Chapter 67 - 68: I Am a Retainer of the Mercer Family. Do You Intend to Use the Clan Head’s Name to Pressure Me?

Chapter 67: Chapter 68: I Am a Retainer of the Mercer Family. Do You Intend to Use the Clan Head’s Name to Pressure Me?

Chapter 68: I Am a Retainer of the Mercer Family. Do You Intend to Use the Clan Head’s Name to Pressure Me?

Shortly after.

Outside the mountain gate of the Mercer Family on Crownfall Mountain, Magnus Calder stood with his hands behind his back. He raised his head, looked around, and patiently waited for the gatekeeper to return.

However, before the disciple came back, a terrifyingly sharp Sword Intent swept toward him from a short distance away!

"Such Sword Intent... Could Julian Mercer have come in person?"

Magnus’s expression changed. His gaze turned solemn.

As far as he knew, there was only one person on Crownfall Mountain whose Sword Intent could reach such a terrifying level.

That person was the renowned Sword Grandmaster Julian Mercer!

Thinking of this, Magnus immediately turned toward the source of the Sword Intent.

A man dressed in black was walking toward him. A black sword hung at his waist, and his right sleeve was empty.

The terrifying Sword Intent that filled Magnus with pressure came from this man.

Magnus narrowed his eyes. A trace of surprise appeared deep within them.

He had never heard that Julian Mercer was missing an arm.

Confused, he studied the man’s appearance more closely.

Then a strong sense of familiarity suddenly surfaced.

"Such formidable Sword Intent, along with those physical features... Could this man be Eamon Strake, the one-armed Swordmaster?"

Magnus raised an eyebrow, still unsure why the man had come to meet him.

As the distance between them narrowed, he cautiously asked, "Could you be Senior Eamon Strake?"

Eamon glanced at him coldly. He said nothing and simply nodded.

Magnus’s face lit up with recognition. He immediately cupped his fists and bowed.

"To meet Senior Eamon Strake in person! I have heard of your many deeds over the years and have long wished to meet you. Yet fate never gave me the chance, and I have always regretted it."

"Who would have thought that we would meet today? It seems heaven has finally granted my wish. If I did not have urgent matters to attend to, I would certainly arrange a banquet and invite you for a few drinks."

As he spoke, Magnus watched Eamon’s expression in secret.

He was surprised to see Eamon here, but he soon found a reason for it.

Eamon Strake was famous throughout the surrounding region for his devotion to the sword. He treated swordsmanship as his life’s purpose.

Now that Julian Mercer’s reputation as a Sword Grandmaster had spread, how could Eamon ignore it?

The chance to meet such a powerful swordsman must have stirred his fighting spirit. Coming to Crownfall Mountain was only natural.

However, Eamon showed no interest in Magnus’s flattery.

He shook his head, placed his left hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and tightened his grip.

Slowly, he drew the blade. Cold light flashed along its sharp edge.

"Enough nonsense. I’ll let you strike first. Draw your sword."

Magnus’s expression froze.

He had never expected a simple meeting to turn into a fight.

This made no sense. Wasn’t Eamon Strake known for drawing his sword only against opponents he considered worthy?

Magnus knew his own limits.

Even Silas Crowe had failed to withstand a single exchange with Eamon. Magnus, who had not even comprehended Sword Intent, stood no chance.

He hurriedly waved his hands.

"Senior, I know the difference between our strength. I am no match for you, so there is no need for me to embarrass myself. Could we not simply skip this exchange?"

Eamon’s expression remained unchanged.

He held his sword in one hand before his chest, its razor-sharp tip pointing directly at Magnus.

"If you refuse to strike, then it will be my turn."

As soon as he spoke, an even stronger Sword Intent spread in every direction. It filled the space around them with an overwhelming, cutting pressure.

Sweat appeared on Magnus’s forehead. He swallowed nervously.

Under the chilling pressure of Eamon’s Sword Intent, he had no doubt that the man would attack if he continued to refuse.

Realizing this, Magnus forced himself to act.

He summoned a sword from his Purple Mansion space.

With a single step, he rushed toward Eamon. He poured his Origin Sea energy into the blade and slashed at Eamon’s chest.

Eamon’s eyes filled with disdain.

He stood perfectly still. With a small flick of his wrist, he raised his sword and struck Magnus’s blade.

The force sent Magnus’s sword flying from his hand.

Before Magnus could react, Eamon turned his blade and slapped him across the face with its flat side.

Magnus staggered backward, his cheek burning with pain.

Eamon placed his sword behind his back and looked at him with contempt.

"Weak. Far too weak. With swordsmanship like yours, you don’t even deserve to see the sword art I have just mastered."

In a single exchange, Eamon had already grasped Magnus’s true strength.

Magnus was at the Origin Sea Realm Third Layer, but he had not comprehended Sword Intent. His foundation was also extremely shallow, and his actual combat strength fell far below what Eamon had expected.

In short, the Ashen Thorn Sect Master was little more than a cultivator whose realm had been forced upward through an accumulation of resources.

Eamon’s mocking words made Magnus clench his fists. The veins on his forehead throbbed as fury burned in his chest.

He wanted to find some excuse to defend himself.

But Eamon gave him no chance.

He casually drove his sword point-first into the ground. Then his figure flashed, and he appeared before Magnus.

A series of punches followed, each one striking with frightening speed.

Against Eamon’s overwhelming assault, Magnus had no chance to defend himself.

After taking dozens of punches, his body was covered in bruises and wounds. He collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

Having suffered such a beating without warning, Magnus felt both furious and humiliated.

With great difficulty, he raised his head and glared at Eamon.

"Senior Eamon! I have never offended you. Why are you bullying me by relying on your superior cultivation?"

"Do not forget where we are! This is Crownfall Mountain, the home of the Mercer Family. I came here as a guest of the Mercer Family. If you act so recklessly and ignore the dignity of Sword Grandmaster Julian, what will people think when word spreads? Who would dare visit the Mercer Family in the future?"

Magnus understood that if Eamon continued attacking, he would most likely die here.

To save his life, he decided to invoke the Mercer Family’s name. He hoped Julian’s reputation would make Eamon hesitate and hold back.

It was a fine plan.

Unfortunately, reality had other ideas.

Eamon reached down with his left hand, seized Magnus by the back of his collar, and lifted his badly injured body with ease.

As Magnus struggled to understand what was happening, Eamon’s voice sounded beside his ear, carrying a hint of amusement.

"Oh? I am a retainer of the Mercer Family now. Are you sure you want to use the Clan Head’s name to pressure me?"