When Dustin appeared, everyone's glares shot toward him like arrows. The crowd's eyes were filled with anger, resentment, shock, and scorn. Because of Paul's death, Dustin became public enemy number one. So, everyone was eagerly waiting to see Augustus tear him apart. "I didn't expect so many people to turn up." Cornelius surveyed the crowded lakeside and saw the hostile gazes. "They're probably here to watch me make a fool of myself." Dustin was unfazed. He already knew that this wasn't going to be any ordinary duel. "Sir, why don't we give up? A duel against a grandmaster is no joke."Your life is more important than your pride," Cornelius warned in a low voice.He knew that Dustin was powerful. However, Augustus was one of Balerno's renowned grandmasters. The gap between the two of them was just too big. So far, no one has ever escaped the fate of being crushed by grandmasters. "Why would we run away when we're already here?" Dustin replied calmly. "Sir, grandmasters
"The scripture?" Dustin was surprised. Then, he burst out laughing. "That's what you were after this entire time, wasn't it?" He thought Nikki had finally come around and was trying to advise him for fear of his safety. It turned out that she was just putting on a show. Her goal was the Jade Maiden Scripture. "Dustin, the scripture is very important to me. Please return it." Nikki's expression was awkward, but there was a determined look in her eyes. "I've already given it to you. Why are you asking me again?" Dustin's expression turned stormy. "Stop acting. I know you stole it. We can still be friends if you hand it over," Nikki said expressionlessly. "First of all, I never stole that scripture of yours. It's your problem if you lose it. Secondly, I don't think I want to be friends with you," Dustin jeered. "Are you going to keep acting like this, Dustin? The scripture is useless to you! Just return it to me, and we can be friends again!" Nikki frowned. She thought D
Dustin ignored the profanities Nikki was throwing at him and walked straight ahead. He had done all that he should. Unfortunately, Nikki was just as stubborn and sickening as the other Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples.All his help and advice had fallen on deaf ears. It even came back to bite him. There was no saving a woman like that. He didn't have to, either. So, he might as well pretend not to know her at all. "How did it go? Did you get the scripture back?" Just then, Edith and her disciples approached Nikki. Edith has been thinking about the scripture since she lost it last night. So, when Dustin appeared, she immediately ordered Nikki to get it back. "He wouldn't hand it over, Madam. He even slapped me," Nikki whimpered. She covered her aching face with a hand. "What?" Edith frowned. "Didn't I tell you to sweet-talk him? What did you do?""That's what I did, but it was useless. He had his guard up against me. I couldn't get it back," Nikki moaned. "You piece of s
Maggie still remembered how Dustin had beaten her up. Now that the man she hated was standing right before her, she could finally have her revenge. "Enough talking. Where's Sir Augustus?" Dustin's expression was cold. "Hmph! You'll have to get through me if you want to challenge him!" Just then, a terrifying aura burst forth from the crowd. Then, a man and a woman jumped over to where the Doyle family was. The man stood tall and proud with a fiery aura, while the elegant woman gave off an icy air. It was clear that they were polar opposites. "What are you guys doing here?" Terry was happy to see the new arrivals. "We heard that you were being bullied, so we came to support you." The man grinned, while the woman merely nodded in acknowledgment. "Terry, these two are?" Phil was puzzled. "Let me introduce them to you, Dad. These are my seniors—Blaise and Frostine. They're a married couple, and they're also the famous Ice-Fire Duo on The Heavenly Immortals!" Terry introduce
As soon as Blaise made his move, Cornelius jumped out and threw a punch as well. A layer of true energy cushioned Cornelius' fist as it smashed into Blaise's fiery fist. Then, the energy exploded with a bang. Cornelius' body shook for a second before he steadied himself. Blaise, however, was pushed back from the impact. Each step he took to stabilize himself created a deep dent in the ground. It was clear to see who had the upper hand. "Holy shit! Who's that old man? He was able to stop the person ranked fifth on The Heavenly Immortals!""Incredible! He gained the upper hand against Blaise in a fistfight.""Balerno sure has tons of hidden gems. Even a random old man is so strong."Many people were shocked by Cornelius' ability. They didn't expect a scrawny old man to win against Blaise when it came to physical strength. It sure was a rare sight. "Who the hell are you? How dare you stop me!" Blaise's face burned in humiliation. He came here from Oakvale to show off his
Ronald found it strange too. A skilled semi-grandmaster was more than qualified to become an elder of the martial arts alliance.Why would he be working for Dustin? Was he hired with a hefty sum to fight in the battle? "It was only yesterday that we saw him. And yet, it seems like that old geezer has improved." Edith's expression was hostile. It carried a hint of resentment.She had been stuck as a semi-grandmaster for many years, unable to make any progress. However, that old geezer still had room to improve. It made her jealous. "Damn it! Where did that old geezer come from? I can't believe he still isn't defeated by Ice-Fire Duo." Maggie was getting anxious."Don't panic. At least it looks like Ice-Fire Duo still has the upper hand." Phil stroked his beard. They weren't ranked fifth and sixth on the Heavenly Immortals for nothing. They were invincible, especially when they joined forces. It was only a matter of time before they would defeat their opponent. "Relax, t
"What?" After witnessing Cornelius flying, the crowd was dumbfounded.They were aware of his skills from his earlier performance. He had single-handedly defeated Ice-Fire Duo. It was nothing short of imposing.Yet a formidable martial artist like him was severely injured by a single leaf. It was truly astonishing.The most remarkable part was that the leaf had shot out from more than a thousand yards away.Who could have injured a semi-grandmaster without even showing themselves?"He's here!"Amidst the gazes of many, an elderly man with a youthful appearance appeared at the end of Shinefield Lake.He wore a white robe and had his hands folded behind his back. He strode across the surface of the lake as if it were solid land. With every step he took, ripples that looked like lotuses appeared. It made the aquatic life beneath him leap from the water in response. At first glance, it looked like a divine being had descended from the heavens. As he moved amidst clouds and mist,
The water sphere exploded with a pop. Even the fish inside exploded into a bloody mist. "Huh?" Augustus frowned at the unexpected scene. Though he had made a simple attack, it wasn't an attack an ordinary person could defend against. "Augustus Kline, your opponent is me." Dustin stepped out while shielding Cornelius. "So you're Dustin Rhys?" Augustus gave him a once-over. His gaze was sharp, cold, and imposing. He exuded an air of indifference, resembling a God looking down upon insignificant mortals. "That would be me." Dustin was stoic. "Break your limbs, destroy your core, and apologize to Terry on your knees. That way, I will let you live," Augustus spat out coldly. Although his tone was relatively composed, an underlying dominance was unmistakably present. "Hey, Rhys! Did you hear that? Hurry up and destroy your core, then kneel and apologize! Terry yelled arrogantly. He wouldn't pass up the chance to humiliate Dustin. After all, Dustin would be entirely unde
"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