For all intents and purposes, Til should not be the one defending Vicky. It should have been Frank, which was why Til was all the more disappointed in him—what man would allow another man to insult his woman… or not react at all?And he certainly dressed his inaction pretty by saying that he was prioritizing the big picture, when in reality he was just afraid to fight Kain!Honestly, what did Vicky see in him?!That was when Kain's brother Joven noticed Frank and pointed at him as he yelled, "Wait, it's you?! The one who crashed into my car?!""Crashed into your car?"Frank did a double take, but he soon remembered a closer look at Joven's face.It was the drunkard who tailgated him last night after he and Kat Yego left the film set, and he was now accusing him of crashing into his car?!It was really a little ridiculous."What? Do you know him, Joven?" Kain asked, turning toward his brother."Yeah, it's him! He refused to apologize after he ran into my car and used his conn
"What did you say?!"Kain was shocked, but he ignored what Frank was saying and only cared that he insulted his brother."I'll repeat myself since you missed it, just because I'm nice."Frank looked around, glowering as he said, "You're all invited by the Turnbulls to fight against the South Sea Crow. I don't want to affect morale by killing anyone here.""What?! Hahaha!!!"Kain was surprised Frank actually repeated himself and roared with thunderous laughter.On the other hand, everyone around them was pursing their lips and shooting Frank awkward looks.Sure, everyone invited here were martial elites from across the country. Most of them Birthright rank, none of them including Til or Kain could sense Frank's vigor.That meant he was not a martial artist, and such a martial artist was threatening Kain—and by extension everyone else—as they watched.He was not just suicidal—the man was a joke!Did he think they would not see through him? What, was he so strong that even Kain
Kain was truly a mad dog who would keep chasing and biting anything in sight without regard for rules or obligations."Stand back, Mr. Turnbull."Frank strode between Glen and Kain, staring fixedly at the burly man as he knew there was no chance for negotiations now. "Misbehaving in Turnbull Estate and insulting my woman more than once? It seems that you really want to die."He once again caught Kain by surprise, but he was soon laughing loudly and savagely. "You really can talk tough, kid! Did you think your bluff would work?! You're obviously just a normal person! We're all martial artists here, and we could tell right away you're just bluffing like a clown. I guess the Turnbulls really have no one else to turn too, huh?"His words sent the crowd abuzz, most of them agreeing with Kain as they saw that Frank had no training and was just bluffing."Don't overreach," Til said as he strode over. "Kain has gained notoriety over the years for his savagery, and you won't survive if you
"Watch out!" Til shouted when he saw that Kain was brazen enough to blindside Frank, but instead of stopping Kain, his first reaction was to leap away.After all he had a cunning idea right then—if Kain killed Frank, did that not mean that he had a shot with Vicky?And to be honest, he was not confident he could stop a full-power strike.However, Frank never panicked—he was even watching Til as he leapt away with aplomb, immediately reading his mind.If Kain was despicable, Til was himself a hypocrite.People like him never did anything unless there was something in it for him. In fact, he was confronting Kain earlier just to score brownie points with Vicky.Now, as soon as he saw Kain was bent on killing Frank, he backed away."How disappointing," Frank said, shaking his head just as Kain's machete was inches away from his own scalp.The shockwave from the clean-white blade was billowing over Frank's hair, and Kain could imagine seeing Frank's split in two from his machete.H
Everyone else could not feel the pressure Frank was projecting at all, only that he was only asking Kain a question coolly.But in Kain's eyes, Frank was now a hundred-meter blood-soaked behemoth, bellowing at him and leaving him pale."Shit, what is he?! The pressure he projects is on the level of the chief of our Cloudnine Sect! A Transcendent rank, perhaps? Like one of those ancient monsters who gained immortality?!"While Kain was dumbfounded in fear, his brother Joven never realized his brother was behaving strangely."Go, Kain! Gut him!" he exclaimed excitedly. "That brat is asking for it—when you're done with his girl, let me have a turn—"Bang!Even before Joven could finish the thought, his head blew up like a watermelon.Seeing the red and white matter that erupted away, Kain stared blankly at Frank.He did not even have any idea when Frank moved, but his brother was already dead, and he knew that Frank did it."Shit!!!""Argh! What the hell?!"The entire conferenc
"Cloudnine Sect?" Frank simply regarded Kain with amusement, chuckling coolly. "Did you think I'd be afraid of Cloudnine Sect? Hahaha… You're really underestimating me now, huh?""I'd never!"Kain certainly did not dare argue, profoundly afraid of Frank's displeasure as it was his life on the line.What could he do if Frank killed him right now? Even if Cloudnine Sect might avenge him, what was the point if he was dead?Seeing Kain's humbled pleas for mercy, everyone including Til and Kiki were left gaping, unable to believe what they were seeing.The infamous Kain Loom was kowtowing and pleading to Frank like some wretched dog, afraid to speak rudely even after his own brother was killed.The thought left Til scowling—he was just persuading Frank to give up on Vicky just to get on Kain's good graces.It turned out that he was the clown all along!Kiki certainly changed the way she saw Frank too, just as she heard everything Til said.She was already embarrassed at how her f
However, Vicky could see through Frank's motives right then. "Tch. In the end, you just can't push Helen aside."Frank simply flashed an awkward smile, not daring to retort.He had reached a critical moment in his training and became increasingly aware of the importance of retaining his body's essence.If he stayed a virgin, his Five-Peat Archaeus would improve even more rapidly.His abstinence was for the sake of his training. Once he truly reached Ascendant rank and became one of Draconia's strongest individuals—when even Simon Lionheart was helpless against him—he would truly be relieved.As his Five-Peat Archaeus would no longer be affected, there was no reason for him to stay a virgin.But right now, he could sense Draconia's storm and was completely focused on training, refusing to be distracted by anything else.It was also so that he could protect Vicky, Helen, and the rest.Naturally, it was pointless for Frank to say it anyway, so he would just throw some excuse for t
Frank was staying at Turnbull Estate over the next couple days.He taught Kat martial arts whenever he had the time, basically treating her as his apprentice, even teaching her the full version of the Five-Peat Archaeus.It was only by becoming stronger that she would be able to protect herself, or even help Frank protect the others.Kat did not let him down either—the spiritron vein she embodied was really powerful, skyrocketing from a mere initiate to a peak vigor wielder in a day.Being up against the thugs before would be less taxing now—she was even formidable thanks to Frank's training and the Five-Peat Archaeus.Naturally, aside from training, Frank did not forget to take Vicky out for walks, admiring the scenery.Vicky even called Helen just to brag, brazenly describing in vivid detail a blow-by-blow account of the fictional romp she had with Frank last night, that even Frank had to stop himself from lying.Helen was left stammering, "A-Are you just messing with me, Vick
Frank snorted. "Alright, I'm hanging up. I'm getting started over here soon.""Yeah. Good luck," Jouri replied.Hanging up, Frank looked up at the waterfall overhead, and then at Skyler, who was standing beside him. "So? Is it time yet?""Almost… Now!" Skyler's eyes were glowing even as she stared at her watch."Alright."Frank looked up just as the skies abruptly darkened. "Ah, there it is—the eclipse."The sun seemed to disappear, and the world was suddenly shrouded in darknesses.And beside him, a stone door imbued with the power of the spiritron vein also rumbled as it parted."Got it!" Frank rushed inside without another word as soon as he saw it."Hmph. I'm surprised that you could reach this place." A cold, wrathful voice resounded inside even before Frank got a hold of his surroundings.Looking up, Frank found a youth in a black cossack and sporting grey-white hair, standing upon a cliff as he looked down on him.Frank chuckled. "Hehe. Like I said, I've come to kill
Frank narrowed his eyes. "Is that so?'Crane shrugged. "I don't mind giving it to you straight—members of Torrent are actually… Ahem. A part of Torrent himself."Frank paused. "What's that supposed to mean?""You don't get it, do you?" Crane grinned. "Then let me put it to you this way—every member is a clone of Torrent.""A clone?" Frank gasped in realization."Yes," Crane nodded. "That's why I believe that challenging Crane is just suicide. You have no idea how powerful he is—only death awaits you down that path."Frank smirked. "Oh, but I don't think so."Crane rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever—now listen closely. You will find Torrent in the Mystic Trail, but you would only find that place when the sun and moon coincide, and the entrance is beneath the waterfall south of Horton."As he finished, he snorted coldly. "I have no idea if you can actually do it, but I'm hoping you do kill him… Heh. I'm getting tired of being stuck under his control for so long."Then, waving off
Frank abruptly turned, immediately noticing one of the Cranes crouching, ready to spring forward and blindside him."Got you!" He laughed."Hah! You fell for it!"Just as Frank swung a punch to pulverize that Crane, he suddenly burst into pus that splashed at Frank's face."Damn it!" Frank took a step back, surprised that the clone's presence was identical to the real Crane, and a trap on top of that!"Die!"The Cranes around him each whipped out a dagger, all of them stabbing at Frank at the same time."Get off!" Frank bellowed, unleashing a shockwave that sent all the Cranes flying across all directions."Frank! Above you!" Skyler suddenly shrieked."Yes! I'm right here!" A strange laughter sounded above Frank just as he wiped the pus off his face.Crane was suddenly directly above him, launching an aerial kick straight at Frank's head, and Frank had no time to dodge!"Die!" Crane's smile curled into a twisted angle as he saw that too.He was very confident with this kick
"Disgusting…" Skyler murmured through her hand.Despite being skinned and scalped, the women were all still alive and singing to the music that was playing despite their anguish."Talk about a terrible fetish."Frank was scowling too—why were all the members of Torrent such sick deviants? It seemed like his plan to wipe them out was absolutely correct!"So, you killed my clone?"The lanky man on the couch slowly turned to level his bloodshot eyes at Frank.His lips were wet with bed as they curled upward into an eerie smile."Clone?" Frank narrowed his eyes."Hehe. It's a sage art."Crane shrugged as he stood up and wiped the blood off his lips. "It's only natural that you don't understand… Still, you deserve praise. If you can kill my clone, that means you're not just slightly stronger than Ghost."Naturally, the man was none other than the real Crane.Still, as Skyler studied him from a corner, even she could notice the strange twitch of his fingers, and his veins were pro
Even as Crane ran, he was looking over his shoulder, his heart pounding. "No… I won't win in a one-on-one!"No, as long as I get back to my real body… we can do this together!" He frowned, having seen how Frank sliced off the pinkies of those hood rats. It hence quickly dawned on him that Frank was not just slightly stronger than Ghost, as Torrent had put it!"Almost there!" He gasped when he saw the signboard of Pegasus Showtown in the distance. "As long as I get there and rendezvous with my real body, that brat will lose—"That was when he turned and saw that a shadow had caught up with impossible speed."What?!" Crane's eyes almost popped out in bewilderment. "What speed is that?! Are you kidding—"Even as he spotted the shadow, the shadow turned into a youth with an impassive visage.His fist outstretched, he was clearly punching toward Crane's forehead!"Argh…"Even as Crane looked on, the youth's punch slowed down by tenfold, but his fist kept closing in.Then, whe
Seeing Skyler sigh, the tattooed thug presumed that his extortion worked.He strode up, grabbing Frank's shoulder. "No one's gonna help you, boy. Pay up, or you're not leaving.""Exactly! You're not getting away!" the crowd of hood rats hollered. "Last chance."Frank's eyes were cold and fixed on Dani, however. "Are you going to intervene? If you do, you can keep that check. If you don't…""Ugh. Fuck off! I don't care!" Dani spat, her expression smug as she folded her arms before her chest. "Who do you think you are to threaten me?!""Exactly! Pay up, and you can leave!""Yeah! Ten grand, at least!""You probably don't know my boss Wyvern, but when he's here, you won't get away with just ten grand!"Even as the crowd closed in, Frank shook his head. "Well, you had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next.""You're giving us a chance?! Hah! Who—argh!"Even before Dani could finish gloating, Frank was suddenly in front of her, grabbing her viciously by the wrist."Arg
"Five grand?! Did you hear that?! He just threw five grand!""Must be a rich kid coming here for a secret rendezvous, out of prying eyes? Those types are the easiest mark!""Fuck! And Dani got one of us… It hurts me more than losing at the races!"Frank could hear the buzz around him but ignored it as he strode past the men flanking him and headed toward the street that stank of blood."Stop!" A big tattooed man grinned sinisterly as he intercepted Frank.As his buddies encircled Frank as well, Frank snorted—it seemed that they took his reaction for a sign of weakness and thought that he could be cowed.The tattooed man rubbed his chin as he leered at Skyler's voluptuous figure, chuckling. "Look, boy. I'm short on cash, so let me take a loan. I'll pay you back some other day, how about that?"His friend laughed. "Exactly! You just gave Dani five grand, and we won't ask for more… just four, how about that?"Skyler scowled in turn and glanced worriedly at Frank beside her—was he
Frank himself had just stepped out of the nightclub when his eyes narrowed."Blood," he murmured, his nostrils twitching."Blood?"Skyler sniffed the air, puzzled. "I can't smell it.""It's from the opposite street… I smell the blood of over a dozen people.""A dozen?!" Skyler did a double take.He could identify the number of people who were killed?! That was just ridiculous!"Come on, let's take a look."Just as Frank led the way toward the source of the stench, a woman suddenly came up, catching Frank off guard and throwing herself into his arms."Hmmm?" He looked down to see that she had thick makeup, average looks, and a rather pudgy belly."Argh! He touched me!" she pointed at Frank and shrieked even before he realized what was happening."What?!" Skyler was staring at the woman too, mystified."Oh, sister! You just didn't see it!"The woman kept hollering, pointing at Frank's face. "Your boyfriend grabbed my ass! Is that how you teach him manners?!""Teach him ma
Wyvern screamed even as he clutched the stump that was his hand, screaming so shrilly one might mistake his voice as inhuman."Oh, just shut up." The lanky man glowered and launched a kick, reducing Wyvern into puddles of blood and pieces of innards, splattering all around the lobby. "Argh!!!" the devilish lady screamed as she watched the carnage unfolded."Another sound, and you'd end up just like him." The lanky man turned and frowned at her impatiently."Hngh…" The devilish lady promptly clasped a hand over her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she trembled."What the hell?!"Outside, Wyvern's lackeys heard the screams and ran inside, looking for him. "Hey, where's Wyvern?!"However, the lobby was too dimly lit for them to notice the blood and guts scattered around the walls, and they only sensed that terrible stench."Hngh…" The devilish lady was too scared to speak, and tears trickled out of her eyes."Fuck!"One of the lackeys strode up and seized the lanky man