North of Jinnan, in Graceford City.
This is the northern region of Jinnan Province, economically developed. Although its overall environment can't compare to the provincial capital, Capitalview, its annual GDP still accounts for thirty percent of the whole province.
All of this is thanks to the Moore family, who dominates the region.
As one of Jinnan's major clans, the Moore family controls countless assets. Rumor has it they're connected with the Southriver Sword Sect, making their business empire even more unstoppable.
These past few days, Graceford City has been especially lively.
One reason is that Martin Mu, the Moore family patriarch, announced he's looking for a son-in-law for Melissa Mu.
Melissa Mu's name is well-known in Jinnan's upper circles. To outsiders, she's the proud, stunning heiress of the Moore family. Even though the real power-holder is her uncle, Martin Mu, that hasn't dampened anyone's enthusiasm.
But the real game-changer was the heavyweight news Martin Mu dropped.
This time, the Moore family's dowry for Melissa is an ancient sword!
Legend has it this sword is the Moore family's true treasure. Even the Southriver Sword Sect was shaken by the news, and a flood of young elites have come to compete for it!
Today marked the seventh day of the Moore family’s son-in-law tournament.
In the past few days, top-tier experts from all over have been duking it out inside the Moore estate. Besides some peak Inner Strength masters, quite a few genuine Vajra-level prodigies around twenty-five have shown up to join the fray!
Every day after the new matches wrapped up, the whole day’s tournament instantly became the hottest gossip in town.
1 South Graceford Road.
This place is the most famous manor in all of Graceford City—rows of luxury villas, each with a unique look and style, all built at jaw-dropping cost.
This is the Moore family’s turf!
And inside the manor, there’s even a small artificial woodland!
Inside one of the villas, the study is lined with shelves packed full of ancient books.
At this moment, an old man with a head of white hair sat quietly at the desk. In front of him was a Go board, black and white stones crisscrossing in a long, drawn-out battle formation.
Though the old man was clearly advanced in age, his eyes were especially sharp. Across from him sat a dignified, imposing man, though a trace of worry still lingered between his brows.
Right now, the man was bowing his head, staring at the Go board before him, holding a white stone but hesitating to make his move.
Anyone who saw this would instantly recognize the man as Martin Mu, the current head honcho of the Moore family, and his opponent was none other than Grand Elder Bob Moore himself!
"Go is called Go because it’s all about the emperor’s art of war—encirclement and slaughter. My dragon’s already formed, Martin. Your turn: are you going to cut down my dragon with your blade, or carve out your own territory?" Bob Moore spoke calmly, his tone unhurried.
To outsiders, Martin Mu is the ruthless, decisive type who once broke his own brother’s legs without blinking—yet right now, faced with the board, he could only manage a bitter smile. Finally, he sighed, put his stone back in the box, and conceded.
"I lost."
Bob Moore wasn’t surprised at all. He nodded slightly. "How are things progressing lately?"
Hearing Bob’s question, Martin straightened up and answered seriously, "Just as you wanted, after I announced the Ancient Sword as Melissa’s dowry, a flood of young geniuses rushed in. The Southriver Sword Sect even sent five young Vajra experts—what a lineup."
"Among them is Southriver Sword Sect’s youngest Vajra prodigy in a hundred years—Drake Yu. At just twenty-three, he’s already reached third-grade Vajra. Seven days, seven wins, not a single loss."
Martin’s eyes still held a trace of awe as he said this.
Drake Yu!
Martin had heard the name before, but he never thought the Southriver Sword Sect would actually send this guy out!
For the past seven days, every match was over in just three sword strikes. That kind of talent is just insane!
"All these years, our Moore family’s relationship with the Southriver Sword Sect has always been ambiguous—close but not too close. Do you know why?" Bob nodded, then asked.
Martin shook his head. Honestly, he really didn’t know.
To outsiders, the Moore-Southriver relationship looked delicate. It was nothing like the Lin family, who were openly protected by the Southriver Sword Sect, or the Su family, who had Old Master Su Yuantian, once a key supporter of the sect.
The Moores are just a merchant clan with few real experts, yet all these years, nobody’s dared mess with them. Their business has always boomed, with barely a hitch.
Even Martin himself didn’t fully get it.
"The reason is all about that Ancient Sword," Bob said slowly. "Decades ago, before the Moore Manor was built, this land was a graveyard. But the bodies buried there didn’t die from war or disease."
"Not from war or disease?" Martin was stunned. "If it wasn’t people killing each other, was it some epidemic?"
"There was chaos back then and plenty of people died, but the ones buried here weren’t killed by men or by illness—they were slain by the sword in that forest."
Bob’s voice turned grave as he glanced out the window.
Martin followed Bob’s gaze and looked out at the manor’s artificial woodland.
The trees in that woodland were lush and thriving, especially vigorous compared to the rest.
"Outsiders think our Moore family is just filthy rich, squandering prime real estate to raise a forest for fun. What they don’t know is, the soil in that woodland is so fertile because beneath it are hundreds, maybe thousands, of corpses."
"All those people were greedy for the sword, and the sword killed them. They got what they deserved!"
Bob spoke coldly, a sneer on his face.
Martin hesitated after hearing this. "Dad, I really don’t get why you made me do all this. If that Ancient Sword is as strange and powerful as you say, why would you want me to spread the word about it?"
"What if someone from the Southriver Sword Sect actually wins, and Melissa marries into their sect? After what I did to her father, she already hates me to the bone. If she gets real power someday, she’ll probably turn on the Moore family."
"Even if you just wanted to lure that guy who once tried to take the sword—Evan Lin—why go through all this trouble?"
Martin was completely baffled.
This so-called son-in-law tournament was actually a killing formation, carefully arranged just for Evan Lin.