Darius saw the hesitation in the Eldest Prince’s eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. ’As long as you managed to survive, everything else is whatever.’ Although he thought this, he didn’t say it aloud and instead changed the subject.

"Friend, you still have to pay for the membership, or else you won’t be able to leave the pavilion," Darius said expressionlessly. At first, he had not stopped him since the Eldest Prince carried himself in a rather arrogant manner, but after he came out, he obviously couldn’t sit idly by and forfeit his own rules.

If his rules were to be broken by any person of status, then the prestige of his entire pavilion would crumble alongside them.

It should be known that unlike places that couldn’t uphold their rules and didn’t have the strength to do so, he was vastly different. Apart from the system’s daily protection cards, he also had his own strength, and if he truly wished, he could spend the two hundred years of cultivation and raise his strength to that level or even higher.

Darius was never afraid of anyone.

Rules are meant to be broken, but not when the one enforcing those rules possesses the power to break those who attempt to violate them...

The Eldest Prince’s mouth twitched upon hearing those words and he couldn’t help but look at Darius in a strange light. ’Looks like he wants me to save face and not apologize for my previous arrogant actions.’

"---"

If Darius heard his thoughts just now, he would probably burst out laughing. He never considered the other party’s feelings. All he cared about was getting paid.

He was already itching for a meal, and the trip to Earth was something he also had to take for various reasons. When more important matters were involved, all those meaningless concerns naturally vanished.

’Still...’

The Eldest Prince looked troubled; he truly hadn’t brought any money with him. Helpless, he could only look toward Shen, only to find the latter sleeping deeply. ’Tsk, stingy kid.’ Without any other solutions, he gazed at Darius and spoke in a rather awkward manner.

"Friend, I don’t mean this in a disrespectful manner, but do you accept electronic transfers? I don’t have any money on me, but if you have a bank account that I can transfer the gold to, I can do that." From his pocket, a round object with several buttons spread along its edges appeared in his hand.

He didn’t have high hopes that Darius possessed such a thing, but he could only give it a try since he was left with no options. Besides, he felt that the young man’s background wasn’t simple, so getting his hands on an electronic payment device shouldn’t be difficult.

As for the threat Darius had just made? Laughable, he never took it seriously and simply chose not to comment on it so as not to make Darius lose face.

Darius’s eyes shone when he saw the device. This was what people mainly used in modern society, but for various reasons, many still preferred carrying physical currency. Still, he suddenly felt troubled and couldn’t help but ask.

’System, what should I do? I haven’t even made a bank account yet.’

"Host shouldn’t worry. The system will create a temporary emergency account undetectable by the masses. Once you create a proper bank account, I will transfer the funds there."

Darius’s eyes lit up. Although he didn’t understand how such a thing was possible, in a fantasy world, was anything truly impossible? Thus, he didn’t think much of it and simply responded.

"Obviously. Dial this number: 51712..."

The Eldest Prince raised an eyebrow at this but didn’t comment. He quickly sent the money, asked whether he could return to the same room tomorrow, and then left.

He was slightly surprised when he received a positive answer, but there was far too much on his mind right now for him to sit down and chat with Darius. ’That stupid brother of mine. Given his personality, he’ll most likely look for an opportunity to cause trouble for Darius one way or another. If I don’t stop him and Darius finds out, then the consequences of that matter would be...’ The Eldest Prince felt immense pressure from this issue.

He had long known about many of his Third Brother’s actions, but he never paid them much attention since Gabriel’s influence was limited, no matter how prestigious an alchemist might be. Only after what he witnessed inside the Advanced Cultivation Room did he begin to view Darius in an entirely different light.

Although he didn’t fear Darius in the sense that his life would be threatened, he felt that his Third Brother was a completely different matter. He was the Eldest Prince; his position was naturally higher than the Third Prince’s, but he still loved his brothers despite their fierce struggle for the throne, allowing his younger brother to make a foolish decision was something he could not accept.

’I might have to call her...’ The Eldest Prince shook his head, already feeling a headache from the events that were about to unfold in Dragon City. For decades, Dragon City had remained relatively peaceful aside from occasional demon attacks and infiltrations.

Yet he suddenly felt that everything had changed the moment Darius appeared. He didn’t know whether this young man was a magnet for trouble or something else entirely, but he could feel that the waters of Dragon City were beginning to stir and waves were about to rise.

’Things will change, and at a far faster pace than anyone expects.’

***

The Third Prince sat on a sandalwood chair as he listened to his subordinate’s report. Then, with a faint smile on his face, he said, "You are saying that Katie Holland has entered the store?"

"It looks like the store is not far from destruction."

"Even though Katie is against needless destruction, that only applies when innocent people are involved and not when someone harms her family."

"Tearing down a little store shouldn’t be an issue."

"Call the others. We’ll go and watch a good show."

The Third Prince opened his paper fan and elegantly smiled as he left the manor with his attendants.

On the other side of the city, a man clad in a dark robe and wearing a white mask had already received the report from his subordinates. His narrow eyes squinted as he coldly smirked. "Hmm, let’s see the foundation of this pavilion. If the owner is strong, I’ll inform the leader and have the assassination postponed. But if not..."

Killing intent flickered through the man’s eyes before he stood up. With his hands behind his back, he strode toward the pavilion.

Apart from the Third Prince and the assassin, the rest of the people who received the news hurried toward the little store with grim expressions. They all knew the kind of trouble Katie Holland could bring upon those who offended her family.

Even Annie became slightly upset after hearing the news. She never expected that fox of a woman would directly seek revenge for her brother over such a minor conflict. If something happened to the Immortal Pavilion, then it would all be her fault.

At that moment, countless people rushed toward the Immortal Pavilion.

They all assumed that the Immortal Pavilion was about to be destroyed by Katie Holland...