"I just had a dream."
John Lopez held her soft body tightly in his arms, feeling her warmth and heartbeat.
Angela Clark trembled slightly and asked nervously, "What… what did you dream of?"
"I dreamed that you became my wife."
"What a beautiful dream…"
"What's wrong with you?" John asked knowingly, his tone light.
"It's… nothing. Girls just have those few days every month. My sisters do too."
Hearing this, John sighed quietly to himself.
This silly girl… she really thought I fainted from poison just now. She doesn't want to tell me the truth because she's afraid I'll feel guilty or pressured…
But don't you realize? The more you act like this, the deeper my guilt becomes…
He gently held her by the shoulders and looked into her delicate face. His voice was serious. "I don't care. In that dream, I already saw you as my wife. So from now on…"
"You are my wife. Don't try to back out."
"When the time is right, I'll marry you. Heaven will be our witness, the gods our matchmakers, and golden jade lions will lead the way. If I lie to you, may thunder strike me down, and may I—"
Angela quickly covered his mouth with her soft hand and grumbled, "I get it, I get it! Say what you want, but stop swearing like that all the time."
A warm current flowed through her chest.
She might be naive, but she wasn't stupid.
She knew full well that John had seen through what had really happened.
They understood each other—no words were needed.
"Honey, let's go."
Suddenly, John picked her up and walked out of the stone mountain.
He hadn't expected those two mischievous little ones to return, but if they did, he was going to teach them a proper lesson.
A few days later.
On an island in the Pacific Ocean.
Cruise ships packed the waters surrounding it.
The sheer density of people was staggering.
The crowd was an international mix—media personnel, military figures, and members of secret forces from around the world.
Professional filming equipment had been installed everywhere. Overhead, drones hovered in the sky, adjusting angles and testing shots.
They were all waiting for a historic moment.
Wilson, a powerhouse from Britain who had reached the Soul Realm, was challenging the Oracle King of the United States.
Wilson finally appeared.
Tall and imposing, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a noble air, he embodied the image of a pure-blooded British warrior.
Immediately, he was swarmed by reporters.
"Mr. Wilson, why did you suddenly issue a challenge to the Oracle King? Have you ever met him?"
"Mr. Wilson, it's rare for Oracle King to accept challenges. Were you surprised? Or did you expect it?"
"Mr. Wilson, British media claim you've reached the Soul Realm. Is that true? Are you confident about this battle?"
"Mr. Wilson…"
The questions came nonstop.
Wilson seemed to revel in the attention. He answered slowly and confidently, "I've never met Oracle King. Like you, I've only heard the stories. But frankly, I don't think he's that impressive."
He smirked. "Yes, I was a little surprised he accepted the challenge—but I'm glad. This is my chance to prove who the real strongest is."
"The Oracle King's time is over. Now it's my era—Wilson's era. I'll prove with my strength that British martial artists surpass those of the United States!"
His voice was full of confidence.
"Humph! You arrogant clown! How dare you spout nonsense here?"
A cold snort rang out from the crowd.
Wilson's expression darkened. His voice turned icy. "Who said that? Don't think I don't understand American. Step out right now!"
"It was me."
A martial artist from the United States emerged from the crowd.
Among the spectators were many American martial artists and members of the national martial leagues.
To them, the King of Horizon—the Supreme Lord of the United States—was like a god.
Wilson's disrespectful words were not only a blasphemy against King of Horizon but also an insult to the pride of every American martial artist. It was infuriating.
The man who stepped forward said coldly, "Majesty King doesn't need to dirty his hands with someone like you."
"Oh?" Wilson narrowed his eyes dangerously. "You want to test my strength?"
The American martial artist sneered. "I'm honored to serve Majesty King. I'll kill a clown like you and send everyone home early for a shower and sleep."
With that, he strode toward Wilson.
A powerful force surged from his body. His accumulated Internal Energy exploded outward, transforming into a massive claw that tore through the sky—aimed directly at Wilson's head.
Venerable Realm.
This man had reached the Venerable Realm—a peerless master.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
Many nations—like the Philippines—couldn't produce a Venerable Realm martial artist even in a hundred years without genetic experimentation.
This was huge.
The media scrambled to capture the moment.
Even before the American fighter made contact, reporters had scattered like startled birds, fleeing the danger zone.
As for Wilson—
He didn't even bother dodging.
He sneered.
Boom!
Suddenly, he stomped the ground and launched himself skyward. His massive body surged upward like a cannonball, colliding head-on with the incoming claw of Internal Energy.
Crack!
In mid-air, Wilson swung his muscular arm. The energy claw shattered instantly, erupting into violent shockwaves.
Using the momentum from the burst of energy—
Wilson propelled himself forward, his body a blur.
Bang!
In a flash, his powerful knee smashed into the American martial artist's head—
—and shattered it into pieces.