Chapter 420
“No idea whether he’d step in,” Christopher murmured, his gaze tightening as he thought of someone.
“But if he was willing to go with us, we might not gain full control of the situation, yet at the very least, those international powerhouses wouldn’t dare push their limits on Astrian soil p>
With that thought, he called the counselor from the Department of Horticulture and Landscaping.
“Leander isn’t in class? He’s been absent for two days p>
After confirming it, Christopher hung up, pulled the department’s roster, and located Leander’s number.
Leander had accepted Gemma’s warm invitation without hesitation, so he and Daphne spent another night in Greenstem Village. Around noon, just after lunch and preparing to leave, his phone lit up with an unfamiliar number.
“Hello?” he answered.
A strong, weathered voice filled his ear.
“Sovereign Ashcroft, it’s been a while. Do you still remember me p>
Leander froze for a moment before recognizing the voice. “Mr. Gardner p>
Daphne glanced over, startled, wondering why Christopher was calling him now. The man on the other end laughed loudly, as if delighted.
“I’m glad you still remember me, Sovereign Ashcroft p>
Leander’s tone stayed calm and detached. “Mr. Gardner, let’s skip the greetings. What do you need p>
Christopher hesitated, then admitted, “I do need something. I want your help p>
He briefly described the strange phenomenon that had appeared over Edgemontale —an anomaly ripping open the sky.
“An anomaly surfaced, sending a brilliant beam straight into the sky p>
Leander’s expression sharpening. Ancient records called that the mark of a supreme treasure being born-whether a weapon, a divine pill, a spirit-vein site, or a life- spring.
After a moment’s thought, he asked, “What do you expect me to do p>
Christopher’s voice grew firm. “This anomaly means a rare treasure is emerging. The news has already spread worldwide. Powerhouses from every major nation are converging to fight over it.
“The authorities are afraid the situation will spiral, so the Shadow Division dispatched three Transcendent masters-Sky Mantis and the Armored Duo-but even they might not be enough.
“Sovereign Ashcroft, I hope you can go as well. You defeated the Wanda Sect’s Grandmaster Galen not long ago. Your strength already surpasses the Infernal Crown Transcendent Realm.
“With you, Sky Mantis, and the Armored Duo working together, we might maintain control p>
“You want me to go?” Leander asked, a faint, unreadable smile tugging at his lips.
“Mr. Gardner, you misunderstand. I’m not part of the Shadow Division, and I don’t owe you anything p>
His tone cooled. “In the martial world, when a rare relic appears, the strongest claim it. The fact that it’s happening in Astria doesn’t automatically mean it belongs to us.
“You’ve already sent your people. Whether they can handle it or not has nothing to do with me. Good luck.
“I have more important matters to deal with. Goodbye p>
He ended the call without hesitation.
On the other end, Christopher lowered his phone with a sigh. Leander had always walked his own path; calling him had been a gamble.
He hadn’t expected such a blunt refusal.
He let out a soft sigh and shook his head, realizing he had nothing left he could do.
The Shadow Division was Astria’s top combat force, and aside from him and the director, Sky Mantis and the Armored Duo were the strongest they had.
He and the director were tied to national oversight-they couldn’t simply rush into battle. Now everything depended on Sky Mantis and the Armored Duo.
Relics went to whoever had the strength to claim them, but Christopher still hoped Astria would come out on top. The stronger the foreign martial world grew, the heavier the pressure on their own nation became.
At the entrance of Greenstem Village, Leander said his goodbyes to Gemma and the others. Dressed in bright red, Stella watched him leave like a grieving widow standing on a cliff’s edge, frozen in place.
Margot, however, vibrated with excitement. She quietly vowed to start over.
She had always believed those so-called elite circles she admired were what she should chase-but after learning who Leander truly was, she realized she didn’t need to chase anything.
Staying close to him alone could lift her far higher than those circles ever could.
Gemma and Francis traded looks, both carrying the same regret. If they had known earlier, they would have urged Stella to delay her engagement. Then she might still have had a chance with Leander.
But now, it was too late.
“Ander, what did Mr. Gardner want?” Daphne asked as they walked along a mountain trail.
“He wanted free labor,” Leander said lightly.
He understood exactly what Christopher had hoped for-drag him northwest to reinforce the Shadow Division and confront a crowd of global elites. That kind of thankless grind held no appeal for him.
His priority now was reaching Whitville to find the Deepcoil Dragon, obtain the Deepcoil Dragon Core, and forge the foundation for his spiritual strength cultivation.
Whitville sat along the lower reach of the Lyradon River in the Northeast, and both the surrounding rivers and the city shared the same name.
They had traveled from Ascendia to the northeastern stretch of the Lyradon River before finally reaching its lower course.
The river surged quickly there, splitting into twisting channels that only a handful of seasoned, independent fishers were confident enough to navigate.
Yet on this particular day, the lower river resembled a lively gathering. Dozens of boats passed by Leander and Daphne.
Some were narrow one-man dugouts, while others were large sailboats dragged forward by rope teams.
What unsettled Leander was the same strange detail repeated on every deck. Except for the boatmen pulling the lines, nearly all the passengers were martial artists and most of them were promising young talents.
He rubbed his nose, puzzled. “What event could draw this many young martial artists here p>
Daphne’s eyes lit up, and she snapped her fingers.
“I remember now!
“Downstream along the Lyradon River, there is a sect that practices the Dual Insight Technique between men and women as its primary martial method. It has existed for nearly a century and is known as the Dual Meridian Sect.
“People say the heiress born to each generation is a breathtaking beauty. Once she turns 18, the sect hosts a suitor selection ceremony. Young elites from across Astria compete, and the one most compatible for dual cultivation becomes her partner p>
She continued, “I heard that 25 years ago, they selected an extraordinary husband someone who rose from obscurity, challenged the leading names on the Astria Power Index, and defeated them all. He only lost a single exchange to the top ranked expert of that era, the Laughing Monk of West Ridge, before
retreating into the Dual Meridian
Sect p>
“I know the current heir,” Daphne added. “If I’m counting correctly, she just turned 18
this month p>
Leander nodded. He had heard of
the Dual Meridian Sect as well. The sect remained relatively quiet, but its strength placed it firmly within Astria’s top five just beneath the long-established giants such as the Lingster Sect, the Wanda Sect, and the Twinfang Sect.
“Ander, it looks like today is their husband-choosing day,” Daphne teased. “Why don’t you join the competition? You’d win first place without even trying p>
Leander chuckled and shook his head.
To him, the sect and its dual insight technique were nothing but empty decoration.
He had no interest whatsoever.
His mind was focused solely on the Deepcoil Dragon. On such a wide river, he believed he would eventually catch its trail.
When they reached the later section of the river, Leander approached an elderly fisherman. After a brief round of bargaining, he bought the man’s worn dugout for ten thousand bucks.
He grabbed a bamboo pole and prepared to push off with Daphne, letting the
current carry them downstream.
Before they could set out, two sharp gusts shot out from the reeds. They landed on
the flagstones with a crisp slap—two stacks of hundred-buck bills.
The old fisherman froze, wide-eyed.
A clear, confident female voice called out,
“They offered ten grand. I’ll pay 20. We’re buying that boat p>