Prologue Quentin Harper

　　"Whoosh!"

　　Blood splattered everywhere!

　　A young figure, like a streak of light, shot out from the woods, then, as if exhausted, crashed to the ground, rolled over, and tried to dash forward in escape.

　　Ahead, the surging Yuan River, waves raging, unfathomable, stretching a thousand feet across at a glance!

　　Perhaps...

　　He only needed to plunge into the river to completely escape the crisis.

　　However, having shot out from the woods, he had already exhausted all his strength and collapsed helplessly.

　　The escape river, just within reach.

　　"Whoosh!"

　　The trees shook.

　　A cold gleam flashed.

　　Two men and a woman, almost simultaneously, charged out from the woods in a fan formation, instantly surrounding the young man.

　　"Finally dead."

　　Among the three, the obvious leader, a young man, showed a trace of coldness on his face: "Quentin Harper, what are you? How dare you compete with me, Brian Norton? A bastard born of a Snow Sword Manor maid, how could your status compare to mine, a young prince! Back then, with the hundred gold I gave you, you could have lived leisurely as the second best in Qingyuan Academy, but you insisted on competing with me for the title of Qingyuan Academy's top swordsman. Now it's too late for regrets."

　　"Young Master Brian Norton is absolutely right. This Quentin Harper is truly ungrateful. Today's outcome is entirely his own fault."

　　Next to Brian Norton, the beautiful young woman smiled in agreement.

　　"Young Master, we are currently in the assessment phase for the Northmoon Royal Swordsman Academy's admission quota. We must deal with him quickly and avoid complications."

　　Behind the young man, an older-looking man spoke in a deep voice.

　　This man was Brian Norton's bodyguard, a young powerhouse granted the royal surname Bei—Phoebe Norton.

　　"Hmph, I've already spoken to the assessment instructors from Northmoon Royal Academy. Even if they see this, they'll turn a blind eye. My Brian Norton's reputation—those ordinary instructors sent to Qingyuan Town for the assessment, who would dare not give me face?"

　　Brian Norton's expression was extremely domineering.

　　"This kid still has a breath left. Even though Phoebe Norton has crippled his meridians, I, Brian Norton, am not so merciful as to spare his life. Go, Susan Clark, kill him."

　　"Yes, Young Master Brian Norton."

　　The woman named Susan Clark responded sweetly, raised her sword, and approached the barely breathing Quentin Harper.

　　At this moment, if someone were gazing up at the sky, observing the stars, they would notice several stars in the void aligning in a line, shining brilliantly.

　　As these stars shone, Quentin Harper, already collapsed on the ground and barely clinging to life, suddenly shuddered and abruptly opened his eyes.

　　"Hmm!? You wretch, you dare to play dead? Since you want to pretend, I'll grant your wish and send you to your death!"

　　Seeing Quentin Harper open his eyes again, a flash of anger at being deceived appeared on Susan Clark's beautiful face, and her sword instantly stabbed downward.

　　"Hmm!?"

　　As the sword stabbed, a cold light flashed in Quentin Harper's eyes. In that instant, he was about to raise his sword to counterattack.

　　However, just as he was about to strike back, a tearing pain swept through every corner of his body, abruptly halting his movement.

　　"My meridians..."

　　In that instant, "Quentin Harper" sensed the severity of his injuries.

　　His meridians were completely severed.

　　As Susan Clark's sword fell, a sharp light burst from Quentin Harper's eyes. He pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth, and a mouthful of blood, like an arrow, shot straight at Susan Clark!

　　"Bang!"

　　Metal clashed!

　　Susan Clark hurriedly raised her sword to block, feeling a violent shock in her palm, her hair flying, and she involuntarily retreated three steps!

　　Quentin Harper, with severed meridians and depleted true energy, was still able to force back her, a top ten elite student of Qingyuan Academy?

　　"Hmm!? Even now, still struggling on the brink of death?"

　　Phoebe Norton glanced at the murderous Quentin Harper.

　　He had to admit, in terms of fighting spirit, this student far surpassed Brian Norton. Without his own intervention, the title of Qingyuan Academy's top swordsman would have belonged to him.

　　But now...

　　"Unfortunately, you offended our young prince. So, no matter how strong your will to survive, your fate is still the same—death!"

　　A terrifying gleam shot from Phoebe Norton's eyes. With his steel sword aimed at Quentin Harper, he struck fiercely. True energy surged, wind rose from the ground, and sand and stones flew.

　　"Break!"

　　Ignoring the tearing pain within, Quentin Harper let out a low shout. With a sword slash, his blade flashed like a meteor streaking across the sky.

　　"Meteor Pierces the Moon!"

　　"Bang!"