After entering Mirage, Lyra vented her anger. "Ugh, that woman is hot, but she's blind to fall for an incompetent fool like Dustin.""I know, right? What a waste," Chris chimed in with a long sigh. He was rich and handsome, so why was he unable to meet a beautiful woman too? "That's enough talk. We're here for business," Dahlia interrupted them and said, "Lyra, go and find out which Harmon is in charge tonight. It'd be best if we could promote ourselves.""I know a close friend who works at this place. I'll give her a call." As Lyra spoke, she fished out her phone and dialed a number. Before long, she informed Dahlia of good news. "Ms. Nicholson, tonight's charity event is organized by the Steel Lady herself. As for the partner, it'll depend on her preferences." "The Steel Lady? Could she be the famous business prodigy?" At the thought of this, Dahlia's eyes lit up with excitement. The Steel Lady had a well-known reputation for being the only woman who singlehandedly conquered
The hall where the event was held had become lively. On the stage, a group of dancers dressed in vintage clothing danced to classical music. Every facial expression and move was full of charm and grace, leaving a lingering impression in the audience's mind. Below the stage sat a crowd of well-dressed celebrities. While some clinked their glasses and chatted, others quietly enjoyed the performance. Dustin had found an empty seat and sat down, sipping on a glass of juice as he watched the show. "Yo, Rhys! Didn't think you would actually sneak in here!"Suddenly, a discordant voice disrupted Dustin's moment of peace. Glancing over at the source, Dustin spotted Chris and Dahlia together with the secretary."Hmph, what an unlucky day. Why are you everywhere?" Lyra huffed in annoyance.Dahlia didn't say a word. She threw a cold glance at Dustin and went to take a seat in the front row. "Hey, the charity auction is starting soon. Can you even afford to participate? Why are you sittin
"We were chosen?" Dahlia was shocked. She couldn't believe his words. The general manager wasn't talking about her place on the candidate list, but was referring to their appointment as the Harmon family's partner! They’d even skipped the final assessment. What was happening?"Did you mean what you said?" Dahlia questioned tentatively."Of course. If you don't believe it, you may come to our office tomorrow to sign the contract. I have other things to attend to, so I'll hang up now." After saying a few words, the general manager ended the call.Dahlia on the other end was feeling both astonished and delighted. Never had she expected things to go so smoothly. A few moments ago, the Jackson Group was just about to get removed from the candidate list but in the blink of an eye, they had become the Harmon family’s partner. Everything was happening too abruptly.Of course, it must've been due to Chris' help that she was able to make it this far. The Nolan family's influence was surprisi
Never in Dustin's wildest dreams would he think that was how Dahlia viewed him. She had no faith in him at all. As it turned out, three years of marriage meant nothing when compared to an outsider."You're right. I'm despicable, while Chris is a hero. I slandered him. Are you happy now?" Dustin said self-mockingly. It was pointless to defend himself when there was no trust to begin with."What's with your attitude? Are you saying I'm accusing you?" Dahlia frowned."Not at all. I'm the one to blame for badmouthing a good person," Dustin replied curtly. "You're so stubborn!" His words angered Dahlia. She never knew that Dustin would act like this out of spite and refuse to admit his mistake. Was he finally showing his true colors after their divorce? "It's all right, Dahlia. Don't get too worked up." At this time, Chris put up a pretentious act of kindness and said, "Dustin must be doing this because he doesn't like that I'm too close to you. I don't blame him. Everyone makes mist
"What the hell? Why did he bring so many people?" Chris gulped, feeling faint for some reason. Weren't they supposed to fight one-on-one? Edward had disrespected the rules of a fair fight by involving a gang. Though Chris was cursing in his heart, he had no choice but to face them head-on. No matter what, he couldn't lose face in front of Dahlia. "That's them. Surround them!" With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards led by Edward dashed forward at once, surrounding Chris, Dahlia, and Lyra. "What are you doing? I'm warning you, don't you dare touch me. My father is David Nolan, the president of Nolan Pharmaceuticals!" Sensing that he was at a disadvantage, Chris hurriedly threatened them with his father's status."So what?" one of the bodyguards yelled. "Do you know who you've messed with? He is Sir Spanner's son, the heir of Drey Group!"His words caused an uproar among the crowd."Sir Spanner? Is he talking about Trevor Spanner, King of the Underworld from East City?" "It must
“Then go to die!” Dustin stated expressionlessly, but his hard gaze was unnerving.“Go to thell?” Edward burst out laughing.Even the group of bodyguards standing behind him burst into laughter; all of them looked at Dustin as though he were an idiot.“You little punk! Don’t you know who I am? You’ve got some nerve speaking to me that way,” Edward said cockily.“I don’t know who you are, and I couldn't care less. You have three seconds to let her go, or else,” Dustin stated plainly.His words instantly caused a stir; even the people who were holding Dahlia were shocked.None of them expected that Dustin would say such a thing; he was remarkably brave compared to the silent Chris.However, such bravery was useless.“You really don’t know what’s good for you. You’re going to die!” Chris’ face was full of resentment because Dustin’s show of bravado only made his cowardice even more apparent.Naturally, Chris was irritated and even filled with resentment when a good-for-nothing l
“Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and beg Mr. Spanner for forgiveness!” Chris chimed in, taking advantage of the situation to add to Dustin’s humiliation.Chris was green with jealousy when Dustin was showing off earlier, so he was now trying to get some payback.“Will he kneel? Or will he not? If he does, he will forever be too ashamed to show his face. But if he doesn’t, he might be dead or maimed once Edward retaliates,” Chris thought.“Hey punk, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance to make amends! I’ll spare you if you grovel at my feet today. If not, don’t blame me for being merciless.” Edward jabbed Dustin’s chest with his finger with a smug expression on his face.“What does it matter if he knows how to fight when he has no power and no status? In the eyes of the public, he’s nothing more than a foot soldier,” he continued mentally .“Are you aware that you’re playing with fire?” Dustin asked as he looked at Edward’s finger.“Playing with fire?” Edward smirked. “N
The hall was in an uproar because of Dustin’s actions.The timid guests had long left, in fear of becoming caught in the crossfire.As for the unconscious and critically injured Edward, his bodyguards had immediately taken him to the hospital.“This is troublesome.” Dahlia had a concerned look on her face as she scowled.Sir Spanner was infamous for being cruel and ruthless, and he surely wouldn’t be inclined to just let things go when his son had been beaten into such a state.Dustin may not have much longer to live.“Lyra, I want you to find out if there’s any way this can be resolved peacefully,” Dahlia suddenly said.Lyra was puzzled. “What do Dustin’s actions have to do with us, Ms. Nicholson? Why do we need to expend effort for his sake?”Dahlia had a frosty expression as she retorted, “He saved my life earlier. Should I just watch him die?”“That’s not what I meant, I just think it would be very unwise to cross Sir Spanner at this point. Moreover, no one would willingly
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
"Glenn had only seven swords in the past. I didn't expect that in just one year, two more divine swords would recognize him as their master. This punk is much better than I was back then," Cyrus remarked. He stroked his chin with a look of surprise and approval. He had always believed in Glenn's potential, but Glenn's performance had still exceeded his expectations.After all, the more swords Glenn wielded, the stronger he became. He had already topped the Legendary List with just seven swords. Now, with nine, his strength had grown even more overwhelming."He truly is the Chosen One." Even Kaden couldn't help but sigh.The nine divine swords recognized their master and responded with ease. Glenn's talent and cultivation were leagues ahead of his peers.Every generation brought forth new talent, and the old had no choice but to step aside for the new generation. Compared to their time, today's youth were on another level—monsters in their own right."Now, this is going to be int
Compared to the second green sword, Glenn's third sword was even more powerful. As it descended, accompanied by the fury of a fire dragon, it carried the destructive force of a world-shattering storm.Fenley, whose energy flow was disrupted earlier, watched the fiery red long sword streak toward like a falling meteor. His heart raced and was gripped by a sudden sense of impending doom.With a roar, he risked the backlash effect and unleashed a powerful surge of internal energy. The ethereal divine spirit behind him instantly transformed into a figure with three heads and six arms. This was the complete form of the Four Elements of God's Technique.At that instant, he threw everything he had into the fight. He controlled the spirit to slam its giant arms into the flaming sword. With a loud explosion, the sword tore through the spirit's palms and continued its unyielding path toward Fenley. But its speed had slowed slightly.Without hesitation, he controlled the spirit to strike ag
When the spectators heard the match was about to begin, the excitement reached a fever pitch. Half of them cheered for Fenley while the other half chanted Glenn's name. Both were the Chosen Ones, and their popularity was undeniable. Everyone had been waiting for their face-off in the battle ring.Though Fenley ranked slightly below Glenn on the Legendary List, his fame and influence as the successor to the Celestial Alliance's guildmaster outshined Glenn's. Ultimately, the question of who was stronger could only be answered in the ring."I've been waiting for this day, Glenn." Fenley stared at him intently. His voice was powerful and commanding. He continued, "Others say I'm not your equal, but I refuse to believe it. Today, we'll find out whether your sword is faster or if my Four Elements of God's Technique is superior.""The moment you said that, you've already lost. Your doubt shows you lack the confidence to defeat me," Glenn replied calmly. If this were a fight-to-the-deat
After the quarterfinals, it was time for a break. With noon approaching, contestants and spectators needed food and water to recharge. An hour later, the venue was buzzing with excitement again as Oron stepped onto the battle ring. He was accompanied by a Sacred Wrym Summit disciple, who carried a black box filled with numbered balls."It's almost time. I'd like to invite the top four contestants to the ring to draw lots," Oron announced as he surveyed the crowd.Amidst a wave of enthusiastic applause, four figures ascended the battle ring one after another. First in line was Glenn, with Fenley right behind him, followed by Abigail and Dustin."Sir, we're in the semifinals. Good luck!" Abigail winked playfully at Dustin as she stepped into the ring."You too," he replied with a smile.Given Abigail's strength, her odds against Glenn were slim. However, if she faced Fenley, she would have a solid chance at victory.After all, Fenley had only just broken through to the ultimate g
"Who the heck is this kid?" Oron glanced at his trembling hands and felt a chill run down his spine. He failed to gain the upper hand in the earlier clash with Dustin and suffered an unexpected setback. He was already an ultimate grandmaster, with a cultivation and mastery of the Glow Incantation that surpassed Caleb's. By all accounts, subduing a younger opponent should have been a piece of cake.But that exchange just now had brought him to a stark realization—Dustin had been holding back this whole time and hadn't used his full strength. Otherwise, Caleb wouldn't have lasted this long.The realization unsettled Oron. There were always extraordinary talents out there, but the potential Dustin had displayed was genuinely terrifying. To put it plainly, he was a beast on the same level as Glenn."What happened? Why did the judge step in?""Can't you see? Caleb has already lost. If the judge hadn't stepped in, that sword would have killed him or left him severely injured.""Exactl
As the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman took shape, a massive trigram formation suddenly appeared at the center of the battle ring. It spanned across the ring, whirling and transforming with relentless speed.At that moment, Dustin was standing inside the enchantment circle. He suddenly felt overwhelmed by tremendous pressure. Unlike the crushing force from the Summit Shift talisman that affected his body, this pressure came from his mind. He felt as if he were confined in a cage and unable to escape, regardless of how hard he struggled.Unlike the explosion Caleb had used against Sam, the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman now showcased its true power."You shouldn't have given me time to prepare. Your arrogance is your downfall." Caleb let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the enchantment circle in place.The Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman was powerful but required several seconds to cast—a timeframe that could be deadly against a skilled opponent.During his fight with Sam