David Cooper snorted, remaining completely still. He had already sensed that the enemy’s finger strike was utterly powerless.

　　Grace Miller actually admired this person’s courage a little and said:

　　“Are you David Cooper?”

　　“I am.”

　　“Which finger are you?”

　　David Cooper was taken aback. The ‘Ten Fingers’ of the Wuyi Courtyard was just a nickname, indicating the high status of these ten experts in the courtyard—there was no distinction like thumb or index finger.

　　“The Ten Fingers of Wuyi Courtyard are all equals.”

　　“I think you’re the left pinky. Cutting you off wouldn’t matter much.”

　　A murderous look flashed across David Cooper’s face as he sneered:

　　“Ignorant brat, daring to provoke me—no one in heaven or earth can save you now.”

　　With that, he drew his blade, and a flash of white light slashed toward Grace Miller.

　　Grace Miller casually performed the “Sword Qi Finger.” David Cooper was less than three feet away when he suddenly sensed something was wrong. He switched from offense to defense, holding his blade horizontally in front of his chest. An extremely powerful finger force struck the blade, and David Cooper used the momentum to leap back several steps before regaining his footing.

　　Both sides were shocked this time. David Cooper hadn’t expected this person’s finger force to be so strong. The officers had been about to cheer, but their “good!” turned into a cry of alarm. They hadn’t believed their two companions’ talk of “sorcery” before, but now they did.

　　Grace Miller and Charlotte Harris hadn’t expected David Cooper to withstand a “Sword Qi Finger” either. Charlotte Harris thought “Sword God Brother” had held back, but was puzzled—he’d just had close contact with the little beauty, so why was his finger force so weak, even less than when he broke the tree earlier?

　　David Cooper gritted his teeth, thinking he’d met a tough opponent. If he didn’t use his ultimate skill, he’d probably lose. He immediately unleashed the “Four Symbols Wind-Breaking Blade,” the blade’s light forming a protective barrier around him as he advanced step by step toward Grace Miller.

　　Grace Miller kept flicking his fingers, but every strike was blocked by David Cooper’s blade. David Cooper wielded a rare treasured sword that could actually withstand the finger force.

　　The situation had changed dramatically. Although David Cooper was only defending, after a few steps he would be right in front of Grace Miller and Charlotte Harris. The two would either have to turn and flee or come up with a clever trick—otherwise, defeat was certain.

　　The fourteen Wuyi Courtyard officers, seeing their leader withstand the “sorcery,” all cheered in unison. They then spread out, cutting off the fugitives’ escape, waving blades and whips to boost their leader’s morale.

　　Grace Miller uttered several puzzled sounds, wanting to strengthen his finger force, but the immortal energy in his dantian was still just a trickle. No matter how hard he tried, or how tightly he squeezed Charlotte Harris’s little hand, it didn’t increase.

　　Charlotte Harris was both anxious and confused. Her slender palm hurt from Grace Miller’s grip. She wondered, “Is ‘Sword God Brother’ pretending to be weak before striking again? The rules of immortals are so strange. But as the enemy gets closer, how can he stay so calm?”

　　Grace Miller was anything but calm—he was already thinking of running for his life. But first, he couldn’t bear to leave the beauty and the inner elixir; second, without Charlotte Harris, he was nothing and couldn’t escape anyway.

　　David Cooper was now just three steps away, a cruel smile on his face. He thought, “So this brat is nothing special after all. Even with his finger force, he can’t beat my ‘Four Symbols Wind-Breaking Blade.’”

　　The blade’s tip swept just inches from him. Grace Miller could only pull Charlotte Harris back a step, but fortunately, his “Sword Qi Finger” continued, so David Cooper didn’t dare press too hard.

　　The officers saw what was happening and gathered behind and to the sides of Grace Miller, blocking the pair’s escape.

　　A thought struck Grace Miller. His next finger strike wasn’t aimed at David Cooper, but at an officer to the left. That officer was cheering loudly for his leader, mouth wide open, full of energy—when suddenly his chest hurt, and he fell backward. His shout of “good!” was cut short, and he died without ever understanding why, thinking he’d ruptured his heart from shouting too hard.

　　David Cooper saw this and thought, “Even if you kill all fourteen officers, I’ll just keep pressing forward. Let’s see if you’re more ruthless or I’m stronger.”

　　Grace Miller had intended to kill an officer to distract David Cooper, but it didn’t work. He then randomly pointed with his left hand, and out of five strikes, three were aimed at the officers on either side.

　　With several muffled sounds, a few more officers fell dead.

　　Now the officers finally understood what was happening. Seeing their leader couldn’t save them, they stopped cheering and scrambled for position behind Grace Miller and Charlotte Harris on horseback, nearly drawing their blades against each other.

　　In the end, only eight officers remained, forming two rows, cheering in trembling voices, their eyes darting over the corpses, inwardly lamenting. They just hoped Lord Peng would quickly kill the “demon,” or, failing that, that the “demon” would kill Lord Peng—then they’d have an excuse to spur their horses and flee.

　　Grace Miller, holding Charlotte Harris, continued to retreat. The officers didn’t dare block them and followed on horseback, while David Cooper’s blade technique grew ever steadier, showing no sign of impatience or fatigue.

　　Charlotte Harris was anxious, but afraid to distract “Sword God Brother,” so she didn’t dare ask questions. She drew her long sword and attacked David Cooper, but as soon as her blade touched his, it snapped in half with a clang and rebounded, nearly hitting Grace Miller.

　　Charlotte Harris cried out in pain. Grace Miller quickly dodged aside, fired off a few more finger strikes to halt their retreat, and said:

　　“Yellow Apple, how dare you break my future wife’s treasured sword? Hurry up and pay for it!”