Chapter 72 - 73: A Chain Reaction! Shocking News That Stunned the Entire Region!

Chapter 72: Chapter 73: A Chain Reaction! Shocking News That Stunned the Entire Region!

As soon as Eamon’s words fell, the Ashen Thorn Sect disciples trembled and fled in panic.

They moved so quickly that some even tripped and fell to the ground.

But nobody cared about their injuries. They scrambled forward, crying out as they desperately tried to escape.

In a short time, the entire sect grounds were empty.

Eamon turned his gaze toward the Ashen Thorn Sect Elders, Dorian Beck, and the others lying on the ground with ashen faces.

There was only one thing left for him to do.

He would take all these people back to Crownfall Mountain and hand them over to the Clan Head for judgment.

...

Shortly afterward.

As the Ashen Thorn Sect disciples returned to their respective homes, news of the sect’s destruction spread throughout the surrounding region like wildfire.

Clan leaders, Sect Masters, and ordinary people all began discussing the shocking event.

The destruction of the Ashen Thorn Sect became the hottest topic across the region.

Brackenford City, The Copper Griffin Inn.

"Have you heard? The Ashen Thorn Sect has been destroyed!"

"Hiss! Didn’t the Ashen Thorn Sect have a terrifying powerhouse like Magnus Calder guarding it? How could the entire sect be destroyed?"

"Hehe! I heard the one who destroyed it was Eamon Strake, the famous Swordmaster. He arrived at the Ashen Thorn Sect with his sword and crippled its Elders in just a few moves!"

"How is that possible? Although Eamon Strake is obsessed with swordsmanship and enjoys challenging powerful opponents, he has never destroyed an entire sect before. Why would the Ashen Thorn Sect meet such a fate at his hands?"

"Could the Ashen Thorn Sect have committed some terrible offense that angered him? Perhaps they did something so outrageous that even heaven and earth could not tolerate it!"

The guests gathered around their tables and discussed the matter with great excitement.

Their conversation soon attracted the attention of everyone else in the inn.

Curious guests put down their bowls and chopsticks, leaned closer, and listened.

Who wouldn’t be interested in the destruction of the Ashen Thorn Sect?

After all, the Ashen Thorn Sect had been a powerful force in the region for hundreds of years!

In the past, families would have considered it a great honor if their children became disciples of the Ashen Thorn Sect. Their neighbors and friends would envy them.

Yet a sect with such a long history and powerful reputation had been destroyed by Eamon Strake.

What had happened?

Under the eager gazes of the surrounding guests, someone who claimed to know the inside story finally spoke.

"When the Ashen Thorn Sect was destroyed, many of its disciples fled home. One of those disciples happens to be related to the daughter of my great-uncle’s maternal grandmother’s cousin’s neighbor. So, I know a little about what happened."

He paused to take a sip of wine before continuing.

"These days, Eamon Strake is a Guest Elder of the Mercer Family..."

"And the Ashen Thorn Sect had never offended Eamon personally. The real problem was the Mercer Family behind him. Eamon went there under the orders of Sword Grandmaster Julian to settle an old score!"

"The Mercer Family? I’ve never heard of Eamon Strake joining a clan!"

"Which Mercer Family is this? What kind of ability does it have to recruit someone like Eamon Strake?"

"..."

The guests grew even more curious.

The man calmly took another sip of wine before answering.

"Which Mercer Family? Naturally, I’m talking about the family that settled on Crownfall Mountain, the one protected by Sword Grandmaster Julian!"

His words struck the crowd like thunder.

Everyone was shaken.

"But even the Mercer Family of Crownfall Mountain shouldn’t have enough influence to make Eamon Strake join them, should it?"

"That’s right! Sword Grandmaster Julian may be famous, but the Mercer Family only rose to prominence recently. Whether Julian is even a match for Eamon Strake is still unknown. How could such a powerful Swordmaster willingly become a Guest Elder of the Mercer Family?"

"This is truly hard to understand..."

"Then how did the Ashen Thorn Sect offend the Mercer Family?"

"Hehe! I heard that a member of the Mercer Family named Adrian Mercer once had his Dantian crippled by someone from the Ashen Thorn Sect. That’s why the Mercer Family sent Eamon Strake to settle the score!"

"Hiss! They destroyed an entire sect just because one family member had his Dantian crippled? The Mercer Family certainly has a strong sense of authority!"

"Adrian Mercer didn’t die, either. His Dantian was crippled, leaving him unable to cultivate. Surely the Ashen Thorn Sect could have compensated him or handed over the disciple responsible. Why drag everyone else into it and destroy the entire sect?"

"In my opinion, Sword Grandmaster Julian has a much bigger plan. The Mercer Family only rose to prominence recently. Although it destroyed the Aldercrest Order, its reputation still cannot compare with older forces of the same rank. Destroying the Ashen Thorn Sect may be a small matter to Julian, but raising the Mercer Family’s prestige is the real objective!"

"Now that you put it that way, the destruction of the Ashen Thorn Sect makes sense."

"What a brilliant move! Destroying one sect to warn the others. Sword Grandmaster Julian truly knows how to establish his authority. Once this news spreads, who in the entire region will dare offend a member of the Mercer Family?"

"To be honest, I’m a little envious of the Mercer Family members. They have a powerful expert like Sword Grandmaster Julian protecting them. Imagine having that kind of security!"

"Who wouldn’t be envious? People say that all roads lead to the imperial capital, but some people are born right inside it. Ordinary people like us might spend our entire lives trying to reach such a place. Those born into the Mercer Family are truly fortunate!"

As the discussion drifted further from the original topic, sighs began to fill the Copper Griffin Inn.

If people could choose their next life, who would willingly choose to remain an ordinary person, struggling to afford food and clothing while lacking the resources to cultivate?

With that thought, a question arose in the minds of nearly everyone present.

How wonderful would it be to be born into the Mercer Family?

...

Dunmarsh Order, Main Hall.

The Purple Mansion Realm Sect Master, the strongest cultivator in the order, sat with several Heavenly Origin Realm Elders.

Their expressions were grave.

Fear showed in their eyes, and the hall remained silent for a long time.

After several breaths, the Sect Master of the Dunmarsh Order wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

He looked at the Elders before him and sighed.

"I never expected that even the Ashen Thorn Sect would fall to the Mercer Family of Crownfall Mountain..."

An Elder beside him finally broke the silence. His expression was equally bitter.

"Having Eamon Strake become a Guest Elder of the Mercer Family was something none of us could have predicted."

"After all, even the Highwater Sword Court once invited him to join. That force had a powerful cultivator at the Moon Wheel Realm guarding it, yet Eamon rejected their invitation."

"What kind of means did Julian Mercer use to convince such a swordsman to lower himself and become a Guest Elder of a relatively small family?"

The Elder shook his head.

"It’s truly difficult to understand..."

"Still, the Ashen Thorn Sect only crippled the Dantian of a Mercer Family member. Yet Julian sent Eamon Strake to destroy the entire sect. Sword Grandmaster Julian certainly holds grudges and protects his own people!"