Chapter 473 Who Dares to Stop Me?
Dane was dead.
His eyes bulged with shock, nearly splitting at their seams—filled with disbelief, rage, and the bitter unwillingness to accept his fate.
Never had he imagined his life would end at Maple Hill, much less by James's hand. When Tessa stepped forward representing the Martial Arts Association with her warning, Dane believed James wouldn't dare strike.
Yet without hesitation, James had cut him down.
"Lumaria has made a powerful enemy," were Dane's final words. His dying eyes held one last glimmer of light, questioning the unfairness of destiny while harboring deep sorrow and concern.
Then his head tilted sideways, and he collapsed beside Tessa's high heels.
Deathly silence blanketed the scene at the death of Dane.
This legendary figure who had reigned supreme in Lumaria for thirty years—one of the Ten Great Sword Saints—had his throat crushed beneath James's foot like a common mortal.
Orval and the others were consumed by grief and shock, as if the spiritual pillar supporting their world had been severed.
Their gazes converged on James, and in their eyes, it seemed as though one sun had set while another, more brilliant star rose to take its place.
The Lumaria disciples mourned as if they'd lost their own parents. Tessa and Terrence stood frozen, unable to comprehend how James had dared kill Dane despite their warning. Who had given James such audacity?
In the corner, Elysia remained wide-eyed, unable to process what had just happened.
"Kill James to avenge Mr. Banks!" cried Primrose in anguish while Tessa stamped her foot in anger. "Kill him! Kill him!"
The Lumaria disciples surged forward in a wave, their sword qi flashing with murderous intent as they surrounded James.
James activated his Piercing Blade, his killing intent sharp as winter frost.
"Can't accept your loss? Are you all so eager to die?" A flash of his blade severed the life of the first enemy who approached.
With a backward thrust, he impaled another Lumaria disciple attacking from behind. Without pause, his right foot lashed out repeatedly, sending two daggers flying through the air to pierce two more enemies.
In the blink of an eye, four Lumaria warriors lay dead in pools of crimson. The remaining enemies instinctively retreated, filled with grief and hostility, yet none dared make another reckless move.
Seeing four Lumaria warriors fall, Tessa snapped back to reality and shouted furiously, "James! You dare continue this slaughter? You keep making fatal mistakes! Must you walk this dark path to the bitter end?" Her voice trembled with rage. "Surrender now!"
Terrence fanned the flames. "James, you're showing complete disrespect for Ms. Hawthorne and the Martial Arts Association."
"Do you even know what the Martial Arts Association is? It's the organization that connects the mortal Mystic Alliance with hidden sects, representing the will and authority of Celestia's Martial practices." His voice lowered ominously.
"By disrespecting Ms. Hawthorne and the Association, making this situation irreparable, you've severely damaged the peaceful coexistence between both sides. Everyone under heaven will have the right to slay you."
"This was a fair battle. No one controls my fate today," James said, scanning the Lumaria disciples surrounding him. "Dane lacked the skill to defeat me. Don't further disgrace his memory."
"James, go to hell!" Primrose screamed, seeing her companions hesitate. With only one hand remaining, she grabbed a sword and charged.
The blade cascaded like a silver river falling from the ninth heaven as she brought her blade down fiercely toward James—a strike with all her might.
"Foolish," James muttered coldly, only halfway through catching his breath. His blade met hers with a backward swing.
A crisp clash rang out as Primrose's body shuddered from the impact. She flew backward, sword and all, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. The sword slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground.
"He's grown even stronger," Primrose realized with terror. Only she knew how much power she had put into that strike, yet she couldn't even withstand a single blow from James's sword.
Several Lumaria disciples instinctively called out: "Primrose!"
"Still alive?" James's face showed a hint of surprise, seemingly not expecting Primrose to survive his attack.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent another slash toward her. One strike hadn't killed her. Two would do the job. The sword edge glinted with deadly intent.
Seeing this, Primrose's face filled with despair. After that first exchange, she was already exhausted, with no strength to recover.
How could she possibly withstand James's second strike? Just as Primrose closed her eyes awaiting death, a dazzling blade light flashed, crisp and clear as it blocked James's Piercing Blade.
A short, stout figure appeared, deflecting James's weapon.
Orval. This elder of Lumaria Martial practices stood at an angle before Primrose, a blade in hand. He glared venomously at James. "James, must you exterminate us all?"
"You truly are a group of petty people," James replied coldly. "A fair fight where you lose, yet you can't accept it. You attack me in shame and anger, then accuse me of being ruthless. Can't you see Primrose attacked me first? Are you blind?"
Orval barked, "Primrose was Mr. Banks' beloved disciple. You killed her master. Their bond was deep—her attack was understandable."
Tessa and her female companions looked at James mockingly. Yes, Dane was dead, and Primrose seeking revenge was the natural order of things. How could James blame Primrose for attacking first?
"'Understandable' means she can kill me?" James sneered. "Besides, what do their master-disciple feelings have to do with me?"
As his words fell, James thrust his Piercing Blade forward, his killing intent instantly locking onto Orval.
Orval's expression changed subtly as he instinctively raised his blade in defense.
In that moment, James's foot kicked sharply upward, sending a broken blade flying through the air. The blade pierced through. Blood sprayed.
Primrose, who had just managed to stand, trembled before falling to the ground with a scream.
One hand clutched her throat, but failed to stem the flow of blood.
She glared at James, forcing out one final curse through her rage, "Bastard." Soon, she lay motionless, her beautiful eyes filled with endless resentment.
The Lumaria disciples' faces all changed. Orval was beside himself with fury. "James!"
He never imagined James would kill Primrose right before his eyes.
Tessa's face turned ashen with anger. The situation was spiraling out of control—how would she explain this to Lumaria? James truly didn't know his place.
She couldn't help but shout, "James, if you want to die, then die! I wash my hands of you!"
She had intended to help James preserve his corpse intact, but he had proven so ungrateful. She wanted nothing more to do with him.
"I warned you: those who stand in my way die," James said coldly to Orval, ignoring Tessa. "Step aside now, or face the consequences."
With those words, he raised another blade—one sword pointing at Orval, one dagger aimed at the surrounding Lumaria warriors. "Block my path, and die!"
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