Master Lin stood frozen for a long while, unable to recover his senses. Under his breath, he kept murmuring, “Master Azure Mercy… was Mythical Tier…”Master Darkshade looked no better. The reason he had sent Master Azure Mercy in the first place was because he had assumed Master Azure Mercy might not be as powerful as Adrian; letting him test the waters had seemed prudent.But never in his wildest imagination had he expected Master Azure Mercy to be so utterly helpless against Adrian.This was a one-sided annihilation.Adrian rolled his shoulders and loosened his limbs. He had known his strength had grown considerably after breaking through, but he had not expected it to increase by this much.“As expected, breaking through really does make all the difference.”Hearing Adrian’s words, the five remaining masters across from him were overcome by a tangle of emotions.“Master Darkshade, Master Clearwind, this boy is no ordinary opponent. Can we really defeat him?”Master Lin hurried over

No one knew who shouted it first, but at once everyone looked up into the sky.Falling with that cry were Emptiness’s staff—and a longsword.The blade came slashing straight at Adrian, while the staff happened to intercept its attack.“The eldest young master of the Sanders family—could it be the one who has been cultivating all these years at the Azure Lotus Sword Sect?”“I heard he hasn’t returned in ages. Is it really him?”Suspended high above stood a strikingly handsome man. His gaze fell on Marcus Sanders, his voice carrying a trace of confusion.“Didn’t Father say there was a victory banquet? What victory are we celebrating?”At that, hope lit up every face present.It truly was the Sanders family’s eldest son—Neil Sanders.“This is wonderful! We’re saved!”“Of course! The Sanders family’s eldest young master is exceptionally gifted—he made it into the top ten of the martial rankings!”“Top ten? He’s clearly in the top three! He was chosen by an elder of the Azure Lotus Sword S

Those three were no match for Adrian one-on-one, so they would naturally choose to attack together.Iris Lloyd stepped forward and said, “Big brother, I can’t let you face them alone. I’ll help too.”The moment Emptiness heard that, he hurried up as well.“This monk counts too. I won’t compete for the strongest one—the vice sect master’s son will do.”Iris Lloyd’s face darkened. That only left Moonward Lin, and he... had never struck a woman in his life.Adrian could not help laughing when he heard them dividing up the opponents.“There’s no need. To me, they’re nothing worth mentioning.”The moment Moonward Lin heard that, she flew into a rage.“You are unbearably arrogant!”Neil Sanders and Norman Montgomery had already recovered most of their injuries. They both stepped forward at once, taking their places to Moonward Lin’s left and right.The three stood with swords in hand, raising two fingers as they began to chant an incantation.If they could not win alone, then they would for

“They tried to kill me, so I struck back. The killing is done. As for the consequences, we’ll deal with them when they come.”Adrian did not fear the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, but Neil Peterson and the others were far less composed.“Mr. Doyle, why not join the Skyline City Martial Arts Association outright? If you do, I can go directly to the headquarters and ask for their support. If the association’s main branch is willing to intervene, then even the Azure Lotus Sword Sect would not dare act recklessly!”From the very beginning, Neil Peterson had been racking his brain for a way to protect Adrian.And after turning it over again and again, this was the only solution he could think of.Adrian knew Neil Peterson meant well, but he had no intention of joining any organization at the moment.“Thanks. Maybe we can talk about that later. But right now, there is something I’d like your help with.”“What is it?”The moment Adrian said that, Neil Peterson instantly perked up.“Do you know whe

Without another word, the three of them leapt onto the monastery rooftops. After only a few bounds, they caught sight of the main battleground.Weapons lay scattered across the ground, and the corpses were too many to count. Blood had run so freely that the place had all but become a river of red.Only by seeing the carnage with one’s own eyes could one understand how restrained such scenes appeared in television dramas by comparison.In front of the main hall, five priests had formed a battle array, and within it, quite a number of people were trapped.The five, without exception, were steadily increasing the pressure, while the martial artists inside the formation repeatedly tried and failed to break free.Iris Lloyd frowned and glanced at Adrian.Adrian, however, showed little expression.“Let’s watch a while longer.”Until he understood what was happening, he had no intention of intervening rashly.Though this group had clearly come to make trouble for Xavier Monastery as well, wh