The Red Cloaked Assassin attacked fast and hard, catching Dustin by surprise from behind.Dustin was still busy helping Cinna and couldn't defend himself.When the assassin's blade came, Dustin quickly activated his energy armor, creating a protective shield."Clang!" The Red Cloaked Assassin's blade hit Dustin's energy armor, creating a faint ripple.The immense recoil sent the assassin's weapon flying, making him stagger backward."How is this possible?"The Red Cloaked Assassin's eyes widened in shock.His full-force surprise attack should have at least gravely wounded Dustin.Yet, Dustin sat unscathed, while the assassin was pushed back.He was surprised that Dustin's strength might be even greater than his."Pfft!" Suddenly, as Dustin was still healing, he spat out black blood. His face turned ashen.The poison from earlier was potent. Even with his robust body, Dustin couldn't resist it. The primary reason was the extensive energy consumption in treating Cinna.
Two powerful strikes collided, creating a loud boom. Dustin merely shivered slightly and easily stopped all the force.Dustin's strike sent the Red Cloaked Assassin flying. He crashed hard onto the ground with blood pouring from his mouth. Most of his circulatory pathways shattered."How—How can you be this powerful?"The Red Cloaked Assassin clutched his chest. He looked terrified.Despite being poisoned and heavily injured, Dustin triumphed with just one hit. The Red Cloaked Assassin couldn't help but wonder if Dustin was truly that much stronger."Did you not investigate my strength before ambushing me?" Dustin's voice was cold, and a bit of black blood stained his lips.Cinna got rid of all the poison in his body, so he wasn't in danger anymore. Dustin was hurt and poisoned, but because he was really skilled, he could endure it for a little while."Although you're just a grandmaster martial artist, we are more than enough to kill you!" the Red Cloaked Assassin interrupted.
Dustin was baffled. He stared at Cinna after the sudden attack.He had suspicions about many people, such as Maximus and Brooke, but never about Cinna.Cinna had risked his life for Dustin beforeand had sacrificed so much for the West Lucozian monarchy. Even at the risk of his own poisoning and injury, Dustin felt indebted and went all out to save him.Cinna was like family to him. As a death warrior for the monarchy, it was unbelievable that he would betray him."Mr. Shaffer? What—what are you doing?" Dustin asked with a trembling voice. Even now, he could hardly believe what was happening."Dustin, I'm sorry, but I had no choice," Cinna said with a complex expression and a hint of guilt. "I told you not to dig into the past. It would bring deadly consequences. Why didn't you listen? You could have lived a peaceful life. Why did you choose this path?""You ... Who are you, really?" Dustin frowned deeply."I am Cinna, the Vice Commander of the Central Cavalry in West Luc
The only option for Dustin now was to go down with Cinna."Huh?" Facing Dustin's swift iron fist, Cinna instinctively raised his arms to block it."Thud!" A muffled sound echoed as Dustin's punch directly broke Cinna's arms. Cinna flew like a sandbag. He crashed 20 feet away and spat out blood."Traitor!" Dustin's rage made his eyes bulge as he prepared to pursue.Cinna realized the danger and swiftly formed hand seals. With a stomp of his foot, he instantly disappeared, leaving only a pile of clothes.That was undoubtedly an extraordinary vanishing technique.Dustin started coughing up lots of blood as soon as Cinna vanished.Dustin was in critical condition due to old wounds, potent poison, and a blade in his chest. He was on the verge of collapsing."Your Highness!" Rodrigo roared in frustration, but he couldn't move due to his severe injuries."Dustin!" Maximus was barely able to stay upright either.They were all in dire states and there were still many Dragon Gu
Three minutes later, all the Dragon Guard assassins lay in a pool of blood.Dustin was drenched in blood. He staggered, barely holding himself up.His life signs weakened, and his powerful energy dissipated. He was on the verge of collapse.The surroundings grew hazy. His heartbeat was near silent."After everything I've been through, I die at the hands of my own people. How ironic!" Dustin chuckled softly as he looked at the knife in his chest. He grabbed it with both hands and pulled it out.In an instant, blood sprayed.Since death was inevitable, he didn't want to have a knife stuck in him.As he pulled it out, the world spun. With a final thud, he collapsed.Everything went black.At that moment, Dustin's pendant glowed and vanished into his forehead.As the pendant entered his body, it instantly transformed into a powerful energy coursing through Dustin's limbs and bones.The strange poison Cinna unleashed swiftly dissipated upon contact with this energy.Dustin's p
Cinna, visibly injured from Dustin's attack, stood before the masked man on the dragon throne."Mr. Shaffer, are you hurt?" the masked man asked in a deep, raspy voice."Just a scratch won't kill me," Cinna replied. He coughed up blood in between words."Looks more than a scratch. Take this medicine." The masked man waved his hand and a black tablet shot out."Thanks." Cinna caught the tablet and swallowed it right away. This medicine from the Dragon Guard was exceptionally rare. It could heal serious injuries really fast, but only high-ranking members got to use it."Mr. Rever," Cinna began, but Reagan raised a hand and interrupted him. "I'm now Reagan Judd. You can call me Mr. Judd or Sir Judd. The past is best left behind.""Yes, Sir Judd." Cinna nodded respectfully."Mr. Shaffer, how did the task I assigned you go?" Reagan inquired."I stabbed Dustin's heart. He should be dead by now," Cinna reported."Excellent!" Reagan nodded approvingly. "Mr. Shaffer, you'
It was unclear how long it had been when Dustin slowly regained consciousness. His upper body was wrapped in thick bandages. His limbs were feeble and weak, and his breath was visibly frail."Didn't I die?" Dustin glanced at his palm, then around the room. The place seemed somewhat familiar. It was as though he had been there before."You're awake?" Grace entered the room carrying a bowl of soup. "You were severely injured. Fortunately, you're resilient. It wasn't easy to save you.""Did you save me?" Dustin was astonished."Who else?" Grace said lightly. "The pendant I gave you protected your vital organs. It infused powerful vitality into your body when it mattered most. It was a close call, but it pulled you back from the brink of death.""I didn't expect that that pendant could bring me back from the brink. Do you have any more of those treasures? Maybe give me a couple?" Dustin shamelessly asked."Haha! Do you think I have them lying around?" Grace replied irrita
It was actually his self-confidence that took a real hit."Dustin Rhys, let me remind you, a camel that starved to death is still bigger than a horse. The Dragon Guard might have been destroyed, but the remnants of this organization are still powerful. You have to be very careful." Grace sounded very serious."I know that." Dustin nodded. "I have learned my lesson. I'll never allow this to happen again.""I hope so," Grace replied."Anything special happened in the three days that I was unconscious?" Dustin asked."You reminded me of something!" Grace suddenly thought of something and exclaimed."According to the information I received from the royal family, the remnants of Dragon Guard appear to have left Oakvale. They even shut down all of the secret businesses they owned.""They left Oakvale? Where did they go?" Dustin continued asking."I can't say for sure. But according to the information gathered from all over, the Dragon Guard remnants might have moved on to West
"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