"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
"Is that so? Well, what if it's something to do with the upheaval in Aylka ten years ago?" Dustin asked suddenly."What?" Austin's expression froze over as he fell silent. He reflexively looked over at his mother.The upheaval in Aylka was a taboo in their family. In fact, it was a taboo in the whole of Dragonmarsh.Ever since it happened, it has been a topic that no one dared to discuss. He hadn't expected Dustin to bring it up now suddenly."Logan, what's in the past should be left in the past. What happened ten years ago is over and should not be brought up again." Eloise shook her head lightly."Over?" Dustin lifted his head slowly."I do not know why or how my mother died; my personal guards were all sacrificed. What do you mean it's over?""It hurts me to think about your mother's death, too. But the people behind it have already been executed. Everyone that deserves to be executed is already dead. "It's time to let go of your resentment," Eloise coaxed gently."They ha
"Damn it! This punk's tougher than I thought. We're in real trouble if this keeps up," Connor said, swinging his twin blades relentlessly. Every strike was aimed at Axel's vital points.But Axel was quick. He weaved in and out of reach and avoided direct confrontation. It was obvious he was just stalling for time."Sir Prescott should be far enough by now. There's no point dragging this out. Let's fall back."Sensing the futility of their efforts, Dave considered retreating. He didn't fear death, but he wasn't about to waste his life for nothing.Since Warrick had escaped, their interception mission was also completed."You guys hold him off. The rest of you, fall back with me."Connor was decisive. Realizing they weren't making any progress, he quickly ordered a retreat and left a few decoys behind to buy time.They had barely run a hundred yards when a wave of soldiers suddenly appeared at the alley's entrance. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, filled the narrow space and comple
"This punk's a real pain in the ass!"Connor glanced over his shoulder and noticed Axel was still hot on their trail.The squad he had sent to intercept Axel was completely outmaneuvered, and they couldn't get anywhere near him.To Connor's dismay, Axel kept shooting off signal flares as he pursued them. Each flare gave away their position. At this rate, it didn't matter which direction they ran—they were bound to be intercepted."Connor! Dave! Make a move and swat that damn fly," Warrick ordered decisively."If we leave, who's going to protect you?" Connor hesitated.Warrick was in bad shape. Without them guarding him, a single attack from an expert could be fatal."If you don't take out that fly, I'll be in even more danger. Get moving now!" Warrick snapped."Yes, sir!"Connor and Dave exchanged a glance before splitting up with their squads to surround Axel.They both knew what was at stake. If they didn't take Axel down quickly, their entire force would be stranded and do
"Kill them all!"At Warrick's command, the Red Legion charged without hesitation. Blades flashed as they stormed toward the elite enforcement unit.This time, nearly a thousand Red Legion soldiers arrived. With their sheer numbers, they launched a pincer attack from both flanks, leaving the enemy with no way to fend it off."Form the Shield Formation!" Axel shouted upon seeing the dire situation. His men immediately sheathed their blades and raised their shields to form a defensive line. Their pursuit had cut them off from the main force. Since they were up against an enemy ten times their size, forming a defensive line was their best option.If they could stall for even a moment, reinforcements from the castle would arrive, and the tide would turn in their favor. Once that happened, the thousand-strong Red Legion would be the ones on the defensive.After a brief charge, the two forces collided.Warrick had personally trained the Red Legion. He selected only the most loyal and
Axel had no time to hesitate. He lunged forward and grabbed the overturned Dragon-Binding Net. Then, he used every ounce of his strength to pin Warrick down again."Get over here! We have to keep him restrained."As the net strained under Warrick's sheer power, Axel let out a roar and pushed his cultivation to the limit. His veins bulged and blood pounded in his ears. He threw every last bit of strength into holding Warrick down.For now, he managed to pin Warrick down, but the elite enforcement unit on the other side wasn't faring well. Warrick thrashed wildly, sending more than a dozen men swinging through the air. Some slammed into trees, while others crashed into walls. Within moments, the Dragon-Binding Net flipped over again.Several elite enforcement units tried to rush in and help, but they barely got close before getting hit by their own airborne comrades and sent flying.Against Warrick's Divine Strength, they were utterly outmatched. The regular guards didn't stand a
If Warrick had been at his peak, Axel might have been more cautious. But with Tranqurin coursing through his vein, Warrick had barely a fraction of his usual strength left. His power was still fading, and Axel wasn't about to waste the opportunity. He had to capture Warrick while he had the chance."Get the hell out of my way!"As the enforcers closed in, Warrick let out a furious roar and slammed his massive fist into the floor.With a loud explosion, the earth shook violently. The ground within dozens of yards cracked and caved in, splitting apart like a spiderweb. A powerful shockwave tore through the air, sending dirt flying and walls shattering. The entire meeting room collapsed into ruins.The elite enforcers, caught in the blast, were flung backward like ragdolls. They crashed to the ground, disoriented and battered. Even Axel was thrown back more than ten yards.Warrick panted heavily, his face pale and drenched in sweat. Forcing his internal energy into action had only
Austin's words were strong and commanding, each one landing like a thunderclap.Warrick felt the weight of his presence. His brow furrowed for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He glanced at the so-called evidence on the floor, showing no sign of panic or guilt. Instead, he said indifferently, "Your Highness, these dead men were nothing more than ants. Is this really worth making such a fuss over? I doubt you haven't killed anyone before."As the old saying went, the higher one climbed, the heavier one's purse. Warrick had clawed his way up, risking his life at every step for the sake of rising above the masses. Everyone had their own desires—some sought fame, others fortune. Some were greedy for money, some for power, and others reveled in the adoration of the masses. To achieve those things, one inevitably had to engage in shady dealings. It was an unspoken rule among officials, and Warrick saw nothing wrong with it."Ants?" Austin sneered. "Without these 'ant
The ashen-faced Huxley was dragged away. With his crimes exposed, his fate was sealed. His entire family would be implicated, and their assets would be seized.Those guilty would be punished, and even those who had merely benefited from his corruption would be held accountable. To put it bluntly, Huxley's entire family was about to be annihilated.Austin issued his next order once the bloodstains were cleaned up. "Axel, it's time to bring in the mastermind."With Huxley dealt with, the next step was to confront Warrick. Unlike Huxley, Warrick wouldn't be easy to deal with. After all, he commanded a large number of troops. If backed into a corner, he could become a major threat."Understood!" Axel responded respectfully, then turned to his subordinates. "Gather more men and come with me."Warrick had earned his prestigious position through years of fierce battles. On the battlefield, he was a one-man army, a warrior capable of taking on thousands. His strength was beyond what mos
"You bastard! With all this evidence in front of you, what do you have to say for yourself?" Austin barked."Your Highness, please let me explain…" Huxley broke out in a cold sweat, his voice trembling with panic."This is a lie. Someone's trying to frame me! I've always followed the law—how could I possibly be involved in something so vile?""The evidence is right in front of you, and you're still trying to weasel out of it?" Austin shot back. "Looks like you won't confess until death is knocking at your door."He raised his hand and ordered, "Guards, throw him into Grimhold Keep. Use whatever means necessary—let's see how long he keeps up this act.""Yes, Your Highness."A squad of enforcement team members rushed in and surrounded Huxley.Cornered, Huxley finally lost his nerve. He dropped to his knees with a thud and begged, "Your Highness, I admit I made a grave mistake."His voice cracked as he continued, "I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. Please, for the sake of my y
Night had fallen. Austin sat in the meeting room, quietly reading a book as he waited for the results of the investigation.After successfully turning Percival against his allies, it was only a matter of time before they uncovered solid evidence of Warrick and Huxley's crimes.For years, the castle had turned a blind eye to their shady dealings. After all, corruption among officials was nothing new.But this time was different. The two had secretly orchestrated Jovian's murder, a direct challenge to the authority and dignity of the royal family. Such defiance couldn't be ignored. If Austin didn't set an example, others would surely follow."Your Highness!"Axel burst into the meeting room, panting heavily. He had clearly run the whole way to avoid any delay.Austin set his book aside and asked calmly, "Well? How did it go?""Your Highness, we've completely shut down all of Warrick and Huxley's illicit operations. Every hidden network they had built over the years has also been d