An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

With just a breath of fire, the black serpent killed over ten disciples from the Elysian Sect, leaving

nothing in its wake.

"W-What!" Shock and terror gripped those who watched. Each face mirrored the horror of seeing a

ghost.

The Elysian Sect's disciples, renowned for their strength, couldn't measure up to top-tier factions like

the Drakes Dominion Order. Yet, the Elysian Sect held a solid reputation in the martial world.

Despite their combined efforts and diverse techniques, the Elysian Sect's disciples couldn't even

scratch the black serpent. Unfortunately, a single breath of the black serpent's flames incinerated them

entirely.

The terrifying sight made everyone wonder if other factions could defeat the creature.

"What on earth is this? What creature breathes fire like that?"

"That flame is so unsettling! A single breath and it turns people to ashes. It's terrifying!"

As the group gazed at the ground covered in black ash, panic swept through them.

The terror of facing the fiery wrath of the black serpent drove them to retreat, distancing themselves

from the imminent danger.

In past monster encounters, they usually dealt with threats through physical combat. However, the

black serpent had a unique ability to spew flames, catching everyone off guard with its overwhelming

power.

This unforeseen strength exceeded their initial expectations, prompting a unanimous decision to

retreat.

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Despite the allure of the tempting treasure, the black serpent stood in their way, leaving them with no

viable choice. It became evident that continuing forward would only result in losing their lives.

"Let's pull back for now," someone suggested.

Upon witnessing the downfall of the Elysian Sect's disciples, the other factions quickly retreated. They

were unwilling to confront the black serpent.

"Hmph! Useless fools! Looks like I'll have to handle this personally." Aidan snorted at the terrified

groups and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Although his initial plan was to capitalize on the situation without getting involved, it turned out that the

disciples from the major sects lacked combat skills. As a result, he had no choice but to step in.

"Prepare to face your opponent, you abomination!" he shouted.

Instantly, his powerful aura erupted, causing the wind to roar and sending sand and stones scattered in

all directions.

Aidan's invisible pressure stopped the retreating factions, compelling them to redirect their attention.

"It's Sandscale! He's about to make a move!"

"Great! With Mr. Ridge here, that black serpent won't stand a chance!"

"Let's watch and wait. We can search for the treasure once Mr. Ridge deals with that monster."

Aidan's appearance boosted everyone's morale.

Although the crowd comprised elites, most hovered between low and high-level martial artists. Only a

handful had achieved the halfway to becoming grandmaster level.

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Yet, the gap between those at that level and the grandmaster martial artists remained significant.

Those below the grandmaster level appeared inconsequential, and the challenges they encountered

hardly registered with the powerful grandmaster martial artists.

Witnessing Aidan in action renewed their optimism. They thought that if Aidan took care of the black

serpent, they might gain some advantages.

Aidan's burst of powerful aura quickly grabbed the black serpent's attention. Its maw abruptly opened,

and the snake spewed a long black flame that surged toward him like a tidal wave.

"Hmph! This is child's play!" He scoffed, showing no fear as he forcefully struck the black serpent with

his palm.

A massive white shadow palm, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, pressed down on the black

flame. Upon contact, there was a loud explosion, and energy burst forth with sparks flying.

With that, Aidan's single palm strike had obliterated the black flame spewed by the black serpent.

"Sandscale lives up to his name, as expected. He's truly amazing!"

"Is this the power of a grandmaster martial artist? It's truly astonishing!"

"Mr. Ridge is awe-inspiring!"

Aidan effortlessly blocked the black serpent's attacks, earning cheers from the crowd.

The spectators knew the lethal power of the serpent, making it a formidable opponent that no one

dared to confront head-on. Even the slightest touch could result in instant death.

While demonstrating his skill, Aidan faced the black serpent head-on and deflected its attacks. This

highlighted the marked difference between an ordinary martial artist and a grandmaster.

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The black serpent was provoked and spewed another burst of black flames. This time, the flames were

faster, fiercer, and longer. At a glance, the flame appeared like a black fire dragon.

"I don't have time to mess around with you," Aidan declared, smoothly sidestepping the flames and

closing in.

He had observed the black serpent's impenetrable defense and realized regular attacks wouldn't work.

To counter, he channeled his internal energy into his weapon for close-quarters combat, aiming to

break through the black serpent's defense.

As Aidan advanced, the black serpent ceased its fiery assault. Its lengthy tail transformed into a black

lightning bolt, striking him with a forceful swing.

He roared, "Meet your end!" His dual blades swiftly flipped upside down and descended forcefully upon

the black serpent's tail.

With unrestrained power, he infused his entire body with internal energy. The dual blades in his hands

glowed red-hot, showcasing incredible destructive power.

Aidan's merciless slashes targeted the black serpent's tail. To his surprise, instead of a clean cut, his

precious dual blades snapped apart upon impact with the serpent's scales.

"What the heck?"

His expression changed as he tried to grasp the situation. Without a chance to respond, the black

serpent's lengthy tail struck his chest.

Aidan was sent soaring like a sandbag, covering several dozen feet before crashing heavily to the

ground, blood spilling from his mouth.

A momentary hush enveloped the scene, leaving everyone momentarily speechless.

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