"Dustin, we don't know how many people there are in this assassin organization. Isn't this too risky?" Quincy appeared hesitant.Before laying the ambush, he thought there was just one assassin. Now, however, he realized there was a whole group.Handling a lone assassin was manageable since they could kill him with their numbers. But facing a group of assassins was an entirely different scenario.After all, these assassins were extremely strong, well beyond the caliber of ordinary martial artists. Moreover, as a temporary team, they had a significant skill gap.Engaging in direct combat might not tip the scales in their favor. Even if they emerged victorious, the casualties would likely be significant.So, Quincy wasn't sure whether to engage in a life-or-death struggle with this group of desperados."Elder Douglas, tonight is our best chance to uproot this assassin organization. If we miss it, it'll be hard to catch them next time," Dustin said solemnly.The assassins' strength
"They're here!" Crystal said, and soon, black figures emerged around the tavern.These figures were scattered in pairs or small groups. Some perched on rooftops, some lurked at street corners, others hid among the trees, and a few even stood on lampposts.Their movements were as quiet and nimble as stealthy cats. At the same time, their precise positioning effectively sealed off all entrances and exits.From an aerial perspective, they had inadvertently formed a large circle surrounding Dustin and the others.After all, these black figures were skilled assassins who had promptly reacted to the distress signal. In just two minutes after their arrival, they formed the encirclement. It showcased their exceptional training."Damn it! So many assassins showed up. Looks like we're in for a tough fight tonight."Miles slowly drew his sword and vigilantly looked at the surrounding black figures. Over a dozen assassins were out in the open, and he suspected more were hiding in the shado
Upon hearing the command, over a dozen assassins immediately charged forward with their swords drawn.These assassins were swift and incredibly agile. They darted and weaved in unpredictable patterns, making it difficult to track their movements.Their unpredictable footwork was honed through hellish training. It was specifically designed to counter long-range attacks and had become almost instinctual for them."Everyone! Attack!"As the assassins launched their assault, martial artists in the vicinity drew their weapons and charged into the battle."Let's take them on!" Dalen shouted, charging forward with a bladed folding fan.Crystal and the others followed closely behind. They quickly formed a flying wedge to create a simple offensive formation.The sudden ambush briefly threw the assassins into chaos, but they quickly regained control. Swiftly, they divided into two groups to attack the enemies from front and rear. The clash erupted instantly as both sides engaged in comb
Predator had reached the late-stage grandmaster. So, his strength was comparable to that of the guildmasters of major guilds in Dragonmarsh. With a single swing of his sword, the power and destructive force were so terrifying that it sent shivers down the spines of Dalen and the others.Their greatest concern was the possibility that Dustin might not be able to withstand Predator's onslaught and end up being killed.Seeing the giant sword aura descending toward him, Dustin acted without hesitation. He swiftly raised his hand and countered with an upward strike.A thick white sword aura appeared, clashing with the red sword aura.Dustin's white sword aura spanned a mere three feet, dwarfed by the Predator's red sword aura, which stretched over 30 feet.The odds seemed overwhelmingly against him, like an ant challenging an elephant.However, Dustin's white sword aura effortlessly shattered the Predator's red sword aura upon collision.A deafening blast followed as the white swor
At that moment, Predator transformed into a terrifying bladestorm with his giant sword. Wherever the storm swept, man or object would be torn to shreds without mercy.The two warring parties, previously locked in fierce combat, were scattered and forced to stop fighting in the face of the relentless onslaught.This indiscriminate attack showed no mercy, sparing neither friend nor foe. Anyone caught in its path was doomed to certain death, a fate everyone desperately avoided.With each passing moment, the bladestorm intensified, growing larger and swirling faster as it approached Dustin."Hmm?" Dustin's eyebrow arched in surprise. Predator's move unleashed devastation that surpassed Dustin's cultivation. If used on the battlefield, it would be a deadly weapon capable of wreaking havoc.Even in one-on-one combat among the grandmasters, only a few could withstand such an attack. Dustin couldn't help but admit that Predator was indeed skilled."Cross Slash!" Dustin immediately rais
Suddenly, Predator let out a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the entire battleground. But what was truly unsettling was that it sounded more like a beast's growl than a human.Then, a shocking scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.Predator's body began to bulk up. His muscles bulged and tore through his ragged clothes and shoes.With another deafening roar, he propped his limbs on the ground and arched his back high. Thick, coarse black fur sprouted from his skin and soon covered his entire body.At first glance, Predator resembled a giant black bear but there was more to his transformation.As the black fur continued to grow, his facial features underwent a drastic change. The area below his eyes rapidly protruded while his teeth sharpened into pointed fangs. His hands and feet morphed into claw-like appendages that completed his terrifying transformation.When Predator roared for the third time, he had fully transformed into a ferocious beast.This beast defied classif
Dustin was well-versed and knowledgeable about creatures like werewolves and vampires in Streuqua. But facing something like Predator, who turned into a beast and became ten times stronger, was completely new to him.It showed that the mysterious assassin organization held significant power and influence. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to nurture so many elites.Thrown back by the impact, Predator tapped into his primal instincts. His form expanded even more, akin to an elephant's, while a dark haze enveloped him and radiated a sinister air.With its four limbs forcefully pushing off the ground, it lunged forward like a cannonball toward Dustin at terrifying speed."Hurricane Slash!"Dustin gripped his sword with one hand and swiftly delivered five consecutive slashes. The resulting sword auras intertwined, forming a massive net that bore down on Predator.A thunderous crash filled the air as Predator charged headlong into the net without hesitation. Five sword auras s
Three Frost Needles streaked through the night sky, each carrying a biting cold as they targeted Dustin's upper, middle, and lower vital pressure points."Hmm?" Dustin frowned and immediately raised his sword to block.The three needles struck the sword and instantly exploded into clouds of frost. Upon contact with the frost, the sword was immediately encased in ice.Simultaneously, a biting cold followed the frozen blade, spreading rapidly along his arm. In the blink of an eye, his hand holding the sword was frozen solid."Frost Needle?" Dustin's face darkened as his mystical pure energy surged within him.The icy mist around him quickly dissipated, and cracks formed on his frozen arm. With a shiver, the ice on his arm swiftly broke apart, reverting it to its normal state.Fortunately, he managed to avoid a direct hit from the Frost Needle. If it had struck him, it would have significantly damaged his body's functions. Despite his considerable strength, such an injury would ha
Glenn wasn't just skilled in swordsmanship, but his technique was also flawless. Every strike was unpredictable, relentless, and impossible to block. His attacks came in waves, and each one was stronger than the last.What made him even more terrifying were the six divine swords that obeyed his every command. They were like extensions of his will. The swords threw Dustin off balance, attacking from every direction and blocking any chance of escape. They moved in perfect sync with Glenn and left no room for counterattacks.Dustin had no choice but to dodge and parry. If not for his incredible agility and mastery of the sword, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few breaths.Even so, the pressure was overwhelming. It felt like he wasn't just facing Glenn but six or seven skilled opponents at once. Any slip in focus, or any opening, could be his last.The real challenge was that Dustin wasn't gaining any ground. While he had to stay focused on dodging and blocking, he also had to se
Under the watchful eyes of the audience, Dustin and Glenn stepped onto the battle ring. They stood about 30 feet apart, and their eyes locked across the distance. Their gazes met like sparks, and they could feel the weight of the other's stare."Are you Logan?" Glenn asked, breaking the silence.He had heard the rumors about this dark horse before stepping into the ring, but now that he was facing him, he wasn't sure."Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is who wins this fight." Dustin didn't confirm or deny it, but his words left Glenn with no doubt.Both men were at the top of the Legendary List and held equal rank on the Champ-Tier List. Until they fought, no one could say who was the stronger of the two."I heard you're Seth's disciple, so I'm really looking forward to this." Glenn's gaze sharpened.Many years ago, his mentor, Cyrus, was defeated by Seth. That loss had always haunted Cyrus ever since. Now, with the disciples of both men about to face off, Glenn was determin
"Since Madam Penelope has spoken, I’ll follow her lead," Alloy said with a smile. "What about Mr. Hadley and Sage Foyer?""I'm in if you want to make a bet," Cyrus replied coolly."It's not every day we get an opportunity like this. Let me stir things up a bit." Kaden nodded with a grin.Once the three had agreed, Penelope waved for Abigail to come over.Soon, Abigail approached them with a wide grin. "Esteemed guests, I hear you want to bet. The current odds are—bet on Dustin to win, and you'll get 1.6 times your stake. Bet on Glenn, and it's only 0.4."She continued, "And no worries—if you win, I'll exchange your winnings for celestial stones." Abigail smiled brightly, and the other parties' eyes gleamed with the unmistakable shine of greed.Many had already placed their bets with her. Though she couldn't control the match's outcome, she knew how to adjust the odds to her advantage. Over time, that could turn into a huge fortune."I'm betting on Glenn to win." Cyrus quickly
"We're ready for the ultimate showdown of this tournament. The winner will be crowned the Combat Tournament Champion. Now, let's welcome both contestants to the ring." Oron's voice thundered as he stepped onto the battle ring.There was thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.The long-awaited showdown was finally at hand. Today's outcome wasn't just about personal glory, but it would also decide the future of the martial world.If Glenn triumphed and claimed the crown, the Sword Union would rise as the undisputed guild. The Celestial Alliance and the Mystic Arts Order would have no choice but to bow to their supremacy.But if Dustin won, it would be even more sensational. A dark horse, without any guild affiliation, defeating the elite disciples of the major guild—such a story would send shockwaves through the martial world.Once that happened, every major guild would fight tooth and nail to claim him. It would spark a fierce battle for dominance."Dr. Rhys! Good luck!"
"H-Hold on! I-I surrender!" Abigail said urgently. With the sword inches away from her throat, she decisively raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.She didn't expect herself to win the match. Her goal was simply to take this opportunity to test Dustin's strength and also gauge her own progress. But now, it was clear that there was still a sizable gap between them."You've done well. In a few more years, I might not even be able to keep up with you." Dustin smiled and lowered his Celestial Blade. His words weren't flattery; he genuinely saw potential in Abigail.The dark Phoenix flames carried a corrosive power that even his mystical pure energy couldn't resist. In other words, Abigail's black flames were the bane of any martial artist.Her journey in the martial world was still short—barely two years. She hadn't unlocked the full potential of her Phoenix bloodline yet. But with more training and experience, the sky was the limit for her."Don't try to console me, Sir. I'm n
With a resounding bang, the golden light erupted with a burst of terrifying energy wave. In an instant, the earth trembled, and fierce winds whipped through the air.Dustin and his sword were sent flying several yards. After landing, he stumbled back several steps before finally steadying himself.He looked up and saw that Abigail's body was now covered in a layer of golden armor, though he couldn't tell when it had happened. The armor glowed brightly, and it made her look imposing and striking.It was clearly a divine artifact.The Mystic Arts Order had been around for centuries, with deep roots and countless treasures. As the Grand Sorceress, Abigail would obviously have several divine artifacts for protection.Dustin wasn't surprised, but the armor's counterforce caught him off guard. Not only did it protect her, but it also had offensive capabilities.When his sword struck the armor earlier, the blow didn't leave a scratch. Instead, the armor absorbed the hit and sent the for
Dustin raised his hand as the black feathers rained down on him. A white energy shield flared into existence to form a wall before him.The feathers slammed into the shield and sent ripples across its surface but failed to break through. However, the black flames on the feathers spread across the shield and burned through its energy at a visible pace. In the blink of an eye, the once impenetrable barrier cracked open and left a gaping hole.Dustin couldn't hide his surprise. His mystical pure energy was far stronger than the average grandmaster's internal energy in offense and defense. It was meant to be impenetrable. He hadn't anticipated it couldn't hold up against Abigail's phoenix flame.Seeing the raw strength of her bloodline, he knew he couldn't afford to take any chances. As the black flames spread, he swiftly waved his hand to summon a furious gust of wind that sent the feathers and flames flying."Glaring Wings!" Abigail wasn't done yet. She quickly formed hand seals and
Abigail moved with lightning speed, and her figure weaved in and out like a shadow. Her swift movements left a blur of afterimages that was hard for anyone watching to keep up.On the contrary, Dustin stood still without making any movement."Fallen Fist!"After closing in, she unleashed a flurry of strikes—dozens of black palm shadows slamming toward his body, and each one was like a bullet aimed at its target.Abigail practiced a unique martial art, and it was imbued with voodoo-like properties that could kill anyone who made contact with her. But Dustin's body was immune to all poisons, so it was a perfect counter to her deadly attack.As the shadow palms closed in, he remained unshaken and thrust his palm forward.A fierce gust of wind surged and ripped through the air with unrelenting force. It collided with the black palm shadows.Abigail's black palm shadows exploded on impact and disintegrated into thick clouds of dark mist that quickly spread. Within moments, the mist e
The whole arena suddenly fell dead silent. Everyone stared blankly, and not a soul dared to breathe. Alloy shot to his feet in the main spectator seats, and his face was tense with worry. Yet, he didn't dare make a sound. He feared it might startle Glenn into making a mistake that could cost Fenley's life.After all, Fenley represented the future of the Celestial Alliance. Alloy had invested all his effort into Fenley, and he provided him with endless resources. If Fenley were to die in the match, it would deal a devastating blow to the entire guild.While Alloy was gripped with worry, Cyrus and Penelope cheered silently. They secretly hoped Glenn's sword would strike Fenley. If that happened, the Celestial Alliance would take at least a decade to regain its former glory.Fenley's body stiffened as he stared at the Fang Master hovering inches from him. A shiver ran through his spine as goosebumps prickled his skin. Sweat trickled down his face, and each drop hit the ground with a