In short, she was determined to make David Bolton stay.

Matthew Cooper was dumbfounded at the sight, then his eyes began to redden, his face full of regret.

David Bolton, however, looked a bit uncomfortable. He didn’t care much about Matthew Cooper’s jealousy. But at this moment, his arm was wrapped by Emily Clark’s developing chest, and then Emily, this girl, with an innocent face, pressed hard against him, making him constantly feel that astonishing elasticity. At this point, it was impossible for David Bolton not to have some romantic thoughts—he could only sigh at how well his physical strength had recovered.

And as for Emily, this girl, she really hadn’t grown up yet. Did she not know the difference between men and women? Or did she really see him as her own brother?

Fortunately, not long after, Emily Clark had to leave. Her match was about to begin, and it was all the way over at platform seven on the opposite side, so she couldn’t stay any longer.

Once she left, Matthew Cooper also had no interest in staying with David Bolton. After giving him a cold glare, he walked into another nearby pavilion.

When things quieted down again, Robert Carter sighed, “These people from the Hui Ling class really do have their noses in the air!”

But then he added a bit unwillingly, “She’s really good to you, truly treats you like her own big brother, huh? After all, you’ve been through hardships together, so the bond is different from others.”

David Bolton looked Robert Carter up and down, then decided to be honest: “You don’t stand a chance. You’re not Emily’s type.”

Robert Carter immediately looked dejected, his gaze turning gloomy as he stared off into the distance. He had already noticed earlier that Emily Clark hadn’t even looked at him directly a few times. Though she was polite enough, she clearly didn’t want to get close to him.

David Bolton’s lips curled up slightly, and he decided to hold back the rest of his words, not wanting to hit him any harder. He actually liked this guy.

“You should try losing some weight. Sure, the stronger your body, the more explosive your spiritual power, but most people can’t maintain that for long, and girls won’t like it either.”

“I want to!” Robert Carter looked even more miserable. “But the body cultivation technique I practice is the Swallowing Heaven Art. I can’t lose weight even if I want to.”

David Bolton raised his eyebrows slightly, then silently mourned for Robert Carter. The Swallowing Heaven Art was the easiest body cultivation technique in the sect—you didn’t have to do anything else, just eat. But it wasn’t without its price, as Robert Carter demonstrated—

Chapter 0006: Withering of Grass and Trees

David Bolton’s second opponent was a young man named Samuel White, who also used a sword. However, in terms of swordsmanship, he was still a level below David Foster. David Bolton won just as cleanly, defeating him with a single strike.

After that, David Bolton closed his eyes to rest, until about three quarters of an hour later, when he heard the referee at platform seventy-five call his name again. When he looked up, he saw a square-faced, big-eared youth with a cold expression, standing with his hands behind his back. This person’s gaze was also directed at him.

“So he really can project spiritual energy!”

David Bolton took a careful look, his eyes showing a hint of seriousness. Although he seemed to be resting earlier, he had actually remained alert the whole time. At this point, even though David Bolton hadn’t become a spiritual master yet, he could still do basic things like discerning sounds and objects. Every time this “Mason Hall” was called to the stage, he paid special attention.

Unfortunately, this person’s opponents weren’t even worth opening his eyes for. Twice he’d gone up—one time, he finished his opponent in ten breaths, a completely one-sided fight, offering no reference value at all. The other time, his opponent surrendered outright, not daring to fight him.

—Being able to project spiritual energy meant you were already a quasi-spiritual master, and the difference in combat power compared to ordinary people was truly worlds apart.

“That’s Mason Hall.”

Robert Carter’s eyes showed a hint of envy. Including the three entrance trials, he had been in the inner sect for six years, only becoming an official first-rank spiritual master at twenty-one, and now he was just second-rank. But the person before him was just over sixteen and could already project spiritual energy—he was only a step away from becoming a full spiritual master.

Sometimes, these geniuses from the Hui Ling class could really make people despair.

“Maybe you should just give up? Save your strength for the losers’ bracket. Just win two more matches and you can stay.”

David Bolton burst out laughing at that: “The word ‘give up’ doesn’t exist in the Crazy Blade’s dictionary!”

He flicked his robe and strode toward the arena. When he was ten zhang away, just a few light leaps brought him onto the high platform. Then, with a provocative look, he stared at the square-faced youth opposite him: “I am the Crazy Blade David Bolton, here to learn from your skills.”

At this, not only did the referee’s lips twitch, but Robert Carter below also couldn’t help but sigh, thinking this guy really was addicted to being the “Crazy Blade.” How old was he now? He wasn’t a kid like David Foster—wasn’t he embarrassed?

But in Robert Carter’s eyes, there was also a hint of seriousness. This guy knew full well the other had already stepped into the spiritual master’s threshold, yet he showed no fear at all.

Could it be that his blade skills had really reached that level?

“I know you. The last one to climb the Spirit Ladder, one of the thirty-seven survivors of Guanglin Mountain.”

Mason Hall’s expression was calm, his gaze as indifferent as water: “Admit defeat. Though your situation is pitiable, I will show no mercy.”