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
"Soul Elixir? Is this the real deal? Oh my god!"Jackson couldn't contain his excitement as he danced around. Initially puzzled, the people around him soon caught on, their faces lighting up with joy. Emotions soared, and one by one, they dropped the jewels they held, rushing toward the pool to eagerly consume the Soul Elixir.Being martial artists, they grasped the unparalleled value of Soul Elixir—a treasure surpassing gold and silver. It promised unimaginable wealth and prosperity. Without exaggeration, every sip equated to consuming a thousand-year-old herb. Beyond cultivation improvement, it extended life, enhanced physique, and could even reshape circulatory pathways, facilitating profound transformations.The allure of such a treasure was undeniable. At that moment, everyone abandoned their composure, leaning eagerly over the pool's edge. Cupping the Soul Elixir in their hands, they greedily indulged in its benefits.Their expressions mirrored those of someone stranded i
Dustin pondered whether a mysterious element lurked at the depths of the Soul Elixir pool."Everyone, please step back," he exclaimed without an explanation. As he approached the spiritual pool, he extended his palm toward the center and firmly grasped it.Instantaneously, the liquid in the entire pool began to tremble and swiftly rotate. In just a few seconds, a giant vortex materialized at the spot where his palm had been, stirring the Soul Elixir ever more rapidly.Guided by Dustin's mystical pure energy, a colossal swirling mass of Soul Elixir gradually ascended from the water. Everyone soon saw a remarkable sight. With a single hand, he seemingly plucked the Soul Elixir from the pool like one would pull out a radish. Surrounded by mystical pure energy, the Soul Elixir gathered in mid-air, forming a massive milky-white sphere.The sphere, with a diameter ranging from 10 to 13 feet and substantial weight, effortlessly hovered above his head without spilling a drop. This remark
Grace held the Spirit Core in her hands, and her face lit up with joy. As she looked at it, a small white snake swam within the Spirit Core. On closer inspection, the snake had dual horns on its head and razor-sharp claws on its belly—a clear sign of a dragon's transformation. It was this transformation that convinced her it was the Dracan essence.Dustin noted her expression and sighed with relief, saying, "Looks like the trip wasn't in vain after all."The guidance from the Celestial Eye turned out to be accurate, leading them to discover a hidden treasure. The Dracan essence was concealed within the Spirit Core, a find made possible by the Celestial Eye."Ms. Linsor, this treasure is stunning! What is it?" Sophia asked, her curiosity evident in her smile.She wasn't foolish, but she observed that even the rare and precious Soul Elixir failed to evoke a response from Grace and Dustin. Surprisingly, this simple white pearl had succeeded in bringing smiles to their faces. The p
Jackson believed that receiving something for free was a generous offer in itself, and anticipating more seemed ungrateful."Let's hope things stay that way," Grace responded indifferently.Sophia's insatiable greed irked Grace. She understood that some people are never satisfied—the more you give, the more they want."Let's forget about it. If she doesn't want to, I won't insist," Sophia stated, giving a pointed look at Grace. Shifting her focus to Dustin, who was overseeing the soul elixir, she continued, "As per our previous agreement, I'm entitled to half of the treasures here, including these soul elixirs. I expect my share.""Hey, isn't that a bit much?" Garrett and his friends expressed their displeasure, countering, "You've just been tagging along, not contributing or taking any risks. Now you want half? On what grounds?""Yeah!" Silva interjected. "If Ms. Linsor takes half, count us in. Speaking of which, do you even have the right to make a claim?""Let's not forget,
"Save your breath. None of you will be leaving with any treasures from here!" The taunting words echoed, followed by laughter. A horde of martial artists streamed in, swiftly sealing off the exit. Among these martial artists, two distinct factions emerged—the elites of the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect. Notably, familiar faces like Yonah and Bran stood out in the crowd.The combined forces of the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect not only boasted increased numbers but also featured a substantial influx of skilled elites. Virtually every official, guardian, and elder from both sects was in attendance.It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that more than 80% of the total strength of both factions had been assembled."Ms. Linsor, we meet again!" Bran sneered, and his eyes filled with greed. Upon entering the palace, the floor sparkled with gold and silver treasures. The tomb, in particular, held precious items, like the tempting pool of soul elixir. The
In the Drakes Dominion Order sect, Tobias Blackwell, a senior in a green robe, snorted disdainfully. As an elder within the sect, he was halfway to becoming a grandmaster. With a formidable background and impressive combat prowess, he could even match with a grandmaster martial artist."Mr. Blackwell is right. None of you even deserve to negotiate with us," Yonah declared coldly.They were resolute in their determination to succeed. Hence, surrendering their precious treasures was out of the question."We're not to be underestimated despite the challenges posed by the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect. The outcome of a showdown is still uncertain," Grace stated coldly.She didn't desire an all-out war, but if the opposing side persisted, she wouldn't hesitate to unleash her full force."Hmph! You're giving yourselves too much credit! What makes your ragtag team think you can match up to us?" Tobias sneered.He believed a team of inexperienced newcomers had no right t
"Even Master Howler is here. It looks like we'll be leaving empty-handed.""Plans don't always unfold the way we want.""I thought we could forge ahead, but now it appears surrendering is our only option."Everyone shook their heads and let out collective sighs.Damien's reputation preceded him as one of the top elite in the southwest, and his status seemed unmatched. Despite Dustin being a young grandmaster, everyone thought he would be powerless in the presence of such top-tier individuals, considering the significant gap that exists between grandmasters.Dustin raised an eyebrow. "The master of the Drakes Dominion Order, right? You're the top elite in the southwest, often referred to as the peak level of martial arts?"While observing Damien's presence, Dustin sensed that he was likely in the late stages of being a grandmaster. Undoubtedly, Damien's strength positioned him as a regional overlord.With his hands casually tucked behind his back, Damien downplayed his skills. "I
"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