Once the artwork's origin was revealed, the entire place buzzed with excitement.Most of the attendees present had a mild appreciation for the refined arts. And a legend like Andrei Walser was especially loved.Poetry and painting were two different categories of art. Mastering one was already an incredible accomplishment. It was rare to find someone who excelled in both.Those who had mastered both the art of poetry and painting, like Andrei Walser, were virtually unheard of.Most importantly, he was an unconventional artist. He had a complete disregard for wealth and seldom created poems or paintings.That was the reason every one of his pieces was highly sought-after. Many VIPswith a penchant for art saw owning one of Andrei Walser's authentic pieces as a matter of great pride.Naturally, they were overwhelmed to witness his work in person in Regal Court."Dear guests, I believe all of you are aware of how rare it is to obtain Andrei Walser's authentic work. This is only poss
"Riddles?" The attendees were taken aback, exchanging glances in confusion.In the past, the competitions often revolved around poetry, chess, calligraphy or painting. Why did they suddenly shift to riddles?They had spent a considerable amount of money on poetry and literary talents. It was all to help them come out on top in today's competition. How could they suddenly change it to solving riddles? They had wasted all their efforts in ensuring they had an advantage. "Mr. Jankow, wouldn't it be better to have a poetry battle? You're making it difficult for us by changing the theme at the last minute," someone expressed their dissatisfaction. "Dear guests, please don't misunderstand. Regal Court decides on the theme of the night through a random selection. We weren't trying to make things difficult for anyone. "Please accept our apologies if you feel this has inconvenienced you." "Alright, enough with the complaints. We'll solve word riddles then. It shouldn't be any proble
"It's a grandmaster!" Harper declared confidently. "Only a grandmaster has the power to do everything that the poem mentioned.""A grandmaster? Are you sure?" Cody asked."Of course! How can a simple riddle stump me? I just needed to warm up my brain to get the answer easily." Harper was extremely confident."Harper is amazing, as usual. She solved the riddle in such a short time. As expected of the renowned prodigy!" Caldwell praised her. "That's right! With Harper here, we'll not only get our hands on Enchanting Elegance, we'll even earn a billion dollars!" The students of Harmony Healers were ecstatic. "Hah … It's just a riddle. It's hardly a challenge. I can't even showcase my talents in this," Harper said arrogantly. Dustin could only shake his head and snigger lightly. Harper was so overconfident that she didn't even listen to the riddle carefully and misinterpreted the riddle. It was quite amusing. "Hey! What's so funny? Did I say anything wrong?" Harper had noti
"Hey! What makes you think my answer is wrong? How could I be wrong? It's a simple word riddle!" Harper shot up in anger.She was defiant. As a prodigy, she was prideful. It was impossible for her to be defeated by a simple word riddle."Dear guest, please calm down. The answer has been set beforehand, and your answer is indeed wrong," Keanu tried to explain."Fine! Since you said my answer is wrong, reveal the correct answer now! I want to see what can be a better answer than mine," Harper demanded indignantly."Dear guest, since the other guests have yet to make a guess, it's against the rules for us to reveal the answer at this time."If no one is able to answer this riddle, I will reveal the answer afterward. Please, calm down for now," Keanu replied humbly. "Oh, Harper, just admit you were wrong. A prodigy like you shouldn't be a sore loser, don't you think?" A sarcastic voice rang out beside them. It was Lana who spoke out, holding a wine glass."Who said I'm a sore lose
After returning to his senses, Cody regretted it so much that he wanted to slap himself. He should have listened to Dustin.He not only failed to bask in the limelight, he even succeeded in embarrassing himself."How could it be time? Just how could it be time?" Harper mumbled to herself, finding it hard to accept. "Well, Ms. Talented Busch, do you have anything else to say?" Lana smiled mockingly. Harper was at a loss for words. Even though she didn't want to accept it, the truth was undeniable and left her with little room for argument. After listening to the explanation, she had to acknowledge that time was indeed much closer to the answer. "Congratulations, Ms. Camron, for getting the first point." Keanu clapped. He then flashed a smile toward the rest of the attendees. "Of course, there's no need to feel discouraged, fellow guests. We have a few more questions prepared. "If you can answer them all correctly, there's still a great chance for victory."Upon hearing
"Hmph! What would you know? How could the riddles from Regal Court be deduced from common sense?" Harper's expression was grim. "Don't think you can boss me around just because you got lucky. You're still unworthy and lacking in talent!"In her view, Dustin had simply been lucky earlier. But blind luck like that couldn't last. "Is that so? Seems like you're very confident in your answer, Ms. Busch." Dustin smiled ambiguously."Of course!" Harper cocked her head."I'm well-versed in poetry and have exceptional talent. If I can't figure out a simple word riddle, how could I ever show my face in public again?"Upon hearing this, Dustin sniggered. Harper's confidence was truly remarkable."Dustin, why don't you share what you think? We can discuss it together," Cody said."Since you're willing to listen, I'll share my opinion."Dustin took a sip of tea before saying, "I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I'm the beginning of eternity, the end of time and sp
The crowd broke into a quiet discussion. Some of the VIPs who pretended to be knowledgeable regretted not being quicker in their responses. "Ugh! I was just about to say death, but this guy beat me to it. What a rookie mistake!""Me too! If only I hadn't hesitated, this young man wouldn't have stolen the spotlight!""Death … seems like a profound answer!"Everyone thought that was the answer since Cody answered so confidently."How about it, Mr. Jankow? Did I get it right?" Cody smirked, looking smug. "I'm … sorry. You're wrong again." Keanu responded politely. "What? Wrong again?" The smile on Cody's face froze. "Mr. Jankow, you're not joking, are you?""How can I joke about something like this? You indeed have the wrong answer." Keanu shook his head. After hearing this, Cody and the rest of the students of Harmony Healers looked at Harper with puzzled expressions. "How is that possible? I clearly understood the poetic sentiments behind those lines. Why am I still
"Ms. Camron has won two rounds in a row. If this continues, we're at risk of losing Harmony Healers!" Brooke's eyebrows were set into a deep frown, looking grim. If only he knew this would happen, he never would have agreed to this gamble. If they lost, he would lose half of his life's work."Lana obviously came prepared. We've fallen into her trap.""This woman is despicable!"The students of Harmony Healers grumbled in anger, but there was nothing they could do. There was no turning back now. The bet had been made in public. They couldn't just go back on their word. Their only option was to find a chance to turn the tables. They heard Lana's mocking tone once more. "Harper, you lost again. A few more rounds and Harmony Healers will be mine.""Hmph! Don't celebrate too soon. We're just getting started!" Harper said darkly. She had heard that there would be ten riddles in total. As long as she answered six correctly, victory would still be theirs. She still had a chance
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