Next to him, Matthew Grant also cupped his hands at this moment.

A sixth-rank martial artist, for someone who is nineteen years old, is already quite impressive, with a high chance of passing the Linmen Sword Sect’s outer disciple assessment. Moreover, if he makes another breakthrough and becomes a high-level martial artist, even among the outer disciples of the Linmen Sword Sect, he would have a certain status.

“This is what I should do.”

The two parties exchanged pleasantries, and soon, they were chatting. The carriage was finally no longer as stifling as before.

This idle conversation didn’t last long before the moving carriage came to a slight halt. Immediately after, a young man with a long sword at his waist, exuding the aura of a great hero, boarded the carriage.

The young man swept his gaze over the people inside the carriage. Seeing that no one inside seemed to be a master, he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention and simply sat down to the side.

However, at this moment, William Mason seemed to recall something, and his expression suddenly became excited: “Excuse me... are you, are you the Seven Star Sword, the great Steven Scott?”

“Hmm?”

The young man’s gaze fell on William Mason: “You know me?”

“I do, I do, of course I do! Seven Star Sword Steven Scott, back then, you, great Steven Scott, with just one sword, took on the entire Blood Arrow Mercenary Group that specialized in robbing employers—sixty-three people in total, including one eighth-rank martial artist and four seventh-rank martial artists. None of them escaped your justice. Such a feat has made your name, great Steven Scott, thunderous in our ears.”

“The Blood Arrow Mercenary Group!”

At this moment, Emily Grant also remembered something and couldn’t help but exclaim, “I remember now! Back then, this incident caused quite a stir in our Qinghong City. The Blood Arrow Mercenary Group was a powerful force with an eighth-rank martial artist in command. In all of Qinghong City, they were a top-tier organization, yet they were wiped out by you alone, great Steven Scott. This... is simply unbelievable.”

Although Steven Scott didn’t know William Mason or Emily Grant, he quite enjoyed the admiring looks from the two of them. Waving his hand casually, he said, “It’s nothing much. With my strength, ranking in the top hundred among the many outer disciples of the Linmen Sword Sect, if I couldn’t even wipe out a small Blood Arrow Mercenary Group, how could I stand firm in the Linmen Sword Sect?”

“Top hundred among the outer disciples of the Linmen Sword Sect!?”

Hearing these words, Matthew Grant was suddenly shocked.

Others might not know, but he knew very well: the Linmen Sword Sect is the number one sect in the Holy Light Empire. The founding of the Holy Light Empire itself was thanks to the help of the Linmen Sword Sect. Since then, the sect has received the empire’s support, and the number of outer disciples has exceeded three hundred thousand.

To stand out among three hundred thousand outer disciples and rank in the top hundred—one can imagine how strong this Steven Scott is.

Just as Matthew Grant was thinking about how to befriend Steven Scott, hoping he might help his daughter enter the Linmen Sword Sect, the carriage stopped again. The door opened, and a beautiful woman, who gave off a refreshing and gentle aura, boarded the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Steven Scott was still chatting with Emily Grant and William Mason, his face already showing a hint of pride from their respectful tone.

But when his gaze fell on the newly boarded woman, he was suddenly startled. No longer caring about Emily Grant and William Mason, he respectfully bowed slightly to the woman: “Senior Sister Hannah Grant, your junior Steven Scott greets you.”

Hannah Grant clearly did not know Steven Scott, but her temperament seemed rather gentle. Even though she didn’t know him, she nodded slightly and politely replied, “Junior Brother Scott.”

“Senior Sister Hannah Grant, have you come from afar to attend the sect’s succession ceremony?”

Steven Scott spoke respectfully, with none of the arrogance he had shown before Emily Grant and William Mason.

The reason was simple: this Hannah Grant was not only beautiful, but also extremely popular among the outer disciples. Her cultivation ranked in the top ten among them. This year, she was expected to go even further and become an inner disciple. With the abundant resources available to inner disciples, she might break through the barrier of the ninth-rank martial artist and advance to the Innate Secret Realm.

The Innate Secret Realm—such a person could command a city on this monster-infested continent, and with a single order, decide the fate of tens of thousands.

Hannah Grant nodded, her gaze sweeping around the carriage.

The other people in the carriage, seeing even the lofty Steven Scott treating Hannah Grant with such respect, naturally dared not be negligent and hurriedly paid their respects.

Hannah Grant returned each greeting in turn.

However, when her gaze landed on the young man in green, her eyes lit up.

What caught her attention was not the man himself, but the sword he held in his hand.

Although most of the sword was wrapped in cloth, hiding the blade, just from the craftsmanship revealed at the hilt and the unique aura emanating from it, one could tell this sword was no ordinary item.

“May I have a look at your sword, young hero?”

“My sword?”