All-Class Anti-Mage - - - - -

Today in Bidel City, tranquility was not meant to be. News of the Mage Guild challenging the Sword Cultivators Guild had spread throughout the entire city. If it weren’t for Agaku sending the city guards to maintain order, the Sword Cultivators Guild would likely have been overwhelmed by the crowd. However, the Guild was currently embodying an ancient saying from the East Continent: good fortune seldom comes in pairs; misfortune seldom comes alone.

Early in the morning, an explosive piece of news sent shockwaves through Bidel City. The president of the Sword Cultivators Guild, Steve, had a scandal involving his son and daughter from that very night. No one could ascertain the source of the leak, but after some eager gossipers confirmed the story with inquiries at the Sword Cultivators Guild, it proved to be true!

Regardless of whether the Sword Cultivators Guild faced victory or defeat in this challenge, their reputation was in tatters. Steve had effectively buried the Guild himself; had he chosen to confront the challenge with integrity instead of taking the low road, the situation would not have spiraled so out of control.

At this moment, Pascal was disguised as a city guard standing at the entrance of the Sword Cultivators Guild. He was the one who spread the scandalous news, and he knew that it wasn’t just Kerry who had spied on Katie casting the Great Love Incantation last night. Thankfully, the lovebird had chosen Kerry to bear the weight of the incantation; otherwise, Pascal’s life would also have been ruined!

He had hidden his identity for decades in hopes of a day like this. Katie’s actions had enraged the eighth-tier reaper. Back when he was known as Night Wolf, he had dared to kill even his own teacher; would he let a mere girl like Katie go unpunished? Yet, Pascal understood the essence of revenge; he didn’t kill Katie but instead drugged her.

What happened next was straightforward, requiring no further action from Pascal. Under the influence of the Great Love Incantation, Kerry was hopelessly infatuated with his sister. That very night, he rushed into Katie’s room and engaged in intimate relations with her, who was powerless to resist.

Pascal witnessed everything and believed that once his future master learned of these events, he would certainly commend him greatly. Standing here disguised as a city guard allowed him to witness his future master’s prowess firsthand, providing better safety than lurking in the shadows.

In front of the Mage Guild, a large crowd of citizens from Bidel City had gathered. When people heard that the challenger was an eighteen-year-old sword cultivator, almost everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the young man’s demeanor. Of course, most people did not hold high hopes for Yang Zhen. At only eighteen years old, even if he had started cultivation from the womb, how could he possibly be a match for those old fellows in the Sword Cultivators Guild who had been cultivating for decades?

As the city guards maintained order in front of the Mage Guild, a seemingly ordinary carriage emerged from the back entrance of the guild. Yang Zhen did enjoy holding hands with Roland while strolling down the street, but today was clearly not the right moment for that.

Inside the carriage, Yang Zhen gently caressed his jagged greatsword. Despite its many scars, he treasured it dearly. This sword had saved his life in several battles, and even his qi sword technique could not break it. Today, it was to bear witness to another duel from the young man.

“Have you heard? Katie…” Roland leaned against Yang Zhen’s left arm and whispered softly.

“Do you feel sorry for them?” Yang Zhen asked gently, looking down at her.

“She’s so pitiful, being treated like that by her own brother…” The heart of a woman can be the most ruthless, yet it can also be the softest. Hatred and compassion could indeed coexist.

“That’s the lovebird’s revenge against them; they are reaping what they sowed. And my revenge… has only just begun!” Yang Zhen remained unmoved. He had no obligation to feel remorse for the Kerry siblings’ fate; the moment the conflict started in the Magical Beast Forest, they had sealed their own fate against his wrath.

“No matter what you do, I’ll support you!” Roland said as she nestled in Yang Zhen’s embrace. She already knew about Hale’s story-willing to become a ghost after death just to fulfill his teacher’s promise, guarding the star iron ore for a century. Compared to that, was Katie really that unfortunate?

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Sword Cultivators Guild, and Yang Zhen and Roland stepped down hand in hand. Nearby, whispers erupted from the gathered crowd. They looked at the young man, who seemed quite ordinary and certainly not a muscular warrior. Why did he think he could challenge the Sword Cultivators Guild?

They could not witness the conflict as two rows of city guards escorted Yang Zhen through the guild’s doors, which then slammed shut with a loud “bang.” Behind them, several individuals carried out a massive signboard and leaned it against the wall. Unfortunately, it was covered with a cloth, and the onlookers couldn’t see what it said.

The atmosphere inside the Sword Cultivators Guild was heavy. Clearly, the scandal involving the Kerry siblings had tarnished the guild’s reputation and dampened the spirits of all present. Even though the challenger appeared to be such a young boy, they couldn’t muster much enthusiasm.

In the arena of the Sword Cultivators Guild, the most striking figure was a man clad in a bright red robe. The red-robed bishop, Karl, had even arrived and volunteered to be the referee for this challenge. Roland secretly breathed a sigh of relief; with the church overseeing the proceedings, the Sword Cultivators Guild would likely refrain from any underhanded tactics.

Not only was Karl present to witness the duel, but a number of leaders from the Mage Guild were also in attendance. Notably, beside Karl stood an elder, whose badge revealed him to be a tenth-tier sword saint. He was Lauren, the vice president of the Sword Cultivators Guild Headquarters in Sword Dance City!

The events unfolding in a third-level city like Bidel had even drawn the attention of the vice president of the Grand Guild. If those outside were to hear of this, would they still say that Yang Zhen was destined to fail? The rumor had already spread throughout the upper echelons of the Firmament that Yang Zhen had killed Solin, a student of the Assassin Guild’s Hughes, when he was merely a second tier.

Now, Yang Zhen had risen to the status of a fourth-tier sword master. The highest-ranked sword master in the Sword Cultivators Guild of Bidel was only at the sixth tier; could they guarantee a victory over Yang Zhen? Lauren couldn’t make that assurance, hence his presence here. The responsibilities entrusted to him by the Grand President were to salvage the reputation of the Sword Cultivators Guild!

As circumstances would have it, who would have thought that the red-robed bishop of the church would volunteer as a referee? What was even harder for Lauren to accept was the scandal involving the Kerry siblings; no matter what he did, he could never recover the tarnished reputation of the Bidel Sword Cultivators Guild.

Yang Zhen stepped into the arena with steady strides. After Roland kissed his cheek, she returned to the viewing stand and sat beside Roban. Karl smiled kindly at Roland and nodded; he hadn’t anticipated that someone would act faster than him. The emperor of the Saga Empire had actually adopted Roland as his adopted daughter, thereby linking the interests of the entire empire with the Bidel Mage Guild.

As Yang Zhen’s beloved, how could he disregard the interests of the Saga Empire? Karl shook his head internally, knowing that the young man’s affection for the girl would undoubtedly influence his actions. The reason the red-robed bishop had chosen to be the referee was largely to cultivate a closer relationship with Yang Zhen. Especially when he learned that Lauren was also present, he felt fortunate about his decision. In the arena, the only one capable of suppressing Lauren was this red-robed bishop!

“Today, we gather here to witness the challenge presented by the Bidel Mage Guild to the Sword Cultivators Guild. Ten days ago, the Sword Cultivators Guild issued a challenge to the Mage Guild and returned in defeat. According to the agreement made at that time, the Mage Guild would relinquish the rights to the Mage Tower if they lost. Today, if the Sword Cultivators Guild loses, they will have to change their signboard!”

As the referee, Karl stood up and loudly recited the basic facts once more. Lauren’s expression darkened; this whole process was simply too embarrassing.

Those authorized to enter the Sword Cultivators Guild and watch the duel now understood the entire situation. It turned out that this was the consequence that came from the Sword Cultivators Guild’s provocation and subsequent defeat of the Mage Guild. Disdainful “hisses” erupted from the crowd, and all the members of the Sword Cultivators Guild present hung their heads in shame.

After Karl had recounted the basic details, he nodded to a follower standing behind him, signaling for the person to step into the arena. Of course, the red-robed bishop would not personally take on the role of referee; he would send a subordinate instead. A ninth-tier grand sword master would suffice to lend the Sword Cultivators Guild some dignity.

“The challenger from the Mage Guild, Mr. Yang Zhen, has arrived. Please welcome the president of the Sword Cultivators Guild, Steve, to the arena!” the grand sword master announced loudly. From the titles used for the two men, it was clear where Karl’s loyalties lay, yet no one felt sympathy for the Sword Cultivators Guild.

With a dark expression, Steve strode into the arena, silently positioning himself next to the grand sword master and across from Yang Zhen. His eyes were bloodshot, revealing the madness within. The fact that he could still stand there after what had happened with his children illustrated the depth of his resolve.

“This challenge serves as another manifestation of the friendship between our two great guilds; therefore, I ask that both sides show restraint during the duel,” the grand sword master declared, seemingly going through the motions to announce the rules of the challenge. Everyone in the know understood that today’s duel was a fight to the death.

“Mr. Yang Zhen, do you have anything to say?” the grand sword master inquired.

“My sword does not harm the innocent,” Yang Zhen replied calmly.

“That’s good to hear; you truly are-”

“Only capable of killing!”

“Cough, cough…”

The grand sword master coughed awkwardly, trying to mask his embarrassment. He thought to himself that this young man was far too direct. Now that he had stated his intentions so clearly, would the opponent really spare him?

“President Steve, do you have anything to say?” the grand sword master turned to him.

“I do!”

Steve scanned the members of the Sword Cultivators Guild, projecting an air of authority. He stepped back onto the viewing stand and addressed everyone loudly, “All members of the Sword Cultivators Guild, I, Steve, have served as president for over twenty years. I may not have achieved anything monumental, but I have always thought of the guild’s interests!”

Several members of the Sword Cultivators Guild looked up at their president. Although Steve may not have accomplished great feats, the Bidel Sword Cultivators Guild was the most prestigious on the Firmament Continent because they stood above the Mage Guild in this city! Even if that was a thing of the past, it couldn’t erase the pride the sword cultivators once held!