Chapter 2 Challenging

"Bang!" With a heavy thud, James was sent flying and crashed to the ground, taking a moment to get back up, blood trickling from his mouth. "Haha! I told you, you're no match for me," Vic laughed triumphantly. "In your Su family, only Charles Su is somewhat competent. The rest are just useless. Even Charles can't compare to my brother." "Shut up!" James and the other Su family members were angry but couldn't argue back. In this martial world, there are five realms: Reboning Realm, True Martial Realm, Misthaven Realm, Void Breaking Realm, and Nirvana Realm. The Reboning Realm is the foundation, usually achieved in two or three years. After that, one truly enters the martial path, the True Martial Realm, which has ten grades. The current generation of Su family wasn't outstanding. Charles was the only notable one, barely reaching the Tenth Grade True Martial Realm. On the other hand, Jackson Zhao, at just nineteen, had almost reached the Misthaven Realm, making him unmatched among the Su family's young members. But there was one exception. And that person had just arrived at the training ground. "James, are you okay?" Owen asked, looking at James. "Don't pretend to care," James muttered, turning away. Owen didn't mind and turned his gaze to Vic, his eyes cold. "Owen?" Vic's heart skipped a beat upon seeing him, but he quickly sneered. "So, it's the young Master of the Su family, who ran away from his duel with the Situ family." He emphasized "ran away," dripping with sarcasm. Three years ago, he wouldn't have dared speak to Owen like that, but times had changed. "Owen, you're a disgrace to the Su family. You didn't even have the guts to fight. How do you have the face to come back? If I were you, I'd find a wall to bash my head against." Vic laughed, and his followers joined in, mocking. Owen coldly stared at Vic. "Vic, you're the son of Reg Zhao, a retainer of the Su family. Your father came to us with only a mid-Misthaven Realm cultivation. It was our family's resources that helped him reach the Void Breaking Realm." "And you, how many resources and pills did you receive from our family?" Vic's expression changed. "You and your family thrived on the Su family's support. You're nothing more than dogs fed by us. And now, you dare to bite the hand that feeds you?" Owen said with disdain. "Owen, how dare you insult me? Do you think this is still three years ago?" Vic shouted angrily. "Three years ago, you were the top talent, reaching Peak Tenth Grade True Martial Realm at fifteen. But after three years in Valdemoro Prison, cut off from spiritual energy, your cultivation must have fallen." Saying this, Vic stepped forward, his hand glowing with a faint flame-like aura, clearly using a martial technique. "Master!" Sherry cried out in alarm. James and the others looked tense, worried for Owen. From the previous clash, they could tell Owen's cultivation was now only at the True Martial Realm's seventh grade, while Vic was at its peak, making him seemingly much stronger. "Fool," Owen muttered as Vic's punch neared. At the last moment, Owen sidestepped effortlessly, letting the punch miss and hit the air. Then, Owen swung his hand, slapping Vic hard. "Smack!" The sound echoed loudly. The slap sent Vic flying, a bloody tooth spinning out of his mouth. "Truly foolish," Owen said, looking down at Vic struggling to get up. "Did you think a slightly higher cultivation level meant you could beat me? What a joke." In this world, cultivation level is important, but it's not everything. Two people with the same cultivation can have vastly different strengths. Vic, despite his higher cultivation, lacked true talent. In front of Owen, who had awakened the Supreme Bloodline, he was no match. Owen didn't even need to draw his sword to easily defeat him. "Vic, consider this a warning," Owen said coldly. "Remember, you're just a dog fed by the Su family. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. If there's a next time, it won't be just a slap." Vic, trembling with anger and humiliation, could barely speak, pointing at Owen. "Owen, you... you..." Owen turned to leave. "Sherry, let's go." "Yes," Sherry nodded, unable to hide her joy. James and the others were also visibly moved, though they tried to contain their emotions. Just as Owen was about to leave the training ground, Vic, still enraged, shouted, "Owen, just wait! My brother will be back soon. He'll make you pay for this humiliation!" "Your brother? Jackson?" Owen chuckled. He remembered Jackson, a talented member of the younger generation, but nowhere near his level. Jackson, at nineteen, was at the Peak Tenth Grade True Martial Realm, a level Owen had reached at fifteen before his Supreme Bloodline had even awakened. Even with his current reduced cultivation, catching up to Jackson wouldn't be difficult. "Owen, don't act like you don't care! The Su family Sword Token competition is next month. My brother will participate, and with his strength, the Sword Token will be his. He will become the leader of the younger generation, and everyone, including you, will have to respect him!" Vic shouted. "Sword Token competition?" Owen's expression finally changed. The Su family had two Sword Tokens: one held by the head of the family, symbolizing ultimate authority, and the other by the top member of the younger generation, granting them significant power within the family. Traditionally, only members of the Su family could compete for the Sword Token. Owen realized the Reg faction had grown so influential that even outsiders like Jackson could now compete for the Sword Token. If someone outside the Su family won it, it would be a disgrace. "Vic," Owen said, turning back with a gaze cold as death. "Go back and tell Jackson that only the Su family member can hold the Sword Token. If he dares to compete, I'll kill him in the competition!" With that, Owen walked away, leaving Vic and the others stunned.