Author's Note:

  I added a clarification in Chapter 3, here it is for you to read. In the future, I will remove it from this chapter so that the clarification remains only in Chapter 3.

  The heroines Lawrence captures in the brothel have actually never sold their bodies. Whenever a client arrives at their residences, absolutely nothing happens. This is something that will only be revealed much later in the novel, at least beyond chapter 200 according to my script, and it’s connected to the synopsis of the story.

  As an author, I don’t like giving spoilers, and I hope not to do it again. Anyway, I hope this helps make the novel easier for you to read.

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  His clothes denote a quality of nobility, the two daggers he carries at his waist are made from unique and very hard-to-find materials. In terms of money alone, this man is far from needing any treasure.

  He is handsome, quite a lot in fact. In terms of appearance, he doesn't look older than 30 years, but a level 600 hunter has a life expectancy of at least a thousand years. Considering his wealth, he could easily acquire a medicinal pill that would extend his life by decades or even hundreds of more years.

  "That look, I understand."

  The man perceives the caution coming from the two women in front of him, knowing that his arrival is more of an unfortunate event than an auspicious one for them.

  "I am Decaying Flame, an inner disciple of the Eternal Wind Sect."

  He hoped that by introducing himself, he could mitigate the negative effects of his arrival, as usually mentioning his sect is enough to generate trust, even many female disciples fall for him upon knowing he is an inner disciple. It is not surprising, they are the future of the Eternal Wind Sect, having close relations with them can make a big difference.

  Serene Will frowns and says: "Are you the one who hid a magic formation that prevents entry through the mural?"

  'Were they able to perceive it?' Decaying Flame opens his eyes in surprise, he is an expert in magic formations. To date, only the elders of the sect have been able to see through them, no disciple at his level can even glimpse one or two points of the complete landscape.

  Although those men tainted it with inferior formations, was the woman in front of him able to not only discover it but also know his intention from the start?

  "Yes, I have been waiting all this time for the key to arrive at this place. Strange is that the original owner of that sphere was not the one who brought it, but you."

  Decaying Flame could not discover the true identity of the man, but some points. Seeing the change in attitude in the women, he decides to reassure them.

  "Do not worry, I am not interested in the story behind it. Rather, do you want to know the origin of this place?"

  Serene Will nods her head, "I would like to hear it."

  "Your names?"

  "..."

  "Come on, it's just a small token of exchange."

  The woman with the long jet-black braid appears to be the leader, because the one with emerald hair keeps a close eye on her, waiting for her actions.

  "Serene Will."

  "Sky Petal."

  Decaying Flame smiles upon hearing their names. It has been a while since he has taken an interest in a woman, especially women like them, who, knowing his identity, maintained a clear distance from him.

  "This place was once an Archaic Ruin."

  'An Archaic Ruin?!'

  Both are surprised to hear this, especially Lawrence in the distance. He more than anyone knows about the deep mysteries that await inside, while the Inferior Plane has the Forbidden Areas, the Divine Plane has the Archaic Ruins!

  He swallows saliva. 'I still remember the terror it caused me to set foot inside the Forbidden Area Cloudsea, and this guy is saying that this place was an Archaic Ruin? What in the world was Eonis Pavilion thinking hiding its treasures in this place?'

  Now he understands why he felt familiarity upon entering this cave, Serene Will could not acquire information through her ability, which indicates that what this man says has some degree of truth!

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "The Archaic Ruins are a small dimension detached from this world, that this one does not acquire such a property implies that it has not yet awakened. There are many reasons for this, but if I had to mention one, it is found behind that mural."

  They hear a noise behind them, the magic formation that stopped its movement now allows it to continue. The mural begins to slowly divide.

  Decaying Flame approaches with the intention of passing through it, but his inner thought is another. He wants to use his understanding of the Way of formations to shake the hearts of the two fairies in front of him, making them understand that there is no man who compares to him, that only he is worthy of having them by his side!

  "Oh…"

  But Serene Will steps back three steps from him, taking Sky Petal with her.

  'Could she predict my actions?' This time Decaying Flame has a genuine interest in them, he no longer wants them just for fun, his instinct tells him that the future of these fairies is no less than his!

  Before he could make an excuse, they react first.

  "I don't have that kind of interest in you."

  Serene Will coldly responds to his gaze.

  "I don't... I think you misunderstood my actions, by approaching you I wanted to test your talents, through my understanding of formations I hoped to incite the Way within you. I sincerely regret if my actions were misunderstood."

  Decaying Flame quickly turns the table, ensuring he is a good man who would never lay a finger on a lady.

  It is then that he realizes something...

  "I'm married"

  "Me too."

  "..."

  There's a damn ring on the left ring finger of both women.

  Lawrence barely contains his urge to laugh. The man tried to conquer women, without knowing that he had the master in front of him! One is an adult and the other an infant by comparison!

  Decaying Flame clenches his teeth, who touched them before him? He may have limitless patience, waiting for them for years to make them his, but someone else got ahead of him? Him?!

  He is exasperated with good reason, hunters have a virtually unlimited life, that a woman decides to give hers to a man can only mean one thing. They have been deceived, no good man would hinder the unlimited future of such fairies!

  Decaying Flame has been merciful enough to pretend not to notice, but the other party is a vile, evil being.

  'Don't blame me for being ruthless!'

  Serene Will doesn't have time to respond promptly. Although she cannot read his thoughts, from his body language, she knows this man is after the life of Lawrence!

  In an instant, Decaying Flame positions himself in front of a hallway in the cave and attacks mercilessly. Different symbols create a magic formation in the air and every living being inside is killed, without distinguishing between dogs and cats!

  "What do you think you're doing?!"

  The cry from Serene Will only gave him more satisfaction, he knows his judgment is correct. Hidden in this hallway was the husband of one of them!

  The situation has changed, she is willing to do anything to--!

  It is then that a hand stops her. She looks furiously at Sky Petal, but it only takes her a second to understand everything.

  "Some day you'll thank me."

  Decaying Flame sighs, now that that vile man has died the future of one of them has been released, she can fly freely without anyone stopping her.

  "Do you attack to demonstrate your power and intimidate us? Now you show your true face."

  But the response from Serene Will is far from what was expected. Instead of suffering for the death of her husband, she raises her guard against the unreasonable act of a man.

  'Don't tell me...'

  In a hurry, Decaying Flame enters the hallway and searches for the corpse of the sneakily lurking rat, but to his surprise, there's no one!

  'I was mistaken?'

  He quickly tries to correct himself. "For a moment I felt the presence of a third party, I couldn't tolerate his audacity, but... It seems it was all a misunderstanding, we are the only three here."

  Serene Will and Sky Petal step back even further, in their eyes, Decaying Flame must be crazy!

  Decaying Flame maintains an apologetic expression, but inside he is enraged. At his current level, who would have the ability to hide from him? He doesn't want to accept it, but the only answer is that this strange place influenced his senses.

  'It's impossible that someone could have escaped from my hands, that's the only explanation.'

  In order to regain the trust of these fairies, he enters through the mural leaving them behind, letting them understand that he has no ulterior motives towards them.

  "I see, the previous owner used this place as a treasure vault. There are indeed good artifacts, but none meant for me."

  Decaying Flame knows that the fairies will enter of their own accord, so he speaks aloud hoping his words reach them. Seconds later his predictions come true, Serene Will and Sky Petal observe him keeping their guard.

  "What I seek is something else... Manifest!"

  Different symbols adhere to the walls of the room, as soon as the magic formation is complete, the space begins to visibly distort.

  Decaying Flame smiles broadly, injects a large amount of mana to accelerate the process. His efforts bear fruit, breaths later an object begins to take shape in the distorted space.

  "The core of an Archaic Ruin, in the entire Divine Plane I must be the first to obtain it!"

  Whether auctioning it or keeping it in his possession, the uses for this item are limitless! As long as he acquires the method of refinement, his understanding of the Way of magic formations will reach new heights!

  "Fairies, I have obtained what I desired, the rest of the items belong to you. I hope someday we meet again, by that time, it will not be too late to develop our friendship."

  Respectfully he exits the room and, taking flight, leaves the cave in an unknown direction.

  Once Sky Petal ensured that the man really left, both breathe a sigh of relief.

  "The pressure a ranker exerts makes it difficult to breathe."

  Sky Petal is glad that the situation had a good ending, being his enemy is something she prefers to avoid.

  "The strong always do their will... Some day I will return this kindness."

  Serene Will clenches her fists tightly. If something characterizes her, it's that she knows when good actions require retribution.

  To lessen her anger, she accompanies Sky Petal to evaluate the treasures collected over the years by Eonis Pavilion.

  "This is…"

  A smile blooms on her face.

  "Ha! That guy couldn't recognize a treasure even when it's right under his nose."