chapter 37 Become famous in one battle

Upon hearing Max Hudson's words, the crowd's gaze immediately shifted to Ethan Sigeweard. Many people's eyes were filled with disdain, as if challenging Max's authority was daring enough. And now, daring to threaten Max's woman? Isn't that practically begging for trouble? "As for qualifications, I've never believed that one needs any to speak. If you were on my level, killing you would be child's play," Ethan's murderous intent surged. Because of the Hudson Family, he and Christopher Sigeweard were driven from their own family! Because of the Hudson Family, the Sigeweard family was now in shambles! Because of the Hudson Family, Stella Sigeweard dared to retaliate against her own family. Otherwise, in front of the Sigeweard family, she was nobody! "What an arrogant fellow. Does he even know who he's addressing?" The crowd looked at Ethan in disbelief. This kid was way too full of himself, as if he thought he could just walk all over Max Hudson. "Haha," Max suddenly burst into laughter, brimming with arrogance and mockery. After a moment, he turned to Ethan and said, "What right do you have to challenge me? There's no need for me to lift a finger to deal with you." "I get it. You want to remind me that you have the entire Hudson Family backing you up. But sorry, apart from being born into the Hudson Family, you're nothing," Ethan retorted calmly, his demeanor composed. He was only at the late-stage of the Battle Master realm, while Max was a Battle Maestro, and a top twenty master at that. Even if Max were to lower himself to Ethan's level, there was no way Ethan could match him. Their disparity was one major realm and several minor realms. It was an insurmountable gap. "Congratulations, your little mind games are working. But do you understand the consequences?" Max smirked, advancing toward Ethan step by step, completely ignoring Justin Longstaff who was still dealing with Zachary Hudson in the distance. In Max's mind, if Ethan dared to embarrass the Hudson Family, then he would make Ethan's friends suffer. What Max didn't realize was that Ethan and Justin had no connection whatsoever. Shaking his head with a wry smile, Ethan continued his approach. This sight left the crowd stunned. Was this guy out of his mind? He looked barely sixteen, yet he dared to challenge Max Hudson? Even if Max were a couple years younger, there might have been a chance for a fight. But now, it was impossible for Ethan to defeat him. Even if Max suppressed his cultivation to match Ethan's, his experience alone would be enough to crush him. Challenging Max at this age was something only the prodigies of the other major families in the Great Ysleve Dynasty could attempt. And they certainly didn't see Ethan as one of them. "I admire your bravery, but to me, it just seems like ignorance," Max sneered condescendingly, as if looking down on Ethan from a lofty perch. "Too much talk," Ethan snorted coldly, executing a swift Phantom Steps maneuver before delivering a powerful punch that shattered the air with a deafening boom. "You're overestimating yourself! Even if we were on the same level, dealing with you would be child's play," Max retorted with a cold smile, mirroring Ethan's punch with one of his own. Boom! A wave of domineering force swept out in all directions. Almost simultaneously, Max's smile froze on his face. Ethan's strength surpassed his expectations. Could this really be just the power of a late-stage Battle Master? Max felt a sharp pain in his tiger's mouth, and his internal organs churned. A surge of hot blood rose to his throat, but he forced it back down. "Max Hudson is injured!" exclaimed several sharp-eyed cultivators in the crowd, their hearts trembling. Ethan was only sixteen years old. Max, a Battle Maestro, was actually injured by his punch? In an instant, Max erupted with an overwhelming momentum, and his powerful soul force swept across all directions, unmistakably revealing the strength of the Battle Maestro Realm. "You really don't keep your word, are all members of the Hudson Family like this?" sneered the Little Witch, her eyes filled with concern. "Do you even have the right to speak here?" Stella suddenly spoke up, her sword aimed at the Little Witch. "If Zoey suffers even the slightest harm, I will eradicate your entire lineage," Justin coldly threatened Stella, causing her to freeze in place with fear written all over her face. That momentum was terrifying, undoubtedly at the Battle Maestro level, even more formidable than Max. "Stella, just stay put," Max gazed at Justin coldly. Since Justin didn't mention protecting Ethan, Max could act without restraint. "Battle Maestro Realm?" Ethan squinted his eyes, feeling a sense of gravity in his heart. In the later stages of the Battle Master, he would undoubtedly lose to a Battle Maestro. Breaking through to the Battle Maestro Realm in a short time was impossible. In this situation, his only advantages were his battle skills and soul power. Apart from the Battle Soul, a person's combat strength was most reliant on soul power. Even among cultivators of the same level, the difference in soul power could be tenfold or even dozens of times. Max Hudson was known as a genius, and his soul power was naturally extraordinary. However, Ethan still had confidence. The Ghost Battle Soul's tempering of soul power far exceeded that of other Battle Souls. In the ordinary Battle Master realm, a fourth-order Soul Crystal was sufficient to break through, but Ethan needed more. To continue advancing, he required fifth-order Soul Crystals and large quantities of fourth-order ones. Boom! There was an explosion, and Ethan's body was sent flying backward, his fists trembling as blood boiled within him, using the force to retreat rapidly. "Thinking of running away?" Max sneered, no longer concerned about saving face, only wanting to crush Ethan. He knew very well that by suppressing his cultivation to the late-stage Battle Master, he was no match for Ethan. Given time, if Ethan were allowed to get stronger, the consequences would be dire. "Run?" Ethan sneered. He had never considered fleeing. If he didn't have the courage to face Max in battle, how could he face stronger opponents in the future? Escape was not the solution. In this world of survival of the fittest, only by becoming stronger could one survive. This was the law of survival on the Battle Soul Continent. "Endless Sword!" With a faint shout, Ethan disappeared from his spot, a fierce and sharp sword energy descending from the heavens, its brilliant light eclipsing everything. Max's expression changed, and he hurriedly met the attack with his sword. With a bang, their overpowering and sharp sword energies clashed, and a bloody sword shot out from Max's mouth, sending him flying backward more than ten meters. "Max Hudson was defeated? Sent flying by a single sword!" "What a fast sword, it seems to be only a Second-grade Battle Skill!" "No, it should be Third-grade, but I saw traces of the Flying Rainbow Seven Swords and the Cleansed Wind Sword Technique." The crowd swallowed nervously. Even a Third-grade Battle Skill capable of such power was rare in the entire War King Academy. Many Battle Master cultivators couldn't even see this sword clearly. It seemed to lack any flashy features, only speed, a speed that surpassed everything! Only by practicing Battle Skills to the extreme and achieving self-understanding could one unleash such power, moving according to one's will. Obviously, Ethan had practiced several sword techniques and Battle Skills to the extreme to achieve this, knocking back Max with a single sword. Finally, they began to truly regard Ethan. This young man, dressed in black, though not extravagant, was neat and tidy. Holding a long sword and carrying a package, his well-proportioned figure was ordinary yet extraordinary. What amazed people the most were his eyes—clear and clean yet conveying a sense of depth and vastness. Those lively eyes also held a color that belied his age. People knew that after this battle, Ethan Sigeweard's name was destined to spread far and wide, and a new figure would soon rise in Ysleve City.