Chapter 48: The Powerless

Ryan braced himself for the incoming blow, preparing to endure it by force.

But then.

"How dare you cause trouble in the Ashfall City Free Market?!"

The agonizing pain Ryan had been expecting never came.

Instead, a thunderous voice erupted from the distance.

A streak of yellow light tore across the sky and arrived in an instant.

At the critical moment, a figure descended like a divine warrior from the heavens.

His right fist was wrapped in dense yellow Origin Energy as he drove it viciously into the massive head of the Earth Yellow Python.

"Profound Tier Medium Grade Combat Skill, Raging Eagle Fist!"

BOOM!

The punch landed with devastating force.

An eagle’s cry rang through the air as a fierce phantom eagle emerged from the man’s fist, carrying an overwhelming aura.

The Earth Yellow Python’s enormous body convulsed violently.

"ANG!"

A pained howl escaped its throat.

Its massive head was slammed downward by the sheer force of the blow, as though its tremendous weight had suddenly become meaningless.

BANG!

Its head crashed into the bluestone pavement.

The sturdy ground shattered on impact, sending chunks of stone and clouds of dust flying in every direction as violent shockwaves swept through the market.

The Earth Yellow Python writhed desperately, its enormous body twisting in agony.

"Desmond Ashworth!"

Mortimer Sable’s expression darkened instantly.

Seeing the miserable state of his Natal Beast, fury burned in his eyes as he glared at the newcomer.

"You dare interfere with me?"

He immediately pointed toward the heavily injured Earth Yellow Python.

WHOOSH!

The enormous python transformed into a streak of yellow light and was instantly pulled back into Mortimer Sable’s Origin Energy Sea, disappearing into his Natal Origin Mansion.

The terrifying beast vanished without a trace.

"Haa..."

Ryan finally released the breath he had been holding.

Only now, after narrowly escaping death, did he have enough composure to properly examine the man who had saved him.

Desmond Ashworth had already landed steadily on the ground.

He appeared to be a man in his forties.

Although his temples were touched with gray, his physique remained sturdy and powerful, giving him an imposing presence.

He wore gray-and-white robes that fluttered gently in the wind.

Perched proudly on his right shoulder was an Azure Feathered Eagle nearly half his height.

Its sleek feathers shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight, while its razor-sharp eyes radiated the arrogance of a natural predator.

Desmond Ashworth looked every bit like a seasoned powerhouse.

Ryan had learned about the Ashworth Family during his extensive studies.

The Ashworth Family was one of the five great families of Ashfall City, standing alongside the Shangguan and Mu Xue Families as one of the city’s most influential powers.

What Ryan hadn’t expected was that the Ashfall City Free Market actually belonged to the Ashworth Family.

"Mortimer Sable."

Desmond’s expression remained calm as he faced the murderous old man.

"I suggest you know when to stop."

His authoritative gaze swept across the wreckage surrounding them before returning to Sable.

"I am the guardian of this market."

His voice turned cold.

"Anyone who causes trouble here is challenging the authority of the Ashworth Family."

A sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

"And I will deal with them accordingly."

It had been a long time since anyone had dared cause trouble in the free market.

Desmond hadn’t expected the troublemaker this time to be an old acquaintance.

Over the years, he had become thoroughly familiar with Sable’s arrogant and domineering personality.

The surrounding crowd quickly retreated.

One by one, whispers spread through the spectators.

"My God! What kind of day is this? Another peak Origin Transcendent Realm expert! Who do you think is going to win?"

"So he’s the market’s guardian? He looks insanely powerful."

"Someone actually dared to cause trouble on Ashworth Family territory. They must have a death wish."

"They’re both peak Origin Transcendent Realm experts. This is going to be a hell of a fight."

"Back up! If those two actually fight, none of us can afford to get caught in the crossfire!"

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

"Hmph!"

Mortimer Sable ignored the surrounding whispers and let out a cold snort.

His expression was grim as he stared at Desmond.

"What big words."

He paused, his voice turning threatening.

"Desmond Ashworth, for the sake of a mere ant, you’re really willing to fall out with my Thousand Sword Manor?"

Mortimer’s cultivation was on par with Desmond’s.

The two had known each other for many years and had crossed paths in battle more than once.

Yet neither had ever managed to gain a decisive advantage over the other.

If Desmond insisted on standing in his way, Sable knew that obtaining the black beast hide today would be extremely difficult.

Thousand Sword Manor was one of the Eight Great Sects of Ashfall City.

Most of its disciples were known for their aggressive and domineering personalities.

Mortimer Sable was an elder of Thousand Sword Manor.

He was even more extreme than most of his fellow disciples, violent, unpredictable, and ruthless.

Although he possessed formidable strength, he was particularly infamous for killing others and seizing their treasures.

His reputation was far from clean.

"Ant?"

Ryan’s expression changed when he heard the insult.

Anger surged through his chest.

Yet he couldn’t refute it.

Because at that moment, Ryan finally understood something with absolute clarity.

He was too weak.

The gap between his strength and that of these peak experts was simply enormous.

For a moment, anger, humiliation, frustration, and unwillingness churned together inside him.

He hated this feeling.

He hated being powerless.

Power.

He needed power.

He desperately needed power.

Never before had Ryan craved strength so intensely.

"A guest is a guest."

Desmond’s expression turned solemn.

His aura suddenly erupted.

The air around him trembled under the pressure.

"Since the Ashworth Family opened this market to the public, we are responsible for maintaining order."

His sharp gaze locked onto Mortimer Sable.

"No matter who comes here looking for trouble, they will have to get past me first."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"After all, I wouldn’t want anyone forgetting the name of the Ashworth Raging Eagle."

As his voice fell.

A gentle breeze swept across the market.

The Azure Feathered Eagle perched on Desmond’s shoulder suddenly dissolved into countless points of shimmering light.

WHOOSH!

The particles spiraled upward before gathering behind Desmond.

In the blink of an eye, they condensed into an enormous eagle-shaped phantom.

Its wings spread wide.

The colossal phantom was so massive that it seemed capable of blotting out the sky.

The surrounding light dimmed beneath its shadow.

An astonishing pressure erupted from its body.

The air currents around it became chaotic, slicing through the surroundings like countless invisible blades.

Its enormous eyes glowed with a fierce crimson light.

They locked onto Mortimer Sable with the cold focus of a predator watching its prey.

It seemed that the instant Sable made the slightest wrong move, the enormous eagle would descend upon him.

[Ashworth Raging Eagle]

[Lifeform Type]

[C-Rank Top Tier Bloodline]

The Ashworth Raging Eagle was the Ashworth Family’s Heritage Bloodline.

It was the second form of the S-Rank Top Tier Bloodline known as the Ashworth Divine Eagle.

It was also the initial form of the family’s Heritage Bloodline, evolved from the C-Rank Excellent Bloodline, Ashworth Raging Eagle.

The Ashworth Family possessed a unique inheritance system.

Upon awakening their bloodline, family members with the proper inheritance would initially awaken the C-Rank Excellent Ashworth Raging Eagle Bloodline.

The Ashworth Raging Eagle possessed powerful passive abilities that enhanced physical strength and movement speed while granting the user Eagle Eye Remote Vision.

Its active ability allowed the user to establish a unique form of communion with eagle-type exotic beasts, enabling them to utilize the combat skills and secret techniques possessed by their eagle-type beast companions.

Once the Bloodline evolved into the C-Rank Top Tier Ashworth Raging Eagle, another powerful ability would become available.

The user could actively control their eagle-type beast companion and transform it into a phantom that merged with their body, entering a special state known as.

[Phantom Eagle Combat State]

While in this state, the user’s panoramic eagle-eye vision and physical strength would be greatly enhanced for a short period.

Their movement speed would also increase dramatically.

If the Bloodline evolved to an even higher grade, even more powerful auxiliary abilities could be unlocked.

It was undoubtedly an exceptionally powerful Bloodline for close-quarters combat.

"Hmph!"

Mortimer Sable let out another cold snort.

Yellow Origin Energy surged around his body, illuminating the surrounding area with dazzling light.

His aura fluctuated unpredictably, twisting through the air like a swimming dragon.

"Nine Heavens Blade!"

The moment his voice fell.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Nine silver-white flying blades shot out from his Origin Energy Sea.

Each blade was slender and elegant, resembling a sharpened bamboo leaf.

The nine blades hovered motionlessly behind Mortimer Sable, forming an eerie fan-shaped formation.

A razor-sharp aura spread through the air.

[Nine Heavens Blade]

[Object Control System]

[C-Rank Top Tier Bloodline]

The Nine Heavens Blade was the Thousand Sword Manor’s Sect Heritage Bloodline.

It was the second form of the S-Rank Top Tier Bloodline known as Myriad Blades Immortal Slayer.

It was also the initial form of the Sect Heritage Bloodline, having evolved from the C-Rank Excellent Bloodline, Seven Stars Flying Blades.

Unlike ordinary Family Heritage Bloodlines, Sect Heritage Bloodlines were not passed down through one’s lineage.

Instead, they were cultivated after awakening through special, fixed Bloodline evolution formulas.

The evolution formula for Nine Heavens Blade required the practitioner to absorb and refine a large quantity of specific Object Control System Bloodline Essence.

Only the most talented disciples of Thousand Sword Manor, combined with sufficient resources and fortune, had any chance of successfully cultivating it.

It was the strongest Sect Heritage Bloodline within Thousand Sword Manor, standing on equal footing with the Ashworth Raging Eagle Bloodline.

Those who possessed the Seven Stars Flying Blades Bloodline could simultaneously control up to seven refined flying blades.

They could fight enemies from a distance, manipulating the blades through the air and striking their opponents from impossible angles.

Once the Bloodline evolved into the C-Rank Top Tier Nine Heavens Blade, the practitioner gained the ability to simultaneously control nine exclusive refined flying blades.

Within a hundred-meter radius, the blades could take an enemy’s head almost instantly.

Their explosive offensive power and flexibility were astonishing.

At the same time, the Bloodline would awaken another powerful passive ability.

[Divine Evolution]

This ability could greatly increase the total quantity and strength of the user’s Mental Awareness, allowing them to multitask more efficiently while significantly enhancing their Object Control abilities.

If the Bloodline evolved to an even higher grade, both the strength of the user’s Mental Awareness and the number of flying blades they could control would increase further.

It was undoubtedly one of the deadliest Bloodlines for long-range combat.

At this moment.

The enormous Ashworth Raging Eagle phantom faced the nine cold, silver-white flying blades.

The air between the two peak Origin Transcendent Realm experts seemed to freeze.

Neither side had made a move.

Yet the invisible pressure between them was already enough to force the surrounding Bloodline Fighters to retreat repeatedly.

Everyone understood one thing. The moment either side attacked, the entire Ashfall City Free Market could descend into chaos.