I grew more and more doubtful about Spike Viktor standing before me.


    Even with these concerns, I couldn''t bring myself to make a fuss.


    "Could you pick up the pace? A week feels way too long," I said carefully, testing the waters.


    Spike Viktor looked annoyed and shot back, "If you think it''s dragging on, go find somebody else. Either way, I''m gonna need a week."


    His attitude made me want to smack him right across the face.


    "Alright, a week it is," I said, breathing deep and choking down my rage.


    I had to have Spike Viktor''s assistance, which meant putting up with his crap.


    Spike Viktor quit talking and ced his hand before the Mystic Realm, starting his hunt for the mystic keys.


    I couldn''t risk leaving either. I''d given strict orders that nobody could get anywhere near the Spiritual Spring for theing days.


    Time flew by fast, and three days had already passed, but Spike Viktor still hadn''t located the mystic keys.


    This obviously got me worried.


    "You positive you can track down these mystic keys?" I asked.


    Spike Viktor looked my way and said with clear excitement, "What''s buried here might not be some regr Mystic Realm, but a massive one! You''ve struck gold!"


    My eyes sparked, "For real?"


    "No doubt about it! If this was just some ordinary Mystic Realm, I would''ve cracked it open in under an hour!" Spike Viktor dered with total confidence.


    "From what I can tell, this has gotta be one of those rare, rock-solid Mystic Realms!"


    I felt a rush of excitement. I sped my hands together slightly and said, "Then I''ll count on you. Once the Mystic Realm opens up, I''m happy to split some of the treasure with you and Mr. Jagger."


    "You got it!" Spike Viktor seemed to get a second wind.


    I hung back, keeping watch. With time to kill, I grabbed my phone and pulled up the Martial Arts Forum.


    The moment I opened the Martial Arts Forum, an important news story grabbed my attention.


    That user called "prophet," who''d posted before, had dropped another message about the Martial Saint:


    Within a week, the first Martial Saint will appear.


    Tons of replies were underneath, debating who''d be first to reach the Martial Saint Realm.


    Some figured it''d be me, others guessed Alberto Sean, and naturally, some thought it''d be veterans like Paul Randall.


    "If somebody breaks into the Martial Saint Realm, the whole martial arts world''s gonna flip upside down."


    "Exactly right, I bet a bunch of hidden yers wille out of the woodwork."


    "Man, the peace we''ve had for a hundred years is probably gonna get blown to pieces."


    Reading through the stuff on my phone, I couldn''t help scrunching my brows.


    There was zero chance of me hitting Martial Saint level in a week!


    That meant I only had one more week left. After that week, I''d have to duck into the Mystic Realm to keep from getting killed!


    This sudden understanding put me on high alert and filled me with serious dread.


    "One week..." I whispered to myself.


    "Maybe things can still turn around!"


    With that thought running through my head, I looked over at Spike Viktor and gave a bow, "I gotta head to Capital City. Handle things here."


    Spike Viktor waved me off, "Fine, just don''t let anyone bug me."


    I nodded. I went straight to Ximena Santos''s room.


    "Watch Spike Viktor closely. If he pulls anything weird, let me know right away," I told her.


    After giving those orders, I took off for Capital City that same day.


    My goal was to figure out how to use the Spirit binding technique before the Martial Saint showed up!


    And that solution would have toe from Garcia Coleman.


    Right now, it was the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the day the new semester kicked off at the Martial Arts Academy.


    Garcia Coleman was running the opening ceremony himself. After the recent growth, the Capital City Martial Arts Academy had more than a hundred students!


    These students were all picked from the most gifted members of different families, and every one of them had incredible natural ability.


    Garcia Coleman stood up front, eyeing the crowd below him. A feeling of superiority naturally crept across his face.


    "As long as the Martial Arts Academy keeps running, we can keep feeding fresh talent into the pipeline," Garcia Coleman said with a slight grin.


    Barret, standing beside him, gave Garcia Coleman a thumbs up, "Young master, your strategy is pure genius!"


    Garcia Coleman smirked, "Before now, we wouldn''t have given these people a second nce, but things have shifted."


    Once someone reaches Martial Saint status, it marks the start of the Martial Saint age.


    The Capital City Martial Arts Association''s power base won''t hold up anymore; so they have to keep a tight grip on talent.


    "Huh?"


    Right then, Garcia Coleman suddenly creased his brow and muttered, "There''s killing intent in the air."


    "I sense it too." Barret quickly got to his feet and looked around.


    Soon, a figure dropped from the sky and touched down right in front of Garcia Coleman!


    The person who''d arrived was none other than Mason Raymond!


    Right now, he was radiating battle energy, his presence was zing hot, and nobody could brush him off.


    "Mason Raymond?" Seeing who it was, Garcia Coleman sneered.


    "You''ve got the guts to show your face?"


    I narrowed my eyes and said, "Why wouldn''t I? Word is you''ve been hunting for me?"


    Garcia Colemanughed coldly, "Hunting for you? Mason Raymond, you''re giving yourself way too much credit! Come back and chat with me once you hit Martial Saint!"


    But I said nothing andunched a punch straight at Garcia Coleman''s face!


    Garcia Coleman''s expression shifted, he quickly backed away, and the whole stage got demolished instantly!


    This sudden chaos immediately caught everyone''s eye.


    Everyone quickly backed off while pulling out their phones.


    "Mason Raymond, you got a death wish?" Garcia Coleman was clearly pissed.


    I sneered, "I showed up today to take you out, Garcia Coleman. Aren''t you supposed to be the hotshot of the Second Secret Realm? I wanna see what you''re made of today!"


    "See what I''m made of? You think you''re worthy?" Garcia Coleman yelled.


    I raised an eyebrow, "What, getting cold feet now? Wanna y turtle? Looks like this Second Secret Realm genius is all hype."


    Garcia Coleman squinted and said icily, "You wanna fight, we can do it in a couple days, but today..."


    "In a couple days? If you''re chicken, just admit it!" I burst out, cutting Garcia Coleman off.


    "I say you go back to the Second Secret Realm and hide like a coward!"


    Garcia Coleman flew into a rage, he red at me, "Kid, you think I''m scared of you! Fine, today I''m gonna teach you some manners, you cocky little punk!"


    "Young master, don''t let him get to you," right then, Barret jumped in and held Garcia Coleman back.


    He whispered, "Young master, don''t fall for this kid''s game. He knows a Martial Saint''s gonna emerge soon, so he wants to take you down with him before he kicks the bucket. Why should you lower yourself to his level?"


    Garcia Coleman ground his teeth, "So I should just let him shoot his mouth off here! Where does that leave the Second Secret Realm''s reputation!"


    "Plus, he''s only at the Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster level. I''m a Half-step Martial Sage, why can''t I crush him?"


    After saying that, Garcia Coleman shoved Barret aside and stepped toward me!