Chapter 323
323 Leave Your Lives Behind
“Venomancer of Taybourne… what are you doing here p>
Among the four, the one who had spoken to Leander before now spoke again, his voice sharp, filled with disbelief and alarm.
The other three immediately went on high alert, every ounce of their energy drawn to its peak.
All four were half-Sovereigns. Together, they could challenge even a Martial Sovereign and hold their ground. Yet at the sight of the newcomer, they reacted as if facing a mortal threat. The reason was simple-the person before them radiated terrifying power.
The man in the black robe stood completely still. A faint curl of his lips, and a foul metallic tang of blood wafted from his mouth.
“You Four Dire Wardens… truly Gareth’s right and left hands, aren’t you? Such loyalty,” he sneered.
The middle-aged man at the front spoke, his voice cold and heavy. “Venomancer, you’ve come all the way from Taybourne to Astria. This is Highcliffe-do you not fear my master’s wrath p>
Leander stood behind them, his gaze shifting as he assessed the scene. He could finally place them.
These four… they must be the Four Dire Wardens personally trained by Gareth, he thought.
Back when he was still with the Ashcroft family, he had heard of them. They were quadruplets, rescued by Gareth and devoted ever since. Each wielded a different weapon, and each was named for that weapon.
These four were the family’s most formidable guards, answering only to Gareth. Leander had never seen them in person before.
Today, he was finally seeing the full force of all four at once.
Facing Sword Warden’s accusation, Venomancer didn’t flinch. He gave a faint, knowing smile and
spat out a rough string of Astric.
“Where in this world could I not go?” he said. “Even in this vast Highcliffe, not even Gareth could know my exact whereabouts. How could he possibly know I’ve reached Westvale Peak p>
He licked his lips, his crimson tongue curling, eyes flashing with a deadly chill.
“Four Dire Wardens, you’re far too tense. I came only because I heard that Gareth’s wife was at Durham Abbey, offering prayers and devotion. I wished simply to pay my respects p>
The Four Dire Wardens froze, then drew their weapons in unison.
“How dare you p>
Blade Warden stepped forward, eyes sharp, killing intent gathering like storm clouds.
“Venomancer, you are a great grandmaster of martial arts, a Martial Sovereign of long-standing fame, yet you act so vile.
“You and five other Martial Sovereigns once set up a tournament at the Garrison Plains to defeat all Astria’s champions. You were soundly defeated by my master and fled in disgrace.
“And now that you return, you should face my master directly. You dare not, yet you come here to harm his wife in secret. Is that the way of a true warrior p>
The other Sword, Spear, and Staff Wardens all sneered, clearly showing their disdain.
“Hmph p>
Mention of Gareth made Venomancer’s eyes flash with a hint of caution. His voice turned cold.
“Gareth is indeed my mortal enemy, but I must admit, I am no match for him. Facing him now would be courting death.
“In time, others will attend to Gareth and the Ashcroft family; that is not my concern.
“My task is far simpler. I will plant a poisonous worm within his wife, making her life a torment, an endless agony.
“I will make Gareth feel the pain of watching the woman he loves suffer.
“Anything that causes him grief, I will gladly do it p>
At Venomancer’s words, the Four Dire Wardens’ expressions changed dramatically. The worst-case scenario had arrived.
“If you even think of harming Mrs. Ashcroft, Venomancer, you’ll have to step over our dead bodies first p>
They immediately braced for battle, their auras surging to the limit. Acting as one, their energy intertwined, forming an impenetrable barrier in front of Venomancer. “Hmph. You think you can stop me-just the four of you half-Sovereigns?” Venomancer’s eyes flickered with disdain. Over ten years ago, he had already ascended to Martial Sovereign. Although Gareth had gravely wounded him in that battle, and he was still repairing internal injuries with no further progress in power, he remained a genuine late Martial Sovereign. Facing four half-Sovereigns was little more than a casual exercise.
The Four Dire Wardens remained silent. Sword Warden lunged, his long sword slicing through the air in three deadly arcs toward Venomancer’s vital points.
He struck first, seeking to seize the advantage.
Venomancer’s strength was beyond anything they could withstand individually; only
a coordinated strike offered even a slim chance.
“You’re overestimating yourselves p>
Venomancer’s face remained impassive. With a flick of his black robe, a gale of energy whipped off his sleeve, colliding with the sword.
Clang!
The metallic clash rang out.
Venomancers sleeve, reinforced by
his immense inner strength, had become as hard as steel.
impact jolted Sword Warden violently, splitting the flesh of his hand and sending his long sword
flying.
He staggered back, and immediately, Spear Warden lunged forward, spear aimed to
strike.
The spear cut through the air, aiming for a narrow, deadly angle at Venomancer’s ribs.
Venomancer stepped forward, precise and unflinching, and threw a single punch.
Clang!
The spear rang out violently across
Westvale Peak. Spear Warden felt a
tremendous force surge back
through the weapon his insides
twisting with pain. A mouthful of
blood burst forth, and he was sent skidding backward.
“Venomancer, you’re way too arrogant p>
Blade Warden and Staff Warden, their strength unparalleled, raised their weapons high and leapt, swinging down hard.
“Utterly foolish,” Venomancer murmured, unmoved. A cold curve lifted the corner of his mouth. With a flick of his sleeve, a cloud of green mist erupted.
Whoosh!
The wind swept it across, the thick green fog blending into the air. Blade Warden
and Staff Warden froze midair, then collapsed unconscious.
“Poison p>
Spear Warden and Sword Warden
realized too late. Besides his renown as a martial arts master of
Taybourne, Venomancer’s skill with taxins was legendaryal Sovereigns of the same rank
Even Martial
avoided touching his poisons.
Cóntent
But recognition came too late. They had inhaled the toxic mist. Darkness overtook their vision, and they crumpled to the ground.
All Four Dire Wardens lay poisoned and incapacitated. Venomancer sneered, face radiating contempt.
“If Gareth were here, I’d turn and leave. But mere Four Dire Wardens dare block me? You’re simply courting death p>
As his words faded, five sharp whistling sounds tore through the air. Five figures of varying height shot forward, shaking the forest, scattering birds and wildlife in their
wake.
“You’ve all arrived p>
Venomancer glanced at the five behind him. Each was a top Martial Sovereign from the surrounding nations of Astria.
There was Master Tharok from Sundara, Kael Ironfist from Seravon, Lucian Strikewhip from Luthara, and Sage Kyrandel from Syrvath Reach—each a first-rate Martial Sovereign in the world today.
Years ago, the six of them had joined forces at the Garrison Plains in Astria, setting up a tournament to battle the land’s greatest champions. Not once did they taste
defeat.
Until one unknown man-Gareth-swept through all six of them alone, forcing them into a retreat. Since then, they had harbored nothing but hatred and resentment
toward him.
“Hmph! Gareth is careful, I see. He even left the Four Dire Wardens by his wife’s side,” Master Tharok said, stepping forward and sneering at the fallen Wardens. “Too bad he didn’t expect us to come personally. Forget the Four Dire Wardens- even if more of them arrived, we’d handle them all p>
Venomancer nodded and waved his hand.
“Let’s go. Find Gareth’s wife. Kill her, and even someone as powerful as Gareth will
suffer a crushing blow.
“When that happens, when our forces sweep down on them, Gareth and the
Ashcroft family will have no way to survive p>
The five behind him nodded, preparing to ascend the stone steps.
But at that moment, they noticed a lone figure standing ahead on the mountain path.
A young man, tall and imposing, his eyes cold as ice, sweeping across the six
Martial Sovereigns. The chill in his gaze made each of them shiver, as if plunged into an icebound tomb.
“Think you can go up the mountain?
“Leave your lives behind first p>