C2 !

"Malen!"

Belinda's delicate frame quivered with fury.

Lachlan was her husband, after all!

For three years, despite his lackluster presence, he had silently stood by her side, never uttering a single word of complaint.

"Honey, please, don't be angry. Maybe you could go inside first, and I'll follow in a bit," Lachlan pleaded, his fists clenched tightly.

"You!"

Belinda's eyes blazed with fire.

She was utterly frustrated with him!

To be so passive in the face of such insult—did he even have a backbone?

"Do whatever you want!"

With a heavy heart, Belinda turned and entered the shrine without looking back.

"Hmph, at least you're sensible!"

Malen retracted his hand, gave Lachlan a patronizing pat on the face, and turned to follow her inside.

The surrounding Murphy family members and guests gradually made their way into the shrine, their mocking gazes falling upon Lachlan.

They looked at him as if he were mere garbage, with nothing but disdain.

Before long,

Lachlan was standing there alone.

"I meant to say, I'll be right there," Lachlan whispered, his gaze fixed on the direction Belinda had gone.

Then, with a surge of emotion, he approached a nearby signpost and, with a powerful kick, splintered it into fragments.

"The world sees me as less than nothing," he proclaimed, "yet they're clueless that I, Lachlan, am the true sovereign of this world!"

A formidable presence erupted from him, sweeping outward as if a monarch had made his entrance. The earlier defeatism was nowhere to be seen.

Standing with his hands behind his back, he exuded the aura of a king.

The trace of his former meekness had vanished.

After calming his mind, Lachlan pulled out his phone and dialed a secret number.

"Three years. Has the assessment concluded?"

Lachlan inquired, his voice cool and composed.

"Yes, distinguished Master, you have completed the trial. From today onwards, the Dragon King Hall, with its three realms, six domains, and seventy-two generals, will honor you as their supreme leader,"

"The vast majority of the power and wealth controlled by the Dragon King Hall are now yours to command."

The voice on the line replied with profound respect.

"Good,"

Lachlan responded, ending the call. A wave of lightheadedness washed over him.

Five years ago, Lachlan faced persecution from his family and nearly met his end in a foreign land, but was fortuitously rescued by an old priest.

The priest took him under his wing for two years, eventually bestowing upon him the esteemed title of Master of the Dragon King Hall.

The stipulation was that he had to marry into the Murphy family and serve as a live-in son-in-law for three years to hone his temperament.

Now, the time had come.

The trial was over.

He had transformed from water to dragon.

"Can the threshold of the Murphy family shrine really hold back the mighty Master of the Dragon King Hall?" Lachlan mused, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

Half an hour later, within the Murphy family shrine.

"May our ancestors bless the Murphy family with a legacy of prosperity and grandeur that spans the ages!" proclaimed the current matriarch, gripping her dragon-headed cane with commanding presence.

"Grandmother, with your sagacious guidance, we in the Murphy family are confident we will ascend to even greater heights!" Malen said as he stepped up to support the Old Matriarch, his words dripping with adulation.

"Our family abounds with remarkable talents; our future is destined to shine brighter!"

"Indeed, this year Malen alone generated two million in revenue! If the younger generation emulates his example, the Murphy family's rise is inevitable!"

"Malen is indeed a rare gem in our family, a true standout not just here but across all of Virenthia!"

The Murphy family's prominent members didn't miss the chance to heap praise on Malen.

"Excellent! Excellent! Wonderful!" The Old Matriarch beamed at Malen, nodding in satisfaction before scanning the gathering and adding, "Our family's current prosperity is thanks in no small part to the help of our esteemed friends in Virenthia! Now, let's see which notable figures our kin have invited to today's ancestral worship."

With her statement, a ripple of anticipation spread through the shrine. It was common knowledge that the main event was upon them.

In keeping with tradition, the ability to draw important guests to the ceremony was a testament to one's networking prowess, and it often meant securing a substantial portion of the family's resources for the coming year.

"Grandmother, I have the honor of having the General Manager of Brilliant Construction Company attend our ancestral worship this year!"

"Grandmother, I've had the privilege of inviting the esteemed Doctor Watts to join us!"

"I've managed to bring Mr. Hawk, the big shot of the bar district, to our gathering!"

"..."

One by one, the Murphy family's key members proudly introduced their guests, each vying to outshine the others.

The Old Matriarch nodded with a warm smile at each introduction, her approval evident.

Finally, it came down to the last two introductions:

Malen.

And Belinda!

"Grandma, I'm confident my friend will not disappoint you!" Malen declared, casting a smug glance at Belinda as he stepped forward.

"Oh? Who might that be?" the Old Matriarch inquired, her interest clearly piqued.

"The young master of Ebon International, Jordan Carr!" Malen announced, inflating his chest with pride.

As he concluded, a young man sporting a slicked-back hairstyle emerged from the crowd, acknowledging the room with a polite nod.

It was none other than Jordan.

"Wonderful! Mr. Carr, we're honored by your presence," the Old Matriarch said, expressing her gratitude for the first time to a guest at the ancestral worship ceremony.

Ebon International—a powerhouse in dining, supermarkets, and real estate, and notably, the operator of Virenthia's largest financial firm—was a significant ally for the financially embattled Murphy family.

"Ah, Belinda, it's your turn to shine, isn't it?" Malen said with a sneer. "With your charm, I'm sure you can muster some connections."

His smirk was laced with sarcasm, insinuating that Belinda relied on her looks to build relationships.

"You!" Belinda fumed, her cheeks so flushed they seemed on the verge of bleeding.

Her father's lineage was overlooked by the Old Matriarch, leaving them scant resources and influence. How could they hope to attract any notable figures?

As a result, her family had received a paltry share of the clan's resources over the years.

"What's wrong? No guests to introduce?" Malen prodded.

"But wait, doesn't your family have a live-in son-in-law who's a deliveryman? I've heard he's even delivered to the Elm Estate. Surely, that's a network worth leveraging?"

Malen's sarcasm was relentless, his aim to strip Belinda of her dignity and challenge her future role in the company.

Belinda bowed her head, her fists clenched so tight her nails nearly drew blood.

The sight of the Old Matriarch shaking her head in disappointment was like a needle to Belinda's heart.

At that moment, the grand doors began to open gradually, revealing two silhouettes.

One was Lachlan.

Accompanying him was an elderly man, his beard a snowy white.

"Esaias of Mirthdale, here by invitation!"