"The black fog has been sucked away!""This is great! We are safe!""As expected of Sir Robinson!"When everyone saw the miasma being drawn away, their spirits were instantly lifted. They had thought they were going to die. Fortunately, Michael had saved them. He had used his immense power to absorb all the poisonous miasma.They were no longer in danger!It didn't take long for the surrounding black fog to slowly disappear. "It's gone! The black fog is gone!" The crowd was filled with joy. They were glad to have survived the disaster. In stark contrast, Michael underwent a rapid transformation upon absorbing the miasma. His entire body darkened from head to toe. Even his nails turned black. The poison had spread across his body. In the end, Michael couldn't take it anymore. He coughed out a mouthful of black blood and fell from above. "Dad!" Just as Abigail wanted to step forward to catch him, Dustin stopped her. "I'll do it," he said and quickly leaped into the
Upon entering Michael's mouth, the Celestial Pearl emitted a brilliant golden light. Then, it moved into his abdomen. The pearl began to spin wildly, removing the poison from his body."It's working!" Dustin was delighted.With the help of the pearl, Michael should be able to pull it through. "Hand over the Celestial Pearl, Michael!" Theodore demanded after coming to his senses. His face was full of greed. "How can you swallow such a priceless treasure? Spit it out right now! Or we won't show you mercy!" Graham fixed his eyes on him intently. "That is an evil relic. Don't be bewitched by it, Sir Robinson!" Orson also couldn't hold himself back anymore. He began to walk closer to them. "Stop right there!" Abigail blocked their way.She spat, "My dad is severely poisoned now. We need the pearl to save his life. Do not interfere!" "Hmph! He's already at death's door. It's a waste letting him have the pearl!" Theodore was growing impatient. "And you call yourself a human?
"Oh? And what's with the Celestial Pearl?" Ronald looked back. He was confused. "Uncle Reeds, we had risked our lives to get the pearl. It belongs to us, to begin with. They're the ones who want to snatch it from us!" Abigail explained. "Nonsense! We're doing this for the martial world! Unlike you, who are only after personal gain," Theodore said righteously. "Sir Reeds, they harbor ulterior motives! Look at how selfish they are! They don't even care about the alliance. They should be severely punished!" Graham added. "Those who connect with evil entities certainly don't have a clean mind," Orson remarked. At this moment, the three grandmasters had abandoned their earlier aggressive stance. They pretended to be righteous in front of Ronald. "What a bunch of hypocrites! Stop throwing mud at us!" Abigail was annoyed. It was clearly them who wanted to seize the pearl, yet they had the nerve to speak with such righteousness! "They're distorting facts!" she muttered inwardl
"Michael, you haven't changed a bit. You only ever show your good side to people. Look at you; you look like you'll collapse at any moment. And yet, you still pretend like everything is okay," Ronald said helplessly. "I heard that you've swallowed the Celestial Pearl. Can your body handle it?" he asked. "Don't worry, Sir Reeds. The pearl is a sacred relic. It won't harm Mr. Robinson's body and will absorb the poison inside. It'll also help him increase his cultivation level," Dustin explained. "Oh, really?" Ronald raised his brows slightly and chuckled. "A blessing in disguise. Don't you think so, Michael? With this pearl, you'll have a chance to break through the ultimate grandmaster level." "Let's just leave it to fate." Michael shook his head. He said, "The pearl is a valuable treasure. It's bound to attract a lot of attention. It might bring us quite a bit of trouble in the future.""Rest assured, Michael. As long as I'm here, no one can take the pearl away." Ronald wa
With a loud thump, Michael fell to the ground heavily. Blood oozed out of his nose and mouth in an instant as the color drained from his face."Dad!" Abigail shouted, shocked. She quickly ran to her father."Ronald, are you crazy?" Dustin's gaze was murderous. He always thought that Ronald was an upright person. He held great respect in the martial world. It had never occurred to him that Ronald was actually a wolf in sheep's clothing."Crazy?" Ronald suddenly laughed. "Do you know how much effort I've put in just to get the Celestial Pearl? I first made use of Paul. "I spread the news of his death to lead the disciples of Jade Maiden Sisterhood to Balerno. After that, I let you guys have the Jade Maiden Scripture that had the map.""Everything went according to plan. In short, you're nothing more than my pawns. With you barging into the tomb one after another, Iris' attention could be diverted. And from that diversion, I could seize the chance to get the pearl." "My effort
The martial artists immediately headed over to the source. "It looks like it isn't over yet." After exchanging a glance, Theodore, Graham, and Orson also turned around. They led their respective groups back.They were shocked to see Ronald and Dustin engaging in a fierce fight when they arrived. Their attacks were intense, and neither seemed to be going easy on the other. What was going on?Weren't they on the same side?Why were they in a fight? The crowd was confused. "Help!" Right then, a pleading voice came through from a distance. When they looked over, they saw Abigail crying her eyes out. Laying in her arms was Michael. He was severely injured. Seeing that there was no response from them, Abigail kneeled on the ground. She frantically pleaded, "Please! Help me save my dad, please!" Michael was pale. Blood was still flowing from his abdomen, nose, and mouth. He looked like he was on the verge of death. However, the martial artists remained unfazed. Only
"Don't you dare! Whoever attacks them will die!" Azalea immediately rushed in front of Abigail. With two swords in her hands, she exuded a strong murderous intent. "Ronald is lying to you! My father wasn't led astray! He didn't do anything evil!" Abigail continued to explain upon seeing the martial artists closing in on them. "My dad has risked his life to save you. You wouldn't have survived if he hadn't absorbed all the black fog into his body. "Even if you aren't grateful for that, you shouldn't turn on the person who helped you. Wake up! Ronald is the biggest villain!" she cried, trying hard to prove their innocence. However, whatever she said didn't seem to affect the martial artists in any way."Don't you understand, Abigail? They only care about their own benefit. The truth doesn't matter to them at all! They're just a bunch of hypocrites! Quick, leave with Sir Robinson first! I'll cover for you!" Azalea said, charging forward with her two blades. She was far from bei
"Huh?"Theodore, Graham, and Orson instinctively took several steps back, their expressions changing drastically. At this moment, they could feel the looming presence of death. A shiver ran down their spines, and they broke into a cold sweat.If Michael executed this move of his, even if the three of them survived, they were doomed to be gravely injured. "Sir Robinson, you'd better not do anything reckless. Or, you'll also die!" Theodore warned. "Well, I'm already dying. I think it's a pretty good thing if I can bring the three of you together with me," Michael uttered. Hearing that, they frowned. They wouldn't want to risk their lives. "Sir Robinson, you still have to think about your daughter, right?" Theodore said. "I can let her go, but you must die today." "Yes! Only if you die can your daughter live!" Graham echoed."Can I trust you?" Michael asked. Theodore held his head up high. "No matter what, I'm still a prominent figure in the martial world. I won't go back
"Honestly, we shouldn't waste time debating who's better suited to be king. We just need to figure out who's most likely to take the throne," Jensen said matter-of-factly.As a businessman, he only cared about maximizing profit. To him, it didn't matter who sat on the throne but who had the best odds. He felt that backing that person would be the wisest choice."Who's most likely depends on who has the strongest backing," Jonathan said thoughtfully."Oh, right! I forgot to ask—who are the Moseys supporting?" Jovian asked, smacking his forehead. They'd been discussing this for so long but still hadn't figured out where the Moseys stood."My guess is Prince Nathaniel." Jensen narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He's close to Anders. With his immense potential and the king's favor, the Moseys might see him as their best bet.""Anders' personal ties can't speak for the entire Mosey family," Jovian countered, shaking his head. "Family interests outweigh personal relationsh
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u
Dustin had boarded the plane back to Oakvale. His trip to Sacred Wrym Summit had been full of ups and downs. From the Combat Tournament to the invasion of the Hall of Gods, his journey had been perilous. Thankfully, the outcome was favorable. He had won the championship at the tournament, acquired three Dracan essences, and ultimately foiled the Hall of Gods' plan. In every way, the mission had been nearly flawless.After bidding farewell to his newfound allies, Dustin joined Grace on the return flight. Four of the five Dracan essences had already been gathered, leaving only one remaining. According to Grace, the last essence had been located, and the person holding it was in Oakvale. Though their identity was still unknown, she suspected it was most likely one of the three princes.With the position of heir to the throne still uncertain, the three princes were all eager to secure their power. Whoever obtained the Dracan essence would be blessed with fortune and have a higher c
The chaos of the night quickly settled.By morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, Sacred Wrym Summit had regained its usual tranquility. Yet, the bloodstains across the ground and the wreckage of buildings stood as grim reminders of the previous night's violence.The military forces summoned by Grace had already taken the Hall of Gods' prisoners into custody.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueling gossip throughout the martial world as all the major guilds watched with keen interest. After all, very few in history had ever dared to challenge Sacred Wrym Summit, and a bold invasion aimed at destroying it was nothing short of unprecedented.The outcome was clear to all who bore witness. After many years, the world had come to recognize the true terror of Arion. He was no mere mortal—he was almost a godlike figure.…Inside the Hall of Gods' headquarters in Streuqua, the core members were gathered, seated in two rows on either side of the grand hall.On the thr
After dealing with the Hall of Gods' elite fighters, Arion disappeared in a blur. When he reappeared, he was hovering above the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit.The scene at the entrance to the forbidden ground was one of utter carnage. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, and rivers of blood flowed freely. All members of the Hall of Gods, including Hank, lay motionless on the ground.Dustin and Willard, both covered in blood and exuding killing intent, had fought fiercely. After a long, grueling fight, they succeeded in defending the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit. They had thwarted the Hall of Gods' plan to destroy the Dracan force.At that instant, Dustin seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up. Through the mist and darkness, he pinpointed Arion's figure hovering above. Arion smiled faintly and nodded at Dustin before disappearing again.Crossing several mountains in mere seconds, Arion arrived above the Sacred Wrym Summit's grand hall. Below, the discipl