The elites of the Jaeger royal family were both shocked and furious. Under the crushing force of Gideon's pressure, they found themselves unable to move.Clementia, in particular, was singled out for the worst of it. The pressure was overwhelming, and cold sweat poured from her forehead like rain."Bastard!" Alaric's fury erupted.He had always had feelings for Clementia, and seeing the woman he liked being overpowered filled him with rage."Ah!" Alaric seemed to have unleashed some kind of forbidden technique, causing his power to surge by 120%.With a deafening roar, he charged forward. A single punch shattered a gap in Gideon's oppressive force.Clementia gasped for breath. She, too, exploded with power of her own.A loud boom echoed, and Gideon's energy force collapsed.However, it didn't matter. He still hadn't shown his true strength."Kill!" Alaric's face twisted with ferocity.He and Clementia launched a two-pronged assault, unleashing their most powerful techniques,
Tiberius' face darkened. "Gideon, don't think that just because you defeated them, you have the right to ignore me.""Oh?" Gideon was amused. "So, you're saying that you're stronger than all of them combined? Has the Nevitt royal family really reached that level of power?""You!" Tiberius' face flushed red with anger.At that moment, Draco stepped forward. His expression was calm as he said evenly, "Gideon, you truly surprised me. Honestly, I had no interest in participating in this Martial Arts Tournament, but now, not only am I interested, but I'm fired up for a fight, too.""Same here." Gideon only said two words.He had already seen through it. Draco was no ordinary fighter. He was a sleeping dragon lying in wait.Draco smiled. "It looks like we both admire each other's strength. How about this? We fight one-on-one without any interference?""I have no objections." Gideon shrugged."Draco, this—""Tib, stand down." Draco waved his hand dismissively. "Leave this to me. This
"The Tyrant Dragon Physique!" Arabella gasped in shock.This was the legendary body refinement physique of the Nevitt royal family. Even Asher, the unrivaled head of the Nevitt royal family, had failed to master it. Yet, Draco had succeeded.His talent was terrifying. No wonder Draco was so confident!"The Tyrant Dragon Physique!"Everyone present, including Tiberius, was stunned. Even he had no idea that Draco had mastered the Tyrant Dragon Physique. A complex mix of emotions churned inside him. "Draco, you've been hiding your strength well!"The other royal family members—Sean, Felix, Alaric, and the rest—had uncertain expressions. Just the Tyrant Dragon Physique alone was enough for Draco to leave them far behind."Draco's victory isn't guaranteed. Gideon has also mastered a special body refinement physique," Clementia said in a low voice.Her words snapped everyone out of their thoughts. Up until now, all their attention had been focused on Draco. Only now did they realize t
It was too dazzling. For a brief moment, everyone's vision went white.The three dragons charging forward were instantly reduced to nothing. They disintegrated within the radiant brilliance of that single punch."Draco, come on! Let me see the true level of your physique!""You won't be disappointed."The two clashed once again. Every punch exploded with raw power, making the royal family members watching shudder.They were certain that if Gideon or Draco landed a single punch on them, their bodies would be obliterated, leaving no trace behind. That was how much of a power gap they had.Sean, Felix, Evan, and the others were filled with jealousy, envy, and resentment."Tyrant Fist! I alone reign supreme above all beings! Gideon, you're not good enough!" Draco's hair stood on end. He wanted to end this quickly. Behind him, countless dragons coiled and surged. This was his ultimate move.In contrast, Gideon suddenly withdrew his entire energy. Even the blazing sun behind him vani
"Draco!" Tiberius cried out and rushed forward.Inside the massive crater, Draco was covered in blood. His battle armor was in shambles, his bones shattered in dozens of places, and his internal organs were severely damaged. The final clash had drained Draco of every last ounce of strength and energy. At that moment, he didn't even have the strength to lift a finger."Draco!" Tiberius' eyes were bloodshot. "Gideon! How dare you hurt Draco? I'll kill you!"Gideon's expression remained calm. He stood tall in the center of the battlefield. His clothes were tattered, but his posture remained straight and unwavering. He exuded a majestic energy.Tiberius roared, but he didn't dare make a move. Even Draco, who had mastered the Tyrant Dragon Physique, had been defeated. What chance did he stand against Gideon?"That should be about time. The first round of the team battles should be over."Gideon turned to look at Brent Knight, the grand elder of the Foxhall royal family and the host
Yesterday, as the host, the Foxhall royal family spared no expense, distributing a substantial amount of rare medicinal treasures to the other royal families to aid in their recovery.Today, everyone's injuries had stabilized. However, their expressions were grim."Draco, are you alright?""I'm fine." Draco sat upright, his face impassive.There was no trace of emotion—no way to tell what he was thinking. It was as if nothing had happened yesterday."I've only been practicing the Tyrant Dragon Physique for three months. I haven't fully mastered it yet. Gideon must have perfected his Solar Titan Physique long ago."My defeat was inevitable. Once I gain complete control over my Tyrant Dragon Physique and push its limits further, defeating Gideon won't be a problem.""It's good that you see it that way, Draco." Tiberius let out a breath of relief before shifting his gaze toward the high platform. "I wonder what the championship prize will be this year."Each royal family contribut
Gideon felt both excited and had high expectations. The eight major royal families wouldn't offer anything subpar. There was a high chance the prizes would include supreme techniques or precious medicinal treasures.Everyone else was just as eager.Eight tables stood before them, each representing a royal family's contribution. Every item was covered with a red cloth, hiding its identity.Gideon first chose the Jaeger royal family's offering.As he lifted the red cloth, a rich medicinal fragrance instantly spread through the air. As expected, it was a top-tier medicinal herb. It was extremely rare, and it was worth a fortune.Callan stood up and introduced, "This is the vermilion fruit. It's a medical herb unique to the Jaeger royal family. It's incredibly difficult to plant and only bears fruit once every three years."Gideon was stunned. A fruit that took three years to mature was truly precious."Gideon, the vermilion fruit is a supreme fire-attribute herb. It's perfectly com
Ralphael exclaimed, "Marquess Keagan, what are you saying? We've all displayed our treasures, yet you're presenting a broken sword as something valuable. Isn't this unfair to us?" James agreed.Keagan replied, "Listen, everyone. This broken sword is extraordinary. You all sensed it earlier—it carries the energy of a blade!""We are all well-informed here. There's no need to explain what the energy of a blade signifies. This broken sword must have once been an unparalleled and precious weapon." "Despite its broken state, it still exudes tremendous power."Gideon gently touched the broken sword, feeling its icy coldness penetrate to his core. A sword with such an energy, even in its broken form, was indeed a rare and valuable treasure. Additionally, he was skilled in swordsmanship. With this broken sword, he could amplify his power beyond its limits."Your Grace, I am truly fond of this sword. If we can acquire valuable materials in the future and use them to restore it, it wil
"Hm?" Pacino was taken aback.With a meaningful look, he asked, "Ms. Corthopp, what do you want to learn that for? The Hellrend Severance Technique is a vicious and sinister art. As a member of The Light Council, how could you study something like that?"Orabella smiled. "No technique is inherently good or evil. It all depends on how it's used."Pacino was no fool. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Ms. Corthopp, are you planning to strip Elara's pure-essence core?"She replied, "If the opportunity arises, I will.""For Gideon? Tsk! It seems Gideon holds quite a lot of weight in your heart." A strange smile spread across Pacino's face.Orabella asked again, "Mr. Albe, would you be willing to teach me? Consider it a favor. I'll repay you in the future."Pacino laughed and said, "Ms Corthopp, you hold a prestigious position in The Light Council. Having someone like you owe me a favor, that's a deal well worth making. I'll teach you the Hellrend Severance Technique right now.""I'd ap
They had actually suffered a setback at the hands of some snot-nosed kid. If word got out, people would die laughing."How much farther are you planning to retreat?"At that moment, Gideon stopped in his tracks, took a deep breath to steady himself, and spoke in a detached tone, "Honestly, we're not even enemies. Ivo is dead. Why make an enemy of me for his sake?"Think about the consequences of crossing me. I could just leave Bandit's Hollow, but from that moment on, none of you would ever know peace again."Pacino's face darkened. "Are you threatening me?"Gideon shook his head. "I'm simply stating a fact. Making an enemy of me over a dead man is not a wise move."Besides, I have means of dealing an irreversible blow to you all. Initially, I intended to take you by surprise, but since I've already mentioned it, let me show you. Be careful!"Gideon waved his hand, and immediately, a mist began to spread.In an instant, the hooligans were horrified. They frantically retreated.
"No!" Mea screamed hysterically.The broken blade was pulled out. Ivo's corpse collapsed to the ground like a pile of rotten flesh, making Mea dizzy, her vision going black."You're not dead! How is that possible?" Pacino was in disbelief.His aged eyes flashed with sharp light as he scrutinized Gideon, realizing that not only was Gideon alive, but his energy was still as powerful as ever, too.It was as if the past half hour inside that eerie mist hadn't affected him in the slightest.How could this be?Gideon sneered. "What? Disappointed? That mist is indeed strange, but unfortunately, it has no effect on me.""Impossible!" "Nothing is impossible. There's a lot you don't know." Gideon was full of mockery, but his face quickly turned cold. "Now, I'll give you a chance. Hand over Elara, and we can go our separate ways peacefully. Otherwise… suffer the consequences!"Pacino sneered. "Gideon, so what if you're still alive? Do you really think you can escape?""Pacino, kill him
"This eerie mist, once it invades the body, brings unspeakable disaster and doom. Some die sudden and violent deaths, while some melt into puddles of pus. Some wither away entirely."The variety of deaths is truly horrifying. If Gideon has been in that mist for half an hour, he will have already reached his limits. He's doomed," Pacino explained.Orabella said, "If the mist is so powerful, and you can control it, doesn't that make you unbeatable?""No, no, no." Pacino shook his head and explained, "We can't control the mist. But we can control that stone gate, sealing Bandit's Hollow. And once the gate is sealed, or rather, once it falls shut, the mist naturally emerges."Orabella suddenly understood.So, as long as the stone gate was opened, the mist would disappear.Pacino said, "Ms. Corthopp, are you thinking of opening the gate to dispel the mist and save Gideon? Don't even think about it."She retorted, "Aren't you after Gideon's Solar Titan Body? That's a rare treasure. If
Ivo used the last of his strength to unleash an attack, successfully blocking Orabella. In doing so, he also shattered Gideon and Orabella's final chance at negotiation."Gideon, you're as good as dead. You destroyed Moblathos. How could I not take revenge? Killing you won't be enough."Once you fall, I'll head to Goldspire and butcher every last man in the Snow family, hacking them to pieces while they're still alive. As for the women, they'll all become my cultivation furnaces, used and discarded until they die."As for Umbra… That wretched woman dared to side with you? Unforgivable! Once I obtain Elara's pure-essence core and ascend to the next level of power, I'll crush Umbra beneath my feet and make her my obedient slave!"Ivo's face twisted with malice, his sinister laughter never ceasing.Gideon had already made up his mind. Ivo had to die.Orabella retreated to Gideon's side, her expression grave. "This is bad. Escaping Bandit's Hollow won't be easy."Seeing that Gideon
Pacino's eyes darkened. He actually discarded his serpent-headed staff and engaged Gideon in hand-to-hand combat.What shocked Gideon was that Pacino's strength was terrifying. Every punch was devastatingly heavy.Most crucially, Pacino's combat skills were extraordinarily refined. Out of ten punches, he could land eight on Gideon, whereas Gideon could only land two or three in return.The difference was clear."Heh! Kid, how does it feel? You might have raw power, but you don't know how to use it. Your fighting technique is pathetic. And you think you're fit to brawl with me? What a joke!"The moment those words fell, Gideon took a heavy blow. Pain shot through his entire body, and he crashed straight into the ground.The other hooligans unleashed a flurry of deadly attacks, bombarding the massive crater."Gideon!" Orabella cried out.Just then, a brilliant light shot skyward, slicing through the hooligans' attacks.Gideon burst out of the crater, looking battered. He panted
"Go!" After throwing that punch, Gideon decisively chose to retreat. Orabella also pulled Elara along with her.Ivo lunged forward in pursuit. "Do you think you can escape? Did you even ask for my permission?""Why the hell would I ask you? Get lost!" Gideon raised his hand and slapped Ivo midair, sending him flying.Orabella struck with Ex Cathera.However, it wasn't aimed at Ivo. He was nothing more than a minor obstacle. The real target was the seven hooligans chasing them down."This…""Woman, you're from The Light Council!"Orabella remained silent.The seven hooligans scowled. If The Light Council was getting involved, things were about to get troublesome."Even The Light Council has no right to act recklessly in Bandit's Hollow.""The Pope himself came here once, and he even treated us with respect. You, a mere little Episcorprie, think you can pull this off?""Hold them back!"At that moment, the seven hooligans finally unleashed their full strength.They moved lik
Blood splattered across the sky.Gideon struck again, aiming to obliterate Ivo. The sight sent Ivo into a panic, scaring him out of his wits."Stop!" Mea shouted in fury.The Hellrend Severance Technique was broken. The villains knew full well that Gideon was a ruthless force to be reckoned with. At this point, there was no way to seize the pure-essence core anymore. They had to deal with Gideon first.On the sacrificial altar, the pure-essence had also stopped its rampage and fallen into a state of calm. The condensed pure-essence energy transformed into a massive shield, wrapping itself around Elara.In the dense jungle, Orabella let out a long breath."That Ivo guy is such a waste of space. He couldn't even take a single hit. If only he had held on a little longer, the seven hooligans' Hellrend Severance Technique would have successfully stripped Elara of her pure-essence core!"Orabella felt a deep sense of regret. She was well-versed in the ways of the world. Gideon might n
"Hellrend Severance Technique… Damn, these hooligans have some seriously bizarre methods. If I could even learn a little, it would be enough to last a lifetime. But…"A trace of resentment flashed deep in Ivo's eyes. "These old bastards won't teach me a thing! It's utterly infuriating."Ivo felt disgusted, especially with Mea. To win their support, he had forced himself to roll in the sheets with her, nearly scarring himself for life.Regardless, once he became a ninth-tier peak transcendent, crushing these old farts and taking their ultimate techniques will be effortless.Ivo plotted in silence.What he didn't know was that, in the distant woods, two figures were secretly watching—Orabella and Gideon. With such a huge commotion in Bandit's Hollow, it was impossible for them not to notice and rush over."We can't wait any longer. We need to act!" Gideon was anxious.He had arrived just in time to witness this scene, but he had no idea it was the Hellrend Severance Technique. All