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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nYang Ling took out a dull dagger from his Space Ring and walked slowly toward Batiste.

nThe fangs of the Horned Bee Beast were incredibly sharp, able to bite through even heavy swords made by the dwarves, much less an ordinary sword. But this dagger he had picked up in Valenia Valley was particularly surprising. Even though it didn’t look exceptional, it was immensely sharp. Also, even the most powerful Horned Bee Beast he had could not leave a scratch on the dagger.

n“Sir Batiste, do you want to reconsider? After all, this is a matter of life and death.” Yang Ling let out a cold smile, summoning an evolved Horned Bee Beast and hiding it within his sleeve without anyone noticing.

n“What a joke. I, Batiste, have killed countless people. Do you think I fear a child like you?”

nBatiste was very proud. Ever since he graduated from the lessons of the Sword Saint Barzark, he had never lost in a formal duel. He then went on to undertake the role of Great Swordsman of the royal family in the Banto Empire and enjoyed a life of luxury.

nHe might be able to recoup his losses back in the Capital after he cut off the head of this chap. Batiste was excited. He had just lost all his money in the Red Flower Casino when business came looking for him: a full 50,000 Purple Crystal Coins for killing Yang Ling.

nA Summoner who could not use Battle Energy trying to leave a scratch on his shield infused with his Battle Energy was wishful thinking. Batiste looked casually at Yang Ling who was walking toward him. He was full of praise for Ymir’s plan.

nToday was the grand opening of Yang Ling’s weapon shop. If Yang Ling were to step down from the challenge, that would be akin to admitting that the weapons in his shop were trash. He would not be able to continue his business in Wissen Town anymore; if he was so brazen as to accept the challenge, Ymir could kill Yang Ling through Batiste.

n“Yang Ling, don’t go, don’t!” Seeing the battle ready Batiste, then looking at Yang Ling walking toward him, Sofia charged forward. “Yang Ling, you need not care about this madman; we can return to Terras Forest!”

nSofia let her emotions show as she saw Yang Ling forced to accept the challenge, her eyes teary with worry. She hoped that Yang Ling would be able to abandon all of this. She hoped that Yang Ling would return to Terras Forest and live a peaceful life with her.

nAfter a moment’s hesitation, Alice also charged forward, her eyes red. “Brother Yang, Sister Sofia is not wrong. He is a madman, don’t stoop to his level!”

nAfter understanding Batiste’s abilities, Casey and the rest also charged forward, glaring straight at Batiste. If looks could kill, then Batiste would have been killed by them ten thousand times over.

n“Oh Yiblis, this is too much. A Great Swordsman using these despicable tricks, isn’t this murder?”

n“That’s right, this is too much!”

n…

nSeeing the red aura radiating from the shield in Batiste’s hands, the more experienced troops understood that Yang Ling, who did not have Battle Energy, did not have any chance of winning. They understood that the overbearing Batiste was out for Yang Ling’s life, and they slipped into discussion.

n“Hmph, those who feel I am being unjust can step forward. I, Batiste, will send them on their way!” After hearing the discussions of the crowd, the Great Swordsman Batiste spat, his shifty eyes scanning the surroundings. The crowd shut their mouths. After all, the abilities of a Great Swordsman were nothing to scoff at. Even experienced troops were not willing to invite trouble. They could only feel angry, but they could not speak out against it.

n“Michelle, I am sure that this is murder. If this Great Swordsman has no animosity against the young man, then he must have been employed by the enemies of the young man!”

nOutside the crowd, a man and a woman were seated on two tall white horses. The man had a piercing gaze and was wearing heavy black armor. There was a heavy sword hanging by his waist and a long spear in his arms. He was clearly an elite knight. The lady’s face was half veiled, her hands wielding a black staff; she was clearly a mysterious spellcaster.

n“Clause, as a Divine Knight, are you just going to sit and watch?” The veiled spellcaster creased her brows as she looked at the arrogant Batiste. She said nonchalantly, “The warrior’s association in the Banto Empire is becoming more and more lawless. For a Great Swordsman to use such a tactic against a young man without any Battle Energy!”

nSeeing the crowd gathered around them, the heavily armored knight coldly said, “This Great Swordsman is indeed going too far, but Michelle, we are here on a secret mission. It would not be good if we exposed our identities!”

nHearing Clause say this, then looking at Yang Ling who did not have Battle Energy, the spellcaster Michelle sighed. She did not say any more, but silently clutched the staff in her hands.

n“Brave warriors, thank you for your patronage today!” Yang Ling lightly pushed away the worried Sofia and Alice, then took large steps toward Batiste. “I have a normal dagger made by dwarves in my hands. Now let us see whether the shield in this Great Swordsman’s hands is harder than my dagger is sharp!”

nAfter lifting the dagger in his hand for the crowd to see, Yang Ling walked toward Batiste without emotion, as if he had no idea how powerful the Great Swordsman was.

nAt the same time, seeing Yang Ling walk toward him, Batiste let out a cold smile. He instinctively poured all of his Battle Energy into the shield in his right hand. In that moment, the shield released a shining red light. It looked like a ball of burning flames from far away.

n“Oh god, poor child!”

n“Oh Yiblis, I have seen a fool, but I have never seen a lad as foolish as this one. He is heading straight for his death!”

n“Hehe, I dare say that this young boss is a man who has never seen the world; he has no idea how powerful a Great Swordsman is!” a young man gloated. “This is a good show, and his family will definitely look for this Great Swordsman after the boss dies, hehe!”

n…

nSeeing the overbearing Batiste and Yang Ling, who was clearly in trouble, the crowd slipped into discussion. Some of them were sympathetic, some scolding Yang Ling for being a fool and not knowing when to retreat. There were also some who gloated over Yang Ling’s plight.

nIn the midst of their discussion, Yang Ling circulated the wizard powers in his body and suddenly accelerated, pouncing toward the arrogant Batiste, fast as lightning. The opening of his right sleeve was aimed directly at Batiste’s chest.

nJust as the crowd was certain that Yang Ling would die, an accident happened!

nThe unfeeling Batiste shuddered, the flame-like red aura of his shield scattering like the tide. Then Yang Ling’s dagger struck forward, piercing through the sturdy shield.

nHow could a royal Great Swordsman of the Banto Empire lose to a young man without any Battle Energy?

nDumbfounded by such a sudden upset, the crowd struggled to come to their senses. They were quiet until Yang Ling placed the dagger beside Batiste’s neck. Then they broke into an uproar.

n“Kill him!”

n“Oh Yiblis, chop off his head!”

n…

nThe crowd was shouting with all their might. The troops with wounds on their chests roared as they flailed the weapons in their hands. It looked like the arrogant Great Swordsman had long invited public fury.

n“You…”

nAfter being struck by three poisonous stingers of the Horned Bee Beast due to his carelessness, Batiste had turned numb. In shock, he started to call Yang Ling despicable when he felt a pain in his neck. A streak of blood flowed downward.

n“It looks like the throat of a Great Swordsman is the same as all of ours, he can bleed too!” Seeing the fearful Batiste, Yang Ling coldly said, “Should I slice open his throat with this dagger, or cleave off his entire head with an axe? Or maybe I chop you up into five pieces?”

nSeeing the cold light in Yang Ling’s eyes, then looking at the cold smile on his face, Batiste trembled. He did not dare say a word, nor did he dare move. As an experienced swordsman, he understood that the dagger on his throat was not a piece of useless steel. All Yang Ling had to do was move his arm, and Batiste could say goodbye to this world.

nBatiste was immensely remorseful. He was cursing Ymir and his ancestors in his heart. If not for his carelessness, boastfully using all of his protective Battle Energy on his shield, how would a royal Great Swordsman like him fall to a sneak attack by Yang Ling! If Ymir had provided him with accurate information, how would he have let down his guard and been reduced to such a pitiful state!

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