Harper and Cody exchanged bewildered glances, completely thrown off by Ethan's strange behavior. They silently questioned, "Is it really wise to respond to hostility with kindness? Are those high-society types really willing to risk their honor?"Dustin smiled faintly. "I've patched things up with the Langford family. Let's put our issues on the table." Harper and Cody couldn't help but notice that Dustin's smile seemed rather insincere.Cody tried to lighten the mood. "Dustin, this mess isn't my doing. I'm a victim here, too. I've been waiting by the door, worried about your safety." But deep down, he couldn't help but think, "This guy's nuts! He even dared to face off with Hugo. I'd be in for trouble if I crossed him."Dustin added, "We can deal with our stuff later. Right now, I need to talk to her." He pointed toward Harper through the car window.Growing anxious, Harper urged, "Cody, let's get out of here, now!""You want to run?" Maximus snorted. He punched through t
Don't pick a fight you can't handle."Think fast. If you don't spill the beans, I'm going to use this poison for your extreme makeover." As he spoke, Dustin unscrewed the bottle. He held it threateningly over Harper's head."No, please! Don't mess up my face!" Harper's legs turned to jelly as tears streamed down his face. She pleaded, "Okay, okay, I'll talk. Just put that thing away!""It would've been easier if you'd started with that," Dustin said, putting the bottle away. After all, someone like Harper never changed unless she was backed against the wall.Harper gasped for air and composed herself. In a shaky voice, she began, "The story about Cinna goes back a few years. "One day, a stranger suddenly showed up at our door and chatted with my grandpa. I overheard a bit through the door. "It turns out this stranger is the one who saved Cinna ten years ago.""Wait! Wasn't it Dr. Busch who saved Mr. Shaffer?" Dustin interjected."This stranger brought the critically inj
The following morning, Dustin was in a cozy, secluded villa. He sat on the bed with his legs crossed, focused on his training. When the sun rose, he slowly opened his eyes.His martial arts cultivation was ascending at a breathtaking pace. He didn't need to work hard and train, empowered by the Celestial Pearl. The Celestial Pearl automatically helped him to absorb spiritual energy, constantly improving his powers. The better his natural talents, the more powerful the Celestial Pearl's effects.In less than a month, Dustin was close to becoming an ultimate grandmaster. He could break through to the next level anytime. Still, he chose to be patient and focus on building a solid foundation. After all, he had half a year left before his decisive year-long agreement with Nestor ended.Suddenly, his phone rang, and he retrieved it from beneath his pillow. Brooke's voice on the other end sounded urgent. "Hey Dustin, I've run into some trouble. I need your help."Dustin asked in c
"Mr. Welch Senior seems stable for now, but this bizarre sickness has us scratching our heads. I'm sorry to admit, I can't help much," Brooke sighed.Alistair implored, "Dr. Busch, you're one of the best doctors in South City. Please find a way to heal my Dad, and don't worry about expenses. We will do whatever it takes to get him back on his feet.""Mr. Welch," Brooke replied gravely. "The symptoms your father is displaying don't seem like an illness to me. It looks like he's bewitched.""Bewitched?" The word left the Welch family members bewildered. Hearing this from a doctor sounded absurd."Dr. Busch, what do you mean by that? Please explain?" Alistair probed.Brooke clarified, "When I say 'bewitched,' I'm referring to practices like witchcraft, sorcery, dark spells, and the like. "My knowledge in these areas is limited. I mainly read about it from books, so it's just a guess.""You mean something like voodoo and dark spells?" Alistair furrowed his brow. He wouldn't bel
"Wow! That's amazing! He could make the paper crane fly?""Is this the occult expert they were talking about? This is truly impressive!"The display by Theodore left the Welch family in awe. They'd only heard about such things in stories but had never seen them in real life."What do you think? Now, do you believe in Sir Crane's abilities?" Ezra said proudly."Wow, that's what you call a true master!" Alistair exclaimed with a newfound respect. He thought, "If Dad is truly under some sort of spell, then only someone with extraordinary abilities could cure him.""But it's just a simple trick, really, nothing much," Theodore remarked casually, appearing humble."The crane trick we just saw is just a small part of his skills. Sir Crane has more in store for us. Let's eagerly await the next performance," Ezra added."That's great." Alistair nodded with a smile. "Eleanor, you don't need to worry. With Sir Crane here, Grandpa will be fine."Ezra smiled smugly. But Eleanor responded
Ezra's brows furrowed as he looked at Dustin bitterly. "Ah, so you're Dustin," Alistair said, recognizing Dustin. After all, the recent family event, especially the Dew Balm formula debacle, was still fresh in his mind."Mr. Welch, I heard that your father is suffering from hysteria. Would you mind if I take a look?" Dustin offered with genuine concern.Alistair eyed the young Dustin skeptically. "You?" He thought, "Dr. Busch may have recommended you, but you don't exactly strike me as an expert.""Dustin, that's kind of you, but we already have Sir Crane helping us. No need for you to trouble yourself," Joanne interjected."Did you hear that? With Sir Crane here, we don't need you," Ezra added with a sneer."Young man, don't play around when a person's life is at stake. It's no time for you to fool around," Theodore warned sternly."Dustin, let it be." Brooke shook his head. He knew that saying anything now wasn't wise."Very well. Since Sir Crane is so confident, I won't i
"Oh my God! Mr. Welch Senior is finally awake!""Wow, that occult expert lives up to his name!""Just one talisman, and voila, the magic happens!"Surprisingly, Theodore's talisman worked like a charm, and Welch Senior's eyes snapped open. The Welch family members couldn't contain their joy and amazement.Ezra chimed in with a smug grin, "Haha! See? I told you the occult expert I brought over wouldn't disappoint." Alistair nodded in agreement, "Sir Crane, your occult skills are truly incredible. We are genuinely impressed.""Absolutely remarkable, Sir Crane!" The Welch family members were in awe, looking at Theodore with respect. Theodore's extraordinary abilities shattered their preconceptions and shed light on the power of occult techniques. "Well, punk, are you impressed?" Theodore sneered at Dustin arrogantly. Even though they were knowledgeable in the same field, he viewed Dustin as inferior to him.However, Dustin cautioned Theodore, "Sir Crane, just be careful. I hav
Theodore's demeanor had taken a dramatic shift from his earlier arrogance. "Doctor! Where's the doctor? Get me some bandages!" He cried for help, terrified.Alistair, Brooke, and the others exchanged perplexed glances at Theodore's frantic behavior. This wasn't what they had expected at all. What happened to the occult expert's dignified image?"He's mad! Mr. Welch Senior is insane! He bit my ear off and ate my flesh! Why on earth isn't he tied up?" Theodore shouted as he received medical treatment."Sir Crane, I mentioned earlier that my dad tends to become aggressive due to his strange illness," Alistair explained."Aggressive? This goes beyond aggression. It's outright cannibalism!" Theodore's composure was falling apart."Sir Crane, you've been injured. How about taking a breather?" Ezra cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. He had brought Theodore here to win the Welch family's favor and strengthen their relations, not to create an embarrassing spectacle."Oh, what
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
"Glenn had only seven swords in the past. I didn't expect that in just one year, two more divine swords would recognize him as their master. This punk is much better than I was back then," Cyrus remarked. He stroked his chin with a look of surprise and approval. He had always believed in Glenn's potential, but Glenn's performance had still exceeded his expectations.After all, the more swords Glenn wielded, the stronger he became. He had already topped the Legendary List with just seven swords. Now, with nine, his strength had grown even more overwhelming."He truly is the Chosen One." Even Kaden couldn't help but sigh.The nine divine swords recognized their master and responded with ease. Glenn's talent and cultivation were leagues ahead of his peers.Every generation brought forth new talent, and the old had no choice but to step aside for the new generation. Compared to their time, today's youth were on another level—monsters in their own right."Now, this is going to be int