The Seniority War

"Haha... Fellow Cultivator, if I hadn’t reacted in time, I would have been killed by your sword." After a while, Hektor squeezed out a smile and said kindly.

The old man’s laughter echoed softly across the broken wasteland, yet the air between them remained strangely sharp.

The surrounding rocks were still split apart by lingering sword intent. Tiny strands of amethyst-colored sword Mana floated in the wind like misty threads before slowly fading into nothingness. Behind them, the terrifying battle between the giant beasts still shook the heavens. Flames devoured the horizon while thunderclouds rolled endlessly above the skies of The Forsaken Domain.

Even the earth trembled from time to time.

But at this moment, the atmosphere between Leon and Hektor was even subtler than the battlefield behind them.

Leon slowly lowered his hand.

His midnight robe fluttered lightly in the scorching wind, the thin amethyst embroidery at the edges reflecting flickers of lightning from afar. His long black hair swayed gently behind him, and those deep purple eyes calmly observed the old man before him without the slightest panic.

The strike earlier had been instinctive.

Yet within that single exchange, both sides had already tested each other.

And the result...

Neither dared underestimate the other anymore.

Leon said humbly, "You must be Soft Water Divine Sect’s First Elder, Respected Hektor, right? Nice to meet you. Respected One, you easily resolved my sword energy with a light strike just now. Compared to you, my insignificant cultivation is probably a little lacking."

His tone was modest.

Too modest.

So modest that even Fiona, standing nearby, almost wanted to laugh.

The two of them exchanged pleasantries, their hearts as clear as mirrors. They roughly understood each other’s strength after probing each other with a single move.

Hektor looked at Leon carefully.

The more he observed him, the more shocked he became internally.

Young.

Too young.

Yet that sword aura earlier had nearly pierced through his defensive Mana instantly.

Even now, the hand holding his sword behind his sleeve still felt slightly numb.

Hektor’s expression remained warm and amiable, but inwardly, waves were already surging through his heart.

What terrifying sword intent...

This young man’s aura was different from ordinary sword cultivators.

Cold.

Pure.

Absolute.

It was the kind of sword intent that only appeared in people who had complete confidence in themselves.

Hektor was very surprised. Putting everything else aside, just Leon’s sword technique alone had indeed shocked him. He was very curious. Who was this person? Why did he have such a terrifying sword aura?

He wasn’t lying just now. If he hadn’t reacted in time, he would have been injured by Leon’s sword.

As an expert of the older generation, Hektor had never seen anyone who could make him feel such a threat.

Especially...

A young man like this.

Fiona seemed to sense the strange atmosphere growing heavier, so she hurriedly stepped forward and explained softly,

"Teacher, this is the Division Master of Amethyst Summit Division of Celestis Academy, Leon... Respected Leon..."

The moment she introduced him, Hektor’s eyes changed slightly.

"Celestis Academy, Amethyst Summit Division?"

He repeated the words slowly, almost as if recalling an old memory buried beneath countless years.

For a moment, the old man fell silent.

Then suddenly—

Everything clicked together.

Hektor was stunned for a long time. He suddenly understood why Leon had such astonishing strength at such a young age. So he was Respected Zeon’s student?

Back then...

That sword monarch-like figure who once shook countless powerful sects with a single sword.

Even after all these years, Hektor still remembered that dazzling sword light.

Thinking of that man, even Hektor could not help but sigh inwardly.

"No wonder, haha... So you’re Respected Zeon’s student. Back then, I had some interactions with Respected Zeon and could be considered an old friend of his. I didn’t expect the world to be so ingenious. It’s really fate for me to meet the disciple of my old friend." Hektor squeezed out a kind smile and said.

The moment those words came out—

Leon’s lips twitched slightly.

His expression almost cracked for half a second.

This old fox...

He instantly understood Hektor’s intention.

The moment he mentioned being "old friends" with Respected Zeon, the old man was quietly trying to elevate his seniority above Leon.

If Leon acknowledged it, wouldn’t he immediately become the junior generation?

Leon silently cursed inwardly.

Old bastard... trying to take advantage of me the moment we meet?

However, outwardly, his expression remained calm and refined.

How could Leon admit it?

He immediately smiled faintly and replied,

"Haha, Respected Hektor must be joking. I’ve long heard my senior brother Mike mention Respected Hektor’s reputation many times. My senior brother once said that he didn’t have many friends in his life, but you’re counted as one. Before I left the Academy Premises, he specially told me to take care of the Soft Water Divine Sect students if I met them."

The moment those words fell—

Fiona instantly lowered her head.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

She was trying very hard not to laugh.

Hektor’s mouth twitched when he heard this. He immediately understood what Leon meant.

Good lord, this kid was not bad.

Not only did he avoid the trap effortlessly, he even dragged Mike out and reversed the situation completely.

If Hektor insisted on being from the older generation, then Leon would simply treat him as Mike’s peer.

In other words—

Same generation.

Neither side gained advantage.

Hektor stared at Leon for several seconds before suddenly laughing loudly.

Interesting.

Too interesting.

This young man truly deserved his reputation.

Not only was his sword terrifying, even his mouth was sharp.

Fiona also understood the meaning behind their words and wanted to laugh. She never thought that the immortal-like and amiable teacher in her memory would have such a cunning side. She also didn’t expect Leon to be able to pull the situation back under such circumstances.

To be honest, she was looking forward to Hektor winning. Wouldn’t she be of the same generation as Leon then? She was a little disappointed, but it didn’t matter.

Still...

When she secretly glanced toward Leon again, her heartbeat unconsciously sped up slightly.

Earlier, when Hektor suddenly appeared, Leon had instinctively pulled her into his arms to protect her.

That moment had happened too quickly.

But even now, she could still remember the feeling clearly.

The warmth of his chest.

The faint scent of sandalwood mixed with sword intent lingering on his robe.

The strength in his arm when he shielded her behind him without hesitation.

Fiona’s elegant face gradually became warm again.

She immediately turned away slightly, pretending to focus on the battlefield in the distance.

Meanwhile, Leon seemed completely unaware of her inner turmoil.

Or perhaps...

He noticed it and simply pretended not to.

"Haha... Fellow Cultivator, you must be joking! Speaking of your senior brother, I suddenly remembered something. Back then, your senior brother still owed me two hundred coins of silver for wine. It’s been a hundred years. I wonder when he will pay it back."

The old man suddenly sighed dramatically, stroking his beard with righteous indignation.

Leon froze.

His expression instantly became strange.

There was such a thing?

His senior brother didn’t look like someone who would owe money for wine.

And two hundred silver coins?

That was practically nothing for people of their status.

Could Mike really be shameless enough to avoid paying for a hundred years?

Leon’s mouth twitched slightly.

Even Fiona blinked in confusion.

Hektor looked completely serious, as if he had truly suffered a terrible injustice.

"Fellow Cultivator, since you’re his junior brother, why don’t you... pay for him?"