"Pleasure to meet you," Sebastian said, lowering his head slightly to Trafford, looking perfectly self-assured."I am a deacon of the Gladius Sect. I used to be very aggressive in how I acted, so I was given the nickname of 'Swordster' by my peers in the martial arts community." Trafford clasped his hands behind his back and looked beadily at Sebastian as he introduced himself."I've heard." Sebastian nodded slightly.He was familiar with the name. In fact, a few years earlier, his mentor had told him personally about the rumors regarding some of the high-level executives in the Nine Sects. Trafford had happened to be one of them.It was just that the nickname hadn't been given to him the way he had claimed. Trafford had been born into a prestigious family, and the year he turned 16, his entire family was killed overnight. Out of the 76 members of the entire family, Trafford was the only one who survived.Luckily, he had been saved by an expert, who had then taught Trafford ever
The slap resounded across the lobby, and the sound of it traveled far into the quiet night. Ethan stood in stunned silence. Even Raphael and Leah were startled."How dare you!" Trafford barked. "How can you defame someone of Mr. Ballard's character?" He then turned to look at Sebastian and said, "However, since the rightful owner is present, I hope you can return the object to him, Mr. Ballard." Sebastian looked curiously at Trafford before laughing sardonically. Shaking his head, he asked, "What if I tell you I don't want to?"Trafford gritted his teeth. "Fine! I see that there are still heroes among our youth. You remind me of myself at your age. However…"His tone changed, and he said coldly, "The Soulbell is still Demongate's sacred object, and they've come to Sword Towers to ask them to seek justice. If you refuse to return it…" Trafford's gaze turned to Ethan.Ethan looked at him in confusion. This wasn't what they had planned beforehand. However, he soon understood w
"You're very confident, I see," Sebastian remarked, looking coldly at Ethan.Ethan scoffed, his expression cold and menacing. "You'll soon find out why I'm so confident."Sebastian's gaze swept impassively over him before he glanced at the high-ranking members of the Steinberg Martial Arts Association. Turning to Liam and Gavin, he said, "Let's go."Both Liam and Gavin were utterly confused. They couldn't understand why Sebastian had shown up even though he hadn't had any intention of attending the banquet."Mr. Ballard, can you explain what you were doing?" Gavin couldn't help asking once they were in the car."Liam, you're not going to ask the same question, are you?" Sebastian pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his fingers. He didn't light it and just stared impassively out through the car window. Liam frowned and said thoughtfully, "Seb, I was looking closely at them. There didn't seem to be any sign of the Sword Zealot and the Sword Fiend in the crowd. "Not all
Sebastian heard Whitney crying out, and he hurriedly turned to help her up."Sebastian… I'm alright," Whitney said. "I just moved too quickly, and it tugged at the wound. I'm fine."Although Sebastian had dressed her wound, she had still been severely injured by Terence's attack. Full recovery would take time. "I'm going out to take care of some business, and I'll be back right away. Lyanna and Nina will take care of you. You mustn't pull at the wound again. If your natural energy is damaged, it won't be easy to deal with," Sebastian instructed gently as he helped Whitney to sit down.Whitney looked up at him and said, "But I have an interview this afternoon to hire someone to manage the pharmaceutical factory. I can't just skip it. "The pharmaceutical factory has stopped operations for quite a few days already, and the deadline for our new batch of products is approaching. We can't delay a single day more."Sebastian took a deep breath and said thoughtfully, "It's alright. You
Although Sebastian and Godfrey had had their differences, Godfrey was still a man of status. It would not befit his position to cause trouble for Sebastian or to pick on him.After a moment, Sebastian was led to the main doors of the hall. There was a massive statue erected in the small courtyard outside it.Sebastian looked up at it. The words "The Modern God of Medicine" were written in huge letters on the plaque in front of it.Sebastian almost laughed out loud when he saw it. The statue was of his mentor, the current sect leader of the Sacred Medicine Society. There were already more than ten Warriors gathered in the great hall. Almost all of them were looking at Sebastian, who was standing outside the doors. Sebastian had become the center of attention instantly. Several Warriors who had traveled from other states looked rather puzzled. Was the young man standing in front of them the one who was going to battle against Godfrey in pill refining that day?At that moment, G
"If I fail to keep my word, I will meet the same fate as that vessel!" Sebastian declared. His voice wasn't loud, but he had injected vital energy into it. Even the crowd on the plaza at the front of the mountain heard him clearly.Those who had witnessed the copper censer explode were completely dumbstruck with fear by what they had seen.Everything Sebastian had said and done seemed rather familiar to the crowd. It seemed to resemble someone they knew! However, no one wanted to mention the name of that person, and no one was brave enough to make wild guesses. That person was a legend among the mystic martial arts sects. He was also the only person who had the legacy of the Sacred Medicine Society, and no one from the Nine Sects could hold their heads up high in front of him!Godfrey, who was in the great hall, felt his pupils constrict. He was filled with fear when he saw the shattered copper censer, but he forced himself to maintain a calm expression. Any martial arts exper
Branson and Kody, like their nicknames, were crazy about swords. From a distance, they didn't resemble ordinary men but rather unsheathed swords. The murderous energy emanating from them filled the atmosphere, making one feel as if they were teetering on the edge of an abyss. At that moment, someone among those who were following Godfrey recognized Branson and Kody at once. "That's… that's Mr. Jagger from the Gladius Sect!""Isn't that Mr. Hartson beside him?" "They didn't come specially to be witnesses, did they?" Speculation rose all around them. "I heard that Mr. Hartson has been stuck at a bottleneck for over ten years and has been unable to break through. Is he going to use this opportunity to ask for a pill?" a young, thin man muttered quietly. However, no one felt that he was insulting Branson and Kody. After all, no matter how high the level one attained, there would always be bottlenecks in training. That was when refinists could really prove their value. If B
Branson and Kody would both eliminate Sebastian, and Godfrey wouldn't have to lift a finger.Refinists were valuable, but the fewer of them there were, the more valuable they would be. Godfrey had no wish to gain a strong competitor."Oh?" Branson and Kody both looked at Sebastian. However, a look of disappointment and disdain flashed in their eyes when they saw that Sebastian was just a young man."Mr. Callahan, you're not referring to him, are you?" Branson's brow was tightly furrowed. He clearly held Sebastian in contempt.Who would be brave enough to take a pill refined by such a young refinist? It wasn't even a question of whether or not he would be able to achieve a breakthrough. If the pill wasn't made properly, one could even die. Godfrey smiled slightly and pointed at the pill cauldron in the courtyard, under which a fire had been lit. "You may not know this, but Sebastian came specifically to have a battle in pill refining with me today. These medicine cauldrons were
As they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Samson suddenly turned and lowered his voice as he said to Sebastian, "I didn't treat you and your mother well. Please don't hold it against me."Sebastian felt even more conflicted. After everything he had been through, he knew very well that there were times when one really had no choice. When Samson saw that Sebastian was looking at him with a conflicted expression, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a warm smile. Then he took a token from Preston and walked out of the yard.They followed Preston as he walked toward the east, where there was a majestic-looking building."Why are you helping me?" Sebastian suddenly turned and asked Andreas in a low voice. Andreas glanced at him and gave him a long, cryptic smile. "Do you think I'm helping you? I'm helping myself while doing so!""Oh?" Sebastian looked at Andreas in confusion, his brow knitted. Even Rexton had mentioned that Andreas was in Arnaud's favor. Why would he need t
When Rexton and the others had gone, Preston turned to look at Samson and said irritatedly, "You little rascal. Would I ever hurt you?"Besides, you've been here in isolation for ten years. Why hasn't your temper changed at all? Couldn't you show me some respect in front of all those people?"Samson glanced at Preston but didn't answer.Preston huffed and ignored him. He turned and looked Sebastian up and down instead."Hey, kiddo. Over ten years have passed in just the blink of an eye. You've probably forgotten me. I even gave you candy back then! Come over here and call me Great Uncle Preston!"Sebastian looked at him in surprise. It was true that he didn't have much of an impression of what had happened over ten years ago. However, he could tell from what Preston had said and done that his attitude toward Sebastian's family was completely different from Rexton and the others.Beside Sebastian, Andreas kept shooting him meaningful looks. Sebastian finally smiled and said, "Hell
Although the old man looked as if he was over 60 years old, his expression was sharp and lively, and his skin was smooth as a baby's. It gave him a youthful air.Even the severely injured apprentices all scrambled up from the ground when they saw him. They hastily bowed and said, "Greetings, Great Uncle Preston!"Even Rexton had no choice but to suppress his anger. He bowed sullenly to the old man and said, "Greetings, Uncle Preston."Preston Ballard glanced at Rexton and turned to shout angrily at the apprentices, "If I hadn't come, were you planning to tear the Ballard Estate apart? Look at all of you! Get out of here right now!"Despite the scolding they had been subjected to, none of them dared to protest. They all lowered their heads and slunk out of the yard. Preston glared angrily at them as they went and snorted. "What an embarrassment to the family!"Then he smiled slightly and looked at Samson and Sebastian as he asked, "Samson, do you have anything to say?"Samson lo
Rexton's pupils constricted, and the muscles in his face twitched. He stared at Samson with a wary look in his eyes. He and Samson were two minor stages apart. It was no laughing matter. If the two of them began to fight, Rexton would be sure to die if he didn't have any external assistance."What's the matter? Are you scared?" Samson sneered as he asked in a cold, accusatory tone. That flipped a switch in Rexton's head. His expression changed instantly, and he turned a fierce look on Samson. "Afraid?" he asked through gritted teeth.As he spoke, Rexton seemed to make up his mind. He slowly reached into his pocket and took out a pale blue paper charm, which looked thicker than usual.The paper charm was oppressive to look at. Sebastian instinctively sensed a threatening energy approaching!Even Samson looked wary when he saw the paper charm."Uncle Rexton, this is a Soulcrush Charm. Great Uncle Arnaud has clearly said that no one in the Ballard Estate is allowed to use spiri
Sebastian immediately felt the pressure around him drop. The feeling of being pinned down disappeared as well."How dare you—"Before Rexton could finish, a shadow flashed past him, and Samson popped up right in front of him.Samson stuck out his finger as if it were a sword and tapped him on the chest. Although Samson hadn't used any strength, Rexton could see the murderous look in his eyes. There was a dot of scarlet light that swirled around Samson's finger. A crimson rune was gradually appearing, and there was a chilling, murderous sensation in the air. Sebastian gasped. He had finally realized how the mystic spells should be used, and he was in awe. It wasn't that Sebastian was unable to do it. It was just that up until then, he had only seen the mystic sect apprentices of the secular world. Perhaps their understanding of how to use mystic spells was too superficial, which was why Sebastian's perception had also been affected.Realization only dawned on him when he saw
At Rexton's roar of fury, everyone turned to look at Samson, who was still standing there quietly without moving."A traitor? Murder?"There was finally a flicker of emotion on Samson's face. A sudden glimmer of light flared in his eyes, which had been devoid of life for a long time."Rexton, you know very well how your father died!"As Samson spoke, he walked toward Rexton with a steady step as he said, "I admit that I've wronged Sebastian and his mother. I was just too soft-hearted back then. That's why I believed your lies and tried to keep the big picture in mind for the Ballards, but look at how you've treated me!"There was suddenly a cold glint in Samson's eyes, and he said in a thunderous tone, "You set up a series of traps and tried to kill and torture my wife and son!"You pursued them until the ends of the earth! If my mentor hadn't rescued Sebastian, do you think he'd still be alive today?"Did you just accuse me of murder? Did you ever think of the fact that we're f
Sebastian felt his blood boiling.Although he had once hated Samson because of how he had kicked Sebastian and Isabella out of the family, Samson was still his flesh and blood!When he saw how Rexton was mocking and humiliating Samson, Sebastian felt extreme fury.However, the restrictive force around him was just too strong. Even though he used every skill he had ever learnt, he still couldn't get out of the Skylock Spell's restriction. He could only watch them be smug and arrogant.At that moment, a young man in the crowd suddenly gave Sebastian a resounding slap and said coldly, "It's been ten years! This day has finally come for you and Samson!"If your mother hadn't caused a huge fuss here, my grandfather would never have died! Today, I am going to let Samson get a taste of what it's like to have a family member die in front of him!"The man suddenly pulled out a three-foot-long sword from behind his back. He thrust it at Sebastian's chest.Sebastian couldn't even move a
"Sebastian, I was only planning to ask you to go and greet the elders," Rexton said. "Since you insist on doing things the hard way, don't blame me for being ruthless!"He put one hand behind his back as he fixed a sinister look on Sebastian. There was a murderous tone in his voice as he spoke once again. "Even if you do have some skills, those basic moves aren't even worth looking at here!"As Rexton finished speaking, several youths from the Ballard family stood in the four main directions, respectively. They were all holding a blue paper charm that even Sebastian had never seen before. They began to form a seal. "Seal off the sky and lock the earth!" the four men boomed simultaneously before tossing the paper charm into the air!In a flash, the four blue paper charms disappeared into thin air. Countless silver bolts of light rushed up to the clouds with the four of them at the center of it!Right after that, the silver bolts of light weaved together to form a huge net. Countle
"Stop talking!" Rexton said angrily, cutting off their discussions. He then turned to look at Sebastian and said, "Sebastian, as a junior member of the family, you should be polite. Since you're back, come with me and greet your elders!"Although Rexton appeared to be giving Sebastian a suggestion, the murderous look in his eyes and his commanding tone wasn't pleasant at all. Sebastian looked coldly at him and the people behind him. He huffed and asked icily, "What if I refuse?""What did you say?" Rexton's eyes turned cold, and he eyed Sebastian with an unpleasant look on his face.Among the people behind him, four men walked out. They stared fixedly at Sebastian, as if he were their sworn enemy. They had also taken up positions in the best spots to attack."Are you going to try to do things by force now? Fine. I'd like to stretch too!" Sebastian crooked a finger at them in a challenge."Where do you think this is? How dare you behave so recklessly here?" one of them yelled a