In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Hector's funeral was over. His remains were stored in the Harmons' ancestral altar, where others could visit him.So much had happened to the Harmons that the large and influential family was on the verge of falling apart.After the funeral, Andrew, who had stepped down as head of the family, called for a family meeting. Everyone from the Harmon family was expected to be present.At that moment, Andrew sat at the main seat in the Harmons' meeting room. He held a cane in his hands with a grave expression. The important members of the Harmon family sat on both sides of him.Hector and Trent were dead, and Jacob was nowhere to be found. All his three sons were either dead or missing, and the family had other problems to deal with, too.The Harmon family was now without a leader, and there was also no unity between them. They were in dire straits. Andrew had only stepped out to oversee the situation because he saw no other way."I b
"That's right! I support Natasha becoming the leader of the family! Her Immortunol is making great profit, and she's the family's only hope of recovering!"A senior member of the family stood up in support of Natasha."Desperate times call for desperate measures. There's no one more suited to be the family head than Natasha! I agree with having her as the new head!""Natasha is exceedingly smart. I'm sure she'll be able to restore the family to its former glory! I support her, too!""Mr. Harmon Senior is right! We all support your suggestion!"Most of the Harmons agreed with Andrew's suggestion. The few voices who doubted his suggestion were quickly drowned out. Hence, Natasha was quickly appointed as the new head of the family."Natasha, everyone is supportive and approves of you becoming the family's new leader. What do you think about it?" Andrew asked."I'm not sure, Grandfather." Natasha shook her head. Her father had just passed recently. It was natural that she wasn't i
All the Harmons were stupefied. Andrew's words had shocked them. None of them had expected that the well-dressed old man was actually the noble Duke of Lachshire!In the five peerage rankings, namely duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron, the dukes were ranked first. They were of the highest ranking of nobilities and were above everyone else.Their influence exceeded even that of first-ranking ministers. They were the definition of authority!The Grants had become the leader of the Tremendous Three in Millsburg just because Arthur was an earl. The Harmons dared not even think how much power a duke possessed.But the question was, why would a duke show up at the Harmon family residence? Who among them got such an influential person to come here personally?"What are all of you doing just standing there? Quick! Bow to His Lordship!"Andrew turned to shout at the rest of them. He was so anxious that he was sweating all over.The old man before them wasn't just anyone. He was
"But what will happen to the Harmon family once I'm gone?" Natasha turned to look behind her. Her father had just passed away, and the family was on the verge of breaking apart. She'd feel bad to just walk away like that."They are them, and you are you. Why do you put unnecessary burdens on yourself? "All I want is for you to lead a happy and blissful life. Nothing else matters," Simon said."But …" Natasha was in a dilemma.She had lived with the Harmons for so many years. How could she just abandon them and leave without a care?"Fine, if you're so torn, I'll help the Harmons out just this once," Simon said earnestly. "If you promise to return with me to Oakvale, I guarantee the Harmon family will return to its former glory within a year. "In three years, I'll make the Harmon family better than it ever was and replace the Grants as the new leader of the Tremendous Three. How's that?"Chaos broke out among the Harmons as they were overjoyed to hear that.To have their f
Over in a meeting room at Zephyr Lodge.Cornelius said to Natasha apologetically, "I'm sorry, Ms. Harmon, you're one step behind. Sir Rhys has left Millsburg.""Left? Where did he leave for? When did he leave?" Natasha was full of questions."Sir Rhys left for Oakvale this morning. He said he had some things to deal with there but never gave us any details. Oh, right!"Cornelius recalled something, took out a letter, and handed it to Natasha with both hands. "Ms. Harmon, here's a letter Sir Rhys left for you. Before he left, he ordered me to hand you this letter if you ever come. He said you'll understand once you read this.""A letter?" Natasha took the envelope and opened it. It had a lengthy letter inside.The general content of the letter was Dustin telling Natasha that he had something important he needed to handle and would be there for some time before he returned. He also reminded Natasha to take good care of herself. He mentioned that he didn't want Natasha to worry
Dustin slowly raised his head. That caught his interest.The information that Eloise gave him was that Cinna was in Harmony Healers. And Harmony Healers belonged to Brooke Busch.He had been the one who had saved Cinna and kept him hidden away from pursuers back then. For the ten years that Cinna was unconscious, Brooke had been the one taking care of him."Know him? I don't mean to brag, but Brooke and I are tight. He often rides in my cab."If you're getting medical treatment from him, just tell him that you're a friend of mine. I guarantee he'll give you a discount!" the bald driver said confidently."Is that so? What's he like?" Dustin asked."Brooke's character is flawless. He's the incarnation of Florence Nightingale!"The bald driver gave a thumbs-up as he continued praising Brooke. "He basically treats the poor for free and doesn't even charge them for the medications."Even if he does, he just charges them at an unbelievably cheap price. Kind and generous doctors like
"Doctor! Where the fuck are the doctors?"The bodyguards clamored fiercely, scaring the patients in the medical center. They quickly got out of the way for fear of getting into trouble."What happened?" Several of the doctors from Harmony Healers went up to them."Move aside! I'll handle it!" Caldwell pushed the doctors aside and stepped forward voluntarily. "Is this Ms. Eleanor Welch from the Welch family?" he asked tentatively."If you know who she is, why aren't you saving her yet?" the lead bodyguard pressured."I'm on it!" A look of glee flashed on Caldwell's face for a fraction of a second. It was as though he had got his hands on a treasure.The Welch family was one of Oakvale's eight great families. They were filthy rich and extremely powerful. As a daughter of the Welch family, Eleanor Welch was known to be both rich and pretty.This was Caldwell's chance to play the hero and save the damsel in distress. He wasn't ready to pass up on such a chance! If he managed t
"I'm just offering you some advice because the patient will die if you use the wrong method. And if that happens, you'll regret not listening to me," Dustin said "Hah! That's rubbish!" Caldwell snapped rudely. "Dr. Busch personally taught me this method to save patients. It has worked every single time without fail! Do you think that you're better than Dr. Busch?""There is no hard and fast way to save a patient. You must consider the situation before using a certain method. You must be adaptable," Dustin reminded him."Shut up! One more word from you, and I'll throw you out!" Caldwell's embarrassment fueled the anger within him.He was Dr. Busch's star apprentice who would be in charge of running Harmony Healers in the future! How dare a nobody tell him what to do? He thought too highly of himself!"Well, have it your way then." Dustin shook his head, saying nothing more. "Cut the crap! Save her!" the head bodyguard urged.Caldwell suppressed the anger within him and bega
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