If the intel was urate, then ckwood Thomas had sprouted a pair of massive, blood-red wings.


    ckwood Anthony now bore a vertical eye on his forehead, while ckwood Linda wielded six weapons with her six arms.


    ckwood Kevin''s back writhed with slender tentacles, ckwood Paul sported both horns and a tail, and ckwood Yun was covered in ck scales.


    As for Andrew, he now stood as a colossal giant, towering over 16 feet tall!


    Their forms were monstrous, yet they exuded no demonic aura, only an overwhelming wave of dark, arcane energy and Druidic power.


    The totems used by Druid priests glowed brightly in their presence, and the mystical artifacts they carried pulsed with an eerie light.


    "ckwood... what are these abominations?!" Neil eximed, her vast experience failing to prepare her for the sight of the ckwood''s third generation.


    But... that was all they were.


    "Every single one of them is at the peak of Developing Skill, still an insurmountable chasm away from Competent Force.


    Though rumors im they''re immortal, they''re nothing to worry about."


    Neil couldn''t afford to be distracted by these seven creatures, but she didn''t let her guard down.


    "There are still three more."


    Soon, the remaining three came into view.


    Three...


    "The ckwood sent you lot?!" Neil stared at the three figures perched on the shoulders of Curtis (one of the third generation), momentarily stunned before bursting intoughter, a mixture of amusement and anger.


    "Laughable! Absolutelyughable! You dare to stand against me?!"


    The air, heavy with her resigned eptance moments ago, crackled as she unleashed her suppressed power.


    "You''re courting death!"


    She had assumed the final three would be formidable Competent Force experts like Nathan.


    Never did she imagine they would be Jessica''s peers!


    These were the most infamous trio in Cloudview County, whispered to be the ckwood family''s shame.


    They were notorious for their deceitful schemes andck of genuine strength.


    Even the most capable among them, George, rumored to have inherited the true teachings of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, was said to waste his talents on robbing ancient graves, neglecting even his own grand sect.


    Justin was even more pathetic, a mere clown who acted recklessly before true power, often suffering humiliating defeats.


    If not for the ckwood''s backing, he would have met his demise long ago.


    And then there was William, a coward who preyed only on the weak!


    "Hahaha, you?! You think you stand a chance?!" Neil cackled, pointing at Jessica in the distance.


    Whether it was relief at surviving her encounter with Marcus or the sheer absurdity of the situation, she couldn''t contain herughter.


    "The ckwood Thirteen, reduced to this sorry bunch? You are utterly..."


    Herughter died in her throat, reced by a maelstrom of rage.


    "You overestimate yourselves!!!"


    The terrifying aura of a Competent Force expert at the Out-of-Body stage erupted from her, rivaling the strength of those on the强者榜 (Power Ranking).


    She could sense Marcus approaching from afar, but... this was enough!


    Neil red at Jessica, who had furrowed her brow.


    "It seems you truly mistake me for an ordinary peak Competent Force expert.


    You have no idea what a true Out-of-Body stage Competent Force is capable of.


    Unless every single one of you has a trump card like Marcus..."


    "By this time next year, the ckwood will have thirteen Psychic Positions to fill!!!"


    ...


    "Hahaha!" Neil''sughter echoed through the sky.


    If not for her recent, humiliating retreat from Marcus, she might have been mistaken for the victor she pretended to be.


    However, the ckwood family members simply stared back at her, their expressions unreadable.


    Their calmness unnerved her.


    "Why aren''t you afraid? Unless each of you has a hidden ace up your sleeve, you''re finished!"


    A fierce wind whipped around her, her golden silk robe shimmering.


    The millstone reappeared behind her, and she wielded both her top-grade ability weapon, the Fortune Coin, and the Treasure Basin.


    The power emanating from her now surpassed even what she had disyed against Marcus.


    In the face of her fury, Jessica calmly stated, "Neil, you''re terrified, aren''t you?"


    Neil''s eyes flickered with panic for a fleeting moment before she gritted her teeth.


    "You think so little of me?!"


    "Someone like you wouldn''t act so recklessly unless they were consumed by fear and had lost all reason."


    Jessica''s words only fueled Neil''s rage, seemingly solidifying her resolve.


    The usuallyposed Fortune Sanctum elder, who had fled at the mere sight of Marcus, now radiated an almost manic confidence.


    Thest vestiges of fear vanished from her eyes.


    "Hahaha, afraid? Of you insignificant ants? What is there to fear?!"


    "Very well. Then we''ll show you exactly what you should be afraid of."


    With that, Jessica nodded at her family.


    In an instant, the totems behind the ckwood''s third generation rose into the air.


    Georgemuned with the remnants of his predecessors within his soul sea.


    Most of them surged into him, his power skyrocketing.


    Only three remained, meditating within his soul sea.


    Instead of joining the fight, George retrieved his ancient zither, the instrument he used for grave robbing.


    As his fingers danced across the strings, his psychic powers, amplified by the music, flowed outward, connecting him to his family.


    The ckwood''s strength surged under George''s support.


    Their Psychic Positions glowed brightly.


    Ethan observed the scene, his expression as impassive as the rest of the ckwoods.


    They had faced numerous enemies over the years, and as Jessica had said, the more fear they felt, the more ferocious and dismissive they became.


    True indifference was calm and collected.


    [Your descendant, Jessica, seasoned by countless battles, has gained the ability to perceive the true thoughts of her opponents.


    She has acquired the trait: Battlefield Psychologist.]


    [See through their hearts, manipte their minds.


    Increase psychological damage to enemies by 20%, affecting theirbat effectiveness.]


    ...


    "Attack!"


    The battle erupted.


    The ckwood''s third generation, their forms grotesquely transformed, charged forward.


    "Formation!"


    "Paul, be careful. Your magic is our best bet. Use illusions and don''t die too quickly!"


    "That woman''s technique is strange, but it has weaknesses.


    Her millstone needs constant replenishing with natural energies, once every snap of her fingers.


    You lot keep her ability weapon upied, and I''ll drain her dry!"


    "Got it, brother!"


    The immortal ckwood third generation surged forward, a whirlwind of limbs and arcane energy.


    Meanwhile, the rest of the ckwoods trapped Neil within their formation.


    George, empowered by the psychic energies of his predecessors, used his music to erect a barrier around the perimeter.


    [Your descendant, George, is lending his body to ''Divine Music'' Harold, a deceased senior from the Azure Cloud Pavilion who lived 30,000 years ago.]


    It was unclear who this Harold was, but his musical prowess was undeniable.


    Using George''s body, he unleashed a technique called the "Endless Road Bad," boosting the ckwood''s third generation to a level nearing Competent Force.


    The strength of every ckwood present surged dramatically.


    "This... is the power of our ancestors?" Joseph and Katie, relegated to the sidelines, watched in awe.


    Although Joseph had devised the n to intercept Neil and formted their current strategy, he couldn''t help but be awestruck by the disy of power unfolding before him.