Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2 Master Zhao
Chapter 3 The Blue Angel
Chapter 4 Magic
Chapter 5 On The Road
Chapter 6 A Harsh Lesson
Chapter 7 The Black Pill
Chapter 8 A Taste Of Magic
Chapter 9 Master Firehear
Chapter 10 Windsong
Chapter 11 Stages Of Magic
Chapter 12 The Wind Realm
Chapter 13 Opening A Realm
Chapter 14 A Breath Of Wind
Chapter 15 Drunken Masters
Chapter 16 The Valley
Chapter 17 An Unexpected Arrival
Chapter 18 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 19 The True Face Of Magic
Chapter 20 Aftermath
Chapter 21 Disguises
Chapter 22 Memories Of Murder
Chapter 23 A Difficult Choice
Chapter 24 Master Zhao’S Treasures
Chapter 25 The Journey Ahead
Chapter 26 Redwater
Chapter 27 Dinner With Enemies
Chapter 28 Unlikely Companions
Chapter 29 Stormleaf'S Gif
Chapter 30 Power Overwhelming
Chapter 31 Lord Jiang
Chapter 32 The Price Of Power
Chapter 33 The Estate
Chapter 34 Training With Lord Jiang
Chapter 35 Continued Training
Chapter 36 Body Refinemen
Chapter 37 Feast Of Treasures
Chapter 38 Faster, Higher, Stronger
Chapter 39 The Starmetal Sword
Chapter 40 The Magistrate
Chapter 41 Duel
Chapter 42 Revelations
Chapter 43 Breaking The Seals
Chapter 44 Newfound Power
Chapter 45 Lord Jiang'S Gifts
Chapter 46 Saying Goodbye
Chapter 47 Leaving Silvermere
Chapter 48 Ambush
Chapter 49 Wounds Of Battle
Chapter 50 The Bandit Fortress
Chapter 51 Senecio
Chapter 52 Looting Treasures
Chapter 53 Words Of Chaos
Chapter 54 The Old Man And The Trickster
Chapter 55 Panurge’S Punishmen
Chapter 56 Windblade
Chapter 57 A Way To Escape
Chapter 58 Prison Break
Chapter 59 The Prisoners
Chapter 60 A Clear Path
Chapter 61 A Change Of Plans
Chapter 62 Assaulting The Prison
Chapter 63 Resistance
Chapter 64 Facing The Archmage
Chapter 65 Birds And Dragons
Chapter 66 Leaving The Stronghold
Chapter 67 The Edge Of The Empire
Chapter 68 The Story So Far
Chapter 69 The Border City
Chapter 70 Darkfire
Chapter 71 A Small Figh
Chapter 72 Tournamen
Chapter 73 The Shadowblood Novice
Chapter 74 The Gray-Robed Lady
Chapter 75 Governor Eddarin
Chapter 76 Leaving The City
Chapter 77 Darkfire'S Ordeal
Chapter 78 A New Arrival
Chapter 79 Judgmen
Chapter 80 New Techniques
Chapter 81 The Arenas Of Hillfor
Chapter 82 The Victor'S Spoils
Chapter 83 An Unexpected Invitation
Chapter 84 Lunch With The Governor
Chapter 85 Amaya
Chapter 86 Searching For Answers
Chapter 87 Stoneheart'S Army
Chapter 88 Stonehear
Chapter 89 Zehava
Chapter 90 Unexpected News
Chapter 91 Darkfire’S Decision
Chapter 92 Before The Tournamen
Chapter 93 The Tournament Begins
Chapter 94 The Tournament Continues
Chapter 95 Defeated
Chapter 96 Snowcloud
Chapter 97 The Valley
Chapter 98 Oathbound
Chapter 99 Urgent Matters
Chapter 100 Running
Chapter 101 Questions
Chapter 102 Answers
Chapter 103 First Steps
Chapter 104 Crystals
Chapter 105 Blindsided
Chapter 106 Fighting Blind
Chapter 107 Shadowsigh
Chapter 108 Exposed
Chapter 109 The Bracele
Chapter 110 The Deserters' Fortress
Chapter 111 Fighting Dirty
Chapter 112 Assault On The Fortress
Chapter 113 Blood Magic
Chapter 114 A Debt Repaid
Chapter 115 Exchanging Knowledge
Chapter 116 Goldhaven
Chapter 117 Lord Sevaril
Chapter 118 The Formula
Chapter 119 Ingredients
Chapter 120 The Golden Hall
Chapter 121 Troublesome Treasures
Chapter 122 The Power Of Lies
Chapter 123 Truth Be Told
Chapter 124 Picking Treasures
Chapter 125 Windfall
Chapter 126 Rapid Training
Chapter 127 Leaving Goldhaven
Chapter 128 Injuries
Chapter 129 Smooth Travels
Chapter 130 A Familiar Face
Chapter 131 Stoneheart'S Misfortune
Chapter 132 Preparing For Battle
Chapter 133 Bloodlus
Chapter 134 Control
Chapter 135 Trus
Chapter 136 Forced March
Chapter 137 Contac
Chapter 138 Danger Illustrated
Chapter 139 Titan
Chapter 140 The Dragon
Chapter 141 The Tempering
Chapter 142 Destruction Realm
Chapter 143 The Tempering, Take Two
Chapter 144 Tempered
Chapter 145 Weakness
Chapter 146 At The Castle
Chapter 147 The Dragon'S Proposal
Chapter 148 A Decision
Chapter 149 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 150 Bai
Chapter 151 Fighting An Army
Chapter 152 Novices
Chapter 153 Hunting The Survivors
Chapter 154 Riverbend
Chapter 155 The Next Mission
Chapter 156 Leaving The Castle
Chapter 157 Hiding The Evidence
Chapter 158 Eidaran Ruins
Chapter 159 Parting Ways
Chapter 160 Into The Ruins
Chapter 161 A Long Wai
Chapter 162 Enemies
Chapter 163 Fear
Chapter 164 Spirit Crystals
Chapter 165 About Dragons
Chapter 166 Journey To The Dragon Lands
Chapter 167 Chasing Dragons
Chapter 168 Dumber Than Rocks
Chapter 169 Unexpected News
Chapter 170 The Dragon'S Lair
Chapter 171 The Enemy Appears
Chapter 172 Plan Of Attack
Chapter 173 The Eve Of Battle
Chapter 174 To Fight A Dragon 1
Chapter 175 To Fight A Dragon 2
Chapter 176 To Fight A Dragon 3
Chapter 177 To Fight A Dragon 4
Chapter 178 The Best Way To Kill A Dragon...
Chapter 179 Dragon'S Blood
Chapter 180 Blood Crisis
Chapter 181 Blood Battle
Chapter 182 Leaving The Blood Pool
Chapter 183 Escape Plan
Chapter 184 Dragon'S Fligh
Chapter 185 Dragon'S Ruin
Chapter 186 The Way Back
Chapter 187 Unexpected Allies
Chapter 188 Iron Mountain Adepts
Chapter 189 A New Plan
Chapter 190 The Road To Uvar
Chapter 191 Setting The Trap
Chapter 192 Facing A Master
Chapter 193 Hunter
Chapter 194 The Way Back
Chapter 195 The Edge Of Victory
Chapter 196 A Final Deception
Chapter 197 The Iron Mountain Camp
Chapter 198 Toward The Valley
Chapter 199 The Valley'S Gate
Chapter 200 The Patriarch'S Palace
Chapter 201 Barrier
Chapter 202 The Patriarch
Chapter 203 The Patriarch'S Summons
Chapter 204 A New Path
Chapter 205 A Long Journey
Chapter 206 Into The Valley
Chapter 207 Alder'S Farm
Chapter 208 An Invitation
Chapter 209 Houses Of The Ninth Valley
Chapter 210 A Change For The Worse
Chapter 211 Unreasonable Demands
Chapter 212 A Small Demonstration
Chapter 213 Show Of Power
Chapter 214 Bad Teacher
Chapter 215 The Thousand Cuts
Chapter 216 Training Days
Chapter 217 The Road Ahead
Chapter 218 Hidden Estate
Chapter 219 A New Approach
Chapter 220 Insigh
Chapter 221 Recovery
Chapter 222 Reunion
Chapter 223 Snowcloud'S Potions
Chapter 224 Snowcloud'S Departure
Chapter 225 Return To The House Of Swords
Chapter 226 To The House Of Flames
Chapter 227 A New Teacher
Chapter 228 Forms
Chapter 229 Form And Function
Chapter 230 Brightblade'S Vow
Chapter 231 The House Of Shadows
Chapter 232 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 233 Shadow And Swords
Chapter 234 The House Of Seals
Chapter 235 A Small Bit Of Talen
Chapter 236 A New Teacher
Chapter 237 Reunion
Chapter 238 An Agreemen
Chapter 239 A Palace Of One'S Own
Chapter 240 Brightblade'S Background
Chapter 241 A Final Night Of Res
Chapter 242 The First Day Of Training
Chapter 243 Effor
Chapter 244 Destruction Essence
Chapter 245 A Brief Respite
Chapter 246 Shields
Chapter 247 Ambush
Chapter 248 After The Battle
Chapter 249 Questions Of Power
Chapter 250 Questionable Plans
Chapter 251 A Fruitless Search
Chapter 252 Facing The Elders
Chapter 253 Offending An Elder
Chapter 254 Brightblade'S Challenge
Chapter 255 The Dueling Grounds
Chapter 256 The Duel
Chapter 257 A Fight To The Death
Chapter 258 Aftermath
Chapter 259 The Matriarch'S Plans
Chapter 260 Treasures
Chapter 261 An Heir'S Estate
Chapter 262 Gifts
Chapter 263 Festivities
Chapter 264 Effor
Chapter 265 Brightblade'S Fortress
Chapter 266 A Small Wager
Chapter 267 Brightblade'S Orders
Chapter 268 Leaving The Valley
Chapter 269 Essence Remnants
Chapter 270 An Obstacle
Chapter 271 More Than Remnants
Chapter 272 Demons
Chapter 273 A Short Goodbye
Chapter 274 On The Road
Chapter 275 Hunter
Chapter 276 Amydon
Chapter 277 The Fall Of Amydon
Chapter 278 A Quiet Place
Chapter 279 A New Foundation
Chapter 280 The Final Stretch
Chapter 281 A Break
Chapter 282 The Caves Of Amydon
Chapter 283 The Hidden City
Chapter 284 Karanos
Chapter 285 The Mines
Chapter 286 Trash And Treasure
Chapter 287 A Step Into Shadow
Chapter 288 Darkness
Chapter 289 The Shadow Realm
Chapter 290 Amid The Ruins
Chapter 291 Shards Of Living Shadow
Chapter 292 A Fitting Weapon
Chapter 293 A Small Bribe
Chapter 294 To Leave A Dying World
Chapter 295 Homecoming
Chapter 296 Hidden Treasure
Chapter 297 Waiting For A Sign
Chapter 298 Departure
Chapter 299 Into The Ligh
Chapter 300 Redhill
Chapter 301 Pursui
Chapter 302 Training Ground
Chapter 303 Hunters
Chapter 304 Recruits
Chapter 305 Pills
Chapter 306 Thieves And Robbers
Chapter 307 Facing A Hunter
Chapter 308 Into The Battlefield
Chapter 309 Suffering
Chapter 310 A Knight Of The Imperium
Chapter 311 A Choice
Chapter 312 Searching The Battlefield
Chapter 313 The Fores
Chapter 314 Studying The Forms
Chapter 315 Preparation
Chapter 316 The Road To Esran
Chapter 317 The City Of Esran
Chapter 318 A Steward'S Aid
Chapter 319 Leaving The Borderlands
Chapter 320 The Border
Chapter 321 Into The Imperium
Chapter 322 Advice
Chapter 323 The Fate Of Refugees
Chapter 324 A City Of Tents
Chapter 325 The Wolfsblood Company
Chapter 326 Arrival
Chapter 327 A New Deal
Chapter 328 Imperial Politics
Chapter 329 Battle Approaches
Chapter 330 A Taste Of Battle
Chapter 331 The Spoils Of Battle
Chapter 332 Lord Kadun
Chapter 333 To The Mines
Chapter 334 What Lurks Below
Chapter 335 Into Darkness
Chapter 336 Diggers
Chapter 337 Battle
Chapter 338 Three Monsters
Chapter 339 The Blood Ruin
Chapter 340 A Warm Welcome
Chapter 341 Studying Strategy
Chapter 342 Weapons And Training
Chapter 343 A New Tool
Chapter 344 Unwelcome Company
Chapter 345 Provocation
Chapter 346 Down Below
Chapter 347 A Small Disturbance
Chapter 348 A Lord'S Mercy
Chapter 349 Prison
Chapter 350 Prison Break
Chapter 351 Breaching The Defenses
Chapter 352 Defending The Gate
Chapter 353 A Knight'S Power
Chapter 354 Lord Rannoc
Chapter 355 Outrage
Chapter 356 The Strength Of Lords
Chapter 357 An Offer
Chapter 358 Revelations
Chapter 359 The Desolation
Chapter 360 Rannoc'S Orders
Chapter 361 Citizenship
Chapter 362 Sleepless Nights
Chapter 363 A Foundation
Chapter 364 The Road Back
Chapter 365 A Deb
Chapter 366 Settling Debts
Chapter 367 Broken Company
Chapter 368 An Exchange
Chapter 369 Preparations
Chapter 370 Breakthrough
Chapter 371 Delivery
Chapter 372 A New Journey
Chapter 373 An Unwelcome Invitation
Chapter 374 Challenge
Chapter 375 A Duel
Chapter 376 Facing A Knight, Again
Chapter 377 Words Of Warning
Chapter 378 What Lurks In The Bligh
Chapter 379 A Quiet Departure
Chapter 380 The Road To Sacrifice
Chapter 381 A Storm Of Blood
Chapter 382 Behind The Walls
Chapter 383 A Sea Of Shadow
Chapter 384 Reaver'S End
Chapter 385 Newcomers
Chapter 386 A New Plan
Chapter 387 An Old Friend
Chapter 388 An Imperial Knigh
Chapter 389 The Knight'S Apprentice
Chapter 390 Knight'S Watch
Chapter 391 Comprehension
Chapter 392 Master Of Shadow
Chapter 393 Finding Enemies
Chapter 394 The Missing Piece
Chapter 395 Reunion
Chapter 396 Decisions
Chapter 397 The Wolfsblood Army
Chapter 398 Enlightenmen
Chapter 399 An Unwelcome Gues
Chapter 400 The Oath
Chapter 401 An Invitation
Chapter 402 The Dangers Ahead
Chapter 403 Into The Desolation
Chapter 404 Suppression
Chapter 405 Confrontation
Chapter 406 Arrival
Chapter 407 The Archon'S Summons
Chapter 408 The Master'S Bloodline
Chapter 409 Bloodlines
Chapter 410 The Ruiner'S Temple
Chapter 411 Assassin
Chapter 412 The Citadel
Chapter 413 Fruits Of A Poisonous Tree
Chapter 414 The Strength Of Bloodlines
Chapter 415 A Path Forward
Chapter 416 - A Simple Task
Chapter 417 - Breakthrough
Chapter 418 - Final Preparations
Chapter 419 - Into Harm'S Way (1)
Categories Genre: Action, All, Fantasy, Ongoing, Xianxia, Xuanhuan Status: Ongoing ______
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 419 Page No. 418 Page No. 417 Page No. 416 Page No. 415 Page No. 414 Page No. 413 Page No. 412 Page No. 411 Page No. 410 Page No. 409 Chapter 72 Tournamen
Chapter 72 Tournamen
When they returned to Darkfire's mansion, Arran finally got a look at how vast the place was. With over two dozen bedrooms, a library, several studies, and not one but two great dining halls, the mansion was clearly designed for to house dozens of people.
And yet, Darkfire lived there by himself, without even servants to look after it.
Moreover, from the state of the place, it was clear that Darkfire wasn't much of a decorator. If the mansion hadn't been clean and mostly free of dust, Arran could easily have believed it to be abandoned.
"You can take any room you want," Darkfire said. "Other than my bedroom, I don't really use the place much."
"Then why get something so big?" Arran asked.
"The field outside is great for training," Darkfire replied with a grin.
Arran picked out a large bedroom on the second floor, with a good view of the city and a massive bed. After spending over a year sleeping on the stone floor of a prison cell, a soft bed would be a welcome change.
He awoke early in the morning, and when he went downstairs, he found that Darkfire was already outside, practicing.
Arran observed him for a while, impressed by the sight. He could see that Darkfire was executing a seemingly endless series of sword strokes, each different from the last.
Although there wasn't a pattern to the movements, exactly, to Arran's eyes it looked as if Darkfire was engaged in a fight with a dozen invisible enemies.
"That training technique of yours… what is it?" Arran asked after Darkfire finished.
"It's something my mother taught me when I was a child," Darkfire replied. "Let me show you how it works."
Darkfire spent the next hours teaching the technique to Arran, and although Arran only understood a small part of it, he could already tell that it would greatly help his own training.
"Want to head for the tournament?" Darkfire asked after they finished their training some hours later. "We can visit the Governor afterward."
They arrived at the arena half an hour later. It was large, circular, and made of stone, with a floor covered in yellow sand. Although it looked like it could easily accommodate a crowd of thousands, right now only barely a quarter of the seats were taken.
"The weekly tournaments don't usually draw large crowds," Darkfire explained. "Only the monthly ones draw out the strongest fighters."
As Arran looked around, he spotted half a dozen youths in black robes who stood out from the rest of the crowd, with nobody in the audience closer than ten paces to them.
"Who are they?" he asked, pointing at the group.
Darkfire looked over, and the moment he saw the group, his face fell. "Shadowbloods," he said in a disgusted voice.
"Shadowbloods? What are they?"
"They're a faction within the Shadowflame Society," Darkfire said. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay far away from them."
"Why?" Arran asked. This was the first time he saw actual members of the Shadowflame Society, and he hadn't expected he would have to avoid them.
"They believe that only those born within the Society should be allowed to join," Darkfire said. "You don't see them much in the border cities, since they don't usually recruit outsiders. And when they do, those recruits are rarely seen again."
"And this group?" Arran asked.
"These are just novices," Darkfire said. "But don't take them too lightly — they're still Society members. If they try to recruit you, refuse, but be polite about it. No point in needlessly making enemies."
Arran nodded, deciding that he would do his best to stay away from the Shadowbloods. Yet even as he made the decision, he saw one of them point at Darkfire, and a moment later the group approached them.
"Darkfire," one of the Shadowflame novices began, a sinister smile on his face. "I was wondering if your friend—"
"Fuck off," Darkfire said, not at all polite.
The young man's smile disappeared instantly. "You think just because your family—"
"Fuck off!" Darkfire said again, louder this time.
The young man's face twisted in anger, and for a moment, it looked as if he was going to attack Darkfire. Yet an instant later, he regained his composure, although a scowl remained on his face.
"One of these days you're going to get recruited," he said. "We'll see what happens when you're out there in the wilderness."
After a final glare at Darkfire, he turned around and left, the other novices following close behind him.
"That could have gone better," Arran said once they were out of earshot.
"Sorry about that," Darkfire said, sounding slightly embarrassed. "I just can't stand those treacherous bastards."
Arran nodded. Although part of him feared that the incident might cause problems in the future, he understood that Darkfire wasn't the type to hold his tongue. And even if it wasn't exactly convenient, Arran appreciated the lack of duplicity.
"So where do I go?" Arran asked, turning his attention back to the tournament.
"Follow me," Darkfire said, leading Arran to an area on the side of the arena where a large group of young men and women stood, apparently waiting to fight.
A large man immediately approached them, giving Darkfire a wary glance — clearly, the man recognized who he was.
"It's just him," Darkfire said, gesturing toward Arran, and a look of relief appeared on the man's face.
"Do you know the rules?" he asked, turning to Arran.
Arran shook his head.
"No sharpened weapons, and no killing blows," the man said. Pointing to Arran's sword, he added, "You'll have to leave that outside the arena, and use one of the provided weapons."
Arran handed his sword to Darkfire, then walked over to a large bucket filled with blunted swords. None of them were particularly well-made, but after a quick search, he found one that seemed at least halfway decent, even if it was far too light for his liking.
As they waited for the fights to begin, Darkfire leaned over to Arran.
"Don't show your full strength," he said in a low voice. "You won't need it, and you don't want to draw any more attention from the Shadowbloods."
They watched the first few fights from the sideline, and it didn't take long for Arran to understand that there would be no real challenge today. Although the fighters might be skilled by normal standards, none of them seemed to have any training in magic or Body Refinement.
When Arran was finally called to fight, his first opponent turned out to be one of the young men he had fought the previous night, face still carrying a large bruise. The moment the young man saw Arran, his eyes went wide with shock.
"I concede!" he called out, ending the fight before it had even started.
The crowd booed and jeered as they walked back to the waiting area, and Arran could not help but feel annoyed with the young man — even if he had no chance of winning, he should at least give it an honest effort.
The next few fights proved little more difficult than the first. Although now Arran's opponents did make an effort, the difference in strength was just too large. Even with Arran taking care not to injure his opponents, none of them lasted more than a few seconds.
The one exception was his final opponent, but that was only because the man ran away the moment the fight started, much to the amusement of the crowd. When Arran caught his opponent after a short chase, the man conceded before he could land even a single blow.
Arran felt some disappointment at his opponents, but then, he reminded himself that none were mages or Body Refiners.
The announcer was just about to call out his victory, when suddenly, a voice sounded.
"How about a real challenge!"
Arran sighed. Without even looking, he knew that the voice belonged to one of the Shadowbloods.
Total Chapters in book: 419
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 787321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 3937(@200wpm)___ 3149(@250wpm)___ 2624(@300wpm)
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