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
Grace commanded, "Send someone over and break down this mural."A group of bodyguards swiftly drew their weapons and began pounding on the mural. It crumbled under a barrage of forceful blows, revealing an ancient and sturdy bronze door. At the center of the door, a fist-sized eye held everyone's gaze with its unsettling deep red glow, resembling a gem. From the eye, a fan-like pattern spread out, breaking the bronze surface into eight sections. Each section was adorned with unique images.The surface of the door featured unusual frog-like symbols. Their twisted and contorted shapes contributed to the overall mystique of the scene.The leader of the envoy team turned to Grace, his expression curious. "Ms. Linsor?" He paused, eyeing the red gemstone on the bronze door. Its value was apparent, making him cautious about any impulsive actions."Smash everything!" Grace was concise in her command. They couldn't afford to give up if there was something behind that door easily. As
Despite employing a substantial amount of explosives, the bronze door remained impervious, showcasing its exceptional durability. Even sheer brute force proved ineffective.Grace, with a slight furrow in her brow, suggested, "Search for mechanisms or anything that might assist us.""Got it!" The envoy team leader promptly responded, directing his team to explore. Despite an extensive search within the grand hall, they discovered nothing."Ms. Linsor," Garrett interjected. "Save your efforts. The solution to open this bronze door is right here."Grace turned around, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Oh? Captain Wilder, do you recognize the symbols on the door?""I've been on quite the journey, exploring historical sites and immersing myself in the study of intriguing symbols for many years. It's become second nature to me." Garrett proudly shared.He walked forward confidently and added, "If I'm not mistaken, this underwater palace was built by the ruler of Sceptoria a thousand
The symbols on the bronze door abruptly stopped rotating, as if caught in a jam. It swayed back and forth with an unsettling creaking sound."Huh? What's happening? Why did it stop moving?" Everyone exchanged puzzled glances."Captain Wilder, what's going on?" Grace furrowed her brow in unease."Ms. Linsor, calm down. After all, it's been over a thousand years, and it's normal for the mechanisms to show some signs of aging. Just give it a moment, and it'll be fine," Garrett said with a faint smile.He had encountered similar situations before. In the past, he had dealt with traps that, even when triggered, remained inactive due to years of neglect.As he examined the bronze door's material, he felt assured that its internal mechanisms were likely undamaged, albeit possibly less responsive. Given the earlier smashing and explosions, he reasoned that there must have been some impact. Then, the symbols and characters, which were initially rotating clockwise, suddenly began to tur
"Huh?" Everyone stood in shock, their eyes fixed on the shattered bronze door. Mouths hang open, faces reflecting pure disbelief. They never imagined that the supposedly indestructible bronze door, resistant even to explosives, could be obliterated by a single punch from Dustin.There were no flashy moves, no grand display of power—just a simple, direct punch, and the bronze door shattered instantly. It was truly unbelievable."Wait… Seriously, how is this even possible?" Garrett's eyes widened in disbelief, his face revealing an indescribable shock.Only moments ago, he witnessed dozens of people taking turns attacking the bronze door with weapons and explosives. Despite their relentless efforts, the door remained as it was. However, with just one punch, Dustin managed to shatter this seemingly indestructible door."Holy crap! Is he a monster?" Silva blurted out, her hand instinctively covered her mouth in shock. Her eyes were practically about to pop out. Just moments ago,
Unlike the joyful ambiance surrounding her, Grace wore a somber expression. She furrowed her brow, and her eyes revealed disappointment.When she discovered that the Celestial Eye had picked up on something, excitement surged through her. She thought the Dracan essence would probably be hidden in the underwater palace. However, after an extensive search, both inside and outside the palace, all she uncovered were intricate jewels and precious metals. There was no sign of the Dracan essence.Despite putting in so much time and effort, it ended up being a wild goose chase. Grace found this outcome unacceptable.She turned to Dustin, her expression shifting as a realization dawned. "Dustin, is the Celestial Eye detecting anything?"He nodded in response. "Yes, and it's quite strong.""These accompanying treasures, though valuable, don't appear to be extraordinary. What causes the Celestial Eye to react so strongly?" Grace asked. She inspected the gold and silver treasures within t
After everyone finished plundering the treasures from the coffin, Grace's envoy team carefully combed through the tomb again. However, their efforts yielded nothing."Ms. Linsor, we've searched the entire tomb. We couldn't find any hidden mechanisms or secret compartments," the leader of the envoy team reported."None?" Grace frowned slightly, shifting her gaze to the pool in front of the coffin. "Could there be something hidden in this pool?"Having explored every accessible corner, only the small pool filled with milky-white liquid remained. She sensed a potential connection between this pool and the rare treasure she sought."The liquid here possesses an unusually dense spiritual energy, almost unfathomable level. If I'm not mistaken, this should be a pool of Soul Elixir!" Dustin scooped up a handful of the milky-white liquid, giving it a sniff. "What? Soul Elixir?"The sudden mention of Soul Elixir brought everything to a standstill. Jackson, Sophia, Garrett, and the rest st
"And as for the rest of you, I'll be investigating each of you one by one." Austin's gaze moved past Langdon and landed on the royal advisors. He sneered and added, "You'd better keep your records clean. If I find anything on any of you, I'll handle it by the book, and there won't be any mercy."At these words, panic swept through the room. Everyone exchanged nervous glances, and their hearts pounded like war drums.As soon as they realized Austin was angry, they quickly fell silent. Langdon had always been making all the noise, but now they found themselves caught in the fire.Anyone who'd held a position like theirs usually had some skeletons in the closet. In the past, Rufus had been willing to turn a blind eye and let things slide. But now, Austin clearly wasn't following the usual rules. If he decided to investigate thoroughly, most of them would likely find their careers and reputations destroyed."Mr. Rhys, what do we do now? Lord Austin seems dead serious about this."
"Langdon, I can't tell if you're playing dumb or if you really are that stupid." Though Austin was smiling, his eyes were cold. He continued, "You asked for physical evidence, and I provided it. You asked for witnesses, and I gave you those too. Now, with both evidence and testimony laid bare, and even the criminal confessing, what else do you want?""Hmph! The government is rife with corruption. I'm simply seeking justice and preventing you from wrongfully killing the innocent." Langdon still held his righteous stance.Some of the royal advisors who had initially supported him now stayed silent. They could sense Austin's rising anger and didn't dare provoke him further. At that instant, they had lost their confidence. As Austin had pointed out, the solid evidence was right before them, and it was impossible to deny.Langdon was a member of the Rhys family and Austin's elder. He could afford to speak without a filter, but the others couldn't. If they truly angered Austin, the
"Sir Thatcher? Mr. Wentworth?" When Langdon saw their faces, his eyes went wide in disbelief. "You… How did you two end up like this?" He was genuinely stunned.Huxley and Percival were two of the most powerful figures in West Lucozia. They commanded respect wherever they went, and even Langdon himself had to show them deference.He never expected that they had fallen from their positions of prestige to become disheveled prisoners overnight."Austin! You've gone too far!" Recovering from his initial shock, Langdon's fury erupted. He didn't even bother with titles anymore. "Do you even realize what you're doing? These two men are pillars of West Lucozia and the prince's most trusted advisors. They're your elders and mentors. Yet, you tortured them like this. Are you even human?""He's right," someone chimed in. "They dedicated their lives to this country. What crime did they commit to deserve such cruelty by Your Highness?"The gathered officials erupted in outrage and condemned
"Your Highness, you mustn't speak such nonsense." Langdon put on a righteous front.He continued, "I've always prided myself on my integrity and never done anything dishonorable. I've never betrayed the prince's trust or let the people down, and I have nothing to hide.""Such lofty words," Austin scoffed. "If you have nothing to hide, why not let the enforcement team investigate?"Langdon's face tightened, and a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. After all, what official didn't have some skeletons in the closet? A full investigation would likely turn up something, no matter how small. Even if the offenses weren't serious, the damage to his reputation would be permanent.With so many officials watching, Langdon couldn't afford to back down. If he did, he would lose his standing in the political world—and his claim to integrity along with it."Go ahead and investigate." He raised his chin and said confidently, "I've lived an honest life and never engaged in anything illegal. No m
Austin sat in his chair and silently watched the royal advisors put on their pretentious act. He slowly sipped his tea as if he couldn't be bothered by their so-called accusations.His nonchalant demeanor made Langdon and the others frown. Their once-outrageous voices began to falter.They had stormed in full of righteous fury earlier, only to be met with complete apathy. What was the point of arguing when he wasn't even listening?"Are you done?" Austin finally spoke once the room had quieted down. "If not, go ahead and keep talking. Say as much as you need to until you're satisfied.""Your Highness, we're here to discuss serious matters. Your dismissive attitude is truly disappointing," Langdon said sharply."Serious matters?" Austin let out a short laugh.He went on, "You barge in here without even understanding the full picture and spewing accusations like they're facts. As far as I'm concerned, you're no different from clowns putting on a show.""You… How dare you!" Langdon
"Are you even qualified to sit while speaking to me?"Austin's words struck like the blow of a hammer. They were sharp and unrelenting, and they left no room for retort.Langdon sat frozen and was momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected a brat like Austin to have such a sharp tongue.If he admitted he had come for personal matters, he would keep his pride intact, but he would lose control of the conversation. Everything he had prepared—and all the accusations he meant to throw—would be meaningless.But if he insisted it was official business, he would have to show proper respect and offer a formal greeting. No matter how he answered, he would be conceding ground."I'll ask one more time. Are you here on official or personal matters?" Austin asked coldly."O-Official matters." Cornered, Langdon barely managed to get the words out."Well? Is this how an official conducts himself?" Austin pressed.Langdon had no choice but to rise and offer a deep bow. "Your Highness, it's an h
After a night of chaos, some of the Red Legion's members were killed, others were captured, and the entire force had been wiped out.But the fallout didn't stop there. The Prescott estate was also raided. All embezzled wealth was confiscated, and those found guilty were thrown into prison.Anyone connected to the Prescotts was placed under house arrest and subjected to rigorous investigation.And the man behind it—Warrick—had become the kingdom's most wanted fugitive.Until he was captured, Celestria remained under lockdown. Major roads were sealed off, and patrol teams scoured every corner to ensure Warrick had no way out.Austin's crackdown sparked outrage among senior officials who didn't know the full story. They voiced their dissatisfaction, with some even gathering outside the castle gates in protest. They stomped their feet in outrage, just short of openly cursing him.To them, Warrick had made great contributions to the nation. Even if he had committed crimes, he didn't d
Austin's words were calm and almost casual. Yet, they struck like thunder and echoed in the hearts of the three assistant generals of the Red Legion.If they answered Austin's questions, there might still be a slim chance of survival. But if they refused, death was the only outcome.After all, who would willingly choose death when they had worked so hard to achieve their wealth and status? Yet, pride and dignity held them back. They didn't want to be branded as traitors.Now, they were caught in a dilemma. Which was more important—their honor or their lives? It was an impossible choice."You have ten seconds left. If you don't speak, you'll lose your chance." Austin's voice was utterly devoid of emotion.His words seemed to pierce their souls, and the three Red Legion assistant generals broke into a cold sweat.As the countdown neared its end, Auron finally couldn't hold back. "Your Highness! I'll talk—I'll tell you everything."Dropping to his knees, he scrambled forward and wa
Axel swallowed hard, shock written all over his face. He had always known the Draken Guardians were formidable, but he had never expected them to be this lethal.He had pushed himself to his limit just to hold his own against Connor and Dave, only to end up seriously wounded. Yet, when the Draken Guardians arrived, they wiped them out—along with several dozen Red Legion soldiers—without losing a single man.If Axel hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that the Red Legion, a force renowned for its elite soldiers, could be so easily crushed. Or perhaps it wasn't that the Red Legion was weak, but that the Draken Guardians were far stronger than anyone had imagined.Even their most ordinary members were strong enough to become a mighty general. As for those at the level of captain, their strength was far beyond Axel's. The lethality of a team made up of such skilled experts had reached the point of being an overwhelming force."Mr. Cruz, please arrange some