Dahlia looked over her shoulder and saw Dustin walking toward her. “What do you mean?”“Your drink has been drugged. You would be in danger if you had drunk it because it renders you defenseless,” Dustin warned.“Drugged?” Dahlia frowned and turned to Matt, whose expression stiffened for a split second. However, he composed himself immediately.“Dustin, you must be sorely mistaken,” Matt said coolly.“You would know best whether I am mistaken,” Dustin retorted coldly.“Dahlia, do you really think that I’m such a malicious person?” Matt asked with a disarming smile.Dahlia was taken aback by the sudden question. After some deliberation, she asked, “Dustin, do you have any evidence to support your claim?”“The restaurant’s manager saw what happened. He could be my witness," Dustin answered.“That’s right! It was clear as day. He spiked your wine with some powder!” the manager pointed an accusing finger at Matt.“Everyone knows that both of you are in cahoots with each other. It
Dustin was stunned by Dahlia’s hurtful words and furious outburst. Drops of wine rolled down his cheeks and to the ground. He was in a miserable state. Apparently, it was wishful thinking that their relationship had improved. In actual fact, there was nothing left between them. “What? So you thought that I was falsely accusing him?” Dustin’s brows were deeply furrowed as he stared at Dahlia. “Am I that despicable of a person in your eyes?”“Yes!” Dahlia blurted out. She felt a tinge of regret immediately. Yet, she could not take her words back now. She had too much pride for that.“Finally! You have spoken what you truly thought of me.” Dustin had a disappointed look on his face as he put on a wry smile.“I have overstepped my boundaries. Who knew that after so many years, you still have feelings for Matt.”“What nonsense are you spouting?” Dahlia frowned as well.“Am I wrong? You said that you would not contact him anymore. Having said that, here you are having wine with Matt.
The next morning, they met at Java Joys. When Dustin entered the cafe, he noticed a burly man standing beside Natasha. His bulky muscles rippled under his clothes, and his knuckles were covered with calluses. This man was obviously an experienced fighter.“Mr. Rhys, sorry to bother you. I owe you one.” Natasha walked up to Dustin.“It’s all right, I don’t mind helping out a friend in need. Besides, they had even specified my name in the note. I have no other choice.” Dustin smiled wryly.Edwin’s men had left a ransom note which had his name on it. He was to go with Natasha to save Ruth.“Mr. Rhys, let me introduce you to Stephan Chapman, one of the best fighters from the Harmon family.” Natasha pointed toward the man standing in silence.“Mr. Chapman, a pleasure to meet you.” Dustin nodded in acknowledgement.“You’re Dustin?” Stephan sized him up. “Was it you who took Liam and Noah Asher down?” “In a way, yes.” Dustin nodded again.“What do you mean, in a way? Don’t give suc
“Mr. Chapman, what are you doing? Why did you interrupt?” Natasha frowned in annoyance. She hadn’t even made her decision, but Stephan had accepted the challenge without consulting her. He was overstepping his boundaries!“Ms. Harmon, there’s nothing to be afraid of! I’m sure I can handle anything they throw at me,” Stephan said confidently. He was utterly unaware of his mistake.“What if we lost the death match? Have you thought about the consequences?” Natasha narrowed her eyes.“You must be joking! It’s impossible that they will defeat me. Just watch, I’ll put on an amazing performance later!” Stephan patted his chest assuredly.“Ms. Harmon, there are only two choices. You can either pay the ransom with half of your business, or you bet on the deathmatch with all your assets at stake,” Edwin repeated his conditions.“I will accept the death match. However, let my sister go first,” Natasha said coldly. Even though she knew that she was walking into Edwin’s trap, there was nothin
Who are you?” Stephan’s face was frozen in terror, his body slumped on the ground. There was no hint of arrogance left in his trembling voice. He was soundly beaten after just three attacks. This proved the disparity in their abilities.How could there be someone with such devastating powers remaining unknown in a small place like Swinton?“I’ll be honest with you. I’m Fletcher Lawson. Liam and Noah were my apprentices!” Fletcher said coldly. “What? You are Mr. Lawson of Klesbridge?” Stephan was dumbfounded at this revelation. His reputation as a martial artist preceded him.Fletcher was not only one of the most prominent fighters in Klesbridge, but he was also a master of poison! There were many tricks that he could use to make someone drop dead without a trace. His mere presence was enough to make one’s blood run cold.“You seem to have heard of me!” Fletcher sneered.When Fletcher revealed his identity, Stephan’s face had turned as pale as a sheet. If he knew that Fletcher wa
The crowd gaped as Fletcher hung limply on the wall. They never imagined that the mighty Fletcher Lawson, who had just trounced Stephan Chapman, had been defeated with an effortless slap.What the fuck was going on?“H—How could this be?” Stephan’s eyes were wide with disbelief that someone as powerful as Fletcher, the strongest fighter in Klesbrige, had been defeated with a single blow.Was this kid a monster?“No way! Dustin actually won?” Ruth couldn’t believe it either. At first, she’d been so certain that Dustin would lose. Instead, he had won the match in a breeze. With just one slap, he sent Fletcher flying. His strength was unheard of!“Fletcher… lost?” Edwin was shaken and astonished. He was very familiar with Fletcher’s strength. Even in Swinton, there was hardly anyone who could be his opponent. Yet somehow, someone as impregnable as him hadn’t been able to withstand a single blow from Dustin.Unbelievable! Had Fletcher underestimated his opponent, or was it a fluke?
Dustin narrowed his eyes at the sight of the swinging blades. They had chosen to accuse him of being a traitor without even trying to get the full picture.“Tilda, there must be a misunderstanding. There’s no way Dustin is the spy!” Natasha objected.“We’ll know whether it’s a misunderstanding after doing an investigation," Tilda shouted icily. “Tie him up! Kill him if he tries to resist!”“Kill me?” Dustin frowned. “You’re making such extreme decisions when the investigations haven’t even begun. Aren’t you going a bit too far?”Tilda humphed. “For the good of the Harmon family, I can do anything!”“How can you be sure that I’m the spy?” Dustin retorted.“I don’t need to be sure. You are the spy if I say so!” Tilda responded domineeringly.Seeing how unreasonable Tilda was being, Dustin’s expression hardened. He had been trying to reason things out peacefully the entire time, yet Tilda accused him of being the mole without any proof.She had gone too far!“Tilda, there’s no so
“That can’t be. Tilda was the mole?”Everyone was shocked at Ruth’s words. However, the crowd’s expressions hardened when the assassins’ clothing were peeled off, revealing the same tattoo on their bodies.This was obviously not a coincidence. “You can’t prove anything with just a tattoo, can you?” objected the bald guard.“Maybe it would have been less persuasive if there was only one tattoo, but what if everyone had the same tattoo?” Dustin walked up to Tilda’s deceased men and yanked off all their clothing.Soon, everyone realized that each of the men wore the same tattoo as well. This made things so much more apparent. It was safe to say that they’d found the traitor!“No wonder Tilda immediately started kicking up a fuss the moment she arrived. She was the traitor all along!” Stephan was disgruntled. As one of the Harmon family’s men himself, he hated nothing more than betrayal like this.“But why? The Harmon family has always trusted her so why did Tilda betray us?” Ruth
"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
"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,
"The younger generation truly is taking the lead," Alloy said, narrowing his eyes. His expression showed a mix of surprise and delight.Even though he knew Dustin was Seth's disciple, he never believed Dustin could defeat Glenn. The outcome was completely unexpected.He lost his bet, but he wasn't upset. At the very least, the Sword Union didn't claim the title. The Celestial Alliance still had a chance to make their move.The next challenge was figuring out how to recruit Dustin into his guild. Training resources and empty promises wouldn't be enough, especially with the Sword Union and the Mystic Arts Order also having their sights set on him.Alloy knew he needed a more creative approach. Then, he thought about Dustin's close ties with his daughters. He figured a little matchmaking might just tip the scales in his favor."You've been holding back all this time, and now you're finally making waves," Penelope said, grinning. She was pleased with Dustin's performance.Since Abiga
"A draw?"Kaden's announcement sent the crowd into an uproar. This outcome was unexpected by many.In martial arts, there was no room for a draw. Once the match started, someone had to come out on top, especially in this highly anticipated championship match. Otherwise, what was the point of fighting if no winner was declared?And more importantly, what would happen to the bets without a winner? Would the bookmaker take all the wagers?"Yes! A draw is fine," Abigail exclaimed, practically jumping with joy.She had only planned to take some handling fees to enjoy herself. Yet, she hadn't expected this outcome at all. It seemed like fate was making her rich."I wonder if the two contestants are satisfied with this arrangement." Kaden turned his gaze to Dustin and Glenn.Both men had pushed themselves to their limits. Their energy reserves were drained, and they had no strength to continue. The battle ring was destroyed, and the defense formation was shattered. There was no place
A thunderous boom shook the ground like an earthquake.When the purple sword aura clashed with the nine-colored divine swords, a terrifying energy wave suddenly erupted like a volcanic eruption. Wherever the waves of energy swept through, the air thundered with an ear-splitting roar, and the space around them seemed to warp.The once-solid battle ring cracked like brittle glass and shattered into rubble. Above it, the massive blue protective shield expanded to its limit and trembled violently under the strain. Cracks spread like spider webs across its surface. It weaved together into a web-like pattern that spread across the entire shield."Hold it together!" Oron shouted. He and several other Sacred Wyrm Summit masters frantically channeled their internal energy into the formation.But no matter how hard they tried, the cracks continued to spread. A moment later, the barrier shattered with a deafening crash.Oron and several other masters from Sacred Wyrm Summit were blasted ba
Glenn now wielded nine legendary swords, but they still paled in comparison to the Dragon Sparrow, a true treasure. If he could get his hands on it, he would consider half his life's goals accomplished."I didn't want to bring out the Dragon Sparrow. But at this point, I can't win without it."Dustin raised his hand and gripped the Dragon Sparrow firmly. It was the legacy Seth had left him.Dustin had sworn never to use it unless absolutely necessary, but the pressure Glenn was putting on him was overwhelming. So, he had no choice but to call upon the sword."If you care so much about winning this match, how about we make a deal?" Glenn said eagerly. "I can put you on the champion's throne, but in return, you'll have to give me the Dragon Sparrow. What do you say?"Compared to the fame of winning the tournament, the sword was priceless. Giving up the championship meant nothing to him. He wouldn't hesitate to betray the Sword Union if it meant getting the sword."Are you insulting
"Glenn has unleashed all nine of his divine swords. He's unstoppable now!""The pressure's overwhelming, and those strikes are deadly!""It's over for Dustin. There's no way he can survive this!"As the Voidreaver came crashing down, the spectators held their breath. No one had anticipated the ninth divine sword to pack such devastating power. It was as if it could tear the world apart."Dragon Sparrow!" Seeing the tide turn against him, Dustin shouted sharply.Next, a brilliant purple light shot down from the sky and slammed into the enormous Voidreaver with lightning speed.The impact was deafening, and the purple light erupted outward. The Voidreaver shattered instantly and revealed its true form beneath. It was sent flying more than 30 feet away.After sending the Voidreaver tumbling, the purple light kept its momentum. It struck and knocked away several flying swords in its path before hovering in front of Dustin.It was a divine sword, purple with golden accents."Oh my
Glenn wasn't just skilled in swordsmanship, but his technique was also flawless. Every strike was unpredictable, relentless, and impossible to block. His attacks came in waves, and each one was stronger than the last.What made him even more terrifying were the six divine swords that obeyed his every command. They were like extensions of his will. The swords threw Dustin off balance, attacking from every direction and blocking any chance of escape. They moved in perfect sync with Glenn and left no room for counterattacks.Dustin had no choice but to dodge and parry. If not for his incredible agility and mastery of the sword, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few breaths.Even so, the pressure was overwhelming. It felt like he wasn't just facing Glenn but six or seven skilled opponents at once. Any slip in focus, or any opening, could be his last.The real challenge was that Dustin wasn't gaining any ground. While he had to stay focused on dodging and blocking, he also had to se
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