Just as Lee’s offensive was about to reach Ian, Ian moved. The aura of a War God-Emperor surged, instantly enveloping the entire space. Following that, without any fancy moves, a blade energy imbued with the force of thunder swept out with a howling wind.
“Lee, retreat quickly, you’re not his match!” At almost the same time Ian’s aura rose to the Emperor realm, Needlework Sorceress shouted loudly. While calling out, she swiftly moved, sweeping out a palm wind towards Ian.
“Madam Hale, do you really think Blade Sect has no one?” Ronald Blade snorted, taking two steps forward and also striking out with a palm.
Boom!
The attacks of Ronald Blade and Needlework Sorceress collided, both retreating four or five steps, causing the cement under their feet to crack. Both of them were at the peak of the War God-Emperor realm, evenly matched in a single move.
At the same time, the blade energy unleashed by Ian tore through Lee’s sword net and directly entered his heart. Lee quickly retreated more than ten meters, stopping with a terrifying cut across his chest, blood gushing out.
“How… how is this possible…” Lee lowered his head to look at the wound, uttering a few words before collapsing. His eyes were wide open, typical of someone who died with unwillingness. At his last moment, he couldn’t believe that he had been truly killed by Ian Blade with a single strike. Endless remorse surged in his heart. If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have become involved. Originally, he wanted to show off his strength in front of Pandora Salazar to gain some favor. But he didn’t expect to sacrifice his own life.
A life with a promising future was gone just like that!
Witnessing this scene, the surrounding crowd drew in a collective breath of cold air. Each face was filled with shock as they looked at Ian Blade. No one had expected that the young master of Blade Sect would actually commit murder at his grandfather’s birthday banquet.
The faces of Homer Salazar and his daughter were filled with horror. In Pandora’s heart, who had always looked down on Ian, shock waves surged. Ian Blade, whom she had never considered important, had actually reached the War God-Emperor realm?!
“Damn it, you actually killed him?!” Needlework Sorceress slightly hesitated before looking at Ian with anger. “Today, I will definitely make you…”
“Enough, stop the nonsense. Bring your people out!” Ian interrupted her. “You came for Blade Sect today, didn’t you?”
“Hmm?” Hearing this, Needlework Sorceress was slightly stunned.
“Blade Sect, you really have the courage. Knowing that we came prepared, you still dare to be so arrogant. You’re quite something!” Fawn Hale raised her hand and looked ahead, shouting, “Everyone, show yourselves!”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Twenty or thirty figures leaped over the courtyard walls, appearing within a blink of an eye about a hundred meters away from the pavilion. Leading the group were two black-robed old men, one of whom was the deputy dean of Cerulean Abyss Institute, Light Brewer, who had saved Quillan Inkwell’s life at the foot of Kun Lun Mountains not long ago.
The other old man, who appeared to be about the same age, held an ancient bronze sword. Judging from his aura, his cultivation was not inferior to Light Brewer’s. The remaining twenty-plus people all remained vigilant, surrounded by swirling Chi. At least half of them had God-Emperor-level cultivation, with several at the mid-stage of War God-Emperor, and the rest at the later stages of War Emperor. Such a lineup would be enough to overturn any top-tier martial sect in the ancient martial arts world.
Seeing this group, the surrounding crowd, which had just gathered, involuntarily took a step back, their faces filled with trepidation. Although they couldn’t probe the specific cultivations of the group, the oppressive aura emanating from the two leading old men was enough to instill despair.
“Fellow friends, I’m afraid today’s birthday banquet will have to end here!” Ronald Blade swept his eyes over the approaching group before turning to the onlookers and speaking loudly.
“Everyone, please leave the mountain. I will visit each of you to express my apologies another day!”
Hearing his words, many people hesitated for a moment before turning and walking towards the gate. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to stay, but the terrifying aura from the opposing side was too frightening. They knew that even if they stayed, they would only be cannon fodder, unable to play any role. Not everyone left, however. There were still forty to fifty guests remaining at the scene.
“Cerulean Abyss Institute is here for business. All unrelated personnel, get lost!” Fawn Hale coldly commanded, looking at the remaining group of people.
“You are so overbearing. Blade Sect hasn’t offended you, right?” A middle-aged man stepped forward and spoke. After speaking, he turned to Ronald Blade. “Blade Sect Master, although my strength is limited, at least I can try to block one or two people for you!”
“Thank you, Master Currey!” Ronald Blade responded with a smile, then looked at the remaining forty to fifty people. “I appreciate your good intentions, but Cerulean Abyss Institute came for Blade Sect. You don’t have to risk getting involved. Please leave. Blade Sect will visit each of you to express our gratitude another day!”
“Blade Sect Master, no need to say more. Although our strength is limited, we still have some basic martial world principles. Since we’ve encountered this matter today, we won’t turn a blind eye!” Another elderly woman spoke.
“Since you want to court death, then none of you should leave!” The leading black-robed old man spoke coldly. Following that, he continued looking at Ronald Blade. “Bring out Elmer Blade! You people are not qualified to make me take action!”
“You old fool!” Ian glanced at him.
The gray-robed old man furrowed his brows. “Kid, you’re seeking death!”
As he spoke, he casually waved his hand, sending a powerful gust of wind towards Ian like a hurricane.
“Ned Stanley, you’ve lived for almost two hundred years, yet you’re attacking a junior in his twenties. You’re really regressing!”
Just at that moment, an old man’s voice resounded. As the voice echoed, a palm wind simultaneously swept over, blocking the incoming attack. Following that, an elderly man in a gray robe walked over. He was in his seventies or eighties, with white hair but a youthful face, filled with vigor. There was no sign of aging.
This person was naturally Blade Sect’s old master, Elmer Blade. Following him were fifteen members of Blade Sect’s Elder Pavilion, and fifty core members of Blade Sect’s Inner Sect, including Ian Blade’s aunt, Celeste Blade.
Blade Sect, being one of the top martial forces in the ancient martial arts world, and a sect that accepted apprentices widely, had thousands of disciples in total. Blade Lord only brought these few dozen people, apparently not wanting ordinary disciples to participate and become fearless sacrifices.