Chapter 1 The Lion Has Awakened

• In Northville of Danton, snow stretched out as far as the eye could see, covering everything in a blanket up to ten thousand miles wide. Atop a snow-covered mountain stood a remarkably lifelike 3-meter-tall ice sculpture.
• Beneath the ice sculpture, an elderly man in a flowing robe exuded an aura of immortality and wisdom. Behind him stood a young man with a powerful presence, towering at a height of two meters.
• "Any updates?" The elderly man abruptly inquired, silently observing the ice sculpture without turning his gaze.
• "Not yet," the young man responded in a deep tone. After a moment of silence, he frowned and questioned, "Grandfather, it has been six years since that person went missing. Are we worrying too much?"
• The elderly man's eyes narrowed upon hearing this. He turned around and commanded, "Slap yourself."
• "Why?" The young man locked eyes with the elderly man, his gaze filled with contempt.
• The elderly man looked cold as he witnessed this. The surrounding snow and wind froze in place, and a formidable aura surged toward the young man.
• Thud!
• Despite the young man's swift reaction, he was overpowered and collapsed on the ground, leaving a deep imprint.
• The elderly man squinted as he watched the young man struggling to get back up. Reined in his aura, he sighed and remarked, "Gregory, do you see yourself as superior to your peers?"
• "Absolutely." Hailed as a prodigy, Gregory Young was the ruler of Northville who had emerged as one of Danton's five great generals before the age of thirty.
• "Do you think you alone have attributed the six years of peace in Northville?" the elderly man inquired once more.
• "Absolutely." Gregory coldly snorted, a hint of arrogance evident in his smirk.
• "Ignorant," the elderly man retorted sarcastically. Gregory did not expect his words would be met with such a response.
• Just as Gregory was about to react, he noticed the elderly man gesturing toward the ice sculpture and gravely stating, "Gregory, today I will enlighten you about the man who brought about the six years of tranquility in Northville. That is Wallace Fender, the man encased in that ice sculpture. He once singlehandedly vanquished a million enemy chieftains, earning himself the title of Emperor Fender and a status equivalent to the nation's ruler. Moreover, with his unparalleled medical prowess, Emperor Fender saved countless warriors of Northville, leading to his glory. He is an unmatched warrior, seen as a rival and feared as a taboo by adversaries from various lands!"
• "What? T-This can't be true!" Gregory was astonished by the elderly man's account.
• The old man gave him a measured look and continued. "Do you consider me as a formidable man?"
• "Yes." Gregory nodded undisputably. For as long as he could remember, his grandfather had stood as an unrivaled powerhouse. Be it in martial prowess or intellect, he was a paragon in the realm. Despite Gregory's rise to a regional lordship, he remained no match for his grandfather. Yet, the elderly man's subsequent words left Gregory dumbfounded once again.
• "I still can't guarantee the success of escaping from Wallace six years ago, even with my current prowess. If anyone in this world could rise to become God, it would be him alone!"
• Boom!
• The skies darkened, and the earth trembled at the utterance of these words. An invisible force arose from Gregory's being. At that moment, he came to realize the reason behind his grandfather's annual pilgrimage to Northville over the past six years in search of Wallace.
• One could safeguard the peace and prosperity of Northville with a mere ice sculpture. Such a miraculous feat of winning without fighting only arose once in a blue moon. What was more ridiculous was the fact that he had long believed the reason to be his taking charge of Northville.
• Swish!
• After Gregory's multiple changes in expression, he quickly got up on his feet. He unsheathed his sword, aiming it directly at the ice statue, and declared, "Wallace, no matter how powerful you may be, you will eventually end up as my stepping stone."
• "The ruler of Northville must be I, but not anyone else, Gregory!"
• …
• Silverlake Hotel, Rosetown.
• Douglas Williams, head of the Williams family, reserved the entire second floor of Silverlake Hotel to celebrate the 24th birthday of his second daughter, Sandra Williams. She was renowned as the most beautiful woman in Rosetown and the center of attention at the birthday party in the banquet hall.
• However, everyone couldn't help but be drawn to the couple in the corner. The woman was stunning, with dark hair elegantly tied up and a fair complexion accentuating her exquisite figure beneath a luxurious gown.
• "Do you remember what I just said, Wallace?" Sandra gazed at the man before her with a hint of bitterness.
• "Eat more and speak less. "He chuckled foolishly in response. Wallace, tall and handsome, was her husband of six years. He seemed oblivious to his foolishness as he wiped his nose.
• "No. You should speak nothing." Sandra sighed in exasperation.
• Six years ago, Sandra sent her friend off to the army in Northville at the railway station. However, she accidentally turned Wallace into a fool in a car crash on her way back home. As a form of atonement, she married Wallace despite her family's disapproval. They shared a life together for the past six years.
• Sandra was aware that gone were the days of her family's glory. Ostensibly, today was meant to be a celebration of her birthday. Yet, it was actually a ploy to pressure her into divorcing Wallace and marrying Zachary Sandler, the young master of the Silverlake Hotel, to sustain the legacy of the Williams family.
• Sandra realized that she did not look forward to this outcome. Even more so as she gazed at Wallace, smiling innocently at her with his ever-so-pure and genuine grin.
• Even if he were to end up cold on the streets after tonight, he would continue to wear such a pure smile, wouldn't he?
• Sandra snapped back to reality after what felt like an eternity. She caressed Wallace's head, her eyes brimming with tears, whispering, "I'm sorry. It's all my fault that you've ended up like this. After tonight, I will provide you with a substantial sum of money. You must take good care of yourself…"
• Unbeknownst to her, a sudden gleam flickered in Wallace's previously vacant eyes, and a roar erupted in his heart. "Have I been a fool for six years?!"
• At that moment, he had a rapid flashback of everything that had happened in the past six years. Six years ago, his cultivation had gone awry, putting him at risk of losing control. He had planned to seek refuge for recovery, but upon reaching the outskirts of Rosetown, he lost consciousness after being struck by a speeding vehicle.
• At that juncture, his inner energy spiraled into chaos, leaving him in a chaotic state and rendering him a fool. Fortunately, his health improved after six years of self-healing, albeit his strength waned by a great deal.
• He vividly recalled all that had transpired in the past six years. "Who would have thought that I actually got married? Yet, it appears I am headed for a divorce tonight..."
• "Sandra, I never thought I'd see you here." Just as Wallace mulled over his thoughts, a jarring voice pierced the air. Subsequently, a young man clad in a crimson suit with meticulously styled hair strode over.
• Wallace glanced up to see Lucas Williams, the youngest son of Sandra's second uncle. For the past six years, no one in the Williams family had regarded him; instead, they only saw him as the foolish son-in-law. Chief among all was Lucas, who reaped joy in ridiculing him. As soon as Lucas finished speaking, he was already by Sandra and Wallace's side. He remarked, "There you are, Wallace!" He poised his finger, ready to flick Wallace on his forehead as he spoke.
• "Stop it!" Anticipating Lucas' actions, Sandra swiftly rose to her feet with a determined expression. She glared at Lucas with anger and said fiercely, "Touch Wallace one more time, and you will regret it!"
• Lucas smirked and pulled back his hand. "Sandra, your father has been searching for you high and low. If you don't show up, he will be furious."
• Sandra stared at him coldly before turning to Wallace. She said, "Stay here and wait for me. I will be back soon."
• As soon as Sandra was gone, Lucas' face lit up with a sly grin. "Oh, my poor Wallace, no one is here to watch your back now. You won't be able to escape."
• Unbeknownst to Lucas, someone was firmly grasping his middle finger. Then, a chilling voice rang out. "You have tormented me for six years. Now, you shall pay with your life!" With those words, a sharp sound pierced through the air as Lucas' middle finger was severed, his screams echoing throughout the room.