Chapter 68 The Mighty Eagle's Claw " Mr. Leander . " 68 Finished At the top floor of the Leandrix Corp. building , Leander reclined on a plush couch , savoring his tea . Beside him , Frankie fidgeted anxiously , as restless as an ant on a hot pan , unable to find comfort in his seat . On the coffee table before them lay a striking red and black envelope , emblazoned with bold letters : " For Jeff , personally opened . " Both Leander and Frankie had already perused the letter's contents . " What do you intend to do ? " Frankie asked , his brow furrowed deeply as he awaited Leander's decision . " What to do ? " Leander took another slow sip of his tea before responding , his tone calm and composed . " They've already thrown down the gauntlet . Am I supposed to ignore it ? " Frankie's face tightened further , the anxiety almost palpable . " Mr. Leander , have you thought this through ? " He hesitated , then added , " That is the Tarlyn Guild ." Although Frankie wasn't a practitioner of martial arts , he knew enough to understand the weight of the challenge . The Tarlyn family dominated Mornwick , their influence bolstered by generations of elite martial artists . They were a force deeply entrenched in history , and no easy opponent . " Reuben alone commands respect across Northridge , " Frankie continued , his concern growing . " And now Mason , their second - in - command , has issued a personal challenge . They must be certain of their strength . " While Frankie couldn't fathom the full extent of Mason's abilities , he knew Mason's position in the Tarlyn hierarchy exceeded Reuben's , meaning he was an even more formidable threat . Frankie understood that Leander was strong , but the comparison to the Tarlyn family - an entire clan , not just one person - made the situation feel overwhelming . After all , the Tarlyns had ruled Mornwick for centuries . " Are you afraid I'll lose ? " Leander's voice held a note of amusement as he smiled at his companion's worry . " If I can't handle the Tarlyn family , how could I hope to rule over anyone in the future ? " His tone was dismissive but not unkind . " Don't worry . The Tarlyns are nothing I can't deal with ." Leander stood and stretched leisurely . " Prepare me a car . In three days , I'll head to Mount Lurvale . " 1/5 13:06 Sun , Oct 12 M ... Chapter 68 The Mighty Eagle's Claw 68 Finished Seeing the firm resolve in Leander's eyes , Frankie knew further protests would be pointless . He simply nodded , heavy with reluctant acceptance . Three days later , on the Southridge expressway , a sleek blue BMW 5 Series sped along the road . Leander sat behind the wheel , one hand resting under his chin while the other idly guided the car toward Mount Lurvale . open After two hours , he arrived at the base of the mountain's outer peaks . Southridge's Ravenridge was famous for its nine towering summits , divided into five outer peaks , three inner peaks , and one central peak , where the Tarlyn family resided . Leander parked in an open clearing and began his ascent , taking slow , measured steps up the mountainside . To his surprise , a crowd of at least several dozen people accompanied him , all making their way toward the main peak . Every one of these individuals was a martial practitioner . From what Leander could sense , even the weakest among them was at the peak of their martial cultivation , something that piqued his curiosity . It wasn't every day so many skilled fighters gathered in one place . " Interesting , " he mused to himself . " The Tarlyn family has kept to themselves for five years , and now they resurface with Mason ready to make a public move . Looks like today's going to be quite the spectacle . " " That's an understatement , " someone behind him said . " Mason has been a Grandmaster for five years . Even if he hasn't fully entered the realm of a Martial Sovereign , he's on the cusp . This battle's bound to showcase the Tarlyn family's skills . We didn't travel all this way for nothing ." Two martial artists brushed past Leander , deep in conversation . " It's a rare sight to see Mason take matters into his own hands . I'm curious about this Jeff . Never heard of him before . How did he end up crossing paths with the Tarlyn Guild ? " " Who knows , " the other replied with a dismissive shrug . " He's probably some up - and - coming rogue cultivator with a bit of skill . But it doesn't matter where he came from . By provoking the Tarlyn Guild , he's made the biggest mistake of his life . Now that Mason's involved , I doubt anyone will hear Jeff's name again after this fight at Mount Lurvale . " As martial artists passed by , hushed conversations filled the air , thick with anticipation . Leander furrowed his brow , surprised by how many people already knew about his upcoming duel with Mason . It took only a moment of reflection for him to piece it together . The Tarlyn Guild had clearly spread word of the event , ensuring that the fight would be a spectacle . Their plan was obvious : crush him in front of the many ancient martial practitioners from Mornwick , sending a clear message . Not only would it serve as a brutal warning , but it 2/5 13:06 Sun , Oct 12 M. ... 6″ ) ' Chapter 68 The Mighty Eagle's Claw would also solidify their control over the region . Finished " What a clever game they're playing ," Leander mused , a faint smirk pulling at his lips , tinged with irony . Most of those gathered were certain he'd fall . Little did they realize what Jeff was truly capable of . As Leander made his way halfway up the mountain , he abruptly halted , his attention drawn to the dense thicket on his left . A dull thud echoed through the trees . Boom ! A subtle ripple of energy pulsed through the air , stirring the leaves around him , hinting at a nearby struggle . Curious , he pressed forward , taking several steps until his eyes settled on an elderly man dressed in a flowing blue robe . Though he appeared to be around sixty , time seemed to have barely touched him . His movements were vigorous and precise , his fingers curling into a menacing eagle - claw shape as he moved with the grace of a dragon . Beside him stood a young woman , perhaps in her twenties , wearing a flowing green dress that swayed with the wind . Petite in stature , she carried a striking beauty , her presence delicate yet enchanting . Before them loomed a hulking black bear , its massive form reminiscent of a small mountain . With a mighty swipe of its paw , the creature snapped a young tree in half . Yet despite the bear's fierce onslaught - its biting , swiping , and snarling - the old man moved effortlessly , as if carried by the breeze , dodging every attack with ease . With each exchange , his sharp claw strikes carved bloody gashes into the bear's thick hide . Leander cast a casual glance at the scene , fully intending to continue on his way when , without warning , the young woman stepped in front of him , blocking his path . " Hey , little boy ! What are you doing ? " she demanded , her tone carrying a haughty edge . " Can't you see my grandpa is fighting that monster bear ? If you go any closer , you'll end up getting yourself killed ! " Her voice held the unmistakable air of privilege , the kind that came from a life lived in comfort and protection - a sheltered young lady , used to having her way . " Little boy ? " Leander couldn't suppress a chuckle . The girl , barely out of her youth , spoke with such exaggerated authority , addressing him as though she were some elder . 3/5 13:06 Sun , Oct 12 P ... Chapter 68 The Mighty Eagles Claw Leander chose not to respond and simply attempted to sidestep her . But before he could slip past , the girl stubbornly grabbed his sleeve , her impatience clear in her sharp tone . " I told you not to go over there . Can't you understand ? * She barely spared him a proper glance , clearly assuming that among the many martial artists gathered at Mount Lurvale , he was just another ordinary bystander - someone who hadn't even cultivated inner strength . Her arrogance radiated off her , especially as she noticed his audacity in approaching while her grandfather was locked in combat with the bear . To her , his actions seemed nothing short of foolish . Leander's eyes narrowed , a coldness creeping into his gaze . Just as he was about to speak , a sudden shout rang out from the old man . His figure blurred , moving like a gust of wind as he darted to the bear's left . With a powerful sweep of his clawed hand , he struck down with precision , aiming for the bear's skull . Crack ! The sharp sound echoed through the air as the old man's fingers clenched tightly , resembling the talons of a hawk . The bear's thick skull shattered with an unsettling ease , as if it were no stronger than an eggshell . The massive creature collapsed to the ground with a resounding thud . " Bravo ! Bravo ! " The girl squealed in delight , her hands clapping together in excitement . " Grandpa , your ' Mighty Eagle Claw ' has reached such a level that it can crush steel beads and shatter bones ! When are you going to teach me this amazing technique ? " The old man brushed off the bear's lifeless form as if he were discarding a piece of trash . Turning to the girl , his expression softened with a warm smile . " Cheryl , my Mighty Eagle Claw ' isn't something mastered easily . Have you forgotten the trials your older brother went through to learn it ? " At his words , the girl's excitement instantly faded . She gasped and shook her head vigorously , the memory of her brother's struggles clearly haunting her . Though the technique was powerful , the price to learn it was something she wasn't eager to pay . Leander , watching the scene unfold , saw that their little performance had come to an end . He turned to leave , hoping to continue on his way , but the girl quickly stepped forward again , once more blocking his path . " Hold on a minute , little boy ! " she called out , her voice filled with curiosity . " Are you also here to watch the battle between Mason and Jeff ? " 4/5