"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
"I'm going with Ms. Wesley's choice—Number 6 in the first battle ring." Dustin wrote on a slip of paper before tossing it into the designated bowl."Okay, good luck!" Abigail smiled and shouted, "Come and place your bets! The tournament is about to begin!"The martial artists nearby were eager to participate, yet not a single one dared place a bet.Their hesitation stemmed from uncertainty about the legitimacy of the betting pool. They questioned whether the Mystic Arts Order would truly honor double payouts if they won.So, they held back and waited for the outcome of Dustin and the others' initial bets. Only after seeing the result did they contemplate joining the action."Alright, the tournament has begun, so betting is officially closed. Let's all sit tight and await the results." Abigail signaled the end of the betting phase with a sweeping gesture.Soon, all eyes returned to the battle rings.At that moment, all eight battle rings burst into action simultaneously as sixtee
"Luring him in?" Miles's stomach sank a beat at the words. He stared at the third battle ring, feeling a bit uneasy. "Dustin, are you serious? I've got a lot riding on this.""You bet on Number 28, right?" Dustin asked.Miles nodded. "Yeah, why?" Dustin explained, "Well, Number 28 does have some skill, but he's being too aggressive. "At first glance, it seems he's dominating and pushing his opponent back. But if you pay attention, you'll notice his opponent's composed movements and steady breathing. "There's no hint of panic. It's like his opponent has been prepared for this. So, I'm guessing he's luring Number 28 by deliberately showing weakness. "And when Number 28 lets his guard down, that's the moment he'll strike.""Are you sure?" Miles was dubious. He narrowed his eyes as he carefully observed the battle, and his expression immediately changed. To his surprise, the battle matched Dustin's description perfectly.Despite Number 28's relentless attacks, he hadn't gai
Ruby thought Miles had a keen eye for these things, so she went along with the bet. But she didn't expect the outcome."You can't blame me for this, Ruby. It's all on that loser for letting us down and making us lose everything." Miles chuckled wryly."Hmph! I'm done betting with you!" she said, rolling her eyes at him.A bottle of haemoplenish could fetch a good amount on the market. She had hoped to make some extra cash, but now it seemed impossible."Well…" Miles looked embarrassed and tried to change the subject. "You know how it goes with winning and losing. It's all unpredictable. Just like Dustin and Crystal's pick, Number 6. They're also on the losing end, aren't they?""Huh?" Ruby raised an eyebrow suspiciously, then glanced at the first battle ring.At that moment, Number 6, the woman in red wielding a halberd, was locked in combat with the man in black wielding a shadowsteel staff.Despite her strength, the woman lacked speed and technique, so she gradually fell behin
At that moment, the man in black wasn't the only one surprised. All the spectators fixated on the first battle ring were also shocked.Nobody had anticipated that Number 6 would wear such heavy armor.The darksteel armor that weighed several thousand pounds was typically used for weight-bearing training. Even for the Divine-level martial artist, wearing it for just ten minutes would be taxing on the body. Even the most skilled martial artists would wear it for only a few hours. Yet, she wore the dark steel armor as if it were nothing. She even wore it into the battle ring to fight.Wasn't her decision to wear this armor during the fight foolish?"You… you've been wearing this while fighting with me?" The man in black couldn't believe his eyes as he pointed at the darksteel armor lying on the ground."Yeah, what about it?" She stretched her neck and hips as she gradually moved her lithe body. Once the armor was removed, she felt much more agile.He couldn't help but ask again, "
The man in black didn't dare to stand his ground. Instead, he swiftly dodged to the side.At that moment, Number 6's halberd nearly grazed his shoulder, but it only left a tear on his clothing. If he had been any slower, he might have lost an arm.She intensified her assault as her speed and strength increased with each strike. Each swing of her blade carried the sound of thunder, which made her attacks unstoppable.On the contrary, he continuously evaded her attacks. Even when he managed to block, his arms were left numb, and he was forced to retreat several steps with each blow. With no opportunity for a counterattack, he had no choice but to focus on defense."Hey, Miles, didn't you say she would lose? Looks like she's gaining momentum and might win." Ruby watched the fight with growing surprise from outside the battle ring.Initially, the man in black seemed to have the upper hand. But once Number 6 removed her outer clothing, she turned the tables. Surprisingly, her relentl
The man in black gracefully accepted his defeat.It was evident that Number 6 outclassed him. However, she allowed him a dignified exit rather than swiftly knocking him off the battle ring.After all, refusing to acknowledge defeat would have been unbecoming."Thank you!" She nodded respectfully.Ultimately, the first battle ring concluded with Number 6 emerging victorious."Dustin, you've got a keen eye. You nail the first match right off the bat. I'm impressed!" Miles exclaimed."It's just luck," Dustin replied nonchalantly. His bet was purely for fun, as the outcome didn't concern him.Miles lamented as he shook his head, "Luck is also a form of skill. I just lacked a bit of it. If Number 28 had been cautious enough and not underestimated their opponent, I might have won the bet." "Miles, it's not that you have bad luck. Your judgment is clearly off," Ruby shot back and rolled her eyes. "You were sure Number 28 would win, so I trusted you, but he lost. Then, you said Number
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
"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