After leaving the side chamber, Vivian did not return to her own quarters. She headed straight toward the depths of the manor.
Passing through several courtyards, she stopped before an imposing hall. A plaque above the doorway bore three characters, “Council Hall.”
Eight guards stood on either side of the massive doors, each at High Immortal Realm Level Six. When they saw Vivian approach, they all bowed. “Miss Chance…”
Vivian answered with a slight nod and pushed the doors open. Bright lamps filled the hall with light. In the central seat sat an elderly man, silver streaks threading his hair. Every blink of the old man’s eyes flashed with cold light, and the aura rolling off him was as deep as the sea, unmistakably that of a True Immortal.
He was none other than the Patriarch of the Chance Family, Vivian’s father, Garrick Chance.
On the purple sandalwood chairs flanking the hall sat six elders of the Chance Family. Thick spiritual pressure rolled off every one of them; even the weakest had reached High Immortal Realm Level Nine.
The moment Vivian entered, every set of eyes in the room snapped toward her in perfect unison. Garrick gave a small nod. “Vivian, how did the marriage tournament go?”
Vivian walked to the center of the hall, bowed to her father and to the assembled elders, and then straightened. “Father, the tournament already has a winner.”
At that, the elders visibly perked up. “Who is it?” The red-faced elder could not wait. “Is it Dominic of House Wagner?”
Vivian shook her head. “No…”
“No?!” The red-faced elder blinked in surprise. “Dominic is High Immortal Realm Level Nine and bears the Crimson Auric Bloodline-no youth in Cloudhaven City can compare. Other than him, who else could have cleared the Four-Pillar Test?”
Vivian drew a steady breath and, spacing each word, said, “His name is Jared… Jared Chance…”
“Jared? Jared Chance?” The white-haired elder frowned. “That name… I feel I have heard it somewhere before…”
Vivian nodded. “Sharp memory, Elder… He is the very Jared on the Celestial Palace’s wanted list, the man who destroyed the Skyreach Path, slew the Grand Venerable, and caused chaos on the Sacred Mountain.”
Her words detonated in the hall; shock rippled across every face.
“What?!”
“Huh? Him?!”
“The Jared with a bounty of fifty thousand bottles of celestial elixir?!”
The elders looked at one another, disbelief flooding their eyes.
The red-faced elder shot to his feet. “Vivian, are you mad? The Celestial Palace is hunting this man. Bringing him into our family is courting disaster!”
Vivian’s expression stayed calm as she replied, “Please, Elder, don’t be alarmed. Precisely because he is the Palace’s most-wanted person, he is also the person our family needs most.”
The elders froze, taken aback. Vivian continued, “Elders, do you remember what sort of person we have been seeking?”
The white-haired elder mused aloud, “Someone with a Draconian Bloodline…”
His eyes widened. “You mean ..”
Vivian nodded, giving each syllable weight. “Jared carries the Golden Dragon Bloodline, the royal blood among the Draconians.”
An instant hush fell over the hall. It was so quiet that a pin drop would have echoed.
After a long pause, Garrick finally spoke, “Vivian, are you certain?”
Vivian answered with a solemn nod. “I saw it myself. During the bloodline test, a five-clawed golden dragon phantom appeared behind him. The dragon’s roar shook the heavens and shattered the testing pillars.”
She paused, then added, “He also cleared the Four-Pillar Test and the self-control trial, scoring far above Dominic.”
The elders exchanged looks, stunned beyond words. The red-faced elder murmured, “Golden Dragon Bloodline… That is the legendary supreme line…”
Excitement crept into the white-haired elder’s tone. “If he truly can enter Dragonmere, then the plan our Chance Family has nurtured…”
Garrick raised his hand, cutting the chatter short. Fixing his gaze on Vivian, he asked in a low voice, “Vivian, is he willing to work with us?”
Vivian nodded. “I have already come to terms with him. He will help us enter Dragonmere if we shelter him from the Celestial Palace’s hunt and, once the matter is settled, escort him out of Cloudhaven City to the Luminous Sanctuary.”
Garrick pondered for a moment, then gave a slow nod. “A fair bargain… If he can open Dragonmere, none of those conditions are a problem.”
He turned to the elders. “What do you all think?”
The red-faced elder thought aloud, “Patriarch, shielding this Jared means making an enemy of the Celestial Palace. Though our family has roots in Cloudhaven City, if the Palace mounts a full assault…”
Garrick replied evenly, “The Celestial Palace is powerful, but it must still consider the restraints of the Celestial Basilica and the Celestial Palace, Besides, their authority over Cloudhaven City has long waned, a large-scale offensive would lack justification.”
The white-haired elder nodded. “The Patriarch speaks truth. The Palace is presently focused on restoring the ruined Sacred Mountain Altar; they may not have the strength to stir up trouble here.”
Another elder added, “Once we reach Dragonmere and secure Draconian relics, our family’s power will surge. Even if the Palace comes, we might well have the strength to fight.”
Agreement spread through the elders; heads nodded one after another.
Garrick turned toward Vivian, unmistakable approval flickering in his eyes. “Vivian, you handled this well. Where is Jared now?”
Vivian answered softly, “I’ve placed him in the guest courtyard. At first light tomorrow I’ll take him to Dragonmere.”
Garrick gave a satisfied nod. “Good… Tomorrow I’ll personally lead an escort for you two.”
He paused and let his gaze sweep across the assembled elders. “Pass the order… From this moment the House of Chance is on full alert. Double the patrols and keep Celestial Palace spies from slipping in. Anyone suspicious, take them on the spot!”
“Yes!” The elders responded in unison, voices echoing through the hall.
Vivian offered a shallow bow. “Father, if there’s nothing else, I’ll withdraw now.”
Garrick inclined his head. “Go… Rest well, tomorrow matters greatly.”
Vivian turned and started toward the tall hall doors. At the threshold she halted, glancing back over her shoulder. “Father, that Jared… He’s rather interesting.”
Garrick lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Vivian’s lips curved. “I told him we’d shield him if he helped us enter Dragonmere. He agreed, and then asked whether, since we’re partners, we could complete the dual-cultivation ritual tonight.”
Garrick froze, words failing to leave his tongue. Meanwhile, the elders likewise sat as still as statues.
The red-faced elder sputtered, nearly choking on his own saliva.
Vivian’s eyes curved further. “Naturally I refused. He countered by asking for one million bottles of celestial elixir instead.”
“One million?!” the red-faced elder blurted. Vivian nodded. “The request nearly stopped my heart. Then he laughed and said he was joking.”
She let the moment stretch, her smile deepening. “The man’s skin is thicker than armor, yet somehow he doesn’t leave a sour taste.”
With that, she turned and left, the hall behind her filled with baffled looks. Garrick watched his daughter go, stunned for several breaths before a low chuckle escaped him. “Hehehe… That boy… Has some flavor to him.”
