In the clan’s “Xuanwu Pavilion,” there were numerous cultivation techniques and training manuals.

Thinking of this, William Bennett immediately headed to the “Xuanwu Pavilion.”

“William!”

Halfway there, a slightly surprised young girl’s voice called out.

There was a hint of softness in the girl’s voice, carrying a long-lost sense of familiarity.

William Bennett’s body stiffened slightly.

From his side, a young man and woman approached, both quite young.

One of them, a youth in purple, had sword-like brows and a tall, straight figure. There was a sharpness in his gaze, and his cultivation had reached the peak of Martial Dao Level Three, causing the nearby clan juniors to feel immense pressure.

“He’s one of the top three ranked outer clan disciples—‘James Bennett’!”

Many people around exclaimed in surprise, their faces showing wariness and fear.

Standing beside James Bennett was a girl in a snow-white robe, about thirteen or fourteen years old like William Bennett, with delicate and beautiful features—clearly a budding beauty.

“Sarah.”

William Bennett looked at the girl in the snow robe, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curling into a trace of sarcasm.

The girl before him was the very same who, half a year ago, had entered the Zhao clan with him—“Sarah Bennett.”

Back in Qingye Town, Sarah Bennett had admired and adored him greatly, but after entering the Zhao clan, she gradually grew distant, and eventually, they became like strangers.

After joining the Zhao clan, Sarah Bennett, with her natural beauty, quickly befriended one of the top three outer clan disciples, James Bennett, and had already advanced to Martial Dao Level Two half a month ago.

At this moment, Sarah Bennett and James Bennett exchanged a few words in a low voice.

“All right, but don’t take too long.”

James Bennett nodded, stepping aside, not even bothering to spare William Bennett a glance.

Sarah Bennett walked up to William Bennett, gazing at him closely, her expression somewhat complicated. She sighed softly, “William, you’ve finally broken through to Martial Dao Level Two. But Sarah still advises you not to be too stubborn and competitive. Now that we’re in the clan, we started from a low point, and it’s destined to be hard to catch up with those favored by the heavens—”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

William Bennett interrupted her, his expression turning a bit cold.

A trace of annoyance appeared on Sarah Bennett’s face, her silver teeth biting lightly. “William, Sarah will advise you one last time: go and show goodwill to James. With his help, you’ll be able to successfully integrate into the Zhao main clan and avoid unnecessary setbacks…”

Show goodwill to him?

William Bennett immediately sneered in silence. In his whole life, he had never stooped to please anyone.

James Bennett was cold and arrogant by nature. Every time he saw William Bennett, he looked down his nose at him, acting as if he were above everyone else.

Seeing William Bennett’s expression, Sarah Bennett immediately understood. After all, the two had grown up together like childhood friends, and she knew William Bennett very well.

Sarah Bennett simply walked back to James Bennett’s side and said something in a low voice.

“Hmph! Useless trash who doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

James Bennett’s icy voice rang out.

“Trash?”

William Bennett raised an eyebrow.

Perhaps noticing William Bennett’s defiance, James Bennett paused, then said coldly and arrogantly, “I heard you’re a genius from Qingye Town? But in the Zhao clan, you’re nothing but a clown! At the clan martial tournament, I’ll defeat you in a single move and leave you utterly humiliated.”

“Just as I wish. See you at the clan martial tournament.”

William Bennett sneered, turning to head toward the clan’s Xuanwu Pavilion.

He didn’t want to waste words.

In any case, the clan martial tournament would begin in two months. When the time came, strength would speak for itself.

Watching William Bennett’s departing figure, Sarah Bennett’s beautiful eyes flickered slightly.

At that moment, she sensed a strange unfamiliarity from William Bennett—an indescribable intuition.

“He really thinks highly of himself.”

James Bennett sneered.

He never considered William Bennett a worthy opponent!

Among the outer clan, there were at least fifty or sixty disciples who had advanced to Martial Dao Level Three. For him to rank third among them was not something that could be measured by cultivation alone.

Sarah Bennett sighed inwardly. William Bennett was just asking for trouble!

She knew James Bennett’s strength very well. Even some outstanding Martial Dao Level Three disciples couldn’t withstand a single strike from him.

……

Before long, William Bennett arrived at the clan’s important site—the Xuanwu Pavilion.

The Xuanwu Pavilion was a vital place in the clan, guarded year-round by clan elders.

“A branch family disciple?”

Inside the Xuanwu Pavilion, the white-robed elder glanced at William Bennett’s identity token, his brows furrowing slightly.

“Greetings, Elder.”

William Bennett greeted politely. He was well aware of the strength of the clan elders.

Through the senses of his left eye, he could feel a mysterious and powerful force emanating from the elder—a layer of fiery red aura, born of flesh and blood, yet flowing through the body’s meridians, even able to leave the body at any time to attack, injure from a distance, and shatter gold and stone.

William Bennett knew that the white-robed elder had already cultivated “martial inner strength” to perfection, able to unleash thunderous power at will. Even a hundred of himself could be slain in an instant.

Generally, only “martial artists” at Martial Dao Level Four or above possessed martial inner strength.

William Bennett and David Bennett, as martial apprentices, were unlikely to possess martial inner strength.

William Bennett bowed and said, “Elder, I wish to enter the second floor of the Xuanwu Pavilion.”

“For someone not yet fourteen to reach Martial Dao Level Two is average. However, before becoming an inner clan disciple, branch family disciples and main clan disciples are treated differently when entering the Xuanwu Pavilion.”

The white-robed elder said indifferently.