Chapter 26 Ethan Mercer Annuls the Engagement, Furious Kieran Locke!

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Ethan Mercer Annuls the Engagement, Furious Kieran Locke!

"Hmph! At worst, I’ll die. But you’re the son of the Aldercrest Order’s Sect Master, and you still go around pursuing another man’s fiancée. How utterly despicable! I used to hear people praise the Aldercrest Order, but now it seems to be nothing more than a filthy, chaotic place!"

Ethan Mercer stared coldly at Kieran Locke, showing no trace of fear.

After years of being treated as a useless cripple, Ethan had long since grown accustomed to the harshness of the world. He had once possessed extraordinary talent, but now he could no longer cultivate. With his future seemingly destroyed, even death no longer frightened him as it once might have.

A cold glint flashed through Kieran’s eyes.

The surrounding Mercer Family members were watching him. Although most dared not speak, he could see the anger in their expressions. Their gazes made him feel as though he had become the subject of a public joke.

How dare a mere cripple challenge him?

At that moment, Elara Wycliffe sensed that the situation was spiraling out of control. Eager to end the confrontation she had helped create, she immediately turned toward the Mercer Family elders.

"I believe you all understand why I’ve come."

She paused before continuing.

"I’m here to annul my engagement to Ethan Mercer. The sooner this matter is settled, the sooner both families can move forward. Surely that would be best for everyone. What do you think?"

Hearing Elara speak, Kieran managed to suppress his anger.

If he attacked a powerless cripple, he would only dirty his own hands and damage his standing. Someone of his status had no reason to stoop to such a level.

Sensing the tension in the hall, the Mercer Family elders hurried to prevent the situation from worsening.

One elder brought forward the engagement contract, along with paper and a writing brush, and placed them before Ethan.

"Ethan, your mother passed away when you were young, and your father’s whereabouts remain unknown. Given your circumstances, you should focus on staying alive and rebuilding your life. There’s no shame in stepping back when the situation leaves you with no good choices."

The elder’s voice softened.

"Sign the contract and end the engagement. You still have a long life ahead of you."

Looking at the young man who had once been the branch family’s greatest genius, the elder felt a deep ache in his heart.

Ethan had once been the pride of the Mercer Family. Before reaching the age of ten, he had cultivated to the peak of the Bone Tempering Realm. Everyone had expected him to become a formidable cultivator.

Now, he could no longer cultivate at all.

The contrast was painful.

Ethan reached out and took the engagement contract. His eyes moved across the words written on the page, and a wave of grief and indignation rose within him.

Since ancient times, it was hardly common for a woman to personally visit her fiancé’s family to end an engagement, especially while openly displaying her closeness to another man.

How could he allow the Mercer Family to suffer such humiliation?

He looked at the contract for a final moment.

Then, under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Ethan’s expression hardened. He tore the engagement contract into pieces.

Paper fragments fluttered to the floor.

He raised his head and stared directly at Elara.

"From this day onward, our engagement is over. But remember this clearly: you are not the one breaking off the engagement."

His voice grew firmer.

"It’s me, Ethan Mercer, who no longer wants you!"

The hall fell silent for a heartbeat.

Then an uproar erupted.

Elara’s face turned deathly pale.

If she had been the one to end the engagement, she could at least have claimed that she had made the decision herself. But Ethan had publicly rejected her first, turning the situation completely around.

It was a direct blow to her pride.

She could already imagine the ridicule that would follow once news of this incident spread throughout Briarford City.

Biting her red lips, she glared at Ethan with an expression of wounded indignation.

"Ethan! Do you really have to take things this far?"

Ethan swept his gaze across the hall and gave a cold laugh.

"From beginning to end, haven’t you and your companions been the ones pushing things too far?"

Elara’s body trembled. Her face grew even paler, and the sight made Kieran’s heart burn with anger.

He turned on Ethan.

"How insolent! Elara was willing to leave your Mercer Family some dignity, but it seems there’s no reason to show you any consideration."

Kieran strode toward Ethan, his eyes filled with menace.

"You’ve insulted Elara in front of everyone. Tell me, how should I punish you for that?"

He tilted his head, pretending to consider the matter.

"Should I break your arms first, or your legs?"

His icy words seemed to drain the warmth from the entire hall.

The Mercer Family members fell silent. They were furious, but the name of the Aldercrest Order weighed heavily on them. None wanted to give Kieran another excuse to attack their family.

The elder who had handed Ethan the contract hurried forward. He dropped to his knees before Kieran and pleaded desperately.

"Young Master Locke, Ethan is young and has spoken recklessly. Please don’t take his words to heart. Your status is far above his. Why should you argue with someone who doesn’t understand the world?"

He bowed his head.

"We will settle the annulment properly. If the Mercer Family has offended you, this old man apologizes on everyone’s behalf."

Kieran’s expression twisted with fury.

"You think someone like you has the right to tell me what to do?"

He glared down at the kneeling elder.

"Get out of my way, you old fool!"

Before the elder could respond, Kieran kicked him hard in the chest.

The elder cried out as he was sent crashing to the floor.

"Grand Elder!"

Several Mercer Family members rushed forward to help him up. Their faces burned with anger as they turned toward Kieran.

"Kieran Locke! You’re the Sect Master’s son, yet you dare attack an elderly member of our family simply because he tried to mediate!"

One of them clenched his fists.

"Aren’t you afraid of what will happen to the Aldercrest Order’s reputation if word of this spreads?"

Their protests only made Kieran more irritated.

"Shut your mouths!"

His voice rang through the hall.

"Anyone who dares to say another word will die!"

The threat silenced the crowd.

The Mercer Family members were consumed by anger, but the power of the Aldercrest Order stood over them like an enormous mountain. They could neither fight it nor afford to provoke it carelessly.

In the end, they could only lower their heads, swallowing their outrage.

Ethan stared at the elder lying on the floor, supported by several family members.

The old man had been injured simply for trying to protect him.

Grief and indignation overwhelmed Ethan.

At that moment, his desire for strength burned more fiercely than ever.

If I could still cultivate, if my talent hadn’t vanished overnight, would the Mercer Family have to endure this?

Memories of his former life surged through his mind. He remembered the days when everyone had praised his talent, when his future had seemed limitless. He remembered the confusion and despair that followed when his cultivation began to collapse.

He had tried to accept his fate.

He had tried to live quietly.

But what had that acceptance brought him?

His family was being humiliated before his eyes, and he could do nothing to stop it.

Ethan’s hands trembled.

He refused to accept this.

Yet before he could even gather his thoughts, Kieran raised his arm, preparing to strike him.

Then a mocking voice suddenly rang out from the entrance.

"A dog really can’t stop eating filth. The Aldercrest Order is just as disgusting as ever."

The voice echoed through the entire hall.

Everyone froze.

Someone had actually dared to insult the Aldercrest Order so openly?

Kieran’s raised arm stopped in midair. His face darkened as he turned toward the entrance.

Ethan was equally stunned. He lifted his head and looked toward the voice.

A handsome young man stood in the doorway, his expression calm and his features refined. Beside him stood a white-robed man with an otherworldly bearing and an elderly man with white hair.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

Grandfather?

His mind shook with disbelief.

He had never expected his grandfather, Edmund Mercer, to return at such a critical moment.

The other Mercer Family members soon recognized the white-haired elder as well.

"It’s the former Patriarch!"

"The former Patriarch has returned!"

"But who are the two people beside him? I’ve never seen either of them before."

"I heard the former Patriarch went to seek help from the main family a few days ago. Could those two be members of the main Mercer Family?"

"That must be it. Otherwise, why would they have returned together?"

Whispers spread throughout the hall.

Behind Kieran, the middle-aged man known as Uncle Kun narrowed his eyes and examined the three newcomers.

His name was Conrad Pierce, a Guest Elder of the Aldercrest Order. With his cultivation at the second layer of the Purple Mansion Realm, he possessed enough strength to dominate most cultivators in a place like Briarford City.

He released his Divine Sense and carefully probed the newcomers.

Two appeared to be at the ninth layer of the Meridian Opening Realm.

The third, however...

Conrad’s expression changed.

He could not clearly determine the young man’s cultivation. His Divine Sense seemed to meet an invisible barrier before it could penetrate any further.

Purple Mansion Realm?

Conrad frowned.

He had never heard that the main Mercer Family possessed a Purple Mansion cultivator who could serve as its backbone. Had the branch family managed to recruit an outside expert?

If so, he needed to proceed carefully. He could not allow Kieran to provoke a powerful opponent without first understanding the situation.

Conrad stepped forward and cupped his hands toward the young man.

"I am Conrad Pierce, Guest Elder of the Aldercrest Order. May I ask your name and which faction you represent?"

His tone was outwardly polite, but his thoughts were calculating.

If this young man possessed a formidable background, Conrad would have to prevent Kieran from acting recklessly and creating unnecessary trouble for the Order.

If the man had no significant backing, however, the situation would be entirely different.

The young man remained composed.

He glanced at Conrad and answered casually.

"Mercer Family. Julian Mercer."

The moment those words were spoken, Conrad had yet to determine which branch of the Mercer Family the young man represented when a young Mercer disciple suddenly cried out in disbelief.

"Julian Mercer? That’s our Patriarch!"