Chapter 922: Not Worth it

This… this couldn’t be possible. Max was clearly only at the peak of Master Rank, yet he had already comprehended something even he, a 7th-level Legend Rank expert, hadn’t grasped. The weight of this realization sank into his chest, gnawing at his pride and stirring a suffocating sense of envy and jealousy that made his teeth clench.

“Hateful…” he muttered bitterly, his hands tightening on his golden saber. He roared and swung with all his strength, unleashing a terrifying golden sword energy that extended hundreds of feet, shining with an almost blinding brilliance.

The sheer force behind it caused ripples to spread in the void, tearing apart the very air as it raced forward to meet the incoming tide of sword shadows.

Boom!

The collision was deafening, a violent burst of energy erupting as sword and saber concepts clashed, shaking the ground beneath them and creating a storm of destructive wind currents. Hundreds of sword shadows collapsed instantly, shredded by the golden saber energy.

Yet, even as it appeared he had resisted, the tide did not stop. Max’s sword intent surged even fiercer, overwhelming and refined, slicing through the remnants of the golden saber energy with a shrill, slicing whistle.

“Swish!”

The golden energy shattered, and the force of the backlash sent the yellow-shirted youth hurtling back a hundred feet, his boots carving deep marks into the ground as he struggled to stabilize his stance. He looked up at Max with a mixture of anger and humiliation, his eyes filled with resentment.

“Max… I didn’t expect you to have actually comprehended the second level of sword concept. No wonder you dared to meddle in this matter,” he spat bitterly.

Max stood calmly, the Blue Dragon Sword gleaming in his hand, its edge still humming with the residual energy of his strike. His face betrayed no arrogance, only cold determination.

“These members of the Eternal Sun Guild are under my protection,” he said evenly, his tone calm yet resolute. “If you know what’s good for you, leave now, before things get worse.”

Those words struck Blake and the other Eternal Sun Guild members like a hammer to their hearts, leaving them momentarily speechless. They had expected Max to fight for his own sake, not theirs, and this gesture filled them with deep respect and gratitude.

The yellow-shirted youth wiped the corner of his mouth and sneered. “Fine. We’ll leave,” he said coldly, before pausing and adding with an ominous tone, “but I hope you won’t regret it.”

His lips curled into a cruel smile as he continued, “I’ve heard that Kyle and Arnold from the Thunder Monarch Hall are already looking for you. The Void Soul Tower wants your head for killing Nell. The Mountain Gods Valley is searching everywhere for you. And now…” he gestured to himself, “you’ve offended the Obsidian Order. Tell me, Max, do you really think you have any chance of leaving this secret domain alive?”

The words fell like thunder, freezing the air for a moment. The Eternal Sun Guild youths stared at Max in shock, their faces paling. Even Blake and his companions were stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. They had never imagined Max had made so many powerful enemies at once.

Yet, amid the tension, Max’s expression remained unchanged. His face was calm, his eyes as steady and sharp as his sword.

“Let’s go.”

The young man in yellow shot Max one last glare, his eyes sharp and cold, filled with an unspoken promise of vengeance. The sneer on his lips seemed to say you’re already dead. Without sparing another word, he turned and strode away, the members of the Obsidian Order following closely behind him, their faces dark and sullen as they disappeared from sight.

“Brother Max, thank you so much!”

Blake, Lucy, and Jordan rushed forward immediately, their faces filled with gratitude. They bowed slightly and thanked him one after another, their voices carrying genuine relief. Max simply nodded, his calm expression unchanged, though inside, he was glad they were safe.

Blake then turned enthusiastically to a young man standing a little farther back. The man wore a star-patterned robe that carried a sense of authority. “Peter, this is Max. You should know him,” Blake said with a proud smile, expecting a friendly response.

Senior Peter, however, only gave a wry smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ve heard of Brother Max’s great name for a long time,” he said. “Seeing him today, I can say his reputation is truly well-deserved.” His words were polite, but his tone carried an indifference that Max instantly noticed. Though Peter’s lips curved upward, there was no warmth in his gaze—it felt like he was smiling out of courtesy, not sincerity.

Max frowned slightly in his heart, feeling an odd tension in the air, but before he could respond, Peter suddenly added, “Brother Max, we still have to rush to meet up with our fellow brothers in our force, so we’ll take our leave first.”

“Peter?” Blake’s eyes widened slightly, clearly caught off guard by how abrupt and distant Peter was being. Lucy and Jordan also looked confused.

Before any of them could question it further, Peter’s face hardened into a cold expression. “Blake, this is Senior Brother Coby’s intention. Do you still want to resist?” His voice carried a sharp edge now, filled with authority. Then he continued coldly, “And don’t forget, if it weren’t for your nonsense earlier, those people wouldn’t have gotten angry. If they had called for reinforcements, you wouldn’t have been so lucky this time.”

Blake opened his mouth, stunned, but no words came out. His face stiffened as the weight of Peter’s accusation sank in.

“Let’s go.”

Peter waved his hand curtly, turning and leaving without so much as a glance back, his steps quick and decisive.

Blake and the others stood there awkwardly for a moment before turning toward Max, their faces showing guilt and embarrassment. “Brother Max, I’m sorry… we have to leave first,” Blake said, his tone apologetic.

“Go ahead,” Max replied casually, waving his hand as if it didn’t matter, though inwardly he felt a strong sense of disgust toward Peter. ‘I saved them out of good intentions, and yet he shows no gratitude at all, even tries to put blame on them. Truly not worth it.’

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!