"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
Austin's words were powerful and filled with emotion. The potential chaos in West Lucozia would undoubtedly affect not only the Eight Sovereigns but also numerous high-ranking officials and millions of citizens. They all grew up in West Lucozia, and it was where their roots were. That was why anyone with a sense of patriotism could never turn a blind eye."Your Highness, your reasoning is sound, but I'm a timid and cautious person. I tend to weigh the consequences carefully."What if my forces suffer heavy losses while quelling the rebellion? What happens then?" Tyrus appeared hesitant."Uncle Tyrus, I can assure you that if you incur any losses, we will compensate you twofold!" Austin declared earnestly.He understood that Tyrus was seeking tangible benefits. After all, this was a gamble with his entire wealth, and the potential losses could be substantial. His actions seemed reasonable, given the circumstances. "Your Highness, it's not that I don't trust you. But in matters
"Someone, bring me some paper and pen!" Tyrus was impatient and immediately ordered his men to bring him these materials to establish a marriage contract. After all, an opportunity like this was extremely rare. Once his daughter married into the monarchy and became the future princess, his grandchildren could possibly become the next Prince of West Lucozia. This gamble was advantageous to him, no matter how he saw it. It would bring him unprecedented wealth and power. "Wait! Your Highness, this is a major life event. You must think about it carefully," Dustin reminded Austin. "Hmm?" Tyrus frowned, feeling displeased. How dare a mere guard voice their opinion? He should be well aware of his place! Tyrus would have disciplined him much earlier if it had been his men. "It's fine. I've already made a decision." Austin smiled at Dustin and said, "Uncle Tyrus' daughter is a beautiful and intelligent woman. I consider myself fortunate to be able to marry her. How could I possib
Dustin and Austin opted to skip sleep, and the following morning, they swiftly arrived at Southvista. This territory belonged to Elijah Valor, the Marquis of Silvercrest. It was renowned for having the largest military force and the strongest economy among the Southern Four Sovereigns. However, Elijah was a stubborn and unpredictable man. There were instances where he showed no respect, even to Rufus. This unpredictability made Austin doubtful about convincing him. "Logan, we've arrived at the Marquis of Silvercrest's residence," Austin informed as they, along with a few others, disembarked from the car. "It's been two days. We can't keep your absence from the castle under wraps much longer. We need to speed up our efforts," Dustin reminded."I understand." Austin nodded."Elijah might not be easy to deal with, but he's not entirely without integrity. With the right incentives and an emotional appeal, we should be able to convince him."Dustin nodded. "Alright, let's head i
Only Elijah remained standing after his spear completed its sweeping motion. "You are all becoming increasingly incompetent. From now on, you need to practice diligently. Do you understand?" Elijah reprimanded the guards."Yes, sir!" The guards responded while on their knees. "Alright, you can all leave now." Elijah waved, signaling the guards to depart. Only then did he turn his attention to Austin and his entourage. "Uncle Elijah, your spear technique is truly exceptional. No one in West Lucozia comes close. It's admirable," Austin said as a way of greeting. "Your Highness, I'm certain your presence holds a purpose after such a long journey. What instructions do you have for me?" Elijah wiped himself off with a towel."I dare not give instructions, Uncle Elijah. I come with a request," Austin responded. "Is this about your father?" Elijah was not surprised. It was as if he had anticipated it."You already know about it?" Austin raised an eyebrow."The Prince of West Lu
Seeing Elijah's piercing glance and his raised spear, Austin was not afraid at all. He continued to keep his back straight."Uncle Elijah, the temptation of acquiring two cities is indeed huge. I probably wouldn't refuse if I was you. If you want to use my life in exchange for the two cities, I'm willing to make that sacrifice."Austin clasped his hands calmly."What? Aren't you afraid of death?" Elijah narrowed his eyes. "Or do you think that I don't dare to kill you?""Of course, I'm afraid of death. If I could choose, I wouldn't choose to die either," Austin replied calmly. He continued, "Plus, you've been on the battlefield for many years, killing all kinds of enemies. If you want to kill me, it won't take much effort for you to do so.""Since you're afraid of death, why are you so calm?" Elijah was a bit confused."Fear of death is one thing, but having the courage to face death is another. I've prepared myself for the worst ever since I entered," Austin replied seriously.
"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