Rise of The Abandoned Husband

Saron let out a cold snort. "Throughout history, countless geniuses have emerged, each like a brilliant star in the sky. But anyone who has lived in the same era as her has ultimately perished by her hands."

"Remember, every single time!"

My brow creased with concern.

"You're not being a bit dramatic, are you?" I said with some doubt.

Saron gave a cold laugh. "Believe it or not. Every era produces exceptional geniuses who surpass their contemporaries, but all of them have met their end by her hands."

After saying that, Saron crouched down and went on. "But you are fortunate as well. The eras in which she is reborn always turn out to be golden ages."

"Golden ages? What do you mean?" I asked.

Saron explained, "She has been reborn a total of four times, and only twice has she survived to adulthood, both of which were the most flourishing periods in the last ten thousand years."

"The number of prodigies during golden ages is greater, the rivalry is more intense, and thus, the appearance of exceptional talents is more common too."

I stayed quiet.

Saron's words seemed weighty. He didn't seem to be making things up.

I pressed on, "Do you know what cultivation level this masked woman has reached?"

"I don't know," Saron shook his head.

"But what I can tell you is that those who attain the Tribulation Stage are extremely rare, marking the pinnacle of one's cultivation journey."

"Yet, many such individuals have fallen by her hands."

I pressed my lips together.

The man with the mustache, Iris Darren, and now Saron, all seemed to fear the masked woman deeply.

Especially Saron.

Despite his arrogant personality, the instant he spotted the masked woman, he decided to retreat into hibernation.

To me, she was just a scruffy girl who used to trail behind me.

"I refuse to accept that there isn't someone more powerful than her," I muttered.

Saron brushed off my comment. "If you're talking about ten thousand years ago, that's practically mythical. No one has witnessed it, so the facts can't be confirmed."

I didn't probe further.

I stored away the Emberlyn Flame Leaf and departed the location with the man with the mustache.

After another day, our discoveries remained scarce.

This frustrated the man with the mustache.

"If we can't locate the Dharma Treasure, it means someone else got there first," the man with the mustache groaned.

He pulled out the Treasure Map from his possession and unfolded it.

"This spot is worth investigating."

The man with the mustache held the Treasure Map, retrieved a world map, and started comparing and pinpointing the locations.

"This location is worth exploring," Saron suggested.

I questioned, "Do you think there are actually treasures there?"

"Uncertain. But based on my memory, this place is probably a former battlefield," Saron replied.

I gave a slight nod. "Alright, I get it."

That evening.

Walton Greer carried on with his activities.

That night, several more individuals perished by his hands. Their methods of death were identical.

The following day, as the man with the mustache and I wandered around, we caught people talking about the matter.

Naturally, I didn't pay much attention to it. Killings weren't uncommon in the martial arts world.

Particularly during the Hundred Spirits Meeting while searching for Dharma Treasures, it wouldn't be shocking if someone had murdered to steal valuables.

The following few days.

The man with the mustache and I kept wandering around the Hundred Spirits Meeting. We simply rested wherever we found ourselves.

For five straight days.

A total of eighteen people perished at the Hundred Spirits Meeting.

The condition of every person before their death was identical; they appeared ghastly.

"What's happening? Could someone be murdering to steal treasures?"

"This technique...seems somewhat like what Iris Darren used to employ."

"Impossible, Iris Darren lost his courage, how would he dare do such a thing again!"

"I witnessed the killer myself, he wore a black robe, his whole presence was extremely sinister!"

The rumors about the incident grew more dramatic, people even claimed they saw the killer devouring human flesh.

"It appears wherever there are treasures, peace seems unlikely," I said lazily, my hands clasped behind my head.

"I don't mind as long as they don't drag us into it," the man with the mustache grumbled.

I, naturally, didn't concern myself with it.

——

In a room.

Garcia Coleman curved the corners of his mouth, showing a bone-chilling smile.

"It's time to guide them along," Garcia Coleman said quietly, his fingers drumming on the table surface.

After saying that, he glanced at Barret and ordered, "Send someone to create rumors by claiming that this method looks like a technique Mason Raymond once employed."

"Yes," Barret nodded right away.

That evening, Garcia Coleman called Walton Greer to his room.

"Young Master Coleman..." Walton Greer bowed slightly.

Garcia Coleman grunted, "How has your cultivation been this period?"

Licking his lips, Walton Greer said, narrowing his eyes, "At this rate, I won't need much time to achieve the Martial Saint Realm..."

"Haha, fantastic! You truly deserve the title of being the top genius in the Central Plains!" Garcia spoke in an appreciative tone.

"All because of Young Master Coleman's instruction..." Walton said with a bright smile.

Garcia waved his hand dismissively, pulling out a hat from his pocket and setting it before Walton.

"What is this?" Walton asked, puzzled.

Garcia sneered, "This is a hat Mason Raymond once wore. Make sure to leave an obvious clue and drop this hat at the scene."

Walton narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Understood."

He grabbed the hat and walked out.

After Walton departed, Star entered.

He looked at Garcia Coleman and said in a low voice, "If you want to eliminate Mason Raymond, I can handle it for you right now. Why use such schemes?"

Garcia Coleman shot Star a sideways look and snorted, "Uncle Star, although your power is impressive, you don't grasp how to run an organization at all!"

"After surviving this period, the reputation of the Capital City Martial Arts Association has taken a serious hit. We need an incident to show our worth and gain people's support!"

Star couldn't help but laugh coldly, "So you're manufacturing an enemy yourself and then destroying it?"

"Precisely!" Garcia Coleman answered nonchalantly.

"This approach is the most straightforward and produces results the quickest because those insignificant beings usually lack the capacity to think; they simply follow the masses."

"Furthermore, currently, Mason Raymond's popularity is too great. If he is removed without a valid reason, the public's anger towards the Capital City Martial Arts Association might reach its limit, causing an explosion!"