Chapter 12: Third-grade Martial Spirit

Within about eighty breaths, Titus arrived at the Yin Yang Platform. A young man dressed in Inner Sect disciple attire sat on a grand master’s chair, with three Inner Sect disciples and many Outer Sect disciples behind him. Seeing Titus arrive at the Yin Yang Platform, the young man’s lips curled up. “You’ve come quite quickly.” Palmer squinted at Titus. “Where’s Raelyn?” Titus asked in a deep voice. Clap clap! Palmer clapped twice, and the Outer Sect disciples stepped aside, revealing Raelyn tied to a tree, her head drooping to one side, clearly unconscious. “I have no grudge against you, why use Raelyn to lure me to the Yin Yang Platform?” Titus asked. “Do you remember what happened at Wuwang Rock seven days ago?” Palmer asked with a smile. Seven days ago, at Wuwang Rock... Titus’s expression immediately changed. More than remembering, it was an event he could never forget in his lifetime. It changed his life. Not only was his Martial Spirit taken by Chloe, but he was also hunted down by a group of Inner Sect disciples. If he hadn’t been lucky enough to fall off a cliff and save his life, he would have probably died. Was Palmer also involved? Titus remembered the faces of those Inner Sect disciples, but Palmer wasn’t among them. “Are you wondering why I wasn’t there that day? It’s quite normal. I don’t like to make a move. I just enjoy watching the drama unfold and making arrangements,” Palmer said with a light smile. “Arrangements... So, you orchestrated everything that happened that day?” Titus clenched his fists, making a cracking sound. “Correct! I helped plan it all. I just didn’t expect you to still be alive, and even more so to have become a blade cultivator. You really surprised me.” Palmer then stood up and walked over to the unconscious Raelyn. “You came here to die for this wretched woman, which is even more surprising. Now, I’ll give you a chance to save her. Ascend the Yin Yang Platform now. If you can defeat my man, I’ll let her live.” After saying this, Palmer suddenly drew a line across Raelyn’s neck with his nail, leaving a clear mark on her fair skin as blood slowly seeped out. Titus tensed up, a surge of murderous intent filling his eyes. “Why aren’t you moving? Do you want to watch her die in front of you? Since you wish to see that, I’ll fulfill your desire.” After speaking, Palmer grabbed Raelyn’s chin. As he exerted force, her jawbone emitted a series of crisp sounds. “As you wish!” Titus leaped onto the Yin Yang Platform. Palmer then slowly released his grip, smiling as he watched Titus, who now seemed like an easy prey in his eyes. The Yin Yang Platform was high up, and naturally, the Outer Sect disciples could see the person standing on it. When they saw Titus, they all stopped in their tracks. “Eh? The person on the Yin Yang Platform looks familiar.” “Isn’t that Xenos? Didn’t he join the Inner Sect? Why is he back at the Heavenly Ultimate Hall and on the Yin Yang Platform?” “Look at his attire; it seems like our Heavenly Ultimate Hall’s Outer Sect disciple uniform.” Many Outer Sect disciples gathered around, pointing and discussing. “Didn’t you notice? He’s been crippled.” Someone pointed out. Then, the Outer Sect disciples noticed that Titus’s Sea of Qi aura was very weak, evidently due to damage to his Sea of Qi, leaving him with only about thirty to forty percent of his original strength. “No wonder he returned to the Heavenly Ultimate Hall. His Sea of Qi is shattered, leaving only three to four tenths of it intact. He’s almost a cripple.” Some looked at Titus with sympathy. The Outer Sect disciples who had gathered to watch quickly noticed Palmer, and they couldn't help but be amazed. Although they didn't personally know Palmer, his attire as an Inner Sect disciple and the three Inner Sect disciples accompanying him were clear indicators of his extraordinary status. From this, it was evident that Palmer held a unique position. Even without knowing the specifics, the Outer Sect disciples had guessed why Titus returned to the Heavenly Ultimate Hall. He must have offended Palmer, been crippled, and then chased down to the Heavenly Ultimate Hall, forced onto the Yin Yang Platform. The Outer Sect disciples sympathetically looked at Titus, regretting his fate for offending someone as influential as Palmer. At that moment, Palmer lazily waved his hand, and one of the Inner Sect disciples leaped up, nimbly jumping onto the Yin Yang Platform. “It’s been a while, Titus,” said the Inner Sect disciple, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned. “Senior Bryan Cooke...” The watching Outer Sect disciples were surprised. The attacker was Bryan Cooke, ranked seventh in the Heavenly Ultimate Hall and a peer of Titus, only two ranks apart. Unexpectedly, Bryan Cooke had returned with Palmer and had become his enforcer. “You’re already a crippled man, still dreaming of turning the tables. But it doesn’t matter, you’re going to die anyway. Before you die, Titus, let me tell you some good news. Young Master Yarbrough said that if I kill you, he’ll reward me with Raelyn.” Bryan Cooke licked his dry lips, his eyes gleaming with strange light. “That girl has soft, tender skin, and she’s still untouched. The taste must be exquisite. Don’t worry, after you die, I’ll enjoy her slowly.” “You’re courting death!” Enraged, Titus struck with his sword. Wind Shadow Slash! Hundreds of sword shadows slashed through, and Bryan Cooke’s smile instantly froze. A terracotta-colored beastly shadow appeared behind him to block the attack. Boom! The beastly shadow dissipated the hundred sword shadows. As Bryan Cooke looked astonished, Titus’s sword struck again, the pleasant sound of the blade ringing out as the sword energy vertically slashed through. Even the powerful defense of a second-grade Turtle Beast Martial Spirit beast couldn’t withstand this domineering and powerful sword energy, which was as fragile as a leaf. The blade qi pierced through Bryan Cooke’s body, leaving deep scratches behind the Yin Yang Platform... Bryan Cooke didn’t even have the chance to utter a sound before he fell backward. The noise around the Yin Yang Platform ceased, replaced by a deathly silence. The Outer Sect disciples watching were stunned, staring blankly at Titus on the platform. In their eyes, the one who should have fallen was Titus. “Blade cultivator... Titus is blade cultivator!” Someone suddenly exclaimed. A single stone caused a thousand ripples. A wave of commotion rose around the quiet Yin Yang Platform. The Outer Sect disciples looked at Titus in disbelief. A crippled person turned out to be the rare blade cultivator? Palmer, sitting below the platform, suddenly stood up, his smile replaced by a cold expression. It wasn’t Bryan Cooke’s death that upset him. For someone like Bryan Cooke, even a multitude of deaths wouldn’t pain him. What upset him was that Titus was much stronger than he had anticipated. A half-crippled person becoming a blade cultivator is already this strong. What about a peak blade cultivator? Damn heavens, you're truly unfair! Why let a cripple become a blade cultivator? Why can't I become a blade cultivator? If I were a blade cultivator, I would be a hundred times, a thousand times stronger than him. Jealousy burned fiercely in Palmer's eyes as he looked at Titus, and a thick aura of hatred even seeped through, mingled with a strong intent to kill. "One should consider the owner when dealing with dogs. You dare to kill my dog right in front of me? Well, very well, since you want to die by my hands, I'll grant your wish!" Palmer stared coldly at Titus, and his jealousy and resentment intensified. Originally, he had intended to send someone to kill Titus casually, but now, he no longer needed to do that. He wanted to personally strangle Titus to relieve the hatred in his heart. No one saw Palmer make any movements, but he had already transformed into a white blur and appeared on the Yin Yang Platform. Incredible speed! The Outer Sect disciples were filled with amazement. Palmer's speed was simply too fast. At this moment, a surging airflow rose from beneath Palmer's feet, coiling around him like a snake, and the energy transformed into flames. The Outer Sect disciples couldn't help but shudder. A third-grade Flame Serpent Martial Spirit. Palmer actually possessed a third-grade Flame Serpent Martial Spirit, and the strength of the true qi he condensed reached the pinnacle of the Ninth Level of the Qi Refining Stage.