âWhatâ¦?â
Oil Swordâs face hardened as he stared at the woman. Locking eyes with her faintly glowing light-green pupils, his temper began to stir.
âWhat did you just say?â
A chilling aura spread across the ground.
âAhâ¦!?â
âWhat theâ¦!â
The surrounding martial artists flinched, their bodies trembling. The overwhelming aura of a Hwagyeong-level master began to permeate the surroundings.
Spectators clutched themselves as though struck by an icy wind, while martial artists gripped their weapons, instinctively surrounding themselves with Qi.
Hwagyeong was the realm of an absolute master.
A supreme level attained only through natural talent and relentless effort.
When the aura of a master at this level was released, even the summer air turned cold.
âAre you saying⦠that those words were directed at me?â
Oil Swordâs stiffened expression and razor-sharp aura made the smirking man from moments ago disappear. In his place stood a grandmaster, one of the Hundred Greats.
âI acknowledged your beauty and granted you value, yet you dare to crawl ever higher. A worm? Did you just call me, Oil Sword, a worm?â
Young and beautiful. Even as her family had fallen, she was still a noble daughter. He had approached her deliberately, deeming her worth his attention.
âA worm?â
What exactly had this insignificant woman just said to him?
Oil Sword couldnât comprehend it.
âThe bloodline of a fallen clan still hasnât cast away their pride?â
The Tang Clan had lost its former glory and now lived in shame, enduring ridicule from the world. And yet, it seemed this woman hadnât realized their fall.
âWellâ¦â
âWhen youâve stood so high, collapsing all at once⦠it must be difficult to accept.â
This was the Tang Clan, one of the Four Noble Houses.
They had once been the unrivaled source of Dokgongâpoison techniquesâand the origin of most of the iron weaponry in Zhongyuan.
Had they remained as they were, holding their position would have been no issue.
But in their arrogance, they crossed a line that should never have been crossed. When the truth came to light, the Tang Clan crumbled, their position shattered.
They lost their strength as a noble family.
Most of what they had slipped away, scattered like air.
And now, what was the Tang Clanâs position?
That answer could be found in the gazes of those looking at the woman.
Cold and cutting.
There was no admiration or envy directed toward the Tang Clanâs descendants anymore.