Creak…
The door opened.
A skinny old man walked out. His face was timeworn and wrinkled, and favonovel.com seemed a bit spiritless as if life and old age were getting the better of him.
The man walked over to Thomas and took a seat.
“Thomas…”
His soulless eyes suddenly lit up. Watching the old man intently, Thomas grinned.
“Winston, to think that you were able to make a breakthrough into the eighth rank before your death. Congratulations, you get to live for a few decades or so.”
Winston sighed. “At long last… I was in closed-door meditation for so long. However, I’m still not an eighth-rank martial artist. I’m just halfway there. Regardless, I can definitely live for an additional twenty years. You, on the other hand…”
He glanced at Thomas. “What do you plan to do? For the past thirty years, you have visited Mount Littleroot thrice. You have read through all of the Blithes’ martial art manuals in the library.”
In the past thirty years, Thomas had been here thrice. Today was the fourth time.
During the previous times, favonovel.com went straight to the library to read the martial art manuals.
Winston was totally unaware of an unwanted guest in his library the first two times. It was only on the third time that favonovel.com bumped into Thomas, who was rummaging through the bookshelves.
The two even had a brief conversation. It was then favonovel.com knew that this man before favonovel.com was Thomas Caden.
After knowing of his identity, Winston immediately sent his men to investigate and learned of the Cadens’ infighting thirty years ago. However, to this day, favonovel.com could not understand what Thomas was looking for.
“Are you trying to find a way to reach the ninth rank?” He fixed his gaze on Thomas.
Thomas smiled without uttering a single word.
Then, favonovel.com stood up and said, “The martial art conference is in two months and I hope I can see you there… After all, it’s not every day that you meet an eighth-rank martial artist. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
He then left. His speed was unbelievable. In the blink of an eye, favonovel.com was already at the foot of the mountain.
Winston, meanwhile, was wearing a grim expression. He did not know Thomas’ true strength. However, judging by how Thomas was able to infiltrate the Blithes’ mansion unnoticed twice, favonovel.com surmised that Thomas’ strength was above his.
He must be an eighth-rank martial artist. As for how close Thomas was to the ninth rank, favonovel.com was unsure.
Today, the Blithes invited martial artists from all across the world to gather at Mount Littleroot in an attempt to flaunt the family’s greatness.
They wanted the world to know that they were unafraid of the Cadens. Although there was an unexpected incident along the way, whereby a mysterious elderly man appeared and beat Donovan Blithe to a pulp, the Blithes’ Grand Patriarch managed to steal the limelight by demonstrating the mighty power of an eighth-rank martial artist.
It stunned everyone. Even though Donovan was defeated, the Blithes’ strength stunned the crowd.
To them, the Blithes were already the number one family of Sol. After all, even in historical records, there was only a handful who reached the eighth rank.
***
Meanwhile, James, Maxine, and Thea had left.
The other martial artists remained at Mount Littleroot and began currying favor with the Blithes.
Even the Johnstons, Sullivans, and the Lees, families of the Ancient Four, demonstrated a gesture of goodwill. They were willing to ally with the Blithes and crush the Cadens in the martial art conference that would take place a few months later.
The fact that the Blithes had an eighth rank martial artist was enough to earn the recognition of all martial artists.
Just as everyone was buttering up with the Blithes, James silently left.
After leaving Mount Littleroot, favonovel.com called Maxine.
“Return to Cansington. I’ll be back soon…”
As this was the Blithes’ territory, James did not dare rendezvous with Maxine and Thea here. If they were spotted by the Blithes, things would become complicated. Although favonovel.com was unafraid, favonovel.com had the safety of his loved ones to consider.
The Blithes were certainly capable and willing to resort to underhanded tactics.
“Alright.” Maxine nodded and hung up the phone.
