I stood beside Conrad as his aura red, watching the two young men who blocked our path. Their arrogance reminded me of so many others who''d underestimated me before.


    "Lord Flores is cultivating here," one of them repeated, his chin lifted with misced confidence. "This ground isn''t for you."


    ra tugged at my sleeve, her small hand cold against my arm. I nced down at her pale face, noting how her eyes darted toward the dark energy swirling invisibly above us—energy only she and I seemed able to detect.


    "We need this ce," I said firmly, turning back to the guards. "There''s plenty of ground to share."


    The taller of the twoughed, a harsh sound that echoed across the abandoned battlefield. "Share? Do you know who Lord Flores is? He''s the heir to the Flores Martial Family!"


    Conrad stepped forward, his muscr frame tensing. "And do you know who stands before you?" His voice carried a dangerous edge. "Liam Knight, who defeated a Fifth Rank Grandmaster just days ago."


    I noticed a flicker of uncertainty in their eyes, quickly masked by renewed arrogance.


    "Stories and rumors," the shorter guard dismissed. "Besides, there are two of us and only one fighter among you." He nced dismissively at ra.


    Little did they know about ra''s unique constitution. I felt her trembling beside me, not from fear but from excitement. The dark energy here called to her.


    "Last chance," I warned. "We''re here for this child''s training. We don''t need to disturb your master. This battlefield isrge enough for all."


    "Weaklings don''t dictate terms," the taller guard snarled, moving into a fighting stance. "Strength determines who uses this cultivation ground!"


    His words sealed their fate. I''d grown tired of such attitudes—people who believed power gave them the right to bully others.


    "Conrad," I said calmly, "clear the field."


    Conrad''s aura exploded outward, a visible manifestation of his Third Rank Grandmaster power. The ground beneath us trembled slightly as he took a deliberate step forward.


    "With pleasure," he replied. <cite ss="story-note-vis">Chаptеr prоvidеd viа М|V|L@ЕМРYR.</cite>


    The two guards'' expressions shifted from arrogance to shock as they felt Conrad''s strength. I could see calctions happening behind their eyes—they''d expected easy prey, not a formidable opponent.


    The shorter guard recovered first, his own aura ring in response. "You think we fear you? We''re both First Rank Grandmasters!"


    Conrad didn''t waste words. He moved with surprising speed for his size, closing the distance to the shorter guard in an instant. The guard barely managed to raise his arms in defense before Conrad''s fist connected with his chest.


    The impact sent him flying backward, his body carving a furrow in the earth as he skidded away.


    The taller guard''s eyes widened. "You—!"


    He didn''t finish his sentence. Conrad pivoted, his leg sweeping out in a powerful arc that caught the second guard at the waist. The man folded around the kick before beingunched sideways, crashing into a half-crumbled stone wall that copsed under the impact.


    ra pped her hands, her eyes bright with excitement. "That was amazing, Mr. Conrad!"


    I ced a protective hand on her shoulder, scanning our surroundings. "Stay close to me, ra. This isn''t over."


    The ghost face I''d seen earlier seemed to pulse in the sky, growing more distinct. Dark energy swirled more actively now, as if Conrad''s disy of martial power had stirred something in this ancient battlefield.


    Both guards struggled to their feet, blood trickling from their mouths. Their auras flickered unsteadily—Conrad''s attacks had disrupted their qi cirction.


    "You''ll... regret this," the shorter one gasped. "When Lord Flores learns of this insult..."


    I stepped forward, allowing my own aura to rise. The familiar golden light enveloped me, my Saintly Body Skill activating almost instinctively.


    "Tell your master that we''re here for the child''s training," I said, my voice carrying across the field. "We have no quarrel with him unless he creates one."


    The guards stared at me, their faces paling as they sensed my power. I knew what they were feeling—the strange, overwhelming pressure of my unique constitution that even those stronger than me found difficult to gauge.


    "What... what are you?" the taller guard whispered.


    I didn''t answer. Instead, I turned to ra. "Do you feel it? The energy here?"


    She nodded eagerly, her eyes fixed on a point above us where I could see the spectral face hovering. "It''s perfect, Mr. Liam! Can I start now?"


    "Soon," I promised. "First, we need to establish our position here."


    Conrad crossed his arms, looking down at the defeated guards. "I suggest you two leave. Tell your master what happened if you must, but we''re staying."


    The shorter guard spat blood onto the ground. "This isn''t over. Lord Flores will—"


    "Will what?" I interrupted, my patience wearing thin. "Come himself? Good. I''d prefer to speak directly with someone who can make decisions rather than messengers who can only make threats."


    My words seemed to strike a nerve. The guards exchanged nces, then slowly backed away.


    "You''ve made a grave mistake," the taller one warned as they retreated. "Lord Flores doesn''t forgive insults."


    Once they were gone, ra tugged at my sleeve again. "Can I start now, Mr. Liam? Please?"


    I nodded, guiding her toward the center of the battlefield where the dark energy seemed strongest. "Remember what I taught you. Don''t try to absorb too much at once."


    She sat cross-legged on the ground, closing her eyes. Almost immediately, wisps of dark energy began flowing toward her, drawn like moths to a me. Her small body seemed to glow with a subtle, obsidian light.


    Conrad moved beside me, keeping his voice low. "You really think they''ll return with reinforcements?"


    "I''m counting on it," I replied, monitoring ra''s cultivation. "I need to test myself against different opponents. This ''Lord Flores'' might provide that opportunity."


    Conrad raised an eyebrow. "Always looking for a fight these days, aren''t you?"


    "Not looking for them," I corrected. "Just not avoiding them anymore."


    We stood in silence for a while, watching ra absorb the dark energy. The spectral face above us seemed to be watching too, its expression unreadable but somehow expectant.


    "What exactly is she?" Conrad finally asked, nodding toward ra.


    "Something rare," I answered carefully. "A pure dark energy body. One in a million, maybe less."


    "And that''s... good?"


    I considered his question. "It''s powerful. Whether it''s ''good'' depends on how she uses it."


    The ground beneath us trembled slightly, and ra''s concentration momentarily faltered. She opened her eyes, looking up at me with concern.


    "Something''sing," she whispered.


    I nodded, having felt it too—a disturbance in the energy field, multiple presences approaching rapidly.


    "Seems our new friends returned faster than expected," Conrad remarked, rolling his shoulders in preparation.


    I stepped in front of ra protectively. "Continue your cultivation. Don''t stop unless I tell you to."


    She hesitated, then nodded, closing her eyes once more and returning to her meditative state.


    From the direction of the vige, five figures emerged. The two guards from earlier walked in front, their postures stiff with humiliation. Behind them strode three others—an older man nked by two powerfully built fighters.


    "That''s him," the shorter guard pointed at me. "The one who ims to be Liam Knight."


    The central figure—presumably Lord Flores—stepped forward. He was perhaps forty years old, with a neatly trimmed beard and eyes that evaluated everything with cold calction.


    "You''ve disturbed my cultivation ground," he stated, his voice carrying authority. "Normally, I''d have you beaten and thrown out, but I''m curious about these rumors. Did you really defeat a Fifth Rank Grandmaster?"


    I kept my expression neutral. "I did."


    Lord Flores studied me intently, his aura carefully contained but unmistakably powerful. "Interesting. And now youe here, to this specific ground, why?"


    I gestured toward ra, still deep in meditation. "For her training. This ce has the energy she needs."


    His eyes narrowed as he observed ra, a sh of surprise crossing his face. "A dark energy cultivator? So young?"


    "Which is why we need this ce specifically," I exined. "There aren''t many locations suitable for her development."


    Lord Flores stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This battlefield has been my private cultivation ground for years. I don''t share it lightly."


    I met his gaze steadily. "We don''t need to interfere with each other''s practice. The field isrge enough."


    "Perhaps," he conceded. "Or perhaps I should test this rumored strength of yours myself."


    One of his bodyguards stepped forward eagerly. "Master, allow me to handle this upstart."


    Lord Flores held up a hand, stopping him. "No. If he truly defeated Adrian Whitlock, you would be no match."


    He returned his attention to me, his eyes calcting. "I propose a simple solution. You and I will spar. If you can withstand three of my attacks, I''ll permit you to share this ground. If not..." His smile turned cold. "You leave and never return."


    Conrad tensed beside me, but I ced a calming hand on his arm.


    "I ept," I replied, stepping forward. "Three attacks. No more, no less."