The two branching experts inspected each other in the sky, tension building in the air, seemingly about to generate a massive explosion.

Still, the two powerhouses’ stances were quite telling. Jessica’s jaw tensed, her anger rising, but leading to no action. Instead, Ray kept grinning, his arms behind his back, amused by the furious expert in front of him.

"Smiling Blade," Jessica eventually spoke, her decision to resort to words highlighting her position in the stalemate. "Step aside. My business is both personal and in the name of the Dragon Kingdom."

"Is spouting big names all you righteous cultivators can do?" Ray laughed vulgarly. "Turn back and save face. You weren’t my match even when you were whole."

"Do you still dare to stand in my way despite the insult the Mercenary Guild has received?" Jessica threatened.

"Why wouldn’t I dare?" Ray snickered. "What’s there to fear when you can’t protect yourself from a mere rooting expert?"

Jessica’s brown eyes went wide, gales blowing out of her figure, but nothing went past Ray. She gritted her teeth, her whole figure shaking in anger, but she still didn’t act. As insulting as it was, everything Smiling Blade had said was the truth.

Still, Ray suddenly sensed something, his eyebrow arcing before his face snapped at the ground behind him.

"Young rascal, show some respect, will you?" Ray scolded.

The attention converged on Liam at that point, his companions finding him in a surprising stance. Unknowingly to everyone, he had used the distraction in the sky to summon the Black Bow, his arms already spread to begin the Sky-Splitting Bolt’s ritual.

’Why is every cultivator against surprise attacks?’ Liam cursed internally, understanding the Elder’s reasons. That wasn’t a matter of foreplay. Liam had tried to use the Elder’s distraction to his advantage without asking for permission.

That would have been fine, or at least acceptable, with an ally, but the Elder had his own agenda. He might not necessarily agree to being involved in the murder of a branching expert from the Mercenary Guild.

Liam stored the bow. The fan was already nowhere to be seen, but he still crossed his arms and took a step forward, hiding Grace with his body while glaring at the woman in the sky.

The spite in Jessica’s mutual glare was palpable, but a frown afflicted her sharp face when she recognized the figure behind Liam.

"Didn’t I kill you?" Jessica questioned.

"Beware of what you are saying, Mercenary wench," Ray laughed again, refocusing on Jessica. "If news spread that your attacks failed to kill a rooting expert, your reputation would plummet even further."

The additional insult didn’t intensify Jessica’s anger again. She actually seemed to calm down a bit while she inspected Ray.

"Is the Heavenly Sword Cult set on protecting those unaffiliated criminals?" Jessica questioned.

"The Heavenly Sword Cult has nothing to do with this," Ray claimed. "I’ve been paid to do a job. Once I’m done, you are free to do whatever you want."

Jessica scoffed but didn’t argue. Her inferiority forced her to accept those lies. No matter how obvious the facade, she had to respect it if a stronger expert backed it up.

"Black Qi," Jessica called, instead focusing on Liam. "Don’t think things between us are over."

"Of course, they aren’t," Liam responded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I still have to kill you."

"You brat," Jessica cursed, losing it for a second. "I will rip your woman’s heart and force you to eat it."

"The gall!" Ray laughed, throwing his head back. "These youngsters remind me of myself from half a century ago."

Ray soon calmed down, pointing his grin at Jessica. "What are you still doing here? Scram!"

Jessica seemed on the verge of exploding, but she just threw another glare at the group on the ground before flying away until none of her presence remained.

Ray scoffed, inspecting the direction where Jessica had left, before flying down, jumping to the ground, his sword hovering above his figure as he stopped before the group, his arms still behind his back.

"Disciple greets Elder Ray," Lucas and Troy said in unison, cupping their fists.

"Senior," Liam and Grace did the same.

"So you can be polite," Ray grinned, his blue eyes never leaving Liam. "What about earlier? Did you want to use this old man to kill that Mercenary wench?"

"Yes?" Liam replied, not sure how his previous actions could leave any room for confusion.

"Ah, getting my help to kill a branching expert isn’t cheap!" Ray snorted. "Especially one from a Guild."

Liam blinked. As oppressive as Ray’s presence was, nothing targeted him specifically, so he tilted his head in confusion and inquired about the matter. "How much?"

Ray froze for a second, checking the woman at Liam’s side. Both Liam and Grace were in their devilish attire, and her face remained stern under that inspection. Her darkened lips didn’t even quiver, confirming that Liam was serious.

"Why haven’t you recruited them yet?" Ray eventually questioned the two swordsmen.

"Elder, they said they aren’t at liberty to join other forces," Lucas responded.

"Senior Smiling Blade, I apologize," Grace intervened. "Your interest honors us, but we truly can’t."

Ray hummed, checking Grace and Liam again, but eventually waving his hand dismissively.

"The good ones are always taken," Ray chuckled. "But we’ll have fun years ahead if more follow in your footsteps. Now, show me the reason why I am here."

Lucas straightened and nodded at Liam, who waved his hand to summon the agreed-upon shares. Six Rainbow Roses, four blue and two indigo, and the level three bear’s core appeared on the ground.

The Elder inspected the items, caressing his beard, before beckoning at them. They rose toward his hand on their own, disappearing inside his palm.

"You did a good job," The Elder announced. "The Heavenly Sword Cult shall reward you accordingly."

The Elder snapped his hand at the swordsmen, and two swords stabbed the ground at their feet, one black and one blue, both being peak rank 2 items, but carrying ominous, nefarious auras.

"Disciple Lucas will be awarded one of the Chaos Swords," Ray declared. "If it doesn’t drive you mad, you’ll obtain great power."

"Disciple Troy will instead receive the Frenzied Bolt," Ray continued. "This treasure holds the secret to enhancing the Furious Sword Qi."

Lucas and Troy carefully picked up their new swords, awe and wariness in their eyes. Even Troy’s usually emotionless face couldn’t help but leak those feelings.

"You’ll also both be able to study a rank 3 sword art of your choice," Ray added. "I suggest you go into seclusion as soon as we return to the Heavenly Sword Cult."

Lucas and Troy could only bow at those words, uttering thanks that Ray didn’t bother to listen to.

"As for you rascals," Ray addressed Liam and Grace now. "It’s my understanding that you want to run a scam on the battle cages. Since I’ve taken a liking to you two, I shall be your patron."