Chapter 60: A Genius Falls, and Wolves Reveal Their Fangs
A Genius Falls, and Wolves Reveal Their Fangs
The once-celebrated genius became the city’s greatest joke almost overnight.
Wherever Austin Salvatore walked, whispers followed.
Some sighed with pity.
Others mocked him openly.
The title that had once filled the Salvatore Family with pride had become a weapon used against him.
Victor listened quietly, his expression remaining calm from beginning to end.
Magnus continued, his voice growing heavier with each sentence.
"During those two years... Austin never gave up."
"He cultivated every single day."
"He searched every ancient record he could find."
"He tried every method imaginable."
"But no matter what he did..."
"His true spiritual power continued to disappear."
Magnus slowly clenched his fists.
"The doctors couldn’t explain it."
"The alchemists couldn’t explain it."
"Even the elders of our branch family were completely helpless."
"The more he cultivated..."
"The faster his strength declined."
By the end of his sentence, the large man’s knuckles had already turned white.
As a father...
Watching his own son slowly fall from the heavens into the abyss while being powerless to help was a pain beyond words.
Victor’s golden eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
A genius whose cultivation continuously declines...
Interesting.
He neither interrupted nor questioned Magnus.
Instead, he silently waited for the story to continue.
Magnus drew a long breath.
"While Austin was suffering..."
"Nellie Whitecliff awakened extraordinary talent."
"Not long afterward..."
"She was accepted as a disciple by the Crimson Abyss Sect."
"Since then, everything changed."
His tone gradually became colder.
"The Whitecliff Family no longer treated our branch family as equals."
"They began distancing themselves."
"Their attitude became colder with every passing month."
"Eventually..."
"They stopped hiding it altogether."
Victor remained silent.
His fingers lightly tapped the armrest of his chair with an unhurried rhythm.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Each sound echoed gently through the quiet hall.
Magnus continued.
"Nellie publicly declared several times that she would never marry someone whose cultivation continued to decline."
"She openly mocked Austin in front of countless people."
"She called him..."
"A disgrace."
"He wasn’t worthy to even stand beside her."
Magnus lowered his head.
"To be honest..."
"Austin himself never cared much about the engagement."
"He even told me that if they wished to cancel it, then so be it."
"My son has his own pride."
"He has never begged anyone for affection."
"If the Whitecliff Family simply wished to cancel the engagement peacefully..."
"We would have accepted it."
Victor gave a slight nod.
That reaction was reasonable.
Relationships forced by family arrangements rarely ended well.
If both parties willingly dissolved the engagement, there would have been little reason for conflict.
Unfortunately...
Human nature rarely followed the simplest path.
Magnus’ expression darkened.
"But..."
"The Whitecliff Family never intended to stop there."
His voice became noticeably colder.
"They deliberately spread the news throughout Blackstone City."
"They wanted everyone to know they were abandoning Austin."
"They made certain the entire city laughed at him."
"They repeatedly humiliated our family in public."
"They even sent people to pressure us into accepting the cancellation immediately."
"The engagement itself wasn’t important."
"What truly mattered..."
"They were using it as an excuse."
Victor’s eyes flashed faintly.
"I see."
Magnus nodded heavily.
"Exactly."
"The engagement was merely a pretext."
"The Whitecliff Family has always competed against our branch family for influence within Blackstone City."
"Before..."
"They feared Austin’s talent."
"They feared our family’s future."
"So they restrained themselves."
"But after Austin’s cultivation declined..."
"And after Nellie entered the Crimson Abyss Sect..."
"They believed our family had lost all value."
"They no longer bothered hiding their ambitions."
Magnus’ voice echoed through the hall with unmistakable bitterness.
"They’ve begun seizing our businesses."
"They’ve interfered with our trade routes."
"They’ve bought away our allies."
"They’ve intimidated our subordinate families."
"They’ve challenged our authority at every opportunity."
"And now..."
"They’re preparing to swallow the entire Salvatore branch family."
Silence followed.
Only the soft breeze drifting through the open windows disturbed the still atmosphere.
Victor slowly closed his eyes.
Within moments...
He had already organized every piece of information.
The engagement.
The humiliation.
Austin’s declining cultivation.
The Whitecliff Family’s sudden confidence.
The Crimson Abyss Sect’s involvement.
None of these events existed independently.
They were connected.
Every step had been carefully calculated.
The so-called broken engagement...
Was never the objective.
It was merely the first move.
By publicly humiliating Austin, the Whitecliff Family could test whether the Salvatore branch still possessed the strength to resist.
If nobody intervened...
Their next step would naturally be complete annexation.
Behind all of it...
Loomed the shadow of the Crimson Abyss Sect.
Victor’s lips curved into a faint smile.
Not one filled with amusement.
But with understanding.
"So..."
"They’ve chosen the Salvatore Family as their prey."
Magnus lowered his head.
"That’s exactly what I believe."
"The Whitecliff Family alone would never dare act so boldly."
"They only became fearless after gaining the support of the Crimson Abyss Sect."
"The sect’s influence has given them confidence."
"And because of that..."
"They’ve completely forgotten who they are."
Victor slowly opened his eyes.
Within those calm golden pupils, an almost imperceptible chill flickered.
The Crimson Abyss Sect again.
Ever since arriving in Aurelia City, this sect seemed determined to place itself directly in his path.
First Tobias Ashthorn.
Then the elder who secretly observed the Salvatore Family.
Now...
A branch family.
It almost felt as though fate itself kept delivering stepping stones to him.
A nearly invisible smile appeared on Victor’s face.
How interesting...
If they continue behaving like this...
Sooner or later...
I’ll have no choice but to erase them completely.
The hall became quiet once again.
Magnus waited anxiously.
He knew the decision now rested entirely in Victor’s hands.
Whether the Blackstone City branch family survived...
Or disappeared forever...
Would depend upon the Clan Patriarch’s next words.
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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Building an Eternal Dynasty: The Eternal Legacy System* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!
With love,
sat_vir_777
Creator of Building an Eternal Dynasty: The Eternal Legacy System
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