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
These past few days, I've been hit with the flu and dealing with some recurring health issues. Additionally, I've been experiencing mild dizziness, and even sitting down gives me a spinning sensation. Today, I tried to write while lying in bed, managing to put together 300 words, but unfortunately, I had to take breaks to deal with nausea.I'll take a couple of days off to recover. Once I'm feeling better, I promise to make up for the content I owe you from these past few days.Just plain water.11/30/2023
Austin smiled brightly as he ushered Jovian into the meeting room with surprising enthusiasm.Jovian looked confused and somewhat unprepared. Before entering, he had already imagined many possible scenarios for their meeting. He had mentally prepared for a range of reactions from Austin—whether he would be ignored, faced with cold indifference, or dealt with arrogance. He was ready for any of those. After all, the rumors about Austin painted him as a "hellraiser" who did whatever he pleased.But, to his surprise, Austin didn't give him any trouble at all. Instead, he was giving him a warm reception, which left him utterly confused.Something felt off. He couldn't make sense of Austin's sudden warmth, and he had no idea what game he was playing."Bring the tea!" After inviting Jovian to sit, Austin gestured for the attendant to serve the tea. The drink was a rare specialty from West Lucozia, a premium elixir tea not sold to the public but reserved for high-ranking officials. Its
After stepping into the castle, Boston felt a knot in his stomach. He had been here before, but only for official matters.He was always escorted by guards or attendants, but this time, Austin himself had led him inside. Boston felt both honored and somewhat overwhelmed. Since when had he earned such treatment?Austin had brushed off higher-ranking officials, so why was he showing him so much attention? Was it because his shiny bald head made him stand out? He had no answers, only a growing curiosity as he followed Austin into the meeting room. "Sit." After Austin sat at the head of the table, he raised his hand and gestured for Boston to do the same."No… no need. I'll just stand." Boston smiled awkwardly."Just sit down. Why are you so nervous? I won't bite," Austin said in a dismissive tone. "Y-Yes, Your Highness." Boston didn't dare refuse again and obediently took a seat. He was six feet three inches tall, yet he looked like a startled rabbit. He sat up straight and didn't
When the castle's gate swung open, every eye turned toward the entrance. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Austin strode out with his two guards. His posture exuded confidence and authority."Your Highness!"The gathered officials instantly rushed forward to greet him. Grins spread across their faces as if they couldn't wait to please him. Whether it was Huxley, Percival, or Warrick, all wore the same ingratiating expression.After all, Austin was the infamous hellraiser. Though he had reined himself over the past two years, his past reputation still loomed over them.At least Rufus could be reasoned with. But Austin? He was a wild card—utterly unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb. Every last one of them had suffered his wrath before.Percival approached with a flattering smile. "Your Highness, you finally come out. I have something important to discuss with you. If you'd be so kind as to listen—"Before he could finish his sentence, he was dismissed by Austin, who found h
"Get lost! I'm not in the mood for anything right now. If you want to eat, go on your own." Warrick snapped, looking annoyed."I'm not going either," Percival refused flatly. "I'm on a health regimen these days—only tea, no alcohol.""Fine. If you're going to wait, then keep waiting. I won't be sticking around." Huxley forced a smile and acted like he was about to leave.But as he turned, he almost bumped into Boston, who was approaching from the other direction."Sorry, Sir Thatcher! I hope I didn't startle you." Since he was surrounded by so many high-ranking officials, Boston was already on edge. He had momentarily spaced out and almost caused a mishap by running into Huxley, which left him flustered and a bit tongue-tied.Unlike the other generals, Boston didn't come from an influential background or have any powerful connections. He had worked his way up from the bottom, and the last thing he wanted was to offend Huxley and risk losing everything he had fought so hard for.
After parting ways with Boston, Jovian checked into a nearby hotel to await the good news. Boston wasted no time. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, he headed to the castle to deliver a letter of introduction. But when he arrived, he was stunned by what he saw.The gates of the West Lucozian monarchy had already gathered quite a few people, and among them were several figures he immediately recognized. These included Huxley Thatcher, the Commander of the Militia; Warrick Prescott, the Major General of the State Guard; and Percival Wentworth, the Chancellor of the National Academy.These three were first-ranking officials. In West Lucozia, they were nothing short of kingmakers who wielded immense power and influence. Warrick, in particular, was two ranks above Boston. Hence, he felt the need to be cautious in his presence and was eager not to make a bad impression.Alongside these three prominent figures, several second- and third-ranking officials also stood in line at
The following morning, Jovian stood at the entrance of West Lucozia Airport, wearing a sharp suit.Before the trip, he had contacted his comrade with whom he had fought side by side in the military. After earning military merit and with the Ballard family's influence, he was fortunate enough to stay in Oakvale and secure a decent position.His comrade, on the other hand, had moved to West Lucozia to carve out a life for himself. Years of hard work had paid off—he was now a third-rank general with considerable power, influence, and a strong network of connections. Jovian's meeting with the Prince of West Lucozia would depend entirely on his comrade's connections.Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the air as a military jeep pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, and the first thing that came into view was a bald head gleaming in the sunlight like a lightbulb. The glare nearly blinded him.Under that shiny dome was a face that looked ordinary at first glance. But w
"Grandfather, I understand why you sent Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Jensen to the Spanner and Fallon families to gather information," Natasha began. "But West Lucozia is thousands of miles away."She shook her head slightly. "They've always stayed out of the government's political matters. Sending Uncle Jovian there wouldn't achieve anything. He'd likely just be turned away." Oakvale and West Lucozia were worlds apart. The fight for the Oakvale throne didn't really affect the West Lucozian monarchy. Both sides had long adhered to an unspoken agreement to avoid meddling in each other's affairs."I know, but it'll be different this time. The royal throne is at stake, and every faction will do whatever it takes to secure West Lucozia's support. If the West Lucozian monarchy picks a side, the balance we've maintained for years will collapse. That's why I need to be ready for whatever happens," Simon replied.It would be best if the West Lucozian monarchy stayed out of the political strug
At the Ballard estate, Dustin was warmly welcomed to stay after dinner. This was the first time Natasha had brought her boyfriend home, so the Ballards made a big deal of it.Simon personally accompanied the young couple and invited them to the study to chat over tea. With his sharp eye, Simon could tell Dustin was no ordinary martial artist. His manners, speech, and broad knowledge set him apart from most people."Dustin, I fully support your relationship with Natasha. Your background or status doesn't matter. What matters most is that you two are happy together." Simon paused and said earnestly, "I want you to understand that she's been pampered all her life and hasn't faced much hardship. Now that she's with you, I hope you'll take good care of her.""Don't worry, Mr. Ballard. I would never let her down," Dustin replied sincerely.Though they had known each other for some time and hadn't yet taken their relationship to the next level, they had already made their feelings clear
After hearing Nathaniel's words, Tristan's expression darkened. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep thought.It seemed he had underestimated the situation. He had assumed it was just a simple rivalry between brothers; he hadn't anticipated Seamus seizing the chance to further his own agenda.Seamus already wielded considerable influence. Under the guise of supporting Matthias' ascension to the throne, he had been forming alliances and recruiting talents. His influence had grown to rival the royal family's.If Seamus really supported Matthias' ascension, he'd overshadow the king, and no one would be able to stop him. The worst-case scenario would be Seamus using Matthias as a puppet to overthrow the House of Linsor."Nathaniel, is everything you said true?" Tristan frowned."Absolutely. Every word," Nathaniel replied solemnly. "Of course, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate.""I believe you. But… taking down Seamus won't be easy. Do you have a plan?" Tr