Eric Yates spoke, looking both courteous and sincere.

　　"Heh..."

　　Quentin Harper glanced at the three of them, showing no intention of wasting any more time, and said calmly, "I can't quite remember exactly how much I spent buying all these things, but I can more or less estimate how long it would take to gather them all. Based on the time spent, you three owe me three hundred gold in compensation—one hundred each, split evenly."

　　"Three hundred gold, that's quite the idea."

　　A cold smile appeared at the corner of Shawn Rowe's mouth.

　　"One hundred gold each, huh? Perfect. I've been saving up to buy the Moonchill Sword at the Divine Arms Pavilion, so I don't have much money on me, but I do have a hundred gold. The thing is... even though I have the money, I just won't give it to you. What can you do about it?"

　　William Quinn asked with a provocative grin.

　　"Haha, I don't have a hundred gold on me, but my jade pendant, my sword, and all my other odds and ends together are worth about a hundred gold. Want them? Come and get them! Hahaha!"

　　"As you wish."

　　As Quentin Harper spoke, he stepped forward.

　　The sword in his hand...

　　Was drawn!

　　"Hahaha, I've been waiting for you to make a move. Now that's more like a real man! Too bad, by attacking me, you're just asking for death!"

　　"Eric Yates, just break his limbs. His life is to be left for Senior Bei Huanzhen."

　　Shawn Rowe stood to the side and gave his instructions coolly.

　　"Understood, I won't steal Senior's prey!"

　　"Whoosh!"

　　As Eric Yates spoke, the sharp sword in his hand turned into a flash of cold light, thrusting forward.

　　However, although Quentin Harper had only just recovered to the first level of True Refinement, back on Earth he had already forced his way into the Grandmaster realm of Qi Refinement and Spirit Transformation. With his profound swordsmanship and life-and-death combat experience, he had slain the top expert of Eastern Academy, Yi Yingying. How could someone like Eric Yates, ranked outside the top fifty at Qingyuan Academy, possibly compare?

　　"Bang!"

　　Sparks flew.

　　The sword thrust by Eric Yates was instantly knocked aside, and in the next moment, Quentin Harper's sword, like a streak of lightning, pierced through Eric Yates's wrist.

　　"Ah!"

　　A shrill scream burst from Eric Yates's mouth.

　　With a single strike!

　　Quentin Harper had severed Eric Yates's tendon with his sword!

　　"Wu Chi!"

　　Seeing Eric Yates caught off guard and struck by Quentin Harper, William Quinn shouted angrily, "Quentin Harper, how dare you!"

　　"Clang!"

　　With a fierce shout, his treasured sword was drawn.

　　"Hmm?"

　　Compared to Eric Yates, Shawn Rowe, ranked sixth at Qingyuan Academy, keenly sensed the extraordinary nature of Quentin Harper's sword. Thinking of Jonathan Goodwin, still lying in the corridor groaning in pain with most of his teeth knocked out, his hand unconsciously gripped his sword hilt.

　　"Meteor."

　　William Quinn's sword strike was entirely within Quentin Harper's expectations. With a twist of his blade, nine sword shadows appeared, flashing through the air like meteors.

　　"Petty tricks! Break for me!"

　　With a thunderous shout, William Quinn unleashed the full power of his peak second-level True Refinement. Sword light flickered visibly along his blade.

　　"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

　　Of the nine sword shadows, only three clashing sounds rang out.

　　The nine swords merged into three, forcing back William Quinn's sword technique in one move. Then, like a startled swan, the sword drove straight in, and in an instant, it was already a finger's breadth from William Quinn.

　　"William Quinn, watch out!"

　　"Clang!"

　　All this time, Shawn Rowe, who had been watching over William Quinn's safety, finally made his move.

　　With the true energy of a third-level True Refinement cultivator, the moment his sword was drawn, a powerful wave of true energy swept out, causing the myriad sword shadows unleashed by Quentin Harper to pause slightly.

　　"Shawn Rowe, you’re the one I’ve been waiting for!"

　　Quentin Harper let out a low shout.

　　Opponent?

　　William Quinn and Eric Yates, both at the second level of True Refinement, were not worthy to be called opponents. Of the three, only one posed a threat to him.

　　Shawn Rowe.

　　Ranked sixth at Qingyuan Academy, Shawn Rowe, at the third level of True Refinement.

　　"Heavenly Meteor!"

Chapter 8: Recruitment

　　"Shawn Rowe!"

　　"Senior Shawn Rowe has finally made his move."

　　"Quentin Harper is far too arrogant. Senior Shawn Rowe and the others were right before—his meridians are shattered, he's a cripple, how can he still show his face at our Qingyuan Academy!? What a disgrace!"

　　"Quentin Harper may have had impressive sword skills back in the day, and perhaps he still has some strength, but as soon as Senior Shawn Rowe steps in, he’ll surely turn the tide!"

　　Shawn Rowe's sword drew a wave of exclamations from the students.

　　Even those who had witnessed the duel between Quentin Harper and Jonathan Goodwin were now watching with renewed interest.

　　"Shawn Rowe!"

　　A cold light flashed in Quentin Harper's eyes.

　　"Do you really think I, Quentin Harper, can't handle you!?"

　　Heavenly Meteor!

　　In an instant, a meteor streaked through the sky!

　　Quentin Harper's true energy was only at the first level of True Refinement, but when sword speed reached a certain point, the resulting acceleration was just as earth-shattering.

　　"Boom!"

　　The two swords clashed, a muffled shockwave erupted between them, and a surge of air rapidly spread in all directions.

　　"How is this possible..."

　　His sword strike—his all-out attack, almost a sneak attack—had actually been blocked by Quentin Harper!?