Free Web NovelChapter 19: A Throne Demands Submission
A Throne Demands Submission
A cold smile slowly spread across Victor’s face.
"How about this..."
"You can kneel while speaking to me."
The moment those words left Victor’s lips, the entire Family Hall fell into absolute silence. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
It was the kind of silence that suffocated.
The flickering candle flames no longer seemed to dance. Even the wind outside appeared to have stopped.
Harrier Ravencreast’s cheerful smile froze in place.
Across from him, Magnus Ashthorn instinctively tightened his grip around the porcelain teacup in his hand. Veins bulged along the back of his hand as the cup let out a faint creak under the pressure. His already cold expression darkened further.
Neither man had expected Victor to refuse even the smallest amount of courtesy.
Harrier reacted first.
Years of surviving political struggles had taught him that a smile could sometimes save a life.
"Hahaha!"
"Patriarch Victor is still as fond of jokes as ever."
He forced a hearty laugh, trying to dissolve the tension hanging over the hall.
"It has been ten years. Naturally, everyone has missed your presence."
To an outsider, they would have looked like old acquaintances reminiscing after years apart.
Only those present knew how fragile the atmosphere truly was.
Victor let out a faint chuckle.
"Heh..."
His golden eyes slowly shifted toward Harrier.
Those eyes held no anger.
No excitement.
No murderous intent.
Only endless calm.
Yet that calmness felt deeper than an unfathomable abyss.
It was as though countless frozen oceans slept behind those brilliant golden pupils.
The instant Harrier met Victor’s gaze...
His smile disappeared.
An icy chill spread from the bottom of his spine throughout his entire body.
Cold sweat instantly appeared across his forehead.
His breathing became uneven.
His instincts screamed louder than they ever had before.
Run.
Submit.
Do anything...
Just don’t provoke this man.
Victor hadn’t released his cultivation.
He hadn’t emitted killing intent.
He hadn’t even moved.
Yet every instinct Harrier had sharpened through decades of fighting for survival warned him of only one thing.
Death.
If he continued pretending...
If he continued testing Victor...
He would die.
Not someday.
Not after a battle.
Immediately.
"I’ll die..."
The thought echoed endlessly inside Harrier’s mind.
His face gradually turned pale.
Among Aurelia City’s great families, Harrier had never possessed the greatest talent.
He had never been the strongest cultivator.
He wasn’t even born into the Ravencreast Family’s main bloodline.
The only reason he had climbed to the position of Patriarch was because he understood one simple truth.
A living man could always find another opportunity.
A dead genius never would.
His greatest weapon had always been his judgment.
And right now...
Every instinct he possessed was begging him to surrender.
Without another word...
Harrier slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
His movements were stiff.
Heavy.
Almost reluctant.
But he knelt nonetheless.
Seeing this scene, Magnus Ashthorn’s eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
His voice rose involuntarily.
"Harrier... have you lost your mind?"
Disbelief filled his face.
Before coming here, he had explained everything.
Victor had only recently emerged from seclusion.
Even if he had broken through successfully, he should only have reached the First Layer of the Astral Manifestation Realm.
Meanwhile...
The Ashthorn Family now possessed two Astral Manifestation Realm experts.
Their ancestor—
Tobias Ashthorn.
And himself.
Three days earlier, Tobias had emerged from Death Seclusion.
Using secret methods known only to him, he had forcefully helped Magnus step into the Astral Manifestation Realm as well.
Although Magnus had concealed his breakthrough, he had long regarded himself as Aurelia City’s second strongest expert.
Their purpose today had never been simple congratulations.
It was a warning.
A declaration.
The Ashthorn Family intended to become Aurelia City’s sole ruler.
The destruction of the Blackwood Family had merely been the opening act.
Sooner or later...
Every remaining family would submit.
Including the Salvatore Family.
Victor might be a legendary genius.
His reputation had once shaken the entire Azure Sovereign Kingdom.
But geniuses still needed time to grow.
No matter how monstrous Victor was...
How could one Astral Manifestation Realm cultivator fight against two?
Everything had gone according to Magnus’s expectations.
Until now.
He had prepared countless arguments.
Countless threats hidden beneath polite words.
Yet before he could even begin...
His ally had already knelt.
The carefully arranged situation instantly collapsed.
Magnus felt as though he had swallowed a mouthful of rotten blood.
His expression became uglier with every passing second.
Harrier remained kneeling silently.
He didn’t even dare raise his head.
Seeing that his ally was completely useless, Magnus slowly placed his teacup onto the table.
His lone eye narrowed dangerously.
"So..."
"Patriarch Victor truly possesses impressive authority."
His voice became noticeably colder.
"We came here sincerely to congratulate you on emerging from seclusion."
"And this..."
He slowly stood.
"...is how the Salvatore Family treats its guests?"
A sneer gradually appeared across his face.
"Don’t think that becoming an Astral Manifestation Realm cultivator makes you invincible."
As those words fell, the True Spiritual Power he had been suppressing finally began circulating throughout his body.
The air inside the Family Hall suddenly became heavier.
Invisible pressure spread outward from Magnus like ripples across still water.
Cracks quietly appeared beneath his feet.
The wooden floor groaned under the weight of his cultivation.
A confident smile slowly returned to Magnus’s face.
He had entered the Astral Manifestation Realm.
He no longer feared anyone.
Even Victor...
Was no exception.
But before he could continue speaking—
Victor calmly interrupted him.
"Don’t tell me..."
His voice was soft.
Almost gentle.
Yet every word echoed through the hall like heavenly judgment.
"...you actually believe reaching the Astral Manifestation Realm gives you the right to speak to me like this?"
