"W-What is this monster? It's gigantic!" Eyes widened in disbelief as everyone took in the size of the monstrous creature that resembled both a serpent and a python. Nobody expected to find such a monstrous beast within the palace. With its enormous body, blood-red eyes, gaping, blood-filled mouth, and imposing presence, a single glance sent shivers down their spines, inducing fear.It didn't matter if they were a low-level martial artist, a divine-level martial artist, or a grandmaster like Aidan, they felt like they had come face to face with a formidable enemy. Even the mutant wolves and Onyxclaw, previously engaged in frenzied combat with humans, halted their aggression. They trembled uncontrollably, intimidated by the serpent's aura. It was a suppression rooted in bloodlines and a fear ingrained in biological instincts.The black serpent let out a thunderous roar, and a row of bone spikes suddenly shot up behind its head. In an instant, a violent gust of wind swept th
With just a breath of fire, the black serpent killed over ten disciples from the Elysian Sect, leaving nothing in its wake."W-What!" Shock and terror gripped those who watched. Each face mirrored the horror of seeing a ghost. The Elysian Sect's disciples, renowned for their strength, couldn't measure up to top-tier factions like the Drakes Dominion Order. Yet, the Elysian Sect held a solid reputation in the martial world.Despite their combined efforts and diverse techniques, the Elysian Sect's disciples couldn't even scratch the black serpent. Unfortunately, a single breath of the black serpent's flames incinerated them entirely.The terrifying sight made everyone wonder if other factions could defeat the creature."What on earth is this? What creature breathes fire like that?""That flame is so unsettling! A single breath and it turns people to ashes. It's terrifying!"As the group gazed at the ground covered in black ash, panic swept through them. The terror of facing the
Aidan sprawled on the ground. He was coughing violently and spitting out blood. His face, pale and shocked, reflected the agony in his wide eyes. It appeared as if his body was falling apart, leaving him unable to stand.The immense power of the black serpent caught him off guard. In just one hit, its tail, heavy as a mountain, inflicted severe injuries on him.Even his precious dual blade could only leave minor scratches on the black serpent's tough body. Its incredible physical strength and formidable defense surpassed his imagination."Whoa, did Mr. Ridge just get thrown like that? Am I imagining things?""I don't get it. Mr. Ridge is a grandmaster martial artist with incredible strength. How did he go down with just one hit from that creature?""This is bad! Who else stands a chance if he can't handle the black serpent?"Everyone couldn't hide their disbelief. Their shocked expressions reflected the unexpected turn of events.Aidan, widely recognized as Sandscale, was a re
The black serpent spewed forth a torrent of dark flames, resembling a black dragon that swiftly engulfed Dustin. Instantly, the nearby riverbed dried up, leaving behind a charred and desolate path.His fate seemed grim, and everyone shook their heads, convinced of his impending doom. The deadly flames of the black serpent were evident to all. Even those at the divine level martial artists would turn to ashes instantly.Despite this, Dustin faced the flames head-on without flinching. They wondered if he was knowingly walking into his demise.Garrett sneered and thought, "This kid talks big but can't back it up. Completely clueless." He knew Dustin would end up burned to ashes."It's over. Dustin is gone." Jackson sighed, unable to bring himself to witness the scene anymore.He admitted that Dustin's strength was impressive, surpassing even Yonah. The issue, though, was that the black serpent possessed strength comparable to that of a grandmaster martial artist.Jackson had witne
From the moment Dustin unsheathed his sword, the entire sequence unfolded in an instant. The swift beheading of the black serpent left everyone in disbelief.Even after the serpent's head hit the ground, it continued to snarl menacingly, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the situation. It only recognized the severity of its decapitation when the truth finally sank in.Confusion enveloped the creature as it questioned what had just transpired, trying to comprehend how this seemingly insignificant human had managed to decapitate it.The royal family held the black serpent in high esteem. They saw it as a divine being that had spent centuries cultivating its power, establishing dominance over everything.Its path was meant to be unimpeded, and all living beings were destined to be its prey. The creature couldn't comprehend why it now lay lifeless, defeated by the hands of a mere human.The massive body of the black serpent convulsed a few times before crashing heavily to the grou
Grace's envoy team acted swiftly, efficiently peeling away the black serpent's skin in a matter of moments. The gallbladder was also meticulously placed into a box.She had personally observed the black serpent's impressive defense, which had withstood a powerful strike from Aidan, a grandmaster martial artist. The durability of its scales was undeniable. Considering the serpent's colossal size, she anticipated that it could potentially provide materials for over a hundred sets of resilient armor. Armed with these resources, she envisioned the formation of an unstoppable personal guard—a treasure that couldn't be easily obtained through conventional means."Here's your reward, a potent boost for cultivation," Grace said, handing Dustin the black serpent's gallbladder stored in the box.However, he seemed uninterested and shook his head. "This thing won't do much for me. You should keep it."The black serpent's gallbladder has potent benefits for a grandmaster martial artist, bu
Yonah frowned, and his expression turned grim. "That bastard's holding back his real strength. He's powerful and practically unstoppable. If we attempt to confront him, we could end up dead."As he recalled Dustin's astonishing feat of effortlessly slicing through the black serpent with a single sword, Yonah couldn't help but feel intimidated. He felt a sense of relief knowing that Dustin hadn't fully unleashed his power in their last encounter. Otherwise, Yonah might not have survived to share the story."You're right. Tackling him by ourselves might be a challenge, but let's not overlook the support from our sects," Bran said.Lowering his voice with a hint of malice, he added, "Dustin may have the skills of a grandmaster martial artist, but he's outnumbered. "When the two major sects unite against him, taking him down becomes much more manageable."He was well aware that both the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect boasted a grandmaster martial artist at the forefro
Jackson strolled through the palace corridors, his excitement uncontainable. "Dustin, I had no idea your skills were so impressive. Your sword technique just now was truly epic!" While aware of Dustin's formidability, Jackson never comprehended the extent of his power. He could sense Dustin's cultivation level surpassing even Aidan's, leaving him utterly astonished.Sophia smiled and remarked, "He's right. That single swing of your sword took down the black serpent."It caused a ripple effect, shaking things up in both the southwest and northwest forces. Your name is about to become a global sensation!" Her eyes held intense admiration for Dustin. To her, Jackson was undeniably impressive, but he served as her backup. Now, with Dustin, a peerless genius, by her side, she felt confident in her next move."I just happened to stumble upon the black serpent's weak spot." Dustin smiled faintly.Jackson intervened. "Don't downplay yourself, Dustin. The black serpent's defense is soli
"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
Moments later, the once-turbulent sea finally calmed. All that remained was a dense cloud of steam. Like a giant beast, it slowly drifted across the water, as if telling the tale of the heart-pounding battle that had just taken place.Dustin stood on the surface of the sea with the Celestial Blade in hand. His face was grim as he looked ahead. His clothes were torn, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. Blood streamed from his wounds and dyed the water beneath him red.Suddenly, a headless corpse floated to the surface. Covered in blue scales, it had torn, ragged wings on its back. The body was riddled with gaping wounds as the dark blue blood seeping from it dissipated into the water.The body belonged to Poseidon."H-He's dead? How is that possible?"Looking at the headless corpse floating on the sea, Warrick and the others couldn't help but stare in shock. They never imagined Dustin could slay one of the world's mightiest royal gods with a single blow. If they hadn'
Poseidon slowly rose from the seawater, his wound now fully healed. A flicker of madness flashed in his eyes. The severe injury he just sustained not only failed to make him retreat but instead ignited an even stronger fighting spirit within him.He sneered. "Logan, you've surprised me. But you're still going to die today."Poseidon spun his trident wildly, and the already turbulent sea grew even more violent. The waters swirled around him and formed a massive vortex. It expanded rapidly and soon reached nearly 1,000 feet wide. The surrounding waters were sucked in with terrifying force.The suction was so powerful that even Warrick, Mulder, and the others, watching from a distance, had to brace themselves to avoid being pulled in."Hmm?"Dustin frowned as he felt an overwhelming pressure closing in. The force of the swirling vortex before him was terrifying, as if it could swallow everything in its path. But he didn't flinch. In a flash, he launched forward like a streak of
Poseidon scoffed. "You're so full of yourself." The surrounding seawater surged violently. It transformed into countless razor-sharp water spikes and whistled toward Dustin. The deadly edges glinted under the sunlight. Like a silver rainstorm, the barrage swallowed every inch of space around him.Dustin's sharp gaze locked onto the incoming strikes. With a light swing of the Celestial Blade, a streak of black sword aura shot out. Every water spike in its path shattered into mist and rained down in a cascade of droplets.However, Poseidon refused to relent. His attacks came in endless waves, an unbroken torrent.He gripped his trident with both hands and spun it, creating several blue energy rings. Each one expanded rapidly and surged toward Dustin like crashing waves.Dustin's figure flickered and vanished from his spot. The next second, he reappeared just outside the energy rings.Hovering in midair, he spun at incredible speed. The Celestial Blade in his hand turned into a b
"Logan, I have to admit that you're stronger than I thought. I never expected you'd push me this far," Poseidon said.His arms slowly spread wide, and his blue eyes glowed with murderous intent. "As a mark of respect, I will give it everything I've got. You'll witness the true extent of my power."With a flick of his hand, he made a grabbing gesture. His trident, which had fallen to the bottom of the sea, shot back up through the water and landed firmly in his grasp.Compared to his earlier arrogance, Poseidon now stood with a newfound seriousness. It wasn't just Dustin's strength that had him on edge but his terrifying potential.At only 20, Dustin already possessed this level of strength. If he continued to grow, he would become a serious threat to the Hall of Gods. Hence, Poseidon resolved to eliminate him today."Watch closely," he said.Poseidon slowly raised his trident and gripped it like a javelin. While channeling his energy into the weapon, it pulsed with an intense blu
Dustin was Dragonmarsh's elite prodigy, while Poseidon was the famous royal god of the Hall of Gods.Every move they exchanged unleashed destructive power. Within moments, the area within a 300-foot radius was reduced to wreckage.Dustin wielded his true energy-infused longsword. Each swing unleashed a blinding flare of light as if it could split the sky apart with the Celestial Blade.On the contrary, Poseidon's trident commanded the winds and rains. Each strike could summon huge rolling waves as if he were a god reigning over the forces of nature.Sword aura clashed against walls of water and plunged the entire area into chaos.Warrick and the others watched with rapt attention. Their eyes were locked on the battle ahead as they tried to make sense of the chaos.But Dustin and Poseidon were moving so fast that their actions were almost impossible to follow. Their movements blurred together, and they could only catch flashes of two figures constantly clashing. Their strikes ca
"Let me correct you," Dustin said.As his hand slowly tightened into a fist, a white longsword formed from his true energy. "In Dragonmarsh, there is no 'God. ' We only have the Lord of the Dead."The moment the words left his mouth, a tempest of sword aura exploded outward. Within a radius of several dozen yards, the winds howled, sand and stones were sent flying, and the waves along the shore grew even more violent."Such overwhelming pressure. That sword aura is insane. Is this Logan's actual strength?"Feeling the surge of energy, Warrick and the others couldn't help but turn pale. It was then they realized that Dustin hadn't been fighting seriously before. Or perhaps, with their strength, they hadn't even earned the right to make him fight for real. They figured only someone of Poseidon's caliber could force Dustin to go all out."Interesting… truly fascinating." Poseidon suddenly laughed. "I thought you were just a pup, but it turns out you're a hungry wolf. Now, this is s