Brooke, who had been standing behind Dustin, broke the silence. Brooke had been watching the situation unfold, but there was little he could do. Even with his impressive medical skills, he couldn't help without the right ingredients."Mr. Shaffer is stable for now, but I can't say for how long. We need to gather the ingredients and make the Sanctifix as soon as possible to cure him fully," Dustin said, concern etched on his face.Using true energy to prolong life was a temporary solution, not a permanent fix. With time, Mr. Shaffer's condition would deteriorate. If they continued on this path, there would be no way out."It's my fault for not being able to find the other two rare herbs," Brooke said, filled with guilt. Despite his reputation in the medical field, he had hoped his connections could help locate the herbs, but he was disappointed."Don't blame yourself, Dr. Busch. Precious herbs can be hard to come by. We can only do what we can and leave the rest to fate." Dustin
An hour later, Dexter slowed down the Land Rover and parked in front of a huge martial arts dojo.The dojo was almost like a school, with various facilities and activities. A stone plaque at the entrance bore the words "Celestial Dojo".The Celestial Dojo belonged to the Celestial Alliance.There were three major factions that reigned the martial world: the Celestial Alliance, the Mystic Arts Order, and the Sword Union.The Celestial Alliance boasted an impressive army of disciples, with a whopping hundred thousand members, most of whom were elites. Among these three factions, the Celestial Alliance stood out for its numbers and tremendous influence.Conversely, the Mystic Arts Order was known for its mysterious and deadly techniques. They were a nightmare to those in the martial world. As for the Sword Union, they were famous for one thing—pure strength!The Sword Union's disciples might be few in number, but they're unbelievably powerful. Their disciples were like supernatu
"What an ignorant young man." Dante shook his head. "You should remember we're not in Southern province but in Oakvale. It's a place teeming with brilliant and gifted individuals. Your meager skills won't cause a ripple here.""Sir Dante, if you're itching for a fight, let's not waste more time. I have a lot on my schedule," Dustin yawned as he spoke, looking sleepy.He had been busy with a multitude of tasks lately. He had been occupied with the reconstruction of Harmony Healers, staff training for Dew Balm production, and keeping his eyes peeled for information on the Emerald Corolla and Iceheart Lotus.His relentless back-and-forth travels had nearly exhausted him. If it weren't because the Fallons could be useful to him, he wouldn't have been bothered with them."You insolent brat!" Dustin's nonchalant behavior angered the Fallons.They've seen plenty of audacious individuals, but nothing like Dustin's type, who didn't take them seriously at all.He was asking for death!
Samson had lost badly. His huge frame created a dent in the wall, and his upper body was stuck inside, rendering him utterly immobile. From a distance, he resembled a piece of artwork hanging on the wall. "What?" The crowd was dumbfounded by the scene they had just witnessed. Their eyes widened in disbelief. When Samson had charged forward, they thought the results were clear. But they didn't expect Samson to be sent flying in such a fashion. They couldn't wrap their head around the unexpected turn of events."What just happened? Samson … lost?""How is that even possible? With Samson's strength, he couldn't have lost to that kid!" "It must have been an accident!"After a momentary silence, the crowd erupted into a heated discussion. Nobody had anticipated the outcome before them. Samson was gifted and highly skilled and was known for his nearly impenetrable defense. The fact that an elite fighter of his caliber couldn't withstand a single strike from Dustin was simply
They weren't confident about taking Dustin in a one-on-one battle. However, they were certain they could defeat him if they were to join forces."Hold it!" Right then, a group of people entered the dojo. Leading the group was a tall, white-haired elderly man. He was dressed in a suit and carried himself with an air of authority that had developed through the years. There was a beautiful woman by his side. She possessed delicate facial features and an attractive figure. She carried herself elegantly like a queen. The woman was none other than Natasha, who had arrived just in time. "The audacity! Who are you people? How dare you intrude into Celestial Dojo?" one of the Fallons shouted angrily. "Silence!" Dante paled as he delivered a harsh slap to the Fallon who had spoken out. He then hurried up to the elderly man and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Duke of Lachshire.""What? The Duke of Lachshire?"The atmosphere shifted as realization dawned upon the crowd. The previ
Dustin felt pressured by Simon's scrutinizing gaze. However, he had already anticipated a situation like this and showed no outward signs of discomfort. "My Lord, I've long heard of your name, but we've never met. Perhaps you find me familiar because I possess a rather unremarkable appearance," Dustin explained humbly. Over the past decade, his height, appearance, and temperament significantly changed. Even his closest friends from the past wouldn't recognize him at first glance. "Is that so?" Simon looked him up and down again. He then replied impassively, "Perhaps that is true." "Grandfather, Dustin is an exceptional man. He excels in both the literary and martial arts and has outstanding medical expertise. He has also helped me out many times in the past. "It would be difficult to find a young talent as outstanding as he is in all of Oakvale," Natasha introduced Dustin proudly. She was always eager to highlight the merits of her man. "Haha. Don't you think you're exagg
Dante glared at Dexter as he said, "Today is a golden opportunity for you to redeem yourself. "If you manage to defeat Dustin and overcome your inner demons, your martial arts cultivation will reach new heights!" Dexter flinched. He wanted to retort but was too cowardly to do so. He could only beg, "Uncle Dante, I haven't healed from my previous injuries. Why don't you get someone else to go?" "What do you mean someone else? You just suffered minor injuries. Go up now lest you embarrass us!" Dante rebuked. "A-Alright …" Dexter looked miserable as he entered the battle ring. Why did he end up being implicated in this situation? His sole intention had been to just watch Dustin make a fool of himself. "Dexter, are you sure you want to fight me?" Dustin smiled slyly. "Dustin Rhys! The men of the Fallon family never back down from a duel. Even though I'm heavily injured, I'm not afraid of you! Give me the best you've got!" Dexter maintained a brave facade.However, he was cry
Dante gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, anger written all over his face. How could a disciple of the prestigious Fallon family flee from a fight? This was a disgrace!Most importantly, he fled in the presence of the Duke of Lachshire. If news spread out, it would tarnish the reputation of the Fallons, one of the ancient houses. "Sir Dante, your nephew is quite smart! He knows when to give in," Natasha teased. Dante's eye twitched, and his expression turned sour. This was truly humiliating! "Go and bring Dexter back here! He will suffer under the house law!" Dante shouted at the other Fallon disciples. "Yes, sir!" They didn't dare to hesitate and immediately scattered, searching for Dexter everywhere. They knew that Dexter had landed himself in big trouble this time. He would probably face severe consequences if not death. "I've always heard that the men of the Fallon family were brave and fearless. But what I've seen today has disappointed me," Simon remarked cas
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