As Frank and Silverbell''s sword duel intensified, Maron grew more wary of either of them.


    At the same time, he felt lucky he had never fought Frank directly... or he would end up a corpse


    already!


    "Take this—Thousand Mile Burst!"


    A blur shot down from the above.


    Too fast for Frank to avoid, he had to raise his sword to parry in the heat of the moment.


    ng!


    The silver beam shattered the sword even as Frank looked on, and it never stopped as it kept pressing


    toward Frank''s face.


    "Oof—" Frank grunted as he stepped backward, and he touched his forehead to feel blood welling out


    of a shallow scratch.


    "I lost," he said, throwing the hilt on the floor and openly admitting defeat.


    "No, you''ve won," Silverbell said even as shended, her fingers twitching around her sword.


    She leveled a look of mixed emotions at Frank before shaking her head. "It''s the rule—anyone in any


    sect who canst twenty strikes from my de earns their sect a ce in the Martial Alliance. And


    you''ve survived more than fifty."


    ncing at the shards of the broken sword around the floor, she sighed in disappointment. "And it''s not


    as if you were incapacitated—the sword you wield was just too crude. I have to admit that you''re a


    ss above me."


    Swish.


    Silverbell sheathed her sword, nodding calmly at Frank. "You''ve cleared this trial."


    "Thank you." Frank nodded in turn, not denying it since it was the reality.


    When the best of the best stepped into the ring, they pitted their skills and warrior''s mind against each


    other.


    It was especially the case in swordcraft, with swords being elegant weapons wielded in a civilized time.


    Those without virtue could not hope to direct their sword to strike true, let alone cultivate their


    swordcraft to the pinnacle.


    "And since you''ve won, I hereby announce that Sage Lake Sect. is eligible."


    Silverbell suddenly paused before turning toward Frank in disbelief and dropped to the floor limply, her


    cheeks flushed and her breathing rushed.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "It''s working!" Maron eximed in delight, leaping out of the crowd and pointing at Frank as he


    bellowed in righteous indignation, "What do you think you''re doing, Frank Lawrence?!"


    "Hmm.?" Frank turned to Maron in confusion.


    As the Sage Lake Sect apprentices looked on, Maron kept snapping, "To think I treated you as a friend!


    How dare you resort to such underhanded moves!"


    "Underhanded moves?" Frank was left further confused about what Maron was up to.


    Maron simply ignored him and bellowed, "I''m taking Lady Silverbell to the infirmary—I saw Frank


    blindside her with a white powder just now!"


    Then, turning towards Elder Huxley, hemanded, "Restrain him! Also, all other apprentices are to


    stay away from the infirmary and avoid getting into trouble."


    Then, he went up to Silverbell to help her to her feet, but she pushed him away. "Sage Lake Sect...


    When did you. poison me?!"