At those words, some martial artists looked at Toddy with disdain.They were stunned at the audacity of this newcomer. He claimed to be better than the young grandmaster.The young grandmaster had defeated Augustus and was now challenging Ronald. Even the most talented leaders of the major guilds would not have the audacity to be so arrogant. They were baffled as to how a nobody like Toddy could muster the courage to boast in such a manner."Toddy! Choose your words carefully!" Lyn frowned. She whispered, "The young grandmaster is a once-in-a-century prodigy. He's in a league of his own, far above the rest of us. How can we even begin to compare?"Without a pause, she added, "He became a grandmaster in his twenties. Meanwhile, we haven't even reached the divine level. The difference between us is immeasurable. Even if we practice endlessly, we will never be able to catch up.""Hey, Lyn, you are making someone else look good while making yourself look bad. You should know that
"What? Josie of the Frostlanders?"As those words were spoken, the crowd was in an uproar. Boulderthorn was already one of the top major guilds in Balerno. As the chief of the subsidiary guild, Josie was renowned in the martial world. She stood out among her peers with her unfathomable cultivation skills and outstanding swordsmanship."I've heard that Josie is cold and ruthless. She never hesitates to kill others. Those brats are in trouble now.""Serves them right. A disciple from some third-rate guild dares to compare himself to a young grandmaster? He's really ignorant and arrogant!"The crowd began to whisper as if they were preparing for a show. In martial arts, strength spoke for itself, and the strongest was in charge."So, you're Josie. I've heard so much about you," Lyn greeted Josie respectfully. At that moment, Lyn tried to defuse the tension. However, Josie ignored her and glanced at Toddy. She said coldly, "You just claimed to have extraordinary talents and
Josie impressed everyone with her agility."Cloud palm technique!" she shouted. As she got closer, her palm hit Toddy from below. She aimed for his chest and abdomen.Toddy scoffed, "Just a petty trick." But before he could fight back, her palm hit his chest.In an instant, it felt as if he had been hit by a speeding car, and he flew several feet into the air. He spat out a cloud of gruesome mist in the form of blood. With a dull thud, he crashed to the ground and slid several feet before coming to a halt."Toddy!"The Moonlight Reverence disciples were shocked and rushed to his side. They couldn't believe their senior had been defeated so easily.A single blow was enough to send Toddy flying. It surprised them, and they began to doubt his supposed strength. Some wondered if Toddy was as weak as he looked."He was talking big before the fight. I thought he'd be strong because of his confidence. It turned out to be the opposite.""He's completely useless. He couldn't even take
"If you're not skilled enough, you shouldn't even think about trying a surprise attack.""Being brought down in a single move is embarrassing, and now, you've also lost your dignity.""If I were you, I'd probably look for a place to hide."When Toddy's surprise attack failed, the crowd erupted in laughter at his expense. Their faces were full of scorn and mockery.Dealing with such public humiliation was hard for anyone."No … this can't be real."Surrounded by ridicule, Toddy began to doubt himself for the first time. He was the strongest senior disciple in Moonlight Reverence. With his exceptional talent and strength, he was destined to become a grandmaster.Yet, he had suffered a humiliating defeat and injured himself in a failed surprise attack. He wondered if the difference between them was so great or if he really lacked the ability."You ungrateful punk! I spared you, and you still had the gall to launch a surprise attack?" Josie's expression turned icy. "If you want t
When did another skilled young martial artist emerge in the martial world?"Josie, are you in any trouble?"Suddenly, a man dressed in green approached her. He was accompanied by a group of young martial artists. The man in green had a commanding air and a piercing gaze. His presence was so powerful that it forced onlookers to avert their eyes."Look at their clothes. They seem to be the members of the Soul Reapers?""You're right. He's Lance Alcott, the top disciple of the Soul Reapers.""Huh? Lance Alcott? I've heard that he's an outstanding young martial arts master. He has unmatched marksmanship and mysterious strength. He's considered to be the best martial artist of the younger generation. He even surpassed Josie.""If Lance is here, the situation will only get more interesting."The appearance of Lance caught everyone's attention. It was worth noting that the Soul Reapers was a prestigious guild like Boulderthorn. Although they didn't have as many members, the Soul Re
Seriously! Is this guy crazy? Is that how he talks to Lance?""The kid is pretty rude, doesn't he? He doesn't seem to realize how serious the situation is.""Can you believe it? A martial artist from a small guild challenging the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers? He's just looking for trouble!"Dustin's words caused a stir in the crowd.The martial artists were pointing and talking, and everyone stared at Dustin as if he were a fool. They wondered if it would be wiser to back down in the face of such a capable fighter as Lance.Dustin could have shown some respect and used polite words, even if it made him uncomfortable. That would have been safer than provoking Lance when he clearly couldn't win."What's going through that guy's mind?"Josie frowned. She didn't want to escalate the situation, but Dustin's words had only made things worse. It wasn't her problem anymore. But now, the reputation and honor of the Soul Reapers was at stake."Mr. Rhys, he's the Soul Reapers
"Lance, catch!" One of the disciples from the Soul Reapers tossed a finely crafted steel spear. As Lance grasped the spear, he appeared fierce and dominant. His exceptional spear skills and advanced training had made him a renowned figure. He was undefeated in the martial world for years. Today, he intended to impress the martial community again with his exceptional skills."Brat, you're one of the few who have made me use my spear in years. If you meet your end today, consider it an honor." Lance scowled.With a swift thrust, the long spear shot forward like an arrow. Lance quickly narrowed the distance as he held the shaft and spun it rapidly.Instantly, he became one with his spear. He charged forward like a dark storm. As he moved, a whirlwind followed him, causing the nearby martial artists to tremble in fear."Celestial Pursuit!" Lance and his spear became an unstoppable force as he advanced toward Dustin. His menacing presence shocked the spectators."What an incredib
"Whoa! Can you believe it? This guy took down the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers with just one finger?""What's going on? How can this kid be so strong?""Where did this monster come from? Did he actually defeat Lance? That's terrifying, isn't it?"The unexpected turn of events caused quite a stir.Everyone had expected Lance to win, but Dustin overpowered him. This showed a clear difference in their abilities, and it amazed them."Is he really that powerful?"Josie was taken aback. Initially, she assumed Dustin was only good at hidden weapons, but his physical power was astonishing. With a single finger, he had effortlessly flung Lance into the air. Among the martial artists of Balerno, no one was his equal."Rhys … Mr. Rhys defeated Lance?" Lyn rubbed her eyes in disbelief. She had always admired the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers. Even so, Dustin's easy victory was incredible."The chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers? He's so weak! He couldn't e
The crowd murmured among themselves as they looked at the broken broadsword and the stunned expression on Lycas' face."That strike was insanely fast and dead-on too," someone commented."I never expected General Derin's secret move to be defeated like that. It's unbelievable," another said."I thought General Derin could turn things around for us, but he still lost," a third added.Everyone knew how strong Lycas was. As a fully developed grandmaster with a broadsword, he was supposed to be unstoppable. However, at the critical moment, Dustin's strike shattered his broadsword.Lycas' loss was sudden and almost unbelievable. Some blamed bad luck and thought he could have won if things had gone differently. But those who truly understood what happened knew better.Even with Dustin's movement restricted and Lycas unleashing his strongest technique, he still pierced through the opening with near-impossible timing. That strike wasn't just lucky but masterful. It was a brutal display
Lycas gripped his broadsword with both hands and roared. The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap.He sidestepped sharply and charged straight at Dustin like a raging bull.The heavy broadsword moved like it weighed nothing in his hands. He swung it with brutal speed. Each arc cut through the air with a sharp, whistling howl, as if it could slice through anything in its path.The broadsword came crashing down on Dustin with bone-crushing force, like a mountain falling from the sky.Lycas threw his full weight into the swing. As the sword descended, the force of the strike stirred up dust from the ground. It sent plumes of dirt in every direction.He knew Dustin was no ordinary opponent. If he wanted a chance to win, he had to make the first move and seize the initiative."Nice form," Dustin said.As Lycas launched a powerful, aggressive attack, Dustin remained calm and unruffled. With effortless grace, he sidestepped without the slightest rush. The broadsword whizz
Bryce knew Dustin was strong, but this was beyond anything he anticipated. Though he had gained the upper hand early on, Bryce still believed his skills matched Dustin's.From his observation, Dustin relied on martial arts techniques and hit-and-run tactics. Plus, he didn't dare to confront Bryce head-on.He had assumed that as long as he found an opening, he could exploit Dustin's weaknesses and defeat him. But when Dustin finally stopped holding back, Bryce realized how wrong he'd been.It turned out Dustin wasn't just playing hit-and-run tactics. Instead, he'd held back the entire time to spare Bryce from an embarrassing defeat.The moment Dustin stopped holding back, Bryce didn't stand a chance. Even without special techniques, Dustin's raw power, speed, and reflexes were enough to crush him.The difference in their abilities was staggering, so much so that no amount of skill could close the gap.And it wasn't just Bryce who was shocked. Except for Nathaniel, who had already
Bryce's request for a fight heated up the atmosphere.Soldiers around the training ground started murmuring among themselves."Lieutenant General Gantz is a legend in our ranks. His combat skills are no joke—he's taken down countless enemies on the battlefield. I haven't seen him in action in years," one young soldier said with awe."Yeah," a veteran agreed. "Lieutenant General Gantz has been through countless battles, and his strength is unmatched. If he steps in, Mr. Rhys might be in for a rough time."After the fight earlier, the soldiers knew firsthand that Dustin was no slouch. Otherwise, he wouldn't have easily defeated the five elite soldiers.But in their minds, no matter how skilled Dustin was, he stood no chance against Bryce.Bryce was a grandmaster not just in rank but in skill, physical strength, and battlefield experience. He was stronger than any expert from the martial world.Nathaniel had once recruited several grandmaster martial artists to spar with them, but
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the