"A treasure trove? Where?" Everyone became excited upon hearing that.They entered the oasis just to find treasures. However, not only did they find nothing, but many had lost their lives over it.Thus, they felt very excited upon hearing that there was a place with treasures."Actually, I planned to explore the treasure trove after backup arrives." Sophia seemed reluctant."Sophia, time waits for no one. By the time the elite members of your sect come, there's a chance that someone has already discovered the treasure trove!" Garrett felt anxious.They finally had a chance to obtain treasures. Thus, they naturally didn't want to miss out on it."That's right. We're in the same boat right now. Why don't you tell the truth so that we can look for the treasure together? "We can split it among ourselves once we find it. Deal?" the short-haired woman added."I can tell you, but we have to set some ground rules. Harmony Sect is the one that found the treasure trove. "If you find a
"What's happening?" Grace quickly noticed Dustin's abnormal behavior."The Celestial Eye has detected something," Dustin replied in a lowered voice."Hmm?" Grace's eyes lit up and her heart was in her throat. "Could it be the Dracan essence?""I'm not sure." Dustin shook his head lightly. While it was true that the Celestial Eye could sense other treasure nearby, it couldn't accurately tell what the treasure was. Hence, he couldn't be certain if the hidden object near the lake was Dracan essence. The only thing that he was sure of was that the treasure was extraordinary as there was a huge reaction from the Celestial Eye."Whatever it may be, I have to go check it out myself. Later, we'll play by ear and please pay attention to even the smallest detail," Grace said seriously. If the Dracan essence was really hidden nearby, she'd do anything to get her hands on it."Got it." Dustin nodded and didn't say too much. Instead, he paid extra attention to the Celestial Eye's reactio
No one knew that the lake would be filled with water again when morning came and the palatial building was completely hidden beneath. Sophia didn't dive into the lake as she couldn't determine what was in the water."Are you sure that there is treasure hidden at the bottom of the lake?" Aidan asked again."It's true! I swear!" Sophia appeared very certain."Alright, we'll wait here then. We'll see what is really at the bottom of the lake tonight." Aidan nodded."Mr. Ridge, why do we have to wait till nightfall? Isn't it better to just explore the lake now?" Garrett suggested. Everyone knew that the monsters were most active at night. It might appear quiet and peaceful now, however, there might be many different monsters appearing by the lake at night. It'd be dangerous then."The lake is deep and we can't see the bottom. If you go in now, you can't even see where you're going. How are you going to search for the treasure?" Aidan commented casually."Mr. Ridge, to be honest, m
As Dozer dove in, the rolling waves quieted down slowly. Everyone stood and waited quietly at the shore, each lost in their own thoughts. It was a very quiet lake with emerald water. The visibility in the lake was very low as no fish were seen. It was obvious that it was a little abnormal.Time ticked by slowly and very soon, five minutes had passed. The surface of the lake remained calm and there was no movement under the surface as well. The trio that dove in had disappeared completely and they made no waves."It's been five minutes since they dove in, right? Why aren't they surfacing yet? Could there have been an accident?""Likely impossible. If there was any monster in the lake, they must have put up a fight with it. However, there isn't any sign of struggle. It's enough to prove that they're alright.""An undercurrent could have pulled them under and drowned them?"Looking at the calm surface of the lake, everyone started discussing and guessing. Martial artists might
Everything occurred in a flash, from the appearance of the mutant piranha to the swallowing of a Black Scorpion Squad member, and then the disappearance of the mutant piranha. It was so fast that no one could wrap their head around the incident.The Black Scorpion Squad member that was swallowed disappeared before he could shout for help. All that was left were splashes on the lake's surface as blood gurgled up rapidly from below."W-What?" Dozer and the other member were shocked beyond words. Both of them widened their eyes in terror and looked around with a frightened expression. What just happened? Where did their team member go? Why was there blood gurgling up from below?"Why are you two still there? Swim for your life!" Recovering from his shock, Garrett yelled loudly."Yes… save ourselves!" Dozer and the other team member suddenly came to their senses. They started flailing their arms and legs around as they swam toward the shore as fast as they could without a second
Garrett was dumbfounded. Staring at the densely packed mutant piranhas, his fury was replaced by sheer horror. Who would have thought that human-eating monstrous creatures would be hiding in the seemingly calm lake? Had he known earlier, he never would have allowed his team to dive into the waters. "There's danger lurking everywhere!" Sophia feigned a sigh.In fact, she already knew about the mutant piranhas when she saw them tearing apart and devouring two massive mutant wolves the previous night. She didn't warn the others of the danger to prioritize her chances of securing valuable treasure. After all, the more casualties there were, the fewer individuals she would have to divide the treasures with."Diving in with so many mutant piranhas around is impossible. We'll wait for the tide to recede at night," Grace commented, instructing her guards to set up camp nearby.Given the unusual behavior of the Celestial Eye, there was a strong possibility that the Dracan essence was h
"Despicable?" Bran shook his head as he chuckled."Jackson, you're the lead disciple of the Embersteel Order. I'm really disappointed to hear you say something like that." He was gratified to see Jackson deflated. "Bran, you know the saying—first come, first served. We've staked our claim here. You should go somewhere else." Sophia asserted.It would become increasingly disadvantageous for her if more people found out about the treasures beneath the lake. If she couldn't outcompete them or was beaten to it, then all her efforts would be in vain."Oh? It's Sophia from Harmony Sect. It's been two years since we last met, and you've grown even more beautiful." Bran grinned. "Thank you for the compliment, Bran," Sophia replied with a faint smile. "Bran, Harmony Sect discovered this place first. Can you let us have it?""Sophia, it's not that I don't want to, but this is a mission given to us by our sect. I have no choice." Bran suddenly changed the subject, "But of course, i
"Are you threatening me?" Grace asked calmly."You could consider it... a friendly advice." Bran's chuckle carried a meaningful tone. "Ms. Linsor, you're an intelligent woman. I'm sure you understand the right decision to make in this situation."In the Southwest, numerous factions existed, but only three major sects held supreme authority. Among them, the Drakes Dominion Order was universally acknowledged as the most powerful, followed by the Frostwing Sect, and then the Embersteel Order.The Frostwing Sect was already dominating the region with their influence, adding to that their alliance with the Drakes Dominion Order, their combined strength was unstoppable. Who would dare confront them head-on in the entirety of Southwest?"Sorry, but I'm afraid you'll have to be disappointed. My stance remains the same. We either share it all or there's nothing else to talk about." Grace was unfazed. "Hmm?" Bran's face darkened, and he spoke sternly, "You bitch! I'm being kind he
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
Austin's expression also turned serious as he saw the doubt in Dustin's eyes. He knew Dustin wouldn't worry over nothing.There were many strange beings in Streuqua, including vampires, werewolves, and the like. These supernatural species were notoriously hard to kill. Even after being decapitated, they weren't necessarily dead.Austin wasn't sure if Poseidon had that kind of ability. After all, the Hall of Gods and its so-called royal gods were still a mystery to most people in West Lucozia.To play it safe, they needed to recover Poisedon's head for their own peace of mind.Out on the water, Jaxon led a team of soldiers and ship crews to comb the sea in search of Poisedon's severed head.At the docks, all eyes turned to Warrick, Mulder, and the others. They had been tied up and were now being dragged before Dustin and Austin one by one.Warrick looked pale, but there was a certain defiance in his eyes. He knew his fate was sealed. After Dustin killed Poseidon, Warrick knew his