"Your reputation precedes you, Grand Sorceress. Meeting you today confirms it." Crystal nodded respectfully, her demeanor composed and full of respect."You're too kind, Ms. Wesley," Abigail replied with a gentle nod."Uh… Greetings, Grand Sorceress," Miles stammered, visibly nervous as he hastily nodded."You're friends with Mr. Dustin, so you're my friend too. No need to be so formal." Abigail's warm smile was devoid of any trace of arrogance."I'm Ruby Wesley, pleased to meet you!" Ruby exclaimed eagerly and extended her hand.Abigail wasn't just the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order but also ranked second on the Legendary List. Hence, Ruby felt honored to be acquainted with someone of her caliber."Pleasure's mine." Abigail smiled as she shook Ruby's hand. However, this simple act caused Crystal and Miles's expressions to change.After all, rumors circulated that Abigail was filled with parasitic poison. Any physical contact with her was perceived as potentially lif
"Abigail? Are you for real?" Dustin raised his eyebrows in disbelief. Since discovering her hidden abilities, she had become bolder than usual. He thought he was ready for anything, but her boldness surprised him.On the day of the Combat Tournament, she suggested poisoning all the skilled disciples from different guilds.Dustin felt uneasy about taking such a risky step. He came to understand that Abigail's way of thinking was beyond conventional norms.She exclaimed proudly, "Of course, I'm serious! With us poisoning those formidable opponents, winning the championship will be a breeze, don't you think? I feel like a genius for coming up with this brilliant plan!" Dustin fell silent while Dalen and the others tensed up. They felt like they were treading on thin ice.Abigail was loud and caught all the nearby martial artists' attention.Everyone cast wary glances in their direction, and some even started to reach for their weapons.If Abigail continued to speak boldly, Dusti
"What?" Miles was shocked. He jumped from his seat, thinking he must have misheard.He could not believe he was sharing a life with Ruby because of a pill. How ridiculous. Who would ever believe this?The others looked bewildered after hearing Abigail's unexpected revelation.The Echoed Curse was a powerful and rarely seen spell. It could change destinies and even save lives.But Abigail had turned it into a joke and bound Miles and Ruby's lives together. This prank had gone too far."Ms. Abigail, can we undo this Echoed Curse?" Ruby's voice quivered.Her initial curiosity now filled her with dread and uncertainty. She disliked the idea of sharing her fate, especially with Miles.As she pondered, a troubling realization struck her. What if he got into trouble one day? Would she be pulled down with him?"No, the Echoed Curses are for one-time use only. Once taken, their effects can't be undone," Abigail explained.She smiled faintly and added, "From now on, your destinies are l
The arrival of the middle-aged monk instantaneously hushed the entire training ground. It was only when he gradually tamed his imposing presence that whispers began to ripple through the crowd."Who is that? He looks powerful.""Of course he is. He's Oron Foyer, the disciple of the Ancient Sage!""Ah, that explains it. I've heard he's incredibly strong, nearly on par with Kaden, another disciple of the Ancient Sage. It seems the rumors are true.""Well, with Master Oron here, I doubt anyone will start any fights today."As Oron stood in the center, the crowd started murmuring.Today was the Combat Tournament held by the Sacred Wrym Summit, so security naturally was the top priority.If things got out of hand, it wouldn't just be a feud between guilds—it could turn into a big fight.Alliances were frequent in the martial world, and a skirmish between a few could drag others in. If that happened, matters would quickly spiral out of control.So, when the Frostzard Manor was abo
But now Lambert realized Luke wasn't just impulsive, but foolish. He thought that Luke just couldn't see the bigger picture."Sir, any personal issues between you two can be resolved in the battle ring or discussed privately later. But causing trouble here isn't acceptable," Oron said calmly.Luke glared at him and yelled, "You, meddling monk! My affairs are none of your concern. If you know what's good for you, stay out of it, or things might turn ugly!"Lambert was left speechless and astonished upon hearing that.The Frostzard Manor disciples wiped their brows nervously. They weren't sure whether to praise Luke for his bravery or criticize him for recklessly challenging Sacred Wrym Summit.They knew their guild wouldn't survive much longer at this rate."Sir, if you don't comply, I'll have to ask you to leave Sacred Wrym Summit," Oron said sternly."You think I'll just leave because you say so? I'm staying here. I doubt you'll do anything about it!" Luke said defiantly and gl
Caleb held up two fingers and said casually, "I'll give you two options. Either you leave on your own, or I'll kick you out!""Hmph! Who do you think you are to order me around? Do you have a death wish?" Luke's eyes narrowed with disdain."If you don't leave, I'll have to take action. You might end up with broken bones and bedridden for a while," Caleb said as he continued to pick his nose."Are you threatening me? Do you think I'm scared? If you're brave, go ahead and try it! I'd like to see what you can do!" Luke said arrogantly and waved his sword.Caleb continued, "The old man used to say, 'Be polite before using force.' Well, I've tried being nice, but if you keep being like this. So, don't blame me for getting rough."He raised his hand and pointed at Luke from a distance. "Stormcraft."Then, a bolt of blue lightning shot forth from his fingertips and hit the furious Luke.The lightning bolt was incredibly fast, striking Luke in the chest before he could react.There was
"The fight is over, so let's call it a day. Master Oron, the stage is yours."Caleb yawned and left after he chased away the Frostzard Manor.With his tired appearance, it seemed like he hadn't slept in days."Let me reiterate that you must abide by our rules while at Sacred Wrym Summit." Oron's gaze swept the surroundings as he spoke with authority. He continued, "No matter your grievances or grudges, settle them in the battle ring or privately after the tournament. If anyone starts trouble here, Sacred Wrym Summit won't stand for it and will act accordingly.""Master Oron is right. I'll be the first to stop anyone who breaks the rules!""Exactly! Disrespecting Sacred Wrym Summit is like disrespecting me! I'm right here. Let's see who has the guts to stir up trouble!""I think the people from Frostzard Manor are just asking for trouble. They deserve whatever they get, even death!"The crowd erupted into a cacophony of voices, expressing solidarity with Sacred Wrym Summit. T
Abigail's words immediately caught the attention of the crowd. Among them, martial artists with a penchant for gambling were particularly eager to join in.However, everyone hesitated to approach her due to her status as the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order."Alright, let me start things off!" Taking the initiative, Miles took a pendant and placed it on the table as his bet.He continued, "I'm betting on Number 28 in the third battle ring. He's a disciple of the Vanguard Sect, and from what I know, he's quite formidable. His odds of winning are high."Then, he grabbed a piece of paper and jotted down the number 28 before tossing it into the designated matching bowl.The tournament organizers randomly paired martial artists against each other rather than following a predetermined order to ensure fairness.When the referee called out a name, the respective participant had to step onto the battle ring promptly. Failure to do so or arriving late would result in disqualificati
"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
"Glenn had only seven swords in the past. I didn't expect that in just one year, two more divine swords would recognize him as their master. This punk is much better than I was back then," Cyrus remarked. He stroked his chin with a look of surprise and approval. He had always believed in Glenn's potential, but Glenn's performance had still exceeded his expectations.After all, the more swords Glenn wielded, the stronger he became. He had already topped the Legendary List with just seven swords. Now, with nine, his strength had grown even more overwhelming."He truly is the Chosen One." Even Kaden couldn't help but sigh.The nine divine swords recognized their master and responded with ease. Glenn's talent and cultivation were leagues ahead of his peers.Every generation brought forth new talent, and the old had no choice but to step aside for the new generation. Compared to their time, today's youth were on another level—monsters in their own right."Now, this is going to be int
Compared to the second green sword, Glenn's third sword was even more powerful. As it descended, accompanied by the fury of a fire dragon, it carried the destructive force of a world-shattering storm.Fenley, whose energy flow was disrupted earlier, watched the fiery red long sword streak toward like a falling meteor. His heart raced and was gripped by a sudden sense of impending doom.With a roar, he risked the backlash effect and unleashed a powerful surge of internal energy. The ethereal divine spirit behind him instantly transformed into a figure with three heads and six arms. This was the complete form of the Four Elements of God's Technique.At that instant, he threw everything he had into the fight. He controlled the spirit to slam its giant arms into the flaming sword. With a loud explosion, the sword tore through the spirit's palms and continued its unyielding path toward Fenley. But its speed had slowed slightly.Without hesitation, he controlled the spirit to strike ag
When the spectators heard the match was about to begin, the excitement reached a fever pitch. Half of them cheered for Fenley while the other half chanted Glenn's name. Both were the Chosen Ones, and their popularity was undeniable. Everyone had been waiting for their face-off in the battle ring.Though Fenley ranked slightly below Glenn on the Legendary List, his fame and influence as the successor to the Celestial Alliance's guildmaster outshined Glenn's. Ultimately, the question of who was stronger could only be answered in the ring."I've been waiting for this day, Glenn." Fenley stared at him intently. His voice was powerful and commanding. He continued, "Others say I'm not your equal, but I refuse to believe it. Today, we'll find out whether your sword is faster or if my Four Elements of God's Technique is superior.""The moment you said that, you've already lost. Your doubt shows you lack the confidence to defeat me," Glenn replied calmly. If this were a fight-to-the-deat
After the quarterfinals, it was time for a break. With noon approaching, contestants and spectators needed food and water to recharge. An hour later, the venue was buzzing with excitement again as Oron stepped onto the battle ring. He was accompanied by a Sacred Wrym Summit disciple, who carried a black box filled with numbered balls."It's almost time. I'd like to invite the top four contestants to the ring to draw lots," Oron announced as he surveyed the crowd.Amidst a wave of enthusiastic applause, four figures ascended the battle ring one after another. First in line was Glenn, with Fenley right behind him, followed by Abigail and Dustin."Sir, we're in the semifinals. Good luck!" Abigail winked playfully at Dustin as she stepped into the ring."You too," he replied with a smile.Given Abigail's strength, her odds against Glenn were slim. However, if she faced Fenley, she would have a solid chance at victory.After all, Fenley had only just broken through to the ultimate g