"Wait!"
The Caldwell Mansion’s steward reached out a hand, stopping the foot that had stepped into the doorway, and asked with so confusion, "You say you drove off Mr. Banks?"
Mr. Banks was a malignant presence on Boulevard Mountain.
People trembled at the ntion of him.
This dwarf assassin had a peculiar temperant, killing at the slightest provocation!
Most crucially, Mr. Banks ca and went without a trace, making him extrely difficult to catch.
Gradually, he beca a figure that no one dared to provoke on Boulevard Mountain.
Yet the man in front claid to have defeated Mr. Banks?
"Scoundrel, give your life!"
Whoosh!
Suddenly.
Snow fluttered behind him!
Mr. Banks charged with a longsword in hand!
The entire set of movents was completed almost instantly!
Amidst the snow!
A short figure sliced through the air to attack!
Swish!
He parried with a sword!
Mr. Banks blocked with his blade and was forced back over ten ters.
"Leave! Or die." He sheathed his sword, his tone indifferent.
"I swear, until I kill you, I am not a man!" Mr. Banks cursed, vanishing into the snow.
"Not bad! You’ve got so skills." The Caldwell Mansion’s steward examined him up and down, nodding approvingly, "Please, enter!"
According to the rules, defeating an opponent ant you could enter the Dark Moon Palace.
Now, having defeated Mr. Banks in front of everyone, he had qualified to enter.
"Thank you!" He clasped his hands in salute, about to proceed inside.
"Stop!"
A voice sounded behind him.
He turned back to see a man in a long robe, smiling at him.
"What’s the matter?" He thought hard but truly did not recognize this man.
During his many years in Swimming City, he had lived secluded on the mountain, seldom seeing anyone.
"I, too, wish to go inside." The man spoke leisurely.
Despite the harsh winds and heavy snow, he wore only a thin robe.
As if he could not feel the cold.
"You going in has nothing to do with ." He said, beginning to enter the Dark Moon Palace.
The people here all seed a bit off.
"I want to defeat you, then enter." The man smiled, lacking any challenge or grand words.
All the more, it raised unease.
Biting dogs don’t bark.
"May I ask for your esteed na? It seems you are not a martial artist from Boulevard Mountain." The Caldwell Mansion’s steward, who had interacted with Boulevard Mountain’s martial artists for years, had never seen this man before.
Boulevard Mountain was vast, with many sects.
Occasional omissions were understandable.
"I am Pranay Martinez, an independent practitioner. Passing by here, I heard the Boulevard Mountain Boss’s family was holding a martial arts gathering, so I thought I’d take a look." Pranay Martinez pointed at the Dark Moon Palace’s sign, smiling lightly, "Could it be that this treasured land of Boulevard Mountain doesn’t allow outside martial artists? If that’s so, then I’ll take my leave!"
With that, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" The Caldwell Mansion’s steward imdiately called out, "Today, the Caldwell family is holding a martial arts gathering, regardless of region or sect! As long as you have strong enough skills, you are qualified to enter! If you don’t have the skills, even a martial artist from Boulevard Mountain must go back and train harder!"
Among the people present, there were quite a few martial artists from outside regions.
The Caldwell family had to consider their sentints.
"Alright! Then I challenge him!" Pranay Martinez turned back, pointing at him.
"?" He was quite curious, "Brother, why challenge ? I’ve already won and have the right to enter."
He had just defeated Mr. Banks, proving his strength.
Did soone really not see the situation and choose to bite the tough bone?
"I exclusively challenge experts!" Pranay Martinez pointed at him, "You should be honored to catch my eye. If you were like these useless ones, you wouldn’t even qualify to spar with !"
Upon hearing this!
The martial artists bore expressions of anger.
But this was the Caldwell family’s territory, plus they were curious to see this man’s strength, daring to be so brash!
"I am honored." He drew the longsword, raising it slowly, "Draw your sword!"
"I don’t need a sword to beat you." Pranay Martinez waved his long sleeves, "Watch closely as I make my move!"
Before the words had fallen!
Pranay Martinez darted out like a shadow!
Snow flew around!
All eyes fixed on the two, eager to see the exciting duel that would unfold!
The shadow drew closer!
He struck out with his sword!
Swish!
But as the sword fell!
The shadow suddenly vanished!
The next mont!
His expression slightly changed!
He was specialized in battling assassins, but this assassin was exceptionally strong!
He sensed danger behind him!
Hurriedly turning, he swung his sword in front of him!
Bam!
Pranay Martinez’s right palm struck!
Landing precisely on the sword!
Though he had his sword to block, the force still knocked him flying!
In midair, he adjusted his posture, planting the sword’s tip in the snow to barely land steadily.
Yet, Pranay Martinez was already following closely!
Boom!
The snow flew around!
Blocking everyone’s sight.
When the snow settled.
Pranay Martinez grasped his throat with his right hand, one hand behind his back.
"Amazing!"
Soone led the Boulevard Mountain martial artists in applause.
"You’re strong." He admitted helplessly, "I concede."
As Pendleton’s Grandmaster of the Seven Veins, nearly defeated with no counterattacks, it was humiliating!
"Your speed is a bit slow." Pranay Martinez loosened his grip, whispering, "I beat you not only because my skills far surpass yours. Even if ours matched, today you’d still be the loser."
In a voice only the two could hear, he pointed out his issues.
Then, with the other’s slightly surprised expression, he strode into the Dark Moon Palace.
"Grandmaster, by rights, having beaten Mr. Banks, you may still enter despite this defeat." The Caldwell Mansion’s steward nodded at him.
Such a master had rely encountered soone even greater.
Across the entire Boulevard Mountain, his thods were among the top tiers.
"Doesn’t that an we’re short one spot? That’s not fair!" A martial artist led a protest.
Their skills were not that formidable, almost middle-tier.
One spot could determine if they had a chance to enter.
"Anyone dissatisfied with this decision may leave on their own!" The Caldwell Mansion’s steward said sternly, "But let say, future benefits and advantages, don’t bla our Caldwell family for excluding you!"
Instantly, the martial artists were as dejected as frostbitten eggplants, silent.
"Now, begin the one-by-one duels! But rember, no harming lives!" The steward finished, sitting down and taking notes.
And in the courtyard.
"Stop!" He called after the departing Pranay Martinez.
"What does the great have to say?" Pranay Martinez turned, raising an eyebrow, "I don’t take disciples, you’re too dull!"
"I just want to ask... how you knew... our family’s ancestral swordsmanship?" The points Pranay Martinez ntioned were troubles for years.
"Your family?" Pranay Martinez paused, laughing, "Don’t be silly, brother, you should ask your ancestors from where they stole and learned those skills!"
With that, he continued towards the inner hall. "Can’t even copy properly, fool!"
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