"Do you have that kind of ability?"The young man was Leander. He held a piece of cake from the banquet hosted by the Dual Meridian Sect. He leaned back in his chair in a relaxed and carefree way.There were more than a hundred young talents in the hall. He was the only one who spoke. Everyone else stayed silent.Those who had seen Leander's strength before looked pleased. Those who did not know him were stunned.The four experts from the Shadowrealm Sect were present. The weakest among them was Felix. He had already reached the Martial Sovereign level. He had defeated Kian in a single move. Behind him stood three experts who were even stronger. They were all at the Transcendent Realm.Even the two elders of the Dual Meridian Sect looked uneasy. They were also at the Transcendent Realm. For them, it was hard to believe that a young man like Leander had the nerve to speak up.Even Elara, the heiress of the Dual Meridian Sect, found it unbelievable. She had sensed Leander twice before and had never felt any martial power from him. Yet he still dared to speak up to the founder of the Bloody Palm Sect. Even she would not dare to do that. She did not understand how Leander could.Her eyes lifted a little as she glanced at Daphne. She looked worried. Daphne's calm and steady expression made her heart tighten.Can it be that he really has the strength to challenge the Bloody Palm Sect? Is he the descendant of some ancient and powerful clan?While Elara was lost in thought, Felix from the Bloody Palm Sect spoke."You brat, who do you think you are? You dare talk to my master like that? My master came here today to wipe out all of you weaklings from the Central Realm of the Martial World. Killing you would mean nothing to him. Yet you dare question him?"He turned to Reid and cupped his hands."Master, this brat is being disrespectful. Please allow me to take his head for you!" Reid's face stayed calm. He glanced at Leander and gave a small nod.Felix's mouth curved into a cruel smile. He leaped forward. He crossed several young prodigies and landed in the VIP section."Oh no!"Elara's heart sank. Felix had defeated Kian in one move. Dealing with Leander would be too easy for him.She was about to rush forward to help, but Wyatt, the Lord of Umbral, raised a hand to stop her."Grandpa?"Wyatt gave her a faint smile and shook his head. She did not understand why.By then, Felix had reached Leander's group. He swung his palm down through the air. The force exploded like a shockwave. It formed a blast of energy aimed straight at Leander.Leander's face stayed calm. Daphne tensed up beside him and was ready to strike. Before she moved, Aria shouted."Grant, go!"Grant's muscles tightened in an instant. A strong aura burst from him. The sword behind him flew into the air. He grabbed it with both hands. He swung it with all his strength and cut sideways through Felix's punch.Even Leander looked a bit surprised.He had not expected the Clarke siblings to step in at a moment like this.Grant's eyes stayed firm. The Clarke family of Edgemontale Desert Steelblade Hall was not well known. Still, every generation believed in repaying kindness. Leander had rowed the boat for them and brought them safely to the Dual Meridian Sect. He had spoken up when they were not allowed to enter the VIP area. Since Leander was now in danger, there was no way they would stand aside.The sword light flashed and broke Felix's energy punch.Even so, the force behind Felix's strike was too strong. Grant's blood surged. The skin between his thumb and forefinger tore open. He stumbled backward.Felix's killing intent rose when he saw someone dare stop him. "You're asking for death!"He did not kill Leander first. Instead, he charged straight at Grant.He threw three punches in a row. Each one carried strong inner strength. Grant pushed his limits and fought back with his secret technique. The difference in strength was too great. Each punch forced a grunt from his throat. His face turned red. He was pushed back ten steps, and each step left a deep footprint in the floor."D*mn it!"Aria saw her brother being overpowered. She let out a low growl. She activated her secret technique. Her aura rose to the half-Sovereign level. She slashed her sword toward Felix's back."You really don't know your place!"Felix sensed the wind behind him and sneered. He did not even turn his head. He lifted his sleeve to block.A sharp clang echoed through the hall. Aria staggered back. Even with her secret technique, she could not withstand his casual strike.As she retreated, she looked at Daphne beside Leander. Daphne sat calmly next to him. She did not look worried at all. It confused Aria even more.Why wasn't she reacting when Felix attacked Leander?A folding fan shot toward Aria's chest at lightning speed. She could not dodge. She could only watch it come closer.Grant was behind her. He was too injured to move. His energy was sealed, and he could not help her."Watch closely."The voice came from Leander.Before she could react, her left hand moved on its own. Her sword tilted at a strange angle. She struck the lower edge of the fan.A clear metallic sound rang out. The fan flew back. Felix trembled. He even took a step back.His face froze.He had used seventy percent of his strength. Her sword had hit the weakest point ofhis strike. It broke through his force and even pushed back.Aria felt a shock in her arm and took half a step back.Her eyes widened. That move had not been hers. Someone had taken control of her body.Is it him?noveldramaShe looked at Leander. She still could not believe it."To block one move, not bad. Let's see how many more you can handle."Felix recovered fast. He smirked. He folded his fan and moved forward like lightning.His palm lashed out again.Aria felt the air twist around her. She froze.Don't panic. Hold the sword tight.The same voice spoke again. Astrange power flowed through her. Itguided hermovements. She did notdodge. She charged straight atFelix's strike. Everyone in the room was horrified. They thought she was about to die.At the last moment, Aria shifted her stance. The palm missed her by inches. Hersword pierced Felix's chest from a blind angle."How... is that possible?"Felix's body went stiff. The light faded from his eyes.to aHer sword had pierced his heart. ended his life. He could not understand how he had lost who had not even reached the Martial Sovereign level. girtThe hall fell silent. No one could believe what had happened.Aria's secret technique had pushed her to the half-Sovereign level. That was still far below someone like Kian.Kian had lost in one move. Yet Aria had killed Felix in one strike.Even Elara, Lyra, and Darius were stunned.Felix's body hit the floor. Aria pulled out her sword. She looked at Leander withmixed feelings."Was it you helping me?"Leander took a sip of tea. He gave a small smile."You stepped in for me, so I gave you a gift. I let you feel what it's like to win againstsomeone stronger while being weaker."Use your strengths against yourenemy's weakness. Find the most fragile spot in their defense andstrike it. Even someone at half-Sovereign can defeat a Martial Sovereign that way. Do you understand now?" Aria nodded. She still looked confused.Who exactly is Leander? How can he have that kind of power and insight?Before she could think further, Reid spoke. His feet glowed with a faint golden light."So that's who you are. The Iron Sovereign himself."A faint smile crossed his face. He clasped his hands toward Leander."Sovereign Ashcroft, I've heard of you for a long time."The hall erupted in shock.