"Y-You! What nonsense!" Harper exploded in anger."Am I wrong? If it wasn't for this handsome man, you'd have gone bankrupt. But here you are, bickering away. Are you really that dumb?"Lana folded her arms and pouted. She even gave Dustin a flirtatious look when she was done. "Right, handsome?" She drew out the word handsome, making it sound flirtatious. "Oh wow! So you two were a team!" Harper looked between them with a look of realization. "No wonder you two were so cozy with each other. It turns out that you've been colluding secretly!""Idiot." Lana rolled her eyes at her, having no words. How stupid could Harper get? She always spoke without thinking. "Let it go, Harper. Dustin was the one who won Enchanting Elegance. We have no right to meddle in what he decides to do with it. " Cody patted Harper on the shoulder.Despite maintaining a calm front, his gaze turned icy. This brat clearly couldn't read the room. If Dustin had handed over the painting, it might have ea
Lana finally got to the point. "Handsome, you seem like a talented man. Why don't you be a follower of the Camron family?"Other than the Swansons and the Welches, no other family will dare touch you here in South City.""You aren't inviting me because you have your eyes on Enchanting Elegance too, are you?" Dustin probed. "Enchanting Elegance?" Lana smiled."Even though it's a treasure, I'm not short on wealth. It holds little value to me.""Oh? Then why are you helping me, Ms. Camron?" Dustin was intrigued. "Even though I'm not short on wealth, I'm short on men." Lana extended a finger and tapped Dustin's chest. She was practically glowing when she said, "You look thin but are surprisingly muscular. I didn't misjudge you after all. I wonder, would you be interested in being my 108th boyfriend?""Huh?" Dustin frowned and instinctively took two steps back. He thought she was after the painting, not him. That was something he didn't expect. What a flirt. Was she trying to g
Dustin quickly noticed a few hostile gazes upon leaving Regal Court. With a swift glance, he identified at least two groups of people that had their eyes on him. It seemed like Lana was right. Enchanting Elegance was a valuable treasure, and it attracted a lot of unwarranted trouble. Ordinary folks were not necessarily able to hold on to such a treasure even if they happened to get their hands on it. Luckily, Dustin was far from ordinary. "Since you have targeted me, let's see if you have what it takes to take it from me." Dustin snorted. Without a sound, he moved toward a secluded area. The two groups followed him discreetly from the left and right side. After about ten minutes of walking, Dustin turned into a deserted old alley."This is a great chance! Follow him!" More than a dozen black-clad men armed with knives rushed after Dustin into the old alley. But soon, they were in shock. And that was because they realized they were in a dead-end, and Dustin was nowhere to
This meant that the mastermind behind his assault didn't see him as a big threat. It could also mean that the person didn't hold considerable power. Dustin dusted off his clothes and put the box away. He was just about to leave when a few black SUVs pulled up at the opening of the old alley. The car doors flung open, and a group of muscular men dressed in fighting gear charged out. Every one of them was armed and surrounded Dustin as soon as they got out of the car, leaving him with no chance of escape. "Move aside!" At that moment, a burly man strolled confidently toward him with a cigar in his mouth. He had a scar on his face and an imposing presence. It was clear that he had bad intentions. "It's you?" Dustin narrowed his eyes slightly, recognizing the man.It was none other than Ziggy, who had caused trouble in Harmony Healers earlier that day. "Brat, we meet again!" Ziggy puffed on his cigar. With his bulging belly and hands on his hips, he was clad in a faux mink c
Seated by the window on the second floor of Regal Court, Lana swirled her wine glass. Her gaze was fixed on the tranquil night outside. The moon and stars were mirrored in her beautiful eyes. It made her appear exceptionally charming. "Ms. Camron." At that moment, a bodyguard dressed in a suit approached her. He whispered, "We had an incident earlier. The target you asked us to keep an eye on has disappeared.""Disappeared?"Lana raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?""The target is quite strong. He took down dozens of people with his bare fists. Then, he disappeared without a trace," the bodyguard replied with his head lowered."Oh? Doesn't that mean he's an excellent fighter?" Lana smiled, her expression betraying her growing interest in him."I thought he was just good-looking, but it seems like he's got some skills. Have someone investigate him and find out about his background. If he's on the right side, try to bring him over.""Understood!" the bodyguard replied and l
"Master Brooke, Dustin, we've found you." At that moment, Cody and Harper walked in through the door."Hmph! You're here to take advantage of us again!" Harper grimaced and shot Dustin a scornful look. She couldn't shake off the events from last night. Her resentment toward Dustin and his collusion with Lana was still fresh in her mind. "Dustin, I heard you were almost robbed last night. Are you alright?" Cody asked with a concerned look."Thank you for your concern, Mr. Ostrower. They were just a bunch of petty thieves. I didn't take them seriously," Dustin replied.Dustin suddenly changed the topic and asked, "By the way, Mr. Ostrower, how did you know I was almost robbed?""Huh?" Cody's expression froze, but he swiftly regained his composure."Oh, I have a well-informed network. In this part of South City, hardly anything can happen without me getting wind of it.""I see." Dustin chuckled with a knowing look.He had been wondering who might have taken an interest in Encha
Zion was seated by the window on the second floor of Goldcrest Lounge. He was sipping on his tea as he observed the bustling street below. Even with over ten occupied tables, Goldcrest Lounge felt rather solemn compared to its usual lively air. The patrons at each table seemed to be silently enjoying their tea. "Mr Swanson, that guy has arrived." Ziggy, who was standing behind Zion, suddenly pointed downward.Zion looked down and saw Dustin strolling through the crowd. He appeared calm and unruffled."Hmph! He actually came alone? How naïve!" Zion sneered. Then, he downed his tea in one gulp.Shortly afterward, heavy footsteps approached. Dustin had made his way upstairs without any difficulty. After scanning the room and spotting Zion and his group, Dustin promptly sat across from them."Mr. Swanson, we meet again." Dustin smiled and poured himself a cup of tea."Mr. Rhys, Ziggy told me you'd like to discuss business. What would you like to talk about?" Zion asked rather po
"Mr. Swanson, you seem sincere in wanting the formula. How about this? I'll take a loss and cover the extra costs. I'll only need the first ten herbs. How does that sound?" Dustin put on a reluctant front. "10 herbs won't do, either!" Zion maintained his grim expression. "Then how many will you agree to?" Dustin sought a compromise."One." Zion raised one finger."I can only give you one!""One herb?" Dustin frowned. "Mr. Swanson, is this some kind of joke? I don't think negotiation works like this.""Your Dew Balm formula is only worth one top-grade precious herb. That's all I can offer." Zion was getting impatient. If Dustin had merely asked for money, he could have managed the situation. However, Dustin was throwing out exorbitant demands and treating him like a fool. "Since you're not cooperating, let's forget about today. I'm sure there will be someone else who would be interested." Dustin didn't waste his breath and prepared to leave. "Stand right there!" Zion sla
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