"Vivian, what are you talking about? Dustin saved us!" Sheila was dumbfounded."Sheila, don't be fooled by him. This guy has ulterior motives!" Vivian smugly explained, "He was the one who poisoned our drinks! He made a show of leaving before returning at a critical moment to play the hero. "He did all that to earn our trust! But these tricks won't fool me!"Vivian's explanation cast a shadow of doubt in everyone's minds. What she said did seem possible. After all, they would rather trust Vivian than a stranger. "Hey, are you that full of yourself? I'm not that desperate for entertainment to play these petty games with you," Dustin replied coldly.He had been kind enough to help them, but he didn't expect this woman to be so ungrateful!"Hmph! You still won't admit it? Fine!" Vivian said. She continued, "Then let me ask you. How did you just so happen to bump into that waiter and just so happen to pick up this vial of poison? "Don't tell me these are all just coincidences
"What?"The unexpected turn of events startled everyone. It was especially shocking for Vivian, who was left dumbfounded.She looked down to see the bleeding wound on her chest. Her face showed a mixture of shock, astonishment, confusion, fear, and disbelief.She never expected to get shot. It happened so fast and without any warning. She was in a daze. Then, she suddenly screamed and fell to the ground. The situation had finally hit her. "Assassins! Get down!" Evan was the first to react and shouted out loud. The others snapped out of their daze. They were quick to take cover on the ground. Meanwhile, several masked assassins burst into the room. They had kicked the door open. Each of them wielded a silenced pistol. Upon entering, they opened fire without mercy, shooting anyone they saw. Amidst the rapid gunfire, two people were struck down. "Damn it!" Evan got angry. Instead of retreating, he kicked a table over. It crashed into several of the assassins. Taking ad
"Simba? What the fuck is a Simba?""Whoever you are, you're going to die today since you've met Evan!"Several young men and women started shouting. They had seen Evan's performance just moments ago. They watched how he took down several armed assassins in an instant. What more was a weaponless fighter? "This person is clearly a martial artist built on strength. I have to catch him off guard and end the fight as soon as possible." Evan gave him a quick once over and made a decision. He bent his knees slightly, slowly gathering momentum. Then, pushing down with his feet, he propelled himself forward like a bullet. He launched with tremendous power."Thunder Strike!" Evan shouted. Internal energy surged through his body. Then, he threw a powerful punch straight at Simba.A faint explosion echoed as Evan's iron fist heavily struck Simba's abdomen.However, Simba didn't react. He stood like a mountain, unflinching. He showed no signs of injuries. "Is that all?" Simba cross
"What …"As they watched Simba being sent flying, a stunned silence fell over everyone. Their eyes widened in disbelief. Some of them even doubted their eyes. Simba was over two meters tall. He had a massive figure and a muscular physique, just like a mountain. Meanwhile, Dustin looked thin and fragile. It was as if a gust of wind could blow him away. Under normal circumstances, Simba should have been the winner. After all, they had a clear difference in size. So, how did the situation reverse so suddenly? "What the fuck? Who the hell is this guy? How is he so strong?"The group exchanged shocked looks. Not even Evan could rival Simba, so how could this country doctor have defeated him? "Dustin, you're amazing!" After a brief shock, Sheila immediately cheered. If it weren't for Dustin intervening, she might not have survived."Don't be that impulsive next time. Your first priority should be your own safety in a situation like this," Dustin warned. This woman was willin
"You—!" While Vivian seethed in anger, there was nothing she could do. She could only endure in silence. She could only pray that Dustin would work faster. She sensed that she was losing blood, and her body was growing weaker. Three minutes later, Dustin finally finished treating the second man. As long as the bleeding was stopped, he wouldn't die immediately. "It should be my turn now, right? Hurry up and start treating me!" Vivian was getting impatient. She rushed Dustin repeatedly. Yet Dustin appeared completely at ease. He didn't feel any sense of urgency. He wiped his hands and stretched lazily before leisurely sipping on a cup of tea. "Hey! What are you doing? Help me stop the bleeding!" "Vivian was on the verge of losing her temper. She was nearly drained of blood. How could he be in the mood to enjoy his tea? "Why the rush? It's not like you're dying." Dustin glanced at her, still unmoved. "What do you mean I'm not dying? Don't you see that I was shot? Where's
The night grew deeper. It was particularly quiet at Auspicious Restaurant. The place wasn't as lively as in the morning. One reason was its secluded location, and the other was because it didn't operate at night. Suddenly, a muscular figure jumped over the walls. He skillfully went through the restaurant. The figure was headed to a private room on the second floor. When he arrived at the door, he gave it a light knock. "Come in." A dignified voice came from inside the pitch-black room. The figure opened the door cautiously. He immediately dropped to his knees when he got inside. Speaking toward a folding screen, he announced his arrival. "I'm here, sir.""You got injured?" The voice spoke again from behind the folding screen."I failed my mission. I encountered a powerful opponent and almost lost my life." Simba lowered his head. His expression was filled with fear and respect. Blood was dripping from his wounded arm onto the ground. It sounded jarring in the sil
"Mr. Rhys?""Mr. Franklin?" Dustin was surprised to see the chubby man before him. He realized that Simba's envoy was Samuel Franklin. He was the person who sold the Jade Maiden Scripture. "Mr. Rhys, I didn't expect fate to lead us to meet under these circumstances," Samuel said with a smile. His previous cold and chilling demeanor returned to one of gentleness. He appeared harmless and friendly."Mr. Franklin, you have quite the identity." Dustin narrowed his eyes. "I've heard that the Bounty Killers have three chief envoys. Each of them is known for their incredible power and abilities. I didn't expect you to be one of them.""I'm just making a living. It's nothing worth mentioning." Samuel smiled and made a gesture. "Mr. Rhys, please have a seat."Dustin didn't hesitate and took a seat. "Mr. Rhys, I'm impressed by your victory over Augustus Kline. Your reputation as a young grandmaster has shaken the world." Samuel brewed a pot of tea and poured it into two cups.
"This traitor has been very good at hiding himself. There haven't been any slip-ups so far." Samuel shook his head. He continued, "One thing for sure, they hold significant influence within the Hill family. They're either one of the Hill brethren or someone from the main family."The Hill brethren consisted of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. They were also Paul Hill's four sons. Each one held substantial resources and had ambitious goals. They were also smart in politics. "You might as well not have said anything." Dustin frowned. "There are so many people in the Hill family. How could I find a traitor in such a short time?"He had his suspicions before. But he couldn't find any concrete evidence."Relax, Mr. Rhys. It isn't exactly hard to find out who the traitor is. However, you would have to take a little risk." Samuel smiled meaningfully. "Oh? Do you have a plan, Mr. Franklin?" Dustin was interested."It isn't exactly a brilliant plan. It's just a matter of using
"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