CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER263-A FRIENDLY DUEL

After a moment, Anderson sighed.

"It seems you’ve had your share of hardships too."

Owen responded with a light-hearted smile, patting Anderson on the shoulder, "It appears we share similar fates."

Reflecting on Owen’s words, Anderson’s eyes filled with a sense of nostalgia as he sighed lightly, "In this world, strength determines everything."

Owen nodded in agreement, deeply understanding the truth in those words.

Suddenly, Anderson proposed, "Owen, how about we have a sparring session?"

Owen was taken aback by the sudden suggestion.

In his mind, Anderson was just someone interested in potions, presumably not much of a fighter.

Now, he couldn’t help but be curious.

Could Anderson actually be a formidable opponent?

"Sure, but where can we spar without ruining this beautiful scenery?"

Anderson pointed to a forest behind them.

"There’s a training room back there that my ancestor prepared for me. It’s spacious enough for us to go all out."

Anderson’s mention of his ancestor referred to a mysterious and highly respected figure in the Sanctuary.

Owen stood up, placing his fishing rod aside, and chuckled, "Well, what are we waiting for?"

Anderson, too, laughed heartily, setting aside his fishing rod and slinging his arm around Owen’s shoulder.

"Let’s go!"

"Where are you two off to?"

Kovacic and the others, who were busy preparing the banquet nearby, looked on in confusion as Owen and Anderson walked off toward the forest, arm in arm.

"A friendly duel!" Owen and Anderson exclaimed in unison.

Olivia’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "I want to watch, I want to watch!"

Kovacic and the others also showed eager anticipation.

They were very interested in the outcome of Owen and Anderson’s duel.

"Next time we’ll let you watch," Owen said with a smile, directly refusing their request.

"Stingy," Bella glared at Owen, while Olivia crossed her arms in dissatisfaction.

"You guys go ahead," Kovacic and Marchello said with a laugh, waving them off.

"Then we’re off, we’ll be back soon!" Owen and Anderson waved to the group before walking into the forest.

As Owen and Anderson disappeared from view, Olivia hesitated before turning to Bella.

"Do you think Owen and Anderson could be..." Her cheeks gradually flushed as she spoke.

Bella, caught off guard at first, quickly caught on to what Olivia was implying and slyly chuckled.

"Maybe they do have that kind of preference!"

Kovacic and Marchello, who were about to take a break, suddenly spat out their tea in surprise.

"What’s wrong with you two?" Bella looked over curiously.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Kovacic and Marchello quickly composed themselves and went back to chopping wood.

...

Half an hour later, two figures, bruised and battered, limped back, mumbling under their breath.

"Owen, couldn’t you have gone a bit easier? Didn’t you know I wasn’t ready?" one complained.

"It’s not like you didn’t sneak attack me first. What happened to a fair duel?" the other retorted.

"Ha, isn’t it normal to let me win a bit?"

Bella and Olivia, who were closest, burst into laughter upon seeing the two looking as swollen as pig heads approaching them.

"How did you guys manage to fight like this?" Bella asked between laughs.

A look of grievance covered Anderson’s face.

"We were originally fencing, and Owen was slightly better than me. Then he suggested we have a ’fair fight’, and we started brawling."

The laughter among the group grew even louder.

"Did another disciple accidentally wander in here?"

Kovacic and Marchello, intending to take a short break, approached upon seeing two oddly-looking disciples conversing with Bella and another woman.

Noticing Kovacic’s curious approach, Owen said with resignation, "Kovacic, it’s me, Owen."

"You..." Kovacic raised an eyebrow, taking a closer look before realizing it truly was Owen.

"Then this must be Anderson," he said, turning towards the person next to Owen.

Anderson nodded in acknowledgment.

"You all go ahead; Owen and I will recover after a short rest."

Owen also nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, Bella cast a suspicious glance at the two men, stroking her chin.

"Why do I get the feeling you two are just looking for an excuse to slack off?"

Anderson sharply inhaled, clutching his stomach.

"My injury is acting up again; I need to rest," he declared, promptly moving to the side.

Owen, embarrassed by Anderson’s quick-witted escape, couldn’t help but sweat.

To think someone who had broken two wisdom shackles could be so astute and agile.

As everyone’s gaze turned to him, Owen chuckled awkwardly.

"Why would you think that? I’m off to chop wood," he said, making a face as he headed towards the nearby forest, taking out a battle axe he had obtained from the Sanctuary’s armory.

The Sanctuary’s weapons were extraordinary, varying in rank according to their strength.

The battle axe in Owen’s hands was of a medium grade.

He glanced at Anderson, who was meditating by the riverbank.

Catching Owen’s look, Anderson opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow, a grim smile appearing on his face.

Owen then turned away, no longer meeting Anderson’s gaze.

...

As night fell, Owen prepared some campfires.

Along with the moonlight, it provided them with clear visibility.

"Finally done," Bella sighed in relief after cleaning the last fish.

"Thanks for your hard work," Owen said with a smile beside her.

"Be practical," Bella replied with a slight smile.

"Here, take this," Owen said, tossing her a jug of wine.

"Is that all?" Bella’s eyes, like autumn waters, shifted slightly.

"That’s all," Owen shot back, understanding her playful nature.

"Owen, Bella, time for drinks!" Kovacic called out from not far away, holding up a grilled fish.

"Let’s go, or Kovacic and Olivia will finish all the food," Owen chuckled, responding to Kovacic before heading over.

"Between them and me, who matters more to you?" a voice suddenly transmitted to Owen’s mind through a transmitting stone, a method undetectable by others.

Owen glanced at Bella.

"All of you matter," he replied with a light laugh, grabbing Bella’s hand and heading towards Kovacic and the others.

Bella’s cheeks flushed as Owen took her hand, and she didn’t continue to question him through the transmitting stone, allowing him to lead her along.

With the banquet to welcome Alison and others on the morrow, everyone was careful not to drink too much, lest they end up drunk before the day even arrived.

Meanwhile, on the small path outside their section of the forest, numerous female disciples were already peeking sneakily at Owen and the group.

Thanks to the treatment from the Sanctuary and his teacher, Owen’s avatar had regained its original appearance.

"Mr. Anderson is so fascinating. I wonder when we’ll be able to join him for drinks like they do."

"Owen is the top catch for me. I wish I could go over and join him right now!"

"Don’t you think Mr. Anderson and Owen make a great pair?"

"Get lost, get lost. What are you thinking about all day?"

...

Owen had set up a level 4 array at the end of this path.

After all, having spent so much time reading and putting effort into learning, Owen felt confident he had surpassed Blois in this area.

Even though some of the female disciples were not weak, they couldn’t easily break through this array.

Owen had anticipated the arrival of these disciples.

A previous display of his skills at the combat arena had already piqued the interest of many.

While it seemed somewhat improper to leave them outside looking in, Owen was determined not to let them in.

Otherwise, more and more people would arrive, truly disturbing Anderson’s peace.

Thus, Owen and the others spent the night drinking and chatting on one side.

The disciples observing from outside the array eventually withdrew, as they too had to train and couldn’t stay there too long.

Deep into the night.

Owen opened his eyes from meditation and prepared to head to the foot of Sacred Mountain to greet Alison and the others.

"I’ll come with you," Bella’s gentle voice transmitted into his mind.

Turning, Owen saw Bella blinking at him.

With a soft smile, he reached out to pull her up.

"Then let’s go together."

"Hope you don’t mind us joining," came the voices of Anderson and the others.

"You’re awake too."

Seeing everyone opening their eyes and getting up, Owen felt a warmth in his heart and chuckled, "Let’s go."

Letting go of Bella’s hand, he addressed everyone and started making his way towards the foot of Sacred Mountain.

Unbeknownst to Owen, Alison’s escape was intertwined with the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary’s upper echelons were scheming something against Owen.

A rainbow light flashed across the sky, reaching the coast in the next instant.

This streak of light was the Sanctuary’s airship, carrying Alison and others.

Airships are extremely rare vehicles, their preciousness such that only powerful forces could possess them.

For instance, the Northern Mountain Empire, a formidable empire, owns a ship capable of underwater travel.

Similar to an airship, it’s exceptionally rare.

"Children, we will arrive at the Sanctuary in an hour or two," an elder on the deck said, looking at Alison and the others, who were full of anticipation, and smiled slightly.

Ever since he mentioned that only a day’s journey remained, Alison and her companions had been eagerly waiting on the deck, showing their impatience.