## Liam''s Perspective


    The clearing fell silent as the Guild members formed a tight perimeter around us. Four of them broke formation, each unsheathing identical weapons that gleamed with an unnatural blue light.


    "Martial Marquis Weapons," the Man with the Mustache whispered behind me. "We''re in serious trouble."


    I sized up our opposition. Eight regr Guild members and four wielding special weapons. Not impossible odds, but not great either.


    "Nathen Ayers," the Guildmander announced, pointing at a young man among the Cold sect members. "You stand used of illegal dark cultivation and conspiracy against the Veridia City Martial Guild."


    Nathen stepped forward, his emaciated frame trembling not with fear but with rage. "What proof do you have of these usations?"


    Themanderughed. "Look at yourself! Your body bears all the evidence we need. Dark cultivation corrupts both body and soul."


    "And who decided dark cultivation was illegal?" Nathen shot back. "You did! The Guild monopolizes all cultivation resources while condemning those who seek alternative paths!"


    "Thew is thew," themander stated coldly. "Dark cultivation destabilizes the natural order."


    "Natural order?" Nathen''s voice rose with passion. "You mean your order! Where only the elite can ess resources while the rest of us starve for spiritual energy!"


    I watched this exchange with growing interest. The young man had guts.


    "Enough talk," themander signaled his men. "Arrest them all. Use the Marquis Weapons if they resist."


    The four weapon bearers stepped forward, their des humming with power. The Cold sect members huddled together, fear evident in their hollow eyes.


    I''d heard enough. Time to step in.


    "Impressive tools you''ve got there," I called out, casually walking between the Guild members and their targets. "Compensating for something, perhaps?"


    All eyes turned to me. Themander''s face darkened with recognition.


    "Liam Knight," he spat. "The traitor himself. This day keeps getting better."


    I smiledzily. "Happy to improve your day. Though I doubt you''ll be smiling much longer."


    Themander pointed his sword at me. "You''re outnumbered and outranked. Those weapons can subdue Martial Marquis cultivators. You don''t stand a chance."


    I turned my back on him—a deliberate insult—and addressed Nathen instead.


    "These Guildckeys giving you trouble?" I asked conversationally.


    Nathen looked confused by my casual demeanor. "They... they want to arrest us for cultivating the only way avable to us."


    "Typical Guild hypocrisy," I nodded. "They''ve been doing this for centuries."


    Themander''s face reddened. "You dare turn your back on me?"


    "I''ve seen more threatening house cats," I replied without turning around. "Hey, Nathen, I have a proposition for you."


    "What... what kind of proposition?" he asked, bewildered.


    "I''ll handle these Guild puppets for you. In exchange, I want to borrow the Yin Side beneath your feet. Just temporarily."


    The Cold sect leader stepped forward. "The grave is our lifeblood. Without it—"


    "You''ll all be arrested anyway," I finished for him. "Not much of a choice, is it?"


    Themander had heard enough. "Take him down!"


    Two Guild members charged me from behind. Without turning, I sidestepped the first attacker and caught the second''s wrist, twisting until I heard a satisfying crack. His scream echoed through the clearing as his weapon ttered to the ground.


    "Is that the best you''ve got?" I asked, finally turning to face themander.


    His face had gone pale. "You... you''re the one who challenged the Ascendant Saints Order."


    "And wounded Vice President Emerson Holmes," added another Guild member fearfully.


    "Oh, you''ve heard of me," I grinned. "I''m ttered."


    Themander''s shock quickly turned to determination. "It doesn''t matter what you''ve done before. No one man can stand against the Veridia City Martial Guild."


    "Let''s test that theory, shall we?" I rolled my shoulders and took a fighting stance.


    "Use the Martial Marquis Weapons!" themander ordered. "Now!"


    The four weapon bearers surrounded me, their blue-glowing des creating a cage of energy. I felt their power trying to suppress my cultivation, to lock down my meridians.


    "These weapons were forged specifically to subdue rogue cultivators," themander exined smugly. "Even if you were at the Martial Marquis level—which you''re not—you''d be helpless against them."


    Iughed. The sound startled everyone.


    "You think these toys impress me?" I channeled both light and dark energy through my body, creating a swirling aura around me. "Let me show you what real power looks like."


    The weapon bearers attacked in perfect synchronization. Their movements were wless, clearly the result of countless drills and practice.


    Too bad practice doesn''t prepare you for the impossible.


    I caught the first de between my palms, feeling its energy trying to invade my meridians. My Chaotic Body rejected the invasion, channeling the energy back into the weapon itself. Cracks appeared along its surface.


    "Impossible!" the wielder gasped.


    I kicked him square in the chest, sending him flying. The second attacker shed at my back, but I spun and grabbed his wrist, forcing his own weapon against the third man''s de. The impact created a shock wave that knocked both men off their feet.


    The fourth shed downward with all his might. I raised my arm and let the de strike me directly.


    It shattered on contact with my skin.


    "What are you?" he whispered, staring at the broken hilt in his hand.


    "Someone who''s sick of your Guild''s bullshit," I replied, then struck him with an open palm to the chest. He copsed instantly, unconscious.


    Themander was backing away now. "You can''t do this! These weapons are symbols of the Guild''s authority!"


    "Your authority means nothing to me," I said, advancing on him. "Your rules, your monopolies, your persecution—it all ends when people stop fearing you."


    The remaining Guild members attacked in desperation. I moved through them like a ghost, striking pressure points and breaking weapons with contemptuous ease. In less than a minute, they were all on the ground.


    Only themander remained standing, clutching his weapon with white knuckles.


    "The Guild will hunt you forever for this," he threatened, voice trembling.


    "Let them try." I gestured toward the three fallen Martial Marquis Weapons. "Pick those up. Take them back to your masters. Tell them Liam Knight sends his regards."


    With a swift movement I couldn''t follow, the Man with the Mustache appeared behind themander and knocked him unconscious with a chop to the neck.


    "Was that necessary?" I asked.


    He shrugged. "Just making sure he delivers the message."


    I turned back to the stunned Cold sect members. Nathen and their leader stared at me with expressions caught between fear and awe.


    "Now, about that grave..." I began. <code ss="ref-e2530e">This content originates from *, My Virtual Library Empire.</code>


    Before I could finish, the three remaining Martial Marquis Weapons began to vibrate on the ground. Blue light intensified around them.


    "What''s happening?" Nathen asked.


    The Man with the Mustache backed away quickly. "Final safeguard! They''re going to—"


    All three weapons exploded simultaneously with a deafening crack, sending shards of metal and energy in all directions. When the light faded, nothing remained of them but dust.


    "Self-destruct," the Man with the Mustache finished. "The Guild doesn''t like losing its toys."


    I looked at the weapon fragments littering the ground. With four Martial Marquis Weapons destroyed, I''d just escted my conflict with the Guild beyond any possibility of reconciliation.


    Good. I was tired of half measures.


    "Still want to make that deal?" I asked Nathen, gesturing toward where we both knew the ancient gravey hidden.


    The Cold sect leader stepped forward, his ck eyes fixed on me with newfound respect.


    "The energy is yours," he said quietly. "Anyone who stands against the Guild so effectively is wee to our resources."


    Nathen nodded in agreement. "We''ll show you to the exact center of the Yin Side. It''s where the energy is most concentrated."


    As they led me toward a small, unassuming building at thepound''s center, I could feel the dark energy already calling to me from below, promising the power I would need to save Isabelle.


    The Man with the Mustache fell into step beside me. "You realize what you just did, right? Breaking those weapons is like spitting in the Guild President''s face."


    I smiled grimly. "Good. It''s about time someone did."