In the end, Dustin entered an antique study at Christopher's invitation. After they were served coffee, they started chatting."Kid, it's been ten years, hasn't it? You look like a completely new person compared to back then!" Christopher looked him up and down in astonishment. Ten years ago, Dustin was known as Dragonmarsh's number-one talent. He was young, arrogant, and rebellious. But today, he had transformed into a reserved man, hiding his abilities and talent."Ten years have passed, and you are still as dignified and graceful as ever," Dustin complimented. "I'm getting old. I'm not as imposing as I used to be." Christopher shook his head with a smile. "Kid, I don't think you came because you missed me. Do you have something to discuss?""To be honest, I'm here to visit you. But I'm also here to ask for a favor," Dustin went straight to the point.He even placed a gift he had prepared on the table as he spoke."Oh? What is it?" Christopher sipped on his coffee as he
The helper caught on and left immediately. Soon, he came in with a wooden box. "Kid, I'm giving this to you as a gift." Christopher received the wooden box before passing it to Dustin. Dustin opened it up carefully and was greeted by a unique smell. Inside the wooden box laid a colorful Cherusia. The Cherusia was the size of a palm. It appeared delicate and beautiful, resembling a perfect work of art. When illuminated by the light, it sparkled with radiant colors, creating a breathtaking sight. "It really is the Cherusia!" Dustin's face lit up as he jumped to his feet. He shook Christopher's hand enthusiastically. "Thank you so much for agreeing to give this to me, General Murray!"Christopher appeared genuinely generous as he replied, "I have no use for it myself anyway. Besides, I gain a favor by giving it to you.""I can't express my gratitude enough. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you ever need my help," Dustin said.The Cherusia was invaluable, yet Christo
Meanwhile, inside a luxurious courtyard within the Murray residence, a young, lean man dressed in fine clothing was having coffee with Caden."Mr. Diego, what brings you here?" Caden smiled as he poured Diego a cup of coffee."Thank you." Diego nodded politely."I've long heard about your greatness, Mr. Caden. I came here today with the main intention of getting to know you." Diego had a strong foreign accent."Mr. Diego, there is no need for such pleasantries," Caden remarked. "Please, feel free to speak your mind. Let's have an honest conversation.""Mr. Caden, since you prefer to be straightforward, I won't beat around the bush any longer."I came here today in hopes of meeting General Murray. But unfortunately, he was too busy and had no time to see me. "I was hoping you could put in a good word for me." As he spoke, Diego gestured for his men to bring over a long wooden box. The box was about four feet long, and when opened, it revealed an ornate curved longsword. Dieg
"Sir Murray has given the Cherusia away." Mrs. Patty shook her head. "He gave it away? To whom?" Caden's smile froze. "A young man named Dustin." Mrs. Patty told him the truth. "What? He gave it to that brat?" Caden frowned, and his expression turned dark. How could he give a precious treasure like the Cherusia to a loser like Dustin? He was too foolish!Even if Dustin had saved Sheila before, they had already rewarded him. Was it necessary to treat him that well?"Can we get it back?" Caden couldn't accept it. He had even confidently promised Diego. He didn't expect problems to arise so quickly."You know Sir Murray's personality. He would never get something he's given away back." Mrs. Patty put down that thought. "Damn it! Just what makes him worthy of such a treasure?" Caden was fuming. "Mr. Caden, who is this Dustin? It seems like General Murray favors him.""He's no one. My father likes him just because he saved my daughter once," Caden explained. "From what
The next morning, Dustin drove to Swinton after making arrangements at Zephyr Lodge.Now that he finally got his hands on the Cherusia, he had all the herbs he needed. Everything was set.He didn't know how long Gregory could hold up with the Celestial Decay. He had to produce the Longevitum as soon as possible so as not to have to worry about him. It took Dustin about half a day to reach Peaceful Medical Center.All was quiet and peaceful in the medical center. Gregory lay on an easy chair, drunk, as usual. He stank of alcohol.Caitlyn busied herself around the place, wiping the chairs and tables, doing the laundry, and cooking. She kept the medical center clean and in order.As for Maximus, the sword fanatic, he focused on training in the yard.While he used to be known as Lightning Blade, he now focused on slowing down. Though it didn't look much, his every move was restrained yet powerful.He changed his way of wielding his sword and reached a new level of swordsmanship. I
It wasn't until he saw the faint smile on Dustin's face that he knew what was going on."Oh, get lost, you little brat!" Gregory huffed.Then, he made himself comfortable on the easy chair and got ready to sleep again."Come on, stop sleeping. I've got serious business." Dustin took out two wooden boxes and placed them on the table. One had the thousand-year green lotus, and the other had the Cherusia."I've made a decent haul in Millsburg this time. The last two remaining herbs are here. I can start producing the Longevitum now.""Oh? So soon?" Gregory sat up lazily. "I thought my days were numbered. Who'd have thought that you actually managed to collect all the herbs. How fortunate!""Enough with your nonsense. Go bring out all the herbs we collected from before," Dustin urged."Alright, alright, I'll go get them." Gregory stretched sluggishly before searching through several drawers and cupboards. It took him a while to find all the herbs that he'd hidden away."Maxim
"What?" Dustin became worried when the furnace exploded. He was so close to success. Why? Why had the furnace exploded? Had all his previous efforts gone to waste now?"No … That's impossible!" Dustin shook his head, sweat dripping uncontrollably.He was unwilling to believe he failed and refused to accept this outcome. He began to comb around the debris of the exploded furnace. He went through every piece and every fragment.He searched through them like a wolf, searching for its prey, hungry and wild. Suddenly, he paused.Under all the debris and residue, he saw a hint of gold.The shiny gold color shone through the residue surrounding it like a ray of light in the dark. It was eye-catching.After a brief pause, Dustin slowly reached out to dust the residue around it away.Bit by bit, inch by inch, he removed every piece of debris and residue from it with his heart in his mouth. Finally, a perfect gold pill appeared before his very eyes.The gold pill was crystal clear, and
Gregory had no plans to let them drink more of his vodka, apart from the three tiny shot glasses he poured.Dustin, Maximus, and Caitlyn exchanged looks of disbelief.In the end, Gregory finished the remaining vodka himself."That was some good vodka!" Gregory burped after he was done drinking. He looked refreshed and in high spirits.Now that he was happy and content, he picked up the Longevitum and swallowed it.With a gulp, the Longevitum slid down his throat, giving out a burst of golden energy. It coursed through his entire body.The energy contained a strong and vibrant vitality, nourishing Gregory's body like a spring of living water. His circulatory pathways, which had dried up, began to flow. Color returned to his pale face.There seemed to be a glimmer of gold in his old, cloudy eyes. Changes began to take place in his limbs, organs, skin, muscles, and hair.Gregory's frail old body quickly absorbed the vitality of the golden energy.Soon, his white hair slowly turne
Glenn wasn't just skilled in swordsmanship, but his technique was also flawless. Every strike was unpredictable, relentless, and impossible to block. His attacks came in waves, and each one was stronger than the last.What made him even more terrifying were the six divine swords that obeyed his every command. They were like extensions of his will. The swords threw Dustin off balance, attacking from every direction and blocking any chance of escape. They moved in perfect sync with Glenn and left no room for counterattacks.Dustin had no choice but to dodge and parry. If not for his incredible agility and mastery of the sword, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few breaths.Even so, the pressure was overwhelming. It felt like he wasn't just facing Glenn but six or seven skilled opponents at once. Any slip in focus, or any opening, could be his last.The real challenge was that Dustin wasn't gaining any ground. While he had to stay focused on dodging and blocking, he also had to se
Under the watchful eyes of the audience, Dustin and Glenn stepped onto the battle ring. They stood about 30 feet apart, and their eyes locked across the distance. Their gazes met like sparks, and they could feel the weight of the other's stare."Are you Logan?" Glenn asked, breaking the silence.He had heard the rumors about this dark horse before stepping into the ring, but now that he was facing him, he wasn't sure."Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is who wins this fight." Dustin didn't confirm or deny it, but his words left Glenn with no doubt.Both men were at the top of the Legendary List and held equal rank on the Champ-Tier List. Until they fought, no one could say who was the stronger of the two."I heard you're Seth's disciple, so I'm really looking forward to this." Glenn's gaze sharpened.Many years ago, his mentor, Cyrus, was defeated by Seth. That loss had always haunted Cyrus ever since. Now, with the disciples of both men about to face off, Glenn was determin
"Since Madam Penelope has spoken, I’ll follow her lead," Alloy said with a smile. "What about Mr. Hadley and Sage Foyer?""I'm in if you want to make a bet," Cyrus replied coolly."It's not every day we get an opportunity like this. Let me stir things up a bit." Kaden nodded with a grin.Once the three had agreed, Penelope waved for Abigail to come over.Soon, Abigail approached them with a wide grin. "Esteemed guests, I hear you want to bet. The current odds are—bet on Dustin to win, and you'll get 1.6 times your stake. Bet on Glenn, and it's only 0.4."She continued, "And no worries—if you win, I'll exchange your winnings for celestial stones." Abigail smiled brightly, and the other parties' eyes gleamed with the unmistakable shine of greed.Many had already placed their bets with her. Though she couldn't control the match's outcome, she knew how to adjust the odds to her advantage. Over time, that could turn into a huge fortune."I'm betting on Glenn to win." Cyrus quickly
"We're ready for the ultimate showdown of this tournament. The winner will be crowned the Combat Tournament Champion. Now, let's welcome both contestants to the ring." Oron's voice thundered as he stepped onto the battle ring.There was thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.The long-awaited showdown was finally at hand. Today's outcome wasn't just about personal glory, but it would also decide the future of the martial world.If Glenn triumphed and claimed the crown, the Sword Union would rise as the undisputed guild. The Celestial Alliance and the Mystic Arts Order would have no choice but to bow to their supremacy.But if Dustin won, it would be even more sensational. A dark horse, without any guild affiliation, defeating the elite disciples of the major guild—such a story would send shockwaves through the martial world.Once that happened, every major guild would fight tooth and nail to claim him. It would spark a fierce battle for dominance."Dr. Rhys! Good luck!"
"H-Hold on! I-I surrender!" Abigail said urgently. With the sword inches away from her throat, she decisively raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.She didn't expect herself to win the match. Her goal was simply to take this opportunity to test Dustin's strength and also gauge her own progress. But now, it was clear that there was still a sizable gap between them."You've done well. In a few more years, I might not even be able to keep up with you." Dustin smiled and lowered his Celestial Blade. His words weren't flattery; he genuinely saw potential in Abigail.The dark Phoenix flames carried a corrosive power that even his mystical pure energy couldn't resist. In other words, Abigail's black flames were the bane of any martial artist.Her journey in the martial world was still short—barely two years. She hadn't unlocked the full potential of her Phoenix bloodline yet. But with more training and experience, the sky was the limit for her."Don't try to console me, Sir. I'm n
With a resounding bang, the golden light erupted with a burst of terrifying energy wave. In an instant, the earth trembled, and fierce winds whipped through the air.Dustin and his sword were sent flying several yards. After landing, he stumbled back several steps before finally steadying himself.He looked up and saw that Abigail's body was now covered in a layer of golden armor, though he couldn't tell when it had happened. The armor glowed brightly, and it made her look imposing and striking.It was clearly a divine artifact.The Mystic Arts Order had been around for centuries, with deep roots and countless treasures. As the Grand Sorceress, Abigail would obviously have several divine artifacts for protection.Dustin wasn't surprised, but the armor's counterforce caught him off guard. Not only did it protect her, but it also had offensive capabilities.When his sword struck the armor earlier, the blow didn't leave a scratch. Instead, the armor absorbed the hit and sent the for
Dustin raised his hand as the black feathers rained down on him. A white energy shield flared into existence to form a wall before him.The feathers slammed into the shield and sent ripples across its surface but failed to break through. However, the black flames on the feathers spread across the shield and burned through its energy at a visible pace. In the blink of an eye, the once impenetrable barrier cracked open and left a gaping hole.Dustin couldn't hide his surprise. His mystical pure energy was far stronger than the average grandmaster's internal energy in offense and defense. It was meant to be impenetrable. He hadn't anticipated it couldn't hold up against Abigail's phoenix flame.Seeing the raw strength of her bloodline, he knew he couldn't afford to take any chances. As the black flames spread, he swiftly waved his hand to summon a furious gust of wind that sent the feathers and flames flying."Glaring Wings!" Abigail wasn't done yet. She quickly formed hand seals and
Abigail moved with lightning speed, and her figure weaved in and out like a shadow. Her swift movements left a blur of afterimages that was hard for anyone watching to keep up.On the contrary, Dustin stood still without making any movement."Fallen Fist!"After closing in, she unleashed a flurry of strikes—dozens of black palm shadows slamming toward his body, and each one was like a bullet aimed at its target.Abigail practiced a unique martial art, and it was imbued with voodoo-like properties that could kill anyone who made contact with her. But Dustin's body was immune to all poisons, so it was a perfect counter to her deadly attack.As the shadow palms closed in, he remained unshaken and thrust his palm forward.A fierce gust of wind surged and ripped through the air with unrelenting force. It collided with the black palm shadows.Abigail's black palm shadows exploded on impact and disintegrated into thick clouds of dark mist that quickly spread. Within moments, the mist e
The whole arena suddenly fell dead silent. Everyone stared blankly, and not a soul dared to breathe. Alloy shot to his feet in the main spectator seats, and his face was tense with worry. Yet, he didn't dare make a sound. He feared it might startle Glenn into making a mistake that could cost Fenley's life.After all, Fenley represented the future of the Celestial Alliance. Alloy had invested all his effort into Fenley, and he provided him with endless resources. If Fenley were to die in the match, it would deal a devastating blow to the entire guild.While Alloy was gripped with worry, Cyrus and Penelope cheered silently. They secretly hoped Glenn's sword would strike Fenley. If that happened, the Celestial Alliance would take at least a decade to regain its former glory.Fenley's body stiffened as he stared at the Fang Master hovering inches from him. A shiver ran through his spine as goosebumps prickled his skin. Sweat trickled down his face, and each drop hit the ground with a