Cody and Harper were taken away, howling. It didn't matter how much they explained or how much they begged for mercy.Dante was already upset, and these two idiots provided him a channel to vent his anger. Cody and Harper only had themselves to blame. They met him at a bad time.There was nothing to fight about. But they just had to stand up and pick a fight. Without a doubt, they brought it upon themselves. Eighty strokes from the military whip were anything but fun. Even a sturdy army personnel would be out sick for at least two weeks after the punishment.Needless to say, for a normal person who had never undergone training, it wasn't rare for them to be crippled or dead after the punishment."Dear, those two seem to hate you a lot. Have you ever upset them?" Natasha asked curiously when she saw Cody and Harper being taken away forcefully."They're just two crazy dogs. Let them be." Dustin shook his head.Harper and Cody were typical bullies who looked down on the powerless
Natasha smiled and took Dustin by the elbow. "Let's go. I'll show you around, and we'll drop by Dash Corporation."…In South City, the Swanson family room was bright and spacious. Ezra sat across Eleanor at the table, talking and eating dessert."Ezra, why is Sir Crane still not here? Do you think he stood us up?" Eleanor looked at the time, appearing upset. She'd been waiting for an hour, but no one showed up."Eleanor, be patient. Sir Crane is a very busy man. Let's wait for a little longer. He should be here soon." Ezra flashed her a charming smile.As soon as he was done talking, someone opened the door. Soon, an old man dressed in an all-black suit with a stern and cold expression strode in. The old man had his hands behind him. His facial expression was icy, and his gaze haughty. He had this mysterious air around him."Sir Crane, you've finally arrived." Ezra's eyes lit up, and he stood up to welcome him."Have you prepared what I requested?" Theodore sat down slowly. H
Eleanor's cruel expression gave Ezra the chills. He thought that she might hesitate. He never thought that she would want Dustin to experience excruciating pain from the beginning.After all, Dustin did help her once. Wasn't that too cruel? When Ezra thought of what he had done before, he was a little frightened. It was lucky that he still had the support of the Swanson family. If his fate was in the hands of this crazy woman, he knew he'd end up with a horrible ending."Ezra, is there a problem?" Eleanor looked at him again with an innocent smile. She looked completely different from the cruel and vengeful person a few moments ago."No, no problem at all!" Ezra laughed. "This guy has it coming. He actually had the guts to upset my girl. He must pay for it!""I knew it! You love me most!" Eleanor smiled sweetly. Then, she pointed at the green wooden container and said, "Sir Crane, we'll use the venomous thing in this. We must teach this goon a good lesson.""You've paid for
"Y'see," Theodore began."The critters I keep need to feed on my blood to forge a bond. Over time, it forms a connection. Once that connection's solid, I'll know it in a heartbeat," he explained.Eleanor raised a curious eyebrow. "Sounds pretty otherworldly.""It's occult, something a high-society girl like you might not grasp," he said with an air of secrecy."But what if it doesn't work?" she prodded."Hmm?" Theodore furrowed his brow. Was she trying to test his patience?"Don't worry, Eleanor, you don't need to worry about that," Ezra chimed in, flashing a reassuring smile. "Sir Crane's mastery of the occult is legendary. There's no room for failure.""But I'm talking about the 'what if,'" Eleanor insisted."Hmph! There's no room for 'what ifs'!" Theodore's expression grew cold. "Unless that kid has the skin of steel and a spirit beyond, disaster is certain.""I don't get all this magic stuff. I just want to know, will there be a sign if it fails?" She kept pushing.Theo
"Sir Crane!" Ezra shouted. His voice was filled with urgency as he rushed to Theodore's side.But as they gathered around Theodore, they witnessed an alarming transformation. His body convulsed uncontrollably, blood streaming from his nose, and a look of terror in his eyes."What's happening to Sir Crane? Could he be possessed?" Eleanor's eyes widened with shock. Theodore's condition had changed abruptly. He was fine before, but now, he was convulsing strangely. It was utterly perplexing."Quick, to the hospital!" Panic swelled in Ezra's voice as he gave orders to his assistants. They carefully carried the stricken Theodore out and rushed him to South City Hospital. After all, Theodore wasn't any ordinary person. He hailed from the enigmatic Mystic Arts Order. So, his untimely demise within the Swanson family's estate could bring them huge trouble. The night deepened as they arrived at South City Hospital. The doctors fought to stabilize Theodore in the ward.Ezra paced b
Usually, a mere backfire might leave you dizzy and disoriented. At worst, you'd feel a little under the weather for a few days. But the sheer force of the backfire Theodore had just experienced was enough to cost him his life!That could only mean one thing—the person he had crossed paths with was not to be trifled with. If they came knocking for revenge, there would be nowhere to hide!"Sir Crane, did you maybe take a knock to the head just now? What else could explain these nonsensical words of yours?"Eleanor chimed in, her voice dripping with skepticism, "Dustin is just a doctor. What could he possibly do to reduce you to this quivering mess? You look like you've seen a ghost, for goodness' sake. Is it really that terrible?""Yeah, Sir Crane," Ezra added, puzzled. He'd done a bit of digging into Dustin's background. Dustin was nothing more than a rustic, real small-town guy. He had some fighting skills, some medical know-how, and a few tricks up his sleeve. Even so, those c
As the clock struck midnight, Dustin bid Natasha farewell and returned to his villa in South City. Their parting carried a tinge of sorrow. Even so, it was necessary to avoid drawing attention. Dustin was going on a dangerous journey. He was determined to keep Natasha out of harm's way. From now on, they would meet in secret, or they would minimize their encounters. Natasha was Simon's granddaughter. That title made her shine too brightly. Thus, spending too much time with her risked exposing Dustin's true identity.The night faded away like mist in the morning sun. The following day, Dustin headed to the Regal Court to meet Lana. They sat in a private chamber, having tea and discussing their plans."Handsome," Lana began. "The Camron family fully supports our partnership. We're committed to investing all our resources in developing and promoting Dew Balm."She skillfully made tea and filled two cups. The room was then engulfed in its delightful aroma."A wise decision," Dust
Lana's lips curled into a sly smile. "Among the Eight Great Families, the Langfords, Dawsons, Killians, and Sawyers stand as equals. Meanwhile, the Welches, Swansons, Carmens, and Forrests closely trail behind. "If we secure an alliance with the Dawson family, it'll make dealing with the Swansons and Welches much easier."Dustin nodded approvingly. "Excellent choice to go with the Dawsons. It seems you've done your homework well. Have you already established contact with them?"Lana cooed in a playful tone, her smile enchanting. "You're quite clever, Handsome. You've guessed right. I've identified a target within the Dawson family. Convincing him to cooperate won't be a problem."Dustin's curiosity got the better of him. "So, who's this person?""He's the youngest son of the Dawson family's patriarch, Bo Dawson," Lana revealed."Bo Dawson?" Dustin raised an eyebrow. "A rather unique name, isn't it?"Lana's smile held a hint of mischief as she replied, "Handsome, don't underes
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