"Your Highness, it has nothing to do with us! "We didn’t do anything!" The Harmon family members panicked, groveling as they begged for mercy."None of you are blameless in this incident," Dustin stated coldly. "All of you betrayed the family by acting as accomplices to the mastermind. Tearing the family apart and bringing the family business to a slump ultimately led to its downfall. "How can any of you claim innocence?""We …" They had no words. The Harmons were once one of the top prominent families of Millsburg. But now, they were falling apart, heading towards their doom. They indeed bore their share of responsibility. If they hadn't joined Trent in pursuing power and wealth and hadn't started an internal strife in the family, they perhaps could have had better lives. Unfortunately, it was all too late."I won't get involved in your crimes. Natasha will deal with all of you when she regains consciousness." Without another word, he waved. "Take them all in and keep
"The stakes are alright, but why should I agree to the bet?"Dustin stated calmly, "Your life is currently in my hands. What makes you qualified to propose a bet with me?"Hearing this, Tyler gritted his teeth. Eventually, he said solemnly, "I have a piece of the treasure map, the result of my many years of relentless searching. "I am willing to stake it against my life in a bet against yours!" Tyler would never have revealed this secret if it weren't for being cornered. There were three pieces to the Harmon family's treasure map. And he happened to have gotten his hands on one of them in a fortunate coincidence, along with some insider information. It was precisely because of this that he had been scheming in secret, attempting to get his hands on the piece the Harmons had. But he never expected to land himself into such big trouble before he could get his hands on the second piece. Now, he could only gamble with the map he had. "So, it turns out that you have one piece o
"Great! You agreed to this!" Tyler's expression brightened. Since this was his only chance to turn the tables, he would not miss this opportunity. "Step aside, everyone step aside. The fight is about to start; don't get in the way," Austin was straightforward and immediately instructed the crowd to make way. Although it had been many years since he last met Dustin, he had unwavering confidence in him.Being the Kirin was not an empty title; he earned it through hard-fought battles. Ten years ago, Oakvale was filled with extraordinary talents. It was a time of intense competition where the most talented individuals were eager to prove themselves. And what was the result? His brother single-handedly dominated all his rivals, causing the so-called geniuses to flee in disgrace. Hardly anyone posed a challenge to him in the whole of Oakvale. Dustin's name became a nightmare for all the top talents from then on, invoking fear in their hearts. With Dustin defeating all of the f
Tyler's sword was swift and powerful. When he executed his sword technique, it was like an arrow piercing through the sky. Whichever direction it went, a howling wind followed and kicked up dust and stones. It even tore a rift in the air. It was extremely powerful!"What a fast sword! What a terrifying technique! It is as expected of a grandmaster!" "With this sword, even the Gods would have to yield. Let's see how Dustin will defend against this!" "I feel that Tyler is about to land a winning strike!" As they watched Tyler's incredible sword strike, the Grant family members were filled with excitement and anticipation. They felt as if victory was within their grasp.Even Arthur, who had been worried earlier, sighed a long sigh of relief. He had been doubtful about Tyler's status as a grandmaster, and now it seemed like there was no doubt about it. He seemed much stronger than ordinary martial arts grandmasters. This was their win."Go to hell!" Tyler roared and thrust his
For a moment, his energy soared, and his powers instantly doubled."Oh? A fight to the death, then?" Dustin raised his brows, surprised.It was clear that the pill Tyler had taken must have been a secret pill that could greatly enhance his abilities quickly. But the price to pay for it was that it would deplete his potential and vitality. He would not have taken it unless it was a life-or-death situation."It's Wildemor! What Tyler had taken was Wildemor!" someone from the crowd exclaimed."What? Wildemor? Isn't it banned?""Wildemor can activate all the potential within a person and increase his powers by several folds. But it has adverse effects as well. "Not only will it decrease his lifespan, he might even lose his mind!" "Goodness! Does Tyler not cherish his own life? How could he have taken Wildemor?"Seeing the significant shift in Tyler's energy, the onlookers began whispering among themselves. Besides the initial shock, there was anticipation in the air, too."He'
"What?"Seeing Tyler severely wounded on the ground, the Grants were stunned. It was as if they had been struck by lightning.They had thought that with Wildemor, Tyler could reverse the situation and win. Who'd have thought all it took was one punch from Dustin to defeat Tyler? And Tyler was so terribly defeated!Dustin had destroyed the sword with just a single punch and heavily wounded Tyler. The latter had been entirely crushed!"Oh no. No way … We're done for now!"Tyler's legs gave way, and he slumped to the ground lifelessly. Despair could be seen on the faces of the Grants as they lost all hope.They had thought too highly of Tyler and underestimated Dustin. The two were of entirely different levels.The genius they took so much pride in was nothing compared to Dustin, the Kirin. Even when he had given his all and fought to the death, it was only a futile attempt."Is this all you've got? You can't even go up against Adam Spanner if this is all you can do. How dare you
Tyler stood out among his peers.What others worked their ass off for years to achieve, he could easily attain it without breaking a sweat.He had always believed himself to be the chosen one, born to be king, a supreme one to rule over all humanity. It wasn't until this moment that he finally understood that there was always someone better and more talented.His talent and achievements, which he had always taken pride in, amounted to nothing in Dustin's presence."How ignorant I have been." Still reeling from the shock of defeat, a bitter smile spread out on Tyler's face. At that moment, something within him collapsed, and he lost every last bit of his fighting spirit. He was left with nothing but despair.He had led a life of constant success. This was his only defeat. But this defeat had totally crushed him."You've lost. Hand me the treasure map." Dustin walked up to him and looked down at Tyler.Tyler was silent as he lay on the ground, looking up at the vast, blue sky.
Once everything was settled, Dustin led his men back to Zephyr Lodge.Natasha and Ruth were still unconscious, and Dustin did not wake them.Now that Hector and Trent were dead, the Harmon family was in shambles. This would undoubtedly have a huge impact on Natasha, and she would have difficulty coming to terms with things.All Dustin could do now was to make proper arrangements for Hector's funeral to reduce Natasha's burden. Her father was dead, and no one could truly understand her pain. She would have to get through it herself."Do not touch any of the Harmons' businesses for now. The family has suffered a great impact and will need a thorough reorganization."As for those who changed their allegiances to benefit themselves, detain them. We'll deal with them after Natasha comes around."Also, make sure Trent's funeral is carried out according to the highest standards. Nothing should go wrong …"Dustin gave his orders in the meeting room, and the disciples of the Kirin Gang
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