Chapter 12: Challenging Meldon

"Such big talk." Provoked by Frank, Jim lunged forward like a beast. Recalling how he was seriously injured by this 1st Level of Energy Condensation cultivator, his face twisted with anger.

Clang!

Once again, Jim unleashed his Sun Sword Energy, tearing through the air, his arm swinging wildly as if he were in a frenzy.

As the sword energy rushed at him, Frank did not evade. Charging forward like a tiger, he let the sword energy leave bloody grooves on his body. Compared to seeing Adolf and the others tortured, these injuries were nothing.

Jim's expression changed when he noticed Frank used his body to withstand his attacks as Frank was already almost upon him.

"Go die!" With a sudden roar, Frank closed the distance, gripping his fist tightly. Without using any true energy, he struck Jim squarely in the face with sheer physical strength.

Pfft!

Jim spat out blood and staggered back from Frank's punch. His face was contorted, and before he could regain his footing, Frank kicked him, sending him flying with another mouthful of blood.

The two other Alps Sect disciples were stunned. A 2nd Level of Energy Condensation disciple taking down Jim without using any true energy was beyond their understanding.

"Kill! Kill him!" Jim, now disheveled, instructed his lackeys as he let out a crazed roar.

"Let's go together." Realizing Frank was formidable, the two disciples attacked from both sides, true energy gathering in their palms—one forming a palm blade, the other a sword edge. Both used basic energy manipulation techniques.

But, in Frank's eyes, these were nothing.

"Get lost!"

With a roar, Frank's strike sent the disciple on the left flying, landing in a pool of blood.

With a swift turn, Frank leaped toward the disciple on the right, easily dodging the disciple's palm blade. Then, he shattered the disciple's shoulder with a chop and followed with a punch, knocking him to the ground.

With the two disciples down, Frank kicked Jim aside and quickly released sword energy to unlock the chains binding Adolf and the others.

"Grandpa!" Hank ran to Adolf's side the moment he was freed.

"Adolf, this is all my fault." As he infused true energy into Adolf, Frank blamed himself. If not for him, Jim might not have become so crazed.

"Kid, don't blame yourself." Adolf's injuries were severe. Although old, Frank's true energy protected his heart, ensuring his life was not in danger.

"I swear, I will never let harm come your way again."

After three hours of care, Frank finally retracted his true energy. Adolf was safe, needing only a few days' rest. Hank, nourished by true energy, was also fine. Eagle was still injured from days earlier and now with a pierced wing, would need months to recover.

With everyone settled, Frank's face turned cold.

"We know we were wrong, we know we were wrong." One of the Alps Sect disciples, terrified, hastily pleaded for mercy.

"When you're wrong, you pay the price." Frank's icy voice rang out like a solemn verdict. He raised his foot and crushed the disciple's elixir field.

"Ah...!" A scream erupted.

"My elixir field! My cultivation!" The disciple screamed in agony, clutching his bleeding abdomen. Cold sweat trickled down his head. From now on, he was no longer a lofty immortal but a complete cripple.

Frank moved toward the other disciple.

"No... no, please!" The disciple crawled backward in terror, but could not escape his fate.

"Ah...!" With another scream, the disciple's elixir field was crushed, leaving him stripped of all his cultivation. No longer an immortal, he collapsed, fainting from the shock.

Finally, Frank turned slowly, looking at the bloodied Jim.

Jim was horrified. He hadn't expected Frank to be so ruthless as to go all out and destroy their cultivation. As a participant in this incident, his fate was also sealed.

"Do you know who my master is? My master is Ben Gilholm, the head of Earto Peak. You wouldn't dare to hurt me!" Jim shouted, seemingly unaware of the severity of the situation. He was still trying to intimidate Frank.

"I said, today, no one will save you." Frank's icy tone remained unrelenting as he decisively crushed Jim's elixir field.

"Ahh…!"

Jim's scream was bone-chilling. Now, he was no longer a lofty immortal. Destined to be cast aside by the sect, a miserable life awaited him. Only now did he feel regret, regretting ever provoking Frank, and leading to this disaster.

"I will repay a hundredfold for the pain you inflicted on them." Frank's anger had not yet subsided. He took three silver needles from his storage bag and inserted them into Jim's body.

These were the venomous needles from the hunchbacked old man, refined from parasitic venom. From his painful trials, Frank knew these needles would not kill immediately but would make the victim suffer, feeling as though parasites were gnawing at him. Using them on Jim seemed fitting.

"Ah...!" The venom spread, and Jim writhed in agony, scratching his body wildly, as bloody marks quickly appeared.

"Let me go, please let me go." Jim clung to Frank's legs. "It's all Meldon's fault. Meldon wants the Spirit Mantra. He ordered me to do this; it has nothing to do with me!"

"Meldon." Hearing the name, Frank's eyes flashed with cold light.

Turning abruptly, Frank strode toward the door, exuding a murderous aura, his icy resolve undeniable. He was going to the mountain to confront Meldon. Today, the battle stage would be bathed in blood.

"Even if I die, I'll make you pay dearly."

At this moment, on the peak of Sun Spirit Mountain, Ben sat high on the lecture platform, lecturing his disciples on cultivation insights.

"In the way of cultivation, one must respect heaven and earth. Heaven and earth are paramount, and true energy is fundamental to all beings. Cultivators must focus on true energy refinement."

Below, the disciples sat in rows, listening with utmost reverence, absorbing every word he spoke, fearing to miss a single point. They held him in high regard, aware of his stern and exacting nature.

Glancing down, Ben gently stroked his beard.

Seeing those awed gazes, he saw himself as a lofty senior, savoring the feeling of superiority. On Earto Peak, he was the sky; he was the king ruling everything.

"Meldon, I'm waiting for you on Cloude Platform." A cold voice suddenly echoed across Earto Peak, sparking an immediate uproar.

"Who's challenging Meldon?"

"Could it be a disciple from one of the other two main peaks?"

"It doesn't matter who it is. Meldon is about to break through to the 6th Level of Energy Condensation and has been taught secret techniques by his master. In the Alps Sect's outer sect, aside from the true disciples of the three heads, who could defeat him?"

Below, Meldon rose, a mocking smile on his lips. He knew from the voice that it was Frank.

"Meldon, do you know who is challenging you?" On the lecture platform, Hugo spoke dismissively, his tone filled with disdain. Malachi was his disciple, one he held in high regard, and Hugo had every confidence in him.

"It's a probationary disciple named Frank."

"Frank?" Hugo muttered, furrowing his brows slightly, recalling the incident in the Peace Pavilion. "Is he the young man with the 1st Level of Energy Condensation cultivation?"

"Do you know him?" Meldon asked, surprised.

"He wanted to join us, but I refused. Earto Peak doesn't accept such useless trash."

"I see!" Hearing Hugo's explanation, the disciples sneered, their mocking laughter echoing.

"I bet Frank is trying to join Earto Peak by attracting Master's attention, hoping to be taken as a disciple."

"How cunning."

"Go." Hugo closed his eyes again, casually saying, "Teach him a lesson. Don't be too rough, though, so no one accuses us of bullying."