As Sophia spoke, she gradually closed the distance and touched Dustin's robust chest. Her bright eyes glowed subtly, emanating an enchanting allure capable of ensnaring one's soul. For ordinary martial artists, just a mere glance was enough to succumb to its captivating influence. This was Harmony Sect's distinctive Art of Seduction, Blushing Intoxication. The reason Harmony Sect was able to prosper in the Southwest for so many years was closely tied to the practice of this seductive art. The more beautiful one was, the higher their proficiency in this art, and the more irresistibly they attracted men. Sophia had been honing Blushing Intoxication since young, perfecting it over more than a decade. Coupled with her exceptional figure and looks, few men could resist her charm. Even someone like Jackson from the Embersteel Order couldn't escape her seductive technique and fell victim to her enchantment.Sophia believed that if Dustin harbored any affection, or even the slight
Dustin had just slammed the door and was about to climb into bed to meditate when he noticed a woman in his room. The woman wore a veil and a hood, obscuring her features, leaving only her lively eyes visible. She gave off an air of graceful nobility that was hard to look away from. She was none other than Grace."Hmm? When did you come in?" Dustin was puzzled and slightly surprised. He had been preoccupied with Sophia and didn't notice when Grace entered. "Dustin, I'm lonely and scared to be left alone at night. Can you keep me company?" Grace teased, imitating Sophia's tone. "Can you be more serious? You're a princess, for god's sake…" Dustin rolled his eyes.Grace laughed. "Oh, Dustin, I didn't expect you to be so popular with the girls. Even beautiful women are willingly offering themselves to you." She added, "If it had been me, I would have taken advantage of the opportunity. After all, there's no harm in accepting, or do you prefer to have them suspect you of havin
Tranqurin was a colorless and tasteless drug. It was famous in the martial world and specifically used to restrain grandmasters.Anyone who was affected by it would become powerless. Unable to muster the slightest internal energy, they would be at the complete mercy of others. "I didn't expect you to be so well-prepared, Master Peach. This is great!" Sophia was ecstatic. "With this bottle of Tranqurin, our plan will succeed for sure!"Dustin was the greatest threat among Grace's team. As long as they dealt with him, the rest of the group would be easy prey. "Master Peach, people from the Embersteel Order are here!" a Harmony Sect disciple announced as he entered. "Hurry up and invite them in." Bertha lit up and gestured for the disciple to bring them to her. Soon, led by the Harmony Sect disciple, a group of around ten people entered briskly.At the forefront of the group was a burly, middle-aged man wielding a golden broadsword. He had a rugged appearance and an imposing
Chester wouldn't have dared to act recklessly without the Tranqurin. Now that they had this precious bottle in hand and the support of numerous highly skilled fighters from the Embersteel Order and Harmony Sect, it would be enough to take Dustin and his group down. "After we succeed, we'll split the spoils evenly between our sects. What do you think?" Bertha asked with a smile. "No problem!" Chester agreed readily. Naturally, he wouldn't refuse such a good opportunity where they would only need to take the smallest risk to gain the greatest benefit. "Wait!" Jackson, who was standing behind them, suddenly spoke up."Master Newberry, Dustin and Ms. Linsor were once our partners. We're also indebted to them. I don't think it's appropriate to plot against them."Jackson always had a clear sense of morality and gratitude. If it weren't for Dustin and Grace's protection throughout their journey in the Deadlands, they would have been long dead, let alone acquire treasure. He fo
In the wee hours of the morning, a group of individuals dressed in black encircled the inn. With light movements, they moved without a sound. Resembling a pack of wolves hunting for prey, they were cautious, stealthy, and filled with the intent to kill. Currently, there were two guards stationed at the main entrance of the inn. However, they failed to notice anything unusual due to the darkness.Suddenly, a gentle breeze wafted through, carrying a faint mist with a unique fragrance. Moments later, the two guards felt dizzy. Before they knew it, their vision went dark, and they collapsed onto the ground. After dealing with the two vigilant guards, the elite fighters from the Embersteel Order and Harmony Sect, dressed in all black, swiftly surrounded the inn. To avoid alerting anyone, they continued the use of drugs to clear their path instead of launching a direct assault, spraying the sedative mist through door and window slits of every room. The sedatives were Harmony Sec
"What?" Everyone was astounded to witness Dustin sending the two semi-grandmasters flying with only two slaps. After all, given their formidable skills, they definitely stood a chance against an ordinary grandmaster. Instead, a single encounter was all it took to leave them seriously injured. This demonstrated Dustin's terrifying strength and hinted that the rumors of him defeating Alexander, the Frostwing Sect's leader, held some truth. "Attack!"Bertha and Chester shared a determined look before launching a simultaneous assault on Dustin from both sides.Bertha, wielding the Harmony dual swords, employed deft and crafty moves. Each strike of her blade targeted vital points, making it challenging to defend against. The execution resembled a butterfly dance. It was a lethal and mesmerizing display.On the other hand, Chester wielded a golden broadsword capable of slicing through iron like butter. His weapon was a precious treasure passed down to him through generations
Bertha's expression darkened. She then signaled Chester and the others with a glance, yelling, "Attack!"Getting the signal, Chester yelled back, welding his golden broadsword and leaping toward Dustin. At the same time, Betha seized the opportunity and closed in, wielding her Harmony dual swords and slashing at Dustin's neck.With two grandmasters leading the assault, the remaining semi-grandmasters showcased their skills, launching a barrage of attacks on Dustin. In an instant, Dustin became the target of their combined onslaught.However, Dustin neither evaded nor dodged. Instead, his body shook violently. Then, a powerful surge of energy armor erupted with a deafening roar, forming a semi-transparent shield. The shield, responsive to the slightest disturbance, expanded rapidly, swelling to a radius of nine feet in the blink of an eye. Resembling a gigantic eggshell, it enveloped Dustin within.The attacks from the group struck Dustin's protective shield, creating a sympho
The moment Bertha exposed Dustin to Tranqurin, Chester's 18 Forms of Golden Sword had reached its peak. Each strike was exceptionally fierce and unstoppable. At that moment, with Dustin's energy armor shattered, his sword and right arm frozen by ice, and Chester launching frenzied attacks, he could no longer evade Bertha's sneak attack. Dustin could only hold his breath. The Tranqurin turned into a white mist, lingering around Dustin. Even though he held his breath in time, the white mist still entered his body through his skin and pores, spreading inward continuously."Hmph!" Dustin stomped on the ground forcefully, leaving the ground with a dent three inches deep. A powerful surge of energy erupted from his body. For a moment, rocks and debris flew around, and strong winds howled. Tranqurin instantly evaporated away, and even Chester, who was still launching continuous assaults, was pushed back by the energy wave, forcing him to stagger back several steps. Bertha, on
"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