For a moment, all eyes were on Brittany.The Jade Maiden Scripture was important to the Jade Maiden Sisterhood.But Dustin had made his condition known. He demanded that Brittany's leg be broken. And most importantly, he wanted Edith to do it personally."Dus—!" Nikki intended to speak for them, but Dustin cut her off by raising a hand. His gaze was fixed on Edith. "What do you say, Madam Parker?""Brittany is my lead disciple. I can never hurt her as her mentor," Edith said righteously."So I take it that you have no interest in the Jade Maiden Scripture?" Dustin raised a brow."Of course, I'm interested in it. But I do not plan to take orders from you."Edith lifted her chin and said, "I will have the scripture and protect my disciple. "Pass me the Jade Maiden Scripture now. That is an order. "If you do, I will forgive you for your rudeness earlier. Otherwise, do not be surprised if I attack you!"Dustin was so angered that he failed to hold back a laugh.She had rea
Nikki rushed over to stop Edith. "Madam Edith, you haven't recovered yet! Please stop!""Damn it, brat!" Infuriated, Edith slapped Nikki across the face. "If it weren't for the incomplete scripture you gave me, I wouldn't have gone to extremes in training and gotten injured!""I—it wasn't me …" Nikki held her cheek and shook her head frantically. "Stop lying!" Edith shouted. "How did that bastard get his hands on the Jade Maiden Scripture? I'm sure you were the one who stole it and gave it to him. You ungrateful bitch!""I didn't!" Nikki denied anxiously. "I see what you're up to, Nikki Horst. You gave Madam Edith the incomplete scripture and gave that bastard the real one. You're such a bitch!""I thought you were a loyal disciple. It turns out you're just a backstabber who betrayed us!""Enough with the acting. You make me sick!"Instantly, the Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples began cursing at Nikki. They were sure Nikki must have conspired with Dustin and took the Ja
"I know the two of you are working together. If you don't want her to be killed, you better release Brittany!" Edith threatened, holding her sword at Nikki's neck. She would have never resorted to such tactics if she hadn't been injured. "Why? Why?" Nikki mumbled as she sat on the ground, tears dripping down her cheeks. Dustin frowned and eventually nodded. "Fine, release Nikki, and I'll let go of your disciple." He gestured for Cornelius to step back."Take Brittany away first." Edith signaled. The Jade Maiden sisterhood disciples hurriedly dragged Brittany away. Letitia remained by Edith's side to keep an eye on Cornelius in case he decided to do anything. "Brat, I demand you to hand me the Jade Maiden Scripture!" Although Brittany had been released, Edith did not lower her sword. Instead, she began to shout out her requests. "I've already compromised once. You'd better not take things too far." Dustin's face hardened. How dare that witch try to make another unre
Everyone could tell that Dustin truly cared for Nikki. "You should freshen up. I'll be holding a banquet for you tonight. "It'll be a good opportunity for you to get closer to the gang's members." Dustin patted her shoulder and waved two female disciples over to help Nikki to her room."Aren't you being too nice to her, sir?" Cornelius asked. "I owe Nelson my life, so I should help her however I can." Dustin's eyes turned sad. "I just hope she doesn't disappoint you." Cornelius was envious. Dustin didn't just save Nikki. He helped her escape from that hellhole and would give her the Jade Maiden Scripture. He was even going as far as to pass her the position of guildmaster! There was no one as lucky as Nikki. If Cornelius were a woman, he would be throwing himself at Dustin by now.…Night soon fell. Kirin Gang's executives sat together in Zephyr Lodge's ballroom, enjoying their drinks. All five of Kirin Gang's guildmasters were present. They were Cornelius from Dar
Dustin stared at Nikki in disbelief from across the table. He couldn't believe that she had been the person who drugged them. "Why is it you?" Cornelius' widened eyes were full of dismay, confusion, and anger. He never imagined that the traitor would be Nikki, whom Dustin had treated so well. "I'm sorry … I'm sorry." Nikki looked away guiltily and kept her head down. "Why?" Dustin could only ask.Because of Nelson, Dustin treated Nikki like his sister and tried to do everything in her best interest. He even reigned in his temper in front of Jade Maiden Sisterhood just to free her, so he never imagined that she would betray him in return. "Jade Maiden Sisterhood is my home, and they are my family. I—I didn't have a choice. I'm sorry …" Nikki apologized as she repeatedly shook her head. She felt guilty toward Dustin but couldn't go against Edith and the Jade Maiden Sisterhood's wishes."I just don't get it. Why are you still so determined to stay when they mistreated you? J
Nikki couldn't bear to see anger in Dustin and the others' eyes and wanted to leave. "There's no rush. The show's just begun," Edith sniggered. "This bastard insulted us and hurt Brittany. There's no way I will let him off so easily."Dustin knew too many secrets, including the Jade Maiden Scripture. Edith was determined to keep the information inside the scripture to herself. No one else could have it. So, she must kill Dustin. "Madam Edith, you promised me you wouldn't hurt him." Nikki suddenly felt uneasy. Although she had betrayed Dustin, she didn't want to see him hurt either. "Really? I don't remember promising that, though." Edith feigned ignorance. "Nikki, if blood makes you queasy, you can leave first. I won't blame you for that.""Madam Edith, you wanted the scripture and have it now. Please let him go!" Nikki begged, aware that Edith intended to kill Dustin. "Nikki, you should know that you're a Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciple, so you should only be thinkin
Nikki staggered toward Dustin with her sword, feeling torn. However, her sword fell to the ground with a clang before she could reach him. "I—I can't do it! I just can't do it!" Nikki turned around and sobbed, guilt written all over her face. "You piece of shit!" Pissed, Edith slapped Nikki across the cheek, causing her to fall. "What use do I have of you when you can't even kill a man?""Madam Edith, she may be unable to do it, but I can!" Just then, Brittany emerged from the crowd, limping to the front. She shot Dustin a glare. It was bad enough that he hit her, but she couldn't stand him being unfazed by her beauty. "Good. This man is yours to kill." Edith nodded, pleased. As expected, no one made her as happy as Britanny. "I bet you never thought you'd end up like this, did you, Dustin?" Brittany sniggered. She drew her sword and limped toward him. "How dare a shitty, measly man like you defy me! I'll make sure to castrate you in front of everyone tonight!"If s
"You fucking asshole! How dare you hurt me! "You better fucking die! Madam Edith, kill him for me!" Brittany screeched."What? Didn't you drug him, Nikki?" Edith narrowed her eyes, displeased. Only someone stronger than a grandmaster could be unaffected by the drug she made. "I did. I put the drug in his wine," Nikki replied. She was confused as well. She watched Dustin drink the wine earlier, so why was he completely unaffected?"I was careless." Edith nodded and drew her sword. "You must be a genius if you've already achieved divinity. However, I love killing geniuses. You'll have the honor of being killed by me tonight.""I might not be the one who dies," Dustin responded calmly. "I shall give you a chance now. You can grovel for forgiveness, and I'll spare you life."The Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples were surprised and burst out laughing. "Hey, are you crazy? Who the hell do you think you are? How could you say something so foolish?""Stupid man! Madam Edith i
"Since Madam Penelope has spoken, I’ll follow her lead," Alloy said with a smile. "What about Mr. Hadley and Sage Foyer?""I'm in if you want to make a bet," Cyrus replied coolly."It's not every day we get an opportunity like this. Let me stir things up a bit." Kaden nodded with a grin.Once the three had agreed, Penelope waved for Abigail to come over.Soon, Abigail approached them with a wide grin. "Esteemed guests, I hear you want to bet. The current odds are—bet on Dustin to win, and you'll get 1.6 times your stake. Bet on Glenn, and it's only 0.4."She continued, "And no worries—if you win, I'll exchange your winnings for celestial stones." Abigail smiled brightly, and the other parties' eyes gleamed with the unmistakable shine of greed.Many had already placed their bets with her. Though she couldn't control the match's outcome, she knew how to adjust the odds to her advantage. Over time, that could turn into a huge fortune."I'm betting on Glenn to win." Cyrus quickly
"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