"What?" The two people gulped anxiously.They still remembered what the Harmony Sect encountered. Thus, they knew they were dead meat if they went forward."Why are you panicking? There's no way he'll object when we hold Grace hostage!" Chester encouraged.The two Embersteel Orders looked at the restrained Grace while looking at the motionless Dustin. After hesitating for a few seconds, they finally forced themselves to walk forward.They were in a sticky situation right now.If they didn't get rid of Dustin, they might lose their lives. They would never have the chance of seizing treasures anymore.They had to take a risk no matter what.If they could seal Dustin's meridians, he would be absolutely useless and no longer a threat to them."Dustin, don't worry about me. Go ahead." Grace suddenly spoke at this moment.Naturally, she didn't wish Dustin to risk his life for her. Plus, she had many ways to get away in situations like this."Shut up, you bitch! If you dare to say s
After the palm attack, Osley stood there proudly. He looked unworldly, exuding unparalleled dominance and majesty.Meanwhile, the 100 feet crater which had appeared out of thin air was just in front of him.The pit was filled with severed limbs and bloody flesh. There wasn't a single complete corpse spotted, resembling hell on earth.This was the might of Osley's single palm attack.With a single slap, a crater in the shape of a hand was created. Plus, numerous martial arts experts had been squished to death by his attack.The remaining few, despite being lucky enough to keep their lives, had been blown several feet away. They were sprawled on the ground by the force of the palm.However, they were stunned when they stood up and saw what happened.They were rendered speechless as sweat dripped down their faces when they saw the horrendous sight inside the pit.Most experts of the Harmony Sect and Embersteel Order, no matter if they were young, old, or in a high position, were k
"Yes, miss," Osley answered. His momentum immediately subsided as he obediently retreated behind Grace.His back was arched, and he lowered his head timidly. Just like that, he became an inconspicuous servant.If they hadn't seen it with their eyes, nobody would believe that this quiet old man was a capable ultimate grandmaster."Thank you, Ms. Linsor! Thank you!" Seeing that there was a chance to live, everyone thanked her happily."Don't get too happy. Although I'm not going to kill you all, I won't let you all go either. I can spare your lives, but you still have to be punished. "Osley, go and seal their meridians and tie them up. Let the Martial Arts Union deal with them," Grace said indifferently."What? Martial Arts Union?" Everyone was stunned upon hearing that.Martial Arts Union was Dragonmarsh's official institution. They managed martial artists, major martial alliances, and all of the sects. Thus, all of them had to obey their directives.Anyone involved in major cr
"Me?" Sophia was stunned when Dustin pointed at her. She asked instinctively, "Why?"The discussion earlier went well, she had no idea why things turned sour abruptly."Because I really hate people who repay goodwill with ill will. That's my reason. Happy?" Dustin replied coldly. He had never liked Sophia's behavior. However, her behavior hadn't affected him before, as such he was able to let it slide. However, it was different now.If Sophia hadn't caused subversion, they wouldn't be in this mess today. If they were any weaker, they might have been murdered for profit. Hence, he was unable to forgive Sophia for what she'd done."Dustin, please listen to my explanation. This wasn't my fault, I had no other options!" Sophia was flustered and appeared pitiful."Not your fault? You had no other options? There are only a handful of people who know that we have treasure with us. "If it wasn't you, who else could it be? Who could work with Harmony Sect and Embersteel Order simultane
In the morning, Dustin heard a loud knock on his door as soon as he woke up. When he opened the door, he saw Grace standing outside with breakfast in her hands. She bought milk, bagels, sausage, scrambled eggs, and a lot of other things."Have some breakfast. I have to talk to you." Grace smiled slightly as she put the breakfast set on the table and sat on a chair."Thanks." Dustin didn't shy away. He started wolfing down as soon as he sat down next to her. Even though it was a normal breakfast, everything tasted surprisingly good."What do you want to tell me? I'm listening," Dustin asked as he munched on the bagel."I got some news this morning. In a nutshell, there are three pieces of important news." Grace stood up and made two cups of coffee. One for herself and another for Dustin. She then continued, "First, there's been a series of strange phenomena at the Sacred Wrym Summit for the past few days. According to my informants, it could be due to Dracan essence!""Really?"
"When are we leaving?" Dustin asked."I'll arrange for two people to go with you to the Sacred Wrym Summit to find out more. I have to go back to Oakvale to protect the Spirit Core and to take care of some personal affairs. "But, you don't have to worry, I'll meet you there before the Sacred Wrym Summit Combat Tournament," Grace replied."Alright, it's been decided then!" Dustin nodded in agreement. He'd been wanting to visit the Sacred Wrym Summit, but he didn't have the chance. He could finally visit the place thanks to the Combat Tournament."Laurel, Willow." Grace turned to the door and called out loudly. Very soon, two female guards dressed in racy dresses walked in with a cool demeanor.Dustin realized that they were twins when he observed them carefully. They were about 20 years old and they were tall and pretty. Their martial arts skills had also reached the latter stage of divine level. They'd be among the best if they were associated with any martial arts sects."Bot
Laurel's and Willow's eyes lit up when the handsome young man appeared. Even though they had gone through professional training and wouldn't be seduced easily, they had to admit that this young man standing before them was too handsome. He was so good-looking that they were ashamed of themselves. If he was a woman, he'd rank among the top few in the Beauty Ranking."Who are you?" Dustin asked coldly after a quick observation. The Sacred Wrym Summit was different from other places. Here, there were many hidden talents and skilled martial artists. They had to be very careful whenever they were approached by strangers."I'm Dalen Shade from Arque Stream. I came here to join in the fun because I heard about the Combat Tournament happening at the Sacred Wrym Summit." Dalen flashed an irresistible smile. Most of the customers, irrespective of their genders, dining at the tables around them turned around to look at them.Dalen was extremely gorgeous, and so were Dustin, Laurel, and
When the quintet appeared, many experienced elites retreated in fear. Although the remaining elites didn't flee in panic, they wore expressions of astonishment."Isn't that the Shadow Citadel's Evil Quintet? Why are they here?""What? The Evil Quintet? Are those the guys who enjoy feasting on human flesh?""Damn it! I really should've checked my horoscope before leaving today. Why did I run into these troublemakers?"An uneasy hush spread through the crowd, unsure about what was happening.The Evil Quintet of the Shadow Citadel had a notorious reputation. Many stories spread about these five people, calling them ruthless and severing other's limbs at the slightest provocation.What made them even more disturbing was their unusual taste. They supposedly enjoyed eating human flesh as a delicacy. Just these rumors alone were enough to send shivers down the spines of various factions in the martial world.The Evil Quintet wasn't just brutal. They were also powerful, and each membe
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
"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