"Logan, what happened? Who did this to you? I'll make sure to take care of them!" Scarlet rushed forward. Her eyes filled with both concern and anger as she saw Dustin covered in blood and visibly upset.Upon learning about his situation, she promptly led her troops to rush over. Despite facing several obstacles along the way, she effortlessly eliminated the threat, even at the cost of some valuable time. Prepared for any challenge, she was ready to confront opposition, even if it meant going against the nation."I'm not seriously hurt. Don't worry, and besides, the person who hurt me is already gone." Dustin forced a smile."Logan, you rest properly for now. I'll take you to the hospital right away!" Scarlet remained concerned."Kid, no need to trouble yourself. I'm not in immediate danger. Besides, there's something more important we need to focus on," Dustin said, redirecting her attention. "What is it?" she asked curiously."That sword strike from before, you all saw it,
"Due to their power and the aftermath of the Dragon Guard's demise, the repercussions are bound to be substantial. The exact outcomes are unpredictable, and I just hope none of you get entangled in the chaos," Dustin cautioned."Being situated in Oakvale and belonging to the four ancient houses, we can't avoid being affected. This upheaval seems inevitable," Adam replied, shaking his head.With the immense power that the Dragon Guard held, its downfall would inevitably cause chaos. In the absence of a central authority, various factions and militant leaders would likely seize the opportunity to cause trouble. The Spanner family, as one of the ancient houses, couldn't afford to stand idly by."The world's affairs go through cycles of unity and division. The Dragon Guard ruled for so long, causing harm to countless loyalists. Any force that resisted or posed a threat was ruthlessly eliminated. Now that they are facing the consequences, it's karma at play," Scarlet stated coldly.
As night fell, Dustin finally returned to the villa in the southern city of Oakvale. As for Scarlet, Adam, Abigail, and the others, they had gone back to prepare for the upcoming unrest. So much had happened during his trip to Quandary Mountain. Although he had learned the truth and eradicated the Dragon Guard, Seth's death left him in deep sorrow.He was exhausted, both physically and mentally. He longed for a good night's sleep, free from thoughts and responsibilities. He wanted to just drift into sleep and wake up naturally. Perhaps tomorrow would be better.Their car came to a stop at the entrance of the villa, and Dustin got off wearily. He had just opened the door when he spotted a woman sitting in the living room. She was dressed in white, wearing a veil that covered her face. The woman had a graceful figure and emitted a unique fragrance. Although her features were not visible, she gave off a gentle, outstanding allure. "Grace?" Dustin recognized the woman seated o
"Someone important? Who?" Dustin asked. "The King." Grace dropped a bombshell. "Huh?" Dustin frowned slightly, feeling puzzled. Wasn't the King ill and bedridden? Why would he want to meet him? Dustin wondered if it concerned the Dragon Guard or perhaps the vital force. Would this journey be dangerous? Would there be an ambush waiting for him in Aylka?"You can stop the blind guessing," Grace said calmly, seemingly seeing through his concerns."If the King wanted to harm you, he wouldn't have sent me here to invite you. He would have just sent the elite fighters from the palace or even the Imperial Guards. Given your current condition, would you even be able to fight them off?" Dustin breathed a silent sigh of relief after hearing her. Admittedly, Grace had made a valid point. If the King truly intended to harm him, he wouldn't have sent just one woman. Considering the current circumstances, only a fool would aggravate the problem. After all, with the Dragon Guard elim
Late at night, an elderly man with gray hair and a stooped figure was reviewing official documents inside Galene Palace in Aylka. He appeared pale and listless. Occasionally, he would erupt into violent coughing fits. After his coughing fits, his white handkerchief would even reveal faint bloodstains. The elderly man was none other than the reigning King, Valon Linsor."Your Majesty, you haven't fully recovered from your illness. It would be wise to rest and prioritize your well-being!" an official attending to him urged. The King had fallen ill precisely because of overexertion, resulting in excessive fatigue. Despite having only a few days of rest and a slight recovery, he resumed the arduous task of reviewing official documents and handling various matters with unwavering dedication. How could his body possibly withstand such demands? "No worries. I'll be done in a little while." Valon took a sip of tea from his cup before immersing himself back in work.Ever since the
Valon looked like a completely different person compared to ten years ago. A decade ago, Valon exuded charisma and a vibrant spirit, commanding dignity befitting a ruler. However, the Valon today appeared frail and listless, looking like an elderly person nearing the end of life. This was despite him being only in his fifties. At his age, he was supposed to be in his prime. Why did he appear so aged? "When did you get so good at talking, kid?" Valon chuckled. "Well, this might be for the better. You've lost a little bit of edge and appear calmer. Seems like you've grown mature."Dustin lowered his head slightly, remaining silent.Before the tragic incident that occurred all those years ago, both families had shared a close relationship. Dustin's father and Valon even considered themselves brothers. They were able to talk about everything. However, all of that had changed. Even though the Dragon Guard were the ones who plotted the assassination, it did not rule out the poss
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. I've already made preparations. Even if the Dragon Guard does not come looking for me, I will seek them out," Dustin said. "In short, I will not give up until the Dragon Guard is totally destroyed!""Your determination is commendable. I will support you fully and provide you with all the resources you may require," Valon said seriously. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Dustin didn't refuse his offer, only nodding in acknowledgment.Regardless of the past, at least for now, both of them shared a common enemy and could work together temporarily. They would go their separate ways after everything was settled. "Logan, I know you still have many questions. Just ask away, I will answer everything that I know of tonight," Valon said."I do have a question that I'd like to ask, Your Majesty."Dustin appeared to have remembered something and asked, "Would you happen to know where Reston Rever is?" Although the Dragon Guard was destroyed, he still
"It's good that he's alive! That way I can personally seek revenge and eliminate Reston and the rest of the Dragon Guard members once and for all!" Dustin said with fierce determination."This matter requires careful planning. You should not rush into it. Reston is a cunning man. It's easy to fall into his trap if you act recklessly," Valon said solemnly.Upon hearing him, Dustin took a deep breath and suppressed the anger within him. He understood all too well that anger wouldn't resolve any issues.It was going to be a challenge to deal with someone as cunning as Reston who hid in the shadows. "Logan, I'll constantly keep an eye on any updates about Reston and the Dragon Guard. I'll let you know of any news immediately," Valon promised. "Thank you, Your Majesty," Dustin expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow. Valon had endured a decade of hardships and must have accumulated a massive influence during that time. Now, with the Dragon Guard's downfall, he was finally Dra
"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