From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 439

"Take me to the Dragon Gate."

Leander's eyes grew darker as he stared straight at Wyatt. He was never the kindhearted type. Everything he did came with a purpose, and he always had his own reasons for stepping in.

He had helped the Dual Meridian Sect deal with the Bloody Palm Sect partly because he couldn't stand watching that Bloody Palm Sect run wild and terrorize the Shadowrealm. But more importantly, the Dual Meridian Sect had something he wanted.

On his way here, he had already spotted claw marks carved into the stone walls. All of them belonged to four-toed wyrm beasts. Deepcoil Dragon carried pure-dragon ancestry, so they counted as wyrmkin too. Leander was almost sure those marks came from a Deepcoil Dragon.

Even if they weren't made by one, the claw prints alone proved that some beast with pure-dragon ancestry lived in this Hidden Haven. The sect even had a legend about a Dragon Gate, which meant they probably held information he couldn't afford to miss.

The members of the Dual Meridian Sect finally recovered from the shock of seeing Leander obliterate Fergus. Clara and Wyatt exchanged a look and both nodded.

Wyatt cupped his fists and bowed deeply to Leander. Everyone behind him followed his lead. Even the guards and the inner hall attendants joined in, not to mention the elders and heirs.

"Thank you, Sovereign Ashcroft. You saved the Dual Meridian Sect from a disaster." Wyatt continued, "Dragon Gate is a secret we never reveal. But after what you've done for us, we'll honor our promise. We'll take you to it."

He straightened up and gestured toward the path. "This way. We can talk inside."

With so many outsiders in the hall, he couldn't reveal anything publicly about something as guarded as the Dragon Gate.

"Alright." Leander nodded and gave Daphne a small smile. She understood immediately and hurried to follow him.

He had only taken a few steps when he paused and turned to the Clarkes' siblings.

"If you want people to recognize you… If you want the Steelblade Hall to rise again… relying on someone else won't get you far. You both have enough strength to bring honor to your own hall. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

He didn't wait for their reaction. He simply took Daphne's hand and disappeared down the long corridor.

Aria stood frozen for a moment, his words echoing through her chest. Then she suddenly lifted her head, as if something finally clicked.

"Right. Our Steelblade Hall wasn't even known in Edgemontale back then. Dad built everything step by step. He never relied on anyone. So why should we? If he could do it, so can we."

She smacked Grant on the shoulder, her expression firm and bright with determination. "Grant, let's head back. Keep training. One day, we'll make sure people across Astria know the name Steelblade Hall."

Grant nodded even though he clearly didn't fully understand. Then he got up as well.

Aria looked in the direction where Leander had vanished. Gratitude stirred inside her, mixed with a quiet ache.

"Jeff Ashcroft, I'll remember you for the rest of my life." She whispered it under her breath before turning away with Grant and leaving the Dual Meridian Sect behind.

The rest of the crowd exchanged looks, unsure whether they should stay or leave. What was supposed to be a simple selection event for a son-in-law had spiraled into chaos and drawn in forces far beyond their league.

A harmless gathering of young talents had turned into a battle between transcendent powerhouses. The people who came hoping to become the sect's chosen groom now sat in awkward silence, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

As Leander walked farther away under the elders' guidance, Elara finally snapped back to herself.

A spark flashed in her eyes. Then she lifted her hand and removed her silken veil. The moment her looks appeared, the entire hall seemed to brighten.

"Everyone, I apologize for the fright today. The Dual Meridian Sect faced a crisis, but thanks to Sovereign Ashcroft, we survived. Since the danger has passed, our selection event will continue. Whoever manages to defeat me will become our future son-in-law and cultivate the dual arts with me."

The moment she spoke and revealed her looks, the hundred or so young prodigies in the hall perked up again.

"When I reached the Aorinth Peaks, I used it to open a massive iron gate.

"I didn't realize until then how terrifying the world could be. A black dragon appeared. It walked on four scaled claws. With just one breath, I couldn't even move.

"To build my dual cultivation sect, I did something reckless. I made a wish to that dragon. I didn't expect it to understand me. But it did. It flew out of the Aorinth Peaks and into the Central Realm. It wiped out every enemy in our way and circled the place I chose for our sect like a guardian.

"Then about six or seven years ago, something happened. The dragon suddenly dropped from the sky. It fell, rotted away, and died. That incident was reported everywhere. People called it the Harrowside Fallen Dragon case."

"What?" Daphne gasped. "So that's what really happened?"

She turned to Leander. He looked thoughtful.

After a long moment, he spoke, "So the real Dragon Gate isn't here. It's in the Aorinth Peaks."

Wyatt and Clara both nodded without hesitation.

Leander rubbed the bridge of his nose, remembering Christopher's phone call.

Isn't that the very stretch of land they call Edgemontale—the place where all those strange signs keep popping up?

He sank into thought again, eyes darkening with a new possibility.

"Could the Dragon Gate be connected to the strange treasure that surfaced this time?"