"Mister Levin, you're out at last."Ashton blinked. Out at last? What was that supposed to mean?"Did something happen?""Yes, and it's big."Rowena rushed to reveal the news. It was not much of a story. Some mystery figure had crashed the Levin place, causing trouble, then hit the Quayles and hurt a girl named Yanne to draw Ashton out.It had been widely reported in the Imperial Capital by then.Ashton grabbed Rowena by the collar and yanked her close."Didn't I tell you to wake me for anything major?""But the elders said you were in the middle of brewing a god-tier elixir, no interruptions!" Rowena blanched, swallowing nervously."Ridiculous!" Ashton exploded.Two new elders knelt, terrified and barely breathing."Immortal Master—"Ashton's hand slipped as he dashed between two elders, barreling down the mountain at an unbelievable speed.Fethorius observed the scene from afar. "It looks like the Immortal Master's magic potion is a success. Who would've thought? A kid w
"They call him Martin, the Supreme Knife-Wielder of the royal court, an old-timer in his 50s or 60s. He's at the Celestial Citadel, waiting for you.""Mister Levin, I have a bad feeling about this," Catelyn said.Ashton nodded solemnly."There's more. I have some inside scoop from the Imperial Court, and it's about you," Catelyn said, her eyes narrowing.She was determined to keep her promise."Your ex, Alora, she's cozying up with the old prince. This whole mess—Martin showing up and Yanne's injuries—has Alora's fingerprints all over it."Ashton nodded slowly—a shadow flickered in his eyes and then disappeared.He stayed in the room to watch Yanne, not wanting to leave.A surprised and confused voice soon followed.It was the doctor."All readings are off the charts! How is that possible?"Their devices checked Yanne's insides, and the lights were all green—healthy as a horse."Is it because of the pill?" The doctors huddled, exchanging guesses.Time passed, and Yanne imp
Anthony paused and smiled. "Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Latham, but your hopes are about to be dashed. I heard Yanne has pulled through, and Ash is on his way. You might want to think about your fate.""No way!" Alora snapped back. "Lord Weaver's Fleshweave Fist is unbeatable. It's a death sentence—no one has ever survived it. Save your breath, Mister Scott. Your words won't shake me."Anthony laughed coldly and left. Alora's words hung in the air.The city was on high alert. A safety zone was established in the heart of the chaos. Soldiers and security personnel swarmed the area, keeping a vigilant eye and barring ordinary folks from getting too close to the unfolding drama.The tourist buzz was still in full swing. The Celestial Citadel was a tourist hotspot, making crowd management difficult. The government had to double security and call in the military.Keeping the martial arts community under wraps was like holding onto a fragile secret, and the departments had to bend ove
The man was breathtaking, a vision of perfection, while the woman's beauty was otherworldly. She looked like she had stepped out of a legendary tale.The two adventurers strolled down the narrow path, the world around them seemingly transformed into a magical paradise."Hmm?"Martin stared at Yanne in disbelief."How can this be?"She had been hit by his Fleshweave Fist over three days ago. Her limbs and thigh bones should have melted into a puddle of gore by then. How could she be walking around, perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened? Impossible!Since its invention a century ago, the Fleshweave Fist had terrorized martial artists. Martin, the rightful heir to that deadly technique, knew its deadly potential. All of its victims died within a week.Despite all odds, the curse had lifted.Yanne's spirit was bright, and her eyes sparkled with a hint of divine light, indicating good health and energy."Ashton! Yanne!"Alora's icy gaze fixed on the pair, her nails threatenin
"This fight is going to be epic, absolutely epic.""The legendary Bladebreaker from 60 years back and the hottest young talent in martial arts today—one of them is about to make history."Lindsay had run out of scornful comments.Her officers were right—she was a straight shooter who hated fakery and evil. She revered Douglas, a war god who gave the nation pride and guarded its borders, and she had no patience for wannabes riding his coattails.The young man's quick exchange showed his mettle; he evidently had some serious skills.Ashton countered the lightning-fast saber with his sword. His body coiled like a spring, the clash a hair's breadth from his neck.With a resounding crash, the fight began.Ashton leaped free from his foe's Coiled Dragon Saber as his inner power roared. He charged forward, his sword piercing the air at a cunning angle.His blade struck its mark, but only a shadow.Martin reappeared a few yards away."You have my respect," Martin said, grinning. "To
Alora's heart was a tangled mess of emotions. A few months back, Ashton was nothing more than a guy living off others. He was like a character straight out of a fantasy novel, and she could not shake the feeling that she was stuck in a dream.His sudden transformation into someone who seemed to radiate otherworldly magic baffled her.She suddenly found her obsessions—money, power, status—ridiculous. Watching those titans fight changed her world, teaching her who ruled and who was the best.No matter their wealth, political power, or birthright, they all looked like fools before true heroes.That was the real deal, a chosen one who could shape their destiny.Had she not left, would she be standing by his side instead of Yanne?She sneered at the dark silhouette on the Celestial Citadel, wanting him to split in two and vanish.Her pain and regrets would end if he were gone. She could pursue her goals without looking back.Why did she feel as if something was off, though?She lau
"Too bad. You will bite the dust today."Ashton shook his head, his eyes still burning crimson-gold. He quickly directed the flames down his arm and onto his blade. The Sword of Wren, dark as a raven's wing, was cloaked in a brilliant mantle of gold-red fire."You arrogant whelp. Your entire family is fated to die. You, who have no place in this world, should disappear!"Martin's garments were in tatters, revealing his gnarled and blackened arms. The veins on his arms squirmed like centipedes, swollen with a powerful energy that threatened to burst forth."I've honed my martial skills for a century, and I've only tasted two defeats."The first was when my power had just peaked, and I dared to challenge a grandmaster. I faltered by a mere fraction, and it cost me half my strength."I retreated into seclusion for three years, emerged stronger, and mastered the gates of life and death. I claimed the title of grandmaster. I bested the seven mightiest grandmasters in the north for sev
"Breaking the sound barrier is a technological and martial arts miracle. A punch faster than sound is powerful. Anybody who takes this punch head-on dies," Masters Heptagem said solemnly."So, Martin is dead?" an astonished warrior asked.After a few seconds, the kneeling Martin spewed blood like he had been blown up. His pores were like openings that kept leaking blood.Immediately afterward, his shriveled body plummeted from the Celestial Citadel.Everything went silent as everyone looked shocked."In the future, none of these old masters will dare to pop up and mess around. The entire martial arts community now belongs to this young man. If he can kill Martin with one punch, he is destined to get famous globally," Master Heptagem said.Martin's era ended with Ashton's strength in that decisive battle. Ashton's arrival rendered all cultivators from Martin's era obsolete.As Ashton approached, all the warriors instinctively lowered their heads as if facing the new martial arts