Chapter 437 The Mysterious Shadow Gate


    Not only did Gilbert have nothing to brag about his trip to Soutke City, but it even resulted in a


    severe loss.


    Everyone in Shadow Gate had to abide by strict rules. Even though Gilbert was an elder, he would still


    be punished for failing in his mission.


    Thinking about Shadow Gate''s chilling punishment methods made Gilbert shudder.


    Of course, he dared not defect either. Shadow Gate killed all of its defectors without exception. It


    wouldn''t be a quick death, either. The defector would be tormented to no end first.


    Instead of fleeing in fear, it was better for Gilbert to face reality.


    After ncing at the buildings just up ahead, he shook his head and approached them.


    The buildings were so well-concealed among the mountain terrain that it would be hard for ordinary


    people to locate them.


    Gilbert made his way through the bushes that were nearly six feet tall before arriving in front of a stone


    entrance.


    He ced a round pendant into a dip in the stone entrance, and it slowly opened with a rumble.


    Two figures abruptly shot out.


    "Who are you? Identify yourself!" the men in masks demanded.


    They were the guards stationed at the entrance, but despite merely being guards, they were both


    eternal grandmasters.


    One could imagine just how powerful Shadow Gate was when even their guards were eternal


    grandmasters.


    No one would''ve expected them to be hidden deep in the forest. As it was, ordinary people would never


    be able to find them.


    Many forces in the martial arts world wanted to take down Shadow Gate, but no one knew the location


    of its base.


    Over time, they grew wary of Shadow Gate.


    "You bastard! Don''t you recognize me?" Gilbert fumed. He was already in a foul mood, and these two


    guards aggravated him further by standing in his way.


    "Oh! It''s you, Mr. Shane! Greetings, Mr. Shane!"


    After recognizing Gilbert, the guards immediately stepped aside. They dared not offend him as they


    were mere ants to him, and he could easily kill them.


    Gilbert snorted before stepping through the stone entrance.


    Once he left, the two guards exhaled in relief. The back of their heads were drenched in sweat.


    "Didn''t Mr. Shane head to Soutke City with a group of people to seize the Eldorian Scroll fragment?


    Why did hee back alone? Where are the others?" one of the guards asked puzzledly.


    "Quit yapping. That''s not something we should concern ourselves with!" the other shot back.


    After passing through the stone entrance, Gilbert entered a brightly lit area.


    It was an expansive, naturally formed valley with numerous buildings featuring historical architecture.


    The ce gave off an air of elegance.


    The valley was also filled with the liveliness of nature.


    However, Gilbert was in no mood to pay any attention to anything else. With a grim expression, he


    headed to the pce situated in the center of the valley.


    Many members of Shadow Gate patrolled the path he walked on, but no one stopped him.


    Soon, he arrived outside the pce. It was an extraordinary one built out of special rocks simr to


    obsidian, making the structure even more durable. The walls couldn''t be damaged with regr


    weapons.


    The air inside the pce was chilly. Ordinary people wouldn''t be able to bear the cold.


    At the moment, there were over a dozen figures in the center of the pce. They were puzzled by


    Gilbert''s arrival.


    As soon as Gilbert entered, he fell to his knees and said, "Greetings, Mr. Burton!"


    In the center of the pce, a man in a cloak was seated on a throne made of human bones.


    He wore a dazzling golden mask with an eerie-looking shape that struck fear into all who saw it.


    The man was Elijah Burton, the head of Shadow Gate.


    No one in the martial arts world knew what he looked like—even the members of Shadow Gate never


    saw his face before.


    Elijah was an enigmatic figure.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    After ncing at Gilbert, Elijah said in an uncanny voice, "Did you get the Eldorian Scroll fragment?"


    It was hard to tell whether the low and husky voice belonged to a man or a woman.


    Gilbert trembled, and his back was covered in sweat.


    "About that, Mr. Burton …"


    Gilbert didn''t know how to answer Elijah''s question.


    Noting Gilbert''s hesitance, Elijah asked coldly, "Did you fail to retrieve it?"


    "Please have mercy on me, Mr. Burton!"


    Gilbert immediately prostrated in front of Elijah and started banging his head against the floor. The


    moment he finished speaking, he felt a murderous force shrouding him.


    "Exin yourself. If you don''t … You know what I''m capable of!"


    The voice was icy and void of emotion, but that sentence alone was enough to make everyone freeze.


    "Please forgive me, Mr. Burton. When I …"


    Gilbert gave a summary of everything that happened in Soutke City.


    "Caspian Lynch? A matrilocal son-inw?" Elijah said with a look of confusion.


    Was Gilberting up with the most ludicrous lie possible?


    Why would a matrilocal son-inw have the gall to seize the Eldorian Scroll fragment from two


    extremely powerful factions like the TMAA and Shadow Gate?


    It was also impossible to believe that five thousand fighters from the TMAA had died, including their


    head elder, Nixon.


    While Gilbert was lucky enough to survive, over a thousand experts from Shadow Gate had also died


    at the Stewart family estate.


    How could a matrilocal son-inw disy such formidable strength?


    Who would believe such a story?


    A red-haired man in a red mask stepped forward and said, "This is just your excuse, isn''t it, Gilbert?


    How can a matrilocal son-inw do what you im he did? Stop spewing such nonsense!"


    Turning to Elijah, he continued, "I suggest that you punish Gilbert heavily, Mr. Burton!"


    The man in the red mask was Asher Cooke, the ninth elder of Shadow Gate. He had always been at


    odds with Gilbert.


    Now that Gilbert had just failed a mission, Asher seized the chance to knock him down a peg.


    Everyone in Shadow Gate harbored their own selfish desires. Their main priority was themselves. They


    only joined forces with each other in the interest of mutual benefit.


    Therefore, the others watched the spat between Asher and Gilbert without saying anything.


    "What do you mean by that, Asher? You''re just trying to use this chance to get even with me! I did my


    best toplete my assignment, so stop being ridiculous!" Gilbert retorted hotly.


    He knew Asher was ndering him to get him in trouble.


    Gilbert was doomed if he angered Elijah.


    "How am I being ridiculous? Who in the martial arts world wouldn''t want to get their hands on the


    Eldorian Scroll fragment? You likely came up with a flimsy excuse to hide the fact that you took it for


    yourself!" Asher dered with a nasty sneer.


    Stunned, everyone fixed their eyes on Gilbert.


    The Eldorian Scroll fragment was indeed a treasure that many yearned for. With it, one could be a


    supreme grandmaster or maybe even more powerful than that.


    It wouldn''t be surprising if Gilbert was trying to keep the Eldorian Scroll fragment to himself.


    Meanwhile, all the color drained out of Gilbert''s face. He was irritated beyond words.


    Though he did consider keeping the Eldorian Scroll fragment to himself, he didn''t get his hands on it in


    the first ce!


    "Are you going to exin yourself, Gilbert?" Elijah asked icily.


    Once again, Gilbert started banging his head against the floor until his forehead began bleeding.


    "I''ve been nothing but loyal to you, Mr. Burton! I would never dare to betray you!" Gilbert cried out


    tearfully.