Ch. 851..860

Chapter 851

The Johnstons were one of the families that made up the Ancient Four.

These families were able to trace their lineage to the principal officials of the Prince of Orchid’s court a thousand years ago.

Since antiquity, the Johnstons were a family that revolved around Martial Arts.

Every member of the family was required to practice it.

Unfortunately, talent was still the determining factor in how far one could go and how well one would perform in Martial Arts.

As such, not every individual is able to rise to the top.

The Emperor was one such person in their family.

Despite his status and heritage as a Johnston, he did not have a mote of talent whatsoever.

Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning were major officials that had been specifically brought up by the Johnstons.

Throughout the years, the Johnstons scoured the world for particularly talented orphans in hopes of nurturing their talents from a young age and inducting them into the fold.

However, only these four major officials became martial art grandmasters.

They were not just highly skilled but they also managed to achieve the third rank after cultivating.

After receiving the patriarch’s orders, Kennedy immediately set out to capture James along with the four major officials.

At a military region of the Capital...

James was fast asleep.

The moment he woke up, he scrolled through various social media sites and news feeds on his phone.

The Emperor’s death was currently the most searched topic on the internet.

The number of popular search queries on this topic had easily exceeded 100 million.

After giving his screen a cursory glance, James got dressed and headed out.

"Sir!"

On his way out, the soldiers all greeted him respectfully, to which James nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

The moment he walked out of the front gate of the military region, a black sedan stopped right in front of him.

Then, an elderly man stepped out of the car.

Also exiting the car were four people—three men and one woman.

They were all around 40 years of age.

"The Johnstons’ sect elder...?"

Upon seeing the elderly man, James scowled.He had a bad feeling about this.He knew that the Johnstons were furious after he executed one of their own.

It seems that they had come here to settle the score.

Normally, no one was allowed to meddle in the Johnstons’ affairs.

Not even the King had the power to interfere.

"James..."

Kennedy’s eyes glittered like steely flints as he looked up at James, and said coldly, "I told you you'll pay a heavy price for your actions."

James, however, was completely undaunted.He replied indifferently, "I was merely doing my job.On the contrary, by obstructing me in performing my duty, you’ve committed a serious offence.You should thank your lucky stars that I didn’t send my men after you.So what brings you here today?"

"Hahaha..."

Upon hearing this, Kennedy laughed darkly.His burst of laughter was soon gone as he pointed his walking stick threateningly toward James.

"Are you still that stupidly unaware of your predicament?"

James returned the elderly man’s glare with one of his own.

"Are you trying to seek revenge on behalf of your dead family member? Did you forget that you now stand in a military region with hundreds of soldiers stationed here? You don’t stand a chance against me here."

"Get him,"

Kennedy commanded the people he had brought along with him.

Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, stepped forward in tandem.

The woman smirked at James.

"Leave everything to me.I'm more than enough to deal with him."

She had a youthful appearance but this made her real age all the more indiscernible.

Wearing skinny trousers and sporting a short bob, she had a chiseled look.She flashed James an attractive smile.

"Your reputation precedes you, James.You’ve demonstrated tremendous potential by managing to cultivate True Energy without any guidance.However, you shouldn’t have killed the Emperor on his own turf.Despite being an insignificant member of the household, the fact remains that he’s still a Johnston."

James moved into a fighting stance and eyed the woman warily.

Then, in an instant, the woman stepped forward and appeared before James.

Before James could even react, he took a blow directly to his chest.

The strength of the impact sent him flying a few meters off the ground.He collapsed onto the ground and coughed out a mouthful of bright, red blood.

The sudden commotion attracted the attention of all nearby army personnel.

Many fully-armed soldiers charged toward the group and pointed their weapons at Kennedy and his entourage.

"W-Wait! Don’t act recklessly.He’s a Johnston."

A one-star lieutenant quickly gave the order upon recognizing Kennedy.He knew that the Johnstons existed above the law and could act with impunity.

Chapter 852

James attempted to stand once more but had great difficulty doing so.His heart was gripped with trepidation.He did not expect that the woman who looked no different from any ordinary woman would turn out to be this strong.

Rain, the woman, smiled at James suggestively and uttered a few words of fake praise at him, "Not bad.You’re still managing to stand after taking one of my blows directly.Unfortunately for you, I was only using 30% of my strength back there.I wonder if you'll still be in one piece after I strike you with 50% of my strength."

As she said that, she readied herself once again and charged forward.

James clenched his fists and also leaped at her.

Their fists collided.

The moment their fists made impact with each other, James felt as if he had been struck by lightning.His arm was paralyzed, and the Blood Energy within his body felt like it boiled over.

Shortly after, he coughed out another huge mouthful of blood.

The sheer force sent him flying once again and made him collapse on the ground.

This time, however, he was unable to get back up.

Upon witnessing this, the soldiers in the distance looked at one another in horror.

They did not dare intervene.

Kennedy grinned smugly.

"Pathetic...Take him."

Aman walked over to the gravely injured James.

Then, under the watchful gaze of the soldiers, he dragged James away and tossed him into the trunk of the sedan.

Then, they left.

The soldiers by the gate of the military region looked at one another, unsure of how to proceed.

"What should we do now, sir?"

"What else can we do besides report the incident to the higher- ups? There's nothing else we can do."

"Understood."

After being struck by Rain’s blows, James had taken a significant amount of damage and lost consciousness.

By the time he regained consciousness, he found himself in a dark, damp place He tried getting up to make better sense of his surroundings.

However, the excruciating pain throughout his body rendered him immobile.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps and lifted his head.

The footsteps belonged to none other than Kennedy.

Kennedy stood outside the cell and eyed him coldly.

"If you don’t want to suffer, I’d suggest you spit out the truth."

Wearing a pained expression, James remained silent.

Kennedy asked, "I know you've never met the Cadens.Where did you get your hands on the Internal Cultivation Method?"

Kennedy wanted to know how James managed to cultivate True Energy.If James revealed that the Cadens were the ones who imparted the knowledge to him, it would mean that the Cadens’ plot had already been set in motion.

"You old b*astard..." James cursed.

"You had better make sure you lock me up tightly here.Once I escape, I’m going to use the Blade of Justice to slice your body into spaghetti."

"Stubborn, aren’t you?" Kennedy scoffed at the empty threat.

Then he pointed his finger at James, and an invisible force seemed to strike the injured man.

James curled and writhed on the ground in agony.

Kennedy did not interrogate James further and simply turned to leave.

In a courtyard of the Johnstons’ headquarters...

An elderly man was in the midst of doing a martial art squat.

Kennedy walked over to him and bowed his head respectfully.

"Hades, James refuses to speak."

Hades stared straight ahead and asked, "Have you spread word of James’ capture?"

"I have informed the Cadens.I told them we'll kill James if they don’t come for him before sunset."

"Mhm." Hades nodded.

"We'll have to watch the Cadens closely.Let us pray that the God- King Palace has nothing to do with them.If it does, it spells trouble for the other Ancient Four families.It would mean that they are determined to eliminate the rest of us."

Chapter 853

At the Cadens...

An elderly man and a young lady were playing chess.

The elderly man, who looked to be in his 60s, wore a suit.

The young lady looked like she was in her 20s.

She wore a white dress and her head was adorned in a white tiara.

Her smooth and fair skin contributed to the elegance of her fine facial features.

It was almost as if she were an exquisitely carved statue of an immortal fairy that had been given life.

"A lot happened last night."

The elderly man spoke in an off-hand tone as he contemplated his next move.

"Mhm."

The young lady in white replied him quietly, "The Emperor, the head of the five commanders-in-chief was executed using the Blade of Justice and the one who carried out that judgement..."

The young lady glanced at the elderly man.

Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, she continued, "The one that carried out his judgement was James, the grandson of Thomas Caden."

"The Johnstons called me a moment ago.They informed me that they had captured James and asked me where the Cadens stood on this issue.They also told me that they would kill James if the Cadens don’t come for him at the Johnstons’ estate by sunset."

The elderly man looked at Thea curiously.

"What do you think I should do?"

The young lady went silent for a moment before opening her mouth to reply.

"Thomas Caden turned on his family and as a result, had been disavowed.Their family has had nothing to do with the Cadens for a long time.As such, although James is a Caden, he’s no longer considered a member of their household."

The elderly man nodded in satisfaction and placed down his chess piece.

He sat silently in contemplation for a moment before once again asking, "By the way, what exactly is the God-King Palace?"

The young lady shook her head.

"I’ve never heard of it...but grandpa, I didn’t expect James to be able to cultivate True Energy.He’s not even 30 years old and hadn’t received any guidance from the other Cadens personally.So how on earth did he manage to cultivate True Energy?"

The elderly man knit his brows.

"I don’t know either.This has become such a mess, it’s hard to tell what’s what anymore.More than that, who’s the one supporting James from behind the scenes?"

Unable to come up with an answer, the elderly man’s forehead wrinkles grew even deeper.

Tilting her head uncertainly, the young lady asked, "Then, should we save James?"

The elderly man shook his head gravely, "I’m afraid we can’t.If I’m assuming correctly, the Johnstons are stumped by what happened too.Perhaps they thought that the Cadens were behind these series of events.In order to sus out the truth, they captured James to gauge our reactions.If we save James, that could implicate us as the ones who brought about this grand fiasco.If it comes down to that, the Johnstons could rally the other two of the Ancient Four against us."

The elderly man was none other than Tobias Caden, the younger brother of Thomas.He was the current leader of the Cadens.

Although he could not peer through the fog of war, he understood the implication of his actions.

The Cadens must not save James.

If they did, they would be accused of masterminding a grand conspiracy against the Ancient Four.

Besides, a single man from a removed family branch was not enough for the Cadens to act.

Even if he held great potential.

"Could someone have survived that fire thirty years ago?"

Tobias muttered absentmindedly.

He was not sure where the situation stood nor what were the facts behind everything.

"Grandpa, are we truly not straighten things out with the Johnstons? Wouldn’t they misunderstand our intentions?"

"We are not going."

Saying that, Tobias casually tossed his chess piece.

The chess piece landed squarely on the chessboard.

In an instant, all the chess pieces which were on the board toppled over.

Tobias stood up and said, "We will bide our time.I’m curious to see the actual mastermind behind all these machinations."

At that same time, at Peace Mansion...

"Mir.Lee, James Caden has been captured by the Johnstons.I received intelligence that the Johnstons have informed the Cadens of James’ capture.If the Cadens do not show themselves before sunset, James will meet his doom."

The King said anxiously.

"Mhm."

Mr.Lee nodded slightly.

Chapter 854

Everything is unfolding just as we’d predicted.

Our original plan was to manipulate James into killing the Emperor in order to pit two of the Ancient Four against each other.

However, now, something's thrown a wrench in our plans, and that something is the God- King Palace.I’m concerned that we've fallen into the God- King Palace’s trap.

Their objective could be to make us turn on each other as they reap the benefits of the potential fallout."

Mr.Lee was concerned about the unexpected developments.

Everything had been under his control.

With the sudden appearance of the God-King Palace, he was no longer able to predict the outcome of this situation.

The King posed his question, "Should we save James then? He’s a righteous man who’s willing to fight tooth and nail for his nation.If we allow the Johnstons to kill him, we’ll lose one of our strongest assets."

Mr.Lee shook his head in disappointment.

"No, we shouldn’t.In fact, we can’t.The only ones who can save James now are the Cades.I think we can use this as an opportunity to see where the Cadens’ allegiance lies.Sacrifices have to be made in the name of accomplishing great things."

"Understood."

The King nodded, Gloom walked into the room and greeted Mr.Lee and the King respectfully.

The King turned to him.

"Have you found out anything about the God-King Palace?" Gloom gave a disappointing reply.

"Not yet.No one knows anything about the God-King Palace, nor where they come from."

The King was troubled.

"This is strange...Is the God-King Palace really not affiliated with the Cadens?"

Mr.Lee leaned on the sofa.

After taking a moment to sort out his thoughts, he said, "We'll understand once the sun sets.

If the God- King Palace is aligned with the Cadens, they’ll surely come to James ’ rescue."

"All we can do is sit back and wait for someone to make a move.To be honest, I really hope that the God- King Palace belongs to the Cadens.James is an invaluable asset.Letting him die like a dog in the hands of the Johnstons would be a tremendous waste."

At the same time, in the Capital...

Mr.Gabriel was warming his body in front of a bed stove.

A young lady stood quietly behind him in the same room.

"Melody, how’s the situation at the moment?", Mr.Gabriel asked as he put his hands on the bed stove.He seemed to want to avoid the cold.

Though it was not winter yet, he had already begun making preparations for it.

Melody June replied him, "It’s pandemonium out there.James executed the Emperor with the Blade of Justice.Not only that, an organization called the God- King Palace showed up and assisted James.The situation escalated this morning when the Johnstons attacked James and kidnapped him.They informed the Cadens to come for James at their place if they wanted to save him.Otherwise, he’ll be killed by sunset."

"The God-King Palace?"

Mr.Gabriel mumbled in confusion.

"What is this God-King Palace? Are the Cadens behind this?"

Melody replied in the negative, "I don't know."

"How's the situation over at Mr.Lee’s?"

"There’s been no news from Peace Mansion at the moment.Since Mr.Lee remains silent, I believe he’s given up on saving James."

Mr.Gabriel nodded slowly.

"Mhm...Even if he wanted to save James, his hands are tied.Let’s continue to wait and observe.Perhaps things will be clearer this evening."

The death of the Emperor and James’ capture caused Sol to be thrown into a huge uproar.

Many powerful figures were eyeing one another suspiciously.

Meanwhile, some of the families like the Yates, Graysons, and Lawsons opted to remain neutral for now and were paying close attention to the situation.

The power struggle would affect the political dynamics in the Capital.

No one was willing to hedge their bets on any side just yet.

Not while the situation was still tumultuous.

At the same time, in a hotel room...

The moment Thomas returned, Thea went up to him anxiously.

"What’s going on now?"

Wearing a grim expression, Thomas said, "Things are not going well.The Johnstons have captured James.They told the Cadens that they’ll kill him if they do not come for him before sunset."

"what?!"

The color drained from Thea’s face.She tugged at Thomas’ wrist and pleaded, "We have to save him!"

Thomas reassured her gently.

"Don’t worry, we’ll definitely save him.We just need to think of a way."

Chapter 855

When she heard that James had been captured, Thea’s heart sank in her chest.She turned to Thomas, pleading with him for his help.

Thomas sat on the sofa and rubbed his chin.He was deep in contemplation.

After a while, he looked up again at Thea.

Thea felt a shiver go down her spine as she was stared at by Thomas.

Wearing a distrustful expression, Thea asked, "Wh-What are you looking at me for?"

Thomas smiled slyly.

"I have a plan."

"Huh? What plan?"

"Give me a minute, please."

Thomas got up and left the room.

Thea sat down on the sofa and waited patiently.

After half an hour, Thomas returned with a human mask in his hand.

"Come here, please."

Thea walked over to Thomas and looked at him apprehensively.

Thomas swiftly attached the human mask to Thea’s face.

Thea’s appearance suddenly changed drastically.

When she stared at her reflection in a nearby mirror, Thea could see that her face had completely changed.

However, Her facial features were just as refined as before.

"What the...?"

Thomas’ eyes shone ambitiously.

"From now on, you'll be called Maxine Caden."

"Maxine Caden?"

Thea froze when she heard the last name.

Thomas nodded.

"Correct.Please remember your identity.You're now a Caden, Tobias Caden’s granddaughter, to be precise.You'll head over to the Johnstons and demand them to hand over James to you.Don’t worry because you’ll have the Four Great Protectors of the God- King Palace by your side."

"B-But am I up to the task?"Thea trembled.

She knew what the Johnstons were fully capable of.

Their family was renowned for having many members who were highly skilled in Martial Arts.

Last night, it took all the courage she had just to keep up her facade.

Now, she was worried that she’d fail if she went to save James.

Thomas patted her shoulder gently and said, ‘James’ fate is in your hands.

After saving him, you'll finally be able to return to Cansington alongside him."

"Okay."

Thea acquiesced at the promise of returning to Cansington with the man she loved.

"I will prepare a disguise for you."

As he said that, he briskly walked out of the room to begin his preparations.

He returned two hours later with a vintage dress along with some ornaments and handed them to Thea.

After getting changed, Thea was now truly a different person.

Nothing was left that could identify her as Thea Callahan.

"Remember, do not linger at the Johnstons after you get James out.Don’t say anything to him either.Your job is just to get him out of there safely."

Thomas warned her.

As he was worried that Thea would ruin his plans, he took his time to drill the fact into her head.

Thea paid close attention to his every word.

Spe spent the entire day imitating Maxine Caden’s mannerisms and walking style at the hotel.

Thomas even showed her a few photographs of several Johnston family members.

That was because the real Maxine Caden was acquainted with some of the Johnstons.

As such, Thea’s cover would be blown if she failed to identify them.

Soon, nighttime had fallen.

Thomas questioned her once more, "Have you memorized them all?"

Thea nodded.

"Yes."

"Get going then."

"Got it."

After Thea left, Thomas’ face darkened.He pulled his phone out and looked at the time.

Then, he headed out as well.

The Johnstons’ headquarters in the Capital's suburbs was located in an extremely large manor.

Light shone through the numerous windows of the manor.

A few people had gathered furtively on an empty patch of land.

In the lead was Hades, the patriarch of the Johnstons household.

Kennedy, a number of other important figures of the household, the four highly skilled martial artists — Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, and the Four Sisters — Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Everyone was lying in wait.

Though they did not know who would come tonight, they knew that the events that were going to happen would have.great impact on the dynamics of Sol.

Aman was lying prone on the ground before them.

His life hanging by a thread, the man could only lay there helplessly and in agonizing pain.

That man...was James Caden

Chapter 856

James was currently in an extremely feeble state.His injuries from Rain's brutal attack were left untreated and he also had not eaten anything in an entire day.

James lay on the ground weakly and looked at the Johnstons standing before him.

He had no idea what they were planning to do.

"Patriarch, it’s almost nine o’clock.There’s still no sign of the Cadens.Have they given up on James?"

An important figure of the Johnstons voiced his question.

Hades was sitting on a red wooden chair.

Lifting his hand to look at his watch, he said, "What’s the hurry? Let’s wait a little while longer.If no one comes for him by midnight, we’ll just kill him."

"I sure hope that no one comes,"

Kennedy said ominously as he scanned his surroundings.

He knew that if the Cadens came for James, it would mean that they were somehow affiliated with the God-King Palace, and that James was acting on their behalf.

Moreover, it would also mean that the Cadens had started moving against the rest of the Ancient Four.

The members of the Johnston household all waited silently and patiently.

The sound of footsteps cut through the silence of the night.

The Johnstons lifted their heads to look at whoever had come for James.

Creeaak! The gate of the manor opened noisily.

A woman walked in accompanied by four masked men in black robes.She was wearing a white dress and had long, curly, black hair that was adorned by a white tiara.Her facial features were refined and delicate, and her skin was fair and smooth.She walked towards the Johnstons.

The Johnstons fixed their gaze on her.

When they recognized her face, the faces of Hades, Kennedy, and the other important figures of the Johnstons all contorted.

"Hades, my grandfather is currently preoccupied with some prior engagements.So, I have come in his stead."

The woman walked over boldly to the group and stopped right in front of them.

She threw a cursory glance at James who was barely alive before examining the Johnstons standing before her.

Clearing her throat, she addressed them without a trace of fear in her voice.

"|I will be taking James then."

Hades stood up and glared at her.

"Maxine Caden, is your family behind the God-King Palace?"

Kennedy, on the other hand, noticed the four men in black robes and informed Hades, "These men were the ones who kept me busy to allow James to kill Theodore."

The Johnstons tensed up.

All of them were a hair’s trigger away from starting a full-blown battle.

Thea was scared out of her wits.

She had never dealt with such a situation in her life.

However, she knew how important it was not to let her nervousness show in her expression or her gestures.

She looked at the Johnstons and replied stonily, "The Emperor committed many crimes while he held his position.James was merely acting on behalf of the nation when he executed him.As one of the Ancient Four, the Johnstons have broken the taboo by choosing to show their support for the Emperor.May I remind you that the ancestral teachings of the Ancient Four stipulate that we are not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the outside world? By assuming the position of the Emperor, Theodore has gone against these very teachings.In that vein, shielding him from his crimes makes the Johnstons equally as guilty."

She replied to them frankly, as if she were simply stating facts to the Johnstons.

"What about him?"

One of the Johnstons pointed at James and asked, "He's also a part of the Cadens.Did he not assume a governmental position as well?"

"Him?"

Thea, who was disguised as Maxine, pretended to give a disinterested look at James and said, "He’s a descendent of Thomas Caden.Thomas had been expelled from the family thirty years ago.Strictly speaking, he technically isn’t considered a Caden.However, since Caden blood runs through his veins, we can’t simply sit idly by while you prepare to put an end to his life."

She then turned to look Hades directly in the eye.

"I'll repeat myself once more.May I take him now?"

Hades glowered at her.

Maxine came on behalf of the Cadens’ patriarch.

If he did not let James go, it could be interpreted as them antagonizing the Cadens.

However, how could the Cadens just expect the Johnstons to simply release him just like that? The only thing Hades was sure of was that the God- King Palace definitely aligned itself with the Cadens.

It meant that the Cadens would surely make a move against the Johnstons in the future.

However, the Cadens had yet to prepare for a showdown.

After brief contemplation, Hades finally relented.

"Of course, you may.Let’s not forget that he also killed a member of the Johnston family, so we cannot simply let him go unpunished."

As he said that, Hades raised his arm to the sky.

Threads of powerful energy gathered and swirled in his palms, lifting James into the air.

Then, Hades struck the air with his palms.

"AAAAGH!"

James howled in pain.

Then, he fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

"You..."

Thea glared at him, eyes burning with rage.She took a few steps back as the four men in black robes stepped forward and lunged toward the Johnstons.

Seeing this, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, also pounced into action.

Chapter 857

The Four Great Protectors of the God-King Palace clashed head-on against the Johnstons’ disciples.

The Four Great Protectors were sent flying by the shockwave of the collision. After landing on the ground, they hurriedly took a few steps back.

Meanwhile. Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning stood as if they were entirely unaffected.

It was apparent that the Four Great Protectors were the weaker of the two parties. Thea narrowed her eyes. “Shall I interpret this as the Jolinstons openly antagonizing the Cadens? If so, I'll report this to my grandfather.”

Wearing an unpleasant expression, Hades looked right at her. “Surely you jest, Ms. Maxine. For thousands of years, the Ancient Four have co-existed peacefully. and the Johnstons have always taken the teachings of our ancestors to heart. The same cannot be said of the Cadens, however. Not only did you create the God- King Palace, but you even killed a member of the Johnstons in cold blood. Do you truly wish to pick a fight against us?”.

Thea remained silent.

She glanced at James out of the corner of her eye. The pain and the severity of his injuries caused him to lose consciousness. She said, “Grandfather will hear of this.”

The Four Great Protectors carefully lifted James’ body up. Then, they swiftly made their exit as the Johnstons continued gazing at them bitterly.

Wearing a grim expression, Kennedy asked, “Patriarch. are we really letting them waltz away scot-free?”

Hades replied solemnly, “It seems like the Cadens are determined to strike first. I have a feeling that chaos will soon descend upon the Capital. I wonder what rank of Internal Martial Arts the Cadens’ patriarch has reached?”

One of the prominent members of the Johnstons who was present quickly responded, “I believe he’s achieved a considerable rank. By now, they should have unraveled the secrets of the Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside’s Edge.”

“You're all free to leave now.” Hades waved his hand in dismissal.

Thea loaded the unconscious James into a black sedan. One of the black-robed men examined his injuries.

Thea asked anxiously, “How is he?”

The man spoke in a hoarse voice, “He’s gravely injured. Before his previous injuries could fully recover, his meridians were destroyed and the True Energy he had cultivated was forcefully dispersed throughout his body. In the process, his own organs took the brunt of the force released by the True Energy. He needs to be sent to the hospital immediately or his life will be in further danger.”

“What?”

When she realized that there was a very real possibility that James would die, Thea’s face paled. She frantically turned to the

Four, Great protectors. “A-Aren’t you guys martial arts experts?! Can’t you do something to help him?!!"

“Young lady, we aren't able to do anything for him as we don’t have any medical knowledge. The best we can do for him at this moment is to send him to the hospital posthaste and retreat quickly. All forces inside the Capital have their eyes on the Johnstons. If we don’t leave now, we'll be in deep trouble.”

Suddenly, the driver's phone started ringing. He quickly answered the call.

“Understood.”

After hanging up the phone, he turned to Thea. “Young lady, the master has ordered us to send James to the Cadens’ residence. He said they would save him.’

“What are we waiting for then?! Hurry up and step on it!

“Young lady, your plane ticket has been purchased. After returning to the hotel and getting changed, you are to return to Cansington. You'll run into a lot of trouble if you continue to remain in the Capital.”

“But...”

“These are the master’s orders.”

“Alright then.” Thea sighed and nodded reluctantly.

Concurrently at the Johnstons..

At the conference room of the Johnstons...

The important figures of the Johnstons were discussing the situation.

Who they believed was Maxine Caden had appeared before them to save James. However, before he was taken away peacefully, Hades Johnston forcefully dispersed all the True

Energy James had cultivated and crippled him as a result.

This time, the person who led the discussion was not the Johnstons’ patriarch, Hades. Instead, it was an even older-looking elderly man. His face was gaunt, and his eyes were devoid of all emotion.

He was the Grand Patriarch of the Johnstons, the most powerful individual in the household.

He had been in closed-door meditation all this time. Due to the events that unfolded, he had no choice but to make an appearance. The fate of the Johnstons rested on his shoulders.

In the library of the Johnstons’ courtyard...

The library located in the courtyard was the closed-door meditation sanctuary of the Johnstons’ Grand Patriarch. Currently, he had left his meditative state in order to hold a family meeting.

A masked man in a black robe leaped from a tree a great distance away and landed in the room.

Gently pushing the door open, he swiftly entered the room and closed the door shut.

Chapter 858

After entering the library, he rummaged through the shelves. However, he could not find what he was looking for.

“Where is it?” He murmured.

Standing in the middle of the library, he scanned his surroundings. Then, he noticed a straw mat.

He walked over to the mat apd sat down on it. Focusing his gaze in front of him, he looked straight ahead.

As if he had suddenly realized something, he immediately sprang to his feet and walked toward the shelf in front of him. Once he stood in front of the shelf, he looked at the ground.

Sure enough, there were traces of the shelf being moved.

He gently pushed the shelf. With an almost inaudible click, a secret door revealed itself.

The man’s lips curled in delight. He briskly walked over to the door and opened it. There was a black box behind the door.

Upon opening the box, he found an ancient scroll within.

A painting of a bamboo grove was revealed when he unfurled the scroll.

“The Moonlit Bamboos on Cliffside’s Edge...”

The man let out a quiet chuckle. He then put the painting back into the box, returned it to its original spot, and pushed the shelf back.

Then, he made an uneventful exit from the place.

Once Thea returned to the hotel, she peeled off the human mask on her face and changed out of her clothes. Just as she was about to leave, Thomas walked into the room.

“Sir Caden.”

She hurriedly gave him a respectful bow.

“Mhm."

Thomas gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment and said impassionately, “There’s no need to concern yourself with the rest.Return to Cansington for now.”

“The Protectors say that the True Energy that James had cultivated had been forcibly expelled from his body.” Thea wrung her hands anxiously.

Thomas waved her concerns away. “Don't worry, we’ve sent him to the Cadens. They won't let him die in vain.”

Thea gave him a puzzled look. “Why didn’t you save James yourself? I’m sure you're definitely capable of that.”

“All you need to do is go back to Cansington and wait there patiently like a good, little girl. He’ll be back by your side before you know it.”

Thomas' lack of an answer did nothing to address Thea's questions nor assuage her doubts.

She drew her lips into a thin line and gave a resigned response, “Alright, I will return.”

“Off you go.” Thomas dismissed her.

After Thea left, Thomas removed his black jacket and pulled out an ancient scroll from its pocket. He opened the scroll and lay it on the table. Looking at the painting, a grin crept up on his face.

“The Moonlit Bamboos on Cliffside’s Edge... How captivating.”

Thomas could barely hide the elation he felt.

Just then, a knock came on the door.

After stashing away the scroll, he called out to whoever was at the door, “You may enter.”

The door opened and the Four Great Protectors walked in.

Thomas asked, “How did it go?"

“We have sent James to the Cadens. We left after leaving him in front of the front door.”

“l see. You should make preparations to leave as well. The situation in the Capital will only become more chaotic. Go into hiding and keep an eye on the situation.” -

“Understood.”

The Four Great Protectors left the room obediently.

After that, Thomas stretched his body out on the bed and yawned. He murmured under his breath, “What an exhausting day. I can’t wait to see the Ancient Four tear each other apart.”

Chapter 859

In the Cadens’ courtyard.

A group of people scrutinized an unconscious James.

Tobias furrowed his brows and asked, “Who sent him here?”

The guard said, “They were wearing a mask, so we couldn't see their faces clearly. After leaving James In front of the gate. they simply left without a word.”

At that moment. Maxine exclaimed in an alarmed voice. “Grandpa, I've just received news that the Johnstons are claiming that I went to the Jonnstons’ headquarters along with men from the God-King Palace and took James away.”

Tobias hissed in irritation, “Looks like someone is trying to pin this incident on the Cadens.”

Maxine asked, “What should we do then? Should we save James?”

A conflicted look formed on Tobias’ face. Then he responded flatly. “Although he’s no longer a Caden since his grandfather betrayed the family. the fact remains that Caden blood still runs through his veins. In any case, we should take him in for now.”

A few guards walked over to James and carried him into a room. Tobias inspected his injuries carefully.

Maxine leaned in to get a better look. “How is he, grandpa?”

Tobias’ replied bleakly, “Hades’ cruelty knows no bounds. James had finally managed to cultivate True Energy and attained the power of the first rank. However, the True Energy within his body was forcefully expelled, and his meridians were utterly destroyed as a result. Fortunately for him, he reached the pinnacle of External Martial Arts. Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived this. To make things worse, there’s also Gu venom inside his body. Curse the Gu sect... They just keep crawling out of nowhere like cockroaches.”

Maxine held her breath when she heard the extent of James’ injuries. “Can he be saved?”

Tobias nodded. “Yes, he definitely can. Unfortunately, he'll completely lose his martial art skills. It'll be next to impossible for him to cultivate True Energy once again.”

He stood up and walked toward a table. He then wrote the names of a few herbs on a piece of paper and handed it to Maxine. “Go get some medicine for him. It should take a couple of months for him to recover completely and finish recuperating.”

“Got it.”

Maxine nodded and left with the prescription.

Tobias got up and walked toward James’ bed again. He helped James up and made him sit in a lotus position. Sitting behind James, he raised his wrinkled hands and pressed his palms against James’ back.

He channeled his own True Energy into James to treat his internal injuries.

After some time had passed, Tobias was completely drenched in sweat.

Then, he slowly laid James back down on the bed. After that, he took James’ pulse. As he was assessing James’ condition, he grit his teeth. “It's a miracle that he was able to survive the fire ten years ago. What an unfortunate child... He’s been through such a tumultuous life. Although he returned to us a cripple, the family won't take this lying down.”

At the same time, in Peace Mansion...

The King and Mr. Lee were locked in a game of chess.

Gloom walked over to them.

The King asked without taking his eyes off the board, “Do you have any updates for me?”

Gloom nodded and began to deliver his report in an organized manner. “The God King Palace does indeed belong to the

Cadens. This evening, Maxine Caden brought a few highly skilled men from the God- King Palace to the Johnstons to retrieve James. The Johnstons complied with Maxine’s requests. However, Hades made sure to wound James irreparably before the God King Palace took him away.”

“As expected...” The King took a sharp breath. “What are the Cadens up to?”

Turning the chess piece around his hand, Mr. Lee looked up at Gloom and urged him, “Tell us more about the specifics.”

Gloom gave a detailed run-down of the events that had taken place at the Johnstons.

“Was that really Maxine Caden?” Mr. Lee pressed his lips together.

“Affirmative. The God-King Palace’s men even briefly fought against the Johnstons’ four experts. Though the Four Great Protectors are slightly weaker, they stand a fighting chance against the Four Experts if they put their lives on the line.”

“How curious...”

Mr. Lee tapped his finger on the chess piece.He was well acquainted with Tobias Caden. In fact. they were both good friends with each other. He was extremely aware that Tobias was a man who would rather stay on the sidelines in order to avoid any involvement with the affairs of the External Realm.

So where did the God-King Palace really come from?

After some brief contemplation. he opened his mouth. “By the way, is James currently at the Cadens?”

Gloom nodded. “Yes.”

“Got it. You're dismissed.” Mr. Lee waved Gloom away.

Gloom bowed and made his way out of the room.

The King looked at Mr. Lee and cocked his eyebrow. “What should we do next?”

Mr. Lee gave the question a lot of consideration before replying. “Let's pay a visit to the Cadens tomorrow. We shall see how James is doing while looking into the Cadens'’ position at the same time. If the Cadens are willing to align themselves with me, it'd be fantastic. Let's hope that they don't have plans of their own.”

Chapter 860

The events at the Johnstons had also reached the ears of Mr. Gabriel.

Mr. Gabriel now knew with surety the God King Palace was affiliated with the Cadens and that Maxine Caden was the one who demanded James’ release.

Mr Gabriel had a similar plan to Mr. Lee's. He also planned to visit the Cadens and discern Tobias Caden’s thoughts on the recent events.

At the Cadens

Tobias had left the room after using his True Energy to treat James’ injuries.

Not long after, James slowly regained consciousness

The moment he woke up. all he could feel was excruciating pain throughout his body.

He felt as if his heart had been pierced by a thousand swords. James’ face was twisted into an agonized grimace as he tried to bear the pain

To make matters worse, the Gu venom within his body was actively moving around. He was keenly able to feel the sensation of numerous bugs squirming around his body and slowly eating away at him from the inside.

“Argh His body throbbed and his skin became slick with sweat. Creak...The door opened quietly.

A young lady in a white dress with long curly black hair walked in.

She was holding a bowl of medicine in her hands.

“I see you're finally awake”

James glanced sideways and saw Maxine’s face.

Upon seeing her, James remembered that it was her who saved him from the Johnstons.

He tried getting up. However, he found that he could not exert any strength at all. Even the smallest movement sent excruciating pain coursing through his body.

Maxine walked over to a chair beside the bed and gently caressed James’ hand. “You're gravely injured. You need to rest.”

James’ face was ashen, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He looked at Maxine and opened his mouth. His words were carried by a feeble voice. “Th-Thank you for saving my life.”

“Unfortunately, you’ve got it wrong. I wasn’t the one that saved you.”

“H Hub?”

James froze in disbelief. He took a moment to clear his throat before he attempted to clarify things with her. “Wasn't it you who headed to the Johnstons and saved me?”

Maxine shook her head firmly. “No, I didn’t take a single step outside the Cadens manor when the incident occurred. Someone impersonated me and saved you from the Johnstons. Then, they left you at our front door. It was my grandfather who used his True Energy to save you.”

“Am I at Caden manor?”

James’ jerked his body away abruptly. He wanted to get up. He wanted to leave this wretched place.

He recalled the Emperor’s words.

The Emperor told him that the Cadens were behind the destruction of his family ten years ago They were the real masterminds behind the deaths of his grandfather, father, and other family members.

James’ sudden movements caused blood to ooze out from his wounds.

Maxine’s face scrunched up in anger as she reprimanded him, “What's wrong with you? I told you that you've been gravely injured. You shouldn't move about like this.”

The exertion made James pant. He spat out in an accusatory tone, “Was it the Cadens who burned my family to the ground ten years ago?”

Maxine pressed her lips together in silence.

She was but a young girl ten years ago. How would she have known anything about past events?

All she could recall was her grandfather saying that the Cadens had eliminated some traitors to the family. As for the specifics, she was still very much in the dark about it.

James yelled at her rabidly, “Say something!”

Maxine clenched her jaw and gave him a flat response, “I don’t know. You'll have to ask my grandfather about what happened. Any way you spin it, the fact remains that Thomas wasn't exactly a good guy. He deserved what he got.”

Something had snapped inside of James. “How dare you speak ill of the dead?!"

He tried getting up to refute her claims.

However, he only managed to lose his balance and crashed to the floor. He gasped at the shock and shrieked in pain.