Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 3321

A massive surge of energy erupted from the back of the Umbral Peak Sect's mountain, shooting straight toward the front in an instant.

The Eastern Wanderer, Byron Ashby, had arrived!

Andrew stood on top of a withered tree, his greatsword gleaming faintly as he watched the figure emerge.

The man had long salt-and-pepper hair and, much like Monty, dressed in a scholar-style robe. He was handsome, almost refined. However, beneath that polished exterior ran a current of pure malice.

"To think such prime offerings would walk right up the mountain… Breaking out of seclusion was absolutely worth it," Byron murmured, his lips tinged with an unnatural shade of purple. "

He was not even looking at Andrew. His eyes were locked on Nyx, Valerie, and Rowan, and the corner of his mouth curled into a crooked smile.

Andrew knew exactly what the man meant by "offerings," and it made his blood run cold.

Byron was practically legendary in the world of dual cultivation. He was a master of the dark arts, someone who had pioneered techniques most would not dare touch.

Andrew had once intended to track him down through the Reyes family, but that was no longer necessary. The hunger in this man's eyes as he stared at the three women was more than enough reason to put him down.

Monty snapped urgently, "Kill Andrew first! Stop wasting time and strike with us now!"

Byron let out a low, mocking laugh. "You've gotten so pathetic. If I'd ever wanted the sect leader's seat, I would've buried you and taken it ages ago. The two of you couldn't even handle one man. You've dragged the Umbral Peak Sect's fearsome reputation straight into the dirt."

Monty's face twisted with fury. "This is not the time for that. Just kill Andrew. Those women he brought are yours; do whatever you want with them!"

That got Byron's attention. The dark aura around him thickened as his gaze finally shifted to Andrew, and his pupils shrank sharply.

He exclaimed, "Your strength is actually Beyond Mortal?"

Andrew raised his greatsword slowly and pointed it at him. "I didn't come to the Umbral Peak Sect looking for a massacre. But if this sect keeps pushing for one, then the Eight Ancient Sects will be down to seven."

From inside the black mist, Byron just smirked. He raised one hand, and a monstrous black palm materialized and caught the full force of Andrew's strike dead-on.

Nyx and the others watched from below, their expressions grave as they stared at Byron in the sky. They had not expected the Umbral Peak Sect to have hidden such a reclusive powerhouse.

Rowan spoke quickly, her voice tense. "Something's off… Byron is on the Titan List, but he shouldn't be this strong."

Valerie shook her head slowly. "Umbral Peak Sect has drifted apart from my family for years. My father never liked the way they acted like they were in charge of us, always barking orders from above. But Byron was always at the core of this sect, until word got out that something went wrong with whatever forbidden technique he was cultivating.

"Now I'm thinking his real power was never reflected in that ranking. He must have surpassed everyone on the list long ago. It was only because of that cultivation mishap that his level dropped, which is why people placed him on the list."

Andrew's greatsword hammered into Byron's black mist again and again. The mist bent and warped under each blow, but then contracted sharply, swallowing the destructive sword energy whole.

Monty snarled and launched himself into the fight, joining Byron's assault. Together, they drove another massive black palm strike crashing down toward Andrew.