The Medallion

Rocky and the others headed to the Cao Clan since it wouldn't be possible for them to casually meet Woods, who was now the emperor of the Timber Deity Empire. He intended to ask Queenie to take them to the royal palace to meet him instead.

Due to the constraints of time, accompanied by Queenie and Lucas, Rocky left the Cao Clan and headed to the royal palace soon after.

After passing through the strict security at the royal palace gates, Rocky and the others were finally ushered to the side hall.

They didn't have to wait long. Woods walked in, looking imposing in his imperial robe. He was no longer the humble prince they once knew. The officer had reported to him that the chief of the Cao Clan had arrived to see him, and Woods thought that it was only Queenie who was waiting for him. He stopped abruptly in his tracks when he saw Rocky standing in the hall, smiling broadly at him. His eyes widened in surprise and Woods quickened his pace towards Rocky.

"Oh, come on now! It has hardly been a year. Why are you so excited?" Rocky teased as the smile at the corners of his lips grew wider.

"Finally! I have been waiting for you! I thought you wouldn't come!" Woods exclaimed, grabbing Rocky's shoulder. He heaved a deep sigh, as if the man's mere presence gave him hope.

"Where is Alyssa? I want to see her," Rocky said with urgency in his voice.

The smile faded from Woods' face. "She's not here as she has been taken back to the Wood Clan," Woods said seriously.

"The Wood Clan? Is she really..." Rocky shook his head and pinched his brows in frustration.

"The Wood Clan has already decided to exchange her for a spiritual treasure, and she is not in a position to disobey their order," Woods sighed.

"Why? She has a legendary guardian beast! Why do they have to use her for the exchange?" Rocky asked with a deep frown.

nothing about it, even though he was now the emperor of an empire. The Wood Clan was the spiritual race backing their empire, and they were free to decide whatever they pleased. He had no control over the Wood Clan, whatsoever. It was the same in Alyssa's case as well.

could see, this was an absolutely useless bargain for the Wood Clan. Alyssa had a legendary guardian beast, something the clan badly wanted to get their hands on. The only reason they were making this deal was because they thought that Alyssa's seal could never be removed. Exchanging a spiritual treasure with

have a solution," Rocky said after considering all

Woods shook Rocky's shoulder, unable to check

half of the spiritual treasure we had found in the Hell of Dragon

from the spiritual race took that

for Lucas and Queenie to hear about this too. No one who had taken part in the treasure hunting knew about

we need to hear her opinion first. If she has already made up her mind to marry into the Heavenly Demon Clan, we can't force

She left a letter with me before she was taken away. She asked me to give it to you whenever

only one sentence in the letter—"May

his palm and the letter

away," Rocky said

going into the Wood Clan alone?" Woods asked with concern when

arrangements." Rocky knew that

Clan," he said, his smile widening. The two of them came to a

replied, nodding his approval. Using the dowries as cover, they could approach Alyssa without arousing the suspicion

of us show up. We should pick our best hands for the job," Woods stated, looking around

and Woods nailed down the details and an elite group of escorts was finalized. Twenty people including Woods' best hands and the Cao Clan's members were picked. Queenie and Lucas were included too.

girls were dressed in men's clothes, although it was still difficult to hide their charm. Rocky

next morning, they set out for the Wood Clan with the