Chapter 1302: A Filial Son and a Kind Father
Braydon Neal understood Sorrell Neal’s pride; he would never concern himself with inheriting the leadership of the Neal family.
Given Sorrell’s remarkable talent, his future accomplishments were bound to surpass expectations.
Still engrossed in his chicken drumstick, Luke Yates mumbled absentmindedly, “In other families, the one with the greatest talent inherits the family head position, but in this family it’s the other way round.”
Jayven Neal’s expression turned dark, and he said, “Luke, we’re friends, right?”
Luke Yates responded candidly, “Of course! You’re my brother! You know I’ve got your back. If anyone bullies you, I’ll go bully them back!”
An offended look crossed Jayven’s face as he retorted, “Are you sure I am your brother? You’re practically insulting me to my face! Sure, I might not be as talented as Braydon or Sorrell, but that doesn’t mean you can belittle me!”
As their banter continued, the conversation veered off course.
With his trademark cold demeanor, Sorrell interjected, “Mother, don’t fret over this. Before Braydon ascended to emperorhood, he could already hold his own against emperors. Now that he’s an emperor himself, he single-handedly dealt with Fela Yengo, the lord of the Zunde Royal Dynasty, and his eight inspectors just yesterday.”
“What?” Graham Neal exclaimed, visibly stunned.
He knew all too well the magnitude of the Zunde Royal Dynasty’s power, with its dozens of emperors.
The fact that Braydon had taken down a figure as formidable as Fela, a ninth-level emperor realm expert, was nothing short of astonishing.
“Braydon, what level have you reached in your cultivation now?” Lowell Neal asked, still reeling from the news.
“I’ve recently attained the emperor realm, but I’ve delved into a few more imperial paths,” Braydon replied calmly, his composure unwavering.
“How many more imperial paths have you mastered?” both the old man and Lowell asked simultaneously.
“Brother, how many have you explored?” Jayven chimed in, visibly taken aback.
Stepping into the emperor realm was a daunting feat for most, yet Braydon had not only achieved it but also delved into multiple imperial paths, leaving Jayven curious for more details.
The others were filled with curiosity.
How many imperial paths had Braydon mastered?
In the blink of an eye, Braydon unleashed his mental power, conjuring ten imperial paths.
These majestic pathways, each stretching a hundred meters long, hovered prominently above the Neal Mansion’s entrance, drawing the attention of nearby powerful families.
The display of imperial might rippled across the South Pole Island, sparking shock and inquiry among the various dignitaries.
“What’s happening at the Neal Residence?” one voice exclaimed, a blend of astonishment and indignation echoing among the gathered elites.
“Since when did the Neal Residence produce ten new emperors?”
Some of the big shots were both stunned and incensed.
The revelation hinted at the Neal family’s concealed strength, suggesting that with ten emperors, they could ascend to the pinnacle of power on the island.
It wasn’t every day one encountered ten imperial paths; this was a significant event that stirred speculation among onlookers, although none dared to fathom that all ten paths were under one individual’s control.
Meanwhile, within the Neal Residence, Karen Jo stood dumbfounded, fully grasping the implications of ten imperial paths.
It signified Braydon’s unparalleled prowess, positioning him as the foremost martial prodigy of ancient times, capable of mastering all ten imperial paths single-handedly.
Braydon offered little explanation, allowing the ten imperial paths to vanish in the next instant.
He had merely displayed them to satiate his siblings’ curiosity.
Graham Neal exclaimed with excitement. “The heavens are blessing our family. Our young sons are as mighty as dragons, and our young daughters are akin to phoenixes. With Braydon at the helm, there’s no need for the Neal family to fret!”
“Grandpa, have you ever heard of an ancestor named Jordan Neal in our family?” Braydon interjected, steering the conversation in a different direction.
This query, once addressed, would undoubtedly lead to a cascade of further questions.
If Graham knew Jordan, he would know the illustrious legacy of Divine Lord Jordan, the revered figure who authored the 30,000 techniques of the human world.
As descendants of such a Divine Lord, the Neal family’s status as a formidable family was undisputed.
Graham nodded solemnly. “It’s documented in the Neal family’s genealogy. Our ancestor, Jordan Neal, was the Martial Arts Divine Lord—a true sovereign. All corners of the earth yielded to his mastery!”
“Grandpa, what’s your perspective on martial artists?”
Braydon inquired once more, prompting a hushed silence to settle over the entire hall.
An eerie tension pervaded the air, thickening with each passing moment.
“Grandpa,” Sorrell interjected, lifting his gaze to meet Graham’s, “is there any connection between our family and the Donta Imperial Dynasty?”
His words landed like a thunderclap, inciting fury in Lowell.
“How dare you!” he roared indignantly.
“Uncle Lowell, remember, Sorrel is still young. You must show restraint,” Braydon interceded, stepping forward to shield his younger brother.
He maintained a composed demeanor, meeting Lowell’s raised hand with unwavering resolve.
With Braydon’s protective presence, Lowell dared not reprimand Sorrell.
“Sorrell, you can’t speak to your grandfather like that!” Karen interjected, unable to contain her dismay.
“I’ve overseen the 16th ancient city for the past few years and discovered individuals in league with the Donta Imperial Dynasty, also with ties to the Oracle Palace,” Sorrell continued, his voice resonating with determination despite his relative youth.
Clenching his fists, he uttered in a low tone, “Let’s not dwell on history or past grievances. In the last decade, countless lives have been lost in the 16th ancient city defending against aboriginal assaults. How many of my Black Armored Army brethren have perished in battle? Regardless of familial ties, anyone found colluding with non-humankind shall meet my blade without mercy!”
Sorrell’s unwavering resolve mirrored that of his brother, Braydon.
Their steadfastness and unyielding principles formed the bedrock of their characters, traits that couldn’t be swayed by external forces.
Such resolute determination was characteristic of those with indomitable wills—a quality that had propelled Sorrell to his current standing.
Simultaneously, as Sorrell spoke, he locked eyes with his father, signaling his awareness of these matters before Braydon.
The strained relationship between the old man and Louis Neal likely played a part, with Sorrell having caught wind of rumors circulating over the years.
While initially dismissed as baseless, recent developments all but confirmed the clandestine collaboration between a faction of the South Pole Island’s 72 giants and the non-humankind.
The identity of these collaborators remained elusive, even to Braydon, who harbored suspicions regarding his grandfather and second uncle’s involvement.
Collaboration with the aborigines amounted to nothing short of treachery, a betrayal of one’s nation, warranting enduring infamy for generations to come.
Braydon wasn’t surprised that Finley Yanagi would stoop to such depths; after all, his former teacher had a penchant for exploiting aboriginal martial artists.
The cunning sons of the Northern Army who were taught by Finley were adept at manipulation, and tangling with this particular fox was no small matter.
If the aborigines were to align with Finley, they’d undoubtedly be swindled in the end.
However, if other prominent figures were covertly colluding with the aborigines, the repercussions remained uncertain, casting doubt on who would emerge victorious in this dangerous game.
“Indeed,” Graham, seated at the head of the table, sighed heavily. “Following the opening of the 16th ruin, Xetsa Yeza of the Oracle Palace approached me, presenting two void pouches.”
The contents therein facilitated the rapid enhancement of the Neal family’s strength—a mere gesture of goodwill from Xetsa.
It represented the 16th Oracle Palace and its desire to collaborate with the Neal family.
After the end of the imperial decree…