Their vehicle cruised steadily, maintaining a consistent speed. Eventually, by noon the next day, they reached the outskirts of the Deadlands.There was a large village with around five to six hundred households on the outskirts. The village boasted amenities like an inn, a gas station, a supermarket, and the like. Though not sprawling, it had the essentials.It also served as a supply station for the exploration teams and a lifeline in critical moments. Whether it was entering or exiting the desert, people would stop there to rest and gather information.It was worth mentioning that, given the challenges in transporting goods, the prices within the village were several times higher than in the city. Upon entering the village, Grace's convoy finally came to a halt in front of a rural inn named House of Hope. The inn had once been a primary school, with enough rooms to accommodate over a hundred people."Ms. Linsor, we've arrived." After the convoy stopped, a man appearing to be a
Dustin was taken aback and slightly puzzled at Garrett's sudden hostility. Considering that it was their first meeting, Dustin couldn't fathom the reason for his animosity. Why did the guy before him have such a lofty attitude?"Captain Wilder, have we met before?" Dustin slowly lowered his hand that had been left hanging. "No," Garrett said with an icy expression."Since we've never met, what makes you say that?" Dustin countered. "I'm just concerned about Ms. Linsor."Garrett asserted with a self-righteous tone, "The Deadlands is extremely dangerous, and those who enter face almost certain death. "Without considerable strength, professional knowledge, and extensive experience, ordinary people wouldn't last a day inside. "Ms. Linsor has paid a considerable sum to bring me here, and it's my responsibility to ensure her safety. "Judging by your physique and behavior, it's evident that you're not a professional bodyguard. So, I have serious doubts about your abilities."I
"I've never been through anything quite like this before. It feels different this time," Garrett admitted, taking the teasing in stride. After having been through life-and-death situations together, there was nothing they couldn't talk about."Ms. Linsor is truly unique. Although I haven't seen her in person, the vibe she gives off suggests she's an extraordinary beauty," the bald, burly man said excitedly."Dozer, Captain has his eye on Ms. Linsor. Don't even think about going down any inappropriate rabbit holes, okay?" the short-haired girl cautioned."Oh, come on, I was just throwing it out there casually. I wouldn't dream of competing with the captain for a woman." Dozer chuckled sheepishly.She gave Garrett confidence and said, "Captain, finding someone who really gets to you doesn't happen daily. Don't overthink it, and just go for it. Your charm is bound to do the trick!" "I'm afraid it could be too late." Garrett sighed, shaking his head. He added, "Ms. Linsor has her o
In the inn, Dustin changed into clean clothes and sneezed. "I wonder who's talking about me," he mumbled, rubbing his nose.Then, he left the room and headed to the dining hall. The dining area, originally a school cafeteria, was quite spacious. It covered around 600 to 700 square feet and easily fit over a hundred people."Over here."Grace waved at him as he walked in. He made his way over, noticing a table adorned with more than a dozen mouth-watering dishes."Our chef whipped up these dishes, so feel free to dig. They're not just tasty but also safe," she assured."You're playing it safe and all." Dustin chuckled, sliding into a seat before diving into the food without a second thought."It's always a good call to be careful when you're out and about, especially in the outskirts of the Deadlands. You never know what kind of dangers lurk around, and a single misstep could be fatal," Grace explained as she enjoyed her meal.Suddenly, a group of young men and women dressed in g
Dustin and Grace were just watching the scene unfold when, suddenly, the ponytailed girl turned her focus on them. It took them a moment to shake off the surprise."Exactly! Just look at their dishes. Each is a culinary masterpiece. Compare that to what we've got on our table—it's just garbage!""I don't care! Swap our food right now, or we'll cause a scene!" the group shouted. In the middle of their protest, they angrily tossed the food from their table onto the floor, making a mess."I'm afraid our small establishment has a few constraints when it comes to swapping these exquisite dishes," the waiter explained, wearing a regretful and apologetic expression."You can't swap them? Are you suggesting that we can't afford it?" Bran frowned."Damn! Are you seriously discriminating against us? Do you even know who we are?" the ponytailed girl shouted. "We are disciples of the renowned Frostwing Sect. If you piss us off, we might just have to give your inn a bit of a makeover, you kn
After Dustin's taunts, the ponytailed girl grew even more infuriated. "This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed.Despite the obvious difference in their physical abilities, she tapped into her internal energy and advanced with renewed determination. However, her efforts proved futile as her sword became entangled in his grip as if he had a vice-like hold on the blade."You're really overestimating yourself." Dustin chuckled, tightening his fingers around the sword.With a distinct snap, her sword broke, sending her stumbling back a few feet. Upon hitting the ground, she winced in pain, her face contorting with discomfort as a wave of dizziness swept over her."Bran! He bullied me!" Feeling helpless, the ponytailed girl turned swiftly to those nearby for assistance."How dare you lay your hands on my junior? Are you asking for trouble?" Bran snapped. He unsheathed his sword, intending to teach Dustin a lesson."Stop!" A commanding voice echoed at the entrance. The man in red strol
Despite Bran's intense glare, Dustin nonchalantly shrugged it off. He knew he could have easily emerged victorious in their fight without any intervention.After handling a couple of minor disturbances, Aidan resumed his meal. Jackson, accompanied by the disciples of the Embersteel Order, chose to keep a low profile and settled into nearby seats.Grace stood up and approached Jackson's table. "Hello, everyone. Thank you for your timely assistance," she expressed her gratitude.Jackson dismissed it coolly, saying, "Just helping out, no biggie." He added, "I've always had a thing against those who prey on the weaker ones. Our sect consistently stands against injustice.""The Embersteel Order truly lives up to its reputation as a haven for true heroes," Grace remarked admiringly."Why not join us at the table for a few drinks?" she asked, warmly inviting them. "I've got a couple of bottles of premium wine in my collection."At the mention of premium wine, Jackson's eyes widened
Grace raised her glass and smiled. "Cheers, everyone! No need for formality. Dig in and enjoy yourselves."Seeing the tempting array of dishes, the disciples of the Embersteel Order eagerly indulged, savoring each bite without hesitation. As rounds of wine flowed, their camaraderie began to flourish. "Ms. Linsor, Dustin, judging by your appearances, you're not locals. Are you also on the hunt for the treasure?" Jackson subtly asked."Yes, we heard of treasures in the Deadlands, so we assembled a team for the challenge and to gain some experience," she replied candidly.It was universally understood that anyone braving the dangerous Deadlands was on a quest for its hidden treasures. Considering the treacherous nature of the terrain, the idea of visiting for leisure was entirely dismissed."Ms. Linsor, pardon my directness, but venturing into the Deadlands carries significant risks," Jackson cautioned, eyeing them both.He added, "A single misstep could prove fatal, and it seems n
"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