"Good luck, Declan! Teach that insolent brat a lesson!" Daphne cheered enthusiastically as she admired Declan's imposing figure.Growing up as a Fallon, she had always admired powerful individuals. That was why she had always been close to Declan since childhood. In her eyes, only exceptional people like Declan deserved to stand on equal ground with her."Sweetheart, looks like your boyfriend here might be in danger."Simon remarked, his eyes narrowed on the scene, "Declan is the top talent of their family. With his improved skills and ascent to the level of a semi-grandmaster, few among his peers can truly rival him.""Grandfather, let's not jump to conclusions. Nobody knows how it will end yet," Natasha said with a smile. While Declan was undeniably strong, she believed that Dustin had the upper hand. "Oh?" Simon raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued."Sweetheart, you seem quite confident in this young man.""Of course," Natasha replied with pride. "The man I've chosen i
The blow from the battle was too much for the crowd to withstand.It must be over, right? Who could withstand such a terrifying punch?At the moment of the explosion, they saw it clearly. Declan's punch had struck Dustin. Even a person made of iron would surely have been obliterated by a semi-grandmaster's punch. When the dust settled, all eyes were firmly fixed on the battlefield. However, the scene that greeted them left them dumbfounded. In the center of the battle ring, Dustin was standing perfectly still. He hadn't dodged nor defended against the attack, allowing Declan's punch to strike his chest. His feet seemed rooted in place, and he showed no sign of being pushed back. The only evidence of the impact was the hollow ground around him that was surrounded by cracks."H-How is that even possible?" The crowd couldn't hide their disbelief as they looked at unharmed Dustin. Declan had delivered a full-powered special technique, yet Dustin blocked it with his body?What
The sight of the seriously injured and unconscious Declan left the crowd at a loss for words. The outcome before them was beyond their expectations. Even though it was difficult to accept, they had to admit that Declan had indeed been defeated, much like Samson and Dexter before him.As one of Oakvale's ancient houses, a family renowned for its martial and military powers, not one family member among the younger generation could hold their own against Dustin. This was undeniably an embarrassment."The outcome has been decided. Do we still need to continue with this duel?" Dustin smiled faintly, turning his attention toward Griffin and Dante. He had deliberately chosen to secure victory with a single move so he could save his energy and intimidate the Fallons."Who exactly are you? How were you able to defeat Declan?" Dante furrowed his brows, and his expression grim. The Fallons' reputation had taken a serious blow after three consecutive defeats."Is it shocking that I def
If things continued like this, the Fallon family would undoubtedly face a decline, and their status as one of the ancient houses would lose its prestige. That was why Griffin had been recruiting young, gifted talents in recent years. Sadly, none of them had met his expectations. That was until he witnessed Dustin's skills earlier. He immediately developed a keen interest in him and was willing to entice him with power, influence, and fame. "Damn! This guy is incredibly lucky! He gained Sir Fallon's attention. And he also has a beautiful woman by his side. It's like a double stroke of luck!"The crowd was both envious and jealous of Griffin's offer to Dustin. Even though they were disciples of the Fallon family, they only had limited resources provided to them. Their success depended solely on their own efforts. However, Dustin was different. Once he joined the Fallons, he would become the star they would prioritize for future development, putting him in a completely differen
"Gentlemen, please stop arguing for now and calm down!" Dustin quickly intervened when he sensed the situation getting out of control. Otherwise, if they continued bickering, they might start fighting physically. "Dustin, it's time to make a choice. Are you going with the Fallons or the Ballards?" Griffin asked. "Young man, think about it carefully. Don't make a decision you will regret." Simon added, stroking his beard.For a moment, all eyes were fixed on Dustin. It was a rare sight to witness two influential figures vying for an individual. While it was an immense honor, it also caused a tremendous dilemma.The Fallons were a family with a strong military background. They were an ideal fit for Dustin, given his status as a grandmaster. In terms of his future, the Fallons were undoubtedly the better choice. However, as one of the ancient houses, the Ballards were as strong as the Fallons. When combined with Natasha's influence, their proposition became even more persuasive.
Natasha believed it wouldn't be long before Dustin truly made a name for himself. …Over the next few days, Dustin was pretty busy. He had to search for the medical herbs to treat Cinna, rebuild Harmony Healers, and monitor the situation regarding Dew Balm.He also had to take some time out of his schedule to take Natasha out for meals and go shopping with her. In general, Dustin rarely had time for himself. What was worth celebrating was that the production for Dew Balm was right on track. The Camrons had used their family influence to establish a pharmaceutical company dedicated to selling Dew Balm. After a round of advertising and word of mouth, their product was already competing with the Swansons' and Welchs' Rejuvenaid. Since it was more affordable and had superior efficacy, its reputation had gradually spread within the industry. They were only waiting for the official launch to happen. Meanwhile, the Welch family was holding an emergency meeting due to the latest
"Hmph! Dustin got nerves of steel. He actually dared provoke us? He's asking for death!" Alistair's expression was grim, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. These days, the Welchs had mobilized all their resources to turn Rejuvenaid into a hot-selling item.They flooded the market with advertisements, offers, and discounts. They had invested lots of money into it. The original plan was to use this opportunity to build its reputation, make substantial profits, and expand their network. Little did they expect Dustin to spoil their plans from the very beginning. It was infuriating!"Eleanor, didn't I ask you to deal with Dustin as soon as possible? Why is he still alive?" Joanne suddenly turned to her daughter, her tone scolding. "I—" Eleanor was at a loss for words. Faced with her mother's sharp gaze, she shifted the responsibility onto Ezra instead."Actually, Ezra has been the one handling this matter."Ezra's lips twitched, and he could only respond in resignation.
"Hey, hang the banner a little higher. Put them where they're most eye-catching!""And the red carpet on the ground, unroll it outside!""Are the performers here yet? Have them get ready quickly. We're starting soon!"Lana kept giving out orders from time to time. She was very detailed in her work, going through everything herself to ensure things were done right. Nothing could go wrong today, so she needed to see to it that everything was on the right track."Lana!"Just then, a Maybach pulled up by the curb. Then, Matteo, who was all suited up, came out with a smile."Dad! You're here!" Lana stopped what she was doing and went up to him."So how is it? Are things going well?" Matteo looked around, pleased with what his daughter had achieved."Of course they are. What problems can there be with me personally handling everything?" Lana smiled confidently."Good." Matteo nodded before he continued, "I've talked to a few of my friends, and they're interested in the Dew Balm. T
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