Andrew shook his head. "Let's just take tomorrow off and wait for the Topsfield family to make the arrangements. Alfredo is a pillar of this nation, a peak figure in all of Etharia. Since we're the ones challenging them on their home turf, it's best if we follow his lead." Sheena scoffed. "Screw following his lead. I'm going to wreck him; it's that simple. Since we're already going to fight, why should I care about all that?" Andrew smiled bitterly, "Alright, I guess you've got a point there, Sheena." Walking into his room, Andrew took a shower. Then, he pulled out that blood-red Blood Pith. It was the crystallized essence of a martial arts master's blood from ancient times, formed through time, nature, and immense pressure. In today's world, Blood Pith was practically impossible to find except in forgotten battlefields buried by history. It was known as a rare treasure that could greatly enhance one's strength, but like everything powerful, it came with its own dangers. The

As soon as Jericho left, Alfredo's sword, Firefly, trembled in his hand, letting out a clear whistling sound. Incredibly, it flew from his hand on its own and embedded itself into the scabbard on the wall. "Controlling a sword without touching it… That's a power only the ancient sword saints had." Half of Alfredo's face was hidden in the shadows, his tone low and amused. "A girl like her isn't a problem. Even if he fights with one hand, it won't make a difference." He raised his hand again and forcefully pulled at the wall. Firefly, along with its scabbard, whooshed back into Alfredo's hand in an instant. Then, the cabin door opened on its own without any wind. Alfredo's figure blurred like a shadow and disappeared. When he reappeared, he was already in the clearing in front of the cabin. After a few flickers, he disappeared into Swordheaven Keep's forest. Without his sword, Alfredo could be killed. But with his sword in hand, no one on this land could defeat him. This w

Meanwhile, Andrew's consciousness was in chaos. His body felt unbearably uncomfortable, as if it was tearing apart from the inside. He could feel two completely different streams of energy entering his body, merging with his own inner power and the Blood Pith's force; four energies raging through him at once. If it had been anyone else, their body would have exploded by now. However, Andrew was not like anyone else; his constitution was one in a million. Unseen by anyone, the Blood-Eyed Black Dragon mark on his chest began to glow faintly. As the Blood Pith's power circulated and was slowly absorbed, the glowing dragon mark on his chest shimmered brighter and brighter, burning with life. Neither Luna nor Valerie noticed it, though. Both women were drenched in sweat, not saying a word. They could feel that the situation had reached a critical point. The energy within their bodies, while already quite abundant, was just a trickle compared to the violent storm inside Andrew. Bot

When Sheena returned to her quarters, she was completely stunned. Andrew's room was a wreck. The furniture was overturned, and the air was thick with heat and tension. Luna and Valerie were sprawled unconscious on the floor, while Andrew sat cross-legged on the bed, his body radiating intense heat like a furnace. "Sheena, you're back!" Andrew rasped hoarsely, forcing a faint smile despite the strain on his voice. Sheena asked, "What happened? What's wrong with you? And why are those two unconscious?" Andrew winced slightly in pain as he smiled bitterly, "They both depleted too much energy. After I woke up, I forcibly pushed them away, which caused them to pass out. As for me, well, I was careless." Sheena stepped forward and checked on him, her expression grave. "Andrew, the energy inside your body is getting more violent. This energy is so massive and abundant, it's almost unbelievable. What did you eat or absorb?" Andrew said helplessly, "Last night, I ate a piece of B

This time, Andrew was completely sure that something was happening on the other side of the woods. Just as that thought crossed his mind, the wind roared through the forest, followed by two sharp, commanding shouts. "You damn demon, stop right there!" "Tonight will be your last night alive!" A demon? Before Andrew could even process that, a shadow streaked across the night sky like a falling star. He caught a glimpse of a face so breathtaking that it was almost surreal. Then, a dark figure crashed into the lake with a loud splash, not far from where he stood. Bubbles rose to the surface, then slowly faded as the ripples settled. For a brief moment, Andrew froze. The woman in black had an almost mesmerizing aura. She looked oddly familiar, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not recall where he might have seen her before. Before he could think further, two loud blasts echoed through the forest. Immediately after, two figures shot out from the trees, riding on burs