Before long, Jared’s attention locked onto one individual in the group. A man clad entirely in white sat at the center, his sharp features accentuated by two horns on his head. The other beast race cultivators kept their distance, clearly wary of him.
“Who’s the guy with the horns?” Jared asked, pointing toward the man in the middle.
“That’s Claude Barretta,” Ezio whispered. “He likes to claim he’s a descendant of the Draconians, but he’s just a python. He’s strong, though, so nobody messes with him.”
“Descendant of the Draconians?” Jared asked, scrutinizing Claude.
The horns did resemble those of a dragon. If a sea serpent grew horns, it could transform into a true dragon. Perhaps this Claude wasn’t bluffing after all.
“How did he end up here?” Jared pressed.
“I don’t know,” Ezio admitted. “Some people weren’t brought here against their will. All I know is, every time we’re let out, he and his group are always under that tree. We can’t get close. We’d be beaten up if we do.”
“Why does he act like he owns the place? This is a prison, not his territory. What gives him the right to stop others?” Jared scoffed, a cold smile tugging at his lips as he began walking toward the tree.
“Wait, don’t!” Ezio called out, trying to stop him. “You have no idea how strong he is, or the extent of his power. If you go over there, we could be in real trouble!”
But Jared shrugged off Ezio’s grip and continued. Their brief tug-of-war caught Claude’s attention. He lifted his head, his piercing gaze locking onto Jared’s. In that instant, both men seemed to assess each other’s strength.
The other beast race cultivators quickly stood, sensing the tension. Claude made a subtle gesture, and within moments, a dozen of them surrounded Jared and Ezio.
Ezio’s face went pale. Panic set in, and without hesitation, he let go of Jared and retreated a safe distance. Self-preservation was his priority, and he wasn’t about to get involved in a fight that could endanger him.
The group of cultivators surrounding Jared were all of Ultimate Realm Level One or Two. Jared scanned them with a calm but disdainful expression.
“Kid, this isn’t your place. Get lost!” one of them, a man with snake-like eyes, hissed menacingly.
“Is this your territory?” Jared shot back, unfazed. “I’ll go wherever I please. What are you going to do about it?”
He crossed his arms, his tone sharp with defiance. “And by the way, you’re locked up just like the rest of us. What’s there to brag about?”
Jared’s calm retort left the group momentarily stunned. None of them had expected such boldness from a mere Tribulator.
Standing before a dozen Ultimate Realm cultivators, Jared showed no hint of fear. On the contrary, his words carried a biting insolence that only deepened their astonishment.
“You’ve got guts, kid,” the man hissed, his anger flaring. “Do you really think you’ve got nothing to fear just because murder’s not allowed in here? Let me tell you something-I have ways to make your life a living hell.”
Death, after all, wasn’t the worst fate a cultivator could face. In the hands of seasoned cultivators like these, the methods of torment were endless.
Jared’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re a snake demon, aren’t you? Cultivation’s no easy feat, so why not take your own advice and slither off to one side? Annoy me too much, and I might just find your weak point and cut you to ribbons.”
The man’s face darkened, his anger boiling over. “Kid, don’t push your luck…” he snarled.
With a furious wave of his hand, the man barked an order, and the dozen cultivators around him began to close in on Jared, their intentions unmistakable.
