Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat! Chapter 317: The Escape and the Premonition

Lyla, Leeroy, and the others had taken full advantage of the chaos. Amid the confusion, they managed to seize the Silverwood family head and escape from the Hidden Territory unscathed.

What they didn't realize, however, was that soone had already slipped out ahead of them.

It was Liam Silverwood—the one person Ethan had failed to catch.

Outside the Hidden Territory, atop the mist-covered mountain, four mbers of the Whitmore family still lingered. Ethan had spoken with them earlier, hoping they could help escort the unconscious family head. He also intended to visit the Whitmore family territory himself.

After all, the Chase siblings were headed there too. Their grandfather, Dr. Aldric was still with the Whitmore family. Ethan couldn't help but wonder what that old man was thinking—he'd gone to the Whitmore family without so much as a word to Evelyn or the others.

It had been over a year. The kids had nearly starved during his absence.

More than anything, though, Ethan felt that the Whitmore family were decent people. Their Hidden Territory was sparsely populated—peaceful, quiet, and devoid of unnecessary entanglents. He wanted to check the place out and possibly speak with the Matriarch about staying there for a while.

But his reasons ran deeper.

He wanted to bring Leo and the others too. Ery's warning still echoed in his mind: The Dissenters remain his greatest threat.

And then there was that final, chilling reminder:

"Don't think all Originalists are righteous and honorable."

That one line had put Ethan on high alert. What if the Originalists tried to win him over through deception? Or worse, tried to fra the Dissenters? He couldn't afford to let anyone mislead him.

To be safe, he'd already discussed this possibility with Markham. But uncharacteristically, Markham—who usually took matters into his own hands—hadn't given Ethan a clear answer.

---

At that mont, Markham stood outside the entrance to the Hidden Territory, wrapped in thick clouds. He was shivering, sneezing non-stop.

"What the hell… What's going on?" he grumbled, sniffling. "Aunt, touch . Am I running a fever?"

linda raised an eyebrow. "You're sick?"

She placed a hand on his forehead, then promptly rolled her eyes. "You're fine. Probably just been up to no good again—soone's cursing you."

Just then, a figure burst out of the doorway and slamd into Markham, nearly knocking him off his feet.

"Holy hell—it's you!" he exclaid. "Don't run!"

It was Liam Silverwood. Markham instinctively gave chase.

"Colt, don't bother," said Matriarch Whitmore calmly. "With your broken arm, you're not catching anyone."

Monts later, Lyla and the Chase siblings appeared, pushing a mobile gurney. Lying atop it was Ambrose Silverwood—Lyla's father and the Silverwood family head. Markham hurried over to help.

Then, a blur of motion shot past them.

"Run!"

The voice rang out just as a man swooped in, grabbed the gurney with shocking ease, slung it over his shoulder, and leapt straight off the ten-thousand-foot cliff.

Everyone froze.

"…It's Ethan!" Markham blurted out.

But then his expression twisted. "Wait—what's he doing? Jumping off a cliff with his father-in-law on his back? Is this so kind of joint suicide pact?"

Lyla rushed to the edge of the cliff, heart in her throat.

What she saw, however, stunned her. Floating gently behind Ethan was an adorably clumsy ethereal creature, flapping tiny wings. It hovered awkwardly, carrying Ethan and the gurney as they descended safely.

Ambrose Silverwood remained unconscious but unhard atop the mobile gurney.

Lyla exhaled, finally relaxing. "Phew…"

---

Suddenly, a loud roar echoed from behind.

"Don't let them escape!"

A horde of furious Silverwood junior mbers surged out from the Hidden Territory, charging toward Lyla and the others.

"By the Ancients…" Markham muttered. He pulled out a five-pointed foil star, and with a few words, cast a spell.

Roar…

A blinding golden light erupted. A massive Dragon Soul materialized, its tail sweeping through the air and scattering the charging mbers like leaves in a storm.

"Your Grandfather Markham is here! Don't cause trouble!" Markham stood tall, radiating confidence. For a mont, he looked truly majestic.

Then ca the response:

"Whitmore family? Grandfather? Holy hell—get him!"

Markham blinked. "…Wait, what?"

A storm of flying weapons erupted. Sand, stones, he could even see a bra pad soar through the air, aid directly at him.

He stood there, dumbfounded. 'What the hell? Why are they acting like this?

Unbeknownst to him, the na "Grandfather Markham" had beco infamous among these mbers of the Silverwood family. Not a single one had escaped being punched or slapped —at least once—by Ethan, who had claid to be Markham previously.

So were lucky: one strike per side, while others received on the sa side, multiple tis. As a result, they all had Lopsided appearances.

Now they were out for blood.

Even as Markham puffed himself up and spoke, it only made things worse. Every word fanned the flas. The more he talked, the more vicious their attacks beca.

Normally, the Whitmore na might've protected him, but today? It only seed to enrage them more.

Beaten black and blue, Markham had no choice. He summoned his Dragon Soul and took off down the cliff.

Unfortunately, his soul beast wasn't nearly as sturdy as Matriarch Whitmore's. It wobbled under his weight, descending too fast for comfort.

"Aunt! Save !"

Below, linda sighed and reached out, catching her nephew mid-fall.

---

By now, Ethan had already landed safely. He and the gurney had glided a great distance.

Outside the Hidden Territory, his phone signal returned.

Three days later, they erged from the remote mountains and found a nearby town. After securing a vehicle, they made their way toward the capital.

Ambrose Silverwood was sent back ho to receive proper treatnt. Lyla stayed behind, wanting to be with her parents.

Ethan, however, boarded a different car as soon as they reached the outskirts. His destination: Ember City.

He couldn't explain it—just a gut feeling—but sothing was wrong.

The closer he got to Ember City, the stronger the feeling grew. It tightened around his throat like an invisible noose.

By the ti he reached the gym, he was nearly breathless.

But then, he pushed open the door… and saw Celia and Victor sitting at the bar.

In that instant, the pressure vanished.

"Ethan!" Celia called out.

"Bro!" Victor chid in.

It was dayti, and Leo and the others were all around, helping out at the gym. Under Celia's managent, the place had beco a well-known combat gym in the area.

Having three combat experts as boxing coaches didn't hurt, either.

The gloom that had followed Ethan for days lifted the mont he saw his people again.

But what he didn't know was that far above, in a drifting cloud beyond the reach of his senses, a man and a one-eyed creature which resembled a dragon, were watching.

The instant Ethan opened the gym door, they turned and quietly slipped away.