A Dragon Among Tigers

Three Hours Later...

The necklace ceased emitting its radiant aura and gently descended into Alice's hand. The glowing energy retreated back into her body, leaving the market in stunned silence. As the crowd murmured in confusion, struggling to process what had just transpired, Alice's protector acted swiftly. Without hesitation, he grabbed both Samael and Alice, teleporting them high above the market, into the vast expanse of the clouds.

"What the hell was that, boy?" the protector demanded, his voice sharp with concern.

"I knew it was a growth treasure, but I didn't expect that to happen. I just wanted to give Alice a present," Samael replied sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

"You're lucky. If anything had happened to her, even as the heir of the Forte Family, I would have killed you myself," the protector growled, his eyes narrowing.

"Whatever, whatever," Samael waved off the threat nonchalantly. "Now, Alice, tell us what that necklace does."

Excitedly, Alice began to explain.

Ten Minutes Later...

The necklace was called Athena's Heart, a rare and powerful growth treasure. Unlike ordinary artifacts, growth treasures evolved alongside their owners, feeding on their aura. While this would slightly slow Alice's cultivation speed, the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.

Athena's Heart enhanced comprehension, allowing Alice to grasp techniques and break through bottlenecks faster. As it grew, its effects would only become more potent. Additionally, the necklace could transform into four distinct forms:

Spear: Possessing the attribute of absolute sharpness, it could pierce through anything, provided Alice's cultivation was sufficient.

Shield: With the attribute of absolute defense, it could block any attack.

Owl: A sentient metal construct capable of fighting, scouting, or delivering messages.

Aegis: A cloak that concealed Alice from prying eyes, hiding her cultivation and reducing her presence. (Though it wouldn't fool those with significantly higher cultivation—yet.)

"Wow, that's amazing, Alice! I'm so happy for you," Samael said, his amethyst eyes shimmering with genuine joy. "Who would've thought we'd find something like that at a random vendor?"

Alice beamed, clutching the necklace tightly.

The protector, still wary, teleported them back to the Forte household. "Boy, don't spread this around. A treasure like that will attract unwanted attention, and you don't want to endanger Alice, do you?" he cautioned.

"Of course not!" Samael declared firmly.

For the first time, the protector's stern expression softened into a slight smile. He nodded before leading Alice away.

"Byeeee, Sami! Thank you for the necklace!" Alice called out, waving enthusiastically as they disappeared into the distance.

As Samael turned to head inside, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was his parents, William and Victoria.

"Uh, before I explain, let me just say there was definitely no treasure," Samael said quickly, attempting to deflect.

William chuckled. "My son, you don't need to lie. We already know."

"What? How?"

"Sami, don't be silly. We're in the Law Manifestation Realm. Did you really think we wouldn't detect such a massive surge of aura?" Victoria teased. "Even the Emperor noticed. You're lucky we got there first."

"We created a barrier to shield you from other powerhouses, so don't worry. It's fine," William reassured him.

"Phew, thank you, Mom and Dad. I'm going back inside to consolidate my cooking," Samael said, dashing into the house before they could say more.

Once he was gone, William and Victoria's playful expressions faded, replaced by grim seriousness.

"Do those bastards think the reputation of the Forte Family is a joke?" William snarled.

"Damn it, they're lucky we had to maintain the barrier, or we would've killed them," Victoria seethed. "And why were their faces hidden? It's as if they were hired."

William facepalmed. "Dear, I think they were."

"Hey, don't patronize me!"

Three Hours Earlier...

As Athena's Heart began to awaken, William, Victoria, and the Emperor materialized above the market.

"Your Majesty," William and Victoria solemnly greeted.

"Victoria, William," the Emperor acknowledged with a nod.

"Let's set up a barrier. We don't want the kids in danger," William suggested.

"Agreed," the Emperor said.

As the three Dao Realm powerhouses stood guard, a dozen figures clad in black descended upon them, their murderous intent palpable.

"Who are you?" Victoria demanded, but the only response was a swift jab aimed at her throat. She blocked it effortlessly and countered with a flaming fist, sending the attacker flying.

The mysterious figures' cultivation ranged from the 9th floor of the Soulforge Realm to the 3rd floor of the Law Manifestation Realm. Individually, they were no match for William, Victoria, or the Emperor, who were all at the peak of the Law Manifestation Realm.

However, the attackers quickly regrouped, their formation amplifying their strength to terrifying levels, allowing them to hold their own.

William and Victoria fought in perfect sync, their movements fluid and precise.

Victoria summoned her weapon—a set of boxer's bandages that crackled with thunder and burned with flame. Each punch she threw was followed by a fist of light, dealing devastating damage. She lived up to her nickname, Asura, a monster on the battlefield.

As she repelled her enemies, Victoria began charging a powerful attack. Her left fist glowed with the eerie purple of the Nether Element, while her right burned with the scorching Light Element. This was a fusion of conflicting forces, tripling the strength of her next strike.

A massive fist of purple and white aura shot toward the attackers, the explosion shattering the sky like glass and distorting the space around them. It seemed the enemies had been vaporized.

William scanned the area. "They escaped."

"How?" Victoria asked, confused.

"The space element. Someone teleported them away. Lucky bastards," William muttered.

"As long as they're gone, it's fine. We just need to protect the kids," the Emperor said calmly.

"You're right," William and Victoria agreed.

The Emperor's Perspective...

They are strong, much stronger than I thought. Both of them are at the peak of the Law Manifestation Realm—or at least that's the strength they're showing on the surface. It's a good thing all the cards are in my hands, the Emperor mused darkly. It's a good thing my Body of Laws is almost complete. Once it is, I'll have the absolute strength to deal with anything that comes my way. All tricks and traps are useless in the face of overwhelming power!

The Emperor was not merely in the Law Manifestation Realm as he had led others to believe. He was a Great Sage, an existence far above billions of others! If the Law Manifestation Realm was a tiger, he was a dragon, capable of crushing Law Manifestation cultivators with a mere wave of his hand.

But just how deeply was he hiding his true strength? And what was he waiting for?

For the next three hours, the three powerhouses stood guard, ensuring no further threats emerged. The children were safe, and the market returned to its usual bustle, blissfully unaware of the battle that had unfolded high above.