"Familiar?" Emery was curious."Have you met Grandmaster Rhys before, Sir Bolts?""I must have been mistaken." Woody stroked his beard and gave it some thought, but he couldn't recall anything. With his memory, he would never have forgotten such a talented martial artist. It was a rare sight to see a young man become a grandmaster in Dragonmarsh. In normal circumstances, he would never forget such a talent if he had met him before. That could only mean that they were not acquainted."Sir Bolts, you must be tired after traveling this far. Please, have a seat and rest." Emery gestured. "There's no rush. Let me have a word with the young grandmaster." With that, Woody headed straight for the stage.Emery frowned briefly before regaining his composure.The Martial Arts Union became powerful mainly because it attracted talent from all walks of life. Be it good or bad, anyone with skills or unique abilities could join the union if they were strong enough.Woody had clearly take
"Young man, as long as you join us, I'll make sure to assign you a venerated role." Woody proposed a tempting offer. In the Martial Arts Union, a venerated role was higher than an official. Dustin would enjoy a rapid promotion and advance by two ranks immediately. "I'm sorry, I'm still not interested." Dustin shook his head once more.Woody frowned at being rejected repeatedly. He didn't expect Dustin to be this ungrateful when he had been extremely accommodating. "No way. What is he thinking? He's declining a venerated role in the union?""Being favored by the union is a great honor, but this guy is not appreciative! He's so ignorant!" "Hmph! What's a young grandmaster in front of the union? They're nothing but country bumpkins!"A few jealous martial artists commented on the situation. Most martial artists saw an offer from the union as the highest honor one could receive. However, Dustin declined the offer repeatedly, showing complete disregard for the union. He was t
"He's here?" Everyone turned their attention in the direction Theodore was looking. What they saw was a white figure jumping down from the top floor of the alliance headquarters. As light as a feather, the figure moved with the wind. "He's here! Sir Reeds is here!" A commotion broke out in the arena as the crowd watched the figure descend from the sky. Ronald Reeds had finally made his appearance. Under the watchful eyes of many, a white-clad Ronald arrived with his hands behind his back. His clothes swayed with the wind, and his steps were graceful. He looked like a higher being making his descent, carrying himself mysteriously and charismatically. He didn't have an imposing air or an overbearing presence. Still, nobody dared look him straight in the eye as he commanded utmost respect. At that moment, Ronald was like the brightest light, illuminating the earth and dispelling the darkness. It inspired genuine awe in the hearts of those who beheld him. "Sir Reeds, cong
What did he say? Wasn't he challenging the leader of the alliance for power and position? Wasn't he doing it to make a name for himself?Why did it sound like he was here to seek revenge? Was there a conflict between them? "How dare you openly insult our leader? It's simply unforgivable!" Quincey yelled as he rose angrily from his seat. The members of the alliance were also clamoring indignantly. Ronald was the face of the alliance. Naturally, no one could tolerate it when their leader was being slandered."That's enough, everyone calm down." Ronald raised his hand to silence the noise. Remaining unfazed, he continued, "Dustin, justice is clear. I have always acted honorably. Do you think a few accusations can tarnish my reputation?""Accusations? Hmph!" Dustin snorted. "You betrayed and killed your master. You're worse than an animal! A hypocrite like you who pretends to be virtuous deserves to be condemned by everyone!""How dare you!" Ronald's expression darkened.
Upon Ronald's command, a waiver was brought forth. Both he and Dustin signed their names on it without a word. A duel in the arena had always been a grave affair of life and death. However, unless there was a deep-seated enmity, the victor would normally show mercy. That was the unspoken code of conduct. However, by signing the waiver, that unspoken code would become void. There would be no room for mercy and no option for surrender. All that lay ahead was a ruthless battle for survival.It was either live or die. No third alternative existed. "Dustin, this is the most foolish thing you've done in your entire life." After signing the contract, Ronald's entire demeanor shifted.Instead of his previous grace, he now exuded an imposing might. A tremendous force seemed to emanate from him, enveloping the entire arena. Following that, the martial artists in the audience felt a sudden heaviness. It was as if an invisible boulder was pressing down on their shoulders. Even thei
There were differences in strength even among grandmasters. And the gaps between each minor level were challenging to bridge. "Sir Bolts, it seems like you have overestimated this young man." Theodore chuckled and shook his head. "If I'm not mistaken, after Sir Reeds' recent seclusion, his skills have ascended to another level. So he should only need three moves to deal with Dustin.""Oh? Is that so?" Woody raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.Ronald had already attained the status of a grandmaster several years ago. If he had made further progress, he was on the verge of becoming an ultimate grandmaster. If that were the case, the Martial Arts Union would have to reevaluate his value."Dustin, you should never have challenged me. I already offered you a chance back in the Black Forest. But it seems like you're determined to dig a grave for yourself. "No one will be coming to your rescue today!" Ronald continued to advance. His terrifying presence intensified as it surged
When the dust settled, the audience of martial artists felt a cold shiver run down their backs. They were terrified. The aftermath of that previous collision was terrifying. Had they not been prepared and failed to dodge, they would have been seriously injured. Even with their precautions, the destructive force left them with a lingering unease. "Not bad. You've improved since our encounter in the Black Forest," Ronald said as he placed one hand behind his back. With a faint smile playing on his lips, he looked convinced of his victory. "Unfortunately, you're still going to die today.""Ronald, don't hold back and just bring it on. Otherwise, you won't have another chance." Dustin straightened his posture, his gaze as cold as ever. The attack earlier had allowed Dustin to see through Ronald's limits. As expected, it appeared as if Ronald was on the verge of turning into an ultimate grandmaster. Fortunately, due to time constraints, he hadn't fully broken through yet. Other
Ronald leaped up high and suspended himself in the air. Under the sunlight, the golden armor that he wore gleamed brilliantly. It caught everyone's attention. "I call this swordplay the Ethereal Slash. I learned it during my three years spent in seclusion. Until today, I have never displayed it in front of others. "It will be your greatest honor today to die by this technique!"Now, watch me!" Ronald's golden sword suddenly shook. He then transformed into a golden streak of light and descended rapidly. His momentum was tremendous, destroying everything in its path. "How fast! What a terrifying swordplay!""Oh my goodness! Is this divine retribution? It's so frightening!""No one can withstand this strike of his when unleashed. At least the young grandmaster will die an honorable death!" Ronald's astounding swordplay sent shockwaves throughout the arena. The martial artists were left in awe. That golden streak of light was as radiant as the sun and left people utterly def
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