"Your Highness?" Cinna kneeled on the ground, observing the frosty Dustin with mixed feelings. Cinna felt joy at the sight of Dustin but also carried a profound sense of guilt.When the Black Dragon Army ambushed Cinna, he realized the dire state of the Dragon Guard. As anticipated, a retaliatory scheme ensued, resulting in the destruction of the Dragon Guard's base and the death of Reagan.Yet now, Cinna found himself in captivity. Surprisingly, he bore no grudges. Instead, a feeling of relief swept over him.Despite being a part of the Dragon Guard, West Lucozia had been his home for countless years, with many individuals becoming like family. His actions, often driven by necessity, had led to an ongoing internal conflict. His current situation seemed like a fitting consequence."Cinna, I bet this isn't how you saw things playing out. Reagan didn't make it, and neither did your plan. What do you have to say now?" Dustin said coldly."I have no words in the presence of defeat
"Where's the treasure map?" Dustin demanded."It's in Reagan's underground secret chamber. I can take you there," Cinna replied."Underground secret chamber?" Austin narrowed his eyes and warned in a low tone, "Cinna, I warn you not to play any tricks. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to get tough on you."Secret chambers were usually equipped with potential traps and hidden weapons. He was concerned that Cinna might have some malicious intentions."Now that I'm backed into a corner, I won't even think about deceiving you," Cinna said, his expression filled with discomfort."Lead the way." Dustin nodded, signaling his guards to escort Cinna.Cinna suddenly said, "Wait, I need one of Reagan's hands to open the secret chamber's vault." "No problem!" Austin unsheathed his knife, swiftly severing Reagan's right hand and handing it to Cinna. "There you go, a gift for you."Cinna winced but stayed silent as he led the way.Dustin and his companions trailed behind Cinna as they enter
"Cinna, why are you standing there? Lost in thought? Come on, we need to find that treasure map!" Julius, his face contorted with frustration, unleashed it all on Cinna."Okay." Cinna promptly headed straight for the big alloy door. He took out Reagan's severed hand and placed it on the central sensing area.The heavy alloy door opened, revealing a metallic vault of about 300 square feet. In the center was an impressive stack of gold bricks. Surrounding it were an assortment of precious rarities that were closely packed, each worth a fortune."This is Reagan's private gold vault. Anything he took a liking to ended up in here," Cinna said."Wow, look at all this treasure!" Austin exclaimed, glancing around in amazement. "Imagine if we cash in on this haul, we could practically own an entire city!""These treasures can't compare to the three treasuries of the Dragon Guard. The treasures here are merely a drop in the ocean," Cinna remarked seriously."Really?" Austin's surprise an
"Exactly! Cinna took one misstep, and this is where it led him. His choices ultimately sealed his fate. Unlike someone in this room who still has a shot at redemption," Austin remarked, casting a meaningful glance in Julius' direction.Rufus actively discouraged killing their own kin, and Julius was Austin's uncle. Without these circumstances, the consequences of Julius' rebellion would have been severe, even without significant losses. Not even Julius' death would have sufficed to alleviate the gravity of his actions.Julius cleared his throat, sensing the intensity of Austin's stare. Then, he quickly changed the subject. "Logan, these three treasuries are incredibly valuable with high stakes. So, how do you plan to deal with it?""Of course, we're bringing everything back to West Lucozia. Did you think we'd just leave it for anyone to grab?" Austin said, rolling his eyes."We shouldn't hog all three treasuries," Dustin said, shaking his head. He continued, "Taking down the Dr
After handing out the treasure maps, Dustin and his team got to work and efficiently organized the Dragon Guard's base. The base's location was pretty strategic, hidden, and easy to defend. It gave them a tactical edge as it sat right on the border between two nations. It made sense to turn this stronghold into a military fortress. That way, it could be a strategic hub for launching surprise maneuvers in future conflicts with Western nations. It wasn't an urgent need, but being prepared ahead of time was always a smart move.After sorting out these issues, Dustin and his team returned to the West Lucozia castle. With the threat eliminated and victory secured, Rufus, the Prince of West Lucozia, arranged a lavish feast at the castle. He invited everyone who played a part in resolving the recent events.The whole castle was alive with excitement, inside and out. Everyone was thrilled to hear that Rufus had survived. The additional news of wiping out the remaining Dragon Guard
For a moment, the people exchanged puzzled glances. While most of them were aware that Rufus wasn't in the best of health, they believed he still had several years ahead of him. Rufus deciding to step down just as they had resolved all their issues caught everyone off guard. "Rufus, aren't you moving this too hastily?" Eloise advised. "I agree, Your Highness. You're full of vigor and likely to live a long life. There's no need to step down at this time," Wyatt said with straightforward honesty. While the others were filled with uncertainty, they dared not speak. They were afraid of offending the future Prince if they urged Rufus to stay on the throne. Those wise enough knew it was best to remain silent and observe the unfolding situation. "I know my condition best. I don't have much time left. With everyone gathered here, it is my final wish to make arrangements for the time after my departure," Rufus said with a faint smile. "Rufus—" Eloise began to speak, but Rufus ra
Lincon's statement drew many curious glances. Anyone smart enough could clearly tell that Austin had more supporters. Therefore, selecting Austin would be the wisest choice.As the brains behind West Lucozia, Lincon was seen as the strategic advisor of the region. It appeared rather unusual for him to go against the trend and support Logan."Sir Lincon, I respectfully disagree." Tyrus countered, "Prince Logan's martial talent is indeed unparalleled in West Lucozia. However, the title of Prince of West Lucozia is not merely bestowed upon a formidable warrior. "Prince Austin, on the other hand, not only excels in both martial and literary arts, but he also has widespread support. Having years to hone his skills in the military, he has demonstrated excellence in various aspects. "If Prince Austin assumes the throne, he will undoubtedly lead West Lucozia into an era of prosperity like never before!" Austin was the King's nephew and also his future son-in-law. Given the impending
Rufus smiled. "No need to be so reserved. Today is a private gathering, and everyone here is part of the family. Feel free to express your thoughts openly. There's no need to hold back.""Since Prince Rufus has spoken, I won't decline," Adam said. He rose slowly, offering a courteous nod to those around him before speaking. "These are my personal views. If they inadvertently cause offense, I hope everyone here won't take it to heart.""God of Military, you're too humble. You're an important contributor to the nation's strength, and your insights undoubtedly carry extraordinary weight.""Absolutely, God of Military. Why don't you enlighten us on your preferred candidate?" The crowd chimed in with curiosity.Adam's significance required no explanation. As Dragonmarsh's God of Military and the future heir of the royal Spanner family, his influence was immense. Surveying the room, he stood among the most distinguished attendees. "Very well, I shall express my thoughts," Adam bega
"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
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