Julius found himself thoroughly unsettled. Despite his meticulous planning and calculated moves, Rufus's return alive was an unforeseen twist he found difficult to accept. In fact, it wasn't Julius alone who was unsettled. Elijah and the other generals were equally stunned, their faces drained of color. The only reason they found the courage to join Julius in his rebellion was due to Rufus' death. They would never have dreamed of committing such treasonous acts if Rufus had been alive. "What a lively day. There's so many familiar faces in the crowd," Rufus remarked as he took his time walking out of the gates. The crowd instinctively made way for him. "Rufus! But you—!" Eloise struggled to find words, her expression a mix of bewilderment and disbelief. She had personally witnessed Rufus being impaled through the chest with a sword and saw him take his last breath. She had even arranged his funeral. She couldn't understand how a dead man could come back to life!"Don't
"Julius, we're family. As long as you put down your sword, I will spare your life.""Why? Why didn't you just die? You're clearly gravely ill and on the brink of death. Why are you still occupying the throne?" Julius gritted his teeth as his eyes turned bloodshot. He looked somewhat frightening. "Julius, I know you all too well. While you're extremely talented in both the literary and martial arts, you lack a compassionate heart. You're also ruthless in your ways. "That is why you are not suited to be the Prince and also the reason you will never be the Prince," Rufus explained bluntly. "Nonsense!"Julius suddenly roared, "You've been the Prince for decades! Once you die, it'll be my turn next! Who else is more fitting than me throughout West Lucozia?" "I've already decided the next-in-line for the throne, and it isn't you." Rufus shook his head."You've decided?" Julius laughed manically.Julius scoffed with arrogance, "Austin is just a childish brat! How can he compare
"A fair competition?" Everyone exchanged surprised glances. They never expected Rufus to agree to Julius' idea. Rufus had already turned the situation around. All he had to do was command the generals of the Black Dragon Army to capture Julius and put an end to this crisis. Instead, he offered Julius a chance to turn the tables, leaving everyone confused."Rufus—" Eloise was about to say something when Rufus raised a hand to stop her."It's fine. I know what I’m doing.""Rufus, are you really going to allow your son a fair competition against me?" Julius was taken aback. He had been ready to fight to the death, but he never expected Rufus to allow him a fair fight. What was this bastard up to? "Since you want a fair fight, I'll give it to you. I'm going to make you accept defeat on your own terms," Rufus said calmly."You've said it!" Julius' eyes narrowed slightly with a touch of satisfaction. He continued, "In West Lucozia, we value martial prowess. To become the Prince
If Julius did that, it would be akin to walking into his own demise. "Hmph! At least you're self-aware."Julius sneered and continued, "Rufus, your youngest son has already admitted defeat. So, where is your eldest son?" "Logan, you've hidden long enough. Don't you think it's time to reveal yourself?" Rufus spoke loudly. Although he hadn't laid eyes on Logan, he sensed his presence. In the previous case involving Russo, it was Logan's tip-off that provided him the opportunity to eliminate the pests. Now, with such a significant incident happening in the monarchy, given his son's character, he would definitely not stand by idly."I can't believe you not only deceived Julius but also all of us, you sly fox. And now, you're even having me serve as your scapegoat. Is this really appropriate?"After a brief moment of hesitation, Dustin finally removed his prosthetic mask. With Rufus still alive, the monarchy remained in power. Dustin had no choice but to reveal himself in the c
"You rascal, you've been back for a while but never showed yourself. How could I have drawn you out if not through some clever means?" Rufus grumbled. "Alright, enough of the small talk. We'll settle the matter of your fake death later. Let's first address the current issue." Dustin's sharp gaze shifted toward Julius. Rufus' assassination attempt was the work of the Dragon Guard remnants. After the attempt, Julius swiftly rebelled and sought to seize power. For Dustin, this hinted at a likely connection between Julius and the Dragon Guard. Whether it was planning the rebellion or colluding with the remnants of the Dragon Guard, both were grave crimes in his eyes."Logan Rhys! " After the initial shock, Julius' expression darkened. It dawned on him that he had been manipulated. Rufus was undoubtedly aware of Dustin's presence among them, hence his quick agreement. It was also his way of acknowledging Logan's strength. He had to admit that although he hadn't seen Logan in te
"You insolent brat!" Julius glared at Dustin. "Even though we're both ultimate grandmasters, I refuse to believe that a brat like you will defeat me when I have decades of experience!""Since you're so stubborn, don't blame me for disregarding seniority. Please!" With a single outstretched hand, Dustin made a gesture for him to strike first. "Behold my blade!" Without hesitation, Julius propelled forward with a tap of his feet, launching a fierce assault.Julius' swordplay exhibited swiftness and strength, with each strike aiming at vital points with deadly precision. Despite the lack of elaborate techniques, it was highly practical, leaving no vulnerabilities. Julius was blessed with innate talent. With his years of battlefield experience and the integration of various refined sword techniques, Julius could be described as having mastered all schools of martial arts.Having shed all imperfections, he had forged a unique sword technique of his own. His approach was based on sp
"The princess consort is right. Even though Prince Logan is formidable, he's still too young. The odds are not in his favor when faced with Julius, the cunning, sly fox," Wyatt said thoughtfully.Logan was a genius, but Julius was no ordinary opponent. After more than 20 years of cultivation, it would produce a terrifying gap between them. Hence, it was still uncertain as to who would emerge as the final victor. "I have a different view," Lincon spoke up again."Lincon, do you think Prince Logan has a higher chance of winning?" Tyrus probed. "Yes." Lincon nodded."Prince Rufus has remarkable strategic acumen and wisdom. He must be highly confident of winning this deal since he agreed to this competition. We should trust His Highness' judgment.""Although that's true, there are too many variables in a martial duel, especially between opponents of the same level. A tiny mistake can completely alter the course of the battle. "Until the last moment, no one can predict the outco
"Of course not." Lincon shook his head and added, "In fact, there's an unwritten rule for the Astonishing World List. High-ranking royal officials are not allowed on the list." "So, is Julius not strong enough to be on the list, or is he not allowed?" Wyatt questioned further. "He's not allowed on the list, and he's not qualified either," Lincoln responded. "That puts my mind at ease." Wyatt breathed a sigh of relief. "If the Astonishing World List is accurate, then Prince Logan must be stronger than Julius. As long as he doesn't underestimate his opponent, he should be able to secure a stable victory," Tyrus analyzed. "That may be true, but we should still exercise caution," Eloise murmured to herself. She felt a mix of emotions witnessing Logan's excellence. On one hand, she hoped for his victory to restore the monarchy's dignity. On the other hand, she harbored concerns.If Logan were to assume the throne, she worried he might follow in Julius' footsteps and take act
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
When the spectators heard the match was about to begin, the excitement reached a fever pitch. Half of them cheered for Fenley while the other half chanted Glenn's name. Both were the Chosen Ones, and their popularity was undeniable. Everyone had been waiting for their face-off in the battle ring.Though Fenley ranked slightly below Glenn on the Legendary List, his fame and influence as the successor to the Celestial Alliance's guildmaster outshined Glenn's. Ultimately, the question of who was stronger could only be answered in the ring."I've been waiting for this day, Glenn." Fenley stared at him intently. His voice was powerful and commanding. He continued, "Others say I'm not your equal, but I refuse to believe it. Today, we'll find out whether your sword is faster or if my Four Elements of God's Technique is superior.""The moment you said that, you've already lost. Your doubt shows you lack the confidence to defeat me," Glenn replied calmly. If this were a fight-to-the-deat
After the quarterfinals, it was time for a break. With noon approaching, contestants and spectators needed food and water to recharge. An hour later, the venue was buzzing with excitement again as Oron stepped onto the battle ring. He was accompanied by a Sacred Wrym Summit disciple, who carried a black box filled with numbered balls."It's almost time. I'd like to invite the top four contestants to the ring to draw lots," Oron announced as he surveyed the crowd.Amidst a wave of enthusiastic applause, four figures ascended the battle ring one after another. First in line was Glenn, with Fenley right behind him, followed by Abigail and Dustin."Sir, we're in the semifinals. Good luck!" Abigail winked playfully at Dustin as she stepped into the ring."You too," he replied with a smile.Given Abigail's strength, her odds against Glenn were slim. However, if she faced Fenley, she would have a solid chance at victory.After all, Fenley had only just broken through to the ultimate g
"Who the heck is this kid?" Oron glanced at his trembling hands and felt a chill run down his spine. He failed to gain the upper hand in the earlier clash with Dustin and suffered an unexpected setback. He was already an ultimate grandmaster, with a cultivation and mastery of the Glow Incantation that surpassed Caleb's. By all accounts, subduing a younger opponent should have been a piece of cake.But that exchange just now had brought him to a stark realization—Dustin had been holding back this whole time and hadn't used his full strength. Otherwise, Caleb wouldn't have lasted this long.The realization unsettled Oron. There were always extraordinary talents out there, but the potential Dustin had displayed was genuinely terrifying. To put it plainly, he was a beast on the same level as Glenn."What happened? Why did the judge step in?""Can't you see? Caleb has already lost. If the judge hadn't stepped in, that sword would have killed him or left him severely injured.""Exactl
As the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman took shape, a massive trigram formation suddenly appeared at the center of the battle ring. It spanned across the ring, whirling and transforming with relentless speed.At that moment, Dustin was standing inside the enchantment circle. He suddenly felt overwhelmed by tremendous pressure. Unlike the crushing force from the Summit Shift talisman that affected his body, this pressure came from his mind. He felt as if he were confined in a cage and unable to escape, regardless of how hard he struggled.Unlike the explosion Caleb had used against Sam, the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman now showcased its true power."You shouldn't have given me time to prepare. Your arrogance is your downfall." Caleb let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the enchantment circle in place.The Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman was powerful but required several seconds to cast—a timeframe that could be deadly against a skilled opponent.During his fight with Sam
"What?"As Caleb stared at the disintegrated Soul-Bind talisman, his expression changed dramatically. He hadn't expected that a sword descending from the sky would disrupt his plan at such a critical moment.When did this sword appear? How had he failed to notice it?Before he could react, the black sword moved again.With a soft hum, the black sword seemed to have a mind of its own as it turned in midair and struck the Summit Shift talisman at lightning speed. The talisman in the air exploded in a brilliant flash of yellow light and scattered into tiny sparks.Dustin finally relaxed as the overwhelming pressure lifted. He slowly opened his palm, and the black sword circled him before landing precisely in his hand."No wonder they call it a legendary Divine Talisman. I've finally experienced its power firsthand today." He gripped the sword with one hand and flashed a faint smile, but his expression turned serious.While the Summit Shift talisman hadn't fully immobilized him, it
"Really? Since you're so confident, I'll be watching closely," Alloy replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. The chance to mess with Cyrus was too good to pass up.When Cyrus had sparred with Seth, he had been defeated by just one move. Since that day, he had lived in Seth's shadow. In other words, Seth had become the inner demon that Cyrus could never shake off—a haunting reminder of his limits.As the tension brewed between Alloy and Cyrus in the stands, the situation in the battle ring had changed.Caleb was engaged in an extended battle, and the strain on his internal energy had reached a critical point. He needed to maintain his Glow Incantation while using Stormcraft for his attacks. This combination led to a rapid depletion of his energy.In contrast, Dustin focused primarily on close-range combat. He relied on his agility and brute strength to unleash punches and kicks while creating openings. Additionally, he only used his internal energy to counter Caleb's Stor