Even if Lana may not sway Ethan to join the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, as long as she prevented him from becoming her enemy, that was enough. Having such a formidable foe would surely cause restless nights and endless worries for her organization.

"Sister Rain, take Solara back to the tavern first. Leave the Ashenvale family to me, Manager Lana, and Brother Magnus," Ethan said firmly.

"Good." Rain nodded, knowing her limits; she would not overextend herself and hold others back.

"Girl, come with sister." Rain gently pulled Solara's hand.

"No, I'm staying with daddy!" The fiery red-haired girl stubbornly tugged free.

"I want to fight and burn them all to ashes!" Solara's spirited determination flashed as she spoke.

Seeing her insistence, Ethan smiled and relented, "Okay, you can stay and fight alongside me, but you must obey my orders."

"Don't worry, Daddy, I'll obey!" Solara clenched her fists with fierce conviction.

"Then I'll leave first." Rain nodded and flew toward the Blood Tavern, not retreating to hide, but preparing for her next task.

By now, the Ashenvale family had fully arrived, twelve strong, led by the formidable North and Noel Ashenvale.

Behind them stood a powerful cultivator who had reached the peak of the Eighth turn of the Mahayana realm.

Noel raised his spear, pointing it threateningly at Ethan and his three companions.

"Ethan, you have deposed the young master of the Ashenvale family and killed the Sixth Elder. Today, my Ashenvale family will take your life. Anyone who blocks our path will be slain without mercy!"

Noel's words were punctuated by the fierce eruption of murderous intent from him and the others.

Together, their combined aura formed the ominous shadow of a giant serpent—which coiled around Ethan and the others like a deadly cage.

"Watch me!" Solara's eyes ignited with blazing flames.

She leapt into the air, massive fiery wings unfurling behind her.

Her body became engulfed in a brilliant blaze.

When the flames faded, a grand Phoenix stretched its wings, its scarlet fur blazing like molten fire and an aura fierce enough to rival a fifth-turn Mahayana cultivator radiating outward.

Solara chirped sharply and flapped her wings, sending waves of searing heat pulsing outward.

The fiery onslaught pushed back the suffocating murderous intent aimed at them.

The crowd gasped in disbelief.

The red-haired girl accompanying Ethan was no mere child.

She was an ancient Divine Beast Phoenix!

"It is indeed the Divine Beast Phoenix—very powerful!" murmurs of admiration swept through the observers.

"After I kill Ethan, you will be the guardian spirit pet of my Ashenvale family!" Noel sneered, eyes gleaming cruelly.

"Everyone, take action!" Noel ordered sharply.

The crowd parted as they spread out and encircled Ethan and his allies.

"Golden Dragon Breaking Heaven Formation!"

Noel bellowed lowly.

North and the others nodded grimly.

One after another, they unleashed a surge of spiritual energy, imprinting seals onto their palms.

"The Golden Dragon Breaking Heaven Formation is a heritage of the Ashenvale family—an immortal-grade formation with immense power!" Magnus's expression turned grave.

"Led by two Ninth-turn Mahayana experts, Noel and North, this formation will be nearly unbreakable by cultivators below the Supreme Realm."

Magnus's features darkened.

"The formation demands a vast amount of spiritual energy, and the twelve of them can cast it only once."

"The formation lasts for a quarter of an hour, but their bodies will be hollowed and exhausted after."

"There will be backlash too—they will not be able to recover for half a year."

"They have truly committed themselves to killing you." Lana chuckled darkly.

"It will take time to cast the formation. Manager Lana, Brother Magnus, let's take action together!" Ethan commanded.

"Agreed!" The two answered without hesitation.

At once, Ethan, Lana, Magnus, and Solara burst forth with overwhelming energy.

"Want to interrupt our formation?" Noel sneered, glancing at North who responded with a firm nod.

"With my heart blood, I summon the power of my ancestors!"

North and Noel spoke simultaneously.

A drop of vital blood condensed on their fingertips, shimmering with astonishing power.

As their heart blood pooled, their breath slowed and faces paled—the price of unleashing such strength.

Then brilliant golden beams erupted from the twelve Ashenvale cultivators.

The beams surrounding Noel and North were incomparably more intense.

High above, a golden shadow coalesced—the ancestor of the Ashenvale clan.

He formed a seal with palms pressed solemnly together.

In an instant, the Golden Dragon Breaking Heaven Formation took shape, enveloping Ethan and the three companions tightly.

"Burning heart blood to complete the formation quickly? They're sacrificing a lot!" Lana frowned deeply.

"Heart blood is dozens of times more potent than essence."

"A single drop of heart blood often takes years to replenish."

"If wounded severely, they may never recover."

"Their cultivation might be forever stuck in the same realm."

North and Noel had made a fatal gamble with their lives.

"Haha, the Golden Dragon Breaking Heaven Formation is complete!"

Noel's pale face twisted into a cruel grin.

"Ethan, with your wings, you can't escape!"

Noel's voice was sharp like a blade.

"Magnus, Lana—retreat now, and this matter will be forgotten."

"But if not, the formation has eyes—and we won't hold back on killing you both here!"

Noel's final warning hung ominously.

"Enough talk—activate the formation!"

"I want to see if the Ashenvale family's formation lives up to its reputation!" Lana responded icily.

Her short sword spun rapidly, throwing out waves of sword intent, intensifying the air.

Magnus hefted his heavy blade, spiritual energy blazing to its peak.

Ethan's eyes flashed to Lana and Magnus.

These two are worth getting to know.

But the predicament was his doing, and he refused to let them suffer for him.

Summoning a jade bottle from his grasp—the container of his blood essence—he prepared for the inevitable.

Once Noel unleashed the formation, Ethan would take out the Chaos Clock.

Suddenly, dozens of streaks of light rushed toward them, arcing swiftly from the direction of the Blood Tavern.

Rain led them.

Behind her floated nine formidable figures standing resolute.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Capsule - 1 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

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