"Eleanor, don't think too highly of yourself. I couldn't care less about your so-called opportunity," Dustin responded coldly. From the moment Eleanor took advantage of him, and when Alistair and Joanne repaid his kindness with hostility, the relationship between the two sides had become irreconcilable. "Fine, since you're so stubborn, don't blame me for moving on from our past friendship!" Elearnor's expression darkened. "The same goes for you. If both your families continue harboring ill intentions, you'll bear the consequences!" Dustin retorted. "How stupid!" With a disdainful snort, Eleanor turned around and walked away. She was about to get into her car when a thought struck her. She turned back to jeer, "Oh, I forgot to mention. The Welch family and the Swanson family will be collaborating on the development and production of Dew Balm. "It won't be long before Dew Balm gains fame in Oakvale and the rest of the world, bringing us a continuous stream of wealth! "Of
"Dustin, you shouldn't have acted impulsively earlier. "I'm afraid it'll be difficult for you to remain in South City after provoking both the Swanson and Welch families." Brooke expressed his concerns with a soft sigh. "Dr. Busch, don't worry. I have someone backing me. It won't be easy for them to mess with me," Dustin smiled faintly."Backing? From who?" Brooke perked up immediately.He wondered where Dustin got the courage to challenge powerful and influential families. It turned out that he had someone behind him. It made sense when he thought about it carefully. How could he have acted the way he did without support? "That's a secret for now. You'll find out when the time comes," Dustin teased. He never took the Swansons or Welchs seriously. His intention was just to avoid any unnecessary attention and keep his identity concealed. He wanted to avoid catching the attention of certain forces and preferred maintaining a low profile whenever possible. After a strenuou
"Ms. Camron, I have a business proposal I'd like to discuss with you, one that's sure to be absolutely profitable." Dustin got straight to the point."Oh? What kind of business?" Lana was interested. "I can't explain it over the phone. Let's meet face-to-face at Regal Court in an hour," Dustin suggested."Alright, see you there."After hanging up, Dustin got into his car and left the house. With Maximus keeping guard at home, he didn't need to worry about what the Swansons and Welchs were up to. It was noon when Dustin arrived at Regal Court. He walked through the front doors and was led straight to the second floor by a waiter. He eventually ended up in a private room.Inside, Lana was sipping her tea leisurely in her tight-fitting red dress. She had put on light makeup and had a paper fan in her hand. Her long hair was tied behind her back, and her red dress accentuated her voluptuous figure, making her exceptionally alluring. Her long, pale legs that were crossed were pa
When Dustin noticed Lana's concerned look, he was momentarily stunned, and his thoughts drifted. It was as though he saw Natasha in her. He wondered about her well-being and whether she might resent him for taking so long before getting in touch. Shaking himself back to reality, Dustin withdrew his hand. Stopping Lana from tending to his wound, he explained, "It's alright, Ms. Camron. It's just a minor cut. It'll heal soon after I apply some Dew Balm." With that, Dustin took out the Dew Balm he had prepared earlier and applied it to his wound. Unlike the previous versions, which were black in color, the Dew Balm he used this time was a clear emerald green. This was the improved, authentic version. It had no side effects and had a remarkable healing effect."Hey, handsome. Even if you wanted to test the medicine, you didn't have to harm yourself. Look at how painful it looks." Lana said with a hint of resentment. "This was the fastest and most convincing way," Dustin repl
"Ms. Camron, since this is a collaboration, I won't let you fight alone. I'll shoulder most of the pressure. "Your role would be to manufacture and market the product, using the Camron family connections to build up the reputation of Dew Balm," Dustin explained earnestly. Lana fell silent upon hearing this. While Dew Balm was indeed a valuable product, was it worth offending the Swansons and the Welchs over it? "Of course, if you have your reservations, I won't force you. Consider this jar of Dew Balm a gift from me to you," Dustin said with a faint smile. Placing the medicine on the table, he pushed it toward Lana. The Camrons held significant influence in South City, but even then, they only ranked third. The first and second were the Welchs and the Swansons, respectively. To take on both of those major families simultaneously would be a tremendous challenge. It now only depended on whether Lana was willing to take the risk. "Handsome, why did you choose to partner up wit
Back at the villa, Dustin appeared hesitant as he held up his phone. While he was discussing business with Lana earlier, thoughts of Natasha had surged through his mind. It consumed his every thought and left no room for anything else. He had learned from Maximus that Natasha had accompanied her grandfather back to Oakvale. She wanted to extend her influence there. It would take just one call for them to reunite. However, Dustin was worried. Oakvale was a different world from Southern Province. It was filled with brilliant individuals and lurking threats. His objectives in Oakvale were extremely dangerous, and he couldn't bear to have Natasha involved. "Maybe I can just meet her briefly and say hello," Dustin murmured. After pacing back and forth on the balcony, he took a deep breath and dialed her number. The call rang for about five seconds before it connected, and he soon heard a familiar voice. "Hmph! You jerk, you finally call me. Tell me honestly, where have y
Within the Inner City was the City of Aylka, symbolizing supreme power. It was a sacred place that countless ambitious individuals dreamt of being in. It was also where Dustin intended to seek the truth and justice. However, now was not the time for that. Inner City was quite congested, as it happened to be rush hour. Even though Dustin had left an hour early, it was already dark when he finally arrived at his destination. Natasha hosted the celebration at Skylight Heights Hotel, a luxurious five-star hotel. The venue was perfect for hosting a grand celebration as it offered a wide range of entertainment facilities. It was a high-end establishment with excellent service, making it the ideal choice for hosting such an event.Meanwhile, inside Banquet Hall One on the top floor of the hotel, a group of young men and women had come together. They were all elegantly dressed, toasting their drinks and chatting happily. On stage, song and dance performances were constantly entert
"Harper, do you realize how powerful she is now?" Cody's face displayed a hint of pride. "As long as Ms. Harmon is willing to step in, the Swansons won't be able to do anything," he finished. "You're right …" Harper nodded enthusiastically. She was filled with delight.She had made up her mind. She was going to impress Natasha no matter what it took. By doing so, she could turn her situation around. Plus, she could also rise to the upper circle of Oakvale's elite."By the way, Cody, how do you know all this?" Harper suddenly became curious."To be honest, my uncle is a military advisor in the monarchy working under the Duke of Lachshire. He has a lot of connections. So it's easy for me to learn about all these secrets," Cody replied proudly. In fact, Natasha's identity was already publicly known within the powerful circles. It wasn't much of a secret. Rather, it was something most ordinary people wouldn't come across."Cody, you're truly amazing!" Harper gave him a thumbs u
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