"This is really just a misunderstanding, gentlemen!" Octavius exclaimed. He squeezed out a sliver of a smile and approached Bertie. He said, "Bertie, the Healer Sect and the Warrior League have always been on good terms. Why would we deliberately target your respected guest? "This young man just did not make his identity clear just now, which was why there were some unnecessary conflicts with the apprentices. Please be lenient, Bertie.""Lenient? If the two of them hadn't arrived, you would already have attacked me," Sebastian said, grinning mockingly. "That's right! The Healer Sect members were causing difficulties for Mr. Ballard on purpose!" As he spoke, Bertie waved at the Warrior League apprentices behind him. Before long, the stall owner was brought out in front of everyone. "Tell everyone loudly about what you know!" As soon as Bertie spoke, the stall owner hastily recounted what had happened. When he had finished, Bertie looked coldly at Avery, who was trembling viol
Bertie and Drake said nothing. They turned to look at Sebastian instead. If Sebastian was dissatisfied, even Octavius wouldn't be able to leave the place alive, especially since he had tried to resolve the matter by killing an unimportant apprentice. The atmosphere was suddenly tense. Everyone was holding their breath as they waited for Sebastian's final answer."Forget it. You can leave." Sebastian waved a hand at Octavius and the others. The Wraith Market was the Warrior League's territory. If he detained Octavius and the others here, the Healer Sect would be sure to battle the Warrior League to the death!Sebastian didn't want two large sects to shed blood for such a minor incident. Drake and Bertie frowned and asked, "Mr. Ballard, are you really going to let them go?" "Yes, Mr. Ballard. What if they try to get revenge in the future? Won't you be releasing an enemy out into the wild?" It was clear that neither Bertie nor Drake had expected Sebastian to let them live. T
Drake and Bertie knew exactly what Cedric was planning.Although the energy replenishing pills that Sebastian had given them were far better than the Breakthrough pills from the Healer Sect, whether or not the pills had been refined by Sebastian himself was something they had yet to confirm. Even if he had refined them, who could guarantee that Sebastian would be assured of victory against Cedric when it came to pill refining?After all, the Healer Sect had put a great deal of effort into training Cedric, and he was known as a young Refinist prodigy. If Sebastian made even the slightest mistake, he would end up in big trouble! "Okay, I'll take the bet. I just hope you won't go back on your word when the time comes," Sebastian said, smiling slightly. "Alright!" Cedric grinned maliciously and nodded as he said, "Tomorrow, 10:00 am at Greendrake Town. It's ten miles away from here. I hope you won't be late." Cedric threw back his head in laughter as he walked out of the crowd.
After that, Sebastian bought several other rare medicinal herbs from the Wraith Market to use in refining pills.Although the Wraith Market was the most renowned medicinal herb trading market among the mystic martial arts sects, someone like Sebastian was also a very rare customer. He didn't even ask about the price of each herb, and he was very generous. As Sebastian had bought a huge amount of herbs, all of which were very valuable, he would ordinarily be seen as easy prey.However, as he was accompanied by Bertie, Drake, and the rest of the Warrior League members, no one dared to raise their prices. Sebastian only returned to his lodgings after the sun had set. He was immensely satisfied. He casually tossed aside several sacks of medicinal herbs. Carefully taking out a rusty, palm-sized cauldron, he held it gently in the palm of his hand. He scrutinized it carefully, as if it were a precious treasure.Both Bertie and Drake looked curiously at the tiny cauldron. Finally, B
At Sebastian's current level, celestial pills were beyond him.After hearing Sebastian's description, both Bertie and Drake looked at him, their eyes shining. Prior to hearing this, they had been suspicious of where the energy replenishing pills had come from, but they no longer doubted that Sebastian had refined them."I didn't expect you to have the skills of a Refinist at such a young age, Mr. Ballard," Bertie said, looking awed.Sebastian smiled faintly and said, "Refining pills isn't actually that complicated. You just need to control the spiritual energy and the heat with your mind so that you can speed up the decomposition of the medicinal herbs in the medicine furnace. "However, Refinists have different levels of skill, so the effective components that remain at the end of the process also differ."Bertie and Drake both looked confused, so Sebastian didn't explain further. He weighed the cauldron in one hand and said firmly, "Rise!"The palm-sized cauldron rose up into t
After ten minutes or so, Sebastian felt as if he was sitting on a volcano. Every single pore in his body felt as if it would catch on fire.The air around Sebastian burst into flame, and even his clothes were burnt to ash. However, the extreme heat turned into extreme cold in just an instant.Layers of frost and ice coated Sebastian's body at once. It was the result of light and dark energy fighting for authority in Sebastian's body. After some time, the spiritual energy in Sebastian's body suddenly surged toward his limbs. Everything happened so suddenly that his skin cracked into deep fissures, unable to withstand the immense pressure.Blood seeped out of the cracks on his skin.Sebastian felt as if there were countless bugs and ants gnawing his body, and the pain made him wish that he was dead. Finally, after an hour, the cracks on Sebastian's body slowly healed as the two conflicting forces of spiritual energy merged into one.As Sebastian slowly opened his eyes, a powerfu
In the center of the venue, there was an empty piece of land that was about the size of a soccer field. Seats rose in tiers around it. The tiers were already filled with martial sect apprentices who had come to watch.Bertie and Drake headed straight to the main grandstand on the north side. They bowed respectfully to Sebastian and said, "Please be seated, Mr. Ballard."Sebastian did not stand on formality with the two of them. He sat in the main seat of the north grandstand at once.Bertie and Drake sat down on either side of him. This made several of the younger people present look at Sebastian. Opposite them, in the south grandstand, several elderly men stared at Sebastian as they muttered to each other. They pointed at him from time to time. One of the old men looked displeased as he spoke to those around him."Those are the elders of the Healer Sect. The ones sitting beside them are elders of other sects who are on good terms with the Healer Sect," Drake said quietly in Se
"You're much too inexperienced to compete in refining pills. I'll give you one final chance to give up on the idea of betting your life," Sebastian said impassively.Cedric wasn't the only one who laughed. Everyone in the venue burst out into mocking laughter."Who does he think he's talking to? That's the young Refinist of the Healer Sect.""Yeah! I heard that a year ago, Cedric had already attained the skill of refining Spiritual Energy Pills, which are the most premium kind among the true pills. How can a layman like Sebastian be so boastful?""I think that he's just trying to give himself a way out. It's a pity that Cedric won't fall for it."Everyone in the crowd was speaking contemptuously about Sebastian.Cedric clasped his hands behind his back and began the Square Steps footwork. He walked slowly down the steps and gazed in Sebastian's direction as he said, "Ballard, I'm not looking down on you, but what gives you the right to brag in front of me?"I don't mind telling
Every Warrior treated the Martial Arts Association like a god. Therefore, that would make the Caelbane Sect even higher than a god!"Are you both not right in the head? I don't owe your sect leader money, yet he's trying to ask me for something? Even beggars aren't this desperate!" Sebastian looked at Titan and Tatum as if they were idiots. "We're not beggars, damn it! I'm telling you, cut both your hands off right now and let us take them. Otherwise, we'll take your life!" Tatum yelled, pointing at Sebastian."What the hell are you looking at? Are you sick of living?" Titan slapped a passing old lady.The old lady had been planning to buy some house protection charms from Sebastian, but Titan slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground, blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth.Titan didn't even look twice at the old lady. He felt that anyone who even glanced their way twice when the Caelbane Sect was conducting their business deserved to die!Slapping her was already
Wensleydale had been overly enthusiastic with them. Not only had he been extremely hospitable, he had even arranged for several young and beautiful women to cater to them.When one went overboard, it would make everything seem insincere.Titan couldn't for the life of him think of any benefit that he could offer Wensleydale. The old man already had one foot in the grave, and the Caelbane Sect would never accept someone of his age. The more he thought about it, the more Titan felt that what Tatum had said made sense."Forget about him. Let's go to Steinberg ourselves tomorrow morning," he said, his eyes narrowing.Even if Wensleydale had tipped Sebastian off, where could the latter escape to in just a single day?He could run, but he couldn't hide. Sebastian also owned the Arctic Snow Group in Steinberg, which was a massive corporation.Besides, according to reliable news from Ethan, Sebastian's ex-wife was also the CEO of Frostwave Corporation. He couldn't possibly pack up all
Sebastian laughed and said nothing. He rubbed the brand new copper coin in his pocket with one hand.Only Lyanna would be capable of doing something like that. The illusion had been cast by her.Without her help, Sebastian would probably be in huge trouble. No matter whether or not he was in the right, there should have been severe consequences for slaughtering more than 100 elite members of the Martial Arts Association.Lyanna had even made the souls of those people her food. It was terrifyingly cruel. "Everything's alright now, everyone. It seems that Mr. Flumen repented after realizing how terrible his crimes were and killed himself," Sebastian said politely, smiling as if nothing had happened."Maybe your character and charisma convinced them, Mr. Ballard." Hans didn't know what to say.Zane swallowed and laughed as he said to Sebastian, "Mr. Ballard, you really… you really are… amazing.""Since you're all here, don't be in such a rush to leave. I'll treat you all to a meal
However, Wensleydale didn't care. He would have killed his own son if it meant that he could live!Without another word, he hacked off Humphrey's arm. Before Humphrey could scream, Wensleydale stabbed him in the heart. He gripped the handle of the knife and twisted it grimly. Humphrey stared at Wensleydale, his eyes bulging, right until the moment he died. He had died a violent death. Wensleydale looked at the corpses scattered all over the ground. Like the man with the dragon-topped cane, they all decayed rapidly and were blown off into the air by a slight breeze, leaving no trace behind. Wensleydale turned slowly and gazed mournfully at Sebastian. He looked into Sebastian's ice-cold gaze and finally realized that the latter wasn't going to forgive him, even though he had hacked off his own arm and killed his apprentice. Instead of dying in great pain like the others, he might as well give himself a quick end! Tears streamed down Wensleydale's face as he held the knife to
"Mr. Ballard! I was wrong! Please, have mercy on me…""Mr. Ballard, we'll never do it again. I don't want to die.""Mr. Ballard, I have an 80-year-old mother at home. Please have mercy!" There was a series of thumps as more than 100 people fell to their knees. They were genuinely afraid. What Lyanna had said had made their last defenses crumble completely. The moment they knelt, the corpse of the man with the dragon-topped cane began to decay rapidly right in front of their eyes. In the end, only pale white bones remained. A slight breeze swept over them from out of nowhere. With a gentle gust, the skeleton disappeared. It was as if the man with the dragon-topped cane had never existed."Mr. Ballard, you mustn't show any compassion at all to these hypocrites," Rose said. She slowly pulled out her short sword and tossed her sheath away. Sebastian closed his eyes and nodded slightly. There was a series of squelching noises as over a dozen heads fell to the ground. More dark
Wensleydale's expression changed at once. He had made the call to the police because he had been planning on maiming or even killing Sebastian in front of everyone in the Martial Arts Association.However, things had turned out very differently from what he had expected. He had dug a huge hole for himself and had jumped in without a thought. "Mr. Ballard, you and I are both martial arts practitioners, and we prize the idea of righteousness," he began. "Why don't you kill me and let them go?"Wensleydale wasn't really that generous. He was a shrewd man who always did what benefited him more. Even his apprentice, Humphrey, was shocked to hear him say something so selfless. Had he really chosen to do good in the face of imminent death? However, Sebastian saw through his little trick immediately. Wensleydale hadn't escaped because he was too afraid to do so. Whoever ran out of the black fog would become a bloody puddle of water. If Sebastian agreed to let them go, he would remo
Sebastian pointed at the hundreds of Martial Arts Association members gathered at the door and said, "Since you all dared to come here and accuse me, then you must be prepared to die here! I am pleased to inform all of you that you have succeeded in provoking me to anger!" The crowd was immediately incensed. "You wouldn't dare!""There are so many of us! Even Larys wouldn't dare to do anything to us, let alone you!" "Sebastian, who do you think you are? We've got more than 100 people here today. Would you dare to kill us all?" Accusatory and defiant questions piped up all around Sebastian, but he only smiled faintly. "Why wouldn't I dare to do so?" he said and shot Lyanna a pointed look. Lyanna chuckled and invited Hans and the rest back into the convenience store. "Please come and sit inside. What's about to happen next may be too gory."Zane quickly turned to walk inside. Sebastian always did what he said he would do. Without a doubt, what was about to happen would be a b
Sebastian finished speaking and took a step toward Leon. Leon had been almost 40 feet away from him. However, Sebastian moved so fast that he left a trail of shadowy afterimages behind him. In an instant, Sebastian was back in his original spot, while Leon hurtled backward like a cannonball. His massive frame crashed into the members of the Martial Arts Association behind him, sending them sprawling. Leon landed heavily on the ground. When the crowd rushed over to check on him, they were horrified to see that his chest had caved in. Fragments of his crushed internal organs were scattered across the ground.Leon was dead. A wave of shock rippled through the crowd. They were aghast. Even Wensleydale hadn't seen how Sebastian had killed Leon. All he had felt was that Sebastian's figure had seemed insubstantial for a second. A heartbeat later, his apprentice had been sent flying, meeting a brutal end right before his eyes. "Sebastian! How dare you commit murder in public?" Wen
Sebastian's expression turned slightly colder. He stepped forward and was beside Zane in an instant. He pulled Zane behind him."You were the ones who hit him, weren't you?" Sebastian asked, looking at Wensleydale and Humphrey.Wensleydale's lip curled. "So what if I did? I hit him! What are you going to do to me?"Humphrey said disdainfully, "Ballard, he should be honored to be hit by my mentor! I don't mind telling you that my mentor represents the entire ancient martial arts community of Steinberg! I can cut out your tongue for that attitude!"Sebastian turned and comforted Zane. He told someone to help Zane back to the door.Then he turned to Wensleydale and Humphrey and said, "Cut off the hand that you used to hit him with, and I won't pursue this further. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead." Sebastian's voice was clear and forceful.The members of the Martial Arts Association were surprised. Even Wensleydale was secretly shocked. Had Sebastian gone mad? How dare