Immediately, someone drew their sword and offered it to William Harper.

"To deal with trash, there's no need for a sword—a twig is enough." William Harper did not take the sword, but instead broke off a twig about the thickness of a pinky finger from the side.

A fierce glint flashed in Edward Brooks's eyes as he shouted, "You're courting death!"

As he spoke, he thrust his sword at William Harper.

In the blink of an eye, the sword's gleam was already before William Harper, aiming straight for his chest.

This strike was by the book, but Edward Brooks was at the fourth level of the Condensing Essence Realm. Even a simple strike from him was not to be underestimated; anyone below the fourth level would find it extremely difficult to withstand.

As everyone knew, William Harper's cultivation had remained at the first level of the Condensing Essence Realm for the past three years.

Facing Edward Brooks's sword, William Harper didn't move a single step. He simply thrust the twig forward, his wrist flicking.

With a crisp ding, the twig's leaves quivered as it struck the side of Edward Brooks's sword, causing Edward Brooks's thrust to veer off and miss its mark.

Then, William Harper's twig followed through and jabbed at Edward Brooks's wrist.

The skin on Edward Brooks's wrist was instantly pierced, blood streaming out, making him let out a pained groan.

Edward Brooks's hand recoiled as if shocked by electricity, but before he could retreat, William Harper swept the twig in his hand, striking Edward Brooks's face.

Immediately, a bloody mark appeared on Edward Brooks's face, his body spun from the blow, and he crashed to the ground.

The groan of pain... turned into a scream!

Sounds of people gasping echoed all around. The disciples nearby stared in disbelief at the scene before them. William Harper... when did he become so formidable?

"You... know nothing of the sword!"

William Harper gave the fallen Edward Brooks a cold glance and said indifferently. He tossed the twig in his hand, sending it flying to land beside Edward Brooks's head.

Thud!

The twig pierced the ground like a sharp sword, sinking more than a foot deep.

The end of the twig above ground trembled violently, just like the hearts of everyone present at that moment.

Chapter 4: Bitch, aren't you disappointed?

Edward Brooks had always mocked William Harper as trash. Whenever he lost to his peers, he liked to regain his sense of worth by picking on William Harper.

But this time, William Harper defeated Edward Brooks with just a twig, and... with a single move, knocked Edward Brooks's sword away, and with a second, left Edward Brooks badly beaten.

If William Harper had held a real sword, the first strike could have severed Edward Brooks's wrist, and the second could have slit Edward Brooks's throat, killing him on the spot.

William Harper's moves were so clean and decisive. At this moment, he stood on the ground like a sharp sword—upright and keen, exuding the aura of a true swordsman. Meanwhile, Edward Brooks clutched his face, groaning in pain on the ground.

The difference between the two was clear at a glance—who was the real trash was obvious!

William Harper glanced at the other disciples. "Anyone else? Want to try?"

"No, no!"

The disciples all backed away.

They were all at the fourth level of the Condensing Essence Realm, not much stronger than Edward Brooks. Judging by the swordsmanship William Harper had just displayed, they knew themselves well enough—if it were them, they'd fare no better than Edward Brooks, and would be just as easily defeated by William Harper's two strikes.

"A bunch of trash!"

William Harper uttered these four words indifferently and turned to leave.

These four words stung in the ears of the disciples, making them feel uncomfortable inside. This was exactly how they had made William Harper feel, countless times before.

Some felt humiliated and wanted to challenge William Harper, but recalling how easily he had just defeated Edward Brooks, they didn't dare.

Watching William Harper's figure grow more distant, the crowd was filled with mixed emotions.

William Harper had entered the Ancient Sword Sect with a perfect sword talent. In the past, his cultivation had always remained at the first level of the Condensing Essence Realm, making his perfect sword talent a joke!

But now... William Harper had defeated Edward Brooks with just two strikes. This was absolutely impossible for someone at the first level of the Condensing Essence Realm.

This meant... William Harper's cultivation had improved!

A perfect sword talent who could actually cultivate—how terrifying would that be?

...

In the outer sect of the Ancient Sword Sect, each peak housed disciples who had entered in different years, living in separate areas.

William Harper entered the Ancient Sword Sect in the year 997 of the Great Wei calendar, while Edward Brooks's cohort entered in 998.

William Harper arrived at the area for the 997 cohort of the Seventh Peak, where morning training had just ended.

This cohort was a year older than Edward Brooks's, and had entered the sect a year earlier, so their cultivation was higher.

Except for William Harper, the lowest cultivation among his peers was already the fifth level of the Condensing Essence Realm.

To be accepted as a disciple of the Ancient Sword Sect, one had to have decent talent. Reaching the fifth level of the Condensing Essence Realm in three years was the norm for disciples here. Those with outstanding talent had already reached the sixth level.

Some, with truly exceptional talent, had even reached the seventh level.

These peers mostly ignored William Harper when they saw him.

At first, as someone with perfect sword talent, William Harper was someone all his peers across the ten outer peaks looked up to. Those who joined the Ancient Sword Sect the same year as William Harper felt honored.

But as time passed, his peers advanced in cultivation one after another, while William Harper remained stagnant. One by one, they all surpassed him!