
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That man was Grayson Shire, also known as the Jade Emperor, a legendary figure whose name commanded respect and fear. Over a decade ago, he had been considered unbeatable, a true master who had never tasted defeat.
On this particular day, a ragged figure was struggling up the steep side of Shire Summit. His hands were bloodied, but his determination never wavered. Finally, after much effort, he reached the top of Shire Peak.
At the center of the peak stood a simple wooden cabin. A middle–aged man leaned against the side of the cabin, his eyes closed as he rested, seemingly at peace.
Though his appearance was youthful, his hair was completely silver, giving him the air of an elder. His skin, however, was radiant and flawless, glowing with health as if he were some immortal being. Shire Peak, standing several hundred feet tall, was bitterly cold, with biting winds. Most people would need heavy winter clothing just to survive, but this man wore only a thin white robe, unaffected by the frigid air.
In the next moment, he slowly opened his eyes, which reflected the wisdom of countless years and the weight of the world. His gaze seemed to pierce through the clouds as he surveyed the world below him.
The ragged figure who had just climbed to the summit revealed himself–it was none other than Raymond, who had recently left Brooke Mountain. His face was covered in dirt, and his body was battered and exhausted, but he had finally made it to the cabin.
With deep reverence, Raymond knelt before the white–robed man, bowing until his forehead touched the ground.
“Master, please save me p>
His voice was desperate, his body covered in blood, his aura weak, a far cry from the esteemed master of medicine once revered throughout Mornwick.
The elder’s expression remained unchanged, calm, and unaffected, as if looking at a stranger.
“Raymond,” the elder said, his voice echoing across the peaks of Star Peak like a distant celestial call. “We haven’t seen each other for years, and yet… you’ve regressed p>
His gaze held no warmth, no trace of sympathy, as though he were merely observing someone completely unrelated to him.
Raymond struggled to straighten his body, about to speak again, when blood suddenly gushed from his mouth, dripping onto the ground. His entire body convulsed uncontrollably. Darkness began to cloud his vision, and just as he was about to collapse, a gentle force rose from beneath, supporting him before he could hit the ground.
He was stunned, lifting his head in disbelief. The white–robed man remained seated,
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completely motionless.
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To control inner strength with just a thought, as easily as breathing–this must be the pinnacle of Martial Sovereign mastery, Raymond thought, his awe growing deeper the more he observed the white–robed man. Though the man sat directly before him, Raymond could barely sense his presence. It was as if he were staring at a cloud of air, a void.
Ten years ago, when Raymond first left the mountain as a disciple, the elder had not yet reached such a level. Back then, Raymond could still sense the man’s strength. But now, as though he stood before a boundless universe, completely inscrutable.
“Hm?” The elder opened his eyes slightly. As he used his inner strength to hold Raymond in place, his gaze sharpened, a gleam flashing in his eyes. In the next instant, he flicked his finger, and a white beam of energy shot into Raymond’s body, entering through the top of his head.
“This p>
Raymond felt his depleted energy begin to stir and rise. He could feel intense heat in his core as two different forces clashed violently within him.
Ugh!
Suddenly, intense pain wracked his stomach, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.
“Interesting!” The white–robed man’s face lit up with a spark of curiosity. He flicked his fingers again, sending two more beams of white light into Raymond’s body.
Raymond rolled on the ground in agony, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. After half an hour of excruciating pain, a faint blue mist expelled from his nose. His once pale face turned rosy, and the turmoil in his body gradually subsided. He could feel the parasitic force that had been draining his life for the past two months being purged. The deterioration of his strength had stopped.
“Thank you, Master!” Raymond hastily crawled to his feet and bowed deeply to the elder, pressing his forehead to the ground. But the white–robed man paid no attention, his piercing gaze cutting straight through Raymond. His eyes were like swords.
“Tell me, who wounded you p>
Raymond’s mind filled with the image of the imperious young man who had left him in such a state. His eyes flashed with bitterness and hatred as he replied, his voice low and vengeful, “Master, his name is Jeff Ashcroft p>
Hearing that, the elder didn’t ask for any further details or explanations. Instead, he stepped forward, crossing dozens of yards in a single stride, until he stood at the edge of the cliff, where he threw his head back and laughed wildly.
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“Hahaha! To think that after a decade of seclusion, another worthy opponent has emerged in Astria’s martial world besides Gareth Ashcroft! A peerless master for me to challenge, hahaha!” ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ͟.net
His laughter echoed across the peak, shaking the clouds and sending ripples of energy through the air as if a god or demon had descended upon the world. This man, who appeared so ordinary and rugged in his mountain home, was none other than Grayson Shire–the fearsome Jade Emperor who once reigned over Astria.
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From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heit