CHAPTER 2523: GIFTS OF THE SAINTESS
"Grand Sorceress, these... these treasures are far too valuable. I think it’s best if we forget about it."
Azalea felt overwhelmed by the dazzling array of treasures before her.
Previously, when the Grand Sorceress had given her protective charms and Spirit-Gathering Pill, there had already been some dissent. If she were to accept these treasures without reservation, she would surely become a target of resentment among the disciples of the Mystic Arts Order.
"What’s so valuable about them? They were all earned from running gambling houses, so it didn’t cost us a penny. Just take them without any worries. If anyone dares to gossip behind your back, I’ll tear their mouths off!"
Abigail said, glancing around as the members of the Mystic Arts Order quickly averted their eyes, pretending not to see anything.
They were well aware of Abigail’s methods. Since she became the Grand Sorceress, her first act was to cleanse the Mystic Arts Order from within.
Those who had previously opposed her were swiftly dealt with through harsh and decisive measures.
From the elders down to the disciples, anyone who voiced dissent was either imprisoned or killed.
During that initial period, the entire Mystic Arts Order was in a state of fear and confusion.
However, after the Grand Sorceress’s reforms, they were astonished to find that not only had the Mystic Arts Order not declined, but it had seemingly been rejuvenated, attracting many talented disciples.
The sect became more united and focused.
It soon became clear that those eliminated by the Grand Sorceress were nothing more than parasites within the sect.
They had held absolute power and resources for their own benefit, with no consideration for the sect’s development.
Even the most basic promotion paths for disciples were tightly controlled by these people.
Talented disciples with no influence or connections were left without resources and opportunities for advancement.
Meanwhile, mediocre individuals with connections were showered with various pills and magical treasures, leading to severe internal imbalances.
Everything changed after the Grand Sorceress took charge.
Though her methods were ruthless and unyielding, she was fair in her rewards and punishments, earning the respect and awe of all disciples.
Now, in the entire Mystic Arts Order, the Grand Sorceress’s word was law, and no one dared to oppose her.
Because those who did had already met their end.
"But..."
Azalea was still hesitant.
The Grand Sorceress had been exceptionally kind to her, always giving her the best of everything first. While Azalea could disregard any ill will from others, she couldn’t ignore the potential backlash for the Grand Sorceress.
As the Grand Sorceress, being overly partial to one person might attract criticism from the disciples.
"Alright, alright, don’t refuse. How about this: I’ll just lend you these treasures for now. Once you win the competition, you can return them to me."
Seeing Azalea’s reluctance to accept, Abigail had to offer a different proposition.
Although she couldn’t give them directly, if Azalea won the competition and then received the treasures as a reward, it would be perfectly reasonable. Heh.
"Fine then, I’ll borrow them for now."
With the offer laid out this way, Azalea felt she had no choice but to accept.
CHAPTER 2524 THIRD MATCH OFFICIALLY BEGINS
If it was just a loan, Azalea felt relieved of any psychological burden.
After the second match ended, the third match soon began.
Judge Jeremy was walking onto the stage, his voice booming: “We will now begin the third match. Please welcome contestant #3 and contestant #30 to the stage!”
As his words echoed, a figure suddenly sprang from the crowd below, performing a series of flips in mid-air before landing steadily on the stage.
It was Aiden Vale, wearing a broad-brimmed hat and carrying a long blade on his back.
As the chief disciple of the Spectral Blade Sect, Aiden was quite renowned in the martial world. His appearance on stage elicited cheers from the crowd.
“Black Diamond! Come up here and meet your end!”
Aiden, brimming with confidence, pointed a finger at the Black Diamond below the stage, his fighting spirit palpable.
The two had previously exchanged their contestant numbers, so they were well aware of each other's identities.
Aiden was irritated by the Black Diamond’s earlier taunting gesture, and now he intended to crush his opponent with overwhelming force on the stage.
“Hehehe…”
Amidst a deep, menacing laugh, the Black Diamond, towering over two meters tall with an exceptionally muscular frame, strode toward the stage with a ferocious expression.
As a battle fanatic, he had endured much, and today he was eager to enjoy himself.
“Meeting me is the greatest misfortune of your life, Dragonmarsh warrior. I’ll show you what hell is like!”
The Black Diamond climbed onto the stage, his shoulders slightly heaving, muscles bulging like black obsidian, glinting with an unusual sheen under the sunlight.
“Hmph! Who are you trying to scare? Just because you’re big? Do you really think I’m afraid of you?” Aiden sneered, showing no fear.
He had dealt with more than his fair share of big brutes before.
Though the Black Diamond’s muscles were intimidating, they only meant he had great strength and sacrificed speed and agility. Strength alone wasn’t enough to win.
With his skills, Aiden could easily make the Black Diamond look foolish.
“Good, very good. I hope you keep that courage when I’m stomping you underfoot later.” The Black Diamond grinned viciously, his expression suggesting he was certain of victory.
“Enough talk! Bring it on if you have the guts!”
Aiden drew his long blade from his back with a fierce aura.
The Black Diamond did not immediately attack but instead glanced at Judge Jeremy.
Still fresh in his mind was the incident with Bilwof; he didn’t want to give his opponent any chance to act out of turn before the match officially began.
“Are both contestants ready?”
Judge Jeremy looked from side to side, and when both men nodded, he declared loudly: “Great. The third match officially begins now!”
As soon as the announcement was made, Aiden sprang into action.
“Die!”
Aiden’s foot pushed off, propelling him forward like a ferocious tiger. His long blade, trailing a blur, was swung powerfully toward the Black Diamond’s neck.
“What’s muscle good for? I’ll just chop you down with one swing!”
CHAPTER 2525: THE UNBREAKABLE FORTRESS
Aiden’s speed was astonishing, and his blade struck with the swiftness of lightning.
The crowd below barely had time to react as Aiden closed in on the Black Diamond, his steel blade slashing towards his opponent’s neck.
Though he hadn't yet reached the Grandmaster level, Aiden’s skill was on par with that of a Grandmaster, a fact that fueled his confidence.
The Black Diamond, seemingly unperturbed, stood motionless, failing to react to the attack.
Seeing this, Aiden sneered with cold satisfaction.
This was the weakness of the big brutes: slow speed and sluggish reactions, turning them into easy targets for a well-placed attack.
“Clang!”
As expected, Aiden’s steel blade struck the Black Diamond’s neck with a resounding clang.
But soon, Aiden’s smile faded.
The anticipated scene of the blade severing the head did not occur. Instead, the once indomitable blade sparked off the Black Diamond’s body.
It was as if he was cutting through an exceptionally hard piece of ore rather than flesh.
What was more alarming was the lack of any discernible energy fluctuations from the Black Diamond.
In other words, the Black Diamond wasn’t using any protective energy—he was simply relying on his physical toughness to withstand the blow.
“A cultivator of physical prowess?!”
Aiden furrowed his brow, his expression growing serious.
It was clear now that the Black Diamond’s arrogance was not without cause—his strength and defense were indeed formidable and hard to deal with.
However, formidable or not, it wasn’t without its weaknesses. Every cultivator of physical prowess had their vulnerabilities. Once those were found and exploited, victory was within reach.
“Hehehe… Is that all you’ve got?”
The Black Diamond sneered down at Aiden with a look of disdain, as if observing a mere sheep.
Aiden grunted, deciding not to waste words. He prepared to withdraw and look for another opportunity.
However, at that moment, the Black Diamond twisted his neck, clamping the steel blade between his cheek and shoulder.
Aiden tried to pull the blade out, but it felt as if it were trapped in an iron vise, immovable.
“You’ve had your turn. Now, it’s mine!”
The Black Diamond grinned widely, his fist—size of a sandbag—slamming towards Aiden.
It was a simple straight punch, devoid of any flair, but as it was thrown, the air around it crackled with the sound of thunder, distorting in its wake, making the punch exceptionally terrifying.
Aiden’s expression changed as he realized the danger. He dared not withstand it directly and immediately dropped his blade, retreating narrowly to avoid the punch.
The Black Diamond did not press the attack. Instead, he removed the blade from his neck and began munching on it as if it were a snack.
Yes, he was eating it!
The tough steel blade was chewed with a crunching sound, like potato chips. He continued to savor each bite with apparent delight.
CHAPTER 2526: THE IRON-EATER'S CHALLENGE
In no time, the entire steel blade had been consumed, with only a small portion left.
The spectators below were stunned, their eyes wide in disbelief.
“What the hell is this? This giant is actually eating the steel blade like a snack?!”
“Even if he’s a cultivator of physical prowess, no one trains like this, right? Is this guy even human?”
“A monster! He’s an absolute monster!”
The crowd was in shock.
They had seen many strange things, but never had they witnessed someone eating a steel blade like it was food.
Not to mention how he managed to chew it, the real question was how he planned to digest it.
This clearly seemed beyond human capability.
“This…”
At this moment, Aiden was also at a loss.
He stared at the Black Diamond, who seemed to be savoring his meal with a look of complete satisfaction.
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed that his steel blade was being eaten bite by bite.
It was utterly bizarre!
“The taste is quite good. Do you have any other treasures?”
Having finished the steel blade, the Black Diamond grinned broadly, showing a mouthful of white teeth.
Aiden twitched his eyes, momentarily at a loss for words.
“What, are you scared now? Is this all the spirit of the Dragonmarsh warriors?” The Black Diamond sneered.
“You audacious fool! Do you think some parlor tricks can scare me? I’ll tell you, dream on!”
Enraged, Aiden clenched his fists, assuming a combat stance.
Not only was he skilled with his blade, but his fist techniques were also exceptionally proficient.
While physical cultivators had toughened skin and muscles to resist blade attacks, they weren’t necessarily immune to fists.
Fist techniques were penetrating attacks; with enough mastery, a well-delivered punch could channel powerful true energy through the cultivator’s flesh, affecting internal organs and causing significant damage.
“If you have the guts, come and try!”
The Black Diamond beckoned with a finger, a mocking expression on his face.
He wasn’t in a hurry to win. His goal was to torment his opponent slowly, instilling fear in all Dragonmarsh warriors.
“I’ll see just how formidable you are!”
Aiden roared, propelling himself forward like an arrow from a bow.
His right arm quickly gathered power, condensing a sphere of white light, which he then delivered with lightning speed to the Black Diamond’s chest.
“Boom!”
The impact was thunderous.
The Black Diamond remained unmoved, his muscles barely twitching as he absorbed the entire force.
In contrast, Aiden was pushed back several steps by the immense recoil, his arm tingling with numbness.
His face showed terror.
Before he could react, the Black Diamond’s enormous palm was already reaching out to grab him.
CHAPTER 2527: THE SHADOW KILLER UNLEASHED
The Black Diamond moved swiftly. Before Aiden could react, he had grabbed Aiden by the neck and lifted him up with a single hand, as if he were a mere chicken.
Aiden’s breathing halted, his face turning redder by the second. He struggled wildly, his limbs flailing, but found he could not break free.
The Black Diamond’s grip was like a vice, immovable and unyielding.
“You… are pitifully weak.”
The Black Diamond shook his head, his face full of scorn and disdain.
So pathetic that Aiden couldn’t even withstand a single attack. The worst part was that the Black Diamond had only used a fraction of his strength.
With such a weak opponent, even his interest in torturing him waned.
After all, only strong opponents could excite him, and only by crushing strong opponents could he instill fear in all Dragonmarsh warriors.
Encountering such a disappointment was truly disheartening.
“Cicada Shell!”
In a desperate situation, Aiden quickly formed seals with his hands. His body suddenly shrank, becoming as agile as a boneless cat, slipping out of the Black Diamond’s grasp.
He rolled away and quickly distanced himself, panting heavily as the redness on his face began to fade.
“Oh?”
The unexpected turn of events surprised the Black Diamond, his eyes showing a hint of intrigue.
It seemed the opponent was not entirely useless after all. Perhaps there were some special tricks he hadn’t shown yet.
“Big guy, I have to admit, you’re indeed strong to force me to use the Cicada Shell technique. However, it ends here.”
Aiden touched his throbbing neck, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. “Next, you’ll experience the powerful secret technique of the Spectral Blade Sect I prepared this for the finals, but I’ll use it on you now. It might be overkill, but I don’t care!”
With that, Aiden abruptly pulled out a black pill and swallowed it. He then clasped his hands together and chanted a spell rapidly.
Soon, a vague black shadow began to drift out from his body.
The shadow was like smoke, constantly shifting and changing. It finally coalesced into a humanoid shape roughly the same size as Aiden.
Seeing this, many spectators below showed expressions of horror.
“Could this be the Spectral Blade Sect’s secret technique, the Shadow Kill?”
“It’s said that the Shadow Kill technique is incredibly sinister, capable of ignoring defenses and shields to directly attack the soul. If the soul is weak, it can turn a person into an idiot or even kill them instantly. Truly a silent killer!”
“I heard that the Shadow Kill technique was lost due to its difficulty to master, and even the Sect Master couldn’t use it. I can’t believe Aiden has actually mastered it. It seems the Spectral Blade Sect is set to reclaim its former glory!”
“…”
CHAPTER 2528: THE SPECTER OF DOOM
The audience below was abuzz with whispers, astonished by the black silhouette hovering above Aiden’s head.
Two hundred years ago, the Spectral Blade Sect was ranked among the top three in the martial world, largely due to its mastery of the Shadow Kill technique. The sect’s leader back then was a formidable figure who could execute this technique with terrifying precision, causing anyone who opposed him to meet an obscure and often fatal end. Even top martial artists were not spared.
After that leader’s death, the Spectral Blade Sect began to decline. The main reason was the extreme difficulty in mastering the Shadow Kill technique, which could easily turn practitioners into idiots if not handled with utmost care.
To this day, only Aiden had successfully cultivated it, signaling a potential resurgence for the sect.
“What is the Shadow Kill technique? Is it really that powerful?”
In the audience, Lara tilted her head, curious.
Gabrielle explained, “The Shadow Kill technique is a secret method for cultivating the soul. It’s extremely powerful. It is said that this technique can directly attack a person’s soul and destroy their mental faculties. Nothing can block it unless the target’s soul is stronger than the practitioner’s. If hit, the victim is doomed!”
“That’s terrifying!” Lara’s eyes widened.
The idea of an attack targeting the soul was indeed unsettling.
“How do you determine the strength of someone’s soul?” Liana suddenly asked.
“It’s hard to determine,” Gabrielle shook her head. “Any technique related to the soul is extremely difficult to master. It requires both innate talent and immense willpower. Otherwise, one might easily fall into madness. In the entire martial world, there are fewer than five practitioners of soul techniques.”
“So, if the Shadow Kill technique is used, doesn’t that make its practitioner invincible?” Liana furrowed her brows.
“Not quite.” Gabrielle shook her head again. “While the Shadow Kill technique is formidable, it does have weaknesses. For one, the practitioner’s body becomes immobile while performing the technique. If you can damage their body, you can disrupt the technique. Generally, practitioners avoid direct attacks due to the risks involved. Right now, Aiden is in a desperate situation, so he has no choice but to go all out.”
“I see,” Liana nodded, relieved. If the Shadow Kill technique were truly unbeatable, the Spectral Blade Sect would become a formidable rival to the martial world.
“Big guy, die!”
Aiden suddenly roared, his hands coming together as he pointed at the Black Diamond from afar with his middle and index fingers.
The black silhouette above Aiden’s head sprang to life, its ghostly form charging forward with an aura of chilling coldness, like a vengeful specter unleashed.
master think you 
