Eric's gaze pierced through Joya's defenses as he questioned her hidden motives. For a brief moment, she trembled, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features.
"I wouldn't dare to cheat someone of your caliber. Believe me." she insisted, her voice tinged with earnestness.
However, Eric's intuition told him there was more to her story. "I'll give you one more chance to be honest," he said sternly. "Otherwise, you'll regret it." There is tinge of anger in his eyes which made her tremble.
Under the weight of his gaze and the seriousness of his threat, Joya's facade crumbled. She lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper as she confessed her true intentions.
"The cosmic miasma within the dragon's heart... it's not beneficial to regular cultivators. It's only useful to those who follow the path of demonic cultivation."
