From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 422

"Dani?"

Aria, standing beside Daphne, caught Leander using that nickname for Daphne. Her brows immediately furrowed.

Girls like her were naturally bold and revered strength above all else.

Daphne, the Florian family's daughter, was already a rising legend among the younger martial artists in Astria—a figure Aria both envied and respected. Yet here was Leander, a nobody, standing close enough to call her "Dani." The audacity of it made Aria's stomach twist.

"Sure."

The icy, aloof woman everyone spoke about smiled brightly at Leander, slid her arm through his as if it were the most natural gesture, and strode ahead with confidence.

Aria and her timid little brother, Grant, froze. The usually quiet Grant couldn't resist whispering, "Aria, isn't Daphne supposed to be paired with Ethan from the Ashcroft family? Then what's going on with Leander?"

Aria shook her head in confusion, equally at a loss, and followed behind them.

Leander walked with his hands in his pockets, blending into the crowd of young elites en route to the Dual Meridian Sect.

The sect sat in the heart of a mountain stream on the central island downriver from the Lyradon River. Generations of heirs had discovered this hidden sanctuary and invested heavily in master craftsmen to shape it into a discreet, inward-facing compound. The terrain was secretive, tucked deep into the mountains. Without a guide from Dual Meridian Sect, most people would never find the entrance.

Fortunately, today was the suitor-selection ceremony. Disciples of the sect were already waiting outside to usher guests from the martial world into the residence.

Led by a disciple, Leander and the others crossed the stream to a sheer rock face. The guide tapped lightly at the edge of the stone. Mechanisms clicked and whirred, revealing a massive hidden door.

"Rumor says the Dual Meridian Sect inherited the ancient Mohist school's legacy, and those people were famous for their ingenious contraptions. It seems the stories were true."

Daphne gazed at the concealed sanctuary, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

Leander nodded. In ancient times, the Mohist school's inventions had been unmatched, astonishing even among the Hundred Schools. They had devised mechanisms capable of repelling iron cavalry. Constructing a hidden mountain stronghold like this would have been a trivial task for them.

Though the sect was buried in the mountain, the interior glowed brilliantly. Jade lamps and crystal lanterns dotted the halls—a testament to immense wealth and a storied heritage.

Leander, however, barely noticed the ornate lighting. His eyes scanned the surrounding stone, narrowing in focus.

Claw marks. Half a foot deep. Razor-sharp. Every gash radiated raw ambition and dominance.

There was no doubt—these were not human marks.

So the Dual Meridian Sect is hiding something unusual.

He smirked inwardly. His spiritual strength rippled outward, forming a faint dome over the entire compound.

...

Meanwhile, deep inside the sect, in a stone chamber, someone snapped his eyes open. "What?"

He wore a black robe, his hands hidden within its sleeves. His aura was dense, heavy, and suffocating, compressing the very air in the room.

"Who is that?"

His gaze sharpened, his face tightening into a grave expression.

A beautiful woman in a colorful dress approached with graceful steps, clearly puzzled by his agitation.

"What's wrong? The ceremony hasn't even started. Why are you awake so early?"

The man pulled back his hood, revealing a handsome, hard-edged middle-aged face. His fingers curled slightly as he spoke, his voice low and measured.

"Just now, I sensed an immensely powerful surge of spiritual strength. In all my decades of training, aside from the overwhelming force I once felt at Ancient Lingster and Twinfang Sect, I have never encountered a third presence like that.

"But it vanished almost instantly. It felt as if it was probing us here in the Dual Meridian Sect. Now I sense nothing."

The woman blinked in surprise.

"Vanished? Could you have misjudged it?"

She was stunned. He was not merely a top-tier martial artist; he was exceptionally skilled in spiritual detection. If even he could not identify it, then not even someone from Infernal Crown Transcendent could have done so.

"If they can sit there, why can't we?"

She tried pulling Grant forward, but the gatekeeper lifted a foot and blocked her path. His voice turned colder.

"You're guests of Dual Meridian Sect, and we will treat you fairly.

But if you don't accept our arrangements, you may leave. If you try to force your way in, I won't hold back."

The message was unmistakable—one more step, and he would strike.

"You!" Aria's cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment, yet she did not dare move. She lacked strength, but even she sensed the crushing pressure radiating from him.

Up in the VIP row, a young woman stood calm as ever. When she caught the drama, she couldn't help snickering under her breath.

"Kian, they're seriously bold. They're at the Dual Meridian Sect and still pretending the rules don't count. Watching them get kicked out later is going to be a show."

Beside her sat a young man with a longsword on his lap, posture rigid and serious—Kian, one of the "Three Brilliants."

Kian smiled. "Dual Meridian Sect doesn't intimidate guests. But if they can't read the situation and end up removed, that's their own fault."

Mocking gazes gathered quickly, ready to watch Aria and Grant stumble into disgrace.

Humiliation burned through Aria. She had already begun stepping back toward the standard seats when a cheerful voice sounded behind her.

"In Edgemontale, Steelblade Hall shakes all of Astria. And that still isn't enough for one VIP seat at your sect?

"Move. Unless you want your Grandmaster questioning you later. You can't afford that."

The voice was light, yet it carried enough weight to make several people stiffen.

Kian, who had been casually talking in the VIP section, turned toward the sound. When he saw the speaker, his expression froze. Shock drained the color from his face.

"That's impossible. Why would he be here?"