Chapter 414: Chapter 386: Beta, You’ve Finally Made Progress
At the mere thought of the Vance Family, a wave of satisfaction washed over Zane Lockwood, and he couldn’t hide the joyful glint in his eyes. "Aurora, what business do you have with the Head of the Vance Family?"
"He wants to steal the legacy of my Radiant Void Sect."
"What—" The smile on Zane Lockwood’s face froze.
’He’d run through several possibilities, but this wasn’t one of them.’
In the Martial World, this was a grave taboo—an open invitation to war.
’Surely the Vance Family isn’t foolish enough to provoke Sunstone?’
’Besides, the master on Sunstone is still there!’
’How could the Vance Family possibly get onto Sunstone to steal its legacy?’
"Could it be a misunderstanding?" Zane Lockwood asked. Though he had no love for the Vance Family, this was truly difficult to believe.
Just then, Alvin Morgan said coldly, "We’ll know if it’s a misunderstanding once we ask him."
The Vance Family’s car followed the trail of unknown energy, driving right up to Arthur Lockwood’s villa.
When Derek Vance saw the nameplate on the villa, his expression darkened.
Especially since the courtyard gate stood wide open, as if inviting them in.
"Family Head, should we go in?"
The driver was in a bind. Everyone in the Veridian Martial World knew about the feud between the Lockwood and Vance families.
Derek Vance pressed his lips together, trying to control his anger.
Just then, a voice boomed from a loudspeaker inside the Lockwood villa: "Head of the Vance Family, don’t worry, you’re in the right place! Come on in..."
Arthur Lockwood’s voice repeated over the loudspeaker several times, infuriatingly so.
"F-Family Head..."
Derek Vance’s voice seemed to be squeezed from his throat. "Go in—"
When Derek Vance got out of the car, he was met by the sight of a grinning Young Heir Lockwood. "Head of the Vance Family, welcome, welcome! My, what a bother for you to come all this way so late at night. The thing is, Aurora really had no idea where the Vance Family lives."
Someone from the Lockwood Family standing next to Arthur Lockwood couldn’t hold back a snort of laughter.
Derek Vance’s face was grim. With a cold snort, he strode toward the house.
He was just about to plaster on a smile when he saw Zane Lockwood and Alvin Morgan on the sofa.
His smile froze instantly.
"Master Lockwood and Young Master Morgan are here as well?"
Zane Lockwood wasn’t as expressive as his grandson. He gave a placid nod. "Head of the Vance Family, I just heard from Aurora why she summoned you. Is there some kind of misunderstanding here?"
Derek Vance, seeing him act as if he were in charge, was deeply displeased. Without even giving him a proper look, he turned directly to Aurora Sinclair and performed an Ancient Martial Ceremony. "Your Excellency, you summoned me. What are your orders?"
Suddenly, an immense pressure descended upon his body.
Derek Vance was forced to his knees, his posture the very picture of humiliation.
"Since when did the techniques of Sunstone belong to your Vance Family?"
Aurora Sinclair set down her teacup, her gaze cold as she looked at him.
Derek Vance’s heart clenched. He immediately denied it. "Your Excellency... what are you talking about?"
But the pressure grew even stronger than before, heavy as a massive scale weight pressing down on him. His face instantly turned crimson, and he couldn’t catch his breath.
"Does the Fist Technique from the Kane & Ming Dojo belong to your Vance Family?"
Hearing this, Zane Lockwood looked at Aurora Sinclair in surprise. He had always thought the Kane Family had some connection to her junior martial sister.
At that moment, Derek Vance’s face was ashen.
’He did, in fact, know about this. The Fist Technique taught at the Kane & Ming Dojo was remarkably profound.’
’He hadn’t dared to make a move at first, since the guarantor for the Kane Family’s certification was someone from Sunstone. But then Aurora Sinclair offended the Regulator and disappeared. After that, the master of Sunstone took his disciples back up the mountain for seclusion, giving every appearance of retreating from the world again.’
’That’s when his ambitions stirred. Later, the International Martial Alliance dismissed Zane Lockwood and appointed him as the president of the Veridian Martial Alliance.’
’With that, he felt completely secure. He secretly approached the Kane Family, demanding they submit to the Vance Family, but the Kanes actually refused.’
’He had his men tell the Kane Family that their Fist Technique closely resembled a Vance Family Cultivation Technique, and demanded they hand it over for "verification." But the Kane Family was suspicious of this claim and refused to comply.’
’That’s what drove him to ruthlessly announce that the Kane Family had stolen a Vance Family Cultivation Technique. He then had them expelled from the Veridian Martial World and revoked their certification.’
’He never imagined that Aurora Sinclair would return safely—and with Alvin Morgan in tow...’
Derek Vance gritted his teeth. "Your Excellency, this matter... I was not aware of it..."
Alvin Morgan let out a soft laugh. "Head of the Vance Family, you really don’t know?"
Derek Vance denied it vehemently. "I don’t know... If such a thing really happened... I will personally bring the one responsible... to apologize to Your Excellency..."
But the pressure on his body grew heavier and heavier, until finally, Derek Vance collapsed, sprawling undignified on the floor.
Then, from above him, came Aurora Sinclair’s icily detached voice: "You’re lying..."
