From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165 When Legends Collide

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The Laughing Monk appeared alone. The moment he stepped forward, the entire crowd fell into stunned silence as a chill crept into everyone’s heart.

The Astria Power Index was the most authoritative ranking in the entire martial world of Astria Only a handful of the strongest warriors ever made it onto the list. To be included at all was a rare honor, but placing in the top three meant entering a realm reserved for the absolute legends.

And the Laughing Monk had once held the very top spot

Over twenty years ago, he had already resigned over Astria and stood at the very peak of the martial world. No one could begin to guess how much stronger he had grown since then.

Claire and Serena looked tense. Even with Sean there, facing the Laughing Monk felt hopeless.

The Laughing Monk spread his hands and gave a smile that looked gentle and harmless. Im here for the Nodal.” he said. “I want to take it back and study it. Maybe it’ll help me break into the Transcendent Realm.

“You two better not upset me. If you do, don’t blame me for ignoring the Judies or the Silvermoon Sect.”

His words were light, but the threat laced within them was clear as day. Sean and Elena both drew in sharp breaths.

Sean stayed quiet for a long moment before giving Elena a nod. She lifted her voice at once and called out to the young martial artists gathered nearby.

“Everyone, things have taken a turn. If you’re not part of us, please leave now!”

Her message was clear. Sean had made up his mind to fight the Laughing Monk to the end. However, if the younger ones didn’t leave now and the Laughing Monk became angry, a massacre would follow.

“Daphne, let’s go, Ethan said seriously.

He didn’t know exactly how strong the Laughing Monk was, but Gareth had once warned him that even he might not win in a direct fight. That alone was enough to prove the Laughing Monk’s strength surpassed the Four Extremes. For the younger generation, staying here would

serve no purpose.

Daphne bit her lip as hesitation clouded her eyes. She had always admired the Silvermoon Sect and truly wanted to help, but the Laughing Monk’s strength was overwhelming. Stepping in now would be foolish. It would be like throwing herself in front of a runaway carriage.

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After a moment of hesitation, she clenched her teeth and left with Ethan.

In an instant, all the young martial artists gathered at the Silvermoon Abode dispersed. Only one remained.

Leander remained where he was, sipping his wine and munching on snacks like nothing had happened.

Claire and Serena noticed he was still seated. Both tried desperately to signal him to leave, but he did not react. He was completely absorbed in his meal.

“How could he still be eating? Does he even get what’s going on?” Serena fumed as panic. tightened her voice.

The Laughing Monk had no mercy when it came to killing. If Sean and Elena couldn’t stop him, not one of them would make it out alive.

“So, Sean, you cleared everyone out. Guess that means you’re planning to fight me?”

Though Sean’s heart was heavy, he stood his ground. “Sir, you were already a legendary figure in Astria over two decades ago. I know I’m not your match. But the Silvermoon Sect has a connection with my family.

“I will take this risk and challenge you today. If I lose, you may take the Nodal. But if by chance I win, I ask that you leave peacefully. Do we have a deal?”

“You’re really betting your life on this?” The Laughing Monk let out a loud laugh. “You kids really don’t know when to quit, do you? Fine, let’s see what you’ve got.”

He gave a dismissive wave. “I know the Judies aren’t known for martial power. Your strength lies in formations. Go on, show me that Arc of Eight your family treasures so much.”

He looked completely unconcerned and even allowed Sean to prepare his formation.

“Alright!” Sean shouted, his anger flaring. The Laughing Monk’s tone showed nothing but disdain toward the Judies‘ ancestral techniques.

Sean began moving swiftly around the Laughing Monk, each step precise, grounded in the principles of the Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces. In less than a minute, he had stepped through thirty–six positions.

“Arc Unbound!” he whispered.

His inner force had already been injected into the ground with each step. The thirty–six points lit up and formed a complete formation, trapping the Laughing Monk inside.

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Chapter 165 When Legends Collide

“Four Turns, One Formation!”

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His final step landed on the core in the southeast, and a soft blue glow shimmered over the

arca.

“Sir, the formation is complete. If you can break it, the Nodal is yours.”

Sean breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Though the Laughing Monk was powerful, this formation had taken his entire life to perfect. Even a half–step Transcendent might struggle to escape it.

Claire, Serena, and Elena watched with tense anticipation. If Sean could stop the Laughing Monk, they could preserve the Nodal.

“This is your Arc of Eight? Man, your old man did it way better.”

The Laughing Monk stood calmly in the center and showed no sign of fear. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Watch me break it in one shot.”

He stomped down hard right after saying that.

A wave of invisible inner force surged from his foot into the ground.

The stones around him exploded skyward. Sean watched in horror as every single node he had carefully placed shattered at once. The Arc? It collapsed completely.

“No way!” Sean stared in disbelief. The formation he had built his entire life around had been torn apart like paper.

His body swayed, and his face paled. In that moment, he understood the truth. The formation wasn’t the problem–he had failed.

Formations drew power from their creator. Without a strong foundation, even the best design would fall short. The Laughing Monk’s strength surged like an ocean. One stomp wiped away every trace of Sean’s energy from the ground.

It was like watching a mirror of what Leander had once done on the Mount Lurvale platform. While Leander shattered a stage, the Laughing Monk destroyed a formation.

“You really think you can stop me? Dream on!” He looked down coldly at Sean, who was now on one knee and unable to rise.

Even Elena, ranked on the Astria Power Index, stepped back three times and lost all will to fight.

“This is mine now!”

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The Laughing Monk walked toward the bronze man and lifted it with one hand as if it were nothing more than a towel.

Just as he turned to leave, his eyes caught sight of Claire and Serena standing quietly to the side. His gaze brightened as he commented, “What a pair of lovely young ladies”

The Laughing Monk was known for two infamous vices, killing and lust. Claire’s graceful poise and Serena’s youthful charm were exactly his type.

“I’ll take these two little girls with me, too!”

He set the Nodal aside and suddenly vanished,

“No!” Elena tried to stop him, but he knocked her away with a casual palm strike.

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In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Claire and Serena, saying, “Come on, you two. Keep me company. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such pretty girls”

His face twisted into a perverse grin as he reached out toward their shoulders.

Both girls went pale. They tried to dodge, but his energy locked them in place so they couldn’t

move or escape.

They could only watch as his hand crept closer, and despair settled over them.

Just as his hand was about to grab them, a sudden gust of wind swept in from the side.

Send Gifts

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