Esmond was so enraged by Xayne's words that he coughed up a mouthful of blood.This was his signature move, yet Xayne had downgraded it to a mere circus trick."You brat! No matter how sharp your tongue is, you won't escape death!"With that, Esmond swung his sword with a single hand.In an instant, thousands of air swords came from all directions, converging on Xayne simultaneously.However, instead of retreating, Xayne roared back, "Bring it on!"Just a moment earlier, amid that inescapable web of blades, Xayne had spotted a sliver of hope.Most people would be paralyzed with fear before even making a move when faced with such a lethal formation. But Xayne was not like most people.Fortunately, he remembered a solution buried deep in the Heavenly Tome, describing how to counter this kind of sword formation. Until now, Xayne had not fully understood the meaning of those ancient texts.Yet, at that crucial moment, as the air swords surrounded him, the words from the codex flas
Flamey's furious shout snapped Esmond back to reality. He quickly suppressed the shock and looked at Xayne with a calm expression."Xayne, you're impressive. There are only a handful of people in Drakonia who could dodge my sword. But, your luck runs out here," Esmond said as he lifted his sword once more.Suddenly, the air around them for miles seemed to be sucked out, and even the space in front of Xayne rippled as if reality itself was warping.At the same time, the air currents rapidly gathered behind Esmond, forming a massive, towering air sword.The sword's blade reached tens of meters into the sky as if it connected the heavens and the earth, radiating an overwhelming pressure. Above, thunderclouds gathered, and bolts of lightning danced through the sky.Xayne tilted his head upward, his gaze locking onto the air swords. Forcing a smile, he muttered, "Condensing a sword from the void… You truly possess the power of a Quad-Divine Commander. Not bad."This air sword was enti
If Xayne failed to block this strike, he would be cleaved in half at the waist.He quickly focused his mind, directing the Ravenclaw dagger to intercept the incoming giant sword.Esmond shook his head repeatedly. While Xayne had extraordinary comprehension, he was still far too young. He had no idea what this sword truly represented.Even Klink, one of the strongest warriors in the land, would not even dare face this sword head-on."Xayne is dead for sure this time!" One of Esmond's disciples sneered. "This sword forced Klink to retreat! Even the leader of the KB Kings Circle avoided this killing blow. And Xayne dares to take it head-on?"Another disciple, who was smirking, added, "He thinks he can challenge our kickboxing association single-handedly? He must have a death wish! Doesn't he know that the kickboxing association is full of masters like us?"The outcome was already decided. Xayne was as good as dead to them."Even if Xayne survives by some miracle, what difference wi
Esmond coughed violently again as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes widened in shock at Xayne. In just an instant, Xayne had made a monumental breakthrough, jumping from halfway Tri-Divine Commander to Quad-Divine Commander.At this moment, the two were only one level apart, but Esmond had already revealed all his trump cards. Xayne, however, had one final secret weapon he had not yet unleashed, which was his Scarlet Dragon Lance. It was capable of delivering a fatal blow in a single strike.Xayne now understood something profound about the Divine Commander realm. Every layer of it was like an entire new sky. During the battle, as he comprehended Esmond's life's work, he also gained insight into another force of the world: the interplay of life and death. Life and death, intertwined in the cycle of nature, represented one of the universe's invisible yet all-encompassing forces.Xayne had survived that deadly sword strike because he abandoned the concept o
Xayne had indeed blocked Esmond's last strike, but the blood he spat was not due to the attack. It was from the effect of pushing his body beyond its limits to break his current level."Young man, you've done well. For someone your age to take two of my strikes in a row, you can truly stand proud among your peers," Esmond said after resting for ten minutes to calm his mind.Xayne wiped the blood from his mouth and forced a grin. "You've done well too. For someone your age to still fight me like this, you've aged like fine wine. But I'm eager to see what surprises you'll come up with next."Esmond nodded slightly and took a deep breath. "You're the first young man who's ever dared to speak to me this way."It's a pity that you're still too young. Some things need time to settle. Advancing your level too quickly isn't always a good thing." Esmond's aura shifted as he spoke.Even though he stood in place, he suddenly seemed to merge with everything around him.Then, the unexpected h
At first, Esmond thought it was just his exhaustion. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, making him imagine the crimson lance.However, as the force behind it grew stronger, he sensed something was not right.No matter how tired he was, his eyes would not deceive him like this.In the blink of an eye, an overwhelming sense of danger struck him.Esmond's legs trembled involuntarily. He instinctively shifted his stance, trying to use his sword to block the attack, but the crushing weight of the danger left him with a deep sense of despair."What is that!?" His disciples gasped in terror.Out of nowhere, a crimson lance seemed to materialize in Xayne's hand, hurtling toward Esmond's chest with terrifying speed."Your three sword strikes were nothing but a disappointment. My lance, though, won't let you down!" Xayne roared as he thrusted the spear forward."No! Don't kill me!" Esmond's eyes widened with fear. He thought he was really going to die at the hands of a junio
An overwhelming force was crushing the massive boulders beneath Esmond, and his body was nearly buried halfway into the ground. He was almost entirely sunk from his lower abdomen down. "Is this how the people of the Heaven Sword Circle are different?" Xayne glanced at Esmond's few disciples. Any disciple who caught Xayne's cold gaze immediately dropped to their knees. They were nothing but insignificant compared to Esmond. If they couldn't even stand against Esmond, they wouldn't dared to act recklessly before Xayne. "I am willing to serve you. Please, King of the North, spare my life!" Esmond uttered. Xayne frowned, his eyes icy as he replied, "Oh? Serve me? You're not planning to gather more help to cause me trouble when you get back, are you?" He didn't want to listen to such empty vows. "No! Absolutely not! We are all Divine Commanders, there's a fundamental difference with the Supreme Commanders! The power of heaven and earth watches the oaths we take! We would su
"The future heir of the Eastin Family?" Xayne let out a cold laugh, about to step forward. His entire body radiated a murderous intent, as terrifying as stars falling from the sky. Just then, a flurry of footsteps echoed from outside the camp's gate.. "King of the North, raise your hands!" With that, four or five imperial guards rushed into the camp while surrounding a palace official. Xayne turned his head slowly, his cold gaze locking onto the imperial guards and the palace official. The icy look in his eyes made the official falter for a moment before quickly putting on a nervous smile as he approached. "King of the North, don't move. The emperor has issued a decree!" As he spoke, the official gave a nod to two of the imperial guards, who rushed over to help Flamey back to his feet. "King of the North, the emperor is aware of your dispute with the Eastin Family. However, the Eastins are an influential family in Drakonia. Thus, in light of this small misu
"Zoro, I'm sure you've heard the rumors by now. The emperor is making moves, troop deployments, shifts in strategy, it's all happening right here in Drakonix. You know what that means just as well as I do. If there's any way to stop the duel tomorrow, I'm here to offer you some advice: Don't hurt the harmony between the Eastin family and the emperor," Yves said, his tone sharp with urgency.Zoro let out a dry, mocking laugh. "If I'm hearing you right, Yves, you're here to plead for Xayne, huh? Funny. Where were you when Xayne killed a member of my family? Flamey's body wasn't even cold before he'd moved on to his next target. And now, you expect me to show mercy? "It's too late, Yves. Some arrows, once drawn, can't be put back in the quiver. So, save your breath. This conversation is over! Please leave!" Zoro's face was like stone, cold and unmoving. Any trace of patience or courtesy had vanished. It was clear he had no intention of giving Yves an inch.Everyone knew the emperor ha
Chad's sharp, hawk-like eyes suddenly flared with intensity, his cloudy gaze cutting through the air like twin beams of light."Elder Chad, earlier, you mentioned something about 'no borders in kickboxing arts.' I'm afraid I'm not following. Could you explain what you meant?" Lyuben stepped forward, a mix of curiosity and concern etched on his face.Lyuben's words hung in the air. His confusion wasn't surprising. Over the years, White Blossom Mountain's dealings had grown more secretive, and any talks with external forces, like the Light Order, were always behind closed doors. Lyuben's mind, however, was focused elsewhere, on the future of the Eastin family and his ambitions.To him, his family's legacy and his rise in power mattered far more than any grand philosophy. As someone raised within the closed walls of White Blossom Mountain's teachings, even his feelings toward his parents were tepid at best.Chad's voice came slow but firm, like the steady toll of a great bell. "There
Meanwhile, at the Eastin family's estate, Zoro and his grandson, Lyuben, stood on either side of an elderly man.Seated across from the elderly man were none other than Emin and a middle-aged man dressed in a sleek black suit. The man was none other than the Death God of Fusion, a figure as infamous as he was mysterious, second only to Kenichi from Fusion.It was said that decades ago, he had already become Radiant Commander and reached a height that the world had looked up to."Emin, the agreement between us, or rather, the agreement between White Blossom Mountain and Light Order, it's time we discussed its fulfillment, don't you think?" the elderly man began, his voice low and deliberate.This elderly man was Chad Moet, the liaison elder for White Blossom Mountain's dealings with the secular world. It was he who orchestrated the clandestine pact between White Blossom Mountain and the Light Order."Elder Chad, the Light Order has always kept its promises. The benefits promised to
The two guards rushed out of the Emperor's Pavillion with urgent speed."Your Majesty, isn't all this a bit excessive?" Elder Waze stepped forward, his voice low but steady with concern."Excessive?" The emperor's eyes darkened, his voice icy. "Do you think Drakonia is afraid of two Radiant Commanders? Whether it's the Eastin family or Lyuben, none of them have the right to collude with foreign enemies and threaten me!"His voice boomed, filling the room with a commanding presence. "Drakonia is a powerful country. We are not cowed by outside forces, nor do we bend to internal betrayal. If they dare to scheme like this, they'd better be ready to face complete annihilation. When it comes to matters of national integrity, I will not compromise. Leave now!"Yves and the elders exchanged glances, caught off guard by the emperor's unyielding stance. With nothing more to say, they quietly exited the room.Meanwhile, in the estate on the outskirts of Drakonix's west district, Lyuben recli
The tension in the hall was palpable. Suddenly, the door swung open, and a young agent from the Black Ice Platform rushed in. "Chief! We have a situation!"He handed a report to Yves. His eyes scanned the document, and in an instant, his face hardened."What happened?" Elder Waze asked, stepping forward, his gaze locked on Yves's expression."Emin has boarded a flight to Drakonix. And Death God of Fusion was seen boarding a flight to Drakonix an hour ago. Emin is one of the Six Elysium Lords from the Light Order. As for Death God of Fusion, his background is more complicated. Two of them are flying in at the same time? You think they're just here to watch the fight?" Yves explained.Yves's gaze was fixed on the ground as he paced back and forth, the weight of the situation pressing on his shoulders. His fingers tapped the edge of the report, his mind running a mile a minute. Finally, he stopped and looked up, his eyes filled with determination. "This is too big to keep in-house. I'
Even after uttering those threatening words, there wasn't the slightest trace of fear on his face."Mr. Shinoto, are you threatening us?" Yves's eyes narrowed with cold intent."Threatening?" Shinoto gave Yves a once-over and said, "Boy, if I wanted to take your life, it would be as easy as slaughtering a chicken or a dog. Do you think I need to threaten you? You people have no idea how powerful he is. But I'll say this, none of you, not even Xayne, stand a chance against him. That's why I'm advising you, Wyncock, and Drakonia's Court, to choose your side carefully. "If you pick the wrong one, you'll regret it when it's too late! As for those small figures in Eukrania, I won't comment on them, but I'm sure you're well aware of their schemes. When the time comes to deal with them, it'll be thanks to Lyuben. And as for your so-called hero, Xayne, he's simply not on the same level!" Shinoto's words caused a shift in the atmosphere, and everyone present wore grim expressions."Mr. Shi
It didn't take long before an old man was brought into the main hall. This was none other than the old man who'd been seen at Lyuben's side.The moment he appeared, everyone frowned.Elder Waze was the first to rise, ready to speak, but Yves stood before him. "Sir, please, have a seat," Yves said politely.Unlike the humble demeanor he had shown at Lyuben's side, the old man's presence here was commanding. He carried himself with an air of authority, unbothered by the watchful eyes of Elder Waze and the others."Mr. Shinoto," Elder Waze said, bowing slightly in respect.The other elders followed suit, each offering their polite greetings. Yves's gaze lingered on the old man, studying him carefully. His weathered face and calm bearing hinted at someone with significant experience and status.'If Elder Waze is giving him this level of respect, then this man's identity must be anything but ordinary,' Yves thought to himself."It's heartwarming to see that my old friends haven't for
Meanwhile, Fusion's long-hidden Radiant Commander Kenichi Miyamoto announced he would arrive in Drakonix by noon tomorrow to witness the battle in person.From Eukrania, a reclusive expert from the Roland family also declared they would travel to Drakonia to see the epic clash.The world was in an uproar. It had been a century since a Radiant Commander had appeared. This truly was a golden era. At the same time, Yves's face grew darker upon hearing the news. It seemed the situation wasn't as simple as it appeared. He was thinking of what exactly were the Big Four plotting."How many more tricks does the Eastin family have up their sleeve?" Yves slammed the table with force."Report. The Elder Waze seeks an audience." A young officer from Black Ice Platform approached Yves and quietly reported.Yves couldn't help but think about the reason Elder Waze sought him out at this time.His eyes flickered with thought before he quickly responded, "Let him in!"It wasn't long before Elder
Xayne's eyes lingered on Lyuben's departing figure, his gaze steady and thoughtful. This man was different. From Lyuben's posture, his calm demeanor, and his absolute confidence, it was clear that this wasn't the arrogance of fools who relied on borrowed power. It was a quiet, unshakable self-assurance born from true strength. This was not a man who needed to flaunt his power to prove himself. It was a stark contrast to the enemies Xayne had faced before, those men who boasted endlessly but crumbled the moment the tides turned.This was the difference between a disciple of the Five Great Mountains and an ordinary kickboxing artist. Xayne had heard of the terrifying reputation of the Five Great Mountains many times before. Even figures as formidable as Esmond spoke of them with reverence and caution."To be honest, White Blossom Mountain ranks only in the middle among the Five Great Mountains. But Lyuben feels different. He's dangerous. It's not just his cultivation, even the way he