However, Shawn Rowe was, after all, the sixth-ranked powerhouse of Qingyuan Academy. Missing with one strike, he instantly reacted, turning his sword and conjuring a dazzling array of sword light, like a fierce wind descending from the heavens.

　　“Heavenly Gang Thirty-Six Swords!”

　　“Bang!”

　　The sword edge, carrying the force of the Heavenly Gang wind, instantly swept Quentin Harper's figure completely into it.

　　But just as these sword edges were about to pierce Quentin Harper, his figure suddenly split into three, weaving through the shadows of Shawn Rowe's sword.

　　“One Sword Becomes Three Purities!”

　　“Whoosh!”

　　Of the three sword shadows, two simultaneously struck Shawn Rowe's sword, causing it to tremble violently and his sword technique to falter.

　　The third sword, meanwhile, drove straight in, attacking William Quinn.

　　William Quinn had originally been at a disadvantage against Quentin Harper, but upon seeing Shawn Rowe make his move, he felt the outcome was certain. They both knew well that although Shawn Rowe was ranked sixth in Qingyuan Academy, that was only because he had faced Bei Huanzhen in the ranking matches; in terms of true strength, he could have made it into the academy’s top three.

　　With him taking action, there was nothing to worry about.

　　Relaxing his guard, he never expected that Quentin Harper, while clashing with Shawn Rowe, would suddenly strike at him.

　　“Bang!”

　　Sparks flew.

　　Caught off guard, William Quinn managed to block Quentin Harper's sword, but the force sent his entire sword flying from his hand.

　　“Meteor!”

　　Seizing the opportunity, Quentin Harper's sword thrust forward, driving straight in.

　　“Shawn Rowe, save me!”

　　“Quentin Harper, how dare you! Heavenly Gang Breaks the Dipper!”

　　Shawn Rowe shouted explosively, his sword spinning rapidly as the Heavenly Gang Thirty-Six Swords erupted into a sky-filling storm of sword shadows, the technique earth-shattering.

　　“Ah!”

　　At this life-and-death moment, the surrounding students couldn't help but scream loudly.

　　“Whoosh!”

　　Quentin Harper's sharp sword did not hesitate in the slightest.

　　Fast! Precise! Ruthless!

　　“Slash!”

　　Blood spurted everywhere.

　　This sword grazed William Quinn's neck, leaving a glaring bloody mark!

　　Shawn Rowe was, after all, a top student at the third level of True Refinement. His cultivation was not much weaker than Yi Yingying’s. In a life-and-death struggle, Quentin Harper might be able to kill him, but he would certainly be seriously injured himself.

　　The Heavenly Gang Breaks the Dipper unleashed by Shawn Rowe was as fierce as thunder. If Quentin Harper did not dodge slightly, while he pierced William Quinn's throat with one sword, he would also be pierced by Shawn Rowe's sword at the same time.

　　Life for a life!?

　　William Quinn's life was not worth it!

　　Therefore, at the critical moment, Quentin Harper dodged for an instant.

　　“Rip!”

　　Shawn Rowe's killing blow tore a gash in Quentin Harper's shoulder, leaving a bloody mark.

　　Before Shawn Rowe could pursue again, Quentin Harper used the Art of Minute Steps, his footwork shifting in an incredible pattern, almost turning into a phantom. By the time Shawn Rowe's sword technique came at him again, Quentin Harper had already turned to face him head-on.

　　“Help me, help me!”

　　William Quinn screamed miserably, clutching the wound on his neck, his eyes filled with terror.

　　That sword from Quentin Harper had not killed him, but it left him bleeding profusely. And since it was at his vital neck, his fear was magnified to the extreme.

　　“Quentin Harper!”

　　Seeing the pale-faced William Quinn, and Eric Yates clutching his right hand and screaming in pain, Shawn Rowe knew that this time, he was finished—completely finished.

　　Quentin Harper, whose true energy had been crippled, had actually managed, relying on swordsmanship alone, to push the three of them to this point.

　　It was as if he was seeing the number one powerhouse of Qingyuan Academy before him for the first time.

　　If...

　　If the other party also had third-level True Refinement energy like him, as the sixth-ranked in the academy, he would be killed in a single exchange.

　　“Quentin Harper, what exactly do you want!?”

　　Shawn Rowe looked at William Quinn and Eric Yates, especially William Quinn. William Quinn was a member of the Qin family in Qingyuan City. If he died, Shawn Rowe would not be able to escape responsibility. As a merchant’s son, he would surely bear the brunt of the blame.

　　“I said it before: compensation, three hundred gold.”

　　“Three hundred gold!”

　　Shawn Rowe glanced at William Quinn, whose face was growing paler from fear and blood loss, then immediately took off his own money pouch: “I have twenty-four gold on me, my jade pendant is worth forty-eight gold, together that’s seventy gold. The remaining thirty gold, I will send to you.”

　　“For that thirty gold, pay with your sword.”

　　Quentin Harper said.

　　“You... This sword of mine is called Ziyou, made by Divine Arms Workshop, worth fifty-two gold, and you actually...”

　　“In that case, I’ll just take it myself.”

　　As Quentin Harper spoke, he was about to draw his sword again.

　　“Stop!”

　　From their earlier clash, Shawn Rowe could already tell that the opponent’s strength was no less than his own. Besides, now was not the time to fight.

　　“Take it.”

　　Shawn Rowe said coldly, and the Ziyou sword shot out, embedding itself in the doorframe.

　　“William Quinn, don’t you have a hundred gold on you? Leave it. And Eric Yates, your sword, your jade pendant, everything.”

　　Quentin Harper said simply.

　　But his gaze was icy cold.

　　It seemed that if the two did not comply, he would immediately kill them with his sword.

　　William Quinn and Eric Yates could scrape together a hundred gold between them—this was what they themselves had said.