The name echoed in everyone’s ears. For a long moment, nobody reacted. Finally, someone whispered, “Is that the Linda Barber we know?”
“Seems like it…” someone said.
Sure, there might be plenty of people with the same name, but when it came to being called the top prodigy, there was only one.
Linda Barber, Azure Spire’s seventh disciple.
The very Linda Barber who smashed Marietta’s Gilded Core got punished for kneeling at Glacial Overlook, crippled her cultivation the next day, and, with grim resolve, leapt off the cliff in the end.
Toney stiffened up all over.
Marietta, clinging to his back, snapped her head up, her eyes flashing with cold hatred. Through gritted teeth, she forced out the words, barely audible. ‘Linda Barber.‘
‘She’s my disciple,‘ Mack Dunlap declared, his tone steady and unmistakable.
“The only one,” Mack added, voice still cool but with a finality that left no room for doubt.
Those words landed on Toney like a sledgehammer to the chest.
‘Mack Dunlap’s one and only disciple, Toney thought, feeling his heart plummet.
Dewitt, Rayford, and the three elders instantly caught the true weight behind Mack’s words.
Mack really valued his disciple.
He cherishes her beyond anything else.
Mack said, “My little disciple hardly ever leaves the mountain. The very first time she went out to train, your people seriously injured her.
“Now she’s laid up in bed. As her master, I thought it over and decided I had to come down here myself for her sake.”
“She’s soft–hearted and a bit too bashful to handle some things herself, but that’s no problem for me,” Mack added coolly. “I’m thick–skinned enough to do what needs to be done.”
Dewitt and the others were at a loss for words, struggling to come up with anything to say.
One of the elders finally couldn’t hold back and blurted out, “That traitor…”
But Mack shot him a frosty glare. Instantly, even the air seemed to freeze solid. For a split second, everyone
20:31 Fri, Jan 30
Chapter 74
felt as if the very air could freeze their blood solid if Mack so much as willed it.
He could crush a man to dust with a single strike.
74
55 vouchers
Mack was known for his dual–elemental Affinities in ice and fire. Rumor had it that he even had a third Affinity, but nobody knew what it was.
Word was, one’d better never force him to use that third Affinity.
Because that was when he’d go on a killing spree.
The elder who spoke up looked sour, but a moment later, his face twisted in fear.
It was like his powers had been locked down tight.
“I…”
“Alfredo Crapo.”
Before he could even finish his sentence, Alfredo was already frozen solid. At his ankles, a spark twisted and writhed, ready to slither up his leg like a venomous snake.
No one doubted for a second that if that spark crept higher, it would devour Alfredo in a heartbeat, reducing him to nothing but vapor in the mist.
Mack said coolly, “I admit, I’m petty. I can’t stand anyone talking trash about my disciple.”
Everyone was left speechless.
Everyone had a curse ready to spit out, but no one dared say a word.
Dewitt stopped the two elders who were about to rush forward and sighed, “Since that’s how it is, Mack, how do you want to settle this? Coleman’s not here, so I’ll be the one to make the decision.”
“Sect Master!” Wesley Sperry and Felix Lippold, the elders, called out anxiously.
Dewitt cut them off.
Mack glanced up, his tone icy. “Two choices. Either give up the culprit, or compensate with witch–weeds.”
Mack barely spared Marietta a glance, his eyes cold and distant.
Marietta’s hatred hadn’t even had a chance to show before her body started trembling uncontrollably.
‘Mack… he’s going to kill me, Marietta thought, terror gripping her.
Dewitt let out a long sigh. “Alright, what is it you want?”
Mack was ready for this. With a casual flick of his finger, a streak of spiritual light shot out. Dewitt caught it, only to realize it wasn’t a slip of paper, but a full–blown scroll.
20:31 Fri, Jan 30
Chapter 74
EX 55 vouchers
When Dewitt unfurled it, the scroll tumbled to the floor, rolling out about twenty feet before it finally stopped.
Everyone’s expressions shifted, some turning pale.
Wesley couldn’t help but shout, “Is this a stick–up? Who needs this much witch–weed just to heal up?”
There were over three hundred first–grade witch–weeds on the list, and that was just the start.
There were more than a hundred second- and third–grade ones, too.
But what made their blood boil was that there were even two fourth–grade witch–weeds in there.
Fourth–grade!
Even the elders barely had any of those.
Mack gave them a look of utter contempt. “A stick–up? Hardly. What’s on that list is the tip of the iceberg. My disciple deserves the finest this world can offer.”
Dewitt stared at the scroll for a long time, and deep down, he’d already made up his mind.
“Rayford,” Dewitt called.
Rayford, who’d been standing off to the side, hurriedly replied, “Yes, Sect Master?”
“Go and prepare them,” Dewitt ordered.
Rayford froze for a second, looking uncertain. “Uh…”
Dewitt just waved his hand. “Go on. Don’t keep our guest waiting.”
Rayford grabbed the scroll and rushed out.
Mack was in no rush, sizing up Azure Spire with a cool gaze. Every so often, his eyes would linger on Marietta, making her shiver in terror.
Dewitt moved closer and offered, “Want to come inside and have a seat?”
“No need,” Mack replied coolly.
Everyone waited with Mack, barely daring to breathe. They were all on edge, sneaking glances at the door, wondering when Rayford would finally show up.
Every second felt like an eternity.
After what felt like forever, Rayford finally showed up.
He was carrying an Infinite–Expansion Satchel and two brocade boxes.
“The fourth–grade witch–weeds are too rare to fit in the Infinite–Expansion Satchel,” Rayford said hurriedly.
20:31 Fri, Jan 30
Chapter 74
“Mm,” Mack replied.
55 vouchers
Mack took the items and, as he turned to leave, gave Marietta one last look. This time, she was trembling so hard even her teeth were rattling.
Mack said, “If she doesn’t kill you, I won’t touch you. But you know exactly what you owe her. However she chooses to settle the score, you’ll have to face it.”
Marietta’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I didn’t…”
Mack didn’t even pause to listen. He strode away. “I didn’t see how your Gilded Core got shattered, but I’m not blind and can see clearly. A shriveled Affinity could never produce a perfect Gilded Core.”
Only Mack’s icy voice echoed through the air.
Again and again, it rang out across Azure Spire.
All the disciples shot Marietta complicated looks, their expressions all over the place.
Marietta’s tears fell like rain, sobbing uncontrollably.
Marietta sobbed, voice trembling, “I really… I didn’t…”
But before she could finish, Mack’s cold voice cut through the air again.
“Almost forgot. I gotta leave a mark.”
Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat.
In the next instant, the tallest peak of Azure Spire was encased in ice. The frost spread across the entire mountain with a thunderous crash. With a surge of Primal Axiom, two words were carved into the ice.
Mack Dunlap.
Everyone was left speechless.
Wesley exploded, “This is outrageous!”
Even Felix’s face was livid. “Sect Master, are we just going to take this lying down?”
Felix and Wesley couldn’t hold back anymore. This was straight–up humiliation.
It was outrageous!
Rayford and the others didn’t dare breathe, frozen in fear.
Dewitt didn’t say a word for a long time. Finally, he spoke up: “So, what do you want to do about it?”
“That traitor bailed on the High Sanctum of Archmagi, and Mack treats her like his precious gem. Is he that dumb?” Felix fumed.
20:31 Fri, Jan 30
Chapter 74
74
55 vouchers
He thought, ‘It was our disciple who got hurt. Enrique is still laid up, and now Mack has the gall to come here and shake us down.
Dewitt snorted. “You think he’s clueless?”
Wesley muttered, “Or maybe we should wait for the right moment…”
Dewitt cut him off, “If you’ve got a death wish, be my guest.”
Dewitt didn’t say another word. He just disappeared, leaving the rest frozen in place.
‘A bunch of idiots,‘ Dewitt thought.
Mack was just itching for an excuse to go off. If Kermit hadn’t warned him before he left, Mack probably would’ve started a massacre already.
If anyone handed Mack a reason now, the First Unity Coven would jump at the chance to
They’d stand on the moral high ground and stomp their enemies into the dirt.
If there were no high ground, they’d just make one themselves.
That was their way.
They were a bunch of maniacs, but there was a method to their madness.
go wild.
The others exchanged uneasy glances, keeping their mouths shut, especially with Alfredo still sealed and devastation all around Misty Lake.
Everyone let out a sigh.
As the two were feeling miserable, Dewitt’s voice echoed from the void. “We’ll talk about it after Coleman gets out of seclusion.”
Felix and Wesley’s eyes lit up. ‘Looks like Dewitt’s got something up his sleeve. That’s a relief. We’ll bide our time, they thought.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
