The bases of The Ennead Star Sect and The Arcaneum Gate were adjacent. Belonging to different factions, friction was inevitable. One could say that over the years, they had fought so fiercely that their brains were beaten into dog brains, creating a sea of blood feud that was fundamentally irreconcilable.

Although The Ennead Star Sect was an Eighth Grade sect, one grade higher than The Arcaneum Gate's Ninth Grade, at the Spirit Creek Realm level, The Arcaneum Gate held the advantage. Therefore, over the years, the Eighth Grade Ennead Star Sect had suffered many losses at the hands of the Ninth Grade Arcaneum Gate.

Especially this Andrew Scott, belonging to the most extreme category among weapon cultivators, his combat prowess was undeniable. Within the entire Ennead Star Sect, only Donald Jimenez, who remained at the base, could confront him.

Brian Kelly admitted he was no match for him.

Behind Andrew Scott followed a young girl, her hair in double buns, with a delicate figure, pure and cute, following closely behind Andrew Scott step by step, looking just like his maidservant.

In fact, that was indeed the case. Andrew Scott came from a wealthy family in the mortal world, and the girl was a slave who grew up with him since childhood. When Andrew Scott joined The Arcaneum Gate, he brought his maidservant along. Surprisingly, both of them had quite good cultivation aptitude and talent. Now they were both disciples of The Arcaneum Gate, nominally Shixiong and Shimei, but in reality, master and servant.

The master and servant pair acted as if they completely didn't see Brian Kelly and the others, walking straight to the edge of the battlefield. Andrew Scott looked left and right, raised an eyebrow, and said with surprise, "Who killed your young master?"

No wonder The Ennead Star Sect was so lively tonight; such a major event had occurred.

He had also received news, which is why he came out to investigate. Otherwise, as a Spirit Creek Seventh Layer cultivator, he would never casually leave the sect base.

Brian Kelly focused intently on him, not missing any slight change in his expression, but didn't detect anything unusual.

"I told Donald Jimenez long ago to keep a close watch on that trash, but he wouldn't listen. Now look, he got himself chopped to death." Andrew Scott wore a gloating expression, then turned to Brian Kelly: "Do you know who did it?"

Brian Kelly didn't want to answer, but had to: "A youth with a white tiger."

Andrew Scott stroked his chin: "Haven't heard of him. A rogue cultivator? Or a disciple from some major sect out for training?" He thought for a moment, then shook his head: "Forget it, it's none of my business anyway."

"Run!" Brian Kelly suddenly shouted sharply, and simultaneously, the ground beneath his feet exploded as he dashed into the distance.

"Heh heh..." Andrew Scott chuckled lightly, his longsword ringing as it left its scabbard. A ribbon-like sword beam shot straight towards Brian Kelly.

At the same time, the girl behind him, who looked harmless, also surged with spiritual power all over her body. Raising her hand, a spell was already formed, her slender jade-like finger pointing towards the three Ennead Star Sect disciples.

A moment later, Andrew Scott, who had been chasing Brian Kelly, returned, still wearing that calm and effortless expression.

"Young Master, one got away." The maidservant Xiao Zhu came forward to report the results. In front of Andrew Scott, she was the obedient, cute maidservant, but in front of those Ennead Star Sect disciples, she was a powerful Spirit Creek Sixth Layer cultivator.

Those three Ennead Star Sect disciples generally had cultivation levels around the Third or Fourth Layer; how could they be her match? However, those three were clever and split up to escape. Xiao Zhu only had time to kill two; by the time she chased the last one, he was already gone.

"Let him go." Andrew Scott responded indifferently. Brian Kelly had also escaped, making him sigh inwardly; body cultivators really were tough.

"And also, call me Shixiong!" Andrew Scott raised his hand and knocked Xiao Zhu on the head.

Xiao Zhu immediately clutched her head with both hands and pouted.

"How many people can we mobilize?" Andrew Scott asked another question.

"Less than three hundred," Xiao Zhu replied. "But if we count those rogue cultivators, around five hundred people."

"What about Fifth Layer realm?"

"Only six."

"Tsk..." Andrew Scott curled his lip. "A bunch of dogs, they all ran out to grab benefits, leaving me alone guarding the empty base. Too much."

The number of Spirit Creek Realm cultivators in The Arcaneum Gate was naturally far more than three hundred.

But these people couldn't all stay active near the base; doing so would mean no one gets any benefits. Cultivators would explore and travel around, especially those above the Fifth Layer, who basically don't operate in the outer ring because the benefits available there are too few. After reaching the Fifth Layer, they all choose to move closer to the inner ring.

Correspondingly, the low-level disciples of those medium and large sects also come to The Arcaneum Gate's territory for training, receiving a certain degree of mobilization while under The Arcaneum Gate's protection.

Not only The Arcaneum Gate operates this way; all major sects in the outer ring are like this. In the Spirit Creek Battlefield, connections between sects, big and small, are very close, and interactions between their disciples are extremely frequent.

However, because of this, the number of Fifth Layer cultivators The Arcaneum Gate could mobilize was a mere six... Two of these six had recently advanced to the Fifth Layer and hadn't left yet; the remaining four were those over forty years old with little room for further cultivation progress.

In the Spirit Creek Realm level, the age range of cultivators is vast. There are youths like Leaf Gray who have just started cultivating, and also old veterans who have cultivated for decades. Without exception, their innate talent and aptitude are very low, and their cultivation level is hard-earned through time.

"Young Master, are you thinking..." Xiao Zhu looked at Andrew Scott.

Andrew Scott grinned: "Send out the message, the hunt begins! Tell the little ones to get excited! Also, keep an eye out for that youth with the white tiger. If there's any news, report it immediately!"

"Okay!"

******

At The Ennead Star Sect base, Donald Jimenez looked at the bruised and battered Brian Kelly and frowned, "What happened?"

Brian Kelly's mouth twitched: "Ran into that lunatic Andrew Scott!"

Hearing Andrew Scott's name, Donald Jimenez couldn't help but twitch his face. After a moment of silence, he said, "So, the news has already spread?"

Brian Kelly sighed: "Our commotion was too big; it can't be hidden."

"Regarding the Young Master's death, do you think it has anything to do with The Arcaneum Gate?"

Brian Kelly recalled Andrew Scott's expression earlier and shook his head: "Not much. Andrew Scott came out to investigate because he noticed the commotion on our side. When he saw the Young Master's body, he also looked surprised. Moreover, with his arrogance, if the Young Master was truly killed by The Arcaneum Gate, he wouldn't deny it; on the contrary, he would publicize it widely."

Donald Jimenez nodded slightly: "That's true too." Given their irreconcilable blood feud, if the other side really killed the Young Master, there would be nothing to hide.

"I've already sent orders to seal off the surrounding hundred miles. The killer's cultivation probably isn't high; he can't leave this area in a short time. Once his tracks are exposed, he definitely won't be able to escape."

"I'm just afraid The Arcaneum Gate will cause trouble." Donald Jimenez frowned.

"The Arcaneum Gate will definitely intervene, but we must give the old men in the sect an explanation for the Young Master's death. Otherwise, you and I can't account for it."

Donald Jimenez sighed and said, "I'm stationed at the base and can't leave. I'll leave matters outside to you."

"Rest assured, Shixiong." Brian Kelly nodded. Although he was injured by Andrew Scott, it was mostly superficial wounds. With his physical constitution, resting for one night would be enough to recover.

"By the way, and the Young Master's body..." Donald Jimenez remembered another matter.

Brian Kelly said with difficulty, "I'll go retrieve the Young Master's body tomorrow."

He prayed inwardly that Andrew Scott hadn't taken the Young Master's body. Given his nature, he probably wouldn't do something so tasteless.