The conclusion of the World Tree Blessing spread across the continent faster than anyone had anticipated.
Before the sun had completely disappeared below the western horizon, countless communication arrays, martial networks, information guilds, intelligence organizations, merchant associations and even the infamous Dark Web had already exploded with discussions.
Every major academy, every influential clan and every royal family began investigating a single name that had suddenly risen from obscurity to become the hottest topic of the younger generation.
"Emma Rock..."
The girl who had inherited the World Tree’s legacy.
Reports about her cultivation soaring into the Lord Warrior Realm, her Phoenix Spirit Physique, the Eternal Flame Inheritance and even her appearance flooded every information network.
Portrait artists hurriedly painted her face while intelligence organizations dug into every piece of information regarding her childhood, academy life, cultivation talent and relationships.
Overnight, Emma Rock transformed from an ordinary academy disciple into one of the most sought-after women on the continent. Invitations from countless powers had already begun piling up before she had even left the World Tree.
Yet surprisingly, Emma was not the only person occupying everyone’s conversations. Another name spread even faster than hers. Tony Clark.
More specifically, a single sentence spoken by him before every supreme expert present.
"Who dares to bully my wife?"
Those six words spread across the continent like wildfire. Every martial forum immediately erupted into heated arguments.
"Tony Clark publicly acknowledged Emma Rock as his wife!" one headline declared.
"Clark Family Young Master abandons Lily Frost after obtaining new beauty!" another article exaggerated shamelessly.
"Emma Rock, the mysterious woman who stole Lily Frost’s fiance!" read yet another sensational report.
Within only a few hours, public opinion had become completely one-sided. Countless martial artists cursed Tony as a shameless scumbag who abandoned his fiancée after finding someone stronger.
Others sympathized with Lily Frost, claiming she had become the biggest victim of the entire incident. Some even praised Emma for obtaining both the World Tree inheritance and the heart of the Clark Family’s young master, while another group called her a homewrecker.
The discussions became increasingly outrageous as people who had never met any of the three confidently explained the entire story according to their own imagination.
"The Frost Family will definitely cancel the marriage."
"There is no way Lily Frost can tolerate such humiliation."
"If the Frost Family remains silent after this, they’ll become the laughingstock of the continent."
"I heard Tony Clark publicly embraced Emma."
"I heard Emma already lives with the Clark Family."
"I heard they secretly married years ago."
Rumors became more ridiculous with every passing hour. By midnight, even storytellers inside taverns had already begun narrating exaggerated romances between Tony and Emma.
But dozens of martial forums eagerly waited for only one thing. The Frost Family’s response. Every influential family silently observed the situation, wondering whether the alliance between the Clark Family and the Frost Family would collapse before their eyes.
***
Meanwhile,
Inside an abandoned temple hidden deep within an ancient forest, two figures quietly stood facing each other beneath the dim light of flickering spirit lamps.
Neither of them should have been meeting publicly after the confrontation at the World Tree, yet both clearly understood that some matters were too important to delay.
Academy Master Da Vinci calmly folded his hands behind his back while staring at the elegant woman standing opposite him.
Luka, the ancestor of the Demonic Sea Tribe, remained as graceful as ever despite the disappointment hidden beneath her calm expression. For several moments, neither spoke. The only sound inside the ruined temple came from the crackling flames dancing upon the ancient lamps.
Finally Luka broke the silence with a quiet sigh. "My disciple Elsa failed." Her voice carried genuine disappointment.
"She couldn’t obtain the inheritance. She couldn’t even compete properly after Tony Clark dragged her and the entire Demonic Sea Tribe to the very back of the first trial. That little monster truly humiliated my people beyond imagination."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she remembered Elsa’s furious complaints. "I have never seen Elsa so angry in her entire life. She kept describing how Tony slapped her, kicked her, pushed her backward and even deliberately helped his own companions move ahead before leaving her behind. She nearly exploded while telling me everything."
Da Vinci suddenly laughed, the laughter echoing throughout the empty temple. "I can already imagine that scene." He slowly shook his head before smiling helplessly.
"That is exactly why I chose Tony instead of gambling everything on someone else’s luck. That brat is completely unpredictable. Sometimes even I cannot understand what is happening inside his head. Ordinary geniuses follow logic. Tony never does. That is precisely why miracles keep happening around him." His smile gradually became meaningful.
"After hearing how he played with your disciple Elsa, I became even more convinced that choosing him was the correct decision."
Luka quietly observed Da Vinci for several seconds before asking the question that truly mattered. "Do you honestly believe..." she said slowly, "...that Tony really possesses a World-Tree Seed?"
Da Vinci remained silent.
That silence itself became an answer.
After a long pause, he finally replied, "I don’t know."
Luka raised an eyebrow.
"I truly don’t know," Da Vinci admitted honestly. "The brat keeps pretending to be ignorant whenever I ask him directly. He neither admits it nor denies it. Every answer from his mouth creates even more questions than before."
Luka folded her arms.
"My instincts tell me he succeeded."
"My instincts say the same."
"Yet instincts are worthless without proof."
Da Vinci nodded slowly.
The two old monsters exchanged meaningful glances.
Finally Luka spoke again, her tone becoming much colder than before.
"Our agreement still stands."
Da Vinci quietly looked at her.
"As long as you bring the World Tree Seed from that kid..." Luka said with a faint smile that carried hidden danger, "...the Demonic Sea Tribe will honor every promise we made."
Da Vinci slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, only determination remained within them.
"Leave Tony Clark to me. I know what to do..."