Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Sophia’s Sudden Change
All the disciples turned toward the source in unison. A tall, broad-shouldered youth stepped into the yard, several underlings trailing at his back like shadows.
Their steps were heavy and deliberate, and their eyes were locked only on Vahn.
"Huh, isn’t that Gareth, Elder Roland’s nephew?" one whispered.
"Yes... that’s the tyrant of the Outer Court," another muttered.
A third snickered under his breath, "Hehe, whatever the reason, I don’t care. Vahn’s been acting too cocky lately. About time someone puts him back in his place."
At the sight of Gareth and his bullies, Vahn turned serious. He hadn’t expected them to find him so soon.
It should taken into mind that even the Outer Court spanned for several miles, Its thousands of desciples were divided into hundreds of batches. So naturally finding one single person among so many should have taken longer time.
But no, out of Vahn’s expectations they already found him. Maybe he had used his uncle’s authority. But that’s not important right now.
He had to face this threat.
Because This time he could not even run. He was already surrounded on all sides.
Nevertheless, he gripped the long saber in his hand until his knuckles whitened.
"What do you want?" he asked, looking tensed.
Gareth snickered. "Oh, nothing much. I just want to see you crippled. A cowardly, insolent disciple like you would only be a stain on our great Holy Land anyway."
His whole body oozed menace, pressing down on Vahn as if trying to drown him in despair.
Not a single disciple stepped forward to help. On the contrary, some wore eager expressions, waiting to see him beaten, humiliated, and crippled, just to satisfy their vain pride. Even Gillian, the strongest and sturdiest among this batch, chose not to interfere.
He would not even meet Vahn’s eyes.
"Did I somehow, without realizing, make all of them my enemies?" Vahn could not help but ask himself.
He couldn’t understand why.
And he wasn’t given time to.
Gareth unsheathed his sword and attacked Vahn, taking advantage of his absentmindedness.
But Vahn’s Saber Master battle instinct kicked in. He drew his long saber to defend just in time.
The reaction was perfect.
Clang!
Against Gareth’s overwhelming power, Vahn was knocked onto the ground in a single strike.
He hit the floor hard, cracks spreading beneath him like a spider web.
"Arghh!"
He let out a painful groan, feeling as if his bones were about to break. His body was tempered, yes, but against overwhelming spiritual energy, even the toughest bodies failed.
Looking up, he saw Gareth towering over him with a sadistic grin.
"Haha! Did you actually think a tiny Body Tempering punk like you could fight against a 7th-stage Qi Refining practitioner like me? If so, you’re not just a coward, but a fool as well."
His underlings also erupted in ridicule, their laughter stabbing at Vahn’s pride.
Vahn clenched his fists in indignation. Just what had I done wrong? Why am I being bullied like this?
Yes, he knew the cultivation world was cruel, but wasn’t this too much? Just for bumping onto someone accidentally, he was going to get crippled?
"Paaah!"
Suddenly, he slapped himself across the face.
’No. Why do I always forget this is not the same world? Here, weakness is the greatest sin. Expecting help from others is even worse. I will stand on my own. I will fight on my own. This is the path of the strongest.’
With his resolve engraved in his mind, he stood up once again
So what if the other party was stronger than him? He wouldn’t give up.
He looked at Gareth with an unyielding gaze. Those were the eyes of a person who wouldn’t give up.
However, Gareth only snorted in disdain. This pitiful resistance wouldn’t stop him from crippling Vahn.
"Starlight Severance!"
He roared domineeringly, unleashing the sword art he had comprehended.
His blade instantly shone with an otherworldly light, and as he swung it down, it transformed into a gleaming energy slash.
Swoosh!
The unstoppable strike cut through the air, heading straight for Vahn’s chest.
Vahn’s face went pale. He knew this sword strike alone was enough to slice him in half. Even if he gave his all, he wouldn’t be able to stop it. It was too fast, too sharp.
The other disciples thought the same. Vahn was dead for sure.
But just as the deadly slash was about to strike his chest, a soft chime echoed through the air.
In that moment, time itself seemed to freeze.
The glowing energy slash paused mid-air, as if restrained by an unseen force. Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.
A fair hand, like polished jade, had stopped the attack with a gentle tap of its fingers.
For a heartbeat, Vahn thought Seraphina had come to save him. But no, this hand was different.
When he and the others raised their eyes to see, shock rippled through the crowd.
The person standing there was none other than Sophia, the same girl who had been bickering with Vahn about beauty just moments ago.
No one could have guessed she possessed such strength and cultivation.
But then, Vahn noticed something strange.
Her eyes.
They weren’t the same as before. Hollow and lifeless, as if her very soul had been possessed.
A chilling sensation spread out from her body, heavy and ominous, pressing down on everyone present.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
But Gareth seemed unfazed.
"What do you think you’re doing, girl? Do you have a death wish?" he growled.
The next instant, Sophia vanished from sight.
Bang!
The sound of a violent collision shook the ground.
Gareth’s body flew like a ragdoll, smashing into a massive tree with bone-crushing force.
The trunk cracked and toppled, collapsing into the dirt with a thunderous crash, raising a storm of dust and debris.
"Blurgh!"
Gareth spat out a mouthful of blood, clutching his stomach as if it had been hollowed out by a single devastating punch.
Sophia’s hollow eyes locked onto his pitiful figure.
He was in a state of raw terror.