chapter 40 Are you talented?

Atius' lips curled into a cold smirk as he slowly approached Gillespie and his companions, not sparing a single glance at the three Heaven Rank experts of the Dunn family. "I'm curious, why are you so determined to acquire Magpie Bridge Mountain?" Zandy paused in his beard-stroking, the smile on his face disappearing as a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes. "I didn't realize you were so thoughtful." "I'm also curious, which member of the Jernigan family are you?" Atius let out a cold laugh. "Weren't you just clamoring for my Magpie Bridge Mountain?" "Now I'm standing right here, why don't you tell me what you're prepared to exchange for it?" As these words were spoken, everyone present showed an expression of surprise. The matter of Magpie Bridge Mountain had already caused a sensation in recent days, and everyone was speculating about who had the resources to make such a move. Seeing Atius step forward, their first reaction was disbelief. Because Atius was simply too young! Calandra was also panicked, "Atius, have you lost your mind? Come back! They will kill you!" Gillespie held Calandra back, shaking his head expressionlessly, "The ones who will die today are people from the Dunn family!" Seeing Atius' bold stance, Armoni, who was standing beside Zandy, snorted coldly. With a swift movement, he charged in front of Atius. With a proud look in his eyes, a long sword suddenly shot out from his sleeve and rested on Atius' shoulder. "How dare you!" Indivar roared in anger, his aura exploding as he reached out to smack Armoni's head. At the same time, the three Heaven Rank experts from the Dunn family also reacted instantly, attacking Indivar. Calandra's face changed drastically, "Uncle, be careful!" Just as Indivar was about to be hit by the three men, suddenly, the three Heaven Rank experts from the Dunn family were sent flying without warning, their meridians shattered inch by inch, turning into blood-soaked figures before crashing heavily to the ground. "Who is it!" Zandy roared angrily, standing up abruptly as his aura burst forth! Those present also widened their eyes, their gaze sweeping back and forth between the trio of Gillespie and Atius. Zandy warily looked towards the door, aware that someone capable of so effortlessly crippling three Heaven Rank experts must undoubtedly be a Saint Rank existence. Zandy was shocked in his heart; he knew all too well how difficult it was to achieve Saint Rank. So as soon as he achieved Saint Rank, he immediately brought the people of the Dunn family into the world, believing there were few opponents left. He hadn't expected another Saint Rank expert to appear so soon! "Your Excellency, as a Saint Rank expert, to strike against three Heaven Rank members of my Dunn family is beneath your dignity!" "Do you not even dare to show yourself!" Seeing Zandy's nervous state, a cold smile emerged on the faces of Gillespie and his companions. Saint Rank, in front of the Lord, is no more than an ant's existence. Saint Rank, the Lord had just killed a few days ago. Atius looked at Zandy expressionlessly and slowly said, "I'll ask you again, what is your purpose for Magpie Bridge Mountain?!" Zandy ignored Atius and instead looked coldly at Indivar, "If you dare harm a hair on my grandson, I will make sure the Jernigan family is wiped out!" Indivar, holding Armoni by the neck, paid no heed to Zandy's threat. With just one word from Atius, he would not hesitate to snap Armoni's neck! Armoni, though restrained, showed no sign of fear on his face, knowing that as long as his grandfather was there, no one could kill him. Still full of pride, he looked at Indivar as the early-stage Heaven Rank aura began to emanate from his body. Although not entirely stable, it was indeed Heaven Rank, "You're fifty years old this year, and you're only at Heaven Rank!" "And I, Armoni, am only twenty-five this year. In less than two years, I will surpass you!" A look of pride appeared on Zandy's face, "That's right, my grandson is the first genius in my Dunn family for hundreds of years!" "Gillespie, if you release him now and kneel to beg for mercy, I might still spare your life!" "Heh," Atius chuckled lightly and waved his hand to signal Indivar to step back. Without any hesitation, Indivar released Armoni and moved beside Gillespie. Calandra was infuriated. "Atius, what are you playing at! Without a hostage, how can we leave this place!" "Shut up!" Gillespie glared at Calandra, "Just watch quietly!" Calandra was so anxious that tears came out, "Dad, if something happens to Atius, how can I explain it to Eilir!" Gillespie ignored his daughter and instead looked towards Armoni and Zandy, his gaze as if looking at a corpse. Atius walked up to Armoni, giving him a meaningful look, "Do you think you're talented? Proud?" Armoni's face was full of arrogance, "I became a Heaven Rank expert at the age of twenty-five, isn't that something to be proud of?" Atius 'said, "Hehe, Then how about we have a fight?" Armoni's face was full of disdain, "If you want to die, I can fulfill that wish!" Zandy let out a cold laugh, knowing that after today, his grandson's fame would surely spread. A twenty-five-year-old Heaven Rank expert, how many people in the entire Red Dragon Kingdom could compete with him? Armoni, with his hands behind his back and full of arrogance, spoke, "I'll give you the advantage of two hands, so you can't say I bullied you." Atius shook his head expressionlessly, "You're not qualified to say that yet. Let me give you the advantage instead. I'll just stand here and not move, if you can touch me, you win." "You're seeking death!" A flash of anger crossed Armoni's face as he flicked his wrist, channeling all his true qi into the long sword. With a piercing sound of the sword, it thrust straight towards Atius' heart! Just as Atius said, he stood still. But the intimidating long sword stopped abruptly, no matter how hard Armoni tried, he couldn't advance an inch further. "You're too weak," Atius slowly shook his head and suddenly shouted, "Break!" The voice was like thunder, carrying endless true qi that struck with force. Visibly, the thousand-year-old heirloom sword in Armoni's hand instantly shattered into dust! Not only that, but Armoni's sword-holding hand exploded in an instant, turning into a mist of blood. "You're courting death!" Zandy finally reacted, appearing in front of Atius in a blink of an eye, raising his hand to slap Atius' head. A Saint Rank expert's resentful strike, the violent true qi instantly overturned the entire palace, the fierce wind disturbed the airflow, and arcs of electricity began to flash in the air, causing the skies to roar with thunder! Yet Atius still stood in place. "Saint Rank, so what? Kneel down!" As these words were spoken, true qi a hundred, even a thousand times stronger than Zandy's, surged out. Zandy's face changed drastically, feeling his entire body's true qi swallowed up instantly, a mountainous pressure descending upon him, forcing his legs to kneel sharply down. "Boom!" Two deep pits were smashed into the ground instantly, Zandy's entire skeleton shattered, spitting out blood, his eyes filled with horror. Atius casually waved his hand, and the overwhelming true qi disappeared instantly. Everyone couldn't believe what they had witnessed. "Zandy, a mighty Saint Rank expert, has lost!" "Who is this young man...?" Calandra's eyes were wide open, "Dad, is Atius... that powerful?" Gillespie glanced at his daughter, "The strength of Lord Atius is not something that mere Saint Rank can challenge." Atius glanced at Armoni lying on the ground, stepping on his severed arm. Armoni immediately let out a piercing scream, causing the hairs on the bodies of the others present to stand on end, shivering. "Armoni, are you still proud now?" Atius said coldly, "A twenty-five-year-old Heaven Rank expert, heh, what a coincidence, I'm also twenty-five." "I really don't know where you got the confidence to say that no one in this world can match you!" "Who exactly are you!" Zandy gasped, "My Dunn family has no deep hatred with you!" Atius slowly shook his head, "Since your Dunn family has entered the world, you must abide by the rules of the rivers and lakes." "Say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, you have to pay the price!" "As for who I am?" Atius asked calmly, "Have you heard of the War God Palace?" "War God Palace!" Before Zandy could react, he saw people from other families kneeling down one after another. Atius looked at Zandy indifferently, "You just said that Saint Rank cannot be insulted, so now I ask you, what price do you think you should pay for offending me, a Divine Rank?" Despair filled Zandy's eyes, he knew that today his death was certain. "I can't accept this!" Zandy roared with his last strength, "It took me over a hundred years to become a Saint Rank, why can you become a Divine Rank in your twenties!" Atius nodded, "I'd like to know why too, but unfortunately, you're not destined to hear the answer." As soon as the words fell, a stream of true qi instantly pierced Zandy's heart. Atius looked at Armoni trembling on the ground, asking, "Where's your pride now?" Armoni's face was pale, his body shaking, he suddenly prostrated on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing, "My lord, spare my life! I'll tell you all the secrets of Magpie Bridge Mountain!" Atius' gaze grew sharp, "Speak!" Armoni dared not hide anything, his voice trembling as he said, "According to the records of my Dunn family, the legend of Magpie Bridge Mountain is not unfounded." "The Cowherd and the Weaving Girl were two real Divine Rank experts in history, and Magpie Bridge Mountain was where they once lived." "And... in the belly of Magpie Bridge Mountain, there is a great tomb that only those who reach Saint Rank have a chance to enter!" A look of surprise flashed in Atius' eyes, and after a few seconds of silence, he turned and walked away. Gillespie, Nereus, and Indivar hurriedly followed. Calandra stood still, staring blankly at Atius' back. Suddenly, she violently remembered the day the Carlyle family was wiped out, she had seen the figure of that great person through the telescope! In an instant, Calandra understood everything! Seeing Atius and his party leave, Armoni struggled to get up from the ground. His eyes were filled with venom and hatred. "Just wait, in no more than five years, I will definitely kill you to avenge this!" After saying these words, Armoni intended to leave. But the people from the other families surrounded him. Armoni roared, "Get out of my way, all of you waste, you think you can keep me here?!" The others looked at him expressionlessly, their true qi surging, and they rushed up immediately. Armoni finally panicked, "What are you doing! Are you not afraid that I will kill all of you after I become a Saint Rank?!" "Shick!" A dagger pierced Armoni's belly harshly. Moments later, Armoni lay on the ground, his eyes wide open, but he had already lost his breath.