On the battle ring, Fenley and Dalen stared at each other from a distance. Both were geniuses who stood out among thousands, but Fenley had the edge in reputation and prestige. However, Dalen had more fans, and the reason was simple—he was handsome. As soon as he entered the ring, cheers erupted from the crowd. Most voices belonged to young women who had formed an energetic cheer squad. They encouraged and chanted his name like fans meeting their favorite celebrity.But it wasn't just the women that were drawn to him. Dalen's looks held a certain charm for another group as well. Some bold men, ignoring the awkward glances around them, openly declared their affection. Their behavior was bordering on wild obsession."Dalen! I love you more than a dog loves a good belly rub.""Dalen! I'd do anything for you.""Dalen! Do you know the difference between you and the stars? The stars are up there, but you're in my heart."The fanatical outbursts came from men holding banners and shou
It wasn't just the spectators that were stunned. Even Fenley, standing in the battle ring, was equally caught off guard by Dalen's sudden use of the Spectral Clone Technique.Since when did the Shadow Citadel have such an advanced technique? Even more surprising was Dalen’s skill mastery, which rivaled Jude's. Fenley's sharp eyes struggled to distinguish the real Dalen from the clones. It was clear that Dalen's proficiency in the Spectral Clone Technique had reached a near-perfection level, which couldn't be achieved overnight.No wonder Dalen had managed to defeat Jude. It turned out he was equally proficient in the same technique. As they said, "Understanding your opponent is key to victory." He leveraged his understanding of the technique to identify and exploit the weaknesses.Fenley had to acknowledge that Dalen was adept at masking his true talents. Yet, even with the surprise, he wasn't intimidated. The Spectral Clone Technique might be tricky, but it was nothing he could
Under the crushing force of the three-headed, six-armed ethereal divine spirit, the last of Dalen's clone immediately shattered into fragments.The crowd erupted in chaos, especially those women who had supported him. They screamed in anguish, and some even fainted. Watching such a handsome man reduced to dust felt like a tragic waste.Amid the stand uproar, Fenley remained unfazed in the battle ring. When the ethereal divine spirit struck Dalen, what had exploded wasn't a body but a ball of air.In other words, the figure who had just shattered was merely a clone. Where was the real Dalen hiding if those nine figures were all clones?Just as Fenley frowned in confusion, a sudden sense of danger prickled at his scalp. He instinctively looked up and saw Dalen diving toward him headfirst with a folding fan in hand.Dalen descended silently, like a meteor hurtling toward the ground. The tip of the fan was a half-sheathed sword, and its edge glinted menacingly."You're courting death
With his mind made up, Fenley no longer hesitated and began to build up his momentum. Soon, powerful internal energy surged from various vital points in his body.In an instant, his hair stood on end, his robe billowed, and a brilliant light emanated from him. Behind him, the ethereal divine spirit sharpened into a more defined figure, and its features were striking and imposing.Dalen's expression turned serious upon seeing that. He knew Fenley was preparing to execute his killer move."Split!" Without hesitation, he formed a series of hand seals with both hands. His body trembled and split into three identical figures. The process repeated as it multiplied into 27 clones in the blink of an eye.But creating those clones came at a cost. Dalen's breath grew noticeably heavier; he was at his limit. He would push his body beyond its breaking point if he continued to multiply."Just a flashy move." Fenley scoffed at the clones surrounding him. "Let me show you what real divine powe
A burst of blue light exploded, creating a dome of lightning that enveloped the battle ring. Waves of explosive energy hammered against the barrier like relentless tides. The shield trembled violently for several breaths before finally stabilizing.The spectators below exhaled in relief, but their hearts were still racing. If it weren't for Oron's quick reaction, the leaked energy from that explosion could have put them all at risk. After all, Fenley was an ultimate grandmaster. Even a casual strike from him could be lethal.On the battle ring, everything changed after the dust settled.Fenley stood tall and looked imposing. His robes billowed like the wings of an angel. The ethereal divine spirit behind him flickered to life, and its sharp gaze added an intimidating edge to his formidable stance.In contrast, Dalen was thrown back ten yards after the collision. His handsome face turned pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his arms trembled uncontrollably."Th
Though Dalen had been defeated, his fanbase didn't seem to care. His female supporters were still going wild, chanting his name. It was a scene unlike anything the other contestants had experienced. Being good-looking definitely had its perks."Mr. Shade, are you alright?" Ruby asked with genuine concern as Dalen returned to his seat."It's just a minor injury. Nothing serious." He shook his head with a smile, though a hint of melancholy and regret lingered in his eyes.Dalen had entered the tournament to make a name for himself and prove he was as good as anyone. Finishing in the top eight was respectable, but he had aimed for more.Unfortunately, his strength had fallen short, and he stumbled at the threshold of the final four. Still, losing to Fenley was something he accepted wholeheartedly."You've done well, Mr. Shade. Many disciples from the major guilds are nowhere near your level. Don't be too hard on yourself," Crystal comforted him."Yeah. You're way better than me. I
Emeret stood in the battle ring with a sword in his hand. A faint smile crossed his face as he looked at Glenn. "I didn't expect us to face each other so soon. It seems we can't avoid this match."Glenn might have been the genius everyone raved about, but Emeret wasn't one to be underestimated. He had always kept a low profile, avoiding the spotlight and focusing on his training in silence.Emeret didn't enter the Combat Tournament for recognition. Instead, he wanted to test his strength. He knew training in isolation wouldn't help him improve, so he needed to challenge the best to test his abilities."You can't defeat me. Just surrender," Glenn said coldly. He didn't want to go all out against someone from the same guild."How can you tell who's better without a fight?" Emeret continued to smile. "Glenn, I joined the Sword Union a few years before you. You might be the Chosen One, but don't underestimate me. Defeating me won't be as easy as you think.""You're not on my level. Sa
The phoenix phantom blazed in brilliant red, which radiated like the sun. Its wings appeared almost lifelike and glowed with an otherworldly light.Then, it emitted a piercing cry as it confronted the descending golden giant sword. With a fierce flap of its wings, it shot upward and collided head-on with the sword.Under the watchful eyes of the spectators, the red light met the golden light in a spectacular clash.With a loud boom, the ground trembled, and the battle ring quaked beneath them. When the lights collided, an explosive wave of energy surged outward like a tidal wave and crashed against the protective barrier encircling the ring.The barrier's blue light flared as it trembled violently and sent out ripples in every direction. It looked like it might shatter at any moment.Upon seeing that, Oron quickly rushed toward the formation's core. He immediately channeled his energy to stabilize the protective barrier. He knew it wouldn't last long if Glenn and Emeret continued
"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
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