It was Cornelius who saved Nikki. When Dustin yelled, Cornelius appeared in front of them instantly. He grabbed the iron whip and broke it in half."How dare you!""You insolent bastard!"The Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples shouted. They were angry at Dustin and Cornelius for disrupting the punishment. Some took out their swords, looking ready to fight. Duistin ignored them and walked up to Nikki. His expression darkened when he saw her covered in wounds and looking close to death. It was one thing to steal credit; Dustin could have acted as if nothing happened. But now they had falsely accused a person and resorted to torture when things turned bad. It was outrageous!"All of you are fellow disciples. Do you think it's appropriate to use such inhumane methods?" Dustin scanned his surroundings, his gaze sharp. "We are punishing a traitor. Outsiders should leave immediately!" Letitia warned. "This is my territory. Naturally, it is my business when something has happened
"I will break your legs for humiliating Edith!" Letitia's gaze turned cold.She shot toward Dustin like a ghost. As a divine-level marital artist, her skills were second only to Edith and comparable to several elders of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood."Go to hell!" Cornelius' expression darkened when he saw Letitia trying to attack Dustin. He replicated Letitia's palm attack with equal force, resulting in a loud collision. He staggered a few steps back before steadying himself. But Letitia was sent flying a few meters away before crashing heavily into a large tree. It was like a car had hit her. The force left her coughing blood uncontrollably. "What?" The expressions of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples fell. Letitia's skills ranked among the top five of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood members. None of the disciples could match her power. Yet, she was severely injured by a skinny old man. It was astonishing! Even Edith appeared unsettled at that moment. They didn't expec
"Madam Edith!" The Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples were shocked to see Edith collapse. They surrounded her, trying everything they could to wake her up. But all their efforts were in vain due to the severity of her injuries. "Hurry up and get her a doctor!" Letitia commanded and got the disciples to carry Edith outside. "Injuries sustained from going to extremes in training are not something an ordinary doctor can treat. "Of course, if you admit to your mistakes and pay me five billion as a reward, I can consider saving Madam Parker," Dustin said impassively. "What nonsense! Five billion? Why don't you rob the bank instead?" Letitia glared at Dustin. "Edith is blessed and has luck on her side. Nothing will happen to her. "Even if she were on the brink of death, we will never beg for your help!" "Really? Good luck then." Dustin smiled. "Let's go!" Letitia wasted no time. With a wave of her hand, she led the group out. "Madam Edith!" Nikki struggled to approach them
Ruth's urgent voice quickly came through when the call connected."Dustin! Bad news! My sister is in trouble!""Trouble?" Dustin furrowed his brows. "What happened?""The family treasury has been robbed. My sister is the prime suspect. "They're going to use the house law on her!" Ruth exclaimed in panic."Try your best to hold them up. I'll be there as soon as I can!" Without a moment to spare, Dustin hung up and swiftly headed to the Harmons' residence with Cornelius.… Meanwhile, inside the Harmon's ancestral altar, a group of people blocked Natasha at the entrance. She was trapped with nowhere to go.The elders of the family were angry and filled with righteous indignation. They scolded her nonstop. "Natasha! How dare you conspire with outsiders to steal from the family treasury. You are truly an ungrateful daughter!""You have ruined our hundred-year-old legacy! How do you think you should be punished?""You bitch! How could the Harmons have raised such an ungrate
"Nonsense!" Hector knocked away the knife offered to him. "I know Natasha very well. She would never do anything like this! There must have been a mistake!"When Hector heard that his daughter was in trouble, he immediately rushed home. He didn't expect to be met with such a hostile scene as soon as he stepped inside.Were they going to enforce the house law? Who dared to enforce the house law while the head of the family was away? "Uncle Hector, it's impossible to know a person truly. Character is nothing in front of riches." Dylan shook his head and continued, "The treasury was robbed, and only you and your daughter have the keys. If it wasn't Natasha, was it you, then?""Nonsense!"Hector glared at Dylan and exclaimed, "As the family head, I consider myself upright and honorable. I would never do anything that harms our family!""Well, that's certainly unusual. If it wasn't you or Natasha, was it a ghost who did it?" Dylan asked sarcastically.The crowd was doubtful upon
"What?" Upon seeing the man, both Hector and Natasha frowned. They started to worry. "Uncle Hector, you should recognize this man, right?"Dylan walked around the attendant. "I caught this guy as he escaped with the treasures. "After a thorough interrogation, he confessed and admitted to his crimes. The key to the treasury is the evidence.""Hey! What are you still standing around for? "Hurry up and tell us the truth. This is your last chance to redeem yourself!" Kate stepped forward and kicked the attendant."It's not me … I had nothing to do with it!" With a thud, the man fell to his knees before pointing at Natasha. He groveled as he cried out, "It was all Miss Natasha's doing! She ordered me to do it. "I was just following orders. I don't know anything. "Please, I beg you, spare my life!""What are you talking about? When did I ever order you to do such a thing?" Natasha looked serious."Ms. Natasha, we have been exposed. There's no point in denying it. "You mi
"What? You're stepping down as the family head?" Hector's words caused the crowd to panic. Since he became the family head, Hector worked diligently and tirelessly to manage the family. He had kept everything in order.While no one in the entire family dared to challenge his authority, they found it hard to accept that he was stepping down. "Dad! All of this happened because of me. "I should be the one being punished, if ever. There's no need for you to bear the blame!" Natasha started to panic. If Hector stepped down from his position and handed over all his assets, decades of her father's hard work would be ruined.After that, they would be left with nothing and no chance to turn the situation around."Shut it! It's not your place to speak!" Hector turned back and roared.Power, status, and money were nothing to him compared to his daughter."Hector, are you sure about this?" Trent's eyes shone with delight before he regained his composure."Hector, resigning from the r
"Considering that this is Natasha's first offense, and she has shown timely remorse, we can spare her from physical punishment."However, Trent suddenly added, "But the family has suffered significant losses, and you must make amends. "Here's the deal: if you hand over the formula to Immortunol, I'll forget today ever happened.""The formula to Immortunol?"Natasha furrowed her brows and refused immediately, "Never!"She hadn't committed any crime. They had only given in to alleviate the situation. She couldn't believe they were pushing their luck and targeting the formula to Immortunol. Their greed knew no limits!They knew that the formula was an invaluable treasure. Even if Natasha gave up all her assets, she could still make a fresh start as long as she possessed the formula."Natasha Harmon! Uncle Trent is giving you a chance. Don't be ungrateful!" Dylan shouted."Hmph! You'll face our house law if you don't hand over the formula. Let's see how you fare then!" Kate look
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