Inside the massive central hall of the Clark Family residence, the atmosphere felt unusually heavy.

Rows upon rows of young martial warriors stood silently with serious expressions.

Eighty-three Peak Grandmaster Warriors.

Every single one of them represented the strongest younger generation of the Clark Family.

The pressure released by so many Peak Grandmasters gathered together made even the surrounding air feel heavier.

At the very front stood two figures.

Leo Clark.

And Kevin Clark, the son of the Third Elder.

The two represented the current brightest martial talents among the younger Clark generation.

Yet despite the grand gathering...

One important person was missing.

Tony Clark.

Patriarch Rion Clark sat at the head seat while staring coldly at the empty position reserved for Tony.

His face looked increasingly ugly.

"This bastard..." he muttered inwardly.

"At a time like this, he still dares to skip the family gathering?!"

Several elders immediately noticed the Patriarch’s dark mood.

The Seventh Elder was the first to speak with dissatisfaction.

"Hmph!"

"The future prince of the Clark Family cannot even attend an emergency gathering?"

His eyes swept toward the empty seat mockingly.

"Where is Tony Clark?"

"Did he run away already after hearing about the Golden Heir Tournament?"

Several elders quietly laughed afterward.

Only the Third Elder remained silent while observing the reactions calmly.

Rion Clark suppressed the irritation inside his heart before replying coldly.

"He is still inside Nine Lotus Academy preparing for the tournament."

The Seventh Elder sneered immediately afterward.

"Preparing?"

"He can prepare after attending the family gathering."

Then suddenly, the Seventh Elder looked around again before asking another question.

"What about Lily Frost?"

"Why isn’t she present either?"

The atmosphere instantly became slightly awkward.

Rion’s expression darkened briefly before answering calmly.

"Lily Frost will participate representing the Frost Family."

"The marriage knot between her and Tony is not tied yet."

"Officially... she still belongs to the Frost Family."

Several elders immediately looked unhappy afterward.

"What?!"

"Then doesn’t that mean we are losing one of the strongest younger talents?!"

"That old fox Andrew Frost truly knows how to take advantage!"

"Hmph! The Frost Family benefited too much from this marriage arrangement!"

Many elders became visibly dissatisfied.

Especially because Lily Frost was already considered one of the strongest younger Peak Grandmasters in the world.

Losing her support during the Golden Heir Tournament felt painful.

Finally—

Patriarch Rion Clark slowly stood up from his seat.

The entire hall instantly became silent afterward.

His sharp eyes swept across all eighty-three Peak Grandmasters standing below.

"This gathering concerns the future of our Clark Family."

His heavy voice echoed across the hall seriously.

"The Golden Heir Tournament is no longer a normal competition."

"It is directly connected to the World Tree Blessing."

The younger generation immediately straightened their backs further.

Even their breathing became heavier.

Rion continued calmly.

"You all already know the importance of the World Tree Blessing."

"Inside it may exist Dream Realm inheritances..."

"...World Tree Seeds..."

"...and opportunities capable of changing your fate forever."

His eyes sharpened afterward.

"If anyone from our Clark Family secures a spot and survives..."

"...your future will rise beyond imagination."

The atmosphere instantly became heated afterward.

Many younger warriors clenched their fists tightly with excitement.

Then Rion suddenly waved his hand.

Several servants immediately entered carrying dozens of jade boxes carefully.

Rion spoke again:

"For encouragement..."

"...the family will reward every Peak Grandmaster participant with one hundred Life Energy Stones."

BOOOOOOM!!!

The younger generation instantly became excited.

Even some elders looked slightly shocked.

One hundred Life Energy Stones per person?!

That was an enormous expenditure even for the Clark Family.

Several servants immediately began distributing the rewards carefully.

The younger generation’s breathing became hurried while receiving the precious stones.

Rion continued afterward:

"And if any one of you successfully secures a qualification spot..."

"...the family will reward you greatly afterward."

The atmosphere immediately became fiery.

But before Rion could continue further—

The Third Elder suddenly stood up slowly.

His calm eyes swept across the younger generation carefully.

"As previously discussed..." he said slowly.

"...whoever obtains a World Tree Blessing spot first and successfully crosses the Grandmaster Warrior stage..."

"...will become the next prince of the Clark Family."

Silence.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Many younger warriors widened their eyes immediately.

Even Leo Clark’s expression changed slightly afterward.

Rion’s face darkened visibly.

Clearly...

He disliked the Third Elder bringing up this matter publicly now.

Especially because Tony Clark wasn’t even present.

Still...

Rion did not refute the statement.

Because this agreement had already been discussed earlier among the elders privately.

The Third Elder continued calmly afterward.

"The Clark Family does not need weak princes."

"We need true monsters capable of leading future generations."

His eyes landed briefly on Leo Clark afterward.

"And this tournament..."

"...will prove who truly deserves that position."

Several younger warriors immediately became restless afterward.

Especially Kevin Clark.

The Third Elder’s son slowly raised his head proudly.

Clearly...

He viewed this as his greatest opportunity to rise above Tony and Leo completely.

Soon afterward, more encouraging speeches followed from different elders.

Some spoke about family glory.

Some spoke about revenge against rival families.

Some promised resources and authority for successful participants.

The younger generation’s fighting spirit slowly rose higher and higher.

***

Meanwhile...

The same scene was happening throughout the entire martial world.

Inside the Imperial Family palace, King Jamie Smith directly stood before over sixty younger Peak Grandmasters with a cold expression.

Unlike the Clark Family gathering...

The atmosphere here felt oppressive.

Jamie’s eyes swept across the younger generation sharply.

"You all already know the situation."

"The Imperial Family must dominate the Golden Heir Tournament."

His tone suddenly became colder afterward.

"And whoever fails to secure a World Tree Blessing spot..."

"...will be punished personally by me."

The younger generation instantly became pale afterward.

Even Mark Smith narrowed his eyes slightly.

Jamie continued mercilessly:

"The Imperial Family does not raise useless trash."

"If you fail..."

"...then don’t blame me for being ruthless."

The atmosphere became terrifyingly silent afterward.

*** 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Meanwhile...

Inside the Frost Family...

Andrew Frost personally approached Lily Frost inside the sword training chamber.

"Lily."

His voice sounded unusually serious.

Lily slowly stopped her sword movement before turning toward him calmly.

Andrew stared at his daughter carefully before speaking.

"This tournament..."

"...you must protect the Frost Family’s future."

Lily remained silent.

Andrew sighed softly afterward.

"The World Tree Blessing is too important."

"We cannot afford failure."

Lily slowly nodded afterward.

"I understand."

***

Meanwhile...

Inside Nine Lotus Academy...

Every Peak Master had already begun personally training their direct disciples.

Massive amounts of academy resources were opened immediately.

Rare herbs.

Life pools.

Training formations.

Everything was activated.

The academy itself became filled with cultivation pressure day and night.

Everyone understood clearly.

This Golden Heir Tournament would change the younger generation hierarchy of the entire world.

***

Meanwhile... Inside the Healing Tower...

Emma Rock quietly listened while Peak Master Natasha explained the final decision.

"The Octopus Organization confirmed it." Natasha said seriously.

"The only way to secure a World Tree Blessing spot..."

"...is through battle."

Emma remained silent briefly afterward.

Surprisingly...

She didn’t look disappointed.

Instead...

A faint confident smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Good."

Natasha blinked slightly.

Emma slowly stood up afterward.

"Then I will simply fight my way in."

Her eyes burned with determination.

"And not only that..."

Emma’s lips curved upward slightly afterward.

"I will take the Number One position during the Golden Heir Tournament."

Even Natasha became slightly stunned by the confidence in her voice.

Emma continued calmly:

"As for the extra spots rewarded afterward..."

"...I will donate them to Nine Lotus Academy."

Natasha stared at Emma silently for several moments afterward.

Then slowly...

A satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"Good."

"As expected of my disciple."

Meanwhile...

Far away inside his residence...

Tony Clark remained completely unaware that countless younger monsters across the world were already preparing desperately to crush one another during the upcoming Golden Heir Tournament.

-

Tq guys!