Blocking the Path

"If a magical beast tide really breaks out, that is no small matter. You had better weigh it carefully yourselves."

"Understood." Collette smiled. "By the way, your arch-rival Linley Baruch has already become a court mage for the Fenlai Kingdom and has been enfeoffed as a marquis. What are your thoughts on that?"

Jonathan laughed despite himself. "What arch-rival? I have no thoughts on it!"

"Tch, how boring. Can't even take a joke!"

After chatting a while longer, they returned to the Ulada Magic Academy together.

As Jonathan saw them out the door, he noticed someone secretly monitoring his mansion. After a moment of thought, he figured it must be someone from the Dark Church.

So, they are suspicious after all.

He turned and went back into the mansion, and shortly after, he instructed Hilton to begin liquidating the assets of the Bred Family.

Although Hilton was somewhat surprised, he still obediently went to carry it out.

Even if the Dark Church sensed that he was consolidating his funds and intended to leave the Dark Alliance, they would not appear to arrest him unless it reached the final moment.

After all, there were many excuses for liquidating assets; one could simply claim it was for another large business deal.

If they were to annoy Jonathan, it would only create a rift between the two sides.

Jonathan was certain the Dark Church would not dispatch a Saint Realm powerhouse just for him. The ones who would move against him would be Sanders, the army of Black Phoenix City, and several Grey-robed Priests.

Perhaps Sanders would even have the only other level nine powerhouse in Black Phoenix City, besides Prell, accompany him.

But as long as it wasn't a Saint Realm expert, it would be effortless for him to leave the Dark Alliance.

Under his Gravity Field at twenty times the force, they would have no chance of survival!

Over the next few days, he went to visit Xue Yan and informed him that he was about to leave the Dark Alliance.

"Where do you plan to go?"

"I haven't decided yet. Perhaps the O'Brien Empire, perhaps the Yulan Empire. I am a dual practitioner of magic and martial arts, so I can go anywhere."

"Then take care of yourself."

"Brother Xue Yan, you should do the same. Neither the Dark Alliance nor the Light Alliance is a place to stay for long. It would be best if you left as well."

Jonathan did not tell him about the Magical Beast Mountain Range. With his strength and assassination techniques, even amidst a beast tide, he would have no problem protecting himself as long as he wasn't targeted by a Saint Realm expert.

He did not stay long and soon departed.

Cross asked with some confusion, "Are you just going to let him leave, Lord Xue Yan?"

"This was ordered by the Old Instructor before he left last time. No matter what decision Jonathan makes, do not interfere. Even if he wants to leave the Saber, let him."

"The Old Instructor is too indulgent of him. Just because of his talent?"

Xue Yan glanced at Cross. "Is the Old Instructor someone you can criticize at will? He naturally has his own reasons. We only need to obey."

"However, although Jonathan is determined to leave, the Dark Church won't let him go easily, will they? What means does he have to ensure he can escape from the experts of the Dark Church?"

"If he is caught on the spot, he will truly have torn off the mask of civility with the Dark Church."

No one knew that Jonathan's trump card was his true strength. Even if Hesai were present, he would be hesitant as well.

He could see through Jonathan's concealment, but the hidden strength would at most be enough to hold off one level nine powerhouse.

To escape from the hands of the Dark Church, relying on just ordinary level nine strength would offer no hope at all.

The movements of the Bred Family soon caught the attention of other nobles in Black Phoenix City, but Jonathan did not care in the slightest. During this period, he remained in seclusion at home, refusing all visitors.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. The millennium of accumulation by the Bred Family was troublesome to process, and much of it was sold off at prices below market value.

After the liquidation, the gold coins in Jonathan's possession reached fifty to sixty million.

On this day, he dismissed all the guards and maids at the Bred mansion, including Hilton.

"Young Master, let me continue to follow you. It will be easier to take care of your daily life and handle miscellaneous tasks on the road."

Jonathan shook his head. "If you follow me, you will only die. Hilton, you should leave. With the magic weapon I gave you, your strength is enough to rival a level seven warrior. Even as a mercenary, you can live quite well."

Seeing his firm expression, Hilton sighed inwardly. "I understand, Young Master. I wish you a safe journey!"

This departure was destined to be a storm of blood!

With his Space Ring and all his gold coins stored on a Magic Crystal Card, Jonathan traveled light toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Any other direction would only invite heavy encirclement.

Sanders was constantly monitoring Jonathan's movements and naturally knew he was heading into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, so he had long been waiting for him up ahead.

Looking at the large group of people in front, the level nine Grand Magus Sanders was accompanied by ten Grey-robed Priests, and the Bandas Kingdom Marshal, the level nine warrior Dalta, had over thirty knights behind him.

Most of these knights were level seven; they were the elite soldiers of the legion.

After stopping, Jonathan smiled and faced them directly, not intimidated in the slightest by their aura. "Lord Sanders, is such a grand formation intended to capture someone?"

Sanders did not answer, his face cold as he said, "Jonathan, where are you going?"

"The Magical Beast Mountain Range, to go for some training."

"Hmph, do you think I would believe that? Selling off all the Bred family assets—you are planning to leave, aren't you? How has my Dark Church wronged you?"

"Not yet, but I have not officially joined the Dark Church; I am still a free man. The world is vast—do I need the Dark Church's approval to go anywhere?"

"Are those born in the Dark Alliance destined to stay here until they die? Lord Sanders, isn't that a bit too overbearing of you?"

"Silver-tongued devil!" Sanders said with a gloomy expression, "I don't care about the others, but you are different. Do you really think the property of the Dark Church is that easy to take?"

"Is that so? But once something is in my pocket, it isn't so simple to make me spit it back out."

Jonathan remained completely indifferent. He looked toward the other side and issued a warning: "And you, Dalta, I advise you to take your men and leave. If these knights die here, I'm afraid Prell will be heartbroken."

"Just you?"

"I admit you are a rare magical genius in the Yulan Continent, but you are not yet qualified to speak to me like that!"

Dalta's eyes were filled with rage. He had met Jonathan once or twice before; it seemed all the respect he had shown in the past was just an act.

"You put on quite a performance!"

"Not bad, I suppose. Acting is an art, and looking at you, it's something you'll never learn."

"I've said all I have to say. Since you all still wish to block my path, you must be prepared to bear the consequences."

As he spoke, he looked at Sanders, "You started suspecting me after I spoke to you when I returned last time, didn't you? Then do you know which of my words were true, and which were false?"

Sanders began to ponder, but Jonathan did not give him the chance. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, a radiance lit up his body, and he slowly began to rise into the air.

Sanders' eyes widened in disbelief. Recalling the words just spoken, he exclaimed in shock, "Could it be that you are the masked man who killed Gilmer?!"

"Correct!"

"As for your reward, why don't you taste exactly what Gilmer and his men experienced!"

At this very moment, in the eyes of everyone present, the curve of Jonathan's lips looked incredibly arrogant and devilish.

With a low "hum," a Gravity Field covering a radius of several hundred meters suddenly descended!