"What? Josie of the Frostlanders?"As those words were spoken, the crowd was in an uproar. Boulderthorn was already one of the top major guilds in Balerno. As the chief of the subsidiary guild, Josie was renowned in the martial world. She stood out among her peers with her unfathomable cultivation skills and outstanding swordsmanship."I've heard that Josie is cold and ruthless. She never hesitates to kill others. Those brats are in trouble now.""Serves them right. A disciple from some third-rate guild dares to compare himself to a young grandmaster? He's really ignorant and arrogant!"The crowd began to whisper as if they were preparing for a show. In martial arts, strength spoke for itself, and the strongest was in charge."So, you're Josie. I've heard so much about you," Lyn greeted Josie respectfully. At that moment, Lyn tried to defuse the tension. However, Josie ignored her and glanced at Toddy. She said coldly, "You just claimed to have extraordinary talents and
Josie impressed everyone with her agility."Cloud palm technique!" she shouted. As she got closer, her palm hit Toddy from below. She aimed for his chest and abdomen.Toddy scoffed, "Just a petty trick." But before he could fight back, her palm hit his chest.In an instant, it felt as if he had been hit by a speeding car, and he flew several feet into the air. He spat out a cloud of gruesome mist in the form of blood. With a dull thud, he crashed to the ground and slid several feet before coming to a halt."Toddy!"The Moonlight Reverence disciples were shocked and rushed to his side. They couldn't believe their senior had been defeated so easily.A single blow was enough to send Toddy flying. It surprised them, and they began to doubt his supposed strength. Some wondered if Toddy was as weak as he looked."He was talking big before the fight. I thought he'd be strong because of his confidence. It turned out to be the opposite.""He's completely useless. He couldn't even take
"If you're not skilled enough, you shouldn't even think about trying a surprise attack.""Being brought down in a single move is embarrassing, and now, you've also lost your dignity.""If I were you, I'd probably look for a place to hide."When Toddy's surprise attack failed, the crowd erupted in laughter at his expense. Their faces were full of scorn and mockery.Dealing with such public humiliation was hard for anyone."No … this can't be real."Surrounded by ridicule, Toddy began to doubt himself for the first time. He was the strongest senior disciple in Moonlight Reverence. With his exceptional talent and strength, he was destined to become a grandmaster.Yet, he had suffered a humiliating defeat and injured himself in a failed surprise attack. He wondered if the difference between them was so great or if he really lacked the ability."You ungrateful punk! I spared you, and you still had the gall to launch a surprise attack?" Josie's expression turned icy. "If you want t
When did another skilled young martial artist emerge in the martial world?"Josie, are you in any trouble?"Suddenly, a man dressed in green approached her. He was accompanied by a group of young martial artists. The man in green had a commanding air and a piercing gaze. His presence was so powerful that it forced onlookers to avert their eyes."Look at their clothes. They seem to be the members of the Soul Reapers?""You're right. He's Lance Alcott, the top disciple of the Soul Reapers.""Huh? Lance Alcott? I've heard that he's an outstanding young martial arts master. He has unmatched marksmanship and mysterious strength. He's considered to be the best martial artist of the younger generation. He even surpassed Josie.""If Lance is here, the situation will only get more interesting."The appearance of Lance caught everyone's attention. It was worth noting that the Soul Reapers was a prestigious guild like Boulderthorn. Although they didn't have as many members, the Soul Re
Seriously! Is this guy crazy? Is that how he talks to Lance?""The kid is pretty rude, doesn't he? He doesn't seem to realize how serious the situation is.""Can you believe it? A martial artist from a small guild challenging the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers? He's just looking for trouble!"Dustin's words caused a stir in the crowd.The martial artists were pointing and talking, and everyone stared at Dustin as if he were a fool. They wondered if it would be wiser to back down in the face of such a capable fighter as Lance.Dustin could have shown some respect and used polite words, even if it made him uncomfortable. That would have been safer than provoking Lance when he clearly couldn't win."What's going through that guy's mind?"Josie frowned. She didn't want to escalate the situation, but Dustin's words had only made things worse. It wasn't her problem anymore. But now, the reputation and honor of the Soul Reapers was at stake."Mr. Rhys, he's the Soul Reapers
"Lance, catch!" One of the disciples from the Soul Reapers tossed a finely crafted steel spear. As Lance grasped the spear, he appeared fierce and dominant. His exceptional spear skills and advanced training had made him a renowned figure. He was undefeated in the martial world for years. Today, he intended to impress the martial community again with his exceptional skills."Brat, you're one of the few who have made me use my spear in years. If you meet your end today, consider it an honor." Lance scowled.With a swift thrust, the long spear shot forward like an arrow. Lance quickly narrowed the distance as he held the shaft and spun it rapidly.Instantly, he became one with his spear. He charged forward like a dark storm. As he moved, a whirlwind followed him, causing the nearby martial artists to tremble in fear."Celestial Pursuit!" Lance and his spear became an unstoppable force as he advanced toward Dustin. His menacing presence shocked the spectators."What an incredib
"Whoa! Can you believe it? This guy took down the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers with just one finger?""What's going on? How can this kid be so strong?""Where did this monster come from? Did he actually defeat Lance? That's terrifying, isn't it?"The unexpected turn of events caused quite a stir.Everyone had expected Lance to win, but Dustin overpowered him. This showed a clear difference in their abilities, and it amazed them."Is he really that powerful?"Josie was taken aback. Initially, she assumed Dustin was only good at hidden weapons, but his physical power was astonishing. With a single finger, he had effortlessly flung Lance into the air. Among the martial artists of Balerno, no one was his equal."Rhys … Mr. Rhys defeated Lance?" Lyn rubbed her eyes in disbelief. She had always admired the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers. Even so, Dustin's easy victory was incredible."The chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers? He's so weak! He couldn't e
Although the voice wasn't particularly loud, a commanding presence in the room silenced the noisy crowd.The stout old man with the white beard entered, radiating authority. He wore a black robe and had a gruff appearance with piercing eyes. As he walked, his robe fluttered in the wind. Although he wasn't particularly strong, he exuded a profound sense of grace.Without doing anything, all eyes were on him. It was Graham, the leader of the Soul Reapers."Sir Thorne is finally here. Something big is about to happen.""The kid dares to challenge Sir Thorne. There's going to be trouble.""Why be so foolish? Why provoke a grandmaster? Let's see how he handles it now!""Words can really lead to trouble!"People whispered, pointing their fingers. Some even had pity in their eyes. They thought Dustin had taken it too far when he challenged Graham."It's over now." Lyn trembled."Wow, this guy is playing with fire! Why mess with a grandmaster? That's like asking for trouble. I hope
In another luxurious mansion in the Inner City, a female spy dressed in black, cloaked in a hood, was reporting the results of her investigation to Nathaniel."Your Highness, the Moseys have been particularly active recently and are rallying allies. Many of the eight great families and other influential factions have already allied with them. If left unchecked, they'll pose a serious threat to us," she said, kneeling with her head lowered slightly."So the Moseys are backing Matthias, huh?" Nathaniel sat quietly, his expression unreadable."The Moseys have grand ambitions. While they claim to support Prince Matthias, they're merely setting him up as a puppet to rise to power and expand their own influence," she revealed.She had been infiltrating the Moseys' mansion for years and had gained a deep understanding of their operations, from the smallest details to the key players.Though Seamus appeared as a benevolent philanthropist, it was all a façade. Behind closed doors, he was r
That night, two young men sat playing chess inside a secluded mansion in the Inner City. On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him sat Matthias, a broad-shouldered man dressed in richly adorned robes.The game was intense, with fast moves followed by moments of deep thought. About ten minutes later, Anders finally conceded defeat."Anders, you've really improved since we last played. You almost had me there," Matthias said, stroking his beard in mild surprise."You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have lasted half as long," Anders replied with a modest smile."You're as smooth with words as ever." Matthias let out a hearty laugh with a look of smug satisfaction. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, defeat was not an option."Well, we've eaten, and we've played. Let's get to business." With a wave of his hand, he signaled his men t
"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