The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection

Chapter 616

"More than 200 lives! And they were children! When you sleep at night, do their restless. souls never come to haunt you?" Felix's voice boomed, each word sharp as a blade.

Yates staggered back several steps, his face pale as a sheet. His gaze swept across the fallen sect members, none of whom dared meet his eyes.

Only the sect leader, overwhelmed with guilt, broke into sobs as he choked out an explanation. "W-We did it to save the sect! Ten years ago, something crippled all of Polaris businesses. We barely had enough money to keep the sect running for six months.

"Without resorting to desperate measures, Polaris would have crumbled. We had no other choice!"

Yates closed his eyes tightly as tears streaked down his face, his heart breaking at the revelation. For years, he had focused solely on his martial pursuits, oblivious to the horrors hidden beneath the surface..

Titus, Uzziah, and Thaddeus were equally stunned. None of them could have imagined that a prestigious sect like Polaris had committed such monstrous atrocities.

"Poor Yates..." Uzziah let out a heavy sigh. He knew Yates' character well enough to be certain that he had no knowledge of these crimes.

have stopped it immediately, but now, it was too late for

excuses.

the air, piercing the bodies of the fallen elders. Their

the innocent, but these instigators? They

arms falling limply to his sides. "In my heart and conscience, I owe an unpayable debt to those children. But as the leader of Polaris, I can't let you leave unchallenged." He straightened his posture, his voice resolute. "I'll take three strikes from you.

had been unaware of Polaris' crimes, but

roared as he

of golden light, accompanied by a deep, resonant dragon's roar that seemed to send chills down everyone's

Chapter 616

force, Yates stood his ground, making no move to defend himself. He took the hit head-on, and his body jolted from the impact. As the dust settled, he remained upright,

his expression grim. "No, he hit him. That punch almost killed Yates. If Yates had tried to counter or block, he'd be gravely injured

was stunned. "So, in a real fight, Yates wouldn't

tone