"Of course! That's a blue jadeite, and it's also an antique that's worth a fortune!" Garrett snapped. "Worth a fortune? What a treasure!" The middle-aged man's face lit up with joy as he carefully put away the pendant. "We left in a hurry, so I didn't manage to bring anything else with me. The pendant is valuable, so I hope you'll like it," Grace said with a slight smile."Miss, considering your sincerity, I'll pass on the message. But whether Mr. Zaeske decides to see you is beyond my control," the middle-aged man said cautiously."Thank you." Grace nodded slightly."Alright, please wait a moment," the middle-aged man said and entered the courtyard.After three minutes, he reappeared with a smile on his face. "Miss, Mr. Zaeske has agreed to see you. However, for safety reasons, you can only bring one person with you.""Garrett, please keep watch here. I'll be going in with Dustin," Grace instructed. She then headed inside with Dustin. …Ryan lay unconscious inside a bedroo
"Young man, you haven't even assessed the patient's condition, and yet you claim confidence in healing him. Isn't that a bit presumptuous?" Bob was evidently displeased.Although he was a rural doctor, he had over ten years of medical experience and had saved numerous lives. How could a young, inexperienced man be able to cure Ryan when even he couldn't do so?"The patient has 13 external injuries, the most serious being the wound that penetrated his chest and exited through his back. Fortunately, his exceptional physical condition allowed him to survive. "The real challenge lies in the extensive poisoning. His internal organs have sustained varying degrees of damage. If we don't remove it swiftly, he won't make it through tomorrow," Dustin explained Ryan's injuries in detail. "How … How did you figure that out?" Bob was shocked. He had to perform a thorough examination and read Ryan's pulse to arrive at his diagnosis. So how did the young man before him achieve the same?
Observing Ryan's distressed state, Grace quickly reassured him, "Ryan, calm down. You're safe now. Nothing can hurt you here. You don't have to be afraid." If she didn't, they wouldn't be able to extract any useful information from him with his current emotional state.However, Ryan remained engulfed by fear, unable to calm down. He continued clutching his head, trembling, and muttering to himself."Is he … losing his mind? What do we do now?" Kayson grew anxious. The money bag that was at hand was now mentally unstable. What a headache."Dustin, is there any way to calm him down?" Grace asked, giving him a sidelong glance. "Easy." Without much ado, Dustin produced a silver needle and inserted it right into the nape of Ryan's neck. Almost instantly, Ryan shuddered and then peacefully fell unconscious on the bed. "This is your method?" Grace looked at him quizzically. While Ryan was now calm, how were they supposed to question him while he was unconscious?"Ryan is too d
The Drakes Dominion Order led the three major sects in the Southwest. It was considerably stronger than the Embersteel Order and the Frostwing Sect.Kayson could not afford to offend such a large sect. After all, Dusthaven Village relied on their protection to survive. "Mr. Zaeske, I'll be blunt. The guy you saved, we want him!" Yonah said with his head raised. In an imposing manner, he declared, "As long as you hand him over to us, you'll be a friend of the Drakes Dominion Order!""I …" Kayson looked contemplative. His initial intention to make a quick profit through Ryan had unexpectedly attracted many powerful forces. Now that the Drakes Dominion Order had spoken up, he lacked both reason and courage to refuse."Yonah, we all have the same goal here. Don't you think claiming it all for yourself is inappropriate?" Right then, Bran Kingsley from the Frostwing Sect chimed in."Why? You have a problem with that?" Yonah narrowed his eyes, his gaze hostile. "It isn't just me
It was human nature to prioritize one's own well-being.Kayson knew he couldn't afford to offend either side and decided that getting a scapegoat to bear the blame was for the best. That way, he could free himself from the burden of the outcome. "Hmm?" Dustin frowned when Kayson singled him out. What a shrewd old man, quick to take credit and even quicker at deflecting blame. "Hey, you, hand over that guy inside, and I will reward you handsomely." Yonah turned his attention to Dustin, his tone authoritative. "Do I know you?" Dustin replied calmly."I'm Yonah, the second disciple of the Drakes Dominion Order."He continued proudly, "As long as you cooperate and hand over the guy without a fuss, the Drakes Dominion Order will always have your back." "And if I refuse?" Dustin countered."Refuse? Hmph!" Yonah snorted. "If you don't hand him over, that would be a direct challenge against us. Can you bear the consequences?" Anyone foolish enough to challenge the Drakes Domin
"Jackson, you're mine." At the same time, Bran drew his sword, blocking Jackson's path. They were equally skilled and would be evenly matched in battle. Despite Jackson's desire to intervene, he lacked the strength to confront the united might of the two major sects. He could only stand by helplessly as the disciples of the Drakes Dominion Order launched their assault on Dustin.Just when it seemed like Dustin was at a disadvantage, something unexpected happened. Two distinct, crisp slapping sounds echoed through the air.The disciples who had approached Dustin were sent flying with just a single slap each. They landed heavily, struggling to rise to their feet. The entire sequence unfolded so quickly that no one had a chance to react."What?" Jackson was stunned, showing a look of astonishment. The disciples of the Drakes Dominion Order were considered the elite. They weren't supposed to be defeated by any ordinary martial artist. Since Dustin had subdued the two disci
Yonah's sword quivered, emitting a faint buzzing sound. Its sharp blade remained trapped between Dustin's fingers, and no matter how much Yonah forced it to move, it didn't budge. "What? He actually blocked it?" Everyone was shocked by the scene before them. No one expected Dustin to have the ability to fend off a deadly attack with his bare hands. Just how formidable was he?"How … how is this possible?" Yonah's expression underwent a dramatic shift, displaying evident unease. Even though he hadn't unleashed his full strength, he had exerted 70% of his power. Ordinary divine-level martial artists wouldn't stand a chance against his assault. He had never met anyone like Dustin who could neutralize his attack with just two fingers. "Is this the only move he has?" A ponytailed girl from the Frostwing Sect frowned, her expression grim. Earlier at the inn's dining hall, Dustin had similarly used two fingers to clamp down on her sword, dealing her a considerable blow. It was
"So, do you still want me to hand Ryan over?" Dustin walked up to Yonah and looked at him condescendingly. His expression betrayed no emotion. Coughing up blood, Yonah struggled to get up from the ground. His tone was bitter as he exclaimed, "W-Who are you? How dare you go against the Drakes Dominion Order.""You don't have the right to know." Dustin continued calmly, "Now, before I lose my temper, run as far away from me as you can. Otherwise, you won't be just coughing up blood." "You—!" Yonah gritted his teeth. With difficulty, he held himself back from attacking. Dustin was clearly stronger. It wouldn't be wise to challenge him right now. After all, it wouldn't be too late to seek revenge after their Elder arrived."You brat! I'm going to remember this! Just you wait. I'm going to make you pay a hundredfold for the humiliation I suffered today!" With that, Yonah left gloomily with the rest of his group. "What are you still standing around for? Do I need to send you o
"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