"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,
"What? Michael Robinson? One of Balerno's five ultimate grandmasters?" "Neptune! It's actually Neptune! Holy shit! Why is he here?""He's been in hiding all these years, never getting himself involved in the affairs of the martial world. "Why did he suddenly appear out of thin air? The world must be ending!" Michael's appearance caused a commotion among the crowd. They looked at him in awe and astonishment. The five ultimate grandmasters of Balerno were publicly acknowledged as the five most powerful individuals. And among them was Michael, also known as Neptune. Ten years ago, he had defended Westward Fortress alone. Single-handedly, he defeated three highly skilled foreign grandmasters. His efforts prevented many enemy cavalry from entering the country. He was only one man guarding the city, yet enemies were kept at bay. That was how the battle made him famous. That year, when his fame soared, he was appointed a knight. His glorious deeds were still being recounted a
"God damn it! If I had Neptune's power, I would be a hundred times cockier than he was!" The martial artists chattered among themselves. They were not only amazed, but they were also filled with admiration for him. Who else had the guts to provoke three grandmasters in Balerno?"How dare you, Michael! Do you think we're afraid of you?" Theodore was furious. It was humiliating to be publicly scolded by someone younger. "Robinson, don't go overboard!"Graham was angry, too. "We were showing respect by offering advice as fellow grandmasters. But if you insist on opposing us, don't blame us for using violence!""Amen."Orson let out a soft sigh. "Sir Robinson, if you remain stubborn, I can only follow the will of the heavens." "Since the three of you won't let this matter go, let's fight. "After all, it's been long since I've stretched my muscles." Michael suddenly laughed. A deep aura started to flow out from him. The surrounding temperature dropped, and a swirling hur
The battle between the four intensified. And the destruction they left grew as they fought. Everything within their range was destroyed and became rubble. Birds and animals of the Black Forest ran away.The huge commotion also attracted the attention of various martial artists. Low-level martial artists, divine-level martial artists, and even grandmasters were present. They were from various sects and skill levels. Almost all sorts of martial artists had gathered. But they did not dare make a move. Everyone watched from afar as the four grandmasters fought. They were shocked, but their gazes were locked on the epic battle. With each resounding clash, their battle grew intense. Waves of energy rippled outward like a tsunami. It sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers. After a long exchange of moves, Theodore, Graham, and Orson grew alarmed. They didn't expect Michael to be that strong.Even against three opponents, he wasn't struggling.His grandmaster aura seemed
That was just too powerful! "Haha! Yes! We won!" Abigail jumped for joy.A while ago, she was still worried that her father would lose. She didn't expect him to win so easily. "A powerful man, indeed." Dustin smiled faintly. He wasn't too surprised by the result. Michael was an ultimate grandmaster. He was also ranked the best among the five ultimate grandmasters of Balerno. Theodore and the other two men weren't his match at all. If Michael hadn't shown them mercy, they would have been taken down a long time ago. "Do you still want to fight?" Michael took a step forward. His demeanor grew even more imposing. It was hard not to be intimidated by him. Theodore and the rest crawled out of the pit, looking a mess. They were both shocked and cautious. They had never imagined that Michael had hidden his true strength. His sudden outburst earlier had completely caught them off guard. "What do we do now? Are we going to give up just like this?" Theodore glanced at the other t
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