"Uncle Julius has harbored ambitions for years, lying low and waiting for the right moment. "With Father's sudden demise, he'll undoubtedly seize this opportunity to consolidate his power. This matter is far from over," Austin stated with a grave expression."You're absolutely right. Even if they yielded publicly, they'll resort to cunning schemes. We're likely to face numerous challenges ahead," Eloise sighed.If Rufus had not met such an abrupt end, these individuals wouldn't have dared to act so brazenly."If only Logan were here," Austin lamented."Austin, your abilities are no less than Logan's. I believe you can achieve what he accomplished as well," Eloise encouraged."Mom, I'm aware of my abilities. In many aspects, I still fall short compared to Logan." Austin shook his head."Don't underestimate yourself!"Eloise's voice turned serious. "Your father has passed away. After the funeral, I'll immediately report to the royal family for your ascension to the throne. "Yo
Meanwhile, at the castle gates, Julius and his entourage were walking out in haste. After they left the castle, Everett spoke up, "Grand General Rhys, Eloise, and her son are truly ungrateful. Are we simply going to let this matter slide?""Of course not, but we can't act too overtly either. Most commanders of the Black Dragon Army are loyal to the monarchy. "It won't be advantageous for us to start a conflict," Julius replied, his eyes narrowing. "Then, what should we do?" Everett asked again. "Since we can't make a move openly, we'll apply pressure on them discreetly."Julius stated meaningfully, "Once turmoil erupts in West Lucozia, and the monarchy faces imminent danger, they'll naturally realize who's the true pillar of support for the monarchy!" "I understand! I'll arrange for people to stir up trouble immediately. When the people's grievances peak and the monarchy can't manage, you'll emerge as their savior. "At that moment, West Lucozia's citizens will be grateful
That was the only way for the officials to maintain their current positions. Presently, the only person most qualified, capable, and powerful enough to succeed the Prince of West Lucozia was the Grand General of the Iron Stallion Cavalry, Julius Rhys.Firstly, being a Rhys, Julius was a legitimate member of the royal family, making his claim for the throne unquestionable. Secondly, as the Grand General of the Iron Stallion Cavalry, Julius commanded half of West Lucozia's military forces, wielding significant power.Thirdly, with years of accumulated strength, Julius possessed ample influence, prestige, and accomplishments to ascend to the throne.It wasn't an exaggeration to claim that everyone expected Julius to succeed Rufus. Right after offering their condolences, many officials rushed to the Grand General's residence to pledge their loyalty. These actions naturally didn't escape the monarchy's attention, but Eloise was in no state of mind to concern herself with such mat
"Logan?" Austin was stunned as he watched the man remove his mask, then his eyes lit up with joy.The man who infiltrated the castle was no stranger. It was Dustin, dressed in a guard's attire. "Austin, you've truly come far on your own. You can handle matters independently now," Dustin praised, a glint of pride in his eyes as he observed his step-brother.Having overheard Austin and Eloise's entire conversation, Dustin appreciated Austin's trust in him. He acknowledged Eloise's concerns as well. Throughout history, it wasn't uncommon for siblings and family members to vie for power. Eloise's protective instincts for her child were entirely justified."Logan, when did you return?" Austin asked. "Just two days ago," Dustin replied. "Do you already know what happened to Father?" Austin's voice trembled slightly.Dustin glanced at his father's picture near his coffin and nodded in silence. The last time they had met was back in Swinton a year ago. Little did they know that
"I really can't do it! Logan, the throne belongs to you!" Austin was growing anxious. "Alright, that's enough. We'll talk about this later. With so much trouble we're facing, our immediate priority is to resolve all these issues." Dustin changed the subject."Logan, as long as you take charge and stabilize the situation, I will assist you wholeheartedly!" Austin said with utmost sincerity."I can't show myself yet." Dustin shook his head and explained, "Julius and his group are still unaware of my return, so they are not on high alert. I can react in time if they harbor any ill intentions. "Not to mention, the remnants of the Dragon Guard are still lurking in the shadows. I need to find an opportunity to eliminate them all!" "I see."Austin quickly grasped the situation and said, "I understand. I will act as the spokesperson of the monarchy while you unravel all the conspiracies.""Good, it's settled then." Dustin nodded."Oh, right. There's this." Austin suddenly took o
"Are you suggesting that someone is inciting the simultaneous rebellion of the Four Sovereigns?" Eloise frowned."That's right!" Austin continued with a solemn expression. "Currently, only one person can make the Four Sovereigns obey orders in West Lucozia." "Julius!" Eloise blurted out. "Uncle Julius is an ambitious man and is adept at scheming. He intends to force us to surrender the military insignia through the Four Sovereigns." Austin narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "If we refuse, the Four Sovereigns would start a rebellion, compelling us to deploy troops to quell the unrest. "At that point, he will interfere and hinder our military campaign to ensure we fail. Once our military campaign fails, our prestige will be greatly damaged. "When public outcry reaches its peak, he will emerge as the savior, rescuing the people from turmoil and subduing the Four Sovereigns successfully. "By then, he will be hailed by the masses and become an uncrowned king.
Summitville was a border town in West Lucozia. It was also the Marquis of Sunfire, Wyatt Mitchell's territory. Wyatt was a military general and had fought alongside the Prince of West Lucozia for many years. He achieved numerous merits and was later given the title Marquis of Sunfire, entrusted with guarding the border of West Lucozia. Over the years, he had been diligent and responsible in his duties.Right then, a black SUV came to a stop at the entrance of the Marquis of Sunfire's residence. Dustin, Austin, and a few other people stepped out of the vehicle. "Logan, this is the Marquis of Sunfire, Wyatt Mitchell's residence." Austin introduced Wyatt briefly. "Wyatt is a loyal and valiant person and has been managing Summitville for many years. He is extremely dedicated in his work." "Who's there sneaking around outside?" two guards standing at the entrance quickly noticed the anomaly and shouted.Austin took the lead and approached them, presenting his identification bad
Austin's plan was simple. The initial approach involved diplomacy before resorting to force, primarily focusing on persuasion and amnesty. If the four rebelling sovereigns were willing to submit to the monarchy, they would be pardoned and their existing positions of power safeguarded. However, if diplomatic efforts failed, they had to resort to force to suppress the rebellion. In that case, the monarchy would join forces with the other Four Sovereigns and West Lucozia's allied powers to eliminate the traitors and quell the rebellion.If war became inevitable, then a swift resolution would be their best option.After hearing Austin's plan, Wyatt nodded solemnly and said, "The power and influence I have today were bestowed by your father. "Whether it's to deploy troops to quell the rebellion or offer my own life, I will not hesitate!" "Uncle Wyatt, your commitment is deeply appreciated. With your support, we will certainly overcome this crisis!" Austin responded.Offering more
"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