Five decades ago, Linden had barely started gaining fame while Iris was already a household name. He had the honor of meeting that impressive woman once."Iris Meskill? Jade Maiden Sisterhood?" Surprised, Dustin asked, "Dr. Watkins, do you know where her tomb is?""That's why I said this is impossible," Linden sighed. "Since her death, many have searched for her tomb, yet no one has succeeded. It basically doesn't exist!""Just because no one could find it doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Dustin answered firmly. "I'll find a way to find the Shadowbloom. If I fail, I'll have no choice but to break into the Mystic Arts Order!""Are you crazy? You'd be walking into the lion's den!" Linden paled. "That's nothing compared to Natasha sacrificing her life to save mine." Dustin had a determined gaze."But …" Linden was at a loss for words. "Dr. Watkins, how much longer can Natasha hold on for?" Dustin asked."That's hard to tell. I'd say anywhere from three days to half a month.
Two copper basins were soon brought as Edith ordered. One contained water, while the other had burning charcoal."Let's try it out." Edith took a deep breath before tossing the scripture into the water. Everyone observed the scripture, waiting for something to happen, but nothing did.Apprehensively, Edith fished the scripture out. Still, nothing seemed to have changed."See, Madam Edith. I told you it wouldn't work!" Brittany complained. "Let's try again!" Edith gritted her teeth and raised the scripture again. "Madam Edith!" Brittany quickly stopped Edith. "We can let it dry if it's wet. But if we burn it, we'll never get it back. Please think this through!""I've memorized all its contents anyway, so there's no need to keep it!"Edith brushed Brittany's hand away and threw the scripture into the fire.A puff of green smoke swirled around the basin as the scripture erupted in flames. It quickly turned into a pile of ash. "Madam Edith, I see something inside!" Nikki'
Taken aback, Nikki forced a smile. "Madam Edith, I've got good eyes. I might be useful.""No thanks!" Edith frowned in annoyance. "Having Brittany around will be enough. Leave.""But—" Nikki stopped talking when Edith glared at her. The older woman snapped, "What? Are you going to defy me?""Of course not." Nikki lowered her head and bit her lower lip. "Get out!" Nikki was irritated."I'll take my leave." With a nod, Nikki left reluctantly. Her gaze showed her discontent and resentfulness. She couldn't believe that despite all her contributions, Edith still didn't trust her. It was as if Nikki was an outsider. Yet, without her, Edith wouldn't have obtained the scripture and discovered its secrets.Nikki couldn't understand why Edith would not acknowledge her hard work and favor her.Worst, instead of receiving Edith's thanks, all Nikki got was Edith's anger thrown at her. Nikki gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, displeased. Once she left the villa, she grab
"Iris Meskill's tomb? Are you sure?" Dustin grabbed Nikki's wrist. Nikki winced as Dustin's strong grip numbed her arm. "I saw it with my own eyes," Nikki ignored the pain and answered firmly. "Where's the tomb? Tell me!" Dustin demanded frantically. Although he intended to find out about Iris' tomb through the Jade Maiden Sisterhood, he didn't expect to get a lead so soon. "You're hurting me!" Nikki pulled herself free with a frown. "I don't know its exact location since Madam Edith chased me out before I could study the map. I only remember vaguely seeing the 'Black Forest'.""The Black Forest?" Dustin frowned. "Where's that?""From what I found, the Black Forest is located in Lester. It's a primitive forest filled with dangerous swamps. "Due to its treacherous terrain, people rarely go there, and it's never been developed," Nikki explained. "That's not what I want to know. I just need its location," Dustin retorted icily. The forest was huge. Searching for a hi
Apparently, the location of Iris Meskill's tomb had finally been found. It was rumored to be in the Black Forest. When the news got out, many martial artists rushed to Lester to try their luck. After all, such opportunities were rare.Meanwhile, in a sedan heading toward Lester, Dustin stared out the window, lost in thought. Abigail sat beside him, chatting nonstop. "Dr. Watkins told you to take care of yourself and take your medicine on time. Remember not to use your true energy, or it could mess you up inside," she said. "Also, I have no idea who leaked news about Iris Meskill's tomb, but many people are going after the treasure now. So, the competition's going to be tough."Oh, and one more thing. Last night, some skilled person broke into the alliance's prison and rescued Spring Hill. "The alliance sent people to catch him, but no luck so far," Abigail reported as she scrolled through her messages.Dustin, who had been zoning out, finally responded, "Spring Hill escaped?
"Bastard?" The sudden voice startled the scar-faced man. He whirled around to find a plainly dressed man quietly observing him."Where the hell did you come from? You better stay out of this!" Scarface's face darkened. "Please help me!" The woman thrashed around and cried out hopefully, looking terrified. She had almost given up, thinking she would be violated. But now, someone was going to help her. "I never said I was going to get involved. You guys can carry on," Dustin said with his arms crossed, looking unbothered. "What?" Dustin's response took Scarface aback. Even the woman was confused. Wasn't Dustin supposed to be a hero who would rescue her? So, why wasn't he doing anything?Was he just going to watch?"Tch, I thought you were going to help her. Turns out you're just a coward!" Scarface sneered. "If you aren't going to stand up for her, get lost and stop bothering me!""Exactly! Scram, or we'll break your legs!" Several of Scarface's lackeys chimed in."You
But Dustin's attitude only stirred Vanessa's competitive spirit. "Hey, can't you be a little friendlier?" Vanessa pouted teasingly. "It's polite to return kind gestures. I'll lose sleep if I don't repay you.""You'll be fine with a couple of sleeping pills. Goodbye," Dustin replied curtly before walking away. "Wait, mister!" Vanessa tried to catch up to him but stumbled after a few steps. As she fell, her torn clothing revealed her voluptuous figure. Dustin paused briefly to remove his coat and tossed it to her. "Thanks!" Vanessa quickly covered herself with the coat, feeling genuinely grateful. "Vanessa!"A man and woman approached. Their elegant fashion tastes made it easy to tell that they held a higher status than ordinary citizens. "I'm here!" Vanessa waved at them, her spirits lifting. "Where did you go, Vanessa? "Why didn't you inform us? We were so worried!" The woman in red feigned annoyance. "What happened to you, Vanessa? And why are you dressed like
At 7:00 pm, Dustin, Abigail, and Azalea arrived as planned at the resort's restaurant. The restaurant was spacious enough to accommodate hundreds of people. Dustin noticed that there were already groups of people sitting together, chatting lively. While there were a few tourists, most of the guests were martial artists who came for the treasure. "Over here!" Vanessa called out as she waved at them energetically. Dustin nodded in acknowledgment and led the others to her table. "I'm glad you could make it. Please take a seat," Emily greeted warmly. Nathan, who had appeared aloof earlier, perked up upon seeing Abigail and Azalea. He straightened up and tried to strike a handsome pose. "Allow me to introduce my friends, Abigail Robinson and Azalea Larson. "I hope you also don't mind having them, Ms. Hoyles." Dustin made a brief introduction. "Of course not. The more, the merrier. Please, have a seat." Emily smiled and gestured for them to sit."Thank you." Dustin nodde
Under the watchful eyes of the audience, Dustin and Glenn stepped onto the battle ring. They stood about 30 feet apart, and their eyes locked across the distance. Their gazes met like sparks, and they could feel the weight of the other's stare."Are you Logan?" Glenn asked, breaking the silence.He had heard the rumors about this dark horse before stepping into the ring, but now that he was facing him, he wasn't sure."Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is who wins this fight." Dustin didn't confirm or deny it, but his words left Glenn with no doubt.Both men were at the top of the Legendary List and held equal rank on the Champ-Tier List. Until they fought, no one could say who was the stronger of the two."I heard you're Seth's disciple, so I'm really looking forward to this." Glenn's gaze sharpened.Many years ago, his mentor, Cyrus, was defeated by Seth. That loss had always haunted Cyrus ever since. Now, with the disciples of both men about to face off, Glenn was determin
"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