This was a Green Emerald from the collection of a hidden Great Family of the Continent of Esteros.

Its value was no less than that of the Ten Thousand Years Pearl.

’What is he planning to do?’

Hogg’s gaze grew increasingly solemn.

His slender fingers closed the black box. He pondered for a moment.

Suddenly, the corners of his lips turned up in a smile. "Interesting. Let’s play for high stakes."

Then, he opened the computer in front of him and casually tapped a few keys. A special login page appeared, displaying a default username:

[Username: YL]

***

「Meanwhile.」

While Alvin Morgan was driving, the watch on his arm suddenly vibrated.

A mechanical voice sounded: "A-level target is online."

Aurora Sinclair turned to look at him and saw Alvin Morgan say, "Lock onto his position."

"Who are you investigating?" Aurora Sinclair asked.

"A hacker suspected to be Elias Lennox. I’ve been monitoring this account for a long time."

Soon, the mechanical voice spoke again: "Login location: The International Martial Arts Bureau on the Continent of Esteros."

The expressions on both their faces changed instantly.

Elias Lennox had been missing for so long. His sudden appearance at the Martial Affairs Bureau was definitely not good news.

"Morgan, let’s go back to the International Penitentiary."

Aurora Sinclair was afraid Elias Lennox would make another move. She had to go back.

"No rush. Let’s go back to Sunstone first and have you see your master."

Alvin Morgan’s driving speed picked up, and he quickly shook off Dean Morgan, who was following them.

When the two arrived at the foot of Sunstone Mountain, they were nearly startled by the scene before them.

A huge banner was plastered on the cliff face, with a line of text written on it in brush calligraphy:

[Congratulations to the 133rd Sect Leader of the Radiant Void Sect, Dawn Miles, on her promotion to Regulator]

All the villagers of Sunstone Village were dressed in their finest clothes, standing in two rows on either side of the mountain path. It looked as if they were welcoming a bandit king back to their stronghold.

At the very back of the crowd, two people were holding a flashing LED sign, likely borrowed from some restaurant, that blinked "Welcome."

Alvin Morgan teased, "Your village’s welcome ceremony is certainly... special."

Aurora Sinclair didn’t even have time to pinch him as she hurried out of the car.

Just then, her junior sister shouted at the top of her lungs, "Light the firecrackers—"

A string of firecrackers placed on the stone steps went off from top to bottom with a series of loud POPS and CRACKLES.

Two sweet-looking children, each holding a bouquet of freshly picked wildflowers, shyly offered them to her.

"Congratulations, Dawn Miles..."

Finally, the villagers collectively performed a grand salute from the Martial World and chanted in unison, "The guardians of Sunstone Mountain congratulate the Sect Leader of the Radiant Void Sect on her promotion to Regulator."

The sheer scale of the ceremony left Aurora Sinclair a bit dazed.

She quickly stepped forward and bent down to help up the new village chief, who was kneeling at the very front.

After everyone got to their feet, they surrounded Aurora Sinclair with joyful faces, showering her with praise.

"Rory is so accomplished! She just went to attend the conference and already got promoted to Intermediate Supervisor."

"Isn’t she just! Rory, Mrs. Miles stewed a hen for you. Hurry up and replenish your strength. Look how thin your little face has gotten..."

"Rory, your four masters have been waiting at the summit for ages. You should hurry up."

...

With joyful expressions, the crowd thronged around Aurora Sinclair as she ascended Sunstone Mountain.

Alvin Morgan looked at the "Welcome" sign in Leigh Miles’s hands and chuckled. "Was this ceremony your idea?"

Leigh Miles nodded immediately, looking rather bashful. She giggled. "Morgan, time was a bit tight, so the preparations weren’t very thorough..."

Alvin Morgan nodded. Leigh Miles had only returned one day before them.

He touched the red paper banner on the cliff face and said with amusement, "Next time, have Dean Morgan help you prepare..."

"Okay."

Alvin Morgan glanced over at Ruth Winslow, who was holding the "Welcome" sign with a look of utter despair on her face, and said with a smile, "Thanks for your hard work."

Ruth Winslow: ...

***

At the summit of Sunstone Mountain—

Aurora Sinclair respectfully bowed in greeting to the four people before her.

Master Aerion looked at her with mixed feelings, both happy and worried.

In the past, he could still divine her fortune, good or ill, but now, he found he could no longer calculate her destiny.

"Master, your disciple has not failed her mission. I have taken a post at the International Penitentiary."

"Good..."

Master Aerion made a gesture to help her up.

"Dawn Miles, come and see what I’ve prepared for you."

After Aurora Sinclair finished her greetings, Flora Guthrie, who was standing beside them, impatiently grabbed her arm and hurried toward the village.

She pulled Aurora Sinclair into her house and unwrapped a large cloth bundle on the bed.

Inside was a bright red wedding gown, on top of which lay a jewelry box filled with various gold and silver ornaments and a pair of red embroidered shoes.

The wedding gown was woven from ice silkworm silk, warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It was so smooth, delicate, and soft to the touch that one couldn’t help but fall in love with it.

Aurora Sinclair was stunned.

"You’ve known that boy from the Morgan Family for many years. He truly is someone you can entrust your life to. If you really want to be with him, this will be your wedding dress..."

"Mistress..." Aurora Sinclair called out awkwardly, the tips of her ears turning red.

Flora Guthrie spoke with the air of someone experienced. "Don’t mind your master. He’s just an old fossil with his damn sect rules. Your Grandmaster Kael already sent a message back saying he wants to abolish the rule that the Sect Leader cannot marry..."

Aurora Sinclair’s eyes widened abruptly.

"Your Grandmaster Kael said that when the founding ancestor established this rule, he wanted the disciples to practice self-discipline and quiet cultivation to achieve enlightenment sooner and enter the Holy Mountain. But it seems the rule is no longer applicable. Since it’s no longer reasonable, it should be abolished. So..."

"So, Mistress Flora, you can marry my master now?"

Flora Guthrie froze, then slapped her arm. "What nonsense are you spouting? How is that good-for-nothing master of yours worthy of me?"

Aurora Sinclair rubbed her arm where she’d been hit and said earnestly, "My master can tell fortunes, perform divinations, and read feng shui..."

"Go, go, go... Take your things and get out of here. You little rascals are going to be the death of me..."

When Alvin Morgan arrived, he saw Aurora Sinclair being shooed out by a disgusted-looking Flora Guthrie, clutching a large cloth bundle.

"What’s this..."

When Flora Guthrie saw him, her mood soured even more. With a grim face, she slammed the main door shut.

’Did menopause come early for her?’

Before he could dwell on it, Ronan Warner from across the way beckoned to Aurora Sinclair. "Dawn Miles, I have something for you."

"Wait a minute! Master, are you charging for it?" Leigh Miles asked cautiously.

Ronan Warner’s face immediately stiffened. He shot her an angry glare and said gruffly, "Take it or leave it..."

He turned and walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Leigh Miles stuck out her tongue and quickly pulled Aurora Sinclair inside.

"I guess it’s free..."

With a sullen face, Ronan Warner came out of the house with a cloth bundle even larger than Flora Guthrie’s.

"Wow, Master, you’re so generous..." Leigh Miles’s eyes curved into crescents with delight. She hurried over to help him carry it.

"Get away!"

Ronan Warner glared at her again, dodged her outstretched hands, and placed the bundle on the table.

It landed with a THUD, a clear indication of how heavy the bundle was.

Then, two black notebooks were tossed on top of the bundle.

These were the Young Family Notes that Aurora Sinclair and Alvin Morgan had given him.

"Thank you, Apothecary Warner..."

Aurora Sinclair gave Ronan Warner a respectful bow.

"Hmph... Half the herbs in my garden are gone. After you get to the Continent of Esteros, go to the Argent Gate and borrow a couple of medical texts for me to read."

"There really is no such thing as a free lunch. Can’t you just be generous for once?" Leigh Miles pouted and muttered under her breath.

Ronan Warner glared at her again. "Go weed the medicinal herb garden."

"Ah... Master..."

"Go on—"

Leigh Miles’s face fell. She had no choice but to run to the edge of the herb garden and start pulling weeds, but her ears remained keenly focused on their conversation.

Ronan Warner had Aurora Sinclair extend her wrist. He checked her pulse again, his brow furrowing slightly. Then he opened the bundle, pointed at the blue floral-print cloth inside, and said, "If you want to have children, drink the medicine in here..."