"Whether I can do that tonight depends entirely on you. Hahaha…" Maron laughed heartily as he strode off, leaving Frank standing there, clenching his knuckles as his visage flashed murderously.One way or another, Maron would die tonight!-Soon, Frank followed the Sage Lake Sect apprentices to the enclosed dojo, where he immediately spotted the white-dressed figure drawing her sword.A faint pure vigor wafted among the Sage Lake Sect elders even as they encircled her, resonating harmoniously somehow."A combat ward…?" Frank narrowed his eyes.It was commonly practiced by sect apprentices, requiring resonance in pure vigor and psyche. Moreover, most combat wards would enhance the individuals within while diminishing any disadvantages—pushing them beyond what they were usually capable of."Don't worry, Lady Silverbell!" one of the elders barked. "This Divine Lotus Ward has never been beaten since its conception!""Hmph."Both Frank and Silverbell snorted at the same time—no s
Seeing that Maron actually knew his place, Silverbell nodded impassively. "In that case, your application to the Martial Alliance is now forfeited. Only approach us in Morhen again if one of yours actually reaches Ascendant rank. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."She started to drift away, but Maron stopped her again. "Please wait, Lady Silverbell.""What?" Silverbell's expression cooled, staring pointedly around at the Sage Lake Sect apprentices. "Is there anything else you have to add?""Certainly." Maron strode forward, shaking his head. "Like you said, my sect's right is rightly forfeited. But won't you agree it's a pity when my father just happens to be incapacitated, and the chance that Cloudnine Sect fought for us would only come to waste?""What are you trying to say?" Silverbell growled impatiently."Patience, Lady Silverbell." Maron smiled politely. "Even if current members of my sect have failed, my friend here is willing to join and help us
As Frank looked up to meet Silverbell's eyes, he said quietly, "No, Lady Silverbell. It's our first encounter, just as this is my first time hearing about the Martial Alliance.""The Martial Alliance." Silverbell spaced out for a moment and started explaining for some reason, "The South Sea Four founded the alliance, and only notable sects or factions in Draconia are offered a place…"It was only at the end that she came to her senses, frowning as she wondered why she would explain the Martial Alliance to some punk she did not know.Swish!She whipped her sword, speaking quietly, "Less talking. Since you're representing Sage Lake Sect for their trial, you must be prepared. Show me what you have and whether the Sage Lake Sect is worth the alliance's time!""Go, go, Frankie!" Maron cheered for Frank with fake enthusiasm, waving his phone at Frank at the same time to warn him against pulling anything funny.Frank was not actually going to do it—if he were to be honest, he would like
Elder Huxley walked up to Maron, his tone hesitant. "Master Maron, isn't Frank Lawrence…"Maron shrugged. "He's better than I thought, able to challenge that bitch as an equal.""But what about the chief—""Silence," Maron growled as he shot him an icy look. "He's barely alive, so shut it unless you want all of us dead!""Yes, Master Maron." Elder Huxley sighed heavily."Come on, Elder Huxley." Maron chuckled, seeing his concern. "I know that it's hard on you as an elder of our sect, seeing how things have turned out… but would you rather have Sage Lake Sect stay stuck in measly Southdam for another hundred years?!""Just think about it in another way," he continued with an enigmatic smile. "Bocek Ocean is dead, and my father will soon be too. Who else would know what we did? And once this match is over and I have my way with Silverbell, do you know what's going to happen?"Elder Huxley shook his head. "I'm not sure… and I'm confused. Wouldn't Lady Silverbell punish us?""Punis
As Frank and Silverbell's sword duel intensified, Maron grew more wary of either of them.At the same time, he felt lucky he had never fought Frank directly… or he would end up a corpse already!"Take this—Thousand Mile Burst!"A blur shot down from the above. Too fast for Frank to avoid, he had to raise his sword to parry in the heat of the moment.Clang!The silver beam shattered the sword even as Frank looked on, and it never stopped as it kept pressing toward Frank's face."Oof—" Frank grunted as he stepped backward, and he touched his forehead to feel blood welling out of a shallow scratch."I lost," he said, throwing the hilt on the floor and openly admitting defeat."No, you've won," Silverbell said even as she landed, her fingers twitching around her sword.She leveled a look of mixed emotions at Frank before shaking her head. "It's the rule—anyone in any sect who can last twenty strikes from my blade earns their sect a place in the Martial Alliance. And you've survi
Silverbell's bellow actually gave Maron pause, but he wheeled on Frank again. "It was during the last blow—Frank released some sort of powder out of his sleeve. I thought I was seeing things, but it's real!""I saw it too!" Elder Huxley bellowed and pulled Frank's sleeve, knocking off a pile of Passion Dust from Frank's sleeve."What…" Frank was dumbfounded, as he clearly saw Elder Huxley sprinkle the powder on his sleeve right then.Elder Huxley simply leaned close, growling a threat under his breath, "Don't you dare argue. You know what happens if you do.""F-Frank? Why…?!" Silvebell was wheezing, sweating buckets as her gaze turned unfocused.Frank remained silent—if he maintained his innocence, Maron would retaliate by hurting Helen and the others."See? He's silent because he's caught red-handed!" Maron laughed darkly at Frank and carried Silverbell to the infirmary. "Don't worry—our best healers will cure you soon enough!""So that's what he's up to." Frank's eyes flashed
Seeing that one of the Sage Lake Sect apprentices was ready to run and tell the others, Quinn snapped, "Stop! Master Ocean has spoken—anyone who sees this must never breathe a word! Maron Ocean intends to kill him to claim the title of chief, a crime most unforgivable! Stay here and keep watch. Make sure no one comes in!"Quinn's orders worked—at her words, the Sage Lake Sect apprentices stood in silence. All Maron told them was that the chief had been injured and incapacitated, not such outrage within their enclave!"Heavens… Maron tried to kill the chief?! That's his own father! How could he do this?!""I-I don't know… What the hell…""Wait, wasn't Maron saying that Quinn Ocean died too? She's alive and kicking!"While the sudden turn of events left the Sage Lake Sect apprentices dumbstruck, Quinn herself was anxious too, forgetting honorifics as she asked, "Frank… What do you think? Can you save him?""Yes." Frank nodded, while subtly impressed at how low Maron would sink.
There was a sickening crunch as the Sage Lake Sect apprentice's hand started to ice up, his skin soon freezing into a dried blackness.It was a sight of sheer horror, and the other Sage Lake Sect apprentices promptly backed away in fear."Urgh…" Dahok groaned as he stirred, pushing himself up to his seat in the shrine."Ingrate!!!" he finally snapped after mumbling the word repeatedly before coughing another mouthful of black blood.This time, everyone stayed well away, having learned their lesson.Dahok wheezed even as the black blood iced up on the floor, finally able to speak again."Go!" he bellowed. "Take down that bastard Maron and bring him to me!"Quinn and Frank traded glances, and both strode up."No, absolutely not!" Frank barked, holding up a hand."What… Why?" Dahok wheezed through shallow breaths but forced a smile nonetheless. "I haven't met you, sir, but I'm grateful that you saved my life. However, I shall have that treacherous boy… Today…""Are you sure the
Frank's words left the white-clad geezer sweating down his back.Even he had to admit that the brat projected a menacing presence that intimidated even him! "Are you really going to do this?!" he snarled through his teeth nonetheless.He certainly would not have caused trouble if he had known that he would run into someone as powerful as Frank in this place.And now, forget revenge—they had nowhere to run.But as if bothered that the white-clad geezer was not dead already, his entourage kept adding fuel to the fire."What's the problem, sir?""It's obvious that he wouldn't win against you. Why are you getting cold feet?'At this sage, the white-clad geezer had nothing to hide and bellowed, "All you know is revenge! Do you even know your level compared to his?!"Forget you lot—no martial artist would ever win against that man! "Let me put it to you this way—there aren't more than a hundred individuals who could defeat me in this country. Not only is he among that hundred, bu
However, Frank was already prepared.He silently sent a tremor of the same frequency down under, nullifying the white-clad geezer's tremor with ease.Hence, before anyone realized what had happened, the white-clad geezer already realized that he would not win against Frank! Unlike her niece, the white-clad geezer had been traveling all his life. He understood that while earthbending was amazing, it was hardly invincible.A technique was just a technique, and nothing more. It came with its deficiencies, depending on the way it was wielded, and prodigies were completely on a different level compared to them—in fact, the white-clad geezer was recently beaten by another youth.Even if it rarely happened in a small town like Shagan, it happened all the time among martial artists and the like. Youth surpassed all—was there any martial artist worth their salt who did not understand that the kids would eventually surpass them?"Let's go!"Without hesitation, the white-clad geezer was
As it turned out, the white-clad geezer did not return for revenge.People change as they age, along with their mindset, and develop a longing for their hometown.In fact, the white-clad geezer had returned to make peace with his family, and died in their company.Naturally, he was furious to hear that someone was using his name to bluff their way out and abduct his niece, the hag.And so he came with the rest of them, looking for Frank.After all, if Frank was not sent by the white-clad geezer, the only other person would be…-Back at the present, the white-clad geezer growled icily, "Where is my niece?"Frank smirked. "She paid the price for her crimes. What, do you want revenge?""A life for a life," the white-clad geezer growled. "That's the one rule that has never changed since olden times!"His entourage roared in approval. "Don't get so full of yourself, brat! He is different from the rest of us, and he can kill you anytime!""Really?" Frank simply snorted nonchalant
As the geezer spoke, he opened the rosewood box and put an ashtray in it. "I actually don't have any abilities—everything I make is produced from this box. With its help, I can imbue any object with an enchantment beyond human comprehension. See for yourself!"He closed the box and held it by its sides as the box glowed in a rainbow gradient.Frank felt a sense of familiarity as he watched, as the energy signature resembled the spiritron vein, but one different from the meteor.So what the heck was going on?While Frank was left surprised, the geezer stopped and opened the box, handing Frank the ashtray.As Frank held the ashtray, he saw that it really was altered—it could carry more now!The geezer then passed him a yellowed old book. "This is how you can use it!"Frank frowned. "Why are you giving it to me? I can't take it, or people would just say that I stole it from you when they find out."The geezer smiled in wry amusement. "It's yours either way, kid! And after you've d
To be honest, the hag really had not considered that question and was just playing along to her own whims, never once considering why she was such a philanderer.Frank then pressed his advantage. "Your so-called love is but a manifestation of your lust. It seems noble, but it has no warmth or color, and the world has no way of determining if it exists."If I want it, I can do what you do too. Heck, I'm sure that's the same for everyone else—they're just kind people who know that they shouldn't hog the limited resources of mental asylums.""Insolence!"The hag lunged at Frank as she realized that he was mocking her, but Frank was already prepared and pinned her to the floor with his telekinesis."Alright, you can quit hollering now. The more you do, the more you're just proving that you've lost!"Crouching in front of the hag, Frank growled coolly. "Did you think I'd only rely on brute strength to force your compliance? You're kidding—I don't even need to do that with someone like
It was just as the geezer had said—the hag had been pampered for so long that she could not tell right from wrong.In fact, in her mind, everything she did was never wrong and was even reasonable!That was what frustrated the geezer the most, and he simply stopped arguing and started whipping her with his belt.Pain really clears the mind, and the hag was no exception. In fact, she thought for a split second that she might have made a mistake.However, it only lasted for that split second—a little whipping was never really going to correct a lifetime of distorted beliefs!"I don't get it!" she cried. "Why do you treat my love with such disdain?! You don't have to love me, but you have to respect me!" The geezer laughed coolly and continued to whip her as he snapped, "That's true! But now, what I say goes—that's all there is to it!"That was when Frank suddenly reached out and caught the belt.It stunned the geezer, who quickly checked Frank's hand, and sighed after seeing that
It had been so long since he had seen his enemy, that the geezer almost fell out of his lounger.If he were to be honest, he really did not hold out much hope since it had been years, and no one lasted more than twenty strikes against the hag.However, while he was convinced that his revenge was futile in this life, Frank suddenly appeared.While he looked like he had nothing but his looks going for him, he brought the hag like she was some harmless hatchling."H-How did you do it?" the geezer exclaimed, presuming that Frank must have pulled some cunning trick.However, the geezer was once again reminded of the hag's conceit as she snorted. "How, you asked? With just a wave of his hand, and I lost!"Turning to Frank, she snapped, "There, he had his justice. Can you tell my uncle to show his face now?"Frank rolled his eyes. "I don't know your uncle. I only brought you here because of him!""No… That's impossible!" The truth was starting to dawn on the hag, but she still refus
"H-How did you do that?!"While the cabal was left flabbergasted, the hag was much calmer for some reason.After all, her father had told her about an uncle of hers, who had left the family because they kept abusing their earthbending ability.It was rumored that the uncle eventually cultivated a superior ability, fusing things that would otherwise not be just like what Frank just did.As such, she told her cabal as much, but Frank shook his head. "I learned your technique by directly observing you when you used it. And by doing so, I found a fatal flaw, which I adjusted for."He certainly did not have anything to do with the hag's uncle—he was just that quick a learner and that gifted to wield earthbending in an instant.Naturally, the hag was not about to believe that.No matter how gifted a person could be, there was no way anyone could learn earthbending instantly and even perfect it. In the end, someone must have taught him!As such, she was starting to get impatient with
Before the cabal could react, molehills appeared beneath their feet and sent them flying.Most passed out when they hit the ground, while the rest were barely holding on."W-Who the hell are you?!" The cabal had grown conceited since they did not have many rivals in a remote corner such as this one, and they therefore presumed that no one could challenge them.And now, they could not win with numbers against Frank, let alone one against one.Could anyone bear the shame?"What a bunch of mooks. I told you kids to stay on your training, but none of you listened. And now you're acting surprised?"A hunched hag appeared on a nearby alley, looking very much affable.Surprised, the cabal exclaimed, "What are you doing here, ma'am?""Do you think I'd miss the tremors?" the hag snapped coolly before wheeling on Frank. "Impressive physique! I certainly didn't expect you to hurt those boys."The cabal quickly warned her, "This isn't the time, ma'am. He knows earthbending, and he could