Felix was lying on the sofa with a cigarette in his mouth in a lavish mansion in Eastville. He had one of his legs propped up on a coffee table with a bloody hand firmly attached to it. Two of his men crouched beside the table as they carefully tried to pry the hand off. Because of how firm Nelson's grip was, his nails had already dug into Felix's skin. "Damn it, be careful!" Felix hissed with a frown, kicking one of the men to the floor. "Give us a second. We're almost done." His subordinate smiled apologetically. Finally, they managed to get Nelson's hand off. "What the fuck is wrong with that asshole? He just wouldn't let go! Why did he have to go so far for that bastard?" Felix cursed. He had been waiting for his chance since the Kirin Gang was established. Although he had finally become a guildmaster and lived a much better life than before, he refused to obey someone else's command. He had always been greedy, so he kept his eyes glued to the leader's position. A
"We might want money. But we want your death more. Sir Rhys will forgive us if we take you down." The rugged leader shook his head. "Run, Sir! We'll take care of them!" Felix's loyal subordinates went forward and blocked the Charging Tiger Guild disciples. "Good job, men! Stand strong!" Felix patted one of their shoulders. He grabbed his wife, turned around, and ran. "Kill them!"The rugged man lifted his sword and charged toward Felix's men. Although Felix's subordinates tried their best, they were no match for the guild disciples and were quickly defeated. "After him!" The rugged man chased after Felix. "Ouch!" Just then, Felix's wife tripped and fell. "Honey, I sprained my ankle! Carry me on your back!" she cried out. "You're such a nuisance!" Felix was about to help her when he spotted the men approaching them. He retracted his hand and spun around to run. "Honey? Honey!" The woman exclaimed, but Felix never turned around. There was no way that woman's life was m
Inside one of the black sedans, Dustin rested his head against his headrest with his eyes closed. Despite how calm he looked outside, his murderous glint was exposed when he opened his eyes.Suddenly, his phone began to ring. Cornelius was calling him. "Sir, as you ordered, we've cut Felix apart and left his head untouched.""Alright," Dustin answered emotionlessly. "Sir, we've captured Felix's wife and son. What should we do about them?" Cornelius asked. "Kill them." "Yes, sir," Cornelius responded. "That reminds me." Dustin suddenly changed the topic. "Tell someone to look into Gavin Killian's whereabouts.""Sir, he's quite a powerful man. Are you sure you want to do that?" Cornelius hesitated. "I don't care who he is. Anyone who kills my friend deserves to die. Get it done at once!" Dustin snapped."Yes, sir!" Cornelius instantly responded. The Kirin Gang had many disciples, so it was easy for them to collect information. They found out where Gavin was in less th
"Why can't you see how wonderful your life would be if you married Mr. Killian? You'd have the whole world wrapped around your finger!" Florence was exasperated."If I want power, I can get it with my hands. I don't want to get it through marriage." Dahlia shook her head."Dahlia …" Florence sighed resignedly. "Alright, alright. I guess the fruits of her labor will taste sweeter." Victoria intervened, but she was secretly happy. Since Dahlia didn't like Gavin, Julie might have a chance. "Look, it's Mr. Killian!" Julie exclaimed. Everyone turned toward the door and saw Gavin entering confidently. Wearing a suit, he was followed by a group of men.The other guests automatically opened a path for them when they walked by. Their intense aura instantly made them the center of attention."What brings you here, Mr. Killian?" Florence and several others greeted enthusiastically. "It's your birthday, Mrs. Nicholson. It's only natural that I send my wishes." Gavin gestured with a
The noise made everyone turn to look. A man dressed in mourning attire walked in, surrounded by a murderous air. His expression was so cold it sent shivers up people's spines. "Dustin? What's he doing here?" Florence frowned. She was sure she didn't invite him, so he'd better not be here for the free food."He must be crazy. How could he wear mourning clothes at a birthday banquet? Ugh!" Victoria and Julie were disgusted at Dustin's choice of attire."Speak of the devil. I guess he does have a death wish." Gavin smirked coldly. He initially planned to take care of Dustin a few days later, but Dustin had approached him first. "Dustin?" Dahlia lit up and rushed over to greet him. She'd been worried that he was too angry at her to show up, so she was happy to see him. It proved that she was important to him. "I knew you'd come, Dustin. I …" Dahlia's words faltered when she met Dustin's cold glare. She was instantly rooted to the spot. She had never seen Dustin with such a
Florence registered what happened and roared, "Hey, grab that asshole!" Soon, dozens of security guards charged into the hall and surrounded Dustin, holding stun batons. "Get him!"The guards rushed toward Dustin, who sent needles flying with a flick of his wrist. Immediately, the guards fell to the floor before they reached him. They held their stomachs as their faces concerted in pain. The terrifying sight made the guests shrink back in fear. Even Florence kept silent. It was easy to see that Dustin was no longer the same person they knew. "You're going to die today, Gavin. And no one can save you." Dustin turned, and his deadly stare fell on Gavin. "Insolent brat!" The long-haired man jumped up, meeting Dustin's glare with a defiant one. "And who are you?" Dustin narrowed his eyes. "I'm the Gloomster, Spike Floyd!" the long-haired man announced, causing an uproar. "Oh, my God! Spike Floyd the Gloomster? What's he doing here?""Who's Spike Floyd? Is he powerful?
Everyone was shocked to see Spike hanging from the ceiling. Their jaws dropped in disbelief. None of them expected things to turn out like this. After all, Dustin's opponent was Spike the Gloomster!Shouldn't such a powerful individual have easily won? So why was he defeated with a single punch? Why was he stuck in the ceiling, unable to escape?This Spike must be an imposter, or there'd have been no way he'd lose like that. "Is this for real? S—Spike Floyd was defeated?""Holy shit! Who the hell is he? Even the Gloomer was no match for him!""That's impossible!"The whole hall erupted into a frenzy after a silent pause. Everyone looked at Dustin like he was a monster. "I—impossible! There's no way Spike would lose!" Gavin's smile disappeared. He looked stunned. He knew how strong Spike was. Spike had even used his signature move, so Dustin should be dead by now. Why did things turn out like this?What on earth just happened?"He knocked Spike out with a single pun
"Stop!" Suddenly, Dahlia rushed over and put herself in front of Dustin. She yelled, "What are you doing, Dustin? It's my mom's birthday today! How could you just start beating people up? You're disrespecting me!""This is a private matter between me and Gavin. It has nothing to do with you," Dustin responded coldly. "What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? You hit my mom and caused a scene! That's not okay!" Dahlia snapped. She couldn't believe that Dustin caused so much trouble the moment he entered. Things would become much worse if this continued. "Dahlia Nicholson, we'll talk about our issue later. For now, please step aside!" Dustin's tone was stern, revealing his annoyance. "What if I refuse? Will you hit me too?" Dahlia demanded."Don't push me!" Dustin frowned."When did you become like this, Dustin? Are you even the man I know?" Dahlia's eyes widened disbelievingly. She never expected him to reply so coldly and ruthlessly. "I've always been like this.
"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