Everyone in the Skyhold Clan was visibly shaken, their faces drained of color.
What?
“Please speak slowly, Elder Ning. We are all ears...” Their voices trembled with disbelief, eyes filled with confusion and questioning, all fixed on Elias Skyhold, who had just stepped across the threshold of the audience hall.
"Why?"
"Why?"
It was as if there were countless doubts swirling in the air.
Elias Skyhold, the previous head of the Skyhold Family, a member of Sinovera’s national Titled Sequence, had mastered two Mystic-Communion Arts capable of manifesting thunder, fire, and lightning—once able to overawe all of Anhu Province.
Even the Skyhold Family itself followed his lead.
But in front of Andrew Han, all of this meant nothing.
“Enough! Silence, all of you!” Elias Skyhold transmitted his voice to everyone, his youthful yet white-haired face barely concealing his fear. For him, Elder Ning sitting here was not the main concern—the real issue was Andrew Han.
First in the Titled Sequence—Andrew Han of Sinovera!
"So strong!"
"This is too powerful!"
Even Elias Skyhold’s gleaming white hair trembled, his heart quaking with fear as he obediently stood in place... That thunderous shout just now was like lightning from the heights of the Ninth Heaven, shattering all things and carrying a terrifying force aimed straight at the sky.
It was beyond words.
Indescribable.
Within his Martial Lord-level perception, it was as if a blazing volcano had collapsed, burning everything for a thousand miles!
“Something's not right.”
Elias Skyhold swallowed hard, sneaking a glance at Andrew Han’s cold, expressionless face.
Rumor had it that this man had suffered a severe injury, unable to use Inspiration, and might not even be able to practice martial arts... If that were true, how could he have unleashed such a commanding, thunderous shout just now?
“Is that the deterrent force of Inspiration, or the pressure of Internal Power?”
“Probably not the former, but the latter. Such fierce and unparalleled pressure—could it rival the legendary Extreme Limit?”
Elias Skyhold shuddered.
Extreme Limit beings are equivalent to Law Realm, but have always remained hidden to conceal Sinovera’s martial power—never showing themselves. Yet Elias Skyhold vaguely suspected the Extreme Limit existence in Anhu Province... was probably an old man who collected plastic waste.
But now—
Andrew Han, whose power nearly matches the Extreme Limit, was standing just twenty meters away.
“Just twenty meters—he could kill me in an instant, and it would be effortless.” Elias Skyhold cautiously glanced at Andrew Han, then at Elder Ning, and finally chose to stand in front of the Skyhold Family members, listening as Elder Ning spoke his reasoning.
But Elias Skyhold did not know—
Andrew Han was channeling his Magma State Internal Power, but had not activated his crystal-diamond Inspiration. Days of accumulated force were all waiting for a single explosive moment; there was no way he would reveal it early and waste the opportunity.
“Enough.”
“Let’s all be quiet and listen to Elder Ning.” Elias Skyhold transmitted his voice once more; the other clan members, though unwilling, had no choice but to obey.
Especially the younger generation.
They had once revered and admired Andrew Han. Now, seeing him oppress their Skyhold Clan, their eyes burned red with anger, feeling as if his image had completely collapsed.
“Heh.”
Andrew Han’s Inspiration was keenly sensitive; he noticed it instantly.
Interesting.
Just because you admire someone, does that mean they must treat you gently, regardless of right or wrong? Must they show mercy to these beasts? Andrew cared nothing for others’ opinions or how the world viewed him.
Those who deserve to die—must die!
Especially those who had committed the gravest offense against his master, Elder Ning. Did they really think that 'reasoning' was just a harmless discussion? As Andrew pondered, Elder Ning, cigarette in mouth and face cold as iron, slapped out twice more.
Bang! Bang!
The two youths who, along with Skyhold Yan, treated ordinary people as playthings and concubines, were instantly reduced to two clouds of blood.
“Mm.”
Elder Ning scratched his wrinkled old face and took a drag from his cigarette. “No need to be nervous, let’s keep reasoning things out... Where were we? Ah yes—be a little kinder as a person, right?”
......
Half an hour later—
In the Skyhold Family’s reception hall, everyone’s faces were ashen, eyes nearly bursting with rage.
“Ancestor, Ancestor!”
The father of Skyhold Yan, killed on the spot by Elder Ning, and the elders of the other youths who abused so-called concubines, were filled with righteous indignation, furious beyond restraint.
“Are we just supposed to endure this?”
“In broad daylight, Elder Ning kills whoever he wants—how is that reasonable?”
“Exactly! This isn’t reasoning at all—he kills at the slightest disagreement. Is this Elder Ning’s so-called virtue?”
Everyone’s blood boiled with indignation as they cried out.
Sigh.
Elias Skyhold waved his hand. “I told you long ago to discipline the younger generation, not to indulge them, and certainly not to ignore their actions. Youth and ignorance are no excuse for evil. Now that trouble has come, who is to blame?”
“Ancestor, but the crime does not warrant death!” the clan leader shouted.
Elias Skyhold sighed, his white hair and youthful face seeming to age. “The Martial Arts Alliance has clear disciplinary rules. If not a capital crime, it’s at least a grave offense. This matter ends here—go home and reflect on it yourselves.”
With that, he shook his head and departed, gazing southward into the distance. “Elder Ning is ruthless, Andrew Han stands above all of Sinovera, nearly matching the Extreme Limit—with these two around, no one in the world dares underestimate Green Mountain Sect.”
......
Early October. The sun shone bright.
Early October. The sun shone bright.
In the autumn season, the air in Greenfield City carried a hint of coolness. A peaceful, stable life enveloped this city of long, enduring years.
Bzz, bzz.
A black Red Flag LA cruised down the street.
Inside, the sound of the radio played. Lately, Andrew Han often listened to Sinovera International Broadcast. Monica Zhang didn’t ask much, quietly sitting in the passenger seat, sometimes looking at the scenery outside, sometimes gazing at Andrew’s face.
"Andrew Han doesn’t use face masks, yet his skin is so good."
It always seemed a bit like crystal jade—so pleasant to touch, smooth and soft, especially when she rubbed against it... Her cheeks flushed, her eyes darting quickly as she sat upright, staring at the traffic light ahead.
She didn’t wonder much.
Because Andrew had already told her the truth about the Martial Arts World, including the Three Martial Realms and the reality of Demons and Specters.
“Hmm.”
“No wonder he was always running around; I could never find him before.” Monica lowered her head, scrolling through Andrew’s posts from last year, her rosy lips curling into a smile.
Back then, she’d even thought Andrew was just off sightseeing.
There was even a time she worried Andrew might have another woman.
"So that’s how it is."
"My boyfriend is amazing everywhere." Already a Second Rank martial student, Monica tilted her head, her clever eyes shining with shy pride.
At the same time—
The radio broadcast echoed in the car.
"Reporting for you from Sinovera International Broadcast."
"Unrest in some regions of the Anglo-French Union, armed groups threatening authorities... Sakura Island Nation has formally protested to Americonia over trade restrictions... Austra-Asia conducting military exercises... South Sea disputes growing increasingly intense..."
The car was quiet, only the sound of the broadcast remained.
The global situation was growing ever more turbulent.
While waiting at the red light, Andrew Han exhaled deeply, his right finger pressed to his temple, sensing the crystal-diamond of Inspiration within his mind—a flawless gem radiating mysterious brilliance, slowly turning and exuding an unfathomable, enigmatic aura.
In a daze—
That crystal-diamond seemed like a bright moon in the sky, streaming silken light—serene, distant, and immeasurably powerful.
In an instant—
A surge of heroic resolve flashed through Andrew’s eyes, expressing his lofty ambitions—decisive, fierce, and unstoppable.
"As of now, tensions in the South Sea are severe."
"According to top-secret Martial Arts Alliance intelligence, there’s a Specter-controlled ghost domain on the fringes of Indira, imprisoning scientists from various countries... If my guess is correct, Dr. Liam Lee and Professor Victor Zhou aren’t dead, but are held in that ghost domain, coerced by Specters."
Andrew was deep in thought when a car behind honked.
Beep beep.
The honking snapped him out of his thoughts—the light was green. Andrew paid no mind to the urging from behind, gently pressed the accelerator, and drove through the intersection toward his little house.
About ten minutes later—
Bang.
Andrew closed the car door and stood beside it, his face serene as he gazed southeast. “The South Sea dispute has nothing to do with me, but the ghost domain imprisoning scientists from many nations... October in Sinovera—I suppose it’s time for me to act.”
Let’s see what comes next—Inspiration, like the moon, gazes southeast.
Poised for action, the peerless paragon sets out once more.
"Hey."
"Come on, let’s cook!" Monica had already opened the trunk, carrying potatoes, tofu, tomatoes, carrots from the fresh market... and, on her own initiative, a huge bundle of chives.
Andrew turned and asked in surprise, "We ate so much for lunch—are you hungry again?"
"Mm-hmm, I’m a little hungry." Her pretty eyes rolled upward, Monica pouted, "You just got back from Yellow Mountain yesterday, and you’re leaving again the day after tomorrow... Hmph, I’ll forgive you since it’s the holiday rush, but from now on, you need my approval to travel."
Andrew laughed, scooping Monica up. "Alright, I’ll wait for your orders from now on."
"Hey, I’m still holding the groceries!" Monica cried out in surprise.
Fortunately, her Second Rank martial status made her body unusually soft and supple. Carrying groceries, she nestled in Andrew’s arms, gazing up at him with those delicate eyes.
Andrew looked down and couldn’t help but kiss her.
Yes.
This was the leisurely life he wanted—shopping for groceries, buying soy sauce, doing what he loved with the person he loved... South Sea, Indira, he’d set out at dawn the day after tomorrow.
——
The next day at noon—
Martial Arts Alliance branch in Greenfield Province, the highest-level dim conference hall.
Ding-dong.
Light flashed, machinery whirred—a projection, both illusory and substantial, flickered four or five times before finally forming the stooped figure of an old man in black-rimmed glasses.
His eyes seemed to contain all things under heaven.
This was the current leader of the Martial Arts Alliance, "Grandmaster Xu."
He looked around at the crowd in the conference hall, his gaze sweeping over every face.
“The situation in the South Sea is critical. The ghost domain on the outskirts of Indira has imprisoned scientists from many nations. We must take action.”
Grandmaster Xu’s voice was deep and powerful, carrying the weight of authority.