"Young Master, please don’t underestimate me. Even if I’m like this, I am still the Sect Master’s son. I truly can help you obtain great things," Erick replied confidently.

"Is that so?" Victor smiled.

"Yes." Erick nodded.

"Can you help me steal your father’s most valuable treasure? If you can take it and escape this sect, I will give you the highest position by my side. Your bleak future will turn bright—if you truly believe I will become the ruler of the world one day. Of course, I don’t want this to be connected to me. After you escape, hide yourself and come find me when it’s safe," he whispered beside the young man’s ear.

Erick’s expression stiffened upon hearing that.

Steal his father’s most valuable treasure, then escape with it.

Even William might not dare claim he could do that.

But it wasn’t impossible—he still had access to some of his father’s places.

He understood this sect well and wasn’t without resources for a quick escape.

There were only two questions: did he dare? And could he succeed?

This was nothing less than a gamble of life and death.

"Give it a try!" Victor patted his shoulder before continuing forward, not bothering to confirm whether Erick would actually attempt it.

Whatever choice he made didn’t matter to Victor.

Alexandra didn’t seem to know how to react.

"He might actually try. But the chances of success are extremely small." She sighed.

"Just testing his luck." Victor chuckled.

Alexandra understood Victor well enough. If Erick succeeded, she doubted Victor would truly give him what he promised. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

This man was simply using others.

"By the way, do you know what the Sect Master’s most valuable treasure is?" Victor asked.

"I don’t know..." Alexandra shook her head.

"But there was once a rumor that he possesses the Primordial Light. If that’s true, then that would be the most valuable."

"Primordial Light?" Victor had no idea what that was.

"The origin light of this world—something mysterious. No one knows how to use it, but even World Monarchs cannot destroy it," Alexandra explained.

"Some say it’s one of the resources needed to break the limits of peak cultivators."

"Oh, breaking limits." Victor understood—achieving power comparable to a World Monarch without actually becoming one.

Of course, he was still more interested in becoming a World Monarch—unless something truly better existed.

Within the sect, there was surprisingly a restaurant.

It was an open-air restaurant, with tables arranged along the riverbank.

Aside from the sect’s disciples, Victor also saw guests from other factions visiting.

There seemed to be only one menu item—a glowing white fish that still emitted light even after being cooked.

"What’s special about this fish?" Victor asked.

"It’s very beneficial for light-element users, and also very delicious," Alexandra answered softly.

"Let’s try it." Victor chose a table by the river.

But just as he sat down, he saw Carla emerge from the kitchen, wearing an apron and carrying a tray with a single plate on it.

The white fish was cooked differently, accompanied by roasted spices.

She headed straight to Victor’s table, placed the dish in front of him, and sat down.

"I knew you’d come here, so I prepared this in advance for you," she said with a sweet smile that perfectly matched her charming face.

"According to the disciples here, my cooking is better than Alexandra’s. It’s my only advantage over her. Though in bed, I’d probably lose—I don’t have experience, while she does. Besides, they say quiet women are better."

Victor, "..."

Alexandra, "..."

"Victor, let’s go to the academy instead." Alexandra immediately lost her mood.

This woman was still attacking her with embarrassing words in front of Victor.

"Why the rush? At least let Victor eat first. He seems very curious about my cooking," Carla said.

Alexandra didn’t respond, only looking at Victor.

If he didn’t follow her, she would surely feel hurt.

"Victor, how about you stay in the sect tonight?" Carla continued, forcing them to listen.

"I’ll help you enter the World of Light tonight. It’s something very beneficial."

"World of Light?" Victor couldn’t stay indifferent when hearing about something useful.

"It’s a place that can awaken a light-element talent within a person. It’s effective up to three entries—even ordinary people destined to have no talent can at least awaken an Earth-Class Talent. Those who already have talent can increase its level there. We don’t know if you’re compatible, but there’s no harm in trying, right? If you’re lucky, you might awaken a Heaven-Class Talent. Then you’d become even more terrifying—with two Heaven-Class Talents. I’ll also help you enter the sect’s underground, where the Source of Light is located. There, you can at least gain Earth-Class Power Affinity with Light."

"You’re sure you can help me enter both places?"

Victor wouldn’t refuse this.

Earth-Class?

That was already enough. He could rely on the System to upgrade it later.

His Power Affinity had already been enhanced before—so talent likely could be as well.

"You clearly don’t know who I am, since you’re asking that." Carla smiled.

"If I’m offering it, then of course I can do it. Even the Sect Master wouldn’t refuse my decision."

This claim made Victor realize her background was far more powerful than expected.

Perhaps she was the descendant of the sect’s strongest ancestor.

"Alright!"

Victor wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

He simply hadn’t expected Alexandra to be able to help with this before.

"I heard entering that underground place requires expensive resources. You’ll provide them, right?" he asked.

"Of course. For you, what wouldn’t I do..." Carla chuckled and glanced at Alexandra.

Alexandra lowered her head, unwilling to speak.

She couldn’t ask Victor to return to the academy anymore—not with such a valuable opportunity in front of him.

As his woman, she didn’t want to block his path.

"Go on, eat!" Carla urged again.

It was just food—Victor didn’t see any issue. He had even planned to take it to go earlier.

He picked up his fork and took a piece of the fish, which seemed boneless.

And once he started eating, he kept going.

Sweet, savory, and slightly salty, combined with the faint aroma of spices—the taste surpassed his expectations.

"I have to say, your effort is impressive," Victor said.

Carla’s smile widened.

"Unfortunately, the disciples might be wrong. Alexandra’s cooking is still better."

Carla froze.

Alexandra was also stunned—she hadn’t expected Victor to defend her.

Carla tried to maintain her smile, though it was clearly difficult.

In the end, she could only nod.

"It’s impossible to surpass Alexandra—even in just one area. A woman practically unmatched to be a Heavenly Woman," she admitted.

She could truly acknowledge defeat.

Alexandra rolled her eyes at her skilled act.

But she knew Carla would continue trying to attack her.

Even though Victor said Alexandra’s cooking was better, he finished the fish quickly.

"How about we go to the underground now? Is that possible?" Victor asked.

"Of course. Let’s go—but Alexandra can’t come," Carla replied.

Both Victor and Alexandra had expected that.

Victor still stood and looked at Alexandra.

"Wait here for a while. Don’t worry," he said with a smile, calming her.

Victor already had a guess about Carla’s true intention.

She wanted to attack Alexandra in the worst possible way.

And she believed she could only do that with his help.

Because her intention to use him was so obvious, Victor decided he would teach her a lesson.

She likely thought he was the type of man who lacked self-control and loyalty—especially since he seemed willing to abandon his engagement with Alexandra for personal gain.

***

Victor walked alongside her toward the peak of the sect’s mountain, once again leaving the disciples puzzled.

Carla couldn’t stop smiling as she kept looking at Victor’s face.

However, Victor paid more attention to the scenery around him.

The higher they went, the quieter it became.

Several castles could be seen hidden in the distance, each separated far from the others.

Even from afar, Victor could sense extremely powerful auras coming from those castles. Most of them were on par with his grandfather’s aura, and some were even stronger.

Those individuals still had their own private residences. This meant they were elders who had not lived long enough to require sealing themselves.

If even the elders were this powerful, it was no wonder the sect was so dominant.

They could practically defeat any faction.

Even extremely powerful individuals had to retreat in front of this faction.

A Bloodline Master, for example, wouldn’t dare to challenge this sect.

However, the sect also seemed unwilling to provoke his mother. Victor became more aware of just how powerful that woman truly was.

Not long after, they arrived in front of a cave sealed by a white-golden gate.

An old man sat before it.

He was tall, broad, and muscular, completely bald with a pale head that seemed to glow.

This one was no weaker than his grandfather.

The moment his eyes opened, Victor felt a surge of pressure—but only for a brief instant.

"Miss!" the old man greeted Carla with a faint smile.