“Yvette, how do I compare to your fiancé?”

“What fiancé? I haven’t even let him touch a finger of mine. He’s just a useless waste who can’t even break into Mortal Realm. What makes him think he’s worthy of marrying me? Ah… Julian, I can’t take it anymore…”

From inside the room came long, drawn-out breaths. After a while, voices rose again.

“Julian, you’re amazing!”

“Yvette, after Grandpa’s birthday banquet tomorrow, I’ll get rid of that pathetic loser for you. No need for him to be an eyesore any longer.”

“Great, Julian, I’ve had enough of that useless fool. Kill him off, and I won’t have to deal with him anymore.”

“Haha, don’t worry, Yvette. I’ll take care of him right in front of you, then feed him to the dogs. That’ll help you vent your frustration properly.”

…

Outside the door, Ethan held the acceptance letter to East Tomb University in his hand as his fists clenched tightly. The excitement on his face was gone, replaced by a grim, furious expression.

Inside, the voices belonged to his so-called fiancée, Yvette Grant, and Julian Collins, who had been spending way too much time with her lately. Ten years ago, Ethan Bennett's senior sister saved Herbert Grant’s life. She had pressing matters to attend to, so she left Ethan in the care of the Grant family.

Herbert begged her shamelessly, promising to marry his granddaughter Yvette Grant to Ethan as repayment.

In recent years, the Grants thrived in Eastling. With their rising status, their disdain for Ethan, a penniless outsider, grew. Talks had spread in the family about breaking off the engagement between Ethan and Yvette.

Ethan thought that if he worked hard and got accepted into Eastling University, it might change Yvette's perception of him.

But what he didn’t expect was to witness this disgraceful scene.

The door opened suddenly, and Yvette emerged, leaning against Julian Collins.

Her cheeks flushed, Yvette clung closely to Julian’s side.

The sight of Ethan startled them briefly, but Julian quickly regained his composure, grinning smugly as he wrapped an arm around Yvette’s waist. “Well, well, isn’t it Ethan Bennett standing guard at the door? Planning to play watchdog for me and Yvette?”

Ethan's face darkened as he fixed his gaze on Yvette. “Yvette, don’t you have something to explain?”

Yvette scoffed coldly, her tone sharp and dismissive. “Explain? Who do you think you are that I need to explain anything to you? Get lost! Don’t block the way, you worthless mutt!”

Her words cut like a blade. Bang!

Ethan Bennett was sent flying with a kick from Julian Collins.

He was just an ordinary man, powerless against a Soul Condensing Realm fighter.

Cough—

Slamming into the wall, Ethan steadied himself as a dragon-shaped jade pendant slipped from his chest. Blood splattered onto the dragon jade as he coughed it up.

Julian sneered. “Consider yourself lucky it’s the old man’s birthday banquet tomorrow. Otherwise, you’d be dead by now! We’re leaving!”

With that, Julian wrapped his arm around Yvette Grant and headed towards the door.

“Wait a second!”

Yvette grabbed Julian’s arm, walked back, picked up the pendant, and studied Ethan. “Well, well! Never thought you’d have something this valuable. I’ll take it! It’ll make the perfect gift for grandpa tomorrow.”

She turned, ready to leave.

“Give it back! My senior left it to me!” Ethan lunged forward, clutching Yvette’s leg desperately.

“That woman abandoned you long ago! Talk about clinging to useless memories!” Yvette spat, disdain flashing in her cold smile. Then, with a sharp kick to Ethan’s stomach, she left him curling up in agony, clutching his gut, his body collapsing like a shrimp thrown into boiling water.No one noticed Ethan Bennett’s blood slowly soaking into the dragon jade.

Crack—

The dragon jade shattered.

“Damn worthless trash. I thought it was some treasure, turns out it’s just a piece of junk glass!”

Yvette Grant looked disgusted, tossing the shattered dragon jade straight at Ethan’s face.

“No!”

Ethan’s face twisted in agony as his chest felt like it was being crushed.

That shattered jade was the gift his senior sister left him.

"Yvette Grant, Julian Collins! From now on, Ethan Bennett will never share the same sky with you!"

“Ha!”

Yvette curled her arm around Julian’s, walking away without even glancing back.

No one but Ethan saw the golden dragon shadow emerge from the ruins of the jade, diving sharply into his dantian.

Suddenly, Ethan felt as if a chain inside him snapped. The next moment, raw, surging power tore through his body, flooding every inch of him.