"What?" Barry raised an eyebrow, puzzled. He observed Ezra, who appeared to be emotionally disturbed.Inwardly, Barry couldn't help but wonder, "Is there something wrong with his head? Why is he spouting nonsense?""Dad, stop standing there and give the order quickly! Or our Swanson family will be in real trouble!" Ezra urged impatiently.Ezra had been haunted by Dustin's words from the previous night. He might have avoided one disaster, but it didn't guarantee their safety. It could lead to deadly consequences if they continued associating with the Welch family.He reminded himself that Dustin was not just a martial arts expert but also the mentor of the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order. With a single command, he could easily wipe out the Swanson family.In the face of a powerful dark sect and a prominent family, even the four ancient houses would be no match for them."Doctor, you assured me my son was fine. Why is he talking nonsense as soon as he wakes up?" Barry tu
Enough was enough, and the tension between Ezra and Eleanor was about to spill over."Ezra, I get that things have been tough, but come on, be a man! You're not seriously leaving me, a fragile lady, to deal with everything on my own, right?" Eleanor huffed, displeased with Ezra."Whatever! I'm done with your drama. From now on, don't bother finding me. And about our engagement, consider it over!" Ezra declared with a cold tone."Over?" Eleanor widened her eyes, finding it hard to believe. "Ezra, are you joking? Are you aware of what you're saying?""Didn't you catch that the first time? Let me spell it out—I want to call off the engagement!" Ezra raised his voice."Call off the engagement?" Eleanor was utterly baffled. She never expected him to say such a thing. Just the night before, he was compliant and eager to please. It seemed like he had turned into an entirely different person overnight."Ezra! Don't be ridiculous!" Barry scolded. Even if they were to cut ties with the W
In the Welch family living room, Eleanor had just returned home and vented her frustrations about the incident in the hospital to her parents."Dad! Mom! Ezra Swanson is despicable! He not only wanted to call off the engagement but also wanted to break ties with our family. He even physically assaulted me when I asked a few questions!"Look at my face; he beat me black and blue. I don't care; you guys must avenge me this time!" Eleanor roared; her blood was boiling. As a daughter of a prestigious family, for her to be dumped and physically assaulted was intolerable."Calm down, Eleanor."Alistair raised his hand to calm her and asked, "This is unlike Ezra; he's usually mature and composed. Did you two have a fight?""How would I know?" Eleanor pouted. "I heard he got injured last night. So this morning, I went to the hospital to visit him. "But when he saw me, he went berserk, hurling insults and even physically attacking me. It's just outrageous!""That's strange." Alistair
Joanne nodded and said, "Eleanor, you go ahead and handle it. I'll need to meet with Ms. Forrest for a chat.""Alright," Eleanor replied."Wait a moment ... What about Dustin? Do we still need to address the situation with him?" Alistair suddenly asked."Absolutely," Eleanor replied, looking frustrated, "He exploited the situation, created discord, and caused our falling out with the Swanson family. He must face the consequences!""To avoid arousing suspicion, we shouldn't deal with this personally. Let's hire someone to take care of it." Joanne suggested."Don't worry, I know how to handle these arrogant men," Eleanor said, her eyes narrowed. "I have my ways!"…Meanwhile, outside Camron Medicals, a car came to a slow stop. Then Dustin and Abigail got out one after the other."Is this your new business, Sir? It looks quite bustling!" Abigail said, observing the scene with an innocent expression.After the commotion from yesterday, Camron Medicals continued to flourish. Variou
Amidst the bustling crowd, Julie strolled in confidently, flaunting a designer bag and expensive high heels. She was accompanied by two attentive male assistants and surrounded by a dozen bodyguards. It looked as if she was a wealthy heiress."Why is she here?" Dustin pondered. After a period of absence, Julie appeared to have undergone a substantial style upgrade, exuding an aura of affluence but lacking refinement. So, she looked more like a nouveau riche."Do you know her, Sir?" inquired Abigail, her curiosity piqued."An old acquaintance, but we're not on good terms," responded Dustin."No wonder ... seeing her face, I already feel uneasy," muttered Abigail, her displeasure evident."People of Camron Medicals, listen up! Get your boss out here; I want to discuss a major deal with her!" Julie declared as she removed her sunglasses, her voice echoing loudly."Hey! Who do you think you are? Don't you understand the concept of first come, first served?" a man in a suit compla
"It's really Sir Mosey's badge! Looks like her status isn't simple!" someone exclaimed."I heard Sir Mosey took in a god-daughter recently. Could it be her?" another speculated.After the gold badge was revealed, the crowd was buzzing with discussion. Ordinary members of the Mosey family didn't have the privilege of receiving such a badge. It was reserved for those highly favored by Seamus. This elevated the woman's status even higher."Ms. Mosey, I apologize! I was wrong!" the man in the suit realized his mistake and immediately knelt, panic-stricken. "I was blind and spoke out of turn. Please forgive my rudeness, Ms. Mosey!""Humph! Now you're scared? Why didn't you act this way earlier?" Julie raised her head high, reveling in the deferential gazes. What was a scion of a prestigious family compared to her? They still had to bow down before her. This was real power!"Ms. Mosey, I know I was wrong! I won't dare behave so arrogant anymore. I have a family to support. Please, h
Julie's expression shifted as she snapped back, "Y-You're out of line!" She added, "Rhys! I'm with the Moseys now. I can't believe you'd be disrespectful. Do you have a death wish?" Unfazed, Dustin shot back, "Cut the crap. We've known each other for a while. I've got you figured out." "Nonsense!" Julie glared, roaring, "You insolent dog! With my status, you'll never make the cut! I order you to kneel and apologize or face the consequences!" "Dream on." Dustin scoffed. "You think climbing the social ladder gives you the right to be a bully?" "So what if I'm a bully? Do you dare go against the Moseys?" Julie proudly displayed a gold badge. "Rhys! Take a good look. What is this?" "Sir Mosey's badge?" With a knowing grin, Dustin asked, "Did you steal it?" The accusation caught Julie off guard, and she struggled to stay composed. The fact was that she actually stole it from Dahlia's room. She thought she could flex a bit with it, but things didn't go as planned when she r
Lana demanded seriously, "Who's causing a ruckus on my turf?" Her strong presence made the tough bodyguards step aside as she passed."Who do you think you are, sticking your nose in my business?" Julie shot back, crossing her arms and defiantly lifting her head. Suddenly, she realized the woman before her was even more stunning, poised, and sophisticated. Julie grew jealous as she looked at Lana."I'm Lana Camron, the chairwoman at Camron Medicals. Everything here falls under my watch," Lana calmly stated."Chairwoman, huh? You showed up at just the right time," Julie pointed at Dustin and declared, "I order you to kick them out immediately and ban them from here!""Kick them out?" Lana looked at Dustin and then back at Julie, saying, "Sorry, I can't do that. Mr. Rhys here is not only my business partner but also a shareholder of Camron Medicals.""What? This guy's actually a shareholder at Camron Medicals?!" Julie was shocked. Dew Balm had recently become a big deal, attract
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