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Chapter 2406
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2407
"I'm sorry, Ancient Sage. I misspoke earlier." Dustin apologized with an awkward expression."It's okay. I'm not bothered by it." Arion laughed heartily. He then waved at Kaden. "Bring out his reward.""Of course," Kaden replied, then retrieved a jade box and placed it on the table beside Dustin."Go ahead and open it." Arion smiled and motioned for Dustin to look inside.Dustin nodded and carefully opened the box with both hands. Inside, he found three translucent orbs—one gold, one red, and one green.Each orb glowed faintly, and inside, a small snake of the same color slithered. Their movements were graceful and almost alive."Dracan essence!" Dustin's eyes widened in surprise.He had encountered Dracan essence before and immediately recognized the orbs. But what surprised him was that Sacred Wyrm Summit had not one, but three of them. It made him wonder what kind of treasure-filled land this was."Well, how do you like the reward?" Arion asked with a smile."Ancient Sage,
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2408
"Me?" Dustin froze momentarily, then quickly waved his hands to indicate his refusal. "Ancient Sage, you've got to be kidding. I'm not qualified to guard the Dracan force. You'd better find someone else."He knew taking on such a monumental responsibility was out of the question. Guarding the Dracan Force wasn't like watching over someone's garden. A single mistake could endanger not only Sacred Wyrm Summit but all of Dragonmarsh. The pressure was simply overwhelming."Don't be so quick to refuse," Arion said with a smile. He continued, "Guarding the Dracan force has its perks. For one, it's a spiritual entity. If you can connect with it, your cultivation will soar, and your lifespan will extend dramatically. With its power behind you, you'll be unbeatable. No one in the world could stand in your way."Arion wasn't exaggerating. Being recognized by the Dracan force as its guardian granted access to its vast energy and created a resonance with the natural order. It was what people
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2409
"Ms. Aurora, don't make fun of me. The Celestial Alliance is full of experts—there's no way someone like me could take on a disciple," Dustin declined with a smile. "Of course, we're friends. If you ever want to talk about martial arts, just reach out.""Alright then, if I ever need advice, you'd better not turn me down," Aurora said with a playful wink.She was just asking to see how he would respond. After all, she wasn't serious about wanting to become his disciple. It was more of a way to get closer to him, and now that she had an excuse to ask for his guidance, she was satisfied.Once everyone was seated, the conversation flowed easily. They drank and talked about anything and everything.The two Marshall sisters exchanged flirtatious glances across the table, a gesture that even the most oblivious observer couldn't miss.However, Dustin kept a polite smile on his face. He either ignored their advances or skillfully deflected them.He knew exactly what they were after. With
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2410
"Someone is coming. You should hide now." Dustin's sharp senses picked up the faint shuffle of footsteps outside the door. The movement was quiet and deliberate. It was definitely someone skilled."Got it." Grace nodded and quickly gathered the Dracan essences before slipping out the window. She was gone in seconds and vanished without a trace.Barely three seconds after she left, there was a knock at the door."Who is it?" Dustin asked."It's me, Hank."A familiar voice called from the other side.Dustin got up and opened the door. He greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Styles. Come on in."For Hank to show up at this hour meant the Hall of Gods was about to take action."Dustin, congratulations on winning the championship. I wanted to offer my congratulations in person." Hank entered the room and showered Dustin with praise. "I watched your match today, and it was incredible. Defeating Glenn was a pleasant surprise. I knew I wasn't wrong about you.""If it weren't for yo
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2411
"M-Mr. Rhys, I'm truly sorry. I was wrong earlier. Please don't hold it against me, and forgive me this once." After a moment of stunned silence, Zayne quickly apologized, with sweat beading on his forehead. He knew Dustin was an ultimate grandmaster who could instantly end his life."Don't do it again." Dustin shot him a cold glare but didn't take the opportunity to strike.In his eyes, these people had already sealed their fate by colluding with the Hall of Gods and infiltrating Sacred Wrym Summit. It was just a matter of when they would die."Of course, Mr. Rhys. Thank you for your mercy." Zayne nodded repeatedly. His face was a mixture of relief and gratitude.It was clear that if not for Dustin's magnanimity, today could have been his last. He had learned a hard lesson in humility—never blindly flatter or misread the situation, or death would come soon enough."I'll cut it short. We all have the same goal here. As long as we work together, I'm confident we'll succeed in tonig
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2412
After taking the enhanced serum, everyone became increasingly worked up. Their strength skyrocketed, and their thirst for battle was off the charts. The atmosphere in the room was electric."Is this the Hall of Gods' enhanced serum? This stuff is amazing.""I can already feel the power flowing through me. I'm itching for a fight.""Those worthless Dragonmarsh martial artists—tonight, I'll ensure they're wiped out completely.""Since you have such a treasure, why didn't you bring it out sooner? How much of this serum do you have left? I'll buy it all." Willem's voice was full of swagger."These are premium S-class serums. They're extremely rare and reserved only for the higher-ups. We don't sell them to outsiders. What I can offer you are A-class serums. But, if you're interested, I could send you a batch for free," Bailey replied generously."In that case, I won't hold back." Willem laughed heartily.Getting something for free was always the best deal. Whether for personal use o
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2413
When the fire broke out on Sacred Wyrm Summit, Dustin received the order to launch the attack. He immediately led a team to infiltrate the Forbidden Ground as planned.With the Hall of Gods' large-scale invasion in full swing, the summit was in chaos, with people scrambling to extinguish the fire. This left the Forbidden Ground unprotected, as most regular guards had been reassigned. Only the mountain itself stood alone and was isolated in its stillness.Still, he didn't underestimate the Sacred Wyrm Summit's defenses. Even without guards, the Forbidden Ground wasn't a place anyone could simply enter. After all, the summit was known for having the most powerful enchantment circle in the martial world.When Dustin and his team reached the back mountain, they discovered that two other teams had already arrived ahead of them.These groups, hired by the Hall of Gods, were primarily composed of shady individuals. While their ethics were questionable, their strength was unquestionable.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2414
"Mr. Sadrick, we're trapped in this enchantment circle. What should we do now?" Danny looked around frantically, but he couldn't make sense of the direction.He had thought that following Dustin would keep them safe, especially with someone ahead scouting the path. But as soon as they entered the Forbidden Ground, the thick fog blocked their vision, and they lost track of everyone."Don't panic. Just keep moving forward, and we'll get out of here." Marcell's gaze scanned the ground.There was only one path. The faint footprints left by Dustin and the others would be their guide. As long as they followed the trail, they should be able to catch up with the others."Stay close, everyone! Don't fall behind, or you'll face the consequences!" Danny shouted at the group.Everyone responded and tightened up their formation. At this critical moment, falling behind could mean running straight into danger.Under Marcell's lead, the two groups merged and started moving forward. Everyone was
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2530
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2529
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2528
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2527
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2526
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2525
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2524
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2523
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2522
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
