The young girl’s autumn-like eyes flickered slightly, her willow brows arched gently, and she nodded her delicate chin, a captivating smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

“The potion is only secondary. What matters most is your talent, Emily. It seems that ‘Frost Sword Art’ suits you very well... Emily, since you’re cultivating a sword technique, you must have a sword. This afternoon, I’ll take you out to look around and buy you a sword.”

William Grant shook his head with a smile.

“Young master, didn’t you say that the body-tempering section of ‘Frost Sword Art’ doesn’t have a matching sword technique?”

The girl blinked her autumn-like eyes.

“I’ll teach you another sword technique first. Do you want to learn it?”

William Grant asked with a smile.

“Yes!”

The girl nodded eagerly, as if afraid William Grant might change his mind.

“Emily, let’s go over as well.”

He stepped out of the room, closed the door behind him, and naturally reached out to hold the girl’s soft little hand. The whole movement was as smooth as flowing water, as if he had practiced it countless times.

“Mm, we shouldn’t keep madam waiting.”

The girl’s face was adorned with a blissful smile, and her small hand squeezed the boy’s hand a little tighter.

Like a golden boy and jade girl, the young man and woman walked out of the courtyard hand in hand, heading toward the The Thompson Family training ground.

Along the way, they attracted many envious, jealous, and resentful gazes.

Some of the The Thompson Family’s young men looked at William Grant with eyes that seemed to spit fire, wishing they could push William Grant aside and take his place.

There were also some girls who looked at the beautiful, fairy-like Emily with faces full of jealousy.

……

The The Thompson Family training ground was a vast bluestone arena.

On the slightly elevated ground outside the arena, crowds surged. These were all The Thompson Family disciples, gathered together in a noisy commotion, their voices soaring to the sky.

“It’s just a duel between two young men, but almost all the family elders have come. What a grand occasion!”

“Yeah, even the elders in charge of the family’s market in Qingfeng Town have returned. Today’s scene is almost like a coming-of-age ceremony.”

“If you ask me, it’s mainly because the Seventh Elder invited the family head and the Grand Elder to witness today’s battle. Since the family head and Grand Elder are here, the other elders couldn’t very well not show up.”

……

On the high platform at the front of the training ground, some tables and chairs were arranged, and quite a few people were already seated, sipping fragrant tea.

These people were the senior members of the The Thompson Family.

The The Thompson Family family head, ‘Nathan Thompson’, sat in the central seat.

Except for one empty seat beside him, all the other seats were occupied. Behind each of these The Thompson Family elders stood several young men and women.

As the Ninth Elder of the The Thompson Family, Grace Thompson sat at the far end, her expression calm, unruffled even if Mount Tai collapsed before her.

“Ninth Elder, such composure.”

The Seventh Elder, Brian Thompson, was separated from Grace Thompson by the Eighth Elder. He turned his head to glance at Grace Thompson, smiling faintly.

He looked as if victory was already in his grasp.

Grace Thompson, however, acted as if she hadn’t heard him at all, completely ignoring him, causing the Eighth Elder in the middle to show a strange smile.

“Hmph!”

Brian Thompson laughed in anger.

He wanted to see just how long Grace Thompson could keep up the act.

Today, his eldest son James Thompson would surely cripple William Grant, avenging his younger son who had been so thoroughly defeated.

“Grand Elder!”

“Grand Elder!”

……

At this moment, the crowd in the distance parted.

Amidst waves of respectful greetings, an elderly figure strode forward and ascended the platform.

It was none other than the The Thompson Family Grand Elder, Jack Thompson!

“Grand Elder!”

Including the family head Nathan Thompson, all the The Thompson Family elders stood up and respectfully saluted the old man.

This old man was not only the most powerful member of the The Thompson Family, but also a highly esteemed ninth-grade alchemist.

On the Cloudsky Continent, only alchemists who had achieved a grade were considered true alchemists.

Becoming an alchemist required meeting extremely stringent conditions.

It could be said that out of a thousand Condensation Realm martial artists, not even one might become an alchemist.

Each of the three great families in Qingfeng Town had a ninth-grade alchemist.

Only the The Thompson Family’s alchemist was one of their own; the other two families’ alchemists had been hired at great expense from outside and could leave at any time.

The old man nodded slightly, sat down beside the family head Nathan Thompson, and closed his eyes to rest.

“Xiao Jie, since the Grand Elder is here, you go down to the arena first.”

The Seventh Elder, Brian Thompson, said. James Thompson, who had been standing behind him, nodded and stepped out into the spacious training ground.

“Even the Grand Elder is here, and James Thompson is already in the arena. Why hasn’t William Grant arrived yet?”

“This William Grant really has some nerve!”

“Could it be that he’s afraid to show up?”

……

The The Thompson Family disciples around the training ground began to discuss, some even sneering at William Grant.

“Ninth Elder, the Grand Elder is already here. Why hasn’t your son William Grant arrived yet? Don’t tell me he’s too scared to come?”

On the platform, the Seventh Elder, Brian Thompson, deliberately asked loudly.

“Seventh Elder, rest assured. Since my son agreed, he will naturally come.”

Grace Thompson snorted softly.

“Ninth Elder, I think today’s battle is completely unnecessary. Why don’t you just admit defeat on your son’s behalf, so he doesn’t get hurt and ruin the harmony between you and the Seventh Elder?”