After handing over the Shadowbloom, Iris turned back to stone. With her eyes closed, she stood unmoving.She seemed to be reminiscing memories. She also seemed to be in deep contemplation."Thank you, Madam Iris, for the flower. I will always remember your generosity. Goodbye."Dustin decided not to disturb her further when he saw her in her meditative state. After a deep bow, he staggered away. Dustin would have been dead if Iris hadn't held back earlier. Her skills had already surpassed that of an ultimate grandmaster, and she was unmatched in the entire world."Sir, are you alright? You lost a lot of blood." Abigail helped Dustin walk. The corner of her eyes was still stained with tears. That was too close.If it weren't because Iris took pity on him, Dustin would have died. "I'm fine. I just broke a few bones. I won't die."Dustin took out a tablet and swallowed it. He then slowly circulated his energy.It was fortunate that he had a good foundation. Not to mention,
Azure Mist didn't expect to be stopped by major sects as soon as they exited the tomb. There was no way to escape. "Sir Chasey, wouldn't it be better to share? It doesn't seem right for Azure Mist to enjoy it alone.""Walter, it would be wise to read the room. You won't be able to keep your hands on those treasures today, so why not share them with all of us? Everyone would be happy that way.""Chasey! Hand over the treasures right now, or don't blame us for using force!"The leaders of several sects shouted a variety of threats and enticements. Their eyes gleamed with greed. Iris had collected countless treasures. The sight of any of them would send people into a frenzy. "What the hell are all of you talking about? We didn't discover anything. What are we supposed to give you?" Walter denied it firmly. He couldn't bear to hand over the treasures they had acquired."Hmph! Still trying to wriggle your way out? You just came out from the tomb. You must have found something!"
As the sect leaders watched Walter's transformation, they frowned. They knew they were about to face a formidable enemy. In the past, they could defeat him easily. But now, Walter had broken through another realm and turned into a true grandmaster.The difference in skills between both sides widened. Even though they were only half a step away from becoming a grandmaster, that step was like a rift that was impossible to cross. Once they crossed over, they would soar to greater heights. If they failed, they would fall behind forever. "Guys, what should we do now?" Skycrane's leader glanced at those beside him. He wouldn't have provoked Walter if he had known he was a grandmaster. Now, they were trapped in a difficult situation. They couldn't defeat him in a fight, and they couldn't escape either. "Should we try and fight him? He achieved a breakthrough temporarily through a tablet. If we work together, we might stand a chance.""Are you joking? He's a grandmaster now. Non
Theodore had an icy expression as he rebuked his disciples. "Master, you have a point." Skycrane's leader smiled apologetically, appearing submissive. The crowd broke out in whispers when they noticed his behavior. "It can't be. Is that the legendary Venerable Crane?""The Venerable Crane has secluded himself for many years, paying no attention to worldly affairs. I didn't expect to see him here today.""Even the Venerable Crane is after Madam Iris' treasures!" Theodore's arrival shifted the dynamics of the situation. Although Walter had become a grandmaster, he was still relatively new. In contrast, Theodore was a veteran grandmaster whose reputation had spread far and wide.They weren't on the same level. "The Venerable Crane? Why did this monster show up?"Walter gulped, losing his confidence. His arrogance disappeared, and he looked at Theodore with respect."Hey, you over there. You entered Madam Iris's tomb earlier, didn't you?"Theodore's gaze swept across the
"What the hell? Is this brat crazy? How dare he challenge the Venerable Crane?" "Where did this hothead come from? He has no respect for the Venerable Crane. Is he tired of living?""He's so reckless for his age. Seems like he hasn't faced society's wrath!"The crowd discussed and pointed at Dustin. It was as if they were looking at an idiot.Theodore was Skycrane's founder. He was a revered grandmaster respected by thousands and considered a legendary figure in Balerno martial arts. Nobody would ever dare act disrespectfully against him. And yet, this little brat was challenging him publicly. He might as well turn it into a suicide mission! "You little prick, do you know what you just said?" Theodore's expression darkened. In a sinister tone, he said, "If you don't want to die, kneel immediately. Grovel at my feet and call me grandpa, and I will let you live!" "Hey, brat! What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and kneel!""Not anyone can address the Venerabl
"Dustin, if you found any treasure, just hand them over. Your life is more important," Emily couldn't help but worry. "That's right, Dustin! Treasures are all material possessions. It's far less important than your life!" Vanessa was worried, too. "Rhys! A wise person knows when to surrender. The Venerable Crane is not someone you can go against. "Just admit to your mistakes and hand over the treasures. Everyone would be happy that way," Nathan warned him as well. He wasn't sure if Dustin had the Celestial Pearl with him, but Dustin had other valuable items. There was only one way out for him: to give up the treasures to save his life. "I don't have any treasure. But even if I did, I would never hand them over," Dustin gave his final answer. "The fuck? Did he talk back? This kid has nerves of steel!""Hmph! Driven by greed, he doesn't even care about his life! He deserves to die!" Dustin's response sparked discontent among the martial artists. It also angered Theodore.
The crowd was stunned as they looked at Dustin. Nobody expected the frail young man before them to be the legendary young grandmaster.These days, everyone in Balerno was talking about the young grandmaster. Countless people admired and idolized him.Now that he was standing before them, they still could not believe their eyes."A young grandmaster? H—h—he's a young grandmaster?" Walter widened his eyes in disbelief.He had initially thought Dustin was only a bit more talented than usual. He hadn't realized the extent of his background. It was even more absurd that he wanted to take Dustin in as his disciple. It was a laughable misjudgment! After all, everyone knew Dustin was the monster who had slain Augustus Kline.Walter hadn't even truly broken through yet. Even if he did become a grandmaster, he would only be scratching the surface. He was not even worth mentioning next to a veteran grandmaster like Augustus, not to mention someone as extraordinary as Dustin. "Damn i
"Sir Thorne, are you here to get your hands on the Celestial Pearl too?""Hahaha. The Celestial Pearl is a sacred relic of the martial arts world. Naturally, I wouldn't miss out on it." Graham laughed, not denying it. As grandmasters, there were only very few treasures that interested them. It just so happened that the Celestial Pearl was the finest among them.With the Celestial Pearl, there was a chance they would be able to break through their limitations and become an ultimate grandmaster!They would stand at the top of the martial world when that moment came. "I'm joining in as well, amen."A figure exuding a holy aura suddenly stepped out from the shadows.It was a bald, elderly man with a scar on his head. He was plump and had a kind demeanor, dressing in a loose-fitting robe. It looked like he was bathed in divine light, radiating a sense of holiness. And as the gentle sunlight shone upon him, he gave off a refreshing feeling. "It's the Abbot of the Combat Priests,
"Your Highness, you mustn't speak such nonsense." Langdon put on a righteous front.He continued, "I've always prided myself on my integrity and never done anything dishonorable. I've never betrayed the prince's trust or let the people down, and I have nothing to hide.""Such lofty words," Austin scoffed. "If you have nothing to hide, why not let the enforcement team investigate?"Langdon's face tightened, and a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. After all, what official didn't have some skeletons in the closet? A full investigation would likely turn up something, no matter how small. Even if the offenses weren't serious, the damage to his reputation would be permanent.With so many officials watching, Langdon couldn't afford to back down. If he did, he would lose his standing in the political world—and his claim to integrity along with it."Go ahead and investigate." He raised his chin and said confidently, "I've lived an honest life and never engaged in anything illegal. No m
Austin sat in his chair and silently watched the royal advisors put on their pretentious act. He slowly sipped his tea as if he couldn't be bothered by their so-called accusations.His nonchalant demeanor made Langdon and the others frown. Their once-outrageous voices began to falter.They had stormed in full of righteous fury earlier, only to be met with complete apathy. What was the point of arguing when he wasn't even listening?"Are you done?" Austin finally spoke once the room had quieted down. "If not, go ahead and keep talking. Say as much as you need to until you're satisfied.""Your Highness, we're here to discuss serious matters. Your dismissive attitude is truly disappointing," Langdon said sharply."Serious matters?" Austin let out a short laugh.He went on, "You barge in here without even understanding the full picture and spewing accusations like they're facts. As far as I'm concerned, you're no different from clowns putting on a show.""You… How dare you!" Langdon
"Are you even qualified to sit while speaking to me?"Austin's words struck like the blow of a hammer. They were sharp and unrelenting, and they left no room for retort.Langdon sat frozen and was momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected a brat like Austin to have such a sharp tongue.If he admitted he had come for personal matters, he would keep his pride intact, but he would lose control of the conversation. Everything he had prepared—and all the accusations he meant to throw—would be meaningless.But if he insisted it was official business, he would have to show proper respect and offer a formal greeting. No matter how he answered, he would be conceding ground."I'll ask one more time. Are you here on official or personal matters?" Austin asked coldly."O-Official matters." Cornered, Langdon barely managed to get the words out."Well? Is this how an official conducts himself?" Austin pressed.Langdon had no choice but to rise and offer a deep bow. "Your Highness, it's an h
After a night of chaos, some of the Red Legion's members were killed, others were captured, and the entire force had been wiped out.But the fallout didn't stop there. The Prescott estate was also raided. All embezzled wealth was confiscated, and those found guilty were thrown into prison.Anyone connected to the Prescotts was placed under house arrest and subjected to rigorous investigation.And the man behind it—Warrick—had become the kingdom's most wanted fugitive.Until he was captured, Celestria remained under lockdown. Major roads were sealed off, and patrol teams scoured every corner to ensure Warrick had no way out.Austin's crackdown sparked outrage among senior officials who didn't know the full story. They voiced their dissatisfaction, with some even gathering outside the castle gates in protest. They stomped their feet in outrage, just short of openly cursing him.To them, Warrick had made great contributions to the nation. Even if he had committed crimes, he didn't d
Austin's words were calm and almost casual. Yet, they struck like thunder and echoed in the hearts of the three assistant generals of the Red Legion.If they answered Austin's questions, there might still be a slim chance of survival. But if they refused, death was the only outcome.After all, who would willingly choose death when they had worked so hard to achieve their wealth and status? Yet, pride and dignity held them back. They didn't want to be branded as traitors.Now, they were caught in a dilemma. Which was more important—their honor or their lives? It was an impossible choice."You have ten seconds left. If you don't speak, you'll lose your chance." Austin's voice was utterly devoid of emotion.His words seemed to pierce their souls, and the three Red Legion assistant generals broke into a cold sweat.As the countdown neared its end, Auron finally couldn't hold back. "Your Highness! I'll talk—I'll tell you everything."Dropping to his knees, he scrambled forward and wa
Axel swallowed hard, shock written all over his face. He had always known the Draken Guardians were formidable, but he had never expected them to be this lethal.He had pushed himself to his limit just to hold his own against Connor and Dave, only to end up seriously wounded. Yet, when the Draken Guardians arrived, they wiped them out—along with several dozen Red Legion soldiers—without losing a single man.If Axel hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that the Red Legion, a force renowned for its elite soldiers, could be so easily crushed. Or perhaps it wasn't that the Red Legion was weak, but that the Draken Guardians were far stronger than anyone had imagined.Even their most ordinary members were strong enough to become a mighty general. As for those at the level of captain, their strength was far beyond Axel's. The lethality of a team made up of such skilled experts had reached the point of being an overwhelming force."Mr. Cruz, please arrange some
"Damn it! This punk's tougher than I thought. We're in real trouble if this keeps up," Connor said, swinging his twin blades relentlessly. Every strike was aimed at Axel's vital points.But Axel was quick. He weaved in and out of reach and avoided direct confrontation. It was obvious he was just stalling for time."Sir Prescott should be far enough by now. There's no point dragging this out. Let's fall back."Sensing the futility of their efforts, Dave considered retreating. He didn't fear death, but he wasn't about to waste his life for nothing.Since Warrick had escaped, their interception mission was also completed."You guys hold him off. The rest of you, fall back with me."Connor was decisive. Realizing they weren't making any progress, he quickly ordered a retreat and left a few decoys behind to buy time.They had barely run a hundred yards when a wave of soldiers suddenly appeared at the alley's entrance. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, filled the narrow space and comple
"This punk's a real pain in the ass!"Connor glanced over his shoulder and noticed Axel was still hot on their trail.The squad he had sent to intercept Axel was completely outmaneuvered, and they couldn't get anywhere near him.To Connor's dismay, Axel kept shooting off signal flares as he pursued them. Each flare gave away their position. At this rate, it didn't matter which direction they ran—they were bound to be intercepted."Connor! Dave! Make a move and swat that damn fly," Warrick ordered decisively."If we leave, who's going to protect you?" Connor hesitated.Warrick was in bad shape. Without them guarding him, a single attack from an expert could be fatal."If you don't take out that fly, I'll be in even more danger. Get moving now!" Warrick snapped."Yes, sir!"Connor and Dave exchanged a glance before splitting up with their squads to surround Axel.They both knew what was at stake. If they didn't take Axel down quickly, their entire force would be stranded and do
"Kill them all!"At Warrick's command, the Red Legion charged without hesitation. Blades flashed as they stormed toward the elite enforcement unit.This time, nearly a thousand Red Legion soldiers arrived. With their sheer numbers, they launched a pincer attack from both flanks, leaving the enemy with no way to fend it off."Form the Shield Formation!" Axel shouted upon seeing the dire situation. His men immediately sheathed their blades and raised their shields to form a defensive line. Their pursuit had cut them off from the main force. Since they were up against an enemy ten times their size, forming a defensive line was their best option.If they could stall for even a moment, reinforcements from the castle would arrive, and the tide would turn in their favor. Once that happened, the thousand-strong Red Legion would be the ones on the defensive.After a brief charge, the two forces collided.Warrick had personally trained the Red Legion. He selected only the most loyal and