Chapter 32: Leaving Ashfall City

Ready to leave, Ryan rushed out of the house and headed straight for the edge of the poor district.

He didn’t dare waste any more time. Fortunately, he soon found a Wind Wolf Express.

The driver quoted him an outrageous price, forcing Ryan to pay double the usual fare: two Low-Grade Origin Stones.

Ryan didn’t hesitate. He paid immediately.

The Second-Order Wind Wolf Express was one of the most popular forms of transportation in Ashfall City.

Two massive Second-Order Exotic Beasts known as Wind Wolves were harnessed to the front of the carriage. Behind them was a sturdy, metal-reinforced passenger cabin mounted on four wheels.

The carriage was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate five or six people, while the rear section provided additional room for luggage.

More importantly, it was fast. Very fast. Once the Wind Wolves began running, ordinary carriages couldn’t hope to keep up.

Ryan carefully lifted his unconscious parents and Toby into the carriage, laying them down side by side.

He then helped Ethan inside before placing the wooden wheelchair in the luggage compartment at the rear.

Once everyone was settled, Ryan climbed aboard and immediately turned toward the coachman.

"Let’s go. As fast as you can."

The coachman glanced at him, clearly surprised by his urgency, but didn’t ask any questions.

"Hold on tight." He pulled the reins. "Hyah!"

The two Wind Wolves immediately sprang forward.

Their powerful legs struck the road in rapid succession as the carriage surged ahead, quickly picking up speed.

Ryan sat inside, his expression grim. He glanced back toward Ashfall City.

The place where the Cole Family had lived for years was gradually disappearing behind them.

He had no idea what awaited them ahead. But one thing was certain. They couldn’t stay in Ashfall City any longer.

The Wind Wolf Express raced toward the southeast, carrying Ryan and his family farther and farther away from the danger they had left behind.

...

While Ryan and his family hurried toward the southeast of Ashfall City, a storm was brewing in a luxurious mansion far to the north.

A flustered old man came rushing down the corridor before stopping outside a training room.

He pounded desperately on the door. "Master! Please, open the door! Something terrible has happened!"

The voice inside was calm and commanding.

"What has you so flustered?" The training room door slowly opened.

A majestic middle-aged man stood behind it, his expression turning cold as he stared at the trembling old servant.

"Master..." The old man’s face was pale with terror. "Sir Wesley... he... he may be dead."

"What did you say?" The man’s expression changed. "Don’t spout nonsense."

His voice thundered through the corridor. "Didn’t he leave with Origin Sea Convergence Realm guards today?"

"This old servant would never dare joke about something like this!"

The old man hurriedly bowed his head. "It’s just that Young Master Wesley has always disliked having guards around him. He often finds them troublesome and sends them away."

"Sometimes he takes only a few unawakened servants with him. Other times, he leaves the mansion without anyone accompanying him."

The old man’s lips trembled. "Just now, while I was cleaning near the spirit platform, I discovered Young Master Wesley Sterling’s Longevity Jade Tablet..."

He swallowed hard. "It had already shattered."

BANG!

The middle-aged man’s fist slammed into the door.

The sturdy wooden door exploded into pieces, sending splinters flying through the corridor.

His face twisted with rage.

"That foolish child!"

"How could he leave without an Origin Sea Convergence Realm guard beside him?!"

His eyes burned with fury.

"Who was it?"

"Who the hell dared to kill my son?!"

This man was Gareth Sterling, Wesley Sterling’s father.

Although Gareth came from a collateral branch of the Sterling Family, his strength was anything but ordinary.

He had already reached the peak of the Origin Spirit Realm and stood only one step away from breaking into the Origin Ascendant Realm.

Because of his strength, Gareth held a respectable position within the family. He was also responsible for managing a portion of the Sterling Family’s businesses, giving him access to a considerable amount of cultivation resources.

He had never imagined that someone in Ashfall City would dare provoke the Sterling Family so openly.

It was no different from provoking a tiger.

But what Gareth cared about most at that moment wasn’t the family’s reputation.

It was his son.

The shattered Longevity Jade Tablet lay on the floor.

Longevity Jade Tablets were treasures specially refined by powerful families.

After recognizing an owner through a drop of blood, the tablet would establish a connection with that person’s life force. As long as its owner remained alive, the tablet would remain intact.

If the owner died unexpectedly, however, the tablet would shatter.

It was an invaluable tool for monitoring important family members.

Those sent into the wilderness or dangerous secret realms could be tracked through their tablets. If they encountered danger or became trapped, the tablet could also provide a means of sensing their condition and tracing their whereabouts, allowing the family to organize a rescue.

Wesley had received his Longevity Jade Tablet when he was young.

His Bloodline talent had always been terrible.

But he was Gareth’s only son. Because of that, Gareth had placed enormous hopes on him.

He had spent countless Origin Stones and resources trying to help Wesley awaken his Bloodline.

For years, Wesley had continuously taken Second-Order Medium-Grade Burning Blood Pills.

By now, he had consumed sixteen of them.

He had even taken a single Top-Grade Burning Blood Pill, an extremely rare treasure.

Yet somehow, Wesley still hadn’t awakened.

Worried that taking too many Burning Blood Pills would weaken their medicinal effects, Gareth had deliberately limited him to only two or three pills a year.

He had always believed that Wesley would awaken eventually.

Perhaps in another two years. Maybe three at most.

Gareth had even imagined what his son’s future would look like after his awakening.

But he had never imagined that Wesley would die before that day came.

Gareth’s fists slowly tightened. For the first time, a trace of regret appeared in his eyes.

He had spent too much time managing the family business.

And he had been too indulgent with Wesley. Whenever his son caused trouble, Gareth had always told himself there would be plenty of time to discipline him later.

Once Wesley awakened his Bloodline, he would make him mature.

Once Wesley grew stronger, he would understand the responsibilities that came with being a member of the Sterling Family.

There had always been a "later." Until there wasn’t one anymore.

Gareth closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, the regret had been swallowed by rage.

"Send out an order immediately." His voice was low and trembling with fury. "Have Owen personally investigate what happened."

The old servant immediately bowed. "Yes, Master."

Gareth’s hair stood on end as a terrifying aura erupted from his body.

Origin Energy surged violently through the mansion.

His eyes were bloodshot. "Find the person who killed my son."

His voice exploded like thunder. "I want to know exactly who did it!"

"And when you find him..." Gareth’s expression became twisted with hatred. "I’ll tear him apart with my own hands!"

He had no other biological children. Wesley was his only son.

Now that his son was dead, Gareth could no longer suppress the monstrous fury raging inside him.

"Yes!" The old servant’s face turned pale.

He didn’t dare remain another second. He immediately turned and ran down the corridor, scrambling to carry out Gareth’s orders.

Behind him, Gareth stood motionless in the ruined doorway.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms.

"Wesley..." His voice was barely audible. "Whoever killed you..."

"I’ll make sure they regret ever being born."

...

Ryan had no idea what was happening inside Gareth Sterling’s mansion.

By now, the Wind Wolf Express carrying his family had reached the heart of Ashfall City.

The city’s magnificent City Lord’s Mansion stood in this central district, surrounded by bustling streets and imposing buildings.

But Ryan had no reason to stop here.

Their destination lay elsewhere. The Wind Wolf Express was surprisingly comfortable. Despite its incredible speed, the carriage remained remarkably steady, barely shaking as it raced through the city.

Along the way, Ryan noticed a pill shop that operated twenty-four hours a day.

"Stop for a moment." The coachman pulled the reins.

Ryan quickly jumped down and entered the shop. He soon returned with two First-Order Medium-Grade Healing Pills.

He had considered buying Low-Grade pills, but he didn’t want to take any chances with his parents’ injuries.

A single Medium-Grade Healing Pill cost four Low-Grade Origin Stones.

The two pills cost him eight. After paying the carriage fare earlier, Ryan was left with only twenty-five Low-Grade Origin Stones.

He couldn’t help feeling frustrated. Having money was one thing.

Having enough Origin Stones when you actually needed them was another.

Ryan quickly climbed back into the carriage. "Keep going. As fast as you can."

The coachman cracked the reins, and the two Wind Wolves accelerated once more.

Inside the carriage, Ryan carefully fed one Healing Pill to each of his parents.

The potent medicinal energy soon began spreading through their bodies.

After some time, their eyelids finally moved. His parents slowly regained consciousness.

"Dad? Mom?" Ryan immediately leaned closer.

Both of them looked confused at first.

Ryan didn’t waste any time. He placed a hand against each of them and carefully circulated a trace of Origin Energy through their bodies.

After examining them thoroughly, he finally relaxed.

Their bodies were still somewhat weak, but their lives were no longer in danger.

The severe internal injuries they had suffered had already healed, and even their external wounds had closed completely.

The effects of a Medium-Grade Healing Pill truly lived up to its reputation.

Ryan finally released the breath he’d been holding. A heavy weight lifted from his heart.

"What... happened?" His mother looked around the unfamiliar carriage, still struggling to understand the situation.

Ryan and Ethan then explained everything that had happened after their parents lost consciousness.

When their parents learned that Ryan had unexpectedly awakened his Bloodline, relief immediately filled their faces.

Tears of joy welled up in their eyes. Their son, whom they had always believed would remain an ordinary person, had finally awakened.

But that joy didn’t last. When they heard that Ryan had killed Wesley Sterling and the four men accompanying him, their expressions changed drastically.

Fear and worry appeared in their eyes. They understood exactly what killing a member of the Sterling Family meant.

After everything that had happened, Ryan’s parents finally realized just how dangerous their current situation was.

From that point onward, they agreed to follow Ryan’s arrangements without argument.

They had no other choice. Their family could no longer remain in Ashfall City.

Time passed. Eventually, the Wind Wolf Express approached the destination Ryan had chosen.

Winters Manor. It was one of the Winters Family’s major commercial residential developments in Ashfall City.

Among the many large-scale properties owned by the Winters Family, Winters Manor ranked among the top three in both size and value.

And Ryan had come here for one reason. He intended to buy a mansion.

It would become the new home of the Cole Family. By the time they reached the area, it was already somewhere between nine and eleven at night.

Soft moonlight bathed the streets, while rows of streetlamps kept the main roads brightly illuminated.

The southeastern district was one of the most prosperous parts of Ashfall City.

Its excellent location had made it a major commercial hub, with countless businesses, shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues packed throughout the area.

Even at this late hour, the streets remained lively.

Shopfronts were still brightly lit, and pedestrians continued to move through the streets in a steady stream.

"We’re here." Ryan finally spoke. But instead of stopping directly in front of Winters Manor, he had the coachman stop some distance away.

Ryan was naturally cautious. He didn’t want the coachman remembering exactly where they were headed, especially after what had happened earlier.

He had already been too reckless today.

Killing Wesley Sterling with a single punch had solved one problem, but it had also created a much bigger one.

From now on, he couldn’t afford to be careless.

Everyone climbed out of the carriage. Toby was still fast asleep, so Daniel carefully picked him up and carried him.

The family then continued on foot. After walking for a while, they finally reached a point where Winters Manor came into view.

Ryan stopped. His eyes widened slightly. "This is..."

Even though they could only see a small portion of the enormous estate from their current position, the sheer scale of Winters Manor was enough to leave them stunned.

The main entrance was enormous.

Tall, imposing gates stood beneath an equally magnificent wall, giving the entire estate an aura of grandeur.

But what truly caught Ryan’s attention was the defensive formation surrounding the manor.

A massive formation wall encircled the entire property.

It looked almost impenetrable. Countless intricate formation inscriptions had been carved into its surface. The markings were dense and complicated, winding across the walls like dragons and serpents brought to life by a master calligrapher.

Occasionally, faint streams of light traveled through the inscriptions.

The formations pulsed with a mysterious energy.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed.

This wasn’t an ordinary defensive wall. It was a fortress.

Judging from the energy radiating from the formation, Winters Manor could probably withstand an assault from an extremely powerful Bloodline Fighter.

Copper walls and iron barriers. That was the only way Ryan could describe it. And this was merely the entrance.

Ryan couldn’t help wondering just how extravagant the mansion itself would be.