A roar burst forth, like a dragon screaming through the air, as Andrew’s palm strike shattered the protective energy around Walter.

The force did not slow for even a second before it slammed square into Walter’s chest. He threw his head back and spat a thick mouthful of blood, mixed with fragments of his own organs.

A few more loud crashes echoed, and Walter’s cloaked figure smashed through seven pillars along the pondside walkway before finally coming to a stop.

Another gush of blood spilled from his mouth, and he could no longer resist. His meridians were shredded, bones broken, and despair swallowed him whole. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Andrew’s expression was calm as he walked up with one hand behind his back.

Walter’s hair hung in a tangled mess over his bloodied face, and he glared up with venom. “You little bastard, the Driscoll family will make you pay in blood for killing me!”

Andrew looked down at him from above, “Are those your last words?”

Walter’s face flushed red as he spat blood again and roared miserably, “Andrew, you’ll regret the choice you made today. The Driscoll family is one of Gabo Creek’s Three Titans! If you don’t stop now and submit in surrender, in the end…”

He never finished the sentence, because Andrew had already slammed his palm down onto the top of his head. The unstoppable, molten heat of the strike burned through his skull. Walter’s eyes bulged, red with burst blood vessels, before his body pitched forward, lifeless, his brain reduced to pulp.

Eric slowly rose from his seat in the pavilion. Watching Andrew’s back, he realized for the first time that they were about the same age. Yet, the weight and pressure radiating from that back almost rivaled Jerome’s.

He slowly sighed as he told himself it was time to acknowledge the gap between them!

“Now that this snake is dead, should we immediately head back to Blumedale?” Eric asked with a smile.

Andrew glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “Of course.”

Eric cursed inwardly. This guy’s smile after a kill was downright creepy. Who knew if it was genuine or just masking another plan?

Diego approached respectfully, holding a large ornate box with both hands. “Mr. Lloyd, here is the Helioheart Gem you asked for.”

Andrew accepted it, opened the lid, and nodded. “I’ve heard this gem once absorbed a single drop of phoenix blood. It’s supposed to be perfect for suppressing icy malevolent energy, right?”

Diego quickly smiled fawningly. “That’s correct. This is precisely the Helioheart Gem’s function. Not only is it useful for suppressing icy malevolent energy, but during regular practice, one can also use its effects to nourish the energy core and strengthen the meridians!”

Andrew smiled. “Sounds like a real treasure. If I take it, what will the Hopkinses use?”

Diego’s eyelids twitched, but he waved his hands quickly. “We don’t need it for now. If you require it, Mr. Lloyd, please take it.”

Andrew chuckled. “And if I keep it for a while, you wouldn’t mind?”

Diego replied with righteous conviction, “Not at all, absolutely not! Mr. Lloyd, we started off as opponents, but now we can consider ourselves friends. Between friends, lending something like this is nothing at all.”