"Dr. Rhys, don't worry. Even if Number 12 loses, no one's going to blame you," Alicia said with a reassuring smile."Yeah, we're just here for the fun of it. Winning or losing doesn't really matter," Aurora chimed in."That's a relief." Dustin nodded.Gambling could remain harmless if one didn't become too engrossed in it. However, once addicted, it was easy to lose one's rationality. Therefore, it was wise to clarify matters beforehand to prevent unnecessary complications."Fenley, do you want to join us?" Alicia suddenly turned to Fenley beside her."No thanks. You guys go ahead. I'm not into it." Fenley smiled and shook his head. He was passionate about martial arts. Aside from training and fighting, nothing else piqued his interest."What about you, Dr. Rhys?" Alicia asked Dustin."I'll just watch the match," he declined politely. He knew that Abigail's role as the dealer could manipulate the outcome. Plus, those who placed their bets would eventually lose everything."Come
Atlas' attack came with fierce momentum as he swung his axes with enough force to shatter stone. Miles focused intently and chose to advance rather than retreat. He deftly ducked under Atlas' swinging axes, his hair barely missing their deadly arc.As Atlas' axes missed their mark, Miles' sword was already in motion.A sharp clang echoed through the air. While taking advantage of his momentum, Miles' sword sliced fiercely across Atlas' chest and abdomen as he skimmed past him.The blow shredded Atlas' attire and exposed the padded armor beneath, marked with a faint white streak."Hmm?" Miles frowned. His sword strike had been cunningly angled, executed swiftly and accurately. He had anticipated it would incapacitate Atlas immediately. But to his surprise, Atlas' padded armor absorbed the critical blow."Kid, I hate to admit you've got skills," Atlas remarked. He looked down at his torn clothes with a serious expression.He added, "If I hadn't been prepared, you might have had
"That's odd. Number 12 is clearly stronger than Number 34. So, why hasn't he won yet?" Aurora wondered as she watched the intense match in the battle ring."Because he's holding back," Alicia replied.She narrowed her eyes and continued, "Look closely at Number 34. His fighting style is ruthless and aggressive, as if he has nothing to lose. "Even though Number 12 is stronger, he's struggling. As the saying goes, 'Fortune favors the brave.'"Everything changed when a match in the battle ring escalated into a fight for survival. In standard bouts, martial artists often held back. Winning was great, but losing wasn't the end of the world. With that mindset, most wouldn't risk their lives.However, the stakes were clear in a fight for survival—victory or death. Hence, martial artists would give their all to win the match. Number 34, Atlas, fully embraced this mindset, while Number 12, Miles, hesitated and didn't unleash his full strength."At this rate, aren't we going to lose our
Atlas conceded defeat decisively. However, even after he jumped out of the battle ring, the enraged Miles pursued him with his sword. He looked like he was out for blood."Hey! What are you doing? I already surrendered! What else do you want?" Atlas cried out in fear as he dodged each vicious strike.He hadn't expected Miles to go berserk. Miles was fighting with a relentless fury as if he were willing to go down with him. If he had known, he wouldn't have provoked Miles earlier.Atlas' pleas fell on deaf ears as Miles' sword continued its relentless assault. Each blow aimed at Atlas' throat.Upon seeing Atlas in danger, the referee finally stepped in. With a swift movement, he effortlessly caught Miles' sword between two fingers."Contestant Number 34 has conceded. The match is over. No fighting outside the battle ring," the referee said calmly. His commanding voice snapped Miles out of his rage.Miles' anger gradually faded as he regained his composure. "Sorry, I got carried aw
"What's going on? Isn't that man supposed to be an ascetic priest? What is he doing at a Combat Tournament?""They say ascetic priests aren't interested in power or wealth. Yet, here he is, stepping into the battle ring. It's really strange.""Wait! I know him. He's the renegade among the ascetic priests, Thaddeus Savier.""What? Father Savier? Are you talking about the same guy who slaughtered an entire family in a fit of rage eight years ago?"The mention of Thaddeus' name caused a stir in the crowd. There were only a few ascetic priests in the world, and he stood out distinctly among them.No one knew what had happened. But rumors circulated that he had allegedly slain 17 members of the guildmaster's family from the Sable Order in one night eight years ago. Since then, Thaddeus had forsaken his vows entirely. He indulged in all sorts of vices—drinking, women, and money.His temper was notoriously explosive. Plus, he was quick to resort to violence at the slightest provocatio
"Number 19?" Alicia looked at Dustin with a puzzled expression. "Dr. Rhys, why do you think he can win?"Aurora commented, "Number 5 is the ascetic priest. Even though they're evenly matched, he seems almost unbeatable. Number 19 may be the successor of Shadow Citadel, but he seems inexperienced. In every aspect, he's clearly no match for Number 5."Despite Dalen's handsome appearance, he paled in comparison to Thaddeus in strength. They couldn't understand why Dustin's opinion differed so much from theirs."I know Number 19. Despite his gentle appearance, he's quite skilled. He shouldn't have much trouble defeating that ascetic priest," Dustin replied casually."Really?" Alicia raised an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't anticipated Dustin knowing Dalen, let alone being so confident in his assessment."In that case, let's bet on him," she decided without hesitation.Regardless of whether Dustin was truthful or accurate in his assessment, Alicia felt compelled to respect his opinio
After the referee signaled the start of the round, the crowd was cheering and rallying enthusiastically. Most were rooting for Thaddeus due to his formidable strength and put off by Dalen's appearance."Kid, you should just give up now," Thaddeus said while sipping his drink. "Otherwise, you're going to end up with broken limbs once the fight starts."He didn't take Dalen, a guy in his 20s, seriously at all. Thaddeus' goal was to defeat the top contenders in Group A. To him, the elites in Group B were just stepping stones."Father Savier, isn't it inappropriate for a priest to enter a battle ring against younger opponents?" Dalen smiled and lightly waved his folding fan."What's wrong with that?" Thaddeus countered. "Priests are human too, with the same emotions and desires as anyone else. Those you see claiming to be above it all are just hypocrites. "Sure, they act pious, but who knows what they're up to in private? At least I'm honest about my desires. Like they say, 'live lif
"Wow! He's so charming. He really embodies the saying, 'Like a gem among men, unmatched in the world.'""Not only is he handsome, but he's also a great fighter. I'm in love.""Go, Honey! You're the best."Every move Dalen made stirred waves of excitement among the crowd. Young women were completely captivated. Their eyes gleamed with admiration as they watched him in action.If Dalen were just a pretty face, it wouldn't matter much. But his effortless deflection of Thaddeus' attacks twice demonstrated his formidable skill.His striking good looks and exceptional talent naturally drew the attention of the women in the stands."Screw that! He just lucked out dodging a few moves. What's the big deal? He's just trying to show off.""He looks like a sissy but doesn't seem to have any real skills. Once Father Savier got serious, he'd crush him in seconds!""Go, Father Savier! Take down this boy toy."The male spectators grumbled discontentedly, unlike the female fans. They questione
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
"Who the heck is this kid?" Oron glanced at his trembling hands and felt a chill run down his spine. He failed to gain the upper hand in the earlier clash with Dustin and suffered an unexpected setback. He was already an ultimate grandmaster, with a cultivation and mastery of the Glow Incantation that surpassed Caleb's. By all accounts, subduing a younger opponent should have been a piece of cake.But that exchange just now had brought him to a stark realization—Dustin had been holding back this whole time and hadn't used his full strength. Otherwise, Caleb wouldn't have lasted this long.The realization unsettled Oron. There were always extraordinary talents out there, but the potential Dustin had displayed was genuinely terrifying. To put it plainly, he was a beast on the same level as Glenn."What happened? Why did the judge step in?""Can't you see? Caleb has already lost. If the judge hadn't stepped in, that sword would have killed him or left him severely injured.""Exactl