Phineas found the request rather difficult.It wasn't that he couldn't afford to offend those people. It was just that three days was much too short.In the past two weeks alone, the martial arts community had already committed numerous cases. He couldn't even count how many there had been."Mr. Ballard, I think that the time period given is a little short. There are over 1,000 cases within three days, and we don't have enough people at the Martial Arts Court," Phineas said, looking glum.Sebastian's brow wrinkled slightly. It was obvious how atrocious the behavior of the martial arts community was. Even their head director couldn't count how many crimes they had committed."That's your problem, Mr. Tuxley. I'll agree to fight against Jules when you've sorted out these cases," Sebastian said firmly.Phineas sighed inwardly. Wasn't this setting him a challenge? However, he had to solve it no matter what."Mr. Ballard, I'll take my leave. I'll give you a satisfactory answer within
When Whitney saw the files on the table, she picked up a few and flipped through them. She asked, "Why are all these cases related to martial arts practitioners? There's even a case of assault by the Skywest Martial Arts Gym. What's going on with that?" She looked at Sebastian in confusion. Shouldn't the files be stored at Police Headquarters?Sebastian pulled her down next to him and smiled. "These cases need to be resolved."Whitney curled her lip and said, "Ha! You want to resolve these cases? They're from the martial arts community. How are you going to do that? You can't even arrest these people, let alone interrogate them. You want to resolve the cases? Forget it."Zane poured tea for Rosalie and Whitney while smiling. He said, "Whitney, the head director of Steinberg Martial Arts Court said that all of these cases will be accounted for within three days. That's why Chief Weist sent the files over.""Oh." Whitney nodded. Rosalie's brow furrowed in slight surprise. "Is tha
Phineas understood Alaric's intention. He wanted to leave a few of these people and only hand over those who were not as skilled or who had only entered the sect for a shorter period of time. However, that wouldn't work. Phineas shook his head quickly and said, "Mr. Donnelly, if Sebastian is doing his own preparations, we'll be going back on our word by doing that. We can't let these people go."Alaric took a deep breath and said, "Alright. However, let them enjoy themselves in the club for the next two days. We can hand them over on the third day. That'll work, won't it?"Phineas shook his head and said, "I don't think three days will do. Jules will be in Steinberg by then. That means we only have one day. I'll come and get them in the morning the day after tomorrow."He would need time to prepare an arena. Besides, they knew who Jules was.He was a renowned figure in the Southia martial arts community. If he was coming to Dramon to issue a challenge, the media from Southia woul
That afternoon, several martial arts apprentices were executed by the Steinberg Martial Arts Court. All the news outlets in Steinberg began reporting widely about the news.Sebastian was rather surprised when he saw the news report on television. He hadn't expected Phineas to be able to carry it out so quickly."Sebastian, that Tuxley guy really is obedient, isn't he?" Zane asked, sounding rather puzzled. "You think he's being obedient? They're just scared of Jules. Don't you get it?" Sebastian smiled slightly. After the martial arts apprentices were executed right on the street, it caused an uproar in Steinberg's martial arts community. Those who had completely dismissed Phineas in the past finally realized how ruthless he could be. They began being stricter on their own apprentices so that they wouldn't step on the toes of the Martial Arts Court. In less than a day, no one in martial arts training clothes could be seen on the streets, even though they had been everywhere in
Watch the battle? Sebastian frowned and asked, "Why are people from other countries coming to watch the battle? Jules isn't from their country."Phineas sighed and asked, "Mr. Ballard, why did General Handon fight against Harqule from Karna back then? It wasn't just because of how cruel they were, but it was also because Harqule and his men invaded Dramon's martial arts community on the pretext of conducting an exchange in martial arts."A thought flashed through Sebastian's mind. Jules had issued the challenge so suddenly. Were the countries who had once bullied Dramon planning to do the same thing again? "Are you saying that Jules has an ulterior motive?" Sebastian turned to look at Phineas."Well, of course. He was part of the overseas Dragon Sect to begin with. Besides, according to the information I've received, Yutaria, Averne, and Karna are all sending interview teams. Interview teams, Mr. Ballard? Isn't that ridiculous?" There were 200 or more people in a single interv
"Mr. Ballard, let's make sure to remain within our capabilities. Besides, it doesn't seem appropriate for us to kill all of them," Phineas said. He couldn't help shuddering at the thought.Those hundreds of people were the pillars of the martial arts community in each country. If they were all destroyed in Steinberg, it would be sure to cause an international conflict."We need to make them fear and respect us!" Sebastian said impassively.He could close one eye when it came to Dramon's martial arts community, but if the martial arts communities from other countries wanted to interfere, they would be crossing lines. Phineas felt a chill in his heart. He exchanged a few pleasantries with Sebastian before leaving in a hurry. No matter how confident Sebastian was, he had to deliver what Sebastian had just said to Sartvale Martial Arts Court.After all, they had to be prepared. The Dramon martial arts community had to get their defenses ready.…Two days passed in the blink of an e
Ross and the others all sat down unabashedly in the main seats. When they saw the delicious food on the table, they all looked extremely triumphant.Before long, Alaric was led into the pavilion by a deacon."Mr. Donnelly, please sit. These are the four experts sent by the state Martial Arts Court. This is…" Phineas introduced them one by one.Alaric glanced at them. If these four went into the arena, they would be embarrassing the martial arts community of Dramon! "Didn't Sartvale Martial Arts Court send anyone else?" Alaric asked harshly. Ross' expression flickered slightly. He frowned and said, "They're only a few foreign Warriors. What's there to be afraid of? With the four of us here, I'm sure they won't dare to try anything big."Alaric snorted. The four of them? He could crush those four losers with one hand! "I'm not underestimating you, but… do you know who is coming?" Alaric asked, sneering. Ross and the others looked startled. Alaric clearly didn't respect them.
Sapientia apprentices?Phineas still felt worried. Would a few apprentices from Sapientia be enough to face the kind of people that would be coming?He would feel much more confident if all the experts from one of the twelve peaks of Sapientia came. "I hope Sebastian can pull through. Otherwise, the martial arts community is going to be in big trouble!" Phineas said through clenched teeth.Alaric was unconcerned. He was on his own anyway, and he could run at any time if things looked like it would take a turn for the worse.Things were different for Phineas. If the foreign Warriors did wipe out the Steinberg martial arts community, there would be no way out for him as the head director.Even if he ran to Sunway, he would be sentenced to death according to the rules of the martial arts community.…Back in the convenience store, Zane was pouring tea for Sebastian while grinning impishly. He asked, "Sebastian, can I go into the arena tomorrow and try it out too?""You?" Sebasti
"It all comes back to Uncle Samson," Andreas said. "Great Uncle Arnaud already told you he'd let Uncle Samson have his freedom if you find the other emerald token, but then he brought up the marriage alliance. "It directly affects whether or not Uncle Samson can regain his freedom. So, why don't you think about it?"With a quiet chuckle, Andreas walked toward a grove of peach trees to the west.Realization finally dawned on Sebastian. Arnaud was a shrewd man. He wouldn't slip up like that. Besides, although the Ballards and the Yeomans had established a marriage agreement, they hadn't named specific individuals, only that the Blessed Child of the Ballards would fulfill it.The Blessed Child bore the duty of guiding the Ballards to revival. In other words, the emerald token would be better off falling into the Blessed Child's hands rather than anyone else's.Could it be that the final emerald token was with the Yeomans? If that were true, why hadn't the Ballards used their pow
"I'm sorry, but I have no interest in becoming the head of the Ballard family," Sebastian said impassively. "I only want my father to be freed."Arnaud's expression changed slightly, but his tone remained neutral as he said, "It's Braxton who owes you and your mother, not the entire family. Why must you do this?"Sebastian let out a cold snort. It was true that Braxton had been the one who had kicked them out, but weren't the true culprits the elders of the Ballard Estate?"If there's nothing else, I'd like to see Whitney," Sebastian said, rising slowly to his feet. As soon as he mentioned her name, Arnaud waved a hand at him and said, "Don't be in such a rush, Sebastian. Whitney is safe. The Ballards would never harm a frail woman."He added, "However, there's something I want to ask you. Is Whitney still your wife?"Sebastian frowned. "Whether she is or isn't, what business is that of the Ballards?""Of course it is," Arnaud replied firmly. "The Ballards and the Yeomans of
Arnaud led Sebastian into a secret room deep within the Hall of the Ancestral Dragon. Once inside, Sebastian saw a Cosmic Orbit Diagram. It was exactly the same as the records in the Sacred Medicine Secret Annals.However, the Ballards' Cosmic Orbit Diagram was divided into different sections. It looked even more three-dimensional."This is the Cosmic Orbit Diagram passed down through our family for generations," Arnaud said proudly. "The one that the Sacred Medicine Society has is just a copy."The legacy of the mystic arts in Dramon almost all came from the Ballards.The Ballards had withheld some things back then as well. As a result, all the legacies of the various secular sects only had incomplete Cosmic Orbit Diagrams. It was why there were very few experts at the fifth level of the Eldoria realm and above.Afterward, Arnaud led Sebastian into a library. Thousands of technical legacies lined the shelves. Sebastian flipped through them. The techniques recorded there were
Samson glanced at Sebastian. He took a deep breath and said to Arnaud, "Thank you for sparing me, Uncle Arnaud."He gave Sebastian a few final reminders before leaving the hall with Preston.Once they were gone, Arnaud pointed at Duo and said to Sebastian, "Tell him to leave too."Sebastian waved a hand at Duo."I'll wait for you at the entrance, my lord," Duo said. "If anything happens, I'll be here as soon as you call!"He gave Arnaud a cold look before striding out of the hall.Arnaud watched him leave and smiled approvingly. He beckoned to Sebastian. "Come, sit!"Sebastian didn't hesitate. He crossed the hall and sat in the chair opposite Arnaud."Do you know why I asked Andreas to bring you back here?" Arnaud asked impassively. Sebastian shook his head expressionlessly. He said in a cold voice, "It's probably because of the emerald token in my father's possession."Apart from using him and Whitney as leverage against Samson, he couldn't think of any other reason.Arnau
"The Blessed Child! The Blessed Child has finally come to our family!"The black-robed old man who had been sitting beside Arnaud stood up, looking pleased. He couldn't hide his excitement as he turned to Arnaud and said, "Arnaud, our family is going to prosper!"Only Rexton and Milton looked extremely displeased. Braxton and Roland looked pained, as if they had lost something of great value. They were practically thumping their chests in regret!The Blessed Child had been foretold by one of the heads of the family centuries ago. No matter how far the Ballards declined, the prophecy said that after a few hundred years, a Blessed Child would appear—someone who could lead the family's revival!The only proof of the Blessed Child was for him to enter a master-servant oath with a Devora."Prosper? What a joke!" Hugo scoffed, holding Virtus firmly. "Weren't you all just clamoring about killing the two of them?"At Hugo's words, Arnaud's expression changed slightly. "When did I say tha
"Hugo!"Arnaud, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide. He eyed Hugo with a conflicted expression as he asked, "Have you forgotten the agreement the Thornes made with us ten years ago?"Hugo smiled coldly and put one hand behind his back. "That was the agreement you made with the Thornes. I'm only following Ms. Thorne's orders to protect Samson and find the emerald token. If Samson dies in this battle, how am I supposed to explain that to her?"He pointed at Sebastian and added, "He's Ms. Thorne's flesh and blood. Your family has no right to punish him! If the Ballards insist on killing them today, don't blame me for going on a killing spree!"When Hugo had finished, Sebastian finally realized that Hugo was from Isabella's family and that he had stayed at the Ballard Estate to protect Samson.It was clear that Isabella hadn't held a grudge toward Samson. In fact, she had sent an expert to stay behind to protect him in case anything happened.Arnaud's
Sebastian threw his head back in laughter. He strode forward, standing in the center of the hall, and said coldly. "Ungrateful? How could you have the audacity to say such a thing?"Even if I'm surrounded by enemies, you Ballards can forget about making me submit! It's just death, after all. If I even blink, then I won't call myself a man!"Everyone there stared at Sebastian."How dare that brat be so cocky? If he's not punished, it'll be a disgrace to our family rules!""He should be given the death penalty!""It'll be a disaster if we just let him be, and it'll only bring trouble for our family. Please give the order, and we'll kill him at once!"The entire hall was in an uproar. Even Preston, who had been speaking up for Sebastian and Samson, sighed in resignation.Since Sebastian had already made his stance clear, Preston couldn't help even if he wanted to.Sebastian had roused the anger of everyone there, and Arnaud had closed his eyes and wasn't saying anything. He was cl
Sebastian was just about to step forward when Samson hastily waved a hand at him and said, "Sebastian, the grudges of the Ballard family from over ten years ago have nothing to do with you. Don't get involved!""But—"Sebastian's gaze sharpened as he turned to look at Milton. There was an icy glint in his eyes. Samson shook his head slightly at Sebastian. The Ballard Estate had at least ten experts at the eighth level of the Eldoria realm. At Sebastian's current level, trying to fight them would only bring him big trouble."Sebastian, one must learn how to adapt to the situation," Samson whispered into his ear using voice projection. "Today, I will exchange my legs for your and Whitney's freedom. Think of it as a payment for what I owe you and your mother."Sebastian clenched his fists tightly. He hated himself for being too weak. He couldn't even protect his own family in a place like the Ballard Estate, where many experts were gathered.However, he would never allow anyone to
"Do you accept it, Samson?" Arnaud asked harshly when he saw that Preston hadn't said anything else. He turned to look directly at Samson.Samson smiled bitterly and turned to look at Sebastian before raising his head to look at Arnaud, who was sitting high above them. He said, "Uncle Arnaud, I was the reason for everything that happened. I wish to ask you not to trouble Sebastian.""What are you talking about?" Preston was agitated. He stood up again and yelled, "There must still be an investigation about who was right and who was wrong. Why should they break your legs?"As he spoke, his eyes blazed with fury. He looked at the thin old man and said furiously, "Milton, you old bastard! How can you be so shameless at your age? Tell me! Did you embellish the story to Arnaud?""Uncle Preston!" Samson stopped him quickly and sighed slightly. "Forget it. It's my fault for bringing such huge trouble upon our family back then."I admit that I have let our family down. Since imprisoning m