Chapter 54 The Sects Are Shaken, The Ashen Thorn Sect Offers Its Goodwill!

Chapter 54: Chapter 55: The Sects Are Shaken, The Ashen Thorn Sect Offers Its Goodwill!

The following morning.

Following Julian Mercer’s direct orders, Adrian Mercer, Ethan Mercer, and several Heavenly Origin Realm Elders departed from Crownfall Mountain.

Their destination was the territories where the Mercer Family’s branch clans resided.

Meanwhile, the disciples who had been spared during the destruction of the Aldercrest Order returned to their respective families.

They carried news of everything that had happened.

When the various families scattered across the surrounding cities learned that the Aldercrest Order had been destroyed, the entire region erupted into an uproar!

Soon afterward, they connected the identity of the person responsible to the recently famous Sword Grandmaster Julian.

After all, the descriptions of Julian’s appearance matched the reports they had heard.

"Wasn’t it said that Julian Mercer was only at the Purple Mansion Realm? How could he kill Roland Locke, an Origin Sea Realm cultivator, with a single move?"

"Could it be that Sword Grandmaster Julian has never revealed his true strength?"

"So he has been concealing his power all along? This Mercer Family Patriarch certainly knows how to keep his cards hidden!"

"I heard that he spent six years in secluded cultivation. Now it seems he spent those years sharpening his sword, only to unleash a devastating strike when he finally emerged!"

"Sigh! Who could have imagined that the prestige the Aldercrest Order accumulated over hundreds of years would become a stepping stone for the Mercer Family? They spent centuries building their influence, only for someone else to reap the rewards. In the future, who in this region will dare oppose the Mercer Family?"

"Everyone, the rise of the Mercer Family can no longer be stopped. We should make preparations before it’s too late."

On this day, numerous families gathered their clansmen and held meetings to discuss their next steps.

Once those meetings concluded, news of the Aldercrest Order’s destruction began spreading through conversations among family members.

One person told ten others, and those ten passed the news to a hundred more.

Within a single morning, the story seemed to grow wings. It spread across the surrounding cities at a speed far beyond anyone’s expectations, sparking heated discussions among countless commoners.

"Have you heard? Someone destroyed the Aldercrest Order yesterday!"

"Really? Didn’t their Sect Master, Roland Locke, possess the strength of the Origin Sea Realm? Who could possibly kill him?"

"Exactly! Sect Master Locke had profound cultivation and had even comprehended Sword Intent. He was a renowned sword expert. With someone like him protecting the Aldercrest Order, how could the entire sect have been wiped out?"

"Hahaha! You don’t know the full story, do you? The disciples who were spared have returned home. This news came straight from them. Do you still think it’s false?"

"And there’s something even more unbelievable. The person who destroyed the Aldercrest Order was Julian Mercer, the Patriarch of the Mercer Family!"

"Julian Mercer? That name sounds familiar. I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere these past few days..."

"Wait! I remember now! Isn’t he the Sword Grandmaster Julian from Wexford City?"

"Who else could it be? It seems the Mercer Family is about to rise completely. They destroyed the Aldercrest Order just like that. From now on, which faction in this region could possibly stand against them? I’m afraid they’ll become the sole dominant power!"

As discussions spread throughout the cities, even young children came to know that a new regional overlord had risen by destroying the Aldercrest Order!

The news continued spreading until it reached the ears of various sects across the surrounding territories.

...

Ashen Thorn Sect, Main Hall.

The Sect Master and several Elders had gathered in the main hall to discuss the sect’s future development.

Their discussion had barely begun when the sound of the hall doors being thrown open interrupted them.

Everyone frowned and turned toward the entrance.

A gray-robed disciple rushed inside, his face pale with panic.

"Bad news, Sect Master! Something terrible has happened!"

"Hm? Explain yourself!"

The Sect Master of the Ashen Thorn Sect, Tobin Rusk, frowned.

A sense of unease immediately rose in his heart.

Seeing the disciple’s panicked appearance, the displeasure on the Elders’ faces vanished. Their expressions became serious.

Under the watchful gazes of everyone present, the gray-robed disciple felt a chill run down his spine.

He was nervous, but remembering the shocking news he had heard, he shut his eyes for a moment, gathered his courage, and spoke.

"It’s the Aldercrest Order! I just heard that it suffered a calamity yesterday. The entire sect has been destroyed!"

His words struck the hall like a bolt of lightning.

The Aldercrest Order had been destroyed?

Tobin Rusk and the Elders exchanged shocked and doubtful looks.

Over the years, the Ashen Thorn Sect and the Aldercrest Order had clashed several times over the distribution of resources.

As the saying went, an opponent often understood you better than a friend.

Because of their long rivalry, the Ashen Thorn Sect knew very well how powerful the Aldercrest Order’s foundation was.

They also understood the terrifying strength of its Sect Master, Roland Locke.

His cultivation was only slightly below Tobin’s own. In a direct confrontation, the Ashen Thorn Sect had no clear advantage over him.

Yet such a powerful sect had been destroyed without warning.

What had happened?

According to the intelligence they had received over the past few days, the Aldercrest Order hadn’t provoked any particularly powerful faction.

Why would such a disaster suddenly befall it?

The Elders were filled with confusion. None of them could understand what had happened.

Only Tobin Rusk, who possessed Origin Sea Realm cultivation, quickly regained his composure.

He looked at the gray-robed disciple and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know who destroyed the Aldercrest Order?"

The moment he asked, every Elder turned toward the disciple.

Under the pressure of so many sharp gazes, the gray-robed disciple’s legs nearly gave way.

"R-reporting to the Sect Master! The person responsible was Julian Mercer, the Patriarch of the Mercer Family! According to the reports, Julian Mercer killed Sect Master Roland Locke with a single move yesterday!"

As the disciple continued explaining what he had heard, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed.

Their hearts shook, and disbelief spread across their faces.

To kill Roland Locke with a single move...

Could this Julian Mercer be a Star Wheel Realm powerhouse?!

Tobin Rusk pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, "The Mercer Family? Could it be the Mercer Family from Dunmere City?"

In the surrounding territories, the only Mercer Family he could think of with enough strength to kill Roland Locke in a single move was the branch in Dunmere City.

That family was protected by a Star Wheel Realm Ancestor.

If they had been responsible for the Aldercrest Order’s destruction, then Roland Locke’s death would at least make sense.

However, the gray-robed disciple shook his head.

"According to the information this disciple gathered, it isn’t the Mercer Family from Dunmere City. It’s the Mercer Family from Wexford City!"

The entire hall fell silent.

Wexford City?

Because of its distance, they had little knowledge of that place.

Seeing the confused expressions of the Sect Master and Elders, the gray-robed disciple didn’t dare conceal anything. He immediately explained all the information he had gathered.

After hearing about the Mercer Family’s recent achievements and Julian’s strength, everyone fell silent.

The news was far more shocking than they had expected.

After a long pause, one of the Elders finally broke the silence.

"The Mercer Family has developed at an astonishing pace, and Sword Grandmaster Julian’s strength is even more frightening. Now that he has destroyed the Aldercrest Order, he will most likely become the dominant power in this region. Should we prepare some gifts and send representatives to visit the Mercer Family? Establishing friendly relations with them would be wise."

"I agree. In the past, the Aldercrest Order relied on Roland Locke’s strength and never took our Ashen Thorn Sect seriously. Seeing them destroyed is certainly satisfying. More importantly, we have no enmity with the Mercer Family. There’s no reason we can’t build a friendly relationship with them."

"As the head of a powerful family, Julian Mercer should understand that having another friend is better than making another enemy. If we approach him with goodwill, I doubt he will reject us."

The Elders began discussing the matter among themselves.

Tobin Rusk also felt tempted by the proposal.

After all, Julian Mercer was suspected to possess strength at the Star Wheel Realm.

If such a powerhouse decided to attack the Ashen Thorn Sect, who among them could stop him?

They might suffer the same fate as the Aldercrest Order.

Avoiding that risk and establishing friendly relations with Julian in advance was clearly the wisest choice.

After considering the matter, Tobin no longer hesitated.

"Then it’s settled. Hurry and prepare suitable gifts. I will personally travel to Crownfall Mountain and pay a visit to Sword Grandmaster Julian!"

The Elders cupped their fists in agreement.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

They understood the difference between pride and survival.

Given the Ashen Thorn Sect’s limited resources and foundation compared with the newly risen Mercer Family, they simply couldn’t afford to offend such a powerful force.

It was better to put aside their pride and establish a friendly relationship before it was too late.