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
Amidst the chaos, a sharp slap rang out, catching everyone by surprise. Julie, who had been making a scene just moments ago, now lay on the ground, bewildered and disoriented.The crowd gasped, looking at the scene; their eyes widened in shock. No one expected Dustin to be so bold, daring to lay hands on someone associated with the Moseys.The key thing was that Julie got that gold badge from the Moseys, proof of her high status. For Dustin to slap her was the same as offending Seamus. Was this guy out of his mind?"Y-You really dare to hit me?" Julie clutched her cheek. Her face was a mix of shock, confusion, and disbelief.Ever since she joined the Moseys' circle of influence, she quickly climbed the social ladder. Soon, she became the popular one everyone looked up to. They went along with her, praised her, and did not dare to say anything harsh. However, Dustin dared to slap her in public. What was wrong with this bastard? He was extremely bold to disregard the rules!
After all that tough talk, Julie hesitated. If she stepped back now, she would be like shooting herself in the foot. How could she show her face in the social circle after that? Just as she felt lost, a crisp voice cut through the tension."Ms. Amberson, why use a sledgehammer on a mosquito? Leave this small-time troublemaker to us."Two sharply dressed, beautiful young women strolled in side by side. The one in red exuded arrogance—it was Eleanor Welch! The one in white radiated a cold demeanor—it was Elena Forrest, who had crossed paths with Dustin.Back in Millsburg, down in the Southern Province, these two first crossed paths in kindergarten. Then, they ran into each other again at General Murray's estate stables, causing quite a ruckus. Little did they know that after all these years, they'd meet again right here."Ms. Forrest?" Julie's face brightened upon seeing them. Her backup had arrived."Ms. Amberson, let me introduce you. The lady by my side is the Welch famil
Under Elena's command, the two groups of guards rushed in through the door. One group was the Forrest family guards, while the other was the Welch family guards. Both groups consisted of carefully selected elite guards and outnumbered Julie's guards. They surrounded the Camron Medical guards as soon as they appeared, turning the situation around instantly. Onlookers retreated when they saw the standoff for fear of getting implicated in the conflict. No one dared to involve themselves in a confrontation with imposing forces consisting of two elite families and one ancient house. "It seems like you came prepared with the number of guards you have." Dustin narrowed his eyes, unafraid even as he was surrounded. "Dustin, considering our previous friendship, I can ask Elena to spare you as long as you apologize and grovel before us," Eleanor suddenly said. The more arrogant Dustin acted, the more she wanted to crush him beneath her feet and humiliate him thoroughly! How dare a n
Although they weren't sure what was going on, it was clear that the poison was extremely potent. "What is going on?" Eleanor, Elena, and Julie exchanged puzzled looks, their brows furrowed. The hall was filled with people, yet only their guards were affected. It was astonishing to think that the poison could differentiate between friend and foe. "Rhys! Are you responsible for this?" Julie was quick to conclude. "Don't blindly accuse me. I didn't do anything." Dustin shrugged. "You still dare deny it? You clearly did this, you rotten bastard!""Rhys! You'd better hand us the antidote! Otherwise, if anyone dies here, I will send you with them!" Elena yelled.The guards she brought today were from the elite ranks of the Forrest family. They weren't only skilled but also extremely loyal. The Forrest family had invested considerable resources in training these elite guards. She would be held accountable if they all died here upon her return. She might even be punished by house
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