The aftermath of the battle at Tujiao Mountain had yet to die down. The entire Imperial Capital was still buzzing about that earth-shaking fight. Linley, in his Dragonblood Warrior form, had battled Rock Sword Saint Hederson until the mountains crumbled and the earth split. The scene had become the hottest topic in the taverns of the Imperial Capital.
Linley himself, however, had no time to concern himself with any of that.
On the third day, he realized there was a problem—Akes still hadn't returned.
"Has there been any news from the Dawson Chamber of Commerce?" Linley asked, sitting in his study with his brows drawn together.
Wharton shook his head. "I sent someone to ask. The Dawson Chamber of Commerce's southern outpost last saw Brother Akes in Nier City. They haven't heard from him since."
"Nier City?" Linley's heart tightened. "What was he doing there?"
"I heard it was to save someone." Wharton chose his words carefully. "Brother, do you remember Reynolds? Your classmate from the Ernst Institute."
Linley leaped to his feet. "Reynolds? What happened to him?"
Wharton quickly related everything the Dawson Chamber of Commerce had learned. It turned out that Reynolds had been attacked by the Luo'ao Empire's army while patrolling the border. He had led his men in a breakout toward Nier City, but Prince Yulin, too cowardly to risk his own life, had refused to open the city gates. The entire unit had been wiped out, and Reynolds had been captured with serious injuries. Somehow, Akes had learned what happened and gone to Nier City alone. He had used the forbidden magic spell "Heavenly Fire Prairie" to annihilate the Luo'ao Empire's pursuing troops, rescue Reynolds, and kill Prince Yulin.
"He killed Prince Yulin?" Linley's brow furrowed even more deeply.
"Yes," Wharton said quietly. "The news