Desmond lowered his voice. "I admit that he's powerful, and his speed, strength, agility, and internal energy are on the next level. Still, no one in the world is perfect. "He must have a weakness. Just think about it. Why is he so quick and agile? It's simple—he's trying to make up for his weakness!"He continued, "If my guess is correct, defense must be his weak point! I'm sure he's quick and agile since his defense isn't as strong. "The fourth test will test his defense. Among us, Dominic's defense is the strongest. He's already reached the seventh level of Adamantine Body Arts, and nothing can penetrate his body. "I'm sure that with Dominic around, we'll be able to target that guy's weakness and take him down!"Everyone's spirits began to perk up after hearing Desmond's words. Just because Dustin was quick and strong didn't mean his defense was good. They'd win if they used the Adamantine Body Arts in this test."Desmond's right. No one is perfect. I'm sure that guy's we
After one minute, the metal doors of the pressure machine opened, and Dustin walked out calmly. He seemed so relaxed no one could have guessed that he had withstood such high pressure. "Sir, I get to advance to the next level, right?" Dustin asked."O—of course!" Getting over his shock, the staff nodded frantically. He couldn't believe that Dustin could withstand level-100 pressure for a minute. Was Dustin made of darksteel? This was unbelievable!"Damn, he's a monster." Georgia was in awe as well. Dustin excelled in all four tests—strength, speed, internal energy, and defense. It was like he was perfect. Usually, people would struggle to pass even a single test. Yet, Dustin managed to pass them with flying colors.Was he a monster?"I knew Dustin was strong." A rare smile appeared on Scarlet's face, who was proud of Dustin's achievements. "I guess Terry Doyle lost for a reason," Patrick mumbled. He had known that Dustin was strong, but he never expected Dustin to be so
"Um …" The invigilators shared a look and shook their heads. "You can advance to the next level without taking the test.""I can?" Dustin was surprised. "We saw your earlier performance. Honestly, we're no match for you. You can just continue to the next level." One of the invigilators grimaced. "You have potential. I'm sure you'll become a dark horse in the Knighthood Society Tournament." The other invigilator praised Dustin. Dustin had broken the records for the first four tests. They were ashamed to admit they were far weaker than him. "Thank you for going easy on me," Dustin thanked them with a smile and walked off the platform. It was good that the invigilators avoided confronting him, or they'd have been beaten into a pulp by now. "What the hell? It's unfair that he can advance to the next level without taking the test!" "What else can they do? He's so strong even the invigilators are afraid of him.""If it were me, I wouldn't fight him either. There's no way I
Dustin and the others left the martial arts alliance branch after the test. Scarlet suddenly received a call that darkened her face on their way back. "Got it. I'll return as soon as possible." Scarlet hung up after the brief conversation. "What's wrong, kid?" Dustin was curious. "The call was from Oakvale. Someone accused me of gathering troops and planning a rebellion. They are demanding an explanation," Scarlet replied calmly. "A rebellion? What a load of crap!" Georgia was pissed. "Madam, you suffered so much to protect our country at the borders while those trash at Oakvale did nothing. How dare they accuse you!""Those little shits! They deserve to die!" Even the usually quiet Bridget couldn't help cursing. Being accused of rebelling was a major crime. Even if they were innocent, others would still make assumptions. "Given your status, many eyes will be on you, and everything you do will be watched. Others will distort and exaggerate the truth if you make sudden mo
"We're short on talented individuals, so let them stay if they want to. Establish a subsidiary guild named Darklaws and let Mr. Adler be the leader." Dustin decided. "Got it." Nelson nodded."Oh, right. It isn't good that our guild is expanding so quickly. We need to slow things down and cut down on the recruitment. We need to move our headquarters to accommodate our growing numbers. I'll leave this to you," Dustin instructed."I've already considered the issue about our headquarters and picked out a location, but I'm not sure if it's to your liking," Nelson replied."Really? Where did you pick?" Dustin raised an eyebrow. "It's called Zephyr Lodge. It's located on the city's outskirts." Seeing Dustin's confusion, Nelson elaborated. "It used to be the estate of a count, so it's spacious and has good scenery. Transportation there is smooth as well. I searched high and low. This place seemed like the best option.""Not bad. You must have put in a lot of thought for this. Well, l
"Azalea Larson?" Abigail was puzzled. Abigail knew the woman's surname was Larson, but her name was Mandy Larson. "Are you going to deny it? Do I have to tear off your mask?" Dustin asked. "Your eyes are getting better. I spent so much time dressing up, but it wasn't enough to fool you." Azalea giggled flirtatiously. "Is your name really Azalea?" Abigail frowned. She felt like she was tricked. "I'm Azalea, but I'm also Mandy. I never lied to you," Azalea explained with a smile. "What are you doing here?" Dustin demanded. He was always on high alert whenever he was near this crazy woman. After all, it was difficult to believe someone who murdered their mentor and offered their mentor's head to the Harmon family. "Aww, aren't we friends by now? Can't you treat me more warmly?" Azalea circled Dustin like a snake eyeing a mouse. "What happened between us can only be considered a business partnership, definitely not friendship." Dustin was unfazed. "That makes me sad.
Dustin frowned and stepped back to put some space between their bodies. "I won't expose your identity, but you better behave yourself. I'll be watching you.""You'll be watching me?" Azalea bit her bottom lip invitingly. "I'll be showering later. Will you also watch me?""You're crazy!" Dustin ignored her and walked past her to go upstairs. He was certain she wasn't up to anything for now, but he was still wary of witches like her. The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Dustin was out with Abigail for their morning practice when a black sedan pulled up at their entrance. The car door opened, and Patrick stepped out with a smile. "Congratulations, Dustin." Patrick congratulated Dustin. "The results for yesterday's tests are out. You passed the test and have been chosen to lead four other martial artists to represent the Glenstead martial arts alliance!""Really? That's great." Dustin smiled softly, not surprised by the news.It would be more surprising if someo
"What?" The sudden accusation took Dustin aback. "Dominic is dead?""That's right. It's all your fault, you murderer!" Gianna shouted angrily. "Don't be stupid. What does his death have to do with me? Don't pin the blame on me," Dustin replied. "Stop lying! Dominic wouldn't have died if it weren't for your tricks!" Gianna shouted. "Did you think we won't discover that you intentionally kept the lever at the max so you could trick Dominic into entering the pressure machine. The moment the door closed, Dominic exploded!" Devon growled. Dustin was speechless by their stupid accusations. He had merely forgotten to return the lever to its initial position. How could he have known that someone would be stupid enough to start the machine without looking at the lever?He had never met such a dumb bunch. It was ridiculous that he was blamed for such an ignorant incident. "First of all, I didn't plan anything, so I had nothing to do with Dominic's death. He died because of his act
"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