"Dustin Rhys, if you insist on going to the monastery, I'll not stop you. However, please accept this." As she spoke, Grace took out a golden talisman from her pocket and gave it to Dustin.The talisman looked very normal and unassuming. However, Dustin could feel a special energy emanating from it. It was very faint yet very fascinating. Yet, when he took a proper look at it, he found nothing. "This is a talisman that I got for you. Maybe it could help you in times of need." Grace explained."Talisman?" Dustin raised his eyebrows slightly, and his curiosity was piqued. "We don't know each other, why would you help me?""Because you can't die. Not now, at least." Grace sounded serious. Dustin's life was very important as it was tied to the fate of Dragonmarsh. If he died in Oakvale, the city would be thrown into chaos.She didn't want to see this happen. As such, she decided to help Dustin overcome this difficult task. This was the responsibility of the Seers."I appreciate yo
The night passed quickly. The next morning, Dustin was ready to leave after washing up and changing into a set of clean clothes."Dustin, this trip will be dangerous. Why don't I go with you? At least we can take care of each other." Maximus came running after him from his room. There was a sword hanging behind his back as well. He might not be very skilled, but he was still capable of keeping watch for Dustin."It's alright. You stay at home. Protecting Mr. Shaffer is your top priority." Dustin patted Maximus's shoulder. "Remember, if something goes south, leave with Mr. Shaffer. Don't take any risks.""Got it." Maximus nodded heavily. "I'll put my life on the line to make sure that Mr. Shaffer is safe!""Don't say that. I'm just going out for a while. It won't take too long. You guys just need to be careful. I'm leaving now." With that, Dustin left the house. The trip to Quandary Mountain would take around two hours as it was located on the city's outskirts. Due to its spar
A sudden knock echoed through the door. Fenley slowly opened his eyes and asked, "Who's there?""It's me."An old man in white robes entered and pushed the door open. The elder, with an air of otherworldliness, was none other than Alloy Marshall, the guildmaster of the Celestial Alliance."Master Alloy?" Fenley's expression brightened as he quickly stood up. "What brings you here?""Just checking on you." Alloy smiled faintly and asked, "Fenley, how's your progress lately?""I'm now a grandmaster. Just one step away from being an ultimate grandmaster," Fenley replied truthfully."Not bad. Achieving this at such a young age is quite a feat. I wasn't as accomplished at your age." Alloy nodded approvingly."Master Alloy, you're too kind. If it weren't for your guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today," Fenley said, lowering his head."No need to be humble. Your success is the result of your efforts."Alloy smiled and then asked, "Oh, I heard you had a fierce battle last night and
On Breezecrest Peak, near Frosthaven Lake, a young man with a lean physique sat shirtless on the water's surface. His body moved gently with the flowing ripples, resembling a light boat. Overhead, a few birds flew around, carrying twigs and straw in their beaks, preparing to build nests.Under the surface, a group of fish playfully swam around the young man, creating patterns of movement. At that moment, he seemed completely in tune with nature, resonating with the world around him.Out of nowhere, a dark figure descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the lake's surface. The resulting ripples scattered the fish below and startled a few birds into flight."Hey, time's up. Master wants you down the mountain immediately, no time to dawdle," said the dark-clad figure.The young man, still meditating, showed no reaction as if he hadn't heard.The dark figure arched an eyebrow and continued, "You've got a mission to take down Kirin, Logan Rhys. This is your chance to face him."
Simple Ken returned from a night of fishing with nothing but a pile of rocks and wood."Simple Ken, you're too gullible! All your hard-earned catch got swindled by those little rascals the whole night," a passing old man said, chuckling and shaking his head. "Oh, by the way, there was a big wind last night. The roof tiles on my house got blown off. Get some in town and fix it for me, will you?"With his trademark silly grin, Simple Ken remained silent."Ah, what a fool. Go back quickly. Your missus is waiting for you to have breakfast," the old man waved him off.Serene Village wasn't large, totaling just over a hundred residents, and Simple Ken was a unique character. Nobody knew where he came from. In everyone's impression, Simple Ken was just a fool who never uttered a complete sentence. Whether he cheated or was bullied, he always wore a foolish smile.Walking from the village entrance to the end, he entered a plain cottage with a fenced yard. Though it was small and somew
Simple Ken meticulously wiped down the Dragon Sparrow sword before sheathing it. After coming back inside, he cleaned up the plates and cutlery, meticulously tidying the entire house. He then proceeded to chop wood, fetch water, and attend to the chickens and ducks.Once all chores were completed, Simple Ken changed into a fresh set of clothes. He stood at the doorway for a moment and eventually stepped out with the sword strapped to his back.The moment he emerged, a little girl with braided hair hurriedly approached. Aged around five or six, she bore a slightly grimy face with delicate features that hinted at potential beauty. Her cheeks showed signs of recent bruising, and a trace of blood near her nostrils suggested she had just been in a scuffle."Simple Ken!" The little girl, balancing a cluster of fish and a few crabs, reached him and proudly declared, "Look, Simple Ken, I got your stuff back. Aren't I amazing?""Another fight?" Simple Ken crouched before her. "They we
Seth wiped the grime off Hazel's cheeks. He grinned and said, "Remember, Hazel, eat your meals on time and take care. I'm off." Hazel nodded as she watched him leave.Little did she know, many years later, that the book he gave her would become a priceless treasure coveted by many.By the Serene Village stream, women chatted and laughed as they washed clothes by the stream. Their discussions covered family matters and local gossip.A shout drew their attention, "Look, a handsome guy!" A few women turned around, their expressions shifting with slight surprise. "Isn't that Simple Ken?""Simple Ken?"The woman in yellow observed more closely and finally recognized him, exclaiming, "Oh, it really is Simple Ken. But why does he seem different today?""His clothes are clean, his hair is in order, and that goofy smile is gone. I have to admit, he looks kind of handsome.""Blossom, your Simple Ken is here!" yelled the woman in yellow."Huh?" Blossom Dale looked up, perplexed. In
At Zenith Society in the Serenity Hall, a well-dressed, refined man took out a parchment scroll from his treasure chest.The parchment's cover boasted three bold words: Astonishing World List.Zenith Society's Astonishing World List housed the most elite warriors globally. There were no age restrictions, no gender biases, and no discrimination based on age. It was solely based on merit.However, it was a given that those who made it onto the list were celebrated and legendary figures!Breaking the seal, the refined man carefully unfolded the parchment.The contents were concise, listing only ten names.From top to bottom:Top on the list: Arion Foyer of Sacred Wyrm SummitSecond on the list: Alaric Drakon of Dragon GuardThird on the list: Seth Hughes, the Sword Whisperer of West LucoziaFourth on the list: Cyrus Hadley, Guildmaster of Sword UnionFifth on the list: Alloy Marshall, Guildmaster of Celestial AllianceSixth on the list: Penelope Solace, Leader of the Mystic Ar
"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
Compared to the second green sword, Glenn's third sword was even more powerful. As it descended, accompanied by the fury of a fire dragon, it carried the destructive force of a world-shattering storm.Fenley, whose energy flow was disrupted earlier, watched the fiery red long sword streak toward like a falling meteor. His heart raced and was gripped by a sudden sense of impending doom.With a roar, he risked the backlash effect and unleashed a powerful surge of internal energy. The ethereal divine spirit behind him instantly transformed into a figure with three heads and six arms. This was the complete form of the Four Elements of God's Technique.At that instant, he threw everything he had into the fight. He controlled the spirit to slam its giant arms into the flaming sword. With a loud explosion, the sword tore through the spirit's palms and continued its unyielding path toward Fenley. But its speed had slowed slightly.Without hesitation, he controlled the spirit to strike ag