Carter smirked while looking at the spear thrust toward him. With a swift motion, he faced the attack head-on with his sword.Their weapons collided and created a shockwave of energy.The waves rippled outward like a tide, and it caused their robes to flutter and their hair to stand on end.Both combatants stood firm. They were locked in a tense standoff as neither was willing to back down.Brandon gripped his spear with both hands as he channeled his true energy while he tried to overpower Carter with his strength. But no matter how hard Brandon pushed, Carter held his ground.The spear clashed with the sword, and the two were locked in a fierce struggle.The air crackled with bursts of energy as their weapons strained against each other."Hmm?" Brandon's brow furrowed with surprise.As one of the top ten talents of the Celestial Alliance, he should have easily dominated his opponent in Group C. However, he hadn't anticipated this relatively unknown figure to match him so even

Crystal frowned as she met Miles's intense gaze. "Miles, you should call it quits. If you continue to gamble, it'll only lead you deeper into trouble."Gamblers often found themselves trapped in a cycle of addiction, and they were never content with their winnings.Their insatiable desire for more drove them to risk everything. Hence, it often led them to stray from the right path.At that moment, he appeared to be showing signs of addiction. If left unchecked, it could lead to disaster."Just one more bet, Crystal. I promise. If I win this time, I'll quit for good," Miles pleaded earnestly."Yes, I'm with him. I've even wagered my sword. I need to win it back," Ruby chimed in.Their hopeful eyes bore into Crystal's."Have you considered the consequences if you lose?" she countered."It won't happen, I swear. I'll be cautious this time and only bet when I'm confident. I won't lose again," Miles assured."Yeah, we were led astray before. If we had trusted our instincts, we'd be

"Troublemaker! I know you're in there, so come out and face the music!"The loud shout echoed through the tavern again. It sent waves of unease rippling through the patrons.Miles and the others instinctively turned their gaze toward Abigail.To them, she was the only one who fit the bill of a troublemaker. But who would dare to be so bold as to challenge the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order so openly?"Everyone, please continue enjoying your meal. I'll take care of this." Abigail smiled as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. Then, she rose from her seat and descended the stairs.Miles and the others exchanged glances and hurried to the window to see what was happening outside.On the street, a burly man surrounded by a gang of 20 to 30 men was shouting threats. They wielded their weapons menacingly as if they were ready for action."Hey, doesn't that man look familiar?" Ruby arched her eyebrow as she recognized the burly man. She had seen him at the Combat Tournament, b

"Listen here, troublemaker! Don't you dare get cocky! Do you think you can look down on us? Well, mark my words, this time next year, people will gather to remember your death!""Hmph! We've been around the block in this martial world for years. Naturally, we've seen it all. Yet, a mere troublemaker like you strut around like you own the place. You've got no clue what you're up against!""If you know what's good for you, drop to your knees and beg for mercy, or else… we'll kill you!"The Greenfield Gang was shouting and yelling at her. They were all filled with righteous anger. Abigail's contemptuous words had enraged them. Though the title of Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order might sound imposing, the Greenfield Gang was ruthless. They had stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale, so they were fearless in the face of danger.But their confidence mainly stemmed from her young age. They doubted that someone barely 18 or 19 could have reached such a high level of

Outside the tavern, the martial arts experts led by Luke lay sprawled on the ground. Many were either dead or wounded.Amidst the aftermath, only Abigail stood unscathed.The effectiveness of the Phantom Blooms had surpassed her expectations. She even contemplated further trades with the Dawson Clan for additional hidden weapons.After all, traded weapons often held unexpected surprises.Luke, sprawling on the ground, struggled to speak. "Troublemaker! You… you're despicable!"His resilience was remarkable despite being pierced by countless poisoned needles."You're still alive?" Abigail raised an eyebrow and was surprised that he survived.He was just three feet away when the Phantom Blooms unleashed its barrage of poisoned needles. At that range, he should have been gravely injured.For anyone else, it would have likely been a fatal blow. Yet, despite his severe injuries and immobility, Luke displayed astonishing resilience."Without your cowardly ambush with hidden weapons,