An Understated Dominance (Chinese Version) Chapter 901-1000

Chapter 911 “The Jade Maiden Scripture?” Dustin was taken aback
momentarily, then burst into laughter: “Well, well! All that talk, and it
turns out this is what it’s about.” He had assumed that the other party
might have a hint of conscience, their words being motivated by concern
for his safety. But now, it was clear that it was all a charade. Their
real aim remained fixated on the Jade Maiden Scripture. “Dustin, the Jade
Maiden Scripture holds great significance for me. I hope you could see
your way to returning it,” Nikki’s tone was tinged with embarrassment,
yet her gaze held unwavering determination. “I’ve already handed over the
Jade Maiden Scripture to you. So, why this sudden request?” Dustin’s
expression grew chilly. “Don’t play innocent. I’m aware that you pilfered
the Jade Maiden Scripture. If you give it back now, we could still
salvage our amicable terms,” Nikki said with gravitas. “Firstly, I didn’t
lay a finger on any Jade Maiden Scripture. If you misplaced it, that’s
your predicament, and I’m not involved. Secondly, the notion of us being
friends is laughable.” Dustin’s retort was marked by sarcasm. “Dustin!
Must you persist with this facade? The Jade Maiden Scripture serves you
no purpose. Restoring it to me might earn you a favor,” Nikki’s brow
furrowed. She had held a more favorable opinion of him earlier, but now,
his true colors were showing – a hypocrite. Stealing the Jade Maiden
Scripture covertly, only to compel her into a reconciliation. How
despicable. “Are you hard of hearing? Let me reiterate: the Jade Maiden
Scripture isn’t in my possession. And even if I did have it, so what? I
wouldn’t part with it easily, not for you,” Dustin’s voice dripped with
frost. “You—!” Nikki’s patience was waning. This man was indeed a
treacherous scoundrel. “Dustin! The Jade Maiden Scripture originates from
our Jade Maiden Palace, so why keep it against its rightful home?”
Embarrassment gave way to anger in Nikki’s demeanor: “If you persist with
this obstinacy, I won’t hesitate to expose your scandal. Your reputation
will crumble, and regrets won’t mend it!” “Heh… Are you attempting to
intimidate me?” Dustin’s lips curled into a smile, yet his eyes remained
frosty: “Nikki, my tolerance is wearing thin. It’d be wise not to test my
limits.” “Hmph! Is your theft somehow justified?” Nikki’s voice was
stern: “Furthermore, the debt of my brother’s death still hangs unsettled
between us. You owe me an explanation today!” “Silence!” Dustin’s roar
was thunderous, his gaze piercing: “Nikki, your brother is a topic you’re
not entitled to broach. Were it not for his face, my reaction would have
been far more severe!” “What? You dare lay a finger on me?” Nikki’s glare
intensified: “You’re the one who stole my sect’s treasure and murdered my
brother – a loathsome villain!” A resounding slap echoed as Dustin’s hand
met Nikki’s cheek. The forceful blow sent her crashing to the ground.
Blood trickled from her nose and mouth, her distress evident. “You… How
dare you strike me?” Nikki cradled her burning cheek, disbelief etched
across her features. She had administered the medicine to killian the
previous night, to no effect. Yet today, in front of witnesses, he had
openly slapped her. “With that slap, I’m repaying Nelson’s dues. Should
your insolence persist, I won’t hesitate to break your legs!” Dustin’s
voice thundered. “You—!” Nikki clenched her teeth, eyes brimming with
resentment. But with Cornelius watching keenly, retaliation was out of
the question. She could only swallow her pride. “Having you as his sister
is a disgrace to Nelson’s memory.” Dustin’s cold remark followed as he
stepped over her. “You wretched villain! I’ll soon have the stage, and
I’ll relish witnessing Terry Doyle’s tearing you limb from limb!” Nikki
seethed, her curse dripping with venom. In this moment, her demeanor was
one of madness, grotesque even. Like a specter consumed by rage.

Chapter 912
Confronting the curse, Dustin paid no heed and continued straight
ahead.

He had given his utmost effort.

Nevertheless, Nikki was obstinate, echoing the same demeanor as the
jade girl Edith and her companions.
No matter how much assistance he offered, no matter how much
persuasion he exerted, it proved futile.
In fact, it might even backfire.
Such a woman was already incurable, beyond remedy.
He saw no point in tending to it, thus he feigned unfamiliarity.
“How did it go? Have you managed to secure the Jade Girl Manual?”
At that moment, Edith arrived with a cohort of disciples.
Since the loss of the Jade Girl Sutra the previous night, it had been
gnawing at her.
Hence, the moment Dustin appeared, she promptly dispatched Nikki to
attempt the retrieval of the sect’s treasure.
“Master, that chap refused outright and even administered a slap.”
Nikki covered her face, her expression one of aggrievement.
“What? Impossible.”
Edith’s brows knitted. “Didn’t I advise you to first gain his trust
and then cajole him? How did you miscalculate?”
“Master, I tried the cajoling and coaxing. It’s just that Dustin
didn’t take the bait; he was exceedingly cautious. He doesn’t show the
slightest interest in the Jade Girl Scripture.” Nikki sobbed.
“Incompetent! Unable to accomplish even a trivial task!”
Edith was visibly perturbed.
Had the crowd been smaller, she might have issued a couple of slaps
to vent her frustration.
“Master, considering that Dustin has purloined the Jade Girl
Scripture, I reckon he might have deposited it at Fengyu Villa.” Nikki
unexpectedly remarked.
“And then?” Edith inquired, squinting.
“This could be our opportunity!”
Lowering her voice, Nikki divulged, “Master, in today’s
confrontation, Dustin is bound to suffer defeat, possibly even die. Once
he’s out of the picture, we’ll have no impediments. That’s when we can
conveniently infiltrate Fengyu Mountain Villa to retrieve the Jade Girl
Scripture.”
“Well… it does make sense.”
Edith nodded contemplatively before adding, “Nevertheless, Fengyu
Villa teems with inhabitants, covertly scouring the area could prove
arduous.”
“Why the trouble, Master? Fengyu Villa comprises a motley crew of
insignificant figures. If you ask for my opinion, it’s best to eliminate
the lot of them to avoid future nuisances.” Nikki’s expression turned
dark.
“Wipe them all out?”
Edith raised an eyebrow. “Is that truly necessary?”
“Master, now that we’ve already exposed our intentions, there’s no
need to hold back. The only way to ensure lasting tranquility is by
eradicating the root cause.” Nikki’s tone grew ominous.
“That’s a valid point. Your reasoning is commendable; you’ve finally
matured,” Edith responded, a trace of vigilance lingering in her
captivating eyes.
In her memory, Nikki perpetually embodied the image of an obedient
child, seemingly harmless to both man and beast.
Never had she suspected the existence of such a sinister facet.
If dissension arose, Nikki seemed capable of decimating an entire
clan.
The thought sent a shiver down Edith’s spine.
An individual who wore a veneer of affability but harboured
malevolent intentions was the true embodiment of terror. One day, that
individual might plunge a blade in her back…
“Dustin!”
As Dustin neared Qingyang Lake, a commanding voice rang out.
Glancing backward, he espied a cohort from the Dong family advancing
in a formidable formation.
Leading the group was Dong Changheng, the head of the Dong family,
flanked by Terry Doyle, Dong Mengxiang, and their entourage.
The key members of the Dong family had congregated.
“Dustin, your audacity astounds me. You actually have the nerve to
come and do battle?” Dong Changheng was the first to speak, a trace of
hostility in his gaze.
Dustin’s previous challenge to the family had left the Dong clan
thoroughly humiliated and disgraced.
Today was Dong Changheng’s chance to exact retribution and resurrect
the family’s honour.
“All the battle invitations were delivered to me. If I didn’t appear,
wouldn’t I be branded a coward?” Dustin retorted, his tone nonchalant.
“Hehe… it’s better to be a coward than to end up dead.” Terry Doyle
sneered.
His concern wasn’t that Dustin would come; it was that he wouldn’t.
Once he’d arrived, he’d sealed his fate. “You, Dustin! Your death
date is today, one year from now!” Dong Mengxiang’s countenance was dark
as he uttered this menacing prophecy.

Chapter 913
She still vividly remembered the scene of being violently beaten by
Dustin.

For this guy in front of her, she hated it to the bone.

Now, finally, there is a chance for revenge.
“Stop talking nonsense, let Terry Doyle’s come out.” Terry Doyle
looked indifferent.
“Hmph! To challenge my master, you have to pass me first!”
At this time, a terrifying momentum suddenly broke out in the crowd.
Immediately afterwards, a man and a woman soared into the air,
crossed a distance of more than ten meters in an instant, and then landed
lightly in front of the camp of the Doyle family.
The man was tall, with sharp eyes, and his breath was like fire,
bursting and hot.
The woman has a graceful figure, an indifferent complexion, and her
aura is like ice, sharp and cold.
One man and one woman, one ice and one fire, are completely two
extremes.
“Brother! Sister! Why are you here?”
Seeing the two of them, Terry Doyle couldn’t help but look happy.
“I heard that you were being bullied, so naturally we have to come
over to support the scene.” The man smiled heartily.
The woman nodded slightly as a greeting.
“Terry, these two are…”
Doyle Changheng was a little curious.
“Dad! Let me introduce you. This is my senior brother, Chen Huo; this
is my second senior sister, Wang Bing.”
“They are not only a husband and wife, but also the famous Ice and
Fire Shuangsha on the Tianbang!”
Terry Doyle made introductions respectively.
“Ice and Fire Twin Demons?”
As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar all around.
Ice and Fire Shuangsha, that is the top powerhouse ranked fifth and
sixth in the heaven list!
Take it out alone, it is already invincible, and it is rare to meet
an opponent.
Once joined forces, it is even more terrifying. Below the master,
almost no one can stop it!
“I didn’t expect the Ice and Fire Shuangsha to come, what a gathering
of masters today!”
“Binghuo Shuangsha is Terry Doyle’s senior brother and sister.
Judging from this posture, they are going to stand up for their junior
brother.”
“Hmph! That bastard surnamed Dustin is in trouble now!”
Everyone whispered and pointed.
In addition to being surprised, they also gloated a little more.
“Hahaha…It turns out that they are Terry’s brothers and sisters, so
they are all family members.”
After learning his identity, Doyle Changheng smiled instantly.
As a family of ancient martial arts, the Doyle family naturally
understands that strength is the most important thing.
The two in front of me are at the top of the list, and no matter
where they go, they are admired by thousands of people.
Such a strong person naturally has to build a good relationship.
“Eldest brother! You came at the right time, you don’t need master to
do anything, just kill this kid and it’s over!” Terry Doyle stretched out
his hand.
“Don’t worry, leave it to me.”
Chen Huo smiled slightly, turned his eyes to Dustin, and said
contemptuously: “Boy! How dare you challenge my master? Do you think you
are worthy?”
“First of all, you have to make it clear that I am not challenging
your master, it is your master challenging me.” Chase Lu corrected.
“What?”
Chen Huo’s face darkened: “Boy, if you have the guts, say it again!”
Who challenges who, although the meaning is the same, but the
difference is very big.
Because it is often the weak who challenge the strong.
Whoever admits to be the challenger will be a head shorter.
“I said, it’s your master, challenge me.”
Dustin didn’t change his face, and repeated a sentence.
“you wanna die!”
Chen Huo became angry instantly, and without saying a word, he
punched out directly.
A mass of scorching flames rose up in an instant, and suddenly rushed
toward Dustin.

Chapter 914
As Cornelius threw his punch, his movement was swift and sudden.

I observed him take a step forward, thrusting ahead, and swiftly
launching a powerful Bengquan punch.

His fist’s surface was enveloped in a potent layer of qi, colliding
forcefully with Chen Huo’s flames.
“Boom!”
A resounding explosion echoed as energy erupted, casting sparks in
all directions.
Cornelius merely trembled slightly, standing his ground firmly.
On the contrary, Chen Huo was driven back, retreating a dozen steps
in quick succession, each step leaving a deep imprint on the ground.
In an instant, the outcome was clear.
“Blimey! Who might this old bloke be? ‘E can actually put the fifth
master on the heaven list in ‘is place!”
“Going toe to toe with Chen Huo and still managing the upper hand,
this fella ain’t ordinary!”
“Balerno’s surely got some hidden gems. Every random old codger seems
to be a powerhouse.”
Cornelius’ remarkable display left many onlookers astonished.
A lanky old man who, in a direct clash, could outshine Chen Huo’s
prowess.
His strength spoke volumes.
“Who the blazes are you? Daring to impede me?!”
Chen Huo’s face darkened, unable to hide his irritation.
He had journeyed all the way from Oakvalex to establish his
dominance, only to find himself suffering an unexpected setback on his
first move.
“Some unknown soul, not worth a mention,” Cornelius remarked
casually.
“Ain’t you got no respect? Alright then! Today, I’ll make ya talk, I
will!”
Chen Huo spared no time for chit-chat, launching himself at Cornelius
once more.
This time, Cornelius was the direct target.
“Earth Fist!” As he closed in, Chen Huo’s fists mirrored thunder,
swift as lightning, raining down relentlessly.
In a blink, eighteen punches were hurled.
Instantly, the sky seemed to be woven with a tapestry of fist
shadows, enclosing Cornelius like a spider’s web.
These shadows came tinged with flames; a mere touch would set
anything ablaze.
“Petty tricks,” Cornelius’ demeanor remained unperturbed, palms
transforming the fists.
Pushing gently with both hands, he employed the Tai Chi principle of
yielding against hardness, adeptly blocking all eighteen of Chen Huo’s
punches.
Chen Huo’s furious and explosive strikes proved futile against
Cornelius’ advanced technique.
Each fist seemed to collide with cotton, inflicting no harm.
“Heavenly Collapse Fist!”
Chen Huo’s frustration grew into anger; he channeled all his energy
into another assault.
This time, his punches were faster and mightier.
Cornelius maneuvered with both defense and evasion, making it look
effortless.
Both his physical and combat skills stood in a league of their own.
Seeing his momentum wane after failing to land a hit for some time,
Chen Huo eventually cried out in desperation, “Junior sister, lend me a
hand!”
“Clang!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth, Derik unsheathed her sword
and lashed out mercilessly at Cornelius.
Her blade danced with swiftness, ferocity, unpredictability, and
remarkable flexibility.
With every thrust, a rush of icy air enveloped her, seemingly
freezing the very atmosphere.
“Devious, that one?”
Cornelius knitted his brows, his demeanor turning grave.
Chen Huo’s fighting style emanated power and ferocity.
Conversely, Derik embodied the opposite—misdirection and confounding
tactics.
Together, they formed a formidable duo, their synergy amplifying
their strength.
Truly worthy of their moniker, the “Ice and Fire Shuangsha” (Twin
Fiends of Ice and Fire). Any ordinary expert would have likely succumbed
by now.
Nevertheless, Cornelius harbored hidden depths and a solid
foundation. Even against their combined onslaught, he held his ground.
His prowess was nothing short of astonishing.
“Leader Ronald Reeds, when did the Balerno Martial Arts League
produce such an exceptional individual again?”
Within the pavilion, Conrad appeared genuinely taken aback.
That frail elderly figure, standing toe to toe with the twin forces
of ice and fire, had likely reached the realm of a semi-master.
Such a masterful figure would be a standout wherever they went.
“Haven’t laid eyes on him before, a complete stranger to me,” Ronald
Reeds responded, shaking his head.

Chapter 915
He found it rather odd that a master-level practitioner at the halfstep stage could already hold the position of an elder within the Martial
Alliance.

Why are you tailing Dustin?

Could it be that you were enticed with a hefty sum to aid in the
battle?
“I haven’t laid eyes on you all evening, and that elderly gentleman
appears to have regained his strength?”
Meanwhile, Edith regarded him with an unfriendly countenance, showing
considerable resentment.
For numerous years, she had lingered at the half-step master level,
unable to make any headway.
Conversely, Cornelius still possessed room for advancement,
inevitably evoking jealousy.
“Blast it all! What sort of background does that elderly man possess?
He can’t even rein in the spirits of ice and fire.” Terry Doyle exhibited
a touch of anxiety.
“Stay composed; at least, for now, the Ice and Fire Demons continue
to hold the upper hand.” Dong Changheng soothed while stroking his beard.
Occupying the fifth or sixth spot on the Heavenly Ranking is no
trivial feat, wouldn’t you say?
Especially now that they’ve joined forces, they stand invincible, and
it’s merely a matter of time before they vanquish their adversaries.
“Fret not, that old chap is no match for my senior brother and
sister.”
Dong Tianbao affirmed confidently, stating, “I’m convinced he’ll be
bested in under three minutes!”
Hardly had he finished speaking when a cry of “ah” pierced the air.
Chen Huo, completely drained, was unexpectedly struck in the chest by
Cornelius. He was sent hurtling several meters, colliding heavily with a
tree before expelling blood.
“Brother!”
Wang Bing’s expression altered, causing him to halt his assault.
Seizing this opportune distraction, Cornelius promptly seized the
opening, delivering another forceful palm strike that landed squarely on
Wang Bing’s back.
Wang Bing emitted a stifled groan, sent sailing several meters, and
collapsed next to Chen Huo, vomiting blood.
In the blink of an eye, the tables had turned.
“What? The ice and fire demons were actually defeated? Am I
deciphering this correctly?”
“Good gracious, that elderly man is potent. He’s managed to vanquish
two opponents.”
“Truly, he’s a master adept at concealing his prowess!”
Cornelius’ triumph instantaneously caused a commotion. Everyone
became even more intrigued by this enigmatic powerhouse.
“How’s this possible?!”
Dong Tianbao’s grin solidified, replaced by astonishment etched onto
his face.
He genuinely hadn’t anticipated that his senior brother and sister
would be incapable of prevailing against an elderly man.
Could it be that he had miscalculated his adversary?
“this…”
Dong Changheng and the others exchanged perplexed glances, their
confidence wavering.
They had presumed that the ice and fire demons could buttress the
Dong family, only to witness their abrupt downfall.
“Old fellow! Just who are you?!”
Chen Huo clutched his chest, a mixture of shock and indignation
coloring his features.
The foe continually engaged, deliberately depleting his stamina, and
when his breath wavered, pounced with unerring accuracy, achieving
victory. Such treacherous and cunning tactics!
He found the defeat utterly unsatisfactory!
“It matters not who I am. If I dare assail Dustin, I shall ensure you
have no future!”
Cornelius’ gaze turned fierce as he struck once more, his palm rising
abruptly.
Given that he was an adversary, mercy couldn’t find a place in the
exchange.
“Outrageous!”
In a sudden explosion, thunder reverberated through the atmosphere.
The waters of the lake rippled, and aquatic life leapt in response.
The individuals stationed along the shoreline felt a momentary
suspension of breath, accompanied by a ringing in their ears.
Vaguely, it was as if a colossal mountain pressed down upon them.
“Whoosh!”
Simultaneous with the shouts, a beam of white light shot forth from
the extremity of Qingyang Lake, leaving a lengthy trail in its wake.
Propelled by the force capable of rending heaven and earth, it
squarely struck Cornelius.
In the wake of the white light’s passage, the lake’s surface split
asunder, akin to a knife slicing through tofu.
“Um?!” Cornelius’ countenance underwent a drastic transformation.
Bound by his Qi, he had naught but to cross his arms and muster his
entire Qi to oppose the assault.
“Boom!”
A resounding crash ensued.
Much like a meteor plummeting to earth, the white light collided
forcefully with Cornelius’ protective Qi.
The subsequent moment found Cornelius being hit with the force of a
train. Propelled more than ten meters away, he spewed forth blood.
Meanwhile, the white light, having repelled Cornelius, descended
gently, swaying with the breeze.
It turned out to be a leaf!
From thousands of meters away, airborne leaves had the power to
inflict harm. Such is the might of a master!

Chapter 916
“What?!”

The sight of Cornelius being propelled into the air left everyone in
utter astonishment.

Everyone had witnessed Cornelius’s remarkable strength moments
before.
Singlehandedly vanquishing the two malevolent ice and fire spirits
had been a truly majestic feat.
Yet, this incredibly robust individual had been left spewing blood
and hurtling through the air due to a mere leaf—such an unexpected turn
of events!
More bewildering still was the fact that the leaf had been launched
from a distance of a thousand metres.
Who, from so far away, possessed the capability to inflict severe
harm upon a semi-master level adept, leaving him incapacitated?
“Look who’s here!”
Under the spotlight’s glare.
Emerging at the edge of Qingyang Lake was a senior gentleman garbed
in pristine white attire, his hair a snowy hue, his visage oddly
youthful.
With his hands serenely clasped behind his back, he trod upon the
lake’s surface with an air of casual grace.
With each step, concentric ripples akin to lotus blossoms radiated
across the water’s expanse, inducing fish and shrimp to gambol and give
chase.
At a glance, it was akin to witnessing a deity’s descent, poised amid
the nebulous shrouds.
His every motion exuded a distinct air of elegance and magnificence.
“Strolling on water, spawning lotus blooms with each stride—an
epitome of martial prowess!” a voice erupted from the throngs, punctuated
by an audible gasp.
In an instant, the entire scene ignited.
For many present, a grandmaster was a rarefied enigma, an almost
mythical presence they’d scarcely come into proximity with.
Now, to observe a grandmaster’s poise in person, this was an awestriking occurrence indeed.
“Master!” Terry Doyle, his countenance alight, greeted the appearance
of the white-haired, cherubic-faced old gentleman.
The weight that had hung heavily on his heart finally eased.
His senior siblings’ defeat had cast him into a palpable unease. With
the master’s intervention, victory would undoubtedly grace their side!
“So, this is Terry Doyle’s? His renown is clearly well-deserved!”
Ronald Reeds remarked, a fusion of astonishment and jubilation tinging
his tone.
Though distanced by thousands of metres, the feat of vanquishing a
semi-master warrior with a solitary leaf was nothing short of
astonishing.
“Hahaha… our saviour has descended at last!” A momentary daze was
succeeded by unbridled elation for Edith.
With a martial grandmaster at the helm, who would dare to transgress
in the Dong family’s presence?
“Hmph! With Terry Doyle’s arrival, Lu Chen is doomed!” On the
opposing flank, Brittany, wheelchair-bound, chortled with a mix of
disdain and glee.
“Anyone below the Grandmaster tier is but an insect. This holds true
indeed,” Nikki Horst mumbled to herself, concealed perturbation seeping
into her voice.
She, herself a semi-master level adept, perceived herself as superior
to Cornelius.
Yet, she remained uncertain of her odds against the leaf dispatched
by Lord Ziyang.
In essence, Terry Doyle’s could dispatch her with ease!
Though hovering near the brink of grandmaster status, the chasm that
separated her from it was insurmountable—a divide bridged by a mere halfstep.
Such was the dread wielded by a martial grandmaster.
“Hmph! You ignored my counsel, and now, with Terry Doyle’s advent,
regrets shall avail you naught!” Conrad exulted, gazing towards Lu Chen
with a sinister satisfaction.
The more wretched Lu Chen’s plight, the greater Conrad’s glee.
She yearned to see him prostrate himself, beg her forgiveness, and
supplicate for mercy!
“It’s been a few years, and yet Terry Doyle’s power seems to have
burgeoned once more,” Conrad noted from the pavilion, her smile bearing a
sly undertone.
“Years of reclusive cultivation, as expected,” Ronald Reeds
concurred. Terry Doyle’s reputation was entirely justified, his might
formidable.
Still, another had come to the fore and supplanted him.
Emerging from seclusion anew, he likely sought to reassert himself
among the pantheon of the Five Great Masters.
“Cough cough cough…” Cornelius, the injured warrior, convulsed in
violent coughs, pallor etching his features, his vigour utterly sapped.
Grandmasters were unquestionably fearsome.
“Who dares harm my disciple? Who granted you such audacity?” As the
gap closed to a mere hundred metres, Terry Doyle’s fingers curled into a
claw, grazing the lake’s surface.
Water surged and rallied, coalescing swiftly to form a palm-sized
aqueous sphere.
Within this sphere cavorted a minuscule fish.
“Perish!” With a sweep of his hand, the water-sphere hurtled forth, a
cannonball unleashed, hurtling straight for Cornelius.
The impact of such cataclysmic force could only culminate in
obliteration.
“Launch!” However, as Cornelius teetered on the precipice of
obliteration, a silver needle streaked forth, piercing the aqueous orb
with precision.
Note:

Chapter 917 The water sphere exploded with a pop Even the fish inside
exploded into a bloody mist “Huh?” Augustus frowned at the unexpected
scene Though he had made a simple attack, it wasn’t an attack an ordinary
person could defend against. “Augustus Kline, your opponent is me Dustin
stepped out while shielding Cornelius. “So you’re Dustin Rhys?” Augustus
gave him a once–over. His gaze was sharp, cold, and imposing. He exuded
an air of indifference, resembling a God looking down upon insignificant
mortals. “That would be me.” Dustin was stoic. “Break your limbs, destroy
your core, and apologize to Terry on your knees. That way, I will let you
live,” Augustus spat out coldly. Although his tone was relatively
composed, an underlying dominance was unmistakably present. “Hey, Rhys!
Did you hear that? Hurry up and destroy your core, then kneel and
apologize! Terry yelled arrogantly. He wouldn’t pass up the chance to
humiliate Dustin. After all, Dustin would be entirely under his control
once he lost his cultivation “Hmph! You’re lucky to be able to keep your
pathetic life.” Maggie sneered. She crossed her arms with disdain.
Augustus was too kind. She would have ended him with a single strike
instead. “We haven’t even started our fight. But you’re already making
bold claims. Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?” Dustin said
impassively. “What? You’re still brave enough to challenge me?” Augustus
cast Dustin a sidelong glance. It was just a glance, but a fierce wind
roared around them. Even water rippled endlessly. “No, you’ve got it
wrong.” Dustin’s gaze grew increasingly sharp. “I’m not here to challenge
you. I’m here to cripple you!” His words ignited a frenzy among the
crowd. “What the F*ck? Is this guy out of his mind? He actually spoke to
Augustus like that?” “This guy is too naive. He has no idea how
terrifying a grandmaster can be!” “How is he so arrogant at his age? He’s
practically asking for death!” Dustin’s words had caused a tremendous
stir among the crowd. Some admonished him, some sneered at him with
disdain, and others sought to add fuel to the fire. Who did he think
Augustus Kline was? Augustus was a grammmmmier will a presente miliju vou
imemtiosimy provoking a suviy nymer like him was essentially asking for
death. “Arrogant brat You must die today! Not even the emperor can save
your Though Augustus was slightly taken aback, he soon erupted in fury.
He shot across the air as he launched a palm strike In an instant, the
lake divided in half, and a surging wave emerged. A massive pillar of
water suddenly shot up into the sky, resembling a giant python. It
twisted around twice before crashing down violently on Dustin. As it
passed, a wild wind raged and caused aquatic life to jump out. Even
massive trees toppled The power shown was utterly terrifying. “Now that
you’ve angered Augustus, let’s see if you can survive this!” Upon seeing
this, the disciples of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood gloated openly. “Hmph!
Challenging a grandmaster is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. That
guy is digging his own grave!” The members of the Doyle family sneered.
It was as if they were looking at a corpse. “A grandmaster should never
be insulted. This young man is probably going to meet his end here.”
Conrad sighed as he shook his head, feeling regretful. “This guy has
committed endless crimes. He deserves to die!” The Hill family applauded
and cheered. They felt vindicated. Almost everyone believed that Dustin
was sure to be a dead man. Just as the python–like column of water was
about to come crashing down on Dustin, he suddenly moved With a quick tap
of his toes, he launched himself forward. He turned into a white streak
of light as he broke through the “python” and continued toward Augustus.
“Huh?” Augustus‘ expression shifted dramatically. He unleashed a series
of palm strikes, creating numerous water pillars as he tried to stop
Dustin. However, the light was unstoppable as it pierced through all the
pillars. Eventually, the light arced through the air. Then, it collided
with a tremendous force against Augustus‘ protective true energy barrier.
With a resounding bang, Augustus‘ protective barrier exploded, dissolving
into waves of light. His body was thrown upwards like a kite disconnected
from its string. Then, he fell into the lake. Augustus disappeared from
view. A deathly silence engulfed the scene. Only the sound of water
bubbling on the surface of the lake could be heard.

Chapter 918 Only silence filled the scene. Everyone was dumbfounded.
Their eyes widened in disbelief. Nobody expected a great martial artist
like Augustus to crash into the water with one strike. He was a
grandmaster, for God’s sake! His presence was like a divine being to
ordinary martial artists. A flick of a finger could take a life, and a
simple attack could defeat a divine–level martial artist! Under normal
circumstances, a top–tier skilled martial artist like him should be
invincible. He could crush everything effortlessly. What the hell was
going on, then? The revered Augustus was defeated on their first
encounter. How the hell was that possible? After a brief silence, the
area around Shinefield Lake erupted into a frenzy. “Oh my God! Am I
seeing things? Augustus Kline was sent into the water?” “No! That’s not
possible! A grandmaster is like God. How could an ordinary person
compare?” “A grandmaster can only be defeated by another grandmaster.
Could that man actually be a grandmaster already?” “A young grandmaster!
He’s actually a young grandmaster!” “We have a monster in the Balerno
martial arts alliance!” The excitement at the scene reached its peak as
the crowd looked at Dustin standing on the surface of the lake. All of
them were dumbstruck. “H–How is that possible? H–He. He’s a grandmaster?”
It was as if Terry was hit by lightning as the color drained from his
face. He had thought Dustin was only slightly stronger than him. He
didn’t expect him to turn out to be a grandmaster already. If Dustin
wanted to kill him, it would be like killing an ant. The blow left him in
despair. It wasn’t only him. The rest of the Doyle family members looked
astonished and scared. “Why? Why is he so strong?” Brittany shook her
head continuously in disbelief. She couldn’t accept that that fanboy was
a formidable fighter. “We’re doomed… We offended a young grandmaster.
We’re in big trouble!” Letitia was terrified. She broke out in a cold
sweat! “How could this be? Why the hell is he a grandmaster?” Edith was
shocked and jealous. She had trained for many years but was unable to
make a Augustus was a yiaumaster win a pum e anni luguu memunany
provoning a sunny nymer like him was essentially asking for death
“Arrogant brat! You must die today! Not even the emperor can save you!”
Though Augustus was slightly taken aback, he soon erupted in fury. He
shot across the air as he launched a palm strike. In an instant, the lake
divided in half, and a surging wave emerged A massive pillar of water
suddenly shot up into the sky, resembling a giant python. It twisted
around twice before crashing down violently on Dustin. As it passed, a
wild wind raged and caused aquatic life to jump out. Even massive trees
toppled. The power shown was utterly terrifying. “Now that you’ve angered
Augustus, let’s see if you can survive this!” Upon seeing this, the
disciples of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood gloated openly. “Hmph!
Challenging a grandmaster is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. That
guy is digging his own grave!” The members of the Doyle family sneered.
It was as if they were looking at a corpse. “A grandmaster should never
be insulted. This young man is probably going to meet his end here.”
Conrad sighed as he shook his head, feeling regretful. “This guy has
committed endless crimes. He deserves to die!” The Hill family applauded
and cheered. They felt vindicated. Almost everyone believed that Dustin
was sure to be a dead man. Just as the python–like column of water was
about to come crashing down on Dustin, he suddenly moved With a quick tap
of his toes, he launched himself forward. He turned into a white streak
of light as he broke through the “python” and continued toward Augustus.
“Huh?” Augustus‘ expression shifted dramatically. He unleashed a series
of palm strikes, creating numerous water pillars as he tried to stop
Dustin. However, the light was unstoppable as it pierced through all the
pillars. Eventually, the light arced through the air. Then, it collided
with a tremendous force against Augustus‘ protective true energy barrier.
With a resounding bang, Augustus‘ protective barrier exploded, dissolving
into waves of light. His body was thrown upwards like a kite disconnected
from its string. Then, he fell into the lake. Augustus disappeared from
view. A deathly silence engulfed the scene. Only the sound of water
bubbling on the surface of the lake could be heard.

Chapter 919 It was Augustus, who was just sent crashing into the
water! ths hair was disheveled, and his entire body was drenched He
looked awful He wasn’t badly injured However, he couldn’t get back his
initial glory as a grandmaster. “Master Augustus is actually alright?
That’s great! Seeing this. Terry was reenergized. He also regained his
confidence. The surprised crowd also had their hopes restored, Dustin was
indeed a young grandmaster, but Augustus was a grandmaster too. Earlier,
he had been too reckless Augustus had underestimated his enemy, which led
to his loss. As a veteran grandmaster, Augustus would surely be more
skilled if they fought head–on. “Young man, how dare you attack me by
surprise? Augustus came out of the water. He gritted his teeth with a
fierce expression. He looked as though he wanted to eat somebody.
Augustus had never felt so embarrassed. He had his dignity wiped by a
punk in front of everyone. It was a huge humiliation! “A surprise attack?
But you attacked first.” Dustin put his hands behind his back. He stood
on the surface of the lake, his body moving up and down with the waves.
“Hmph, I underestimated you earlier. That’s why you managed to find an
opportunity to strike,” Augustus said. Then, he continued, “This time, I
won’t hold back. I’ll show you the difference between us as
grandmasters!” With that, Augustus tapped his foot on the surface of the
lake. A huge wave burst out. At the same time, his whole body shot up
like an arrow from a bow. He flew toward Dustin. Wherever he flew over,
his grandmaster’s energy formed a large trench on the surface of the
lake. Dustin wasn’t afraid at all. He also shot himself upward to meet
Augustus. Like cars speeding toward each other, they collided. Then came
a loud, earth–shattering noise. When they collided, water splashed up as
high as fifty feet. An energy light wave burst forth. It made a huge wave
that crashed violently in every direction. Wave after wave slammed
against the land! Delvie tie lidilidi dusts Stay by шe lake could react,
the water au un tiem iey were soaked from head to toe. After that move,
the two people in the middle of the lake didn’t stop there. They
continued to attack each other. They exchanged blows, each giving and
taking. They created countless splashes and roaring waves. Even from
three hundred feet away, everyone could feel their overwhelming power.
Every attack seemed capable of destroying the earth and moving mountains.
They were all scared out of their minds. “This is what grandmaster
martial artists are like? They’re as scary as I thought!” “This battle is
intense. I really don’t know who will win.” “Is that even a question? Of
course, it’s going to be Sir Augustus. Can’t you see that the punk is
already struggling to catch his breath?” “That’s right! As a veteran
grandmaster, Sir Augustus has a solid foundation. He has several tricks.
up his sleeve, so he ought to emerge victorious.” As the crowd watched
the fight, they even made all sorts of comments to the point of being
overly critical. To them, Dustin could only get the upper hand earlier
because Augustus had underestimated him. Otherwise, how could he have had
an advantage? At that moment, there was a thunderous noise from the
middle of the lake. In an instant, the earth swayed, and the waves
surged. Amid strong waves, the two figures clashed. Then, they retreated
several hundred feet in separate directions. At last, they regained their
footing on the surface of the lake. In the next second, Dustin suddenly
spat out a mouthful of dark blood. His figure swayed, and he almost fell
into the water. “Hahaha… he lost! The punk lost!” Terry and the others
cheered in delight. “As expected of Sir Augustus. He deserves his
reputation. How impressive!” The Hill family also perked up. “Hmph, so
what if he’s a young grandmaster? He’ll still die in Sir Augustus‘
hands.” The disciples from the Jade Maiden Sisterhood celebrated Dustin’s
defeat. They kicked him while he was down. JE MARNE Bugha the end. UE
ULURIJE A expected. “Punk, do you know what strength looks like? This is
the gap between grandmasters! You should be honored to die by my hand
today!” Augustus cackled As he laughed, his body suddenly exploded like a
balloon! Hie entire being turned into a cloud of fog, and nothing was
left of his body!

Chapter 920 “What The crowd was stunned as they watched blood fog
fill the air They were all rooted to the spot. It was as if they’d been
struck by lightning No one could have expected to see such a shocking
sight. Didn’t Augustus win? Why? Why did he suddenly explode? That was
none other than Sir Augustus, the peerless grandmaster martial artist! He
was a living legend! Someone like him died… just like that?! He was
dead?! “Master…?” Terry’s jaw dropped open He stood there in a daze. His
face paled. He couldn’t believe his eyes. His invincible, extraordinary
master had suddenly exploded and died. Even his body was gone. “He’s
dead? Sir Augustus is actually dead?!” After a brief silence, the crowd
broke out in chaos. “Oh my god, what the hell just happened? I can’t be
dreaming, can I?” “No–no way! How did a grandmaster martial artist die?”
“The sky is falling… The sky is falling!” Right now, all the martial
artists were extremely shocked. They were all scared out of their wits.
They felt their hair stand on end. When Dustin coughed up blood, they
were certain that Augustus won. Yet, in the next second, he’d exploded
and died. That unexpected twist came out of nowhere. Looking at Dustin,
everyone screamed internally, “What kind of monster is he?!” Shock,
confusion, anger, jealousy, fear… Various emotion crossed their faces.
Although it was hard to believe, they had to admit that this young
grandmaster was going to shock the world! Thousands would submit to him!
Under everyone’s gazes, Dustin walked across the surface of the water
toward the land. His complexion was pale, and there were still traces of
dark blood at the corner of his mouth. on te suntale, Uldi DALLIE JOUREU
wuyi But only Dustin knew that he didn’t cough up blood because of
Augustus It was because of Septemortis The poison was like a maggot in
his bones Every time he used his true energy, it would take the
opportunity to get in. The more true energy he consumed, the more
aggressive the poison. Watching Dustin make his way over, Cornelius was
both excited and concerned. “Sir Rhys, are you alright?” He was excited
because his gang leader was actually a low–profile young grandmaster.
Even in the entire world, he was one in a million. He had a bright future
ahead of him! However, he was concerned. If Dustin got some kind of
hidden injury from the battle, things would become troublesome. In a
life–or–death battle between grandmasters, one could easily injure one’s
core. “It’s just a small injury. It’s nothing.” Dustin waved his hand
nonchalantly. “Good.” Cornelius sighed. “You look like you got hurt
pretty badly. Take this Dustin flicked a red tablet into Cornelius‘ hand
“Thank you, Sir Rhys!” Cornelius swallowed it in one gulp. After taking a
few breaths, the blood surging through his chest began to calm down. The
effects of the medicine were shocking. “Rhys, how–how dare you kill my
master?!” When Terry returned to his senses, he flew into a rage. “A life
or death battle doesn’t just prove who is stronger. It also decides who
gets to live or die.”

Chapter 921 Dustin said indifferently. “Sir Augustus wanted to kill
me earlier. Why can’t I kill him?” “I’m going to take revenge on you for
killing my master!” Terry roared. His eyes were bloodshot “Terry, don’t
say that Phil quickly yelled. He was afraid. This young grandmaster in
front of them was able to defeat Sir Augustus, much less them. “If it’s a
fair challenge, I’ll welcome it. But if you dare use dirty tricks, I’ll
annihilate the entire Doyle family!” Dustin said as he looked at Terry
coldly. The Doyle family stepped backward in fear. They looked terrified.
It would be easy for a grandmaster to wipe them out. “Cornelius, let’s go
home.” Dustin no longer wanted to entertain this conversation and headed
down the mountain. “Dustin…” At that moment, Nikki ran up to him. With a
guilty look, she said, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I’m willing to turn over
a new leaf and listen to you. Will you give me another chance?”
“Actually,” she continued, “if you’d been honest with me sooner, none of
this would have happened. We would have been great friends, don’t you
think?” If she had known earlier that he was a grandmaster, she would
never have chosen to betray him. “Get lost,” Dustin spat coldly. His
expression didn’t waver a single bit. Broken trust could never be
regained. “Dustin, I know you feel bad for me. For my brother’s sake…”
“Get lost!” Before Nikki could finish speaking, Dustin stomped his foot
fiercely. An intense force of internal energy suddenly exploded, forcing
her away. “Don’t ever bring your brother up in front of me. You have no
right,” he said coldly. With that, he left. Watching his retreating back,
Nikki gnashed her teeth. She was about to blow her top. “Why? Why didn’t
you tell me? “If you’d revealed your identity sooner, I wouldn’t have
done that. “This is all your fault! “Give the Jade Maiden Scripture
back!” Nikki shouted. Anger was written all over her face. More than
that, she was overcome with regret. “A leopard can’t change its spots
Dustin’s cold, mocking murmur disappeared with the wind “Madam Edith,
what do we do now? Are we still going to massacre the entire Zephyr Lodge
tonight?” one of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples asked out of the
blue “Massacre?” Edith slapped the disciple. She yelled, “Are you stupid?
He’s a grandmaster martial artist. How are you going to pull off a
massacre? Do you want to die?” The disciple cupped her cheek pitifully.
She muttered to herself, “Wasn’t it you who said you wanted a bloodbath?”
“Now that such a powerful evildoer has been born, the entire martial
world will be shaken up!” Conrad narrowed his eyes and let out a breath.
“He is a young grandmaster. If not him, then who?” Several founding
members of the Gleansted martial arts alliance also sighed. “Dad, what do
we do now? Can we still get our revenge?” Torben swallowed. He was
feeling weak. “Well…” Autumn was at a loss for words. Without his father
in command, even if the entire Hill family joined united, they were no
match for a grandmaster. “Hmph, so what if he’s a young grandmaster? He
took the Septemortis. Without an antidote, he’s going to die anyway!”
Spring said with a dark expression. “That’s right! The punk has been
poisoned, and no medicine can help him. He only has three and a half days
to live!” Torben said, his eyes lighting up. “Sir Reeds, that bastard
killed my father. He is also the martial world’s public enemy. You cannot
go easy on him!” Autumn said as he shifted his gaze. The antidote to the
Septemortis was with Ronald. In other words, Dustin’s life was completely
in his hands. “I owe everything to Sir Paul. I will handle this matter
fairly and not let personal matters affect my decision.” Then, Ronald
shook his head and sighed softly. “Although it’s a pity, someone has to
pay the price for this.”

Chapter 922 In the evening, Dustin was quietly sipping tea at his
table by the window of the Roseate Restaurant. The battle of grandmasters
shook up the two major martial arts alliances entirely. Various parties
were thinking of ways to recruit him. This even included several overseas
alliances. Of course, he paid no attention to those people. Because
today, he’d invited Natasha for dinner. At that moment, the restaurant’s
doors opened. Η Natasha walked in elegantly. She was in a long black
dress that complemented her complexion. She was wearing light makeup
today. Her natural features looked even more alluring. Together with her
unique aura, she was a stunner. Even though he’d seen her many times,
Dustin was still as surprised as always. “Why are you staring at me? Am I
not beautiful today?” Natasha purposely twirled in front of Dustin,
putting her s*xy figure on full display. “Of course, you’re beautiful.
Words cannot describe your beauty.” Dustin nodded with a smile. “Hehe.
Darling, when did you learn how to talk like that?” Natasha grinned. She
had always thought that Dustin didn’t get romance. She never thought that
he w saying such things. Did he finally learn? “I’m just telling the
truth,” Dustin said seriously. “Good, because I love hearing you tell me
the truth.” Natasha took a seat, still smiling.. Then, she took out a
gift box from her bag and placed it on the table. “Here, this is for
you.” “Why did you get a gift for no reason?” Dustin was rather curious.
He opened the gift box to find a beautiful brass lock. He was
dumbfounded. “Natasha, what does this mean?” “A brass lock signifies a
long–lasting love. I want to keep you locked down!” Natasha said
seriously. “What year are we in? You actually believe in this?” Dustin
didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “What? You don’t want to be locked
down by me?” Natasha deadpanned. Her eyes carried a hint of threat.
LAUSUI SUURU wiyty ne nung me vrass IVGA UU HIS DEGA. “Hmph, that’s more
like it! Natasha smiled with a hint of pride. Do you think I don’t have
control over you?” she thought. “Natasha, why did you invite me to dinner
today?” Dustin asked “Actually, there is.” Natasha nodded. Her expression
turned serious. The preparations for the Oakvale company are done. I have
to fly over to take care of the overall situation, so I wanted to say
goodbye ” “So soon? I thought it’d take more time.” Dustin was caught off
guard. Natasha had mentioned this two nights ago. He just never expected
her to do things so swiftly. “My family’s situation is not great right
now. There’s already internal conflict, so I have to pick up the pace
with the new company. “When the time comes, I’ll transfer all the funds
here to there to avoid getting stuck in a muddy situation,” Natasha
explained. “It’s good to be prepared. You can’t put all your eggs in one
basket.” Dustin nodded thoughtfully. Then, he asked, “Oh, do you need my
help with anything?” “You don’t have to worry about the business. Having
the Immortunol is enough. Right now, I’m most worried about my father.
“Ever since my uncle took over, he has been getting rid of my father’s
most trusted subordinates. Some were kicked out of the family, while
others were stripped of important positions. “If this continues, my
father will have no support within three days. He will end up isolated.
When that happens, he’ll have no power to fight back. “Of course, if it
was just a fight for money and wealth, things would be easier. However,
the crux is that my uncle’s target is the Harmon family’s treasure map.
“In the end, there will definitely be conflict. I hope you can keep my
father safe.

Chapter 923 Natasha was solemn Given her father’s personality, she
knew he would never hand over the treasure map once he knew Tyler was
behind everything. However, that would certainly anger Tyler and put her
father in danger “I understand I will send someone to protect Mr. Harmon
discreetly,” Dustin assured her “That puts me at ease” Natasha grinned.
“Of course, I won’t be gone for long Once I’ve taken care of things with
my new company in Oakvale, I’ll return to Millsburg immediately. If
everything goes well, I’ll be back in three to five days” “Alright, I’ll
wait for you.” Dustin nodded. After their food arrived, they chatted and
ate in a pleasant atmosphere. Just then, the doors to the restaurant
opened once again. A group of elegantly dressed young men and women
entered, chatting happily. Dustin glanced over instinctively. He didn’t
think much of it at first, but suddenly, he froze. Looking back in the
same direction, he appeared somewhat surprised. “What’s wrong?” Natasha
noticed. “Nothing, I just recognized someone.” Dustin smiled. “Is it a
friend? Should we go over and greet them?” Natasha turned and saw a group
of young people. They carried themselves exceptionally. Clearly, they
came from affluent backgrounds. “No need, let’s focus on our meal,”
Dustin replied. He didn’t pay much attention to them. He continued his
meal with Natasha and enjoyed the moment of tranquility. For some reason,
he felt a sense of peace whenever he was with her. It was as if all of
his worries had suddenly disappeared. “Dear, it’s almost time. I still
need to catch a flight. See you in a few days.” After having her fill
Natasha stood up. “Alright, I’ll drive you there.” Dustin stood up, too.
“That won’t be necessary. I have a private ride. You seem tired. Rest
well when you get back. You must take good care of yourself. “Oh, right.
You better be faithful while I’m gone. Don’t go flirting with everyone
you see. Otherwise Snip-” Natasha made a face and turned her fingers into
scissors. She followed that up with a chuckle and pecked Dustin on the
cheek. With words filled with affection, she waved and bid him goodbye.
AS DUSH Wathieu nei leave, nie je empty use it rent ds in site woju
suuremy usappedi “Dustin?” Suddenly, he heard a clear female voice. He
turned around to find several beautiful women staring at him curiously.
The person in the middle of the group was Sheila Murray. They had met in
Swinton before. That was when he used a fiery beetle to cure her of
Polarfrost. His reward for that then was the Gozoraberry. “Dustin, it
really is you! I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.” Sheila was
so happy that she almost jumped up in joy. “Sheila, long time no see.”
Dustin smiled weakly. He hadn’t planned on greeting her, but she still
noticed him in the end. “When did you arrive in Millsburg? Why didn’t you
tell me?” Sheila was very friendly. She had been thinking about Dustin
day and night ever since she met him. But since her parents were strict,
she never had the chance to leave the house alone. She didn’t expect to
meet him there. It was a pleasant surprise!

Chapter 924 “I’ve been here for a while now But I’ve been quite busy
and haven’t had the chance to visit General Murray.” Dustin smiled and
changed the subject, “By the way, how are you recovering? Do you still
feel unwell?” Polarfrost was an extremely rare disease. It was hard to
get rid of it entirely. His method of using a fiery beetle to suppress it
could only ensure Sheila’s safety for the next ten years After ten years,
unless she found a rare treasure to save her, she would die. “I’m doing
great! I’ve been eating well too.” Sheila smiled. “Of course, it’s all
thanks to you. I would have been long gone if it wasn’t for you.” “No
need to mention it. Solving people’s problems and getting paid is what
I’m supposed to do,” Dustin replied with a smile. “Sheila, who’s this?
Why don’t you introduce him to us?” a woman in red beside Sheila asked.
“Ah, I almost forgot.” Sheila was quick to catch on. “Vivian, this is
Dustin. The one I’ve talked about. He’s the one who cured me of my
strange illness! As she spoke, her head was tilted up slightly. She
looked slightly proud. “Oh… So you’re that guy Sheila often talks about?”
Vivian gave him a once–over. She looked at him with a slight disdain.
Dustin wasn’t bad–looking, but he dressed like a country bumpkin. Both of
them were clearly fron different worlds. She didn’t understand how an
ordinary guy like Dustin won Sheila’s heart. Was it because he was good–
looking? She had a bland taste if that were the case. “Dustin, have you
eaten? Do you want to join us?” Sheila asked first. “Oh, I just ate,”
Dustin replied. “Huh?” Sheila’s smile stiffened. She found another
excuse. “If you don’t want to eat, why don’t you sit down and have
something drink? It just so happens that I need your advice about medical
stuff.” She looked at him expectantly, eagerly awaiting his response.
“Alright then.” Dustin hesitated for a moment before nodding. Sheila was
too innocent. He was afraid of making her cry if he rejected her again.
“That’s great! Dustin, please come this way!” Sheila lit up instantly and
pulled him by the arm. one ieu miin IMU A JUXOTious privae JUUNI There
vitje mijeaty severdi propie ser The one seated in the middle was a well–
dressed man with a dignified appearance Though he looked no older than
thirty, he had deep, profound eyes. Radiating a commanding aura, he
carried a natural tegal presence. He stood out just by sitting there,
like a main character from a story “Sheila, who’s this next to you? How
come I’ve never seen him before?” The well–dressed man stood up and
scrutinized Dustin His gaze carried a hint of hostility The intimacy
between Sheila and Dustin bothered him. “Evan, this is Dustin Rhys. He
has remarkable medical skills. It’s thanks to him that I’ve recovered
from my illness.” Sheila wasted no time with the introductions. “Is that
so?” Evan narrowed his eyes and put on a fake smile. “Well, since he’s
your friend, please have a seat.” “Dustin, please, sit.” Sheila pulled
out a chair for Dustin and positioned it behind him. Many around them
frowned at her behavior. When had the distinguished young lady of the
Murray family ever shown such humility? Wasn’t that guy just a doctor? In
normal circumstances, he wouldn’t even be worthy of their attention. They
all came from. privileged backgrounds, after all. They were either
wealthy children of prestigious families or high–ranking officials. None
of them were ordinary citizens. How could a mere doctor find himself in
their exclusive circle? “Doctor Rhys, was it? May I ask about your alma
mater? Harvard or Yale?”

Chapter 925 Just then, a treacherous–looking young man spoke out
“Neither Dustin shook his head. “Oh? Are you from some backwater
university?” The young man snickered. The rest of the group looked on
amusingly. They were ready to witness a spectacle. “I’ve never gone to
university,” Dustin replied. “What? You’ve never even gone to
university?” The young man replied with an exaggerated expression, “Bro,
are you joking? How can you be a doctor without a degree?” “I practice
traditional medicine. I grew up in that environment, so I acquired the
skills naturally.* Dustin remained unfazed. “Traditional medicine?” The
young man froze before bursting out in laughter. “Bro, you’re joking,
right? Traditional medicine? That’s just another name for a swindler in
the martial arts world.” “Hah! Who believes in traditional medicine these
days? Those who do are fools!” “You can’t say that. Those old folks who
frequent the parks are totally into it. There sure are those who fall for
it.” At that moment, laughter erupted from the group. Their tones were
laced with sarcasm. Having received their education in Streuqua from a
young age, they despised traditional medicine “Sheila, are you sure he’s
the one who saved you? Were you lied to?” Vivian fanned the flames.
“That’s impossible! Dustin is not a liar. He really has amazing skills!”
Sheila argued. “He has amazing skills? Hah… I don’t believe it.” The
young man grinned and said with a disdainful gaze. “Aren’t you a
traditional medicine. practitioner? Let’s see if you can figure out
what’s wrong with me. “There’s a reward if you guess right!” As he spoke,
he extended an arm, looking expectant. Dustin gave him a quick once–over.
He said impassively,” Have you been feeling cold lately? You’ve also been
sweating more than usual and experiencing back pain.” “Huh?” The young
man frowned. “How did you know that?” His body had indeed been feeling
strange lately. “I noticed that your gaze is dull. You’re also
experiencing shortness of breath, and your complexion is pale. “Along
with the other symptoms, you probably have weak kidneys. That leads to
s*xual “Bullshit” The young man was furious when he heard Dustin I’m
fine! I can do it seven times a day, no problem Men hated it when they
were told they couldn’t perform well “Not only that, you have STD I’d
advise you to get checked at the hospital. If you don’t go soon, you
might lose your buddy,” Dustin warned. “Y–You You’re spouting nonsense!”
His fury reached its peak. “If you speak any more crap, I’ll beat the
shit out of you!” Saying he was bad in bed was one thing, but now he was
accusing him of having STDs? If word got out, how would he face anyone
ever again? “Hmph! What a load of crap!” Vivian pursed her lips in
disdain. “Do you think you’re God? How can you know what illness someone
has by just one look?” “Dustin, your claims have something to do with a
man’s reputation and dignity. You better watch your words. “Otherwise,
you might get a beating,” Evan warned as he glared at Dustin. “That’s
right! You say I’m sick, then show me the evidence! If you can’t prove
it, today won’t end well for you!” the treacherous–looking young man
threatened aggressively. “You want evidence? That’s simple.” Dustin
raised an eyebrow and pointed at his abdomen. “Press about three inches
below your navel, two inches to the left from the midline. Then press one
inch above your navel, along the midline.” “Hmph! Let’s see what tricks
you’re getting at!” The young man followed Dustin’s steps defiantly He
pressed the two points on his abdomen. After he was done, he lifted his
head arrogantly and said, “I did it. Now what? I don’t feel anything What
does it prove? You’re nothing but a swindler!” As soon as he finished
speaking, they suddenly heard the sound of water dripping. Everyone
looked down to find that the young man’s crotch, at some point, had
become wet. Yellow liquid was dripping non–stop from the end of his
trousers. He had lost control of his bladder!

Chapter 926 Everyone in the private room was stunned as they looked
at the floor covered in yellow piss Their mouths hung open in
astonishment and disbelief. The young man, in particular, stood frozen,
his face drained of color. He couldn’t believe he had lost control of his
bladder by just pressing two points! The most embarrassing part was that
people were staring at him. “Ah-!” After a brief moment of shock, the
young man screamed. He fled the room, clutching his crotch. Every step he
took left a piss–stained footprint. The others looked on with strange
expressions, the corners of their eyes twitching. It wasn’t just
embarrassing for him; it was utterly mortifying. “Dustin! What exactly
did you do to Jake to make him that way?” Vivian snapped. She rose from
her seat. How dare a mere country doctor humiliate a scion of a
prestigious family? It was nothing short of -a horrible offense. “I told
you, he has weak kidneys. But you wouldn’t believe it. You insisted on
proof, so there you go. He really has weak kidneys.” “You…” Vivian was
rendered speechless. They just wanted to make things difficult for Dustin
and embarrass him. Who knew that it would backfire on one of them
instead? “Hmph! You used unusual methods to trick us!” Evan’s gaze was
hostile. Jake was his friend. It was natural for him to be upset that
Jake had been humiliated. “What? You don’t believe me either? Why don’t I
give you a check–up next?” Dustin turned his attention to Evan. Evan
instinctively recoiled. What happened to Jake was still fresh in his
mind. Although he didn’t know how Dustin did it, he wouldn’t take the
risk himself. “I don’t believe it! Diagnose me next if you have the
guts!” Vivian was defiant. She placed her arm on the table in a challenge
to Dustin. She never believed in traditional medicine, especially
Dustin’s ability to diagnose them with a quick glance. Plainly speaking,
it was just a shady trick. “Your condition is worse.” Dustin observed her
carefully and said, “Your breathing is uneven and abnormal. You’re easily
irritable and seem mentally fatigued. If I’m not mistaken, you should be
having issues with yo lungs.” “Get to the point. What’s wrong with my
lungs? Why don’t I feel anything?” Vivian Boy 101 more montanon alle was
ueterin w expose is travu tudy “You have lung cancer,” Dustin answered
bluntly “Lung cancer Hah! What a load of crap!” Vivian snorted in
disdain. “I don’t smoke. How can I have lung cancer? Before you make up a
lie, at least make sure you come up with a more believable excuse!”
“That’s right! Vivian has always taken care of her health. She gets a
full body check–up every six months. There’s no way she’s sick. Stop
scaring people with your lies!” “Traditional medicine? Please, it’s
clearly a scam. You got exposed so quickly!” Everyone looked at him in
disdain. All of them knew that Vivian went for medical examinations
regularly. If she had any illnesses, it would have been discovered long
ago. “Not smoking doesn’t mean you won’t get lung cancer. You could have
inhaled toxic gasses, or it could even be a genetic predisposition.”
Dustin remained unfazed. “A word of advice. It’d be best if you get
checked out at the hospital sooner. Otherwise, you might regret it when
it’s too late.” “Hah! Did you really think I’m going to believe your
nonsense? Do you think you’re some miracle doctor?” Vivian sneered. How
dare a country bumpkin who hadn’t even attended university show off in
front of her? “Suit yourself.” Dustin stopped talking and sipped his tea

Chapter 927 Dustin couldn’t be bothered with a smug know–it–all like
Vivian “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue now that you’re feeling
guilty? I knew it!” Vivian sneered with disdain. Tve seen plenty of
scammers like you in the martial arts world You may be able to fool
Sheila, but you won’t fool me!” “Vivian, Dustin isn’t a scammer. I
believe him!” Sheila spoke up for Dustin. “Sheila, you’re a good person,
but you’re just too naive and easily fooled. You should be especially
careful with those with unclear backgrounds. As Vivian spoke, she glanced
at Dustin, clearly implying something. To her, Dustin was no different
than the pretty–faced boys who used to pursue Sheila. They tried their
best to please her, aiming to climb up the social ladder and gain a
foothold in upper society. Fortunately, Vivian was sharp enough to see
through all the tricks. “Vivian, you got it all wrong. Dustin is a good
man.” Sheila’s brow furrowed lightly. It suddenly occurred to her that
her friends were hostile toward Dustin. “Alright, Sheila, it’s getting
late. I need to get going. Goodbye.” After finishing his tea, Dustin
stood. up and excused himself politely. It was just a chance meeting
anyway. There was no need to associate himself with these people
“Dustin…” Sheila got anxious and stood up. But she didn’t know what to
say. “Sheila, don’t mind me. Enjoy the rest of your meal. I’ll visit
General Murray another day.” Dustin smiled and walked out of the room.
“Dust-” Sheila wanted to run after him, but Vivian grabbed her. Vivian
reasoned with her, “Sheila, what are you doing? He’s nothing but a
scammer. Let him go He’ll only ruin our meal if he stays.” “I won’t let
you talk about him that way!” Sheila puffed up her cheeks, looking
slightly pissed. “Alright, alright. I won’t talk about him like that if
you don’t like it.” Vivian was helpless. She followed up with a question.
“Let me ask you, do you like that brat?” “Huh?” Sheila’s face flushed
red. She stammered, “N–No way! Dustin is my savior. I just want to repay
the favor.” Although vehemently denied it, her shy expression had made
her feelings clear. Evan took in her reaction with a frown. His gaze
turned dark. “Sheila, it’s alright if you want to repay the favor. But
you had better not fall in love with him,” Vivian warned. “Why not?”
Sheila was taken aback. Dont you yet it to TWO UMITE 110m umerem
vakgrounus Toucanievel ve woyeurer. Vivian was solemn “As the heiress of
the Murray family, you stand high above the clouds. “That brat is just a
country doctor with a presence as insignificant as an ant. He’s not
worthy of you “It’s not an exaggeration to describe you two like the
princess and the pauper. Even if you don’t look down on him, he’ll never
be able to find a place in our circle with his status “This is reality,
and there is nothing you can do about it. For your sake and his, it’s
best that you don’t talk to him anymore.” Sheila fell silent upon hearing
her words. She hung her head, seemingly deep in thought. “Alright, that’s
enough. Stop it with the depressing talk. Let’s eat.” Evan tried to mend
the situation when he noticed Sheila’s bad mood. It was a chance to gain
some brownie points. “Fine, I won’t talk about it anymore. Let’s drink.”
Vivian smiled and raised her glass, clinking it with the others. Just as
she was about to drink it, Dustin suddenly returned. Without a word, he
slapped her hand, knocking the glass to the ground. It shattered loudly.

Chapter 928 Looking at the broken glass on the floor, everyone was
stunned Nobody expected Dustin to return and knock the glass out of
Vivian’s hands without a word. “Hey! What are you doing? Are you crazy?”
After a brief moment of shock, Vivian slammed the table as she stood up.
The slap had left the back of her hand swollen and burning in pain.
“Outrageous! How dare you offend Vivian like that? You have nerves of
steel!” The others berated Dustin in righteous anger. “If you don’t
explain yourself, I’m afraid you won’t be able to walk out that door.”
Evan stood up slowly, his domineering aura gradually showing itself. “The
wine was poisoned. I was saving your lives,” Dustin responded coldly.
“Poisoned?” They all exchanged dismayed looks, feeling doubtful. They had
assumed Dustin acted out in revenge, but his revelation caught them off
guard. “Hah! Am I supposed to just take your word for it? How do we know
you’re not lying?” Vivian yelled She was naturally suspicious and
wouldn’t believe him easily. Dustin immediately took out a silver needle
and dipped it in Sheila’s glass. After stirring it briefly and taking it
out of the glass, the silver needle turned completely black. “Does this
prove it?” Dustin placed the blackened needle under the light, displaying
it to everyone. “Huh?” Vivian was startled and felt frightened. A
blackened silver needle meant that the wine was laced with deadly poison.
If she had drunk i her fate would have been grim. “What the F*ck? It
really was poisoned? Who the hell is responsible for this?” “Holy shit!
Good thing I didn’t drink it. Otherwise, I would have been a dead man!”
“Who dared poison us? They must be asking for death!” After the initial
shock, the crowd was now filled with anger. Since it was a matter that
concerne their lives, they naturally wouldn’t let it slide. “Dustin,
thank God you were around. Otherwise, all of us would have been
poisoned.” Sheila gulped, still shaken. “It was nothing.” Dustin shook
his head. He couldn’t just stand by and do nothing for Sheila’s sake.
“Hold up! How did you know the wine was poisoned?” VIVIGI Seenie to have
realizeu someining and tumeu suspicious. tou qui unik tannien, diju you
didn’t test it either. How were you so certain?” Because of her words,
the others turned their attention to Dustin They also wondered how Dustin
could have known the wine was poisoned. “A waiter was acting suspiciously
by the door earlier. I asked him a few questions, but he ended up running
away. And he even dropped this.” As Dustin spoke, he placed a vial of
poison on the table. It was precisely because he sensed something amiss
that he had returned. “A suspicious waiter? Where is he now?” Vivian
narrowed her eyes. “He fled,” Dustin replied honestly. “He fled? Hah! You
let him go on purpose, didn’t you?” Vivian sneered. “What do you mean by
that?” Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Stop the act! I’ve seen through you.”
Vivian’s tone was hostile. “What poison? It’s all fake! From what I can
tell, it’s clearly a play you’ve orchestrated yourself!”

Chapter 929 “Vivian, what are you talking about? Dustin saved us!”
Sheila was dumbfounded. “Sheila, don’t be fooled by him. This guy has
ulterior motives!” Vivian smugly explained, “He was the one who poisoned
our drinks! He made a show of leaving before returning at a critical
moment to play the hero. “He did all that to earn our trust! But these
tricks won’t fool me!” Vivian’s explanation cast a shadow of doubt in
everyone’s minds. What she said did seem possible After all, they would
rather trust Vivian than a stranger. “Hey, are you that full of yourself?
I’m not that desperate for entertainment to play these petty games with
you,” Dustin replied coldly. He had been kind enough to help them, but he
didn’t expect this woman to be so ungrateful! “Hmph! You still won’t
admit it? Fine!” Vivian said. She continued, “Then let me ask you. How
did you just so happen to bump into that waiter and, just so happen to
pick up this vial of poison? “Don’t tell me these are all just
coincidences.” Vivian’s expression grew dark. “You guessed it right. It
was a coincidence.” Dustin nodded. “Hah, did everyone hear that? This guy
can’t even find another excuse. He’s already shown his true colors,”
Vivian sneered. “Other than that, the biggest giveaway is your silver
needle. Who in their right mind would carry : silver needle with them
outside? It’s clear that you had planned this!” As she spoke, realization
hit the crowd. “That’s right! How could such a convenient coincidence
happen? This brat is definitely suspiciou “After all that, it turns out
that he was the one who poisoned us. I can’t believe I thought of him a
our savior. It’s true that we can’t judge a book by its cover!” “Thank
God Vivian was smart. Otherwise, we would have all been fooled!” “That
bastard dared to play such tricks with us? He must be seeking death!” At
that moment, everyone looked at Dustin with hostility. The initial
gratitude they felt had no turned into anger and resentment. “Dustin, you
didn’t expect me to see through you so quickly, did you? Do you have
anything left say?” Vivian crossed her arms, looking proud of herself. It
was as though she had cracked an importa case. “How ignorant.” Dustin
shook his head. Dye Dustin turned around to leave. He didn’t want to
waste his time with them any longer. “Hold on” Vivian stood in his way
and raised her voice “You poisoned us Did you think you could just walk
away like nothing happened? Did you think we would let you go easily?”
“Brat‘ Get down on your knees and surrender immediately, or don’t blame
us for being ruthless“” Several of them started clamoring. Their gazes
were hostile, like they were ready to attack at any moment. “What’s this?
You’re going to repay kindness with violence?” Dustin glanced around, his
gaze turning cold. If they wanted to start a fight, he wouldn’t mind
giving them a lesson. “Dustin, you can’t afford to offend us!” Vivian
threatened him. “I’m giving you a chance. Apologize immediately and admit
to your crimes. That way, you might just be able to live.” “Idiot,”
Dustin spat out coldly. “What?” Vivian’s expression turned dark. “How
dare you insult me? You’re asking for it! Catch him!” “Right away!” A few
of them answered and were ready to start a fight. However, right at that
moment, the situation changed drastically. A loud gunshot rang out,
shocking the entire room. A bullet had shot out, piercing right through
Vivian’s chest. Blood splattered against the wall, creating a mesmerizing
display of crimson blossoms.

Chapter 930 “What?” The unexpected turn of events startled everyone.
It was especially shocking for Vivian, who was left dumbfounded. She
looked down to see the bleeding wound on her chest. Her face showed a
mixture of shock, astonishment, confusion, fear, and disbelief. She never
expected to get shot. It happened so fast and without any warning. She
was in a daze. Then, she suddenly screamed and fell to the ground. The
situation had finally hit her. “Assassins! Get down!” Evan was the first
to react and shouted out loud. The others snapped out of their daze. They
were quick to take cover on the ground. Meanwhile, several masked
assassins burst into the room. They had kicked the door open. Each of
them wielded a silenced pistol. Upon entering, they opened fire without
mercy, shooting anyone they saw. Amidst the rapid gunfire, two people
were struck down. “Damn it!” Evan got angry. Instead of retreating, he
kicked a table over. It crashed into several of the assassins Taking
advantage of their confusion, he lunged at them. He gripped two assassins
by their necks and squeezed. With two sharp cracking sounds, the two
assassins went limp and fell to the ground. After dealing with the first
pair, Evan launched another attack. His fists were like thunder, striking
with unbelievable speed and force. It was incredibly impressive to watch
each blow strike like a cannonball. With a series of dull thuds, the
remaining assassins were hit in the chest. Before they could ever react,
they had dropped dead on the spot. Everything happened in a flash. In
just a few minutes, Evan dealt with all the assassins. His incredible
skills left everyone in awe. “What a bunch of trash,” Evan sneered. He
picked up a tablecloth from the ground and cleaned the blood from his
hands. Such an impressive display of skills immediately earned him cheers
and applause. “As expected of Evan, he’s incredible!” “Of course he is!
Evan is the direct descendant of the Derlin family. He is also a member
of the Celestial Alliance. It’s a given he’s so powerful!” Sure you uusi
i urejeve me, juiyei mURIT EL CAMISrej me never navung teen neie bye
Dustin turned around to leave. He didn’t want to waste his time with them
any longer “Hold on‘” Vivian stood in his way and raised her voice “You
poisoned us Did you think you could just walk away like nothing happened?
Did you think. we would let you go easily?” “Brat‘ Get down on your knees
and surrender immediately, or don’t blame us for being ruthless!” Several
of them started clamoring. Their gazes were hostile, like they were ready
to attack at any moment. “What’s this? You’re going to repay kindness
with violence?” Dustin glanced around, his gaze turning cold. If they
wanted to start a fight, he wouldn’t mind giving them a lesson. “Dustin,
you can’t afford to offend us!” Vivian threatened him. “I’m giving you a
chance. Apologize immediately and admit to your crimes. That way, you
might just be able to live.” “Idiot,” Dustin spat out coldly. “What?”
Vivian’s expression turned dark. “How dare you insult me? You’re asking
for it! Catch him!” “Right away!” A few of them answered and were ready
to start a fight. However, right at that moment, the situation changed
drastically. A loud gunshot rang out, shocking the entire room. A bullet
had shot out, piercing right through Vivian’s chest. Blood splattered
against the wall, creating a mesmerizing display of crimson blossoms.

Chapter 931 “Simba? What the F*ck is a Simba?” “Whoever you are,
you’re going to die today since you’ve met Evan!” Several young men and
women started shouting. They had seen Evan’s performance just moments
ago. They watched how he took down several armed assassins in an instant.
What more was a weaponless fighter? “This person is clearly a martial
artist built on strength. I have to catch him off guard and end the fight
as soon as possible.” Evan gave him a quick once over and made a
decision. He bent his knees slightly, slowly gathering momentum. Then,
pushing down with his feet, he propelled himself forward like a bullet.
He launched with tremendous power. “Thunder Strike!” Evan shouted.
Internal energy surged through his body. Then, he threw a powerful punch
straight at Simba. A faint explosion echoed as Evan’s iron fist heavily
struck Simba’s abdomen. However, Simba didn’t react. He stood like a
mountain, unflinching. He showed no signs of injuries. “Is that all?”
Simba crossed his arms. He looked down at Evan arrogantly. A smirk played
on his lips. “Are you trying to scratch my itch?” “Huh?” Evan froze in
place. His eyes widened with disbelief. He had put all his strength into
that strike. How did it not hurt him at all? Impossible! “You’re too
weak,” Simba shook his head. He grabbed Evan by the neck and lifted him
off the ground with brute strength. “Ugh…” Evan couldn’t breathe. As his
feet hung in the air, his face flushed red. He began to struggle
frantically, but it was futile. He was like a defenseless lamb awaiting
its fate. “What?” The group’s expressions changed dramatically as they
watched on. Their earlier arrogance was replaced with terror. No one
expected the powerful Evan to be completely powerless against the
muscular man. It was truly terrifying! “You son of B*tch! Release Evan
right now!” Seeing Evan in danger, Sheila picked up a knife and rushed
forward. With a sharp clang, she stabbed the knife into Simba. But it
didn’t even graze his skin. Go to me a suster quyil. His enormous palm
aimed to strike Sheila’s head. “Sheila‘ Watch out!” the group shouted in
shock. However, Sheila had been paralyzed with fear. She stood frozen,
unable to react Just as everyone thought she was as good as dead, a hand
grabbed Simba’s wrist. “She’s off limits,” Dustin calmly stated as he
held onto Simba. “You dare stop me?” Simba’s gaze grew cold. “Don’t make
me fight you, or you will end up dying a horrific death,” Dustin replied
stoically. Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. “What the heck? Is
this guy trying to get himself killed? How can he be so arrogant?” “Even
Evan can’t handle Simba. This brat is on a suicide mission.” The
remaining group whispered among themselves. They looked at Dustin as if
he were a corpse. “What trash! Go to hell!” Simba was furious. He threw
Evan aside and aimed a punch at Dustin’s forehead. But Dustin remained
unfazed and threw a punch as well. As two different–sized fists collided,
a loud explosion rang out. Simba’s arm exploded upon impact, and he was
sent flying. He crashed through a wall and fell from the second floor.
The situation left everyone stunned.

Chapter 932 “What As they watched Simba being sent flying, a stunned
silence fell over everyone. Their eyes widened in disbelief Some of them
even doubted their eyes Simba was over two meters tall. He had a massive
figure and a muscular physique, just like a mountain Meanwhile, Dustin
looked thin and fragile. It was as if a gust of wind could blow him away
Under normal circumstances, Simba should have been the winner. After all,
they had a clear difference in size. So, how did the situation reverse so
suddenly? “What the F*ck? Who the hell is this guy? How is he so strong?”
The group exchanged shocked looks. Not even Evan could rival Simba, so
how could this country doctor have defeated him? “Dustin, you’re
amazing!” After a brief shock, Sheila immediately cheered. If it weren’t
for Dustin intervening, she might not have survived. “Don’t be that
impulsive next time. Your first priority should be your own safety in a
situation like this,” Dustin warned. This woman was willing to risk her
life to save her friends. She was truly foolish. “Got it!” Sheila smiled
sweetly in response. Since Dustin had saved her again, she was determined
to repay him well. “You you’re actually a divine–level martial artist?”
Evan got up from the ground. He looked surprised. He considered himself a
capable martial artist. Still, he was only a high–level martial artist.
He couldn’t believe the plain–looking man before him was a martial arts
expert. “That doesn’t seem to concern you.” Dustin cast him a sidelong
glance, his expression cold “You…” The corner of Evan’s lips twitched.
But he swallowed his words. God damn it! What was he showing off for? He
was just a divine–level martial artist. He was essentially just a
fighter. The Derlin family is influential. A grandmaster showed them some
respect, let alone a divine- level martial artist. “Cut the crap and call
an ambulance!” Right then, Vivian, who had fallen after being shot,
shouted Although the bullet had pierced her chest, she was lucky it
missed her heart. She wouldn’t die immediately. “Hang in there, Vivian.
I’ll call for help right now!” Sheila returned to her senses and dialed
for Aside from Vivian, two others had also fallen victim to stray bullets
“Let me attend to them” Dustin approached one of the injured men and
assessed his condition The man had been shot twice, and he had lost a
significant amount of blood. It was clear that he wouldn’t be able to
hold on for much longer “Hey! Are you even qualified to be doing this?
This is a matter of life and death” Evan asked “If I can’t do it, are you
going to treat him instead?” Dustin fired back. “I” Evan fell silent.
“Shut it if you can’t contribute.” Dustin wasted no time and pulled out a
silver needle. He sealed off several acupoints near the man’s wound In no
time, the bleeding stopped. The sight left the group amazed. Although it
was hard to believe, they had to admit that traditional medicine did
work. “Sheila, please bandage him up for me.” With his instructions
given, he went over to the other wounded man. “Me! Save me first!” Before
Dustin could insert a needle, Vivian immediately cried out. Panic and
fear filled her eyes. “I’m just a scammer in the martial arts world. I
can’t treat you. You’re better off praying for a miracle,” Dustin replied
impassively. “No, no, you’re not a scammer. You’re a miracle doctor.
Please save me first. My injuries are worse * Vivian’s expression
scrunched miserably. In the face of death, she had no choice but to set
aside her pride. At least, she could tell earlier that Dustin did have
some genuine skills. “You seem quite energetic to me. You won’t die for
the time being. Hang in there for a little longer. After he spoke, Dustin
took out his silver needle and proceeded to treat the other man’s
injuries.

Chapter 933 “You!” While Vivian seethed in anger, there was nothing
she could do. She could only endure int silence. She could only pray that
Dustin would work faster. She sensed that she was losing blood, and her
body was growing weaker. Three minutes later, Dustin finally finished
treating the second man. As long as the bleeding was stopped, he wouldn’t
die immediately. “It should be my turn now, right? Hurry up and start
treating me!” Vivian was getting impatient. She rushed Dustin repeatedly.
Yet Dustin appeared completely at ease. He didn’t feel any sense of
urgency. He wiped his hands. and stretched lazily before leisurely
sipping on a cup of tea. “Hey! What are you doing? Help me stop the
bleeding!” “Vivian was on the verge of losing her temper. She was nearly
drained of blood. How could he be in the mood to enjoy his tea? “Why the
rush? It’s not like you’re dying.” Dustin glanced at her, still unmoved.
“What do you mean I’m not dying? Don’t you see that I was shot? Where’s
your humanity? Save me! Vivian was anxious. As she got more agitated,
blood pooled faster. She was so shocked that she took a few deep breaths
to calm herself down. “Is this how you ask for a favor?” Dustin continued
sipping on his tea leisurely. “Rhys! Don’t push it too far when I’m being
nice!” Vivian seethed in anger, gritting her teeth. She was the heiress
of the Willow family. She was always placed on a pedestal wherever she
went. How dare a mere country doctor show off in front of her? It was a
terrible offense! “Since you’re not sincere, forget about it. Bye.”
Dustin couldn’t bother with her any longer. After finishing his tea in
one gulp, he stood up and left. “Wait! Wait… Miracle Doctor! Miracle
Doctor Rhys! I was wrong! “I chose the wrong words and have offended you.
Please, doctor, save me!” Vivian gave in immediately when she saw the
situation taking a turn for the worse. Her survival instinct was in full
gear. “Dustin, Vivian seems to be in bad shape. Can you please save her?”
Sheila chimed in. “Fine, I’ll help her this once for your sake.” Dustin
nodded. “Thank you, Doctor Rhys! Thank you very much!” Vivian’s
expression brightened. However, a glint of resentment flashed through her
eyes. Once she got through this, she would definitely seek revenge. wait
joi me a moment, Dustiti Saiu Deivre leaving the rooQIII. After a few
minutes, he returned with a box of medical supplies. “Here, just stick
this on the wound.” Dustin tossed the medical supplies to Vivian’s feet.
“What is this?” Curiously, Vivian opened up the box and was immediately
dumbfounded. Dustin had tossed her a box of band–aids! “D–Doctor Rhys, is
this a joke?” Vivian widened her eyes in disbelief. “I have a gunshot
wound–a gunshot wound! What the hell can this do?” “What do you mean? J&J
Band–Aids can stop bleeding, disinfect, and even provide pain relief.
There is nothing better than that to help with your injuries,” Dustin
said seriously. Vivian was speechless. Her eyes twitched uncontrollably,
and her body trembled. Seriously? Who the hell would treat a gunshot
wound with a band–aid? Could he please show some respect? “Sheila, she
can’t seem to move freely. Why don’t you help her? Don’t forget to stick
it both on the front and the back. “As for whether she can survive, that
would depend on her luck. I have other things to attend to, so I’ll take
my leave now.” With that, Dustin left without looking back. As soon as he
walked out the doors, he heard a shrill scream. “Rhys! You’re my enemy
from now on.”

Chapter 934 The night grew deeper. It was particularly quiet at
Auspicious Restaurant. The place wasn’t as lively as in the morning. One
reason was its secluded location, and the other was because it didn’t
operate at night.” Suddenly, a muscular figure jumped over the walls. He
skillfully went through the restaurant. The figure was headed to a
private room on the second floor. When he arrived at the door, he gave it
a light knock. “Come in.” A dignified voice came from inside the pitch–
black room. The figure opened the door cautiously. He immediately dropped
to his knees when he got inside. Speaking toward a folding screen, he
announced his arrival. “I’m here, sir.” “You got injured?” The voice
spoke again from behind the folding screen. “I failed my mission. I
encountered a powerful opponent and almost lost my life.” Simba lowered
his head. His expression was filled with fear and respect. Blood was
dripping from his wounded arm onto the ground. It sounded jarring in the
silent night. “You actually dared to return after you failed?” The voice
turned cold. It carried a chilling undertone that crept into the air.
“Sir, please give me another chance. I promise I will complete my
mission!” Simba trembled in fear and broke out in cold sweat. “You damned
fool! Didn’t you notice you’ve been tailed?” the voice shouted. “A tail?”
Simba looked around and said, “Impossible! I was careful the entire way
here. Nobody could have noticed me! “Dear friend, since you’re already
here, there’s no need to hide.” The voice behind the screen grew louder.
As soon as his words fell, they heard the faint sound of footsteps
echoing in the corridor. Following closely, Dustin entered, looking
indifferent. “It’s you?” Simba’s expression changed. He took a few steps
back in fear and almost stumbled. He never expected to be followed. As an
accomplished assassin, he had undergone rigorous training since young. He
was also one of the best at countering surveillance. Dustin must be a
ghost to have been able to tail him without a sound. “It’s impressive
that you noticed me this quickly.” Dustin ignored Simba. His gaze was
fixed on the screen. ne coulike out a couvy man seated ven however, it
was too ai to uisce is reatures. “It’s even more remarkable that you were
able to come within ten feet of me.” The plump man remained unmoved.
“Sir! This is the guy who ruined my mission!” Simba revealed. “You
useless trash, get out!” the chubby man shouted. “Yes, sir…” Simba shrunk
back slightly. Without another word, he excused himself. Dustin ignored
him, allowing him to leave as he pleased. “Sir, do I have the pleasure of
talking face–to–face?” Dustin spoke again. “Of course.” The chubby man
waved. The lights turned on, and the folding screen was brought down. The
moment their gazes met, the both of them were stunned.

Chapter 935 “Mr. Rhys?” “Mr. Franklin?” Dustin was surprised to see
the chubby man before him. He realized that Simba’s envoy was Samuel
Franklin. He was the person who sold the Jade Maiden Scripture. “Mr.
Rhys, I didn’t expect fate to lead us to meet under these circumstances,”
Samuel said with a smile. His previous cold and chilling demeanor
returned to one of gentleness. He appeared harmless and friendly.. “Mr.
Franklin, you have quite the identity.” Dustin narrowed his eyes. “I’ve
heard that the Bounty Killers have three chief envoys. Each of them is
known for their incredible power and abilities. I didn’t expect you to be
one of them.” “I’m just making a living. It’s nothing worth mentioning.”
Samuel smiled and made a gesture. “Mr. Rhys, please have a seat.” Dustin
didn’t hesitate and took a seat. “Mr. Rhys, I’m impressed by your victory
over Augustus Kline. Your reputation as a young grandmaster has shaken
the world.” Samuel brewed a pot of tea and poured it into two cups. “Mr.
Franklin, you’re very well–informed. You’ve heard about what happened in
no time.” Dustin took a sip of tea. Samuel laughed. “If I had remained
oblivious to such a shocking event, I might as well retire from my role
as an envoy.” His smile was unwavering. “Mr. Franklin, I’ll get straight
to the point. Was Sheila your target today?” Dustin looked up at him.
slightly. He had been tailing Simba to search for the truth. Christopher
Murray was an old friend of his mother’s. He had also helped him out on
two occasions in the past. Moreover, considering Sheila’s kindness, he
felt he should involve himself in this matter. “That’s right.” Franklin
didn’t deny it. “Solving people’s troubles and getting paid is the Bounty
Killer’s code.” “Can you cancel the mission?” Dustin inquired. “No,
unless the employer chooses to withdraw it themselves.” Samuel shook his
head. wine is the employer? Dusulaskeu dydi “That is classified
information. I can’t tell you,” Samuel continued to shake his head. “Mr.
Franklin, you keep withholding information. Are you forcing me to flip
this table?” Dustin narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Rhys, please stay calm. The
Bounty Killers has its own set of rules. Disclosing the identity of the
employer is strictly forbidden. However…” At that moment, Samuel changed
his tone. “While I can’t reveal the employer’s identity, I can offer you
another piece of information. I believe it’ll catch your interest.” “What
kind of information?” Dustin raised an eyebrow. “I have a lead on Paul
Hill’s death,” Samuel dropped a bombshell “Hmm?” Dustin’s gaze hardened.
“You know who the killer is?” Paul Hill’s death had put him under
tremendous pressure for the past few days. Even when he had mobilized
everyone in the Kirin Gang, he could not find a single lead. “While I
can’t say for sure, I do have some information.” Samuel chuckled. “Who is
it? Who exactly had Sir Paul killed?” Dustin asked in a low voice. “Paul
Hill’s death has something to do with the Shadowslayers from Kimboku.”
Samuel explained, “According to our investigation, one of Shadowslayer’s
five elite assassins, Dimitri Gonzalez, has infiltrated Dragonmarsh
recently. “He’s been active around Balerno too. Paul Hill’s death likely
has something to do with him.” “Is this Dimitri Gonzalez that good?”
Dustin frowned. “As an elite assassin, he’s indeed powerful. He has
already reached the level of a grandmaster five years ago,” Samuel
explained. “This doesn’t make sense! If we go by what you’re saying,
Dimitri alone wouldn’t stand a chance against Sir Paul!” Dustin’s
expression turned serious. Dimitri had only broken through the level of a
grandmaster five years ago. Normally, Dimitri’s skills should only be
between that of a novice grandmaster and an intermediate grandmaster. In
contrast, Paul Hill was already a full–fledged grandmaster! It would be
difficult for him to succeed in an ambush or an assassination attempt.
“Mr. Rhys, you’re very sharp. It’s truly remarkable.” Samuel smiled.
“Indeed, Dimitri couldn’t have done it himself. However, there is a
traitor within the Hill family.” “A traitor?” Dustin’s brow furrowed. He
almost yelled, “Who?”

Chapter 936 “This traitor has been very good at hiding himself. There
haven’t been any slip–ups so far.” Samuel shook his head. He continued,
“One thing for sure, they hold significant influence within the Hill
family. They’re either one of the Hill brethren or someone from the main
family.” The Hill brethren consisted of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and
Winter. They were also Paul Hill’s four sons. Each one held substantial
resources and had ambitious goals. They were also smart in politics. “You
might as well not have said anything.” Dustin frowned. “There are so many
people in the Hill family. How could I find a traitor in such a short
time?” He had his suspicions before. But he couldn’t find any concrete
evidence. “Relax, Mr. Rhys. It isn’t exactly hard to find out who the
traitor is. However, you would have to take a little risk.” Samuel smiled
meaningfully. Oh? Do you have a plan, Mr. Franklin?” Dustin was
interested. “It isn’t exactly a brilliant plan. It’s just a matter of
using bait.” Samuel dipped his index finger into his tea. Then, he made a
few marks on the table. After reading them, Dustin nodded in
contemplation. “That seems like a plan, but I wonder if it will work.
“Just do your best and leave the rest to destiny,” Samuel said. “Thank
you for your advice, Mr. Franklin ” Dustin nodded thoughtfully. He asked.
“How much is this information worth?” “It’s free. Let’s consider it the
start of our friendship,” Samuel replied with a friendly smile. “It’s not
easy to become my friend. I’ll consider you one if you tell me who is
behind Sheila’s bounty.” Dustin began negotiating. “Mr. Rhys, please
don’t put me in a difficult position” Samuel chuckled and shook his head.
“If the client’s information leaks, I won’t have any more. business in
the future.” “This is only between us. Who would know about it?” Dustin
smiled. “There are no safe secrets in this world. I can’t take the risk.”
Samuel shook his head. Samuel had just finished speaking when a sharp
clang resounded. A bloody knife suddenly fell from Dustin’s waist. Samuel
froze. “Oh, I use this knife for self–defense. It’s always better to be
cautious.” Dustin smiled, looking He said, “Mr. Franklin, what did you
say earlier? I didn’t quite catch it. Could you repeat that?” “Uh…” The
corner of Samuel’s mouth twitched, and he managed a smile. “If Mr. Rhys
is truly interested, I could offer you a bit of information. However, it
would depend on how skilled you are in finding out the truth.” “Alright.”
Dustin nodded. “I can only tell you that on the day of Christopher
Murray’s birthday banquet, this person will act.” Samuel lowered his
voice into a whisper.. “Is that all? Is there anything else?” Dustin
asked. While speaking, he even placed the knife on the table, increasing
the pressure on him. “Mr. Rhys, that was my last compromise. I won’t be
saying another word.” Samuel looked grim. As one of the three chief
envoys of the Bounty Killers, when had he ever been in such a frustrating
situation? It was all thanks to that damned Simba for bringing this bad
omen to their lair. “Alright, it’s enough. Thank you, Mr. Franklin.”
Dustin grinned. “Don’t be so nervous. Aren’t we friends? Even if you
don’t say anything, I wouldn’t dare do anything to you.” Samuel’s eye
twitched, caught between amusement and annoyance. He could have put away
the knife before saying that. “Mr. Franklin, it’s been a pleasure working
with you. Remember to let me know immediately when you have any good
news. Goodbye.” Dustin nodded and turned to leave. “Mr. Rhys, your
knife…” Samuel reminded him. “Consider it a gift.” Dustin waved his hand
dismissively and left without another look back. Samuel remained seated.
He let out a heavy sigh. After all his years in the world of martial
arts, he had always been the one taking advantage of others. No one had
ever dared to take advantage of him yet. Today, he had encountered a
rogue grandmaster, and there was nothing he could do about it. The next
day, Dustin issued an order for all the members of the Kirin Gang to
return. They would no longer investigate the death of Paul Hill and stay
out of the public eye. Instead, they would stay at Zephyr Lodge, keeping
a low profile and not going outside. Apart from their regular training,
they spent most of their time eating and drinking. Their

Chapter 937 “What? There are no activities on their end?” Autumn
listened to reports from one of his men in one of the courtyards of the
Hill family. residence. He couldn’t help but wonder aloud, “Are you
sure?” “I’m very sure!” The man said seriously, “We kept watch on them
for the whole of yesterday. All of them from the Kirin Gang had stayed in
Zephyr Lodge. Not even one of them set foot outside.” “What is the rascal
up to?” Autumn mused. Dustin had been doing everything he could to gather
information and investigate the issue for the past few days. It was truly
suspicious now that he suddenly stopped all activities. “Keep your eyes
on them at all times. Report back immediately once you have any
information,” Autumn instructed. “Yes, sir!” With that, the man turned
and left. By the third day, there was still no activity from the Kirin
Gang. They continued indulging themselves. They spent all their days
either training or having fun. The atmosphere inside Zephyr Lodge was
lively. They showed no sign that trouble was coming their way. When
Autumn heard about that, he was even more confused. “Damn it! Has the
rascal decided to give up on the investigation? Is it because he knows
there’s no way out for him, so he’s decided to indulge himself one last
time?” Autumn frowned. The more he thought about it, the more he felt
that something was off. From what he knew of Dustin, he wasn’t someone
who would give up so readily. He would not have been able to reach the
level of grandmaster otherwise. But if Dustin had not given up, why had
there been no activities on his end for the past few days? Could he have
found something out? “Look into it! I want a thorough investigation! I’d
like to see what he’s up to!” Autumn ordered yet again. On the fourth
day, things went on as usual. The Kirin Gang stayed inside Zephyr Lodge
and enjoyed themselves. They didn’t concern themselves with anything
going on outside. To liven things up, they even invited song and dance
troupes or comedic groups to sometimes perform for them. They truly lived
their lives in a delightful manner. Dusing especidity, Hau noi appeartA
TOI ee unys Even (1195 Trom the Nilii Gaily liau nu iuea where he had
gone. It was as though he had just vanished into thin air. Because of the
situation, Autumn was no longer able to stay calm. He began to lose his
appetite and started overthinking things. Tomorrow was Dustin’s deadline.
Due to his guilty conscience, Autumn couldn’t help but feel that Dustin
was plotting something. “Sir! We found something!” Right at that moment,
one of Autumn’s men came running in. “You found something?” Autumn’s eyes
lit up. “Quick! Tell me! What is it?” he urged. “According to our
investigations, Dustin already has evidence to prove his innocence. He
will reveal it to the public tomorrow morning!” the person reported.
“He’s got evidence? How is that possible?” Autumn’s expression grew
grave. He had always been careful not to leave anything behind. So how
could Dustin get any evidence, then? Could this be a trap? “Are you sure
about the information?” Autumn asked sternly. “I’m very sure!” The man
confidently confirmed. “I put in great effort to obtain the information
and even verified it several times to make sure it was true. I’m sure
that the information can’t be wrong!” “I’ll be in a lot of trouble if he
really has evidence!” Autumn’s brows furrowed deeply. He would surely die
a miserable death if anyone knew the truth behind the incident! “What do
we do now, sir?” the man asked anxiously. “Do you know where they keep
the evidence?” Autumn asked. “The Kirin Gang’s House of Heroes has the
strictest security. I bet that they’ve stored it there,” the man
answered. “Gather two troops of Hidden guards at once! We’ll break into
the House of Heroes tonight!” Autumn instructed. He would rather believe
that Dustin really had evidence and act upon it while he could. This was
a matter of life and death. He dared not take any chances. Regardless of
whether the evidence was real, he would destroy it once and for all. That
would set. him at ease and give him peace.

Chapter 938 That night, most of the disciples from the Kirin Gang got
themselves drunk in Zephyr Lodge–all except the patrol team. A group of
ten people in spy suits snuck their way in. They quickly searched
everywhere in Zephyr Lodge. The group of ten people moved around like
ghosts. They made no sound when they landed, and their movements were
quick and agile.. They were hidden from plain sight. The Kirin Gang’s
patrol team noticed nothing amiss at all. The group of ten was made up of
the Hill family’s strongest force, the Hidden guards. Each one of them
was extremely talented. All of them had also gone through rigorous
training. They excelled in everything assassination, undercover work,
gathering information, and spying on enemies. There were two reasons why
the Hill family was one of the Tremendous Three. Besides Paul Hill’s
identity as a grandmaster, another reason was due to the Hidden guards.
They had greatly contributed to eliminating all the Hill family’s
enemies. “Here it is.” After searching around, the Hidden guards finally
got to the House of Heroes. The House of Heroes had two groups of
disciples guarding it at all times. The patrol team also passed by it
often. The security around it was tight. The leaders of the two troops of
Hidden guards exchanged a look, and both lit up an incense. As the smoke
rose, the ten Hidden guards held their breath and waited. The smoke,
carried by the wind, soon wafted to the entrance of the House of Heroes.
All it took were a few breaths, and the two groups of Kirin Gang
disciples standing guard fell to the ground, unconscious. “The patrol
team passes by every five minutes! We need to hurry!” The ten Hidden
guards quickly snuck into the House of Heroes and began searching. The
place was huge but empty. There were memorial tablets in the front and
rows of benches in the center. “Got it!” Three minutes later, one of the
Hidden guards found a secret compartment under one of the memorial
tablets. There was a small, black sachet in the compartment. After
ensuring they had the right thing, they swiftly left and disappeared into
the dark. Dustin and Cornelius were standing on the roof of the House of
Heroes. They watched in silence as the Hidden guards escaped. “Sir Rhys,
your prediction was right! The traitor from the Hill family could not
hold out any longer! Cornelius exclaimed in awe. The Mini Gany nau been
putting old SHOW 10 tile past few days. Ten purpose was to lure une
traitor to show himself. Though what they did was risky, it had worked.
“I must admit, I was just betting for it to happen. Fortunately, they
acted as I hoped.” Dustin narrowed his eyes. “Sir Paul’s death had been
too sudden. It’s very suspicious. “The traitor must have a guilty
conscience. He’s bound to show himself once he hears of the slightest
information. “He wouldn’t be able to stay put. If he gets the idea to
destroy the evidence, he’ll jump straight into my trap.“. “So it’s his
quilt playing up.. Cornelius stroked his chin and asked, “Sir Rhys, there
was also a possibility he wouldn’t show up. What then? Do you have any
other plans?” “If he doesn’t show up?” Dustin smiled faintly. “Then
you’ll have to start making arrangements for my funeral.” “What?”
Cornelius froze on the spot as the corner of his mouth twitched. Wasn’t
Dustin too fearless? He was betting on this with his life! His price for
winning the bet was his life. But if he lost, he’d end up dead! At that
moment, Autumn was pacing around in his study within the Hill family
residence. He looked anxious and would occasionally steal glances out the
window. Though he had dispatched the Hidden guards, he still felt on
edge. If they failed, his life would be in danger. “Sir Autumn!” One of
the leaders of the Hidden guards rushed in. He bowed. “Mission
accomplished. We’ve found. it!” “You’ve found it?” Autumn was instantly
spirited. “Where is it? Hurry! Show me!” “Here. Please have a look.” The
leader of the Hidden guards took out a small sachet and handed it to
Autumn. Autumn hastily opened it up to find a letter inside, He opened
the letter to look at its contents and immediately frowned.

Chapter 939 “There’s evidence on the corpse? It was left on his body
before he died?” Autumn’s brows furrowed as he thought about it. He had
checked the corpse thoroughly when he handled it. He hadn’t noticed
anything out of the ordinary Could he have missed something?” “Gather a
few of our men. We’re going to the hill behind the Hill family residence.
Tll open the coffin to check on the corpse tonight!” After thinking for a
moment, Autumn quickly decided on his next action. He could not afford to
take the risk. If he’d missed something, he’d be in huge trouble. He had
to destroy any evidence before anyone found out! Thirty minutes later,
Autumn and his trusted men secretly went to the hill behind the Hill
family residence. This was where all the members of the Hill family were
buried after they’d passed away. Paul was buried there, too. When they
got to Paul’s grave, Autumn bowed deeply and muttered to himself, “I’m
sorry, Father. Please don’t mind me.” Then, he straightened up and
gestured to his men. “Start digging!” With his orders, the men began
digging. In less than 30 minutes, they had uncovered the coffin. Just
then, a gust of chilling wind swept around them. They shivered and
stopped what they were doing. They hunched their shoulders and glanced
around guiltily. “Why are you just standing there? Open up the coffin!”
Autumn roared. At this point, it was too late for him to turn back. “Open
it up!” Clenching their jaws, the men braved themselves and opened up the
coffin. Paul lay there in the coffin in a formal suit. His face looked
deathly pale, and he didn’t look peaceful. “Forgive me, Father!” Autumn
gulped drily and hopped into the coffin. He began feeling around Paul’s
corpse. He searched around a couple of times but couldn’t find anything.
He even checked his mouth, nostrils, hair, and under his nails and
repeated it several times. But “Where’s the evidence? Why is there
nothing?” Autumn was stressed, and he sweated profusely. He became more
frustrated the more he searched. “Hey. Suddenly, a hand patted Autumn on
the shoulders. “F*ck!” Autumn was scared out of his wits and leaped
several feet backward. He nearly peed his pants. No man could handle the
shock of suddenly being patted on the shoulders while digging up
someone’s grave and rummaging around a corpse. “Who the F*ck…” Autumn was
about to turn around and start cursing when he noticed his surroundings.
For some reason, his men were defeated on the ground. A man in white
stood by the coffin and stared silently at him. Under the moonlight, the
man’s face looked pale and creepy. He was as scary as a ghost. “Dustin?”
Autumn’s eyes widened. “Why are you here?” “How would I know you’re the
traitor if I don’t come here?” Dustin smiled thinly. “Wait…” Autumn
suddenly came to his senses. He paled and exclaimed, “Is this all a trap?
There wasn’t any evidence, to begin with?” “It’s too late to realize
now.” Dustin looked at Autumn coldly as he approached Autumn. “A person
who murders his family is unforgivable Tell me, how would you prefer to
die?”

Chapter 940 “Stand right there! I’m warning you! “You better not come
any closer! I’m part of the Hill family!” Autumn backed up as he shouted
at Dustin. “How dare you say something like that when you killed your own
father?” Dustin looked at him disdainfully, “If I tell the public what
happened today, what do you think will happen to you?” “Hidden guards!
Kill him!” Autumn suddenly yelled He wanted to kill Dustin to keep things
a secret. But there was only silence around him. Only the occasional
sound of the wind howling could be heard. “Hidden guards? Hidden guards!”
Autumn panicked and looked around in distress. “Your trusted men are
here.” Cornelius held two bloody heads in his hands. He appeared from the
shadows and walked into the moonlight. Then, with a toss, the heads
rolled to Autumn’s feet–the blood drained from Autumn’s face. “There’s no
escaping for you, Autumn. What else have you got to say now?” Dustin said
icily. “Wait a minute!” Seeing how the situation was turning bad, an idea
came to him. “Dustin! There are no permanent enemies, only permanent
interests. Let’s talk this out!” “How would you like to talk about this?”
Dustin appeared impassive. “A collaboration! We can work together!”
Autumn swallowed before he continued, “The Hills are extremely wealthy.
Our riches are more than you think. “If you’ll back me up, I can give you
half of the family’s assets! You’ll have everything that you ever wanted.
How’s that?” “I am now labeled as a murderer. How will you deal with
that?” Dustin asked suddenly. “That’s easy. We’ll just get a scapegoat.”
Autumn looked delighted. Thinking that Dustin was tempted by his
suggestion, he quickly added, “If you agree to the collaboration, I’ll
find someone within the family to be the scapegoat. “I promise you’ll
walk out of this with no problem!” “Sounds pretty good.” Dustin nodded.
ISILJU I Kilew liat you were sumnevne Capable of great mys Autumn heaved
a sigh of relief and continued, “With your abilities and my powers, we’ll
make a perfect alliance if we pair up! “By then, not only the Hill family
but even the entire Balerno would have to fall at our feet!” The young
grandmaster had already made a name for himself throughout Balerno.
Autumn thought that if he could get Dustin to work with him, he’d have
someone strong on his side. He could bring the entire Hill family to
greater heights with Dustin. “I’m just curious. Why did you kill Sir
Paul?” Dustin answered Autumn with a question. “Hah! If he’d stepped down
from his position earlier, things would never turn out like this.” Autumn
huffed. “But that old man simply wouldn’t! “He held on to his authority
and would not give up his position! If he didn’t die, we would never get
to inherit his position!” “So because of that, you killed your father?”
Dustin simply could not comprehend. “Is that not reason enough?” Autumn
grumbled, “If he’d just retired gracefully and enjoyed his days, nothing
would have happened. “We’d have been the perfect family. He was the one
who brought all this upon himself!” Had Paul been an ordinary man,
nothing would have happened. He might last a few more years in the
position and die of old age. But he was a grandmaster! Grandmasters had
exceptionally long lives and had no problem living. to over a hundred
years old. The four Hill brothers might not outlive him. Nobody could say
for sure who’d die first. He could only take a risk to achieve his goal
in such a circumstance. If he didn’t, he might be under his father’s
control for his entire life. “What a terrible son you are!” Dustin
narrowed his eyes. He could never understand how some people’s
consciences were shrouded by greed. They wouldn’t even hesitate to betray
their family for power and authority.

Chapter 941 “Dustin, let’s not talk about that old man anymore.”
Autumn swiftly changed the topic. “The important matter now is to think
about our future plans. “If you support me, I can gain control over the
entire Hill family within days!” “When have I agreed to work with you?”
Dustin asked coldly. “What?” Autumn frowned. “I’ve already said so much.
Aren’t you the least bit tempted?” # “You willingly killed your father.
If I collaborated with a beast like you, it would only ruin my
reputation! “Besides, I will expose all you’ve done to the public. So
prepare to face your death!” Dustin gestured to Cornelius. Cornelius
understood his instruction and dashed forward to pin Autumn to the
ground. “Rhys! You’re going back on your word! “You agreed to my proposal
earlier on! Why?” Autumn roared, not giving up. He was just one step
away. One step away from success. Power, authority, and fame had been so
close he felt he could touch them. Why did things turn out this way? “I’m
not the best person out there, but I’m not a beast.” Dustin glared at
him. “Knock him out and bring him back! We’ll deal with him publicly
tomorrow!” Early the next morning, people from all walks of life gathered
at the entrance of Zephyr Lodge. The Boulderthorn guild, the Zen Order,
the Combat Priests, the Soul Reapers, and many more came after they
learned about what was happening. The Balerno and Glenstead martial arts
alliance leaders and elders were also present. Even those from the Jade
Maiden Sisterhood were there to witness the drama unfold. Seven days had
passed, and it was time for Dustin to explain Paul’s death. “Sir Reeds, I
heard there have been no activities on Dustin’s end for the past few
days. Could he be ready to confess and face the punishments?” Conrad, who
was at the front of the crowd, looked on with amusement. “Well, it seems
Sir Melling is in a good mood today?” Ronald asked, looking at him with
displeasure. “You’re mistaken, Sir Reeds. Dustin has made a name for
himself as the youngest grandmaster in Balerno. Of course, I’d wish such
an incredible genius could be safe. ol ure suliace, iliai Dallie juoked
Touyi. But only Dustin knew that he didn’t cough up blood because of
Augustus. It was because of Septemortis. The poison was like a maggot in
his bones. Every time he used his true energy, it would take the
opportunity to get in. The more true energy he consumed, the more
aggressive the poison. Watching Dustin make his way over, Cornelius was
both excited and concerned. “Sir Rhys, are you alright?” He was excited
because his gang leader was actually a low–profile young grandmaster.
Even in the entire world, he was one in a million He had a bright future
ahead of him! However, he was concerned. If Dustin got some kind of
hidden injury from the battle, things would become troublesome. In a
life–or–death battle between grandmasters, one could easily injure one’s
core. “It’s just a small injury. It’s nothing.” Dustin waved his hand
nonchalantly.. “Good” Cornelius sighed. “You look like you got hurt
pretty badly. Take this.” Dustin flicked a red tablet into Cornelius‘
hand. “Thank you, Sir Rhys!” Cornelius swallowed it in one gulp. After
taking a few breaths, the blood surging through his chest began to calm
down. The effects of the medicine were shocking. “Rhys, how–how dare you
kill my master?!” When Terry returned to his senses, he flew into a rage.
“A life or death battle doesn’t just prove who is stronger. It also
decides who gets to live or die.”

Chapter 942 As time passed, the crowd gathered around at the entrance
of Zephyr Lodge grew. The crowd was dense, with tens of thousands of
people. Those who were involved, and even those who weren’t involved,
were there. Some were there to condemn Dustin, while others just to watch
the show unfold. Some were even there to enjoy Dustin’s misfortune; Most
of them knew that if Dustin made it out of this in one piece, he’d have a
bright future. If he didn’t, they would witness the fall of a genius
today. “We know you’re in there, Dustin! Your seven days are up! Come out
and face your death!” the Hill family shouted. The gates of Zephyr Lodge
creaked open as Dustin led several of his men out. “Wow. What a crowd we
have here today. How exciting.”. Dustin glanced around and saw many
familiar faces. “Stop playing the fool! You murdered my grandfather!
Today is the day you pay for it with your life!” Torben shouted angrily.
“That’s right! Sir Reeds had been generous enough to let you live for
another seven days. “But there’s no way you’re escaping death!” someone
from the crowd shouted as others clamored along. On the one hand, it was
out of their respect for Paul On the other hand, it was also due to their
jealousy toward the young grandmaster. “You claimed you were innocent,
Dustin, so I gave you seven days. Do you have any evidence to prove your
claim now?” Ronald asked. “I have not failed you, Sir Reeds. I have
caught the real culprit,” Dustin answered truthfully. “What do you mean
you’ve caught the culprit? You were the one who murdered my grandfather!”
Torben snapped fiercely. “We’ll find out who the murderer is soon
enough.” Without wasting any more time, Dustin gestured to the men behind
him. Soon, Cornelius brought out a man who was tightly bound up. The man
had a hood over his head. “Hmph! Do you think that you’ll be able to get
through this just by finding a scapegoat to take the blame for you? “No
F*cking way that’s going to happen!” Torben glared at Dustin. “Dustin!
Stop with the tricks and own up to what you did. We might just give you a
quick death!” Spring said coldly. “That’s right! Admit to your crimes
now, or we’ll see you die, a long and terrible death!” The Hills From
their point of view, Dustin was planning to get a scapegoat to shoulder
his offenses. They would never let him get away so easily! “Have a look
at who the murderer is, everyone. Then we’ll talk. Reluctant to waste any
more time on pointless speech, Dustin grabbed the hood on the man’s head
and removed it. And Autumn’s face was revealed to everyone. “Autumn?”
“Sir Autumn?” “Dad?” Everyone from the Hill family was stunned when they
saw the familiar face. None of them had expected that the scapegoat
Dustin had found to be Autumn Hill! “How dare you!” “You insolent
bastard!” After the momentary shock, the Hills began shouting at Dustin.
He was truly fearless in holding Autumn captive! “Let my father go
immediately, Rhys! Or I’ll make sure you die the most gruesome death!”
Torben roared. He had wondered why he hadn’t seen his father today. It
turns out that Dustin had captured him! That was going overboard!
“Dustin, what’s the matter? Why did you kidnap someone from the Hill
family?” Ronald frowned) “Sir Reeds, the truth is Autumn Hill is one of
the prime culprits who murdered Sir Paul!” Dustin announced. “What?
Autumn’s the murderer?”

Chapter 943 The crowd began whispering when they heard what Dustin
said. Some of them were shocked, while others had their doubts. But most
of them did not believe him. “Nonsense! My father had been upright and
honest his whole life! “How could he have done such a horrible thing?”
Torben bellowed. “I’m warning you, Dustin! You better not spout such
nonsense around!” Spring’s expression was dark. “You murdered my father,
and now you’re dragging my brother through the mud! What malicious
intentions you have!” “Let Autumn tell you what he’s done. Then you’ll
know if I’m slandering him.” Dustin pulled out the wad of cloth shoved in
Autumn’s mouth. Then, he kicked him. “Go on, tell them what happened last
night.” “Spring! Save me! Quick!” Autumn immediately began yelling once
he opened his mouth. “This scoundrel captured me and started torturing
me. He even threatened to wipe out my entire family if I did not take the
blame for him! Spring, you have to save me!” “You liar! How dare you tell
lies!” Cornelius fumed. He was just about to slap Autumn when Dustin
stopped him. Things would look bad if they were to get aggressive under
such circumstances. “Dustin! You impertinent scoundrel! Release my
brother at once!” Spring ordered. “Release him! Or I’ll burn down this
god damned lodge!” Torben echoed angrily. “Release him! Release him!
Release him!” The crowd began chanting and clamoring. They looked
furious. Not only had Dustin killed Sir Paul, he even captured Autumn to
be his scapegoat. Such horrible behavior was dreadful! “Karma! This is
karma indeed!” The Jade Maiden Sisterhood were pleased at the sight they
saw. They were out of breath from laughing in delight. The more trouble
Dustin was in, the happier they were. At this point, Dustin did not seem
to have any way of turning back anymore. So what if he was a grandmaster?
He had no way out with so many leaders of the major sects present.
“Hahaha! Haven’t I warned you, Dustin? “If you work with me, you won’t
have to die. You’ll also be able to enjoy unlimited riches.” Autumn
sniggered. “Look at yourself now. your telivie decisTON! I ou le me
public enemy of the ente mai di Wu! Tis is all talkS “How do you feel
now? Are you regretting your decision? Do you feel helpless? “So what if
I was the person who murdered Paul? So what if you’ve caught me? “Would
anyone believe what you said? All those people from the martial world are
on my side. Whatever I say goes! “If I say you’re the murderer, then
you’re the murderer. No matter how much you struggle, you won’t be able
to change a thing. “The youngest grandmaster? The pride of the nation?
What a joke!” Though Dustin had set up a trap and had him captured, he
could worm his way out of things if he did not admit to anything. But for
Dustin, try as he might, was making futile attempts. How laughable! “Are
you done laughing yet? Do you think that there’s nothing I can do to
you?” Dustin asked calmly. “Well, what can you do? You can’t possibly
kill me, can you?” Autumn scoffed. All the major sects in Balerno and
Glenstead are gathered here. If you dare to touch a hair on my head,
you’ll be dead meat!” Then, he stretched out his throat to provoke Dustin
and challenge him to kill him. “Sir Reeds, what punishment should be for
a man who kills his father?” Dustin asked. “He should be punishable by
death, of course.” Ronald wondered why Dustin would ask him something
like that, but he answered honestly. “Should the person be killed?”
“Yes.” “Alright then, I shall kill him!” Then, Dustin drew out a sword.
Amidst the crowd’s astonished gazes, he sliced off Autumn’s head.

Chapter 944
A deathly silence came over the crowd as Autumn’s head fell to the
ground.

All the shouts and clamors died down.

Ronald and Conrad were shocked.
The Hill family, Jade Maiden Sisterhood, Boulderthorn, the Zen Order,
the Combat Priests, the Soul Reapers, and all the martial artists present
were shocked.
Everyone gaped in disbelief.
No one had expected Dustin to be so cruel. He had cut-Autumn’s head
off in front of the entire Hill family, the Balerno and Glenstead martial
alliances, and all the sects.
Without any reason or explanation, he killed him like one would
slaughter an animal.
Then, an uproar broke out.
“How dare you kill someone so openly, Dustin? You cocky bastard!”
“He killed him to silence him! That’s what he’s doing!”
“He has no conscience! Someone like him needs to be killed!”
“Kill him! Avenge Sir Paul! Return the Hill family their honor!”
The crowd stomped their feet and cursed at him.
He was already guilty of murder, and now he’d committed another! They
would not allow such
wicked and vile scum to exist in the martial world!
They had to get rid of him!
“The dumbass is digging his own grave!” The Jade Maiden Sisterhood
snickered among themselves, enjoying the show.
Dustin killing Autumn so openly was like adding fuel to the fire.
Dustin had left himself with no
way out now.’
“You beast! How dare you kill my brother? The Hill family will never
let you off!”
After coming back to his senses, Spring roared.
“You bastard! I’ll kill you for murdering my father!”
Torben gritted his teeth in rage. Drawing his sword, he dashed up to
Dustin, ready to kill Dustin even if it meant losing his life.
But he had barely approached Dustin when Cornelius punched him and
sent him flying. He struggled to stand up.
“Sir Reeds! This man is way too arrogant.

“First, he killed my father. Then he killed my brother.
“As a leader of the martial world, will you just stand by and watch?”
Spring looked at him, his eyes

He would have personally led his men to wipe out Zephyr Lodge if it
wasn’t because he couldn’t defeat Dustin.
“You’re too boastful, Dustin! How can I protect you when you act so
arrogantly?” Ronald was
furious, too.
As he spoke, he gradually released his energy. Strong gusts of wind
blew around them, sending sand and dust into the air.
“Please calm down, Sir Reeds. You were the one who said that a son
who kills his father deserves to be killed. So I just did as you said,”
Dustin said calmly.
“Nonsense! What do you mean that a son who kills his father deserves
to be killed?
“That’s all just your one-sided claim! What proof do you have?”
Spring demanded angrily.
“Exactly! You claim that Autumn’s the murderer. But what proof have
you got?” Ronald frowned.
“You want proof? That’s easy.” Dustin gestured to his men.
Two disciples of the Kirin gang quickly brought out a huge piece of
white cloth and hung it at the entrance of Zephyr Lodge.
Then, they turned on a projector and played a video with the white
cloth as a screen.
The video was a recording of Autumn digging up the grave last night.
It started with Autumn digging the grave and ended with him being
knocked out. Everything that
he had said and done was seen and heard.
The crowd fell silent after seeing that.
Their eyes fixed on the screen. The shock was evident on all their
faces, and they struggled to come to terms with what they saw.
They honestly never expected Autumn to be the real murderer! He had
denied all accusations and insisted that he was innocent just a while
ago!
In the video footage, Autumn appeared unbelievably full of himself.
The malicious look on his face garnered a lot of resentment from everyone
who saw it.
Though they found it hard to believe, the truth was there for all to
see. No matter how shocking it was, they could not deny it.

Chapter 945
“Do you see that, everyone?”
Dustin looked around and said coldly, “Autumn’s conscience has been
shrouded by his greed.
“He would not even spare his father for power. Should a vile person
like him not be killed?”
Dustin’s question shut all of them up.
Even those from the Hill family who had been livid were silenced.
Spring froze after watching the video.
Torben stood there, mumbling to himself, “How did things turnout this
way?
“How could my father end up being my grandfather’s murderer? Tha–
that’s impossible!”
He found it hard to believe that his father would commit such a vile
act.
He even went so far as to disregard family ties just for power and
authority. It was outrageous!
“I had thought that Dustin was the murderer. Turns out there’s a
traitor within the Hill family!”
“He can even bring himself to murder his father. What a monster!”
“One can never judge a book by its covers. Who would have thought the
ever–helpful and generous Sir Autumn was so despicable?”
The crowd whispered in hushed tones as they commented on the issue.
The Hill family now ended up as the target of public criticism.
“Hold on!”
Just then, Edith came forward and voiced her doubts.
“As far as I’m aware, Autumn is a weakling.
“How could he possibly assassinate a grandmaster? Don’t any of you
find this weird?”
“That’s right! Only a grandmaster is capable of killing another
grandmaster. How could Autumn be able to do it?
“Maybe they’ve turned against each other, and someone’s just thrown
Autumn under the truck to save himself!” Brittany seemed to be
insinuating something.
They didn’t want Dustin to make it out of this alive. Even if it was
baseless accusations, they made it a point to drag him through the mud.
“Exactly! With Autumn’s powers, he can’t even harm Sir Paul. How
could he possibly have killed him?”
The onlookers started to doubt when they heard what Edith said.
A grandmaster was like a legendary figure.
Regular martial artists could not harm them, much less assassinate
them. That was something
“Of course, Autumn could not have done it alone.”
Dustin glanced at the Jade Maiden Sisterhood.
Then he continued, “Actually, someone else murdered Sir Paul.”
“Who is it?” Ronald frowned.
“Dimitri Gonzalez–Shadowslayer’s ace assassin!”
That was a shocking piece of information. The crowd was sent into an
uproar again.
“Dimitri Gonzalez? Isn’t he a Kimbokuan?”
“Could Autumn have worked with Shadowslayer for power?”
“He joined hands with foreign invaders and invited tragedy upon
himself. He deserved to die!”
After hearing that Shadowslayer was involved, many of them were
livid.
It was vile enough of him to kill his father. And now, they even
discovered he was working with foreign invaders.
He was a traitor to the country who deserved to die!
“No! No way! My father would never do such a thing!” Torben shook his
head furiously in denial.
Autumn had committed two serious offenses that his reputation would
be tarnished forever.
“Hmph! Your father would kill his father for power! What wouldn’t he
do?”
“Exactly! Your father is an evil monster! Scums like him deserve to
be shredded into pieces!”
All the martial artists berated Autumn. Their view on the matter
changed after seeing his true colors.
“Autumn might be a monster, but there is someone even worse than
him,” Dustin added.
“What do you mean?” Ronald was curious.
“You probably do not know about this, Sir Reeds. But Autumn is just a
pawn.
“There is someone controlling everything behind the scenes! And that
person is the true murderer! “Dustin revealed.
“What? There’s someone behind all of this? Who is it?” Ronald’s face
fell
Dustin looked around, and his gaze finally fell on someone at the
center of the crowd.
He raised a finger and pointed at him. “That person is the leader of
the Hill brethren–Spring Hill!”

Chapter 946
“What? Spring Hill?”
Everyone was shocked by Dustin’s words. All eyes rested on the Hills.
“No way! Spring has always been a righteous and generous person. How
could he have anything to
do with this?”
“I don’t believe you too. Spring is known to be a gentleman. Everyone
only talks about how good he
is.”
“Was he mistaken?”
A heated discussion broke out among the crowd.
Spring had the best reputation among the Hill brethren. He was always
helpful to others.
Even beggars who approached him were treated with respect. There was
no doubt about his
character.
Spring was taken aback but quickly recovered. He roared, “What
nonsense! There’s no bad blood between us, Dustin.
“Why are you making false accusations against me?”
“False accusations?” Dustin scoffed.
“You know better than anyone else whether those accusations are true.
“Autumn was just impulsive. He has the brawns but not the brains.
“He is incapable of planning Sir Paul’s assassination and framing me
for it!”
Autumn’s actions showed he was not a smart and crafty person. He had
jumped head first into the trap Dustin set up for him and came clean
about everything he had done.
He was not a person who could come up with such a fine plan, much
less execute it so perfectly.
Hence, Dustin had suspected that Autumn was simply a pawn.
After some investigation, he found evidence that led to the
mastermind.
“Watch your words!” Spring huffed.
“First, you say it’s Autumn, then you claim it’s Dimitri Gonzalez.
“And now you pin it on me? What are you playing at?”
“Hey, bastard! I’m warning you, you better not spew nonsense! We
won’t let you off if you slander the new leader of our family!” the Hill
family roared.
It was Spring who had dealt with the mess after Paul’s death. He had
settled the family and put
everyone at ease.
Because of that, he was now the backbone of the family that everyone
depended on.
“Dustin, empty words cannot prove anything. Do you have evidence that
Spring is the mastermind
“I would not have wasted my words if I did not have evidence.”
Dustin gestured to his men. “Boys, bring those people here!”
A group of Kirin Gang disciples brought out several masked men. They
were all dressed in black
clothes.
Their masks were then removed and their shirts taken off, Each one of
them had a unique tattoo
on their chest.
“Do you recognize the tattoo on them, Spring?” Dustin asked.
“I do. They are the Hill family’s Hidden guards.” Spring did not deny
recognizing the tattoo.
“Good that you own up to that.” Dustin nodded.
Then he continued, “These Hidden guards have come clean.
“They said that you were the one controlling Autumn behind the
scenes. You were the one who used him to murder Sir Paul.
“I have recorded all their testimonies. Do you wish to hear them for
yourself?”
“Hmph! They’re all wounded. It’s obvious that you’ve forced a
confession out of them.
“Who would believe such testimonies?” Spring remained unfazed.
“That’s right! A forced confession cannot be trusted!” the crowd
echoed.
Even the strongest of men would give in to torture. Their
testimonies, which had been obtained by torture, could not be trusted.
“As we all know, the Hidden guards only answer to the Hill family
emblem. How could Autumn get the Hidden guards to obey him without your
help?” Dustin questioned.
“I have just taken over the family. There are bound to be mistakes.
“Besides, these Hidden guards have long since been bought over by
Autumn. I have no authority over them anymore,” Spring said convincingly.
“Dustin, these testimonies can’t prove anything. If you do not have
other evidence, we will end things here today,” Ronald said.
“If testimonies can’t prove it, I have evidence to back me up.
Ir
Dustin seemed to have expected this. He took out an envelope from his
pocket and tossed it to
Ronald.
“Sir Reeds, this is a letter I found in Autumn’s secret room.
“It records all the plans they have made with Dimitri Gonzalez.
Spring is mentioned, too!”
“How could that be?”
Ronald frowned as he opened up the letter and read it.
A moment later, his expression darkened as he threw the letter on
Spring’s face.
Spilly ! it as youname on it! vilat lave you you to say about us?
“No way! Does Spring have something to do with this?”
“Oh my God! If that’s the case, I’m afraid the Hill family is
doomed!”
The crowd was surprised, and they began whispering among themselves.
If testimonies alone couldn’t be trusted, what about solid evidence?

Chapter 947
“Sir Reeds, the letter could have been fabricated.”
Spring said calmly, “All he needed to do was to get someone to
imitate my penmanship.
“He could easily make a fake letter. It doesn’t prove anything.”
“Precisely! Who knows if he made it up?” The Hills took Spring’s side
readily.
“Oh, Spring, it seems like I’ve underestimated you. How can you still
be denying what you’ve done?
“Alright, since you insist you’re innocent, I’ll give you evidence
you can’t deny.”
Dustin clapped. Then, the disciples of the Kirin Gang parted to make
way.
Then, an old man with white hair and beard strode out with his head
held high.
Everyone stood frozen in place as if they’d been struck by lightning.
The old man was none other than the late Sir Paul!
“H–how is this possible? Isn’t Sir Paul dead?”
“Oh my god! I can’t possibly be looking at a ghost now, right?”
“What on Earth is going on? Has the dead come back to life?”
The crowd was shocked, and they all staggered back. They looked like
they’d seen a ghost.
Everyone knew that Paul had died seven days ago. Many of them even
watched as his body was
buried.
So, how was he standing before them now? Could he have come back from
the dead?
“S–Sir?” Ronald stared with his eyes wide as saucers. He could not
believe what he was seeing
“No way! Is the old man not dead yet?” Conrad swallowed dryly. He
instantly lost his composure.
“The dead have come back to life! What’s going on!”
Everyone descended into chaos, including those from the Balerno and
Glenstead martial arts alliance and all the sects. Everyone was shock.
“H–he’s not dead?”
Spring stared in disbelief as his eyes widened. His calm composure
was gone.
He trembled and sweated all over, gripped by fear. Never in his
darkest dreams had he imagined such a strange thing would happen.
“Sir Paul, it’s time you deal with your family affairs.” Dustin bowed
and backed off.
“You terrible son! What have you got to say now?” Paul shouted at
Spring, his face dark.
“Yo-you… Weren’t you dead? Why are you still alive?”
Spring was so frightened he stumbled backward with terror on his
face.
Take my ue, now could I call all of you, you vile ? Faul yelled at 1.
equi,
“Faked your death? How could that be?
“I checked that you were dead.” Spring shook his head, unable to
accept what he heard.
He had waited for so long. He was just one step away from taking over
Paul’s position.
But it had all come to waste now. It was a big blow to his plans.
“Hmph! I am a grandmaster, and I have mastered the invisible breath
technique.
“I’d have wasted decades mastering the technique if I can’t even fool
you!” Paul stated impassively.
“Why? Why? Why won’t you just die, old man
Spring seemed to lose it because his chance of taking Paul’s position
was now destroyed.
It was like he had lost his sanity. He even screamed continuously to
vent his aggravation and
resentment.
“I put so much effort into making the perfect plan to kill you. I
worked so hard to get everything right,
“But you still didn’t die. Why? Why didn’t you die?
“You’ve had decades worth of glory, old man! It should have been
enough!
“Why didn’t you willingly give up your position? Why couldn’t you
have put me in charge?
“I do not wish to be controlled by you for life! I do not want to
live in your shadows constantly!
“You should die! You should have died much earlier on!
“I’d never get a taste of success if you don’t die!”

Chapter 948
After some commotion, Spring Hill collapsed to the ground with a
resounding “thud.”
His contorted face was filled with a myriad of negative emotions.
Anger, hatred, jealousy, madness, and a profound sense of
unwillingness.
He couldn’t fathom why this had occurred; his plan had been executed
flawlessly.
As long as he eliminated Paul Hill, he could ascend to the throne
successfully. From that point on, he could consolidate his power and rule
supreme.
However, fate had a different plan. Despite employing every possible
means, he found himself with nothing to show for it.
From the moment he aspired to seize power, he was destined for one of
two outcomes.
Either he would reach the pinnacle and earn the admiration of
thousands, or he would plummet into the abyss and shatter into pieces.
Regrettably, he had failed.
Paul Hill was still alive, rendering all his strategies and plots
futile.
Yet, he could not accept it!
Just one step away, just one step away from a life of ease!
Why? !
“I never expected Spring Hill to be the puppeteer behind the scenes.
It’s truly astonishing!”
“You might appear benign on a daily basis, but beneath that facade,
you’re a sanctimonious hypocrite, showing one face to the world and
another to your heart!”
“If the former alliance leader hadn’t faked his death, this fiend
would have succeeded in seizing power!”
“…”
Witnessing Spring Hill’s near madness, everyone was both shocked and
incensed.
They had previously voiced their support and had placed great trust
in him, never suspecting that he was a beast in disguise.
“Come here! Bind this treacherous beast!”
Ronald Reeds barked angrily.
“Yes!”
The two elders of the martial alliance responded, breaking Spring
Hill’s legs and securing him tightly.
“Old man! Die! Die!” Spring Hill roared with an unwillingness that
seemed to have consumed his sanity.
“Place him in a dungeon, guard him closely, and execute him publicly
tomorrow!”
Ronald Reeds gave the order and directed his people to remove Spring
Hill.
“The truth has been unveiled, please disperse.”
Ronald Reeds turned and dismissed the various sects that had
gathered.
No one had anticipated such a turn of events.
Originally, their mission was to confront Dustin.
Yet, the path had been filled with unexpected twists and turns.
First, Paul Hill was revealed, and then Spring Hill’s true nature
emerged.
With every revelation, the shock grew.
The two sons of the Hill family had nearly deceived everyone.
“Leader Ronald, your Jiangnan Martial Arts League certainly boasts
remarkable talents. Today’s spectacle has truly opened my eyes.
Farewell.”
Conrad made a meaningful remark and departed with the members of the
Jiangbei Martial League.
“Humph! I won’t let that lad escape again so easily!”
Edith’s countenance was dark, and his gaze harbored no goodwill.
“Who could have guessed that Paul Hill wasn’t dead? That rascal’s
luck is infuriating!”
Brittany gritted her teeth, feeling thoroughly aggrieved.
“Master, what should we do now?”
Nikki asked cautiously.
“What else can we do? We must return and study the fragment
meticulously, hoping to uncover its secrets.” Edith squinted his eyes.
Reaching the master level required a fortuitous encounter; otherwise,
it was as challenging as reaching the heavens.
“Master, speaking of the fragment, I recall something.”
Nikki spoke thoughtfully, “That fellow Dustin mentioned earlier that
there might be something hidden within the fragment. Opening it might
yield a surprise.”
“A surprise?” Edith’s eyes brightened. “Why didn’t you mention this
earlier?”
“I only just remembered it,” Nikki said coyly. “Hurry, let’s go back
now!”
Impatiently, Edith swiftly led his group away.
In just a matter of minutes, everyone at the entrance of Fengyu Villa
had departed.

Chapter 949
Only Ronald Reeds and his group remained in the same spot.
“Ronald, why are you still here? Return.”
Paul Hill said calmly.
Ronald Reeds said nothing. After a brief glance, his gaze refocused
on Azalea once more: “Azalea, where did you bring this individual from?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Paul Hill furrowed his brow, somewhat annoyed.
“What? Are you going to continue this charade?”
Ronald Reeds’ expression turned icy.
“How insolent! Why are you addressing your master in such a manner?
Show some respect!”
Paul Hill scolded in anger.
“Hmph! Let’s see if you’re flesh and blood or just a specter.”
Ronald Reeds coldly snorted and suddenly moved, grabbing Paul Hill by
the face.
Paul Hill furrowed his brow and tried to back away, but he couldn’t
escape the grasp.
Just as he was about to be caught, Azalea suddenly stepped in front
of him and implored, “Leader Ronald, please show mercy. If you have
something to discuss—”
“Traitor! How dare you assault my master? You’re nothing but a
turncoat!” Paul Hill’s face burned with anger.
“Enough of the act, Alliance Leader Ronald has seen through it.”
Azalea glanced back, issuing a subtle warning.
Upon hearing this, Paul Hill, who had been furious moments ago,
instantly changed his demeanor, revealing a somewhat mischievous grin.
Then, a clear, feminine voice emerged from her lips: “The martial
arts master is truly perceptive. I didn’t expect you to uncover the clues
behind the little girl’s carefully crafted human skin mask.”
After speaking, she reached out, and in an instant, the white-bearded
Paul Hill vanished.
In his place was a strikingly beautiful woman’s face.
It was Azalea!
“Brother Azalea, who is this?”
Ronald Reeds furrowed his brow slightly. “Leader Ronald, this is a
friend of mine skilled in the art of disguise.”
Conrad bowed and replied, “To reveal Paul Hill’s true face, I had to
resort to this ruse. I hope Alliance Leader Ronald understands.”
“I see, quite the peculiar individual.”
Ronald Reeds nodded, then continued, “Although your actions were
somewhat unorthodox, given the circumstances, they are forgivable in the
pursuit of proving your innocence.”
“Thank you, Alliance Leader Ronald, for your understanding.” Conrad
nodded with a hint of gratitude.
Disguising Azalea as Paul Hill and staging the performance had been
somewhat audacious.
“No need for further pleasantries. I’m pleased that you’ve cleared
your name. The Jiangnan Martial League could use talented individuals
like you. This world will be yours, the younger generation’s, from now
on,” Ronald Reeds said, visibly relieved.
“Leader Ronald, your praise is too generous,” Conrad replied with a
slight smile.
“Oh, I nearly forgot the most crucial matter.”
As if recalling something important, Ronald Reeds swiftly retrieved a
vial of medicine and handed it over, saying, “This is the antidote for
the Seven-Day Heart-Breaking Pill. Take it immediately. Once the poison
reaches your bone marrow, there will be inevitable side effects.”
“Thank you, Alliance Leader Ronald.”
Conrad accepted the vial without hesitation, poured out the antidote,
and consumed it in one gulp.
“All right, my mission is accomplished. Paul Hill will face public
execution by the Martial Alliance tomorrow. Feel free to attend. I shall
take my leave now.”
Ronald Reeds bowed and turned to depart.
However, at that moment, Conrad’s expression suddenly changed. He
coughed up a mouthful of dark blood and collapsed to the ground.
“Little miracle doctor?” Azalea’s eyes widened in shock as she rushed
to support him.
“Brother Conrad! What’s happening to you?” Ronald Reeds was equally
startled.
“The medicine… it was poisoned!”
Conrad gritted his teeth, drenched in sweat.
The antidote contained poison, and in a momentary lapse, he had been
deceived.
“Poisoned? How is that possible?”
Ronald Reeds furrowed his brow deeply, then suddenly realized, “Wait!
Conrad handed me the antidote. Could he have tampered with it?
That devious scoundrel played such a vile trick!
Quick! Summon all the Martial Alliance members and apprehend Conrad!
Then send a messenger to Strongey Valley, urgently requesting their
assistance!
No matter the cost, we must save Conrad! Hurry!”

Chapter 950

Dustin lay unconscious on his bed in Zephyr Lodge. His brows were furrowe
d, and his face was ghostly pale.

A war raged on within him as the toxins and his true energy battled with
each other relentlessly.

From time to time, black blood would trickle out of his nose and mouth.

Dr. Watkins sat by his bedside as he carefully performed acupuncture on h
im. His brows were furrowed in concentration as he tried to get the poiso
n out of him.

Cornelius, Azalea, Abigail, and the rest were worried as they stood waiti
ng by the side.

Dustin was not even cleared of Septemortis yet, and now another unknown p
oison was added to the mix. The situation was terrible.

Ronald led those from the Balerno martial arts alliance to search for Con
rad, who seemed to have disappeared. They still had no news of him yet.
Now, all their hopes
lay with Dr. Watkins to bring Dustin back from the brink of death.

As time passed, sweat began forming on Dr. Watkin’s forehead. He was brea
thing raggedly.

As the needles were inserted one by one, everyone could see a mass of dar
k energy in Dustin’s chest. It expanded and contracted repeatedly, never
disappearing the entire time.

After performing the acupuncture, Dr. Watkins fed Dustin an enhanced Cura
x.
Though Curax
could expel all sorts of poison, it didn’t work well against the ten dead
liest poisons. The most it could do against those was to suppress their e
ffects barely.
A moment later, Dr. Watkins stood up, and he sighed.

“Dr. Watkins! How is it? Is he alright?” Abigail was the first to ask.
She had locked herself
away to meditate. It was shocking for her to hear about what had happened
to Dustin when she came out of her room.
“It doesn’t look too good.” Dr. Watkins shook his head.

“There are two types of poison inside Mr. Rhys right now. One of them is
Septemortis, and the other is Dispergia.

“The two poisons complement each other. So, their toxicity increases when
together. I am really at my wit’s end.
“Septemortis is tough to
cure by itself. And now, he has Dispergia in him, too.
“Dispergia is a poison specifically targeted at
grandmasters. So, the situation at hand is extremely complicated.

“If Dustin was not strong enough, he’d probably have died on the spot.”
“But Dr. Watkins, you’re
one of the best doctors! How can you not be able to
cure him?” Abigail was flustered.
“If Dustin was not strong enough, he’d probably
have died on the spot.”

“But Dr. Watkins, you’re one of the best doctors! How can you not be able
to cure him?” Abigail was flustered.

Dustin was the only person who had shown her true kindness apart from her
father.

“Dr. Watkins, no matter how much it costs to cure Sir Rhys, we will pay i
t!

“Even if it means selling everything we own! Please, Dr. Watkins, you mus
t save him!”
Cornelius dropped to his knees with a loud thud.
“Please save him, Dr. Watkins!”

All the guildmasters of the three major guilds fell to their knees too.

“There is no need for this. Mr. Rhys is also a part of the Stoneray Order
.

“I will do my best to save him if he is not beyond saving. However…” Dr.
Watkins hesitated
to finish his sentence.

The ten deadliest poisons were potent. They were the bane of all doctors.
Had it
only been Septemortis, he could give it a try to remove the poison. But n
ow, two different poisons were working within Dustin.
His hands were pretty much tied.
Just then, a pretty figure rushed in suddenly as
she exclaimed, “Dustin!”
It was Natasha!

She had been caught up with setting up her company in Oakvale. But she pu
t everything aside and rushed back immediately when she heard that someth
ing had happened to
Dustin.

“Ms. Natasha, you’re finally here. He… he looks like he isn’t going to ma
ke it.”
Abigail’s eyes were red–rimmed as
she said that. Even her voice cracked as she said, “How could this be? Wh
at exactly happened?”
Natasha frowned. Her heart drummed uncontrollably.
Abigail hid nothing from her and told her everything.
Natasha paled as though she’d been struck by lightning.

So Dustin had been poisoned much earlier on. He knew that she would be wo
rried about
him.
That was why he hadn’t told her about it.

But the more he tried to hide things like this from her, the more worried
she was.
“Dr. Watkins!”
Natasha grabbed him like he was her last hope.

“Everyone knows that you’re a miracle doctor. Please save Dustin. I’ll wi
llingly pay any price for him to be saved!” she begged. 6

Chapter 951
“I know how you feel, Ms. Harmon. But the effects of the poison are
too strong.
“I’ve tried everything, but nothing worked. I’m really sorry.” Linden
sighed.
He cared a lot about Dustin and even planned to make Dustin his
successor. It was unfortunate
that Dustin had been poisoned with an incurable poison.
“T–that’s impossible!” Natasha began to panic. Nobody stood a chance
if even Linden was unable
to cure Dustin.
“Hang on!” Natasha suddenly recalled something.
“Dr. Watkins, I heard Stoneray Order has a magical herb called
‘Resurgathorn‘. It can revive
someone when mixed with a secret recipe. Is that true?”
“Resurgathorn?” Linden frowned when he heard this.
“Ms. Harmon, that is something that is forbidden. We mustn’t use it.”
“Why not? Are you worried that we won’t be able to pay up?” Natasha
was anxious.
“It has nothing to do with money.”
Linden shook his head before explaining, “Resurgathorn isn’t a
medical herb. Rather, it’s a highly
potent poison that’s difficult to use.
“Doctors are forbidden from using it.
“I don’t care if it’s a medical herb or poison as long as it can save
Dustin. Just tell me what I have
to do.” Natasha was unfazed by Linden’s explanation.
“If we use Resurgathorn in his current condition, we’ll have to risk
another person’s life. All the
poison in Mr. Rhys‘ body will be transferred to the other person’s.
“It means we’re exchanging one life for another,” Linden said sadly.
“Exchanging one life for another?” Many paled when they heard that.
The cost of treating Dustin was far greater than they had expected.
“That’s merely one of the conditions. Not everyone has the right
criteria to sacrifice themselves.”
“During the process, the person sacrificing must willingly go through
unbearable pain. Any regret or resistance will render the attempt
useless.
“That person must have a strong mind and unbreakable love toward Mr.
Rhys for the treatment to
work.”
Linden’s explanation made everyone silent in thought, and their
expression became grim. They thought of finding a terminally ill patient
to fill the role, but it seemed like that plan wouldn’t
work now.
Then, who might fulfill these requirements? After all, even close
family members would be reluctant to sacrifice themselves willingly.
“Everyone has the right to choose, so we shouldn’t force anything on
anyone. I think we should give up.” Linden sighed again.
“Dr. Watkins, I’m willing to give it a try.” Natasha volunteered.
“What?” Everyone’s eyes shot toward Natasha, their eyes filled with
astonishment.
“Ms. Harmon, this isn’t a simple matter. If anything goes wrong, both
of you will die!” Linden
warned.
He’d made everything clear, yet Natasha still stubbornly insisted on
trying.
“I know, but I still want to try.” Natasha walked over to Dustin’s
bed and caressed his cheek.
Her eyes were soft but determined when she said, “He’s my husband.
I’m willing to sacrifice
myself for him.”
Despite her calm tone, her love for Dustin was evident.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Ms. Harmon?” Linden frowned.
“I’m sure.” Natasha nodded.
“The pain will be unbearable. Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
Linden asked again.
“Yep.” Smiling, Natasha bent over and gently kissed Dustin’s lips.
“If he doesn’t make it, I’ll die with him.”
Everyone went silent when they heard her words.

Chapter 952
“Goodbye, my love …”
Despite being unconscious, Dustin heard a familiar voice speaking to
him.
He wanted to open his eyes, but he couldn’t no matter how hard he
tried. It felt like his body had
fallen into a bottomless pit and was still falling.
Fear and despair washed over him in the dark world.
He didn’t know how long he’d been in this state.
A year? Ten? Or maybe even a hundred?
Just as Dustin was about to break down, he saw a burst of light in
the distance.
Like a drowning man yearning for air, he swam desperately toward the
source of the light. He got
closer and closer until the light engulfed him.
Suddenly, Dustin woke up on the hospital bed with a gasp. Air filled
his lungs, and his heart
began picking up pace.
It felt as if he had been reborn.
He took a moment to check himself and realized that the poison had
miraculously disappeared
from his body!
Although he felt slightly weak, his life was no longer in danger.
“Mr. Rhys, you’re finally awake. I thought you would not make it,”
someone said tiredly.
Dustin looked up to see Linden by the bed. Sweat beaded the older
man’s forehead as he panted
exhaustedly.
“So you were the one who saved me. Thank you so much!” Dustin
frantically thanked Linden.
It was nearly impossible to neutralize the poison in his body, so
Linden must have gone through a
lot to bring Dustin back to life.
“It’s nothing. I only had to use my energy. You should be thanking
the person next to you instead.” Linden sighed.
“Beside me?” Puzzled, Dustin turned his head.
On the bed next to his lay a beautiful but lifeless woman whose
breathing was so faint her chest barely moved. She looked just like a
corpse.
“Natasha?” Stunned, Dustin sprung up in horror.
He threw himself toward her and began checking her weak pulse. She
was so weak she was nearly dead.
Dustin tried channeling his true energy to her, but all her organs
remained unresponsive. He
touched her once supple and smooth skin, but it was icy cold and
stiff.
“How could this be? What happened?” Dustin was terrified.
He couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her.
Despite all the medical textbooks he has read, he has never seen a
condition like hers, much less
know how to treat it.
It felt like Natasha was already dead.
“Dr. Watkins, what happened to her?” Dustin spun his head around
panickedly.
“Well, she turned this way because she tried to save you.” With a
sigh, Linden began telling Dustin.
the whole story.

Chapter 953
From agonizing pain to reaching death, Linden carefully watched the
entire process. He felt that
Dustin needed to know how far Natasha would go for the person she
loved.
Dustin was dumbstruck after hearing Linden explain the event.
He never imagined that Natasha was willing to sacrifice herself to
save him. At this moment, he
finally understood his feelings for her.
Still, there was no way he could accept her feelings for him if it
led to something like this.
“Mr. Rhys, Ms. Harmon left this letter for you. Please read it.”
Conflicted, Linden cautiously passed
Dustin a letter.
No one had ever impressed him as Natasha did. After all, even
grandmasters might not be able to
handle the unbearable pain.
Yet, an ordinary woman could withstand the pain without complaining
and did so without regret.
She was fearless.
Linden couldn’t imagine how much Natasha must love Dustin for her to
go so far. Linden had
already given up on Dustin.
But Natasha made him realize that, sometimes, even humans could
possess the strength of gods.
Dustin shakily opened the letter to see rows of neat, dainty writing.
“Dear,
“By the time you read this, I’m probably gone. Please don’t blame
yourself since I did everything willingly.
“From the moment we met, I knew you were different.
“Initially, I found you intriguing. But unknowingly, I fell in love
with you.
“You occupy my mind each day, and I constantly yearn to see you
again.
“Your happiness brought me joy, and I felt sad whenever I saw you
upset. This must be what love, feels like, right?
“Speaking of which, I’m kind of jealous of Dahlia Nicholson. She got
to meet you before I did and
“Fortunately, I got my chance since she didn’t know how to appreciate
you.
“Right, I have a question. Who is more important to you–me or her? I
bet I’ve taken the lead now,
right?
“Oh, well. What’s the point of competing with her now?
“In any case, please live a peaceful and happy life for both of us.
“Don’t you cry for me; you’d better not forget me!
“I’ll be watching over you from above. Remember, be happy.
“Farewell, darling.”
Tears flowed down Dustin’s cheeks and fell on the letter. He wept as
he read what Natasha had
written.
Like most men, he rarely cried. But this letter managed to hit him
where it hurt.
“Oh, why were you so stupid? What am I supposed to do now that you’re
gone?
“How am I supposed to repay you? You have to wake up!” Dustin pressed
his forehead against
Natasha’s and whispered brokenly.
He hasn’t cried since his mother passed, but Natasha’s feelings for
him opened his heart again.
He was sure he would never be able to forget her.

Chapter 954
Natasha’s peaceful expression was like a knife stabbing Dustin’s
heart.
He hated himself for causing her to end up like this, and he hated
himself for being unable to save
her.
If he could turn time back, he would switch things around.
“Hang on! Switch?” Dustin perked up when he thought of something.
He looked at Linden and asked, “Dr. Watkins, do you have any
Resurgothorn left? I want to save her by exchanging our lives!”
“Don’t be foolish!” Linden scolded him, frowning.
“Do you think Resurgathorn is food? It’s not readily available.
“Besides, Ms. Harmon sacrificed herself for you. The least you could
do to make her sacrifice
worthwhile is to live properly!”
“I don’t want her to sacrifice herself. I just need her to be alive!”
Dustin roared with bloodshot eyes.
“I don’t care what I must do and what price I must pay. I just need
her to come back to life!”
Dustin begged, “Please, Dr. Watkins. You’re the best doctor I know.
Please help me save her!”
He fell to his knees in front of Linden.
“You-” Linden was exasperated and tried to pull Dustin up, but Dustin
refused to budge.
After a moment of hesitation, Linden gave in. “Fine. I might as well
tell you the truth.
“Although Ms. Harmon is practically dead, there’s still a way to save
her.”
“What is it?” Dustin lit up excitedly.
“Technically, Ms. Harmon should have died immediately after absorbing
the poison in your body.
But Resurgathorn and Septemortis seem to counter each other.
“So, the effects of the poisons were reduced by half, allowing her to
remain alive for so long,”
Linden explained.
“There are two ways to save her. First, you’ll need Phoenixwort.
Secondly, you’ll need to find a
“Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to find them, so you shouldn’t
have high hopes.” Linden
sighed.
He would have told Dustin about this if he felt it was achievable,
but it wasn’t.
“Phoenixwort? Shadowbloom? Where do I find them?” Dustin pressed.
“Phoenixwort has the power to raise the dead and is a sacred item to
the Mystic Arts Order. No outsider has ever seen it before.
“However, you’ll die if you barge into their territory!” Linden
warned.
The Mystic Arts Order was the darkest faction in the world. Many
formidable fighters were gathered there.
The faction’s current leader was also an ultimate grandmaster. Their
leader was one of the most powerful figures in the world and was skilled
in all sorts of magic.
That
person was so terrifying that even Dragonmarsh avoided them.
Dustin might be a young grandmaster, but he was no match for the
Mystic Arts Order.
Even Michael, one of the five ultimate grandmasters of Balerno, could
only flee when attacked by the Mystic Arts Order.
It was clear that the Mystic Arts Order was a place that terrified
all martial artists.
“Then, what about Shadowbloom?” Dustin frowned.
He wasn’t keen on becoming enemies with the Mystic Arts Order.
“Shadowblooms are also known as Flowers of the Underworld. Similar to
Phoenixworts, they can also bring someone back from the dead.
“However, this is most likely just a myth.”
Linden shook his head before continuing, “Legend has it that around
five decades ago, there was a woman who traveled to the ends of the world
in search of the flower. She wanted to save her ill husband.
“However, when she found the flower, her husband died.
“Since then, no one has ever heard from her. There are rumors that
she hid the flower inside her
The furrow between Dustin’s brows deepened. “Who’s the woman?”
“Her name is Iris Meskill. Fifty years ago, she was the head of Jade
Maiden Sisterhood and an
ultimate grandmaster,” Linden replied grimly.

Chapter 955
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. It’ll depend on her.” Linden
shook his head.
Dustin bent over to place a gentle peck on Natasha’s forehead. “Hang
on, Natasha. I’ll be back.
“You said you’d lock me to your side, so don’t break your promise.
I’ll save you no matter what, so
wait for me!”
With that, he spun around and left.
He had never looked so determined before that he seemed slightly
insane.
In a villa with a garden on the outskirts of town, Edith and several
disciples studied the broken
However, they couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary.
“Nikki, are you sure there’s something hidden inside the scripture?”
Edith narrowed her eyes
doubtfully.
“That’s what that bastard said, so it should be true.” Nikki frowned
uneasily.
“You might have been tricked!” Edith humphed.
They’ve inspected the scripture so many times but couldn’t find
anything. What a waste of time.
“Madam Edith, are we using the wrong methods?” Nikki asked
thoughtfully.
“Since it’s supposed to be a secret, it must be hidden so well that
it’s impossible to find with just
looking.”
“Then what should we do?” Edith retorted.
“People in the shows would either soak it in water or burn it. Why
don’t we give it a try?” Nikki asked hesitantly.
“Soak it in water or burn it?” Brittany nearly sprung up.
“Nikki Horst, are you crazy? The scripture is our treasure.
“How could you play around with it like that? How are you supposed to
pay if you accidentally damage it?”
“It was just a suggestion: Forget it, then.” Nikki was a little
guilty.
“Hang on! I think Nikki was right.
“Normal methods won’t work, so we have to take a more dramatic
approach,” Edith said.
“Madam Edith, how could you trust her words?” Brittany was
astonished.
“No pain, no gain. Since the scripture is useless now anyway, we
might as well risk it.
“We might even find a surprise!” Edith replied before instructing
someone to prepare water and
fire.
As the saying goes, “Without struggle, there is no success“.
The chance to become a grandmaster depended on this!

Chapter 956
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’s eyes were sharp, and
she quickly spotted the difference.
“I knew we’d find something!”
Edith extinguished the flames excitedly. She fumbled through the ash
before coming in contact with a specially crafted gold leaf.
After washing the gold leaf clean, Edith realized a map was carved
into it.
There were five words engraved at the map’s final destination-“The
Tomb of Iris Meskill“.
“Iris Meskill? Isn’t that our ancestor?” Edith got over her surprise
and was overjoyed.
She burst out laughing. “This is great! I knew our efforts wouldn’t
go to waste.
“I never expected our ancestors to hide this treasure in the
scripture. How lucky!”
Iris Meskill was the third–generation leader of Jade Sister
Maidenhood. She stood out as the most
exceptional and promising leader in its history. Fifty years ago, she
was renowned for her beauty
and skill.
Iris was also one of the most extraordinary female ultimate
grandmasters in Dragonmarsh. She
was rivaled only by the Prince of Theswe’s wife, the Princess Consort
of West Lucozia.
“But, Madam Edith, it’s written tomb here. There’s nothing about
treasures.” Brittany was puzzled.
“You’re still too young to understand what Iris Meskill’s tomb
symbolizes.”
Edith animatedly explained, “Iris Meskill is my mentor’s mentor,
making her my ancestor.
“She was a talented woman who surpassed all men, making her our role
model.
“She won countless valuables and jewels. She also had a hobby of
collecting treasures.
“Unfortunately, she fell in love with a man she shouldn’t have. When
that man died, she buried
herself and her treasures with him.
“No one knows where her tomb is.
“Before my mentor passed on, she told me if I could find Iris‘ tomb,
I’d find countless treasures and
valuables that could restore the Sisterhood to its former glory!”
By the time Edith finished speaking, her face was flushing with
excitement.
As an ultimate grandmaster, Iris had more treasure than anyone could
imagine. Therefore,
countless people have searched for her tomb but could never find it.
Edith never expected today to be her lucky day.
“Madam Edith, does that mean our success is near?” Brittany asked,
her eyes twinkling.
“Of course!” Edith tilted her head proudly.
“When we find her treasures, I’m sure the Sisterhood will dominate
the world!”
“Awesome!” Brittany nearly jumped up in excitement.
“Let’s start digging right now!”
Brittany couldn’t wait to find the treasures.
““What’s the rush? We should study the map carefully to avoid making
any mistakes.” Edith was
oddly calm as she forced her excitement down.
She knew digging out the treasures, even with the map, wouldn’t be
easy. She had to ensure all
preparations were ready since there was no room for mistakes.
Edith glanced at Nikki and ordered, “You can leave now, Nikki.
Brittany and I will study the map a
little longer.”
“What?”

Chapter 957
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 grabbed her phone and dialed a number.
In a low voice, she said, “Dustin, I found one of the Sisterhood’s
secrets. I’m sure it’ll be useful to
you.
“Let’s meet at Auspicious Restaurant at 8:00 pm tonight if you’re
interested.”
8:00 pm at Auspicious Restaurant.
Nikki sat alone in a private dining room, feeling uneasy. She wasn’t
sure if Dustin would show up.
but she had to take a chance.
After everything that happened, she realized it was better to take
matters into her own hands instead of relying on others.
Since Edith didn’t trust her, Nikki no longer needed to prove her
loyalty. Instead, she would use everything in her reach to bring her
power.
Just then, the door opened, and Dustin walked in. None of his
subordinates accompanied him.
“You’re here.” Nikki instantly lit up and stood up.
She was happy and relieved he was here since it meant she still had a
chance.
“What’s the secret?” Dustin asked coldly.
“Give me Jade Maiden Scripture first, and I’ll tell you,” Nikki
bargained.
Without another word, Dustin took out a manuscript and tossed it onto
the table. He had
anticipated Nikki’s intentions, so he prepared the scripture
beforehand.
“I like how direct you are!” Nikki examined the scripture carefully.
Certain that nothing was wrong, she answered his question. “Madam
Edith found a map within.
the incomplete scripture.
“It’s a map that leads to Iris Meskill’s tomb, where countless
treasures are hidden!”
“Iris Meskill?” Dustin stiffened, losing his calm demeanor.

Chapter 958
“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 hidden tomb without a map would
be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
“That’s all I found out for now.”
Nikki shook her head before continuing, “But don’t worry, I’ll remain
by Edith’s side as a spy.
“I’ll let you know when I get any new information. However, I have a
condition.”
“What is it?” Dustin asked.
“If you find the treasures, I want half of it!” Nikki mustered her
courage and demanded.
She approached Dustin because she needed a strong and trustworthy
support.
“Fine,” Dustin responded without hesitation.
He couldn’t care less about the treasures. All he needed was the
Shadowbloom.
“Alright, that’s a deal!” Nikki beamed.
She was surprised. She expected him to bargain with her.
“Let me know when you discover anything.” Dustin spun around to
leave.
“Hang on!”
Nikki grabbed his arm and asked tentatively, “What happened before
this was my fault, so I’d like to apologize to you.
“Can you forgive me? I hope we can still be friends”
Her eyes teared up as she put on a pitiful act.
“We’re merely doing business, so don’t bring that up.” Dustin brushed
Nikki’s hand aside cooly and walked out without looking back.
He would never have agreed to meet her if he had no use for her.
“Why are all of you like this? I already gave in and apologized, so
why can’t you guys give me a chance?
“Just wait till I make all of you surrender to me!” Nikki seethed
through gritted teeth.
After a moment, she took a deep breath to compose herself.
She stored the scripture away carefully and made herself presentable
before going into another
private room.
And there sat Samuel Franklin.
“Mr. Franklin, I have valuable intel for you. However, you’ll have to
agree to my conditions first.”
By the following day, a shocking piece of information began spreading
in the martial world.

Chapter 959
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? Who could have broken him out of the martial arts alliance’s
prison?”
“According to Mr. Adler, it looks like Shadowslayer did it. The
alliance was also caught off guard,” Abigail explained.
“It might have been possible if it was Dimitri Gonzalez we’re talking
about. Still, I didn’t expect them to take such risks for a pawn.” Dustin
narrowed his eyes.
“Something’s been bothering me since Paul Hill’s death,” Azalea
suddenly said.
As Abigail’s bodyguard, Azalea always stayed close to Abigail.
“What is it?” Dustin raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t know. I just feel that we’re being led by the nose.” Azalea
crossed her legs and began
pondering about it.
“For now, just focus on the Shadowbloom.” Dustin closed his eyes,
uninterested.
17
“Fine,” Dustin responded without hesitation.
He couldn’t care less about the treasures. All he needed was the
Shadowbloom.
“Alright, that’s a deal!” Nikki beamed.
She was surprised. She expected him to bargain with her.
“Let me know when you discover anything.” Dustin spun around to
leave.
“Hang on!”
Nikki grabbed his arm and asked tentatively, “What happened before
this was my fault, so I’d like to apologize to you.
“Can you forgive me? I hope we can still be friends.”
Her eyes teared up as she put on a pitiful act.
“We’re merely doing business, so don’t bring that up.” Dustin brushed
Nikki’s hand aside cooly and walked out without looking back.
He would never have agreed to mee
her if he had no use for her.
“Why are all of you like this? I already gave in and apologized, so
why can’t you guys give me a chance?
“Just wait till I make all of you surrender to me!” Nikki seethed
through gritted teeth.
After a moment, she took a deep breath to compose herself.
She stored the scripture away carefully and made herself presentable
before going into another private room.
And there sat Samuel Franklin.
“Mr. Franklin, I have valuable intel for you. However, you’ll have to
agree to my conditions first.”
By the following day, a shocking piece of information began spreading
in the martial world.

Chapter 960
“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 do your thing, and I’ll do mine. Although, I’m curious if
someone like you can get it up, Dustin commented, glancing at Scarface’s
crotch disdainfully.
“You’re asking for it now!” The insult pissed Scarface off.
Without hesitation, he grabbed a nearby sword and swung it toward
Dustin, intending to tear him
apart.
Dustin stopped the attack by grabbing the blade. While Scarface was
stunned, Dustin swiftly
landed a kick on the former’s groin.
Scarface let out a pained cry, and he collapsed to the ground. His
face turned red as he frothed at
the mouth from the pain.
“How dare you hurt him! You’re dead meat!” Dustin’s actions pissed
off the other guys, and they
drew their swords.
However, Dustin swiftly incapacitated them with precise kicks aimed
at their groins. The men cried out, clutching themselves as they fell,
and piss trickled down their legs.
“Was it necessary to go mad just because of a few words?” Dustin
shook his head and walked away.
He never spared the woman a glance the entire time.
“Hey, wait!” The beautiful woman in tattered clothes caught up to
him, her ample chest bouncing
as she ran.
Due to her torn attire, she had to shield herself with her hands to
avoid flashing anyone.
“Yes?” Dustin looked back briefly with a calm expression.
maliks foi nepy me just now. vanessa Casey. Wills you ma vanessa
expressed nei gratitude.
Without Dustin’s intervention, she might have been violated by now.
“I just happened to be passing by and did what was necessary. It’s no
big deal,” Dustin replied nonchalantly.
“You helped me out. I can’t let you go without thanking you. How
about I treat you to a meal?” Vanessa suggested with a smile.
“No thanks, I’m not hungry,” Dustin declined frankly.
“What?” Vanessa stiffened. She considered herself rather attractive,
and few people would turn her down.
Yet, this man seemed completely unfazed by her.

Chapter 961
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 this?
Did something bad happen?” The man in black was puzzled.
“I encountered some thugs earlier. But thankfully, this young man
saved me!” Vanessa recounted,
fear still in her voice.
“I see.” The man in black studied Dustin doubtfully.
“Thank you for saving Vanessa,” said the woman in red.
She nodded respectfully before continuing, “I’m Emily Hoyles, and I
belong to Azure Mist.
“This is my senior, Nathan Hoyles. Mind if I ask for your name?”
“My surname’s Rhys.” Dustin nodded politely in return.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Rhys.” Emily smiled.
“Judging from your accent, you’re not from around here, right? Are
you here to search for Iris
Meskill’s tomb?”
“Hmm?” Dustin raised an eyebrow, surprised.
“How did you know?”
“Just a hunch.” Emily smiled.
“Lester’s been lively today, and even Azure Mist received news about
it, too. So, other than tourists,
“Good intuition. I’m impressed,” Dustin complimented.
“Since we’re all after the treasure, why don’t we team up for safety?
What do you think?” Emily offered.
Most adventurers who came today were capable, so working together
would benefit everyone.
“I’m used to traveling alone, so I might slow you guys down,” Dustin
declined politely.
“You saved Vanessa, so it’s only fair we repay the favor.
“You’ll even get a share of the treasure once we find it.” Emily
insisted.
When she saw Dustin hesitate, she added, “The Black Forest is
dangerous and filled with poisonous mist.
“People who don’t know their way around that place will get lost
easily. However, we’re locals, so it’ll be safer for you to travel with
us.”
“Emily/let’s not force someone.” Nathan’s tone held some annoyance.
Others would have jumped at the chance to travel with them, yet
Dustin was still hesitating
What a fool!
“The Black Forest is dangerous. It’ll be safer if you travel with
us,” Vanessa said.
She was grateful for what he’d done for her, so she didn’t want him
risking his life in vain.
Dustin gave it some thought and agreed. “I’ll accept your offer since
you insist.”
He wasn’t familiar with the Black Forest, so having a guide would
save a lot of trouble.
“Alright. Let’s meet at the hotel’s restaurant tonight.” Emily and
the two walked away. Before leaving, Vanessa glanced at Dustin.

Chapter 962
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 nodded before settling into his seat.
He noticed several unfamiliar faces besides Emily and her friends.
Judging from their clothes, they were also most likely from Azure Mist.
Even the weakest fighter among them was a low–level martial artist.
They were stronger than ordinary martial artists.
But they were still no match for major guilds who would also be
competing for the treasure.
“Mr. Rhys, have you prepared to enter the Black Forest?” Emily
started the conversation.
“What preparations?” Dustin asked curiously.
“The forest is full of poisonous creatures and ferocious beasts, so
it’s dangerous. You should carry antidotes, antivenoms, and other
medicines before entering ” Emily explained.
“Things like insect repellents, compasses, and specially designed
tents are also needed. They could be life–saving during emergencies.”
Abigail was bewildered. “Do we need all of that? We didn’t bring
any.”
They had rushed over, so they only had a few personal belongings.
“It’s more like you’re here for a vacation, not a treasure hunt.”
Emily teased.
Then she added, “But don’t worry. I’ve prepared all that for you. We
won’t run out of supplies.”
“Really? That’s great! Thank you so much!” Abigail lit up, touched by
the considerate gesture.
“However, these supplies are just a small part of the trip since the
Black Forest won’t be our main
concern.
nale, we need to be cautious of our compenois. Cy stone grew serious.
She glanced at a group nearby. “See those people on the left? They’re
from Ironfists and are known for their defense.
“All of them are powerful and claim to be immune to external
injuries. We’ll be in trouble if we have to fight them.”
“Ironfists?” Dustin, Abigail, and Azalea turned to look at the
muscular men enjoying their meal. The light reflected off their metal–
like skin.
“Now, look to your left. That’s Skycrane, a major guild from Yuston.
“They often win battles with their clever tactics. So they’re also
formidable opponents,” Emily explained.
“Behind me, you should see a bald man with tattoos on his head.
“He’s a ruthless killer known as the Skullsplitter. Few dare to
provoke him.
“And do you see the blind elderly man in front of us? Don’t
underestimate him just because he’s blind
“He’s far stronger than he seems. All of them are our competitors, so
we must avoid fighting them until we locate the treasure.”
Emily provided detailed insight into the major guilds and powerful
fighters. This helped Dustin and his friends avoid potential danger.
Dustin couldn’t help feeling impressed by her extensive knowledge.

Chapter 963
“Of course, even though these folks seem tough, we aren’t afraid of
them,” Emily continued.
“But the real concerns are Boulderthorn, the Combat Priests, the Zen
Order, and the Soul Reapers. Oh, there’s another person we must be
careful of!”
“Who?” Abigail asked curiously.
“The young genius who recently gained fame after winning against Sir
Augustus Kline!” Emily gushed.
“What?” Abigail blinked in surprise.
Emily was referring to Dustin, right?
Abigail looked at Dustin subtly. He replied by shaking his head
discreetly.
They needed to lie low during their journey to avoid being targeted.
“Ms. Hoyles, have you ever met him?” Azalea smiled mischievously.
“Of course not. But I’ve heard plenty of stories,” Emily replied
dreamily.
“Rumors say he’s handsome and has a strong sense of justice. More
importantly, he’s only in his early twenties but is already a
grandmaster.
“He’s one of Balerno’s rare talents and desired by many female
martial artists!”
Emily’s eyes glimmered with admiration. It was hard for any woman to
resist the young genius with a good body and extraordinary looks.
“You admire that man greatly, Ms. Hoyles.” Azalea chucked, a knowing
smile on her lips.
She glanced at Dustin subtly, who was unfazed by her words.
“Who wouldn’t admire such a genius?” Emily replied nonchalantly.
Since she wouldn’t have a chance of meeting that man, she didn’t mind
telling the truth to her new friends.
“Hmph, he might be impressive, but I’m not that far behind either!
“Give me another ten years, and I’ll surpass him!” Nathan interjected
confidently, irritated after hearing his sister praise another man.
“You? Are you sure?” Abigail studied Nathan skeptically.
“Believe it or not, Ms. Robinson, I’m quite well–known in Yuston.
“Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you who the Little Dragon is.”
“That’s right Nathan is an incredible person!” Vanessa chimed in
proudly.
“He’s one of the top martial artists in Lester and ranks third in
Lester’s Supreme Ten. He’s also a genius because he’s already a divine–
level martial artist!”
“Nathan could handle ten martial artists in this restaurant by
himself with one hand!”
Several Azure mist disciples joined шe praise. Na was nearly grow in
men excessive compliments.
But Emily smiled and stayed quiet. Her brother might be talented, but
he was nowhere near the young prodigy’s level.
Still, she wasn’t foolish enough to pop his bubble of pride.,
“Is that so? You sound quite talented.” Abigail nodded innocently.
Still new to the martial world, she wasn’t familiar with how things
worked yet. She could only judge that Nathan was an impressive individual
based on his popularity and nickname.
“Both of you should stay close to me when we enter the forest
tomorrow. I’ll protect you!” Nathan promised, patting his chest
confidently
Suddenly, a wine bottle crashed into his forehead.
Wine splattered everywhere, and blood flowed down the side of his
head.

Chapter 964
“What?” Nathan was caught off guard by the sudden attack.
He touched his forehead, and blood coated his fingers. Without his
energy armor, his body was slightly stronger than average.
“Who the F*ck did this?” Nathan spun around and shouted angrily.
“Damn it! How dare someone hurt Nathan!” Azure Mist’s disciple stood
up furiously.
“Me.” A man wearing flashy sunglasses arrived with two martial
artists in tow.
His calm demeanor suggested he didn’t care about anyone else.
“Do you know who I am? How dare you attack me!” Nathan snapped.
“Well, I have no idea. Who are you?” The other man smiled, seeming
amused.
“Listen up! I’m Nathan Hoyles, one of Lester’s Supreme Ten! I’m also
known as the Little Dragon!” Nathan stated confidently.
“Lester’s Supreme Ten? The Little Dragon?” The man in sunglasses
blinked before chuckling.
“Big reputation you have there. I’m terrified.‘
trified.
11
The two martial artists with him laughed simultaneously.
“How dare you!” Angry, Azure Mist’s disciples drew their swords.
“How dare you mock me! I challenge you to a duel!” Nathan seethed.
He had to set things straight after being mocked in front of
everyone. He would never live down
the embarrassment.
“A duel? Pfft! Do you even know who I am?” the other man sneered.
“I don’t F*cking care who you are. Not even God can save you after
you hurt me!” Nathan roared, raising his sword.
“I’m Ken Shonde, son of the leader of Regalswords!” the man in
sunglasses declared.
Nathan immediately stopped. The sword stopped right above Ken’s head.
“Regalswords? Ken Shonde?” Nathan paled in fear.
He wasn’t afraid of his opponent’s strength. It was his identity that
scared Nathan.
Ken wasn’t a strong fighter, but he had an influential father named
Ian Shonde, the leader of
Regalswords.
Ian was also the strongest martial artist in Lester.
Not only was lan strong, but he also had connections for being an
elder of the martial arts alliance.
Even Nathan’s mentor would be wary of Ian, so Nathan had no choice
but to stop his attacks.
If he hit Ken, he’d cause trouble for himself and his entire guild!
whats une matt
you were
“Come on, then! I’ll stand still for you, so let’s see it you’ve got
the nerve,” Ken taunted, taking a step forward
Nathan gritted his teeth, pissed. He was strong enough to take on ten
Kens in combat, but he simply couldn’t do it due to who Ken was.
“Go on! What are you waiting for? Are you scared or something?” Ken
sneered.
“You talked about being the Little Dragon and taking on ten opponents
earlier.
“Yet, you can’t even hold your sword steady. Are you a man?”
“You-” Nathan trembled in anger but couldn’t fight back.
“How could cowards like you boast about being in Lester’s Supreme
Ten? How embarrassing!” Ken reached out and gently patted Nathan’s cheek.
It didn’t hurt Nathan physically, but it was extremely humiliating,
especially in front of many people.
Nathan’s eyes turned red, and his breathing ragged. He had a strong
urge to kill Ken now.
“Nathan!” Emily’s soft cry snapped Nathan back to reality.
Emily sprung up, forced a smile, and approached Ken. She apologized,
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Shonde
“My brother had too many drinks and got carried away. I hope you’ll
forgive him.”
“Well, well! I didn’t expect that loser to have such a beautiful
sister.” Ken shamelessly ogled Emily.
“You must be joking, Mr. Shonde. We’re all from Lester.
“Our mentor and your father are acquaintances, so how about we
resolve this incident quietly?” Emily forced a smile.

Chapter 965
“Sure, but I’ve got a condition,” Ken answered, raising an eyebrow.
“What is it?” Emily asked with a smile.
“I want you and the two other girls to come and drink with me. I’ll
let this slide if you make me happy.” Ken smirked.
Girls like them weren’t ordinary, much less three. There was no way
Ken would miss this chance.
“But…” Emily’s smile froze.
She knew what he wanted. It would be hard for them to get away after
drinking with him.
“Why? Are you going to refuse?”
Ken’s face turned hard as he warned, “I don’t like being rejected, so
you’d better think carefully.”
“It’s an honor to drink with Mr. Shonde, so you’d better not refuse!”
one of Ken’s lackeys warned.
“I’ll join you, Mr. Shonde, but the other two ladies should sit this
out.” Emily bargained, wanting to avoid getting others involved.
“Are you telling me what to do?” Ken snapped in annoyance.
“I said all three. You better serve me tonight!”
“Hey, don’t push it!” Abigail was unable to hold herself back and
stood.
“So what? Can’t handle it?” Ken smirked, getting closer to her.
“Hey, pretty lady. You seem newer than the other two, so let’s start
with you.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done a chick like you. I bet you’re
going to be tight. Oh, I can’t wait!”
Ken licked his lips hungrily.
“You’re shameless!” Abigail grabbed her glass and splashed wine all
over Ken’s face.
“You F*cking brat, I’ll F*ck you up tonight!” Infuriated, Ken tried
to grab Abigail, but a firm grip stopped him.
“You have three seconds to leave,” Dustin said coldly.
“What?” Ken’s face tightened.
“Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?”
No one in Lester would dare to defy him.
“I don’t care. If you’re still here after three seconds, I’ll break
your legs,” Dustin retorted.
People began whispering.
“Who the hell is this guy? How dare he challenge Mr. Shonde?”
“He’s clueless about Regalswords if he’s trying to be the knight in
shining armor!”
The audience shot Dusum mocking gazes.
Regalswords was the largest guild in Lester. Their leader, Ian, was a
semi–grandmaster. Only a suicidal idiot would challenge them.
“Three… Dustin began counting down, and a chill engulfed the room.
“Don’t be rash, Mr. Rhys! You mustn’t cross him!” Emily warned.
Things would get messy if Dustin attacked Ken.
“Hey, don’t drag us down with you!” Nathan shouted with a frown.
“You better let go, or you’re dead!” the two other Regarswords
disciples threatened.
“Two…” Dustin ignored them and continued counting.
“Hmph, quit acting!” Ken sneered.
“Do you even have the balls to hit the son of Regalswords‘ leader? I
dare you to hit me. I won’t even fight back. I-”
A loud slap echoed as Dustin slapped across Ken’s face before he
could finish his words.
Ken flew back and crashed into the wall, stunning everyone.

Chapter 966
Everyone was astonished to see Ken being thrown back. Nobody expected
Dustin to be so bold.
After all, this was Ken Shonde, the son of Régalswords‘ leader, and
hitting Ian Shonde’s son was risky.
“Are you crazy? How could you hit Mr. Shonde?” Nathan sprung up,
shocked.
He had endured all the humiliation just now, yet Dustin slapped Ken
without care. This would bring trouble to all of them.
“Shit! This is bad!” Emily paled.
She’d warned Dustin, hoping he would hold himself back, but he
didn’t. They’d be in trouble if Regalswords retaliated.
“How dare you hit Mr. Shonde! We’ll kill you!” The two furious
Regalswords martial artists began attacking Dustin.
“Let me handle this!” Abigail grabbed her metal club and fought them.
Her natural talent and Dustin’s training made her far stronger than
her opponents,
especially when she used the staff combat technique.
Soon, the two men, who had climbed the ranks through flattery instead
of actual skill, fell to the ground. They were no match for Abigail.
“What gave you the guts to challenge us when you’re weak? You deserve
it!” Abigail rested her club on her shoulder and rubbed the tip of her
nose with her thumb.
There was a proud expression on her cute face
“Are these guys insane? How could they hurt people from Regalswords?”
“When–Han Shonde shows up, they’ll be done for!”
The surrounding martial artists whispered among themselves. No one
could believe that Dustin and Abigail were stupid enough to challenge
Regalswords in their territory.
“H–how dare you hit me!” Ken staggered, his face a mess.
“Did you F*cking hit me? You’re dead!
“All of you are dead! I’ll tear you apart!” Ken roared after
returning to his senses.
Just then, Dustin leaped forward and gave Ken another round of slaps.
A comment followed each slap.
“That’s for being a stubborn idiot.
“That’s for being a bully.
“That’s for your arrogance.
“Since your father doesn’t discipline you, I’ll do it for him
instead!”
Dustin continued hitting Ken repeatedly in the face.
Blood splurted out of Ken’s nose as his head spun and his eyes rolled
back.
Everyone was shocked by the sight of his swollen head. They’ve never
seen Ken, known for being a huge bully, beaten up so badly.
Usually, people wouldn’t even dare to touch a hair on his head. Yet,
Dustin was slapping the man as hard as he could.

Chapter 967
The slaps disfigured Ken’s face, leaving him unrecognizable.
There was a bigger issue now. Ken was highly regarded as the son of
Regalswords‘ guildmaster and was well–feared.
So, how could Dustin hit him? Was Dustin out of his mind?
“Stop right now!” Emily finally stepped in.
At this point, Ken had already been reduced to a bloody, unconscious
mess.
“You’ve gotten us into trouble now, Mr. Rhys!” Emily exclaimed,
helping Ken up.
She began administering medication and other techniques to wake him
up.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that if anything were to happen
to Ken, Azure Mist would also be doomed.
“Damn it, we shouldn’t have sat with you! You only bring disaster!”
Nathan shouted anxiously.
Why the F*ck did they have to cross paths with a maniac like Dustin,
who didn’t give a shit about Ken’s status or Regalswords‘ authority?
Dustin must be crazy!
“You’ll be in trouble now that you beat Ken up, so you need to run
away.
“Hurry, or it’ll be too late!” Vanessa was visibly distraught as she
tugged at Dustin, who wouldn’t budge.
“Who dares hit my son!” A furious voice came from the entrance.
An intimidating middle–aged man stormed in with a group of martial
artists following behind.
The man was Ian Shonde, the guildmaster of Regalswords and the
strongest martial artist in Lester!
“Shit! Ian Shonde is here!”
“No one is capable of bearing his fury.”
“Hmph, it’s time to suffer the consequences for hurting his son!”
The martial artists surrounding Dustin and his group took a step back
to avoid being collateral damage.
Many seemed delighted as they waited for Dustin to meet his doom.
“You’re done for! There’s nowhere for you to run anymore either…”
Vanessa was devastated.
She wanted to help Dustin escape, but it seemed like it wouldn’t
happen.
“It’s too late now.” Emily sighed regretfully.
There was no way Dustin would escape unscathed now that Ian was here.
“What a jinx!” Nathan shook his head bitterly.
Not only did Dustin bring trouble to himself, but those from Azure
Mist were also dragged into this mess.
“Dad, you’re finally here!” Ken cried out desperately and stumbled
over to his father.
He grabbed Ian’s thigh and wailed, “I would have died if you came any
later! Just look at what he did to my face! Please avenge me!”
“Who did this?” Ian demanded, furious by how his son’s face looked.
No one dared to harm his son after knowing who he was. After all, he
was the strongest martial artist in Lester and one of the martial arts
alliance’s elders.
No one would dare to challenge his authority!
“That’s the guy who hit me, Dad! He even insulted you and said
horrible things about you!”
“What? How dare he!” Furious, Ian swept a menacing glance over the
room.
His body shuddered involuntarily when he spotted Dustin, and his
knees nearly went weak.
Ian couldn’t believe the other party was Dustin.
As one of the alliance elders, he vividly remembered how terrifying
Dustin was during the recent battle between the two grandmasters.
Why, Ian wouldn’t even dare to protest if Dustin slapped him, much
less insulted him!

Chapter 968
“I’m in trouble now!” A wave of unease washed over Ian, the strongest
martial artist in Lester, as he met Dustin’s cold gaze.
Ian couldn’t help being worried about getting beaten up.
“What are you waiting for, Dad? Tear him to pieces!
“You have to teach him a lesson!” Ken seethed.
“Shut up!” Ian slapped his son angrily.
Ken staggered backward, his remaining teeth flying away as well.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he asked, “W–why did you hit me,
Dad?”
He couldn’t understand why he’d been smacked.
His father usually wouldn’t speak harshly to him, so what was
happening? How could Ian slap him in public?
“Don’t you deserve to be disciplined after ruining Regalswords‘
reputation by bullying others?
“I should teach you a lesson for embarrassing me!” Ian snapped,
delivering another two slaps.
“Pissed, he began kicking his son as well.
Ken’s pained screams filled the air under Ian’s relentless attack.
Ian was so violent that outsiders might have mistaken the two of them for
enemies.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden twist of events.
They expected Ian to attack Dustin. They couldn’t understand why Ian
was attacking his son instead.
“What’s going on? Has Mr. Shonde lost his mind?”
“Who knows? He’s known for constantly defending his son, yet he’s
acting odd today.” “How brutal! It looks more like he’s settling a score
than disciplining his son.”
The bystanders whispered among themselves, shocked. They pitied Ken
for receiving
Ian usually spoiled his son, and anyone who tried to harm Ken would
face serious consequences. So, Ian puzzled everyone by treating Ken like
an enemy.
“Um…” Vanessa, Emily, and Nathan were stunned.
They didn’t understand what was going on.
They thought Ian would get revenge, yet he beat his son. What
happened to the selfish lan Shonde they knew?
“Please stop, Sir! He’ll die!” Regalswords‘ disciples returned to
their senses and quickly intervened to save Ken’s life.
“Hmph, that asshole deserves to be taught a lesson!” Ian spoke like
he was getting rid of the devil.
Still, he stopped when he realized he might have taken things too
far.
“Everyone, today’s incident is due to my lack of discipline.
“I would like to apologize to everyone.” Ian turned around and nodded
politely at Dustin
and his group.
Dustin calmly accepted the apology, unbothered.

Chapter 968
“I’m in trouble now!” A wave of unease washed over Ian, the strongest
martial artist in Lester, as he met Dustin’s cold gaze.
Ian couldn’t help being worried about getting beaten up.
“What are you waiting for, Dad? Tear him to pieces!
“You have to teach him a lesson!” Ken seethed.
“Shut up!” Ian slapped his son angrily.
Ken staggered backward, his remaining teeth flying away as well.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he asked, “W–why did you hit me,
Dad?”
He couldn’t understand why he’d been smacked.
His father usually wouldn’t speak harshly to him, so what was
happening? How could Ian slap him in public?
“Don’t you deserve to be disciplined after ruining Regalswords‘
reputation by bullying others?
“I should teach you a lesson for embarrassing me!” Ian snapped,
delivering another two slaps.
“Pissed, he began kicking his son as well.
Ken’s pained screams filled the air under Ian’s relentless attack.
Ian was so violent that outsiders might have mistaken the two of them for
enemies.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden twist of events.
They expected Ian to attack Dustin. They couldn’t understand why Ian
was attacking his son instead.
“What’s going on? Has Mr. Shonde lost his mind?”
“Who knows? He’s known for constantly defending his son, yet he’s
acting odd today.” “How brutal! It looks more like he’s settling a score
than disciplining his son.”
The bystanders whispered among themselves, shocked. They pitied Ken
for receiving
Ian usually spoiled his son, and anyone who tried to harm Ken would
face serious consequences. So, Ian puzzled everyone by treating Ken like
an enemy.
“Um…” Vanessa, Emily, and Nathan were stunned.
They didn’t understand what was going on.
They thought Ian would get revenge, yet he beat his son. What
happened to the selfish lan Shonde they knew?
“Please stop, Sir! He’ll die!” Regalswords‘ disciples returned to
their senses and quickly intervened to save Ken’s life.
“Hmph, that asshole deserves to be taught a lesson!” Ian spoke like
he was getting rid of the devil.
Still, he stopped when he realized he might have taken things too
far.
“Everyone, today’s incident is due to my lack of discipline.
“I would like to apologize to everyone.” Ian turned around and nodded
politely at Dustin
and his group.
Dustin calmly accepted the apology, unbothered.

Chapter 970
Dustin and the rest of them set out for the Black Forest early the
next morning.
Due to the terrible road conditions, driving was not an option. They
could only walk there.
Many martial artists had entered the forest since the day before.
They were there to try
their luck.
However, the Black Forest was so huge that they lost all sense of
direction when they
entered. Most of them just walked around aimlessly, so it was
difficult for them to find the
treasure.
About half an hour later, Dustin and the group finally got to the
entrance of the Black Forest. They could see many people making their way
in, one after another.
“Ms. Hoyles, do you know where the tomb is located?” Dustin asked.
“Well, I have no information about that yet.”
Emily continued dejectedly, “Everyone is just trying their luck now.
Whoever finds the treasure first is the lucky one.”
Though it was a wild goose chase, they had no other choice.
Their only advantage was that they were locals. Hence, they were more
familiar with the
Black Forest, and it would save them more time.
“The Black Forest is huge. How will anyone ever find anything just
based on luck?” Dustin
shook his head.
“Do you have any better ideas?” Emily asked tentatively.
“Honestly, I have an inside man in the Jade Maiden Sisterhood. If you
trust me, Ms. Hoyles,
let me lead the way,” Dustin said.
“You have an inside man? That’s amazing!” Emily was delighted.
What a surprise! It turned out that Dustin was their lucky star!
“Hey, are you bragging?” Nathan looked at him skeptically.
“It’s up to you whether or not to trust me.” Dustin didn’t explain
further and walked to the
front to lead the rest.
1/3
The Jade Maiden Sisterhood had entered the Black Forest an hour
before they did.
As agreed upon, Nikki would leave some special markings along the
way. All they had to do was follow the markings, and they could find the
tomb.
“Come on, everyone, follow tight.”
Emily gestured to those behind her to keep up.
“Damn it! What’s so great about him?
“Ultimately, they’d still rely on me for protection once they entered
the Black Forest!”
Nathan spat angrily on the ground as he watched Dustin walking in
front.
He was the boss of the group. He should have been the one leading
them.
How dare an outsider steal his spotlight? How annoying!
Their surroundings instantly became dark as they entered the Black
Forest. The temperature dropped drastically, too.
At a glance, it seemed like the entire forest was covered in a white
mist.
As it was dim, they could not see well. At best, an average person
could only see slightly
more than 150 feet ahead.
Dustin walked at the forefront. The mud beneath his feet was wet, and
the trees above him
blocked most of the sunlight.
He could even spot venomous bugs and snakes skittering out of their
way at times.
The Black Forest gave off a sinister, damp, eerie, and dangerous
feeling.
As they made their way forward, they were attacked by a couple of
insects and bugs. It was good that they were all well–trained and
constantly on the watch, so none of them were
harmed.
“The swamp gas is getting thicker. Take the medicine first, everyone.
Inhaling too much of the swamp gas will cause intoxication. It might
even cause.
hallucination.
Emily reminded them to take their medications first. Everyone
followed her order.
One reason the Black Forest was dangerous was the swamp gas. Ordinary
men could not

“Quick, look! There’s a corpse here!” someone exclaimed as they
walked.
Everyone looked over in the direction pointed, just to see the corpse
of a man lying right.
behind a huge tree.
His head had been severed, and insects were devouring the corpse. It
was a dreadful sight.
Two women were squeamish and threw up on the spot.
“He was stabbed right at his vital point. It must have been an
ambush.
“Keep your eyes open, everyone!”
Emily unsheathed her knife and looked around warily.
The Black Forest was daunting, but men’s greed was even scarier.
Men seemed unbound by morals and rules in the forest that saw no
light of day. It was
normal for people to kill others and steal their belongings.
“It should be right ahead. Let’s go over and take a look.”
Dustin heard faint voices ahead.

Chapter 971
Dustin charged toward where the voices came from.
“Hurry up, guys! We don’t want anyone to get left behind!”
Emily yelled and quickly followed. She was worried that Dustin might
be rash and jump
into enemies‘ traps.
After about ten minutes, they saw a vast plain.
It was a barren land that was as wide as a football field. They could
only see soil and rocks;
no living thing was in sight.
Right in the middle of the barren field was a tomb that led
underground.
The end of the path was black and seemed bottomless. Nobody knew what
was in there.
There was a group of strong martial artists surrounding the tomb.
They guarded it carefully, looking around in alert. They were on the
lookout for anyone
approaching.
“Could that be Iris Meskill’s tomb?”
Nathan got excited as they spied on the dark tomb. They kept
themselves hidden behind
some trees.
Lady Luck was truly smiling upon them!
They had expected to stay in the forest for at least weeks. Who would
have thought they’d
find where the treasure was hidden in less than half a day?
“From the look of things, this is it. But some people have gotten
here before us.
“They’re the Ironfists!” Emily frowned, looking worried.
Ironfists was the largest guild in Jameston. Though it wasn’t as
powerful as Regalswords,
it was close to being on the same level as Regalswords.
It would do them no good to go up against them head–on.
“Emily, they seem to hold two disciples of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood
hostage. I guess
they’re waiting to claim the treasure.” Vanessa noticed something
amiss.
1/3
The disciples of Ironfists guarded the opening of the tomb with their
hostages. Once the
disciples of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood emerged, they would be taken
by surprise.
“I’ve already given our mentor a heads up. Let’s wait and see how
things go while we wait
for backup.” Emily was calm and composed.
She knew that they weren’t a match for the Ironfists now. She needed
her mentor there to
back them up.
“I’m afraid there won’t be enough time for that.” Dustin squinted.
“Look around carefully. Do you see how many groups are lying in
wait?”
“What?” Emily focused on their surroundings.
As Dustin pointed out, she noticed figures hiding in the shadows
around them.
That proved that other, more powerful people lurked around in places
they could not see.
“Who’s sneaking around there? Get the hell out here!” one of the
experts from Ironfists
roared.
His booming voice scared the surrounding birds to fly away.
“Hahaha!” a loud laughter was heard as a group of men walked out from
their hiding place.
A man with a messy beard was leading the group. He was muscular and
had a bronze-
ringed broadsword over his shoulder. He gave off a murderous aura.
“Weston Greene? The leader of the Desert Hawks?”
Emily’s brows furrowed when she saw Weston
The Desert Hawks was a gang of bandits who terrorized the area. Their
leader, Weston
Greene, was renowned for being merciless and strong.
Many skilled martial artists had lost their lives against him.
“You too, Sheaves! Come on out!
“No point trying to hide now!” Weston shouted, looking at his side.
As leaves fell to the ground, a group of men emerged from the trees.
Their leader looked like a gentleman. Though he looked harmless, his
gaze was cold and
sharp.

“Magnus Sheaves of Skycrane?” Emily’s expression went from bad to
worse.
The Skycranes were just about as powerful as the Ironfists. Magnus
Sheaves, the eldest disciple, was acknowledged as a genius swordmaster in
Yuston.
“We’ve got trouble.” Vanessa swallowed dryly.
Ironfists, Desert Hawks, and Skycrane were the three major guilds who
were worthy opponents of Azure Mist. It would be quite a challenge to get
the treasure from them.
“Sheaves, Neeson, it seems like several rats are still lurking in the
forest. Shall we wipe them out before we get down to business?”
gaze
Weston smiled sinisterly as his gaze shot over to Emily and the rest
of them. His held a killing intent.

Chapter 972
All eyes fell on them when they heard what Weston said. Their gaze
was hostile and
unkind.
There were many divine–level martial artists present. They could hear
everything within a
300 feet radius.
“They’ve noticed us!” Vanessa had a bad feeling.
“Nathan, Emily, what do we do now?”
“Why are you so worried? I’m here. You’ll be fine. Follow me!”
Dusting himself off, Nathan walked out with his head held high.
Though those were strong opponents, the Azure Mist wasn’t to be
looked down upon
either. He had the confidence to take them down in a fair fight.
“Come on, let’s go meet them.” Emily gestured to the rest of them and
graciously showed
themselves.
They had initially planned to watch on from the sidelines, but it was
too bad that they
were noticed so soon.
“Alright, now that everyone’s here, how should we handle things?”
Weston smiled evilly with his broadsword still hoisted over his
shoulder.
“I suggest we should team up for now. Once we get the treasure, we
can split it evenly
among us.
“That way, everyone can walk away happy!” Nathan suggested.
He wasn’t greedy. Getting a portion of the treasure would be enough.
“What do you say, Sheaves?” Drake Neeson, the eldest disciple of
Ironfists, asked for
Magnus‘ opinion.
Out of everyone present, Magnus was the one person he feared the
most.
“I have no problems about splitting the treasure. But, there are too
many of us here now.”
Magnus‘ gaze swept across the plain.
1/3
“It would be best if there were fewer people to split the treasure
among,” he said darkly.
“Less? But who should we get rid of?” Weston’s eyes narrowed.
It was true that each would get a larger portion if they split the
treasure three ways
instead of four.
“Skycrane, Ironfists, and Azure Mist are all decent guilds.
“Only the Desert Hawks are a gang of bandits. Who do you think we
should get rid of?”
Magnus smiled ever so faintly.
At that, all the disciples of the three guilds looked at the Desert
Hawks. They were not
even hiding their sinister looks.
“What?” Weston’s face fell.
“Sheaves, we are all part of the martial world!
“You should know that anyone who finds the treasure will have some of
it! Are you sure
this is what you want to do?”
“How dare despicable bandits like you claim to be one of us?”
Magnus huffed. “I’ll give you one minute to get out of here. If you
do not, you will end up
dead!”
“Sheaves! You’ve overstepped the line!” Weston fumed and got ready to
kill.
“Neeson, Hoyles, since he insists on staying back, we will no longer
hold back! Kill him!”
Without wasting another word, Magnus unsheathed his sword and charged
at Weston. He
would pay with his life for not leaving when he had the chance to do
so.
“Damn it! You’re dead!” Weston was furious.
He lifted his broadsword, bringing it down in a forceful slash.
A deadly fight broke out between the two. With that, a war sparked
between the disciples
of Skycrane and Desert Hawk.
For a moment, the flashes and glints of swords slashing could be seen
in the dark. Blood splattered everywhere.
“Wipe out the Desert Hawks!” Drake was quick to react.
With a roar, he led the disciples of Ironfists into the battlefield.
There was nothing wrong with decent guilds wiping out bandit gangs.
They felt no sense of guilt at what they were doing.
Even if word got out about what they did, they would only be praised
for ridding of the
bandits.
The Desert Hawks were few in numbers, so they weren’t a match for the
Skycranes. Now that the Ironfists joined the fight, it was clear that
they were on the losing end.
The disciples of the Desert Hawks were killed and severely injured.
They did not even
have the chance to escape.
“Nathan, should we go and help out?” a disciple of the Azure Mist
suddenly asked.
“There’s no need for that. The two guilds can easily defeat them.”
Nathan shook his head, not planning to get involved in the fight.

Chapter 973
He wasn’t one to take advantage of those who were outnumbered.
“F*ck you, Sheaves!” Weston roared.
He was ultimately defeated by a stab that Magnus delivered straight
to his chest. He slumped to the ground.
Within minutes, the Desert Hawks were wiped clean. None one of them
survived.
“How dare a gang of bandits challenge us? Insolent bastards!” Magnus
huffed and flicked his sword to the side, raining drops of blood to the
ground.
“Hey! Why didn’t Azure Mist join in the fight earlier on?”
Drake turned and saw Nathan and the rest of them standing where they
stood earlier.
They were clean, with not a single drop of blood on them. It was
clear that they had not
joined the fight.
“Two major guilds are enough to deal with the Desert Hawks. There was
no need for us to get involved,” Nathan explained calmly.
Though he was only stating the fact, it sounded to the rest of them
like he was trying to
act nobler than them.
“You did nothing and simply watched as we killed them. Are you trying
to gain an advantage out of the situation?” Drake asked sinisterly.
“You’re mistaken. I never meant to do that.”
Emily quickly stood out to explain, “The fight ended too soon. We did
not even have the time to react, and the Desert Hawks were already wiped
out!”
The malicious looks all around made her feel uneasy.
“Hah! Do you think that I’d buy that?” Drake looked at them with a
sharp gaze.
“Neeson, it looks like the Azure Mist isn’t on our side. Why don’t we
join forces for now
and clear them out first?
“Then, we can split the treasure just between us. How’s that sound?”
Magnus suggested.
“Hahaha! Exactly my thoughts!” Drake laughed heartily.
It was even better to split the gains two ways than three!
“Hey! I’m warning you, you better not do anything reckless!”
Seeing that they had formed an alliance, Nathan wielded his sword and
warned them.” The Azure Mist is nothing like the Desert Hawks!
“We will not let you have your way with us! If you dare mess with us,
we’ll bring you down!”
“Bring us down? Haha! What a joke!” Drake laughed coldly.
“If I join forces with Sheaves, wiping out Azure Mist will be a piece
of cake!”
“Neeson, don’t waste time on talking. Let’s go and kill them all!”
Magnus urged. His eyes
shone with killing intent.
“Alright! Today is the day I’ll show them what the Adamantine Body
Art is all about!” Drake
laughed maniacally.
Just as he was about to channel his inner energy, the sound of flesh
being pierced was
heard. A sword had stabbed him from behind, piercing straight from
his chest.
Blood dripped off the sword.
Drake was caught off guard. He looked down in utter shock to see the
sword sticking out
of his chest.
The attack was so sudden that it took him some time to understand
what had happened.
He had been stabbed before his energy armor had been activated.
The question was, who did it? All those who stood behind him were his
comrades!
With anger and disbelief written on his face, it took Drake a great
effort to turn around. He
was met with Magnus‘ cold and sinister smile.
“It was you?” Drake’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Why? Haven’t we agreed to work together?”
“There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
“You’re the biggest threat to me here. I can’t be at ease with you
around!” Magnus sneered.
The Azure Mist was just a second–grade guild to him. He wasn’t
intimidated by them at all.
The only ones that he felt threatened by were the Ironfists.

He particularly feared Drake among them since he had perfectly honed
the Adamantine Body Art. He was known to be undefeatable.
Once he unleashed his powers, he would be invincible. Had Magnus not
sneaked an attack on him, it would be difficult for him to find another
chance to win against him.
He had caught the exact moment when Drake had been letting out his
energy and was thus totally defenseless. Hence, he chose to attack
without a moment’s hesitation.
“You… you wretched vermin! Curses on you! You should go die in a
ditch!” Drake roared.
“You’re the one who’s going to die!” Magnus let out a cold laugh as
he swung his sword
down hard.
Drake was beheaded on the spot.

Chapter 974
Drake’s head fell to the ground with a thud.
Everyone was shocked. No one had expected Magnus to pull such a dirty
trick.
He was smiling and agreeing to an alliance just seconds ago. But now,
he had chopped Drake’s head off. He was plain evil!
“Drake!” After they got over the shock, the Ironfists disciples were
angered.
Before they could even react, the Skycrane disciples began attacking.
Following their shrieks, most of the Ironfists disciples were defeated
within seconds.
As for the remaining, Magnus and his men surrounded and killed them
off. They did not stand a chance against Magnus.
The Azure Mist had their guards up when they saw how ruthless the
Skycrane disciples were. They pulled their swords out, waiting to see
what they would do next.
“Magnus! I never thought you’d be so despicable to attack someone
sneakily!” Nathan’s brows furrowed.
Skycrane was supposed to be a decent guild. How could Magnus resort
to such
underhanded tactics?
It was shameless!
“Haha! What does it have to do with you? As long as I laugh till the
end, who cares what I do?” Magnus sneered, not feeling ashamed at all.
He seemed proud of himself.
The martial world followed the rule of the survival of the fittest.
Killing a few men to get his hands on the treasure meant nothing to him.
“Hah! Do you think you’ll remain victorious till the end?
“Don’t forget, I’m still here!” Nathan shouted at him.
“You?” Magnus looked at him in disdain.
“Who do you think you are? You are simply the lead disciple of a
second–grade guild.
“How dare you challenge me?”
1/3
“You arrogant bastard!”
“How dare you look down on Nathan? You better watch your back!”
The Azure Mist disciples were angry when they heard what Magnus said.
Skycrane might be powerful, but the Azure Mist wasn’t to be messed
with either.
Besides, with Nathan there, they had a chance of winning.
“Don’t be so proud, Sheaves! If you have the guts, fight me one–on–
one.
“I’ll show you how I can beat you up!” Nathan shouted.
“A one–to–one fight? Sure. I’d like to see what you’re capable of.”
Magnus smirked and gestured at Nathan to make the first move.
He had sneaked an attack on Drake because he was scared of him. But
he was not afraid of
Nathan and the rest of them.
“All of you, stand back! I’ll teach him a lesson!” Nathan declared
confidently.
“Be careful, Nathan! Magnus is very skilled. You shouldn’t be rash!”
Emily warned.
“Don’t worry. He won’t be able to pull any of his dirty tricks with
me here. Just wait and
see.
“I’ll defeat him within 100 moves!” Nathan was full of confidence.
He might not be able to beat Magnus in a group fight. But he had
never backed out of a one-
on–one fight.
“Cut the crap! Here I come!” Magnus didn’t bother to continue
chatting.
He raised his sword and charged forward. He moved with incredible
speed and attacked
from an unpredictable direction.
“Another sneak attack? Shame on you!”
But Nathan was prepared for it. Wielding his sword, he leaped
forward.
A fierce battle ensued.
They were both expert martial artists who had reached the divine–
level. They were both also the eldest disciple of their respective
guilds.
They had the best training resources and also learned directly from
their masters.

The outcome of their battle was not only a matter of who would win.
It was a matter of
their respective guilds‘ reputation, as well as a matter of life and
death.
So, neither of them backed down. They both gave it their all, each
attack aiming to kill
their opponent.
Magnus‘ sword danced about swiftly and mercilessly. His swordsmanship
was
exceptional, and every move was unpredictable.
His incredible footwork made it hard to keep up with.
Nathan’s techniques were powerful, and it was clear that he had a
solid foundation. He
looked like a strong opponent when he swung his sword around him.
But though he looked mighty, it was only a matter of time before he
was defeated.
A series of metallic clangs sounded as Nathan slashed wildly. As he
gradually lost his
patience, his attacks got more forceful.
On the other hand, Magnus had a slight smirk. He blocked the attacks
in stride, appearing
to be toying with Nathan.

Chapter 975
“Nathan won’t hold up for much longer.” Dustin could finally hold it
in no more.
But what was meant as a warning received a lot of retorts from the
Azure Mist disciples.
“That’s nonsense! Nathan is extremely skilled, and his swordsmanship
is incredible! How could he possibly be defeated?”
“Exactly! Please look closely! Nathan is winning!”
“Hmph! Why are you on the opponent’s side and belittling Nathan? If
you don’t know what’s happening, keep your nonsense to yourself!”
They shouted at Dustin.
Everyone could see that Nathan was overpowering Magnus! It wouldn’t
take much longer
for him to win the battle!
But not only was Dustin not cheering Nathan on, he was even
belittling him? How
annoying!
“You probably don’t know Nathan well, Dustin.
Vanessa proudly explained, “Nathan’s so skillful that he’s considered
one of the top three in the younger generation of Lester martial artists.
“He’s earned himself the nickname of the Little Dragon and has
defeated many reputable martial artists. It shouldn’t be a tough battle
going against Magnus.”
“That’s right! You should watch and learn! See how Nathan defeats
him!”
The disciples of Azure Mist held their heads high. They were
confident.
Dustin shook his head, not saying much. These people were too blind
to see what was
going on.
As time went on, the fight got intense. Nathan started to falter.
Sweat formed on his brows
as he panted heavily.
“Azure Blade!” Nathan gritted his teeth and used his trump card.
He swung his blade even faster. For a moment, there was a flash from
his sword.
The air around him swirled and sent sand and dust flying. The flash
from his sword
1/3
“Look! Nathan’s using his best move!”
“Haha! Azure Blade will certainly defeat Magnus!”
“Keep your eyes open, Rhys! See for yourself just how powerful Nathan
is!”
The disciples of Azure Mist were so excited, as if Nathan had already
won.
But as their voices died down, they heard a scream.
Magnus had stabbed Nathan in the stomach and sent him flying. Nathan
threw up blood
and lay on the ground, too weak to get up.
“Nathan?” The Azure Mist disciples were all scared and shocked by
what they saw.
Didn’t Nathan have the upper hand just now? How did he suddenly get
defeated? What
was going on?
“You… you deflected my move?” Nathan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He had not expected Magnus to break through his most powerful move so
easily.
“Hmph! I was just playing with you. Do you think you’re all that
great?”
Sneering, Magnus looked at him in contempt. “At your level, you
aren’t even fit to carry my
shoes!”
“You-!” Nathan glared at Magnus as he threw up more blood.
“Since you’ve lost, it’s time you go to hell!” Magnus whipped his
sword and charged
forward.
“Hold it right there!”
“Protect Nathan!”
The disciples of Azure Mist rushed forward at the sight.
“You’re too full of yourself!” Magnus scoffed as he slashed his sword
in an arc.
A blinding flash of light sparked from his sword and swept toward the
Azure Mist
disciples like a giant sickle.
They were taken aback and raised their swords to deflect the blow.
All the Azure Mist disciples were sent flying with blood spewing out
their mouths. None

Chapter 976
“How is that possible?”
Seeing all the disciples of Azure Mist lying on the ground and
throwing up blood, Emily
and Vanessa exchanged looks of horror.
They had been standing at the back of the group, so they had not
rushed up in time to help
Nathan.
What they saw was terrifying. More than ten elite disciples of Azure
Mist were sent flying
by a single slash of Magnus‘ sword.
His strength was horrifying!
“How dare you bunch of trash attempt to challenge me? You’re just
wasting your efforts!”
Magnus pointed at them with his sword. He was looking down on them.
He had only engaged in Nathan’s challenge for fun. Now that he had
his fun, it was time he ended things.
“As expected of Magnus. His skills are out of this world!”
“Hah! How dare a second–grade guild go against us? They were asking
for it!”
The Skycrane disciples laughed among themselves. The treasure was
theirs now that they
had defeated the Azure Mist.
“Magnus! Those girls with them are beautiful!
“It’d be a pity to kill them just like that. Why don’t we have some
fun with them first?”
One of the disciples of Skycrane pointed at Emily with a wicked
smile.
“Oh?” Magnus looked over and nodded enthusiastically.
“Not bad. They do look fine indeed.
“If you want to have fun with them, you better hurry. Don’t waste too
much time.”
“Hehe! Thank you, Magnus!” The Skycrane disciples were excited.
Their eyes lit up.
“Emily, run! I’ll hold them back!”
1/3
Seeing that things weren’t good for them, Nathan clenched his jaws
and forced himself up.
He knew that if his sister fell into their hands, her life would be a
living hell. Those monsters were inhumane.
“If we die, we’re going to die together! I can’t leave you behind!”
Emily slowly lifted her sword.
She looked like she was ready to fight them.
“Stop putting on a brave front! Run while you can!” Nathan yelled at
her.
He would give his life to ensure that his sister was safe.
“Vanessa! Lead Dustin and the rest of them out of here.
“Leave this to me!” Emily stood firm, determined.
“Emily! No! I’m not leaving! I’m staying back with you!”
Vanessa had tears in her eyes. Though she was afraid, she did not
back off.
“Don’t be silly! You aren’t of any help here! Get Master Chasey!
“I’ll hold these people back. If Master Chasey gets here in time, we
still have hope!” Emily told her.
“Emily…” Vanessa seemed helpless as she looked at Emily with teary
eyes.
She knew that if she left now, she might never see them again.
“Don’t just stand there! Quick! Run before it’s too late!” Emily
urged her frantically.
She had to get all of them to leave. That was better than them
staying back and none of them surviving.
“I’ll do it.”
Just as Vanessa was stuck in a dilemma, Dustin stood forward. “Be it
Skycrane or whatnot,
I’ll handle them.”
Emily and Vanessa had treated him well. He wasn’t going to watch them
sacrifice
themselves.
“Hey, what are you talking about? I can’t even handle them!
“How are you going to fight against them?” Nathan asked rudely.

“Dustin, do not try to act tough now! Run for your life! There’s no
point risking it!” Emily frowned.
That was Magnus Sheaves they were talking about! The lead disciple of
Skycrane and a genius swordmaster from Yuston!
Even Nathan had been defeated so easily; what more, a small fry like
Dustin?
“Don’t worry. They’re no match for me,” Dustin assured calmly.
At that, the Skycrane disciples stared at Dustin in disbelief before
bursting into laughter.
“Hey, bastard. Do you have any idea what you’re saying? Do you think
you’re on the same level as us?”
“Oh! I remember now! This is the idiot from the restaurant
yesterday!”
“Haha! You were lucky enough to get away yesterday. You’re not going
to get lucky a second time!”
The Skycrane disciples snickered, looking at Dustin like he was a
moron.

Chapter 977
“Hey, you! I’ll let you live if you can withstand three of my
attacks!” Magnus taunted as he
lifted his sword.
“Is that so? I’d like to see how great your skills are.” Dustin’s
expression remained
impassive as he went forward calmly.
“Dustin!” Emily grabbed his wrist.
“Magnus is much stronger than us. You can’t possibly win against him.
You better run for
your life!”
“That’s right, Dustin! The guy is terrifying! You’re no match for
him!”
Vanessa tried to persuade him against it, too.
“Rhys! Stop making things worse! Bring Emily and the rest away from
here now!
“You can’t handle the situation here!” Nathan shouted at him.
“Exactly! Even Nathan can’t win against Magnus! Do you think you can?
Run while you
can!”
The disciples of Azure Mist yelled at him to run away. Though they
didn’t particularly like
him, they didn’t wish to see him dead.
“Don’t worry. It’s just Magnus. I’m not afraid of him.”
Dustin was calm like there was nothing to be anxious about. He walked
forward.
“Dustin!” Emily still wanted to stop him, but the Skycrane disciples
had surrounded them.
“Oh no… Oh no. Dustin’s done for now!” Vanessa panicked as if she had
already
anticipated the scene of Dustin’s death.
“The dumbass doesn’t know fear even when death stares him in the
face!” Nathan looked
at him in frustration.
“Oh, what a stubborn ass!” The disciples of Azure Mist shook their
heads as they sighed
helplessly.
“Hah! You are too full of yourself! How dare you go against Magnus?
You’ll die soon enough!
1/3
Disciples of Skycrane laughed as they watched enthusiastically.
“Come on then.”
Dustin stood with an arm behind his back. With his other hand, he
beckoned at Magnus
with a finger.
The act looked like a condescending taunt to everyone.
“If you insist on meeting your maker, I’ll send you to him
immediately!” Magnus sneered.
He launched forward like an arrow with a light tap of his feet. The
speed at which he
leaped forward was shocking.
“Scattering Radiance!” Magnus suddenly shouted.
Then, a shocking radiance burst from his sword, blinding everyone.
A glow seemed to spread out from the blade, expanding rapidly. It
reached almost 10 feet.
in length.
At a glance, it was becoming like a giant sword!
“So fast! And the glow from the blade is so blinding! Magnus used his
killer move right
from the start!”
“The rascal should be proud to have died by Magnus‘ sword!”
The Skycrane disciples looked full of themselves like they had
already won.
“Oh no! He’s done for!” Disciples of Azure Mist hung their heads low
in misery.
“Dustin! Move out of the way!” Emily and Vanessa were so shocked that
they paled and
exclaimed in unison. (1
Dustin should not attempt to block Magnus‘ sword, or he would
certainly die!
“Impressive. But more style over power, I’d say ” Dustin stood still
as he stared straight at
the blinding radiance of the sword.
Then, without ducking or moving out of the way, he punched the
oncoming sword. Simple
and without any flairs.
As they came into contact, three explosions were heard.
On the first explosion, the radiance of the sword shattered.

On the second explosion, the sword itself shattered.
On the third explosion, Magnus himself shattered!
A deathly silence fell over the place.

Chapter 978
Everyone was silent when they saw Magnus explode into pieces.
They stood there frozen in place with absolute horror on their faces.
They looked like they’d seen a ghost.
Many of them even wondered if they were dreaming. If this wasn’t a
dream, how can such
a thing happen?
That was Magnus, the lead disciple of Skycrane and a genius
swordmaster from Yuston. He was strong enough to defeat all the disciples
of Azure Mist single–handedly.
How could a nobody like Dustin overpower someone of that level?
No, he wasn’t even overpowered. Dustin’s punch shattered him on the
spot.
Just a single punch from him had shattered both Magnus and his sword.
He had been so thoroughly destroyed that nothing remained.
Was he even human? He must be a monster!
“How–how could this be? Magnus–died?”
Looking at all the blood on the ground, the disciples of Skycrane
looked defeated. They trembled, and their eyes were filled with shock.
It was hard for them to accept that Magnus, a genius swordmaster and
the best among them, had been crushed by just a single punch! It was
unbelievable!
“Am–am I seeing things? The bastard won?” Nathan’s eyes widened. He
could not believe
what he saw.
When Magnus had wielded his sword, he had thought that Dustin would
certainly die. But it turned out that Dustin had given him the shock of
his life!
“Oh my goodness! How did I get myself involved with a monster?” Emily
swallowed dryly,
astonishment clear on her face.
“He crushed Magnus with just one move! Dustin is amazing!” Vanessa
was pleasantly
surprised that she almost jumped for joy.
She had been worried that Magnus would have killed Dustin. But by the
look of things, she had been worried over nothing.
12
It turns out that the handsome and helpful young man was a hidden
expert!
“He’s a monster!” The disciples of Azure Mist exchanged looks of
astonishment.
None of them had thought that Dustin, whom they had assumed was a
nobody, was so powerful. They now felt guilty and ashamed for their
contempt toward him before.
They had to admit that they had underestimated him.
“Hmph! This is nothing! If only you knew that he’s the young
grandmaster!”
Abigail mumbled to herself, looking proud of Dustin. She felt honored
to have such a
mentor.
“You killed Magnus? We’ll kill you!”
After collecting themselves, the disciples of Skycrane began
shouting. They raised their swords and charged at Dustin.
They knew that they would not be able to win against him in a one–to–
one battle, so they attempted to overpower him with their numbers.
“Do not act recklessly!”
Just then, an old man with white hair descended from the sky. He
delivered a palm strike through the air, straight at the ground.
“Boom!” An immense surge of true energy in the shape of a palm burst
out from his hand.
It weighed down heavily upon the Skycrane disciples like a mountain.
“Bang!” There was a loud explosion.

Chapter 979
A large crater in the shape of a palm was formed on the ground.
The Skycrane disciples were buried in the soil and gravel in the
crater. Some of them were severely wounded, while others died on the
spot.
All it took was one palm strike from him, and almost all the Skycrane
disciples were wiped out. It was a truly powerful attack!
“Master Chasey!”
Upon seeing the elderly person, the Azure Mist disciples‘ spirits
were uplifted. They gathered around eagerly as if they had met their
leader.
The elderly man was none other than Walter Chasey, the leader of
Azure Mist!
“Dad! You’re here! We almost died!”
Vanessa ran up to him with red–rimmed eyes. She looked like she was
close to tears.
“Oh, you! You refused to train when I asked you to. Now you know fear
in the face of danger!
Walter stood with his hands behind his back as he lectured Vanessa
with a stern.
expression.
“Dad! They were too powerful! Even Nathan was no match for them. What
could I do?”
Vanessa pouted, looking hurt.
“That’s right, Master Chasey. The Skycrane disciples were skillful.
“We were lucky Dustin was with us. We would have been in grave danger
otherwise.”
As Emily spoke, she looked at Dustin. It seemed like she was trying
to get Walter to praise
him.
“Yes, I saw what he did.” Walter nodded as he, too, looked towards
Dustin.
“Young man, you have great skills. May I know who your mentor is?”
“I have no mentor,” Dustin replied.
“Oh? So you were self–taught?”
1/3
Walter was astonished and wanted him to join Azure Mist.
“Young man, I see your potential and talent. Since you do not have a
mentor, why don’t you be my disciple?
“You’ll have someone to back you up in the future, too.”
“My apologies. I do not have any such intention for now.” Dustin
shook his head, rejecting
Walter.
“Young man, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. You won’t be
getting such an offer
anymore.
“Do you know how many people in Lester have begged to be accepted
into Azure Mist but failed? Consider yourself lucky to be getting this
chance,” Walter said proudly.
“Yes, Dustin! Master Chasey is halfway to becoming a grandmaster.
“You’ll learn much from him if you become his disciple!” Emily
coaxed.
Azure Mist was only second to Ironfists in the whole of Lester.
Master Chasey was the second–best martial artist in Lester. He rarely
accepted disciples.
“Dustin, my father’s amazing. Did you see the palm strike he did
earlier on?
“He wiped out all the Skycrane disciples with just a single move. You
have nothing to lose by becoming his disciple,” Vanessa echoed.
Her lack of opportunity to get closer to Dustin troubled her. But if
he were to become her father’s disciple, she’d be able to be around him
often then.
“Thank you for the kind gesture, Master Chasey, but I’m used to
having my freedom.
“I do not like to be controlled, so I have no plans to become a
disciple.” Dustin shook his
head.
Walter frowned, clearly displeased.
“Young man, think about it carefully. Many people are dying to become
my disciples, but
I’m only offering the opportunity to you. Do you understand?”
He had always been the one rejecting others and never the other way
around.
He was giving Dustin a great honor by offering him the chance to be
his disciple. He never thought that his offer would be turned down.

“Hey! People are dying to have such a reputable mentor as Master
Chasey! Why are you being so stubborn?” Nathan was annoyed.
It was an honor to earn the favor of his mentor. It was also an
opportunity that countless people dreamed of and yearned for.
Dustin was the only one who didn’t appreciate it. What an idiot!
“I thank you for the offer, Master Chasey. But I’ll still have to
turn you down.” Dustin stood his ground and shook his head.
“Hey, young man, are you looking down on me?
“Do you think that I’m not fit to be your mentor?” Walter’s eyes
narrowed as his expression
darkened.
He had put down his ego and said all he could to persuade Dustin to
join him. But no matter how he coaxed, the young man refused to take him
up on his offer.
How unappreciative!
“You’re mistaken, Master Chasey. I never meant that.” Dustin frowned.
Why was the old man getting unreasonable?
“Hmph! I think that’s what you meant!”
Walter looked at Dustin, determined. Then, he pointed at Dustin.
“If you’re not convinced of my skills, boy, you can always test me.
Try me and see if I’m fit
to be your mentor!”

Chapter 980
With how Walter tried to pick a fight with him, Dustin started
running out of patience.
It was his choice to choose a mentor and whether or not to learn from
him. How could it be
forced on someone?
Besides, Walter was just halfway to becoming a grandmaster. How could
he be qualified to
be Dustin’s mentor?
“Master Chasey, your skills are exceptional. Dustin would never look
down on you. Maybe he just needs some time to consider things.
“Once he sees just how amazing you are, he’ll come to appreciate the
offer.” Emily quickly tried to smooth things over when she saw things
getting ugly.
“That’s right, Dad! The matter of importance now is not getting
yourself a disciple.
“Let’s not get distracted from the treasure,” Vanessa tried to change
the subject.
Though it was a pity, she did not wish to force Dustin into things.
It would not be worth it to go overboard and ruin their relationship.
“I’ll give you three days to consider the offer, boy. If you change
your mind within three days, you can come to me any time.
“But once the three days are over, the offer no longer stands. No
matter how much you beg, you won’t get the opportunity anymore. Think
about it!”
Then, with both hands behind his back, Walter entered the tomb.
Iris Meskill’s tomb was his priority today. He refused to be affected
by a brat.
“Hmph! The most foolish thing you’ve ever done is to turn down Master
Chasey’s offer! You’ll regret it!”
Nathan spat before leading the rest of the Azure Mist disciples into
the tomb.
In his eyes, this was Dustin’s one chance at success. But he did not
appreciate it. It was foolish of him.
“Dustin, Master Chasey’s just a very straightforward person. Don’t
take it to heart.”
Emily felt awkward now that there was tension over something as
trivial as getting Dustin to be Walter’s disciple.
1/3
“That’s alright. It’s just a small matter.” Dustin shook his head,
unaffected by what had
happened.
“Alright, let bygones be bygones. Let’s go on and check out what
treasures lay in wait in
the tomb.”
Vanessa was excited but nervous.
“After you, Dustin!” Emily smiled.
They quickly caught up with the rest of the group.
Once they entered the tomb, it was pitch black all around them. They
could not even see
their fingers in front of them.
But they came prepared. Taking out their torches, they saw that the
tomb was huge. They
could not even see the end of it.
The tomb had a damp, moldy stench. They could occasionally hear the
dripping sound of
water droplets dropping to the ground.
“Look, there are footprints here. Someone must have been here before
us. We need to make
haste!”
Walter, who was at the front, urged the rest of them. They had no
choice but to hurry.
After walking for about 10 minutes, they noticed a spacious stone
chamber before them.
Upon entering the stone chamber, they saw many crates scattered
around it. The crates
had all been pried open.
Someone had been there and taken everything.
Glancing at the place, they noted three other stone doors in the
chamber. They were all
shut.
“Darn it! We were one step too late!” Walter exclaimed, looking down
and frustrated.
They had gone through much trouble locating the tomb but still ended
up empty–handed.
It was infuriating!
“Master Chasey, there’s something over there!” Nathan pointed at
something in the center
of the chamber.
Everyone looked over to find a mystical formation in the middle of
the chamber. It was

Right in the middle of the mystical formation, a pitch–black sword
stuck straight up from
the ground.
The entire blade of the sword was buried in the ground, leaving only
the hilt exposed.
Though it was in a sheath, it radiated a sharp glow.
Anyone could tell at a glance that it wasn’t an ordinary object.
Right in front of the sword, there was a message. “The Celestial
Blade appears to slay all
evil; only by the Fated One to wield.”
“It’s a treasure!” Walter’s eyes lit up at the sight of the black
sword. He immediately rushed
up to it.
But when he got near to the mystical formation, he paused.
Iris was a top–notch grandmaster. With her cultivation level, she
could easily set up a trap
that could kill a grandmaster on the spot.
He had to be very careful.
“Ben! Go and pull the sword out!”
Walter took a glance backward and pointed at one of his disciples,
who was very well–built.
“Me?” Ben swallowed dryly. He couldn’t help but feel nervous about
it.
He wasn’t a fool either. He knew that that was no ordinary sword. It
would already have
been taken by others if it were.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be here to protect you. Nothing’s going to happen.
Go on.”
Walter pretended like he was going to protect Ben.
“Alright.” Ben had no choice but to step into the mystical formation.
Luckily for him, nothing happened.
He grabbed the sword’s hilt and gave it one hard tug. It did not
budge. “Hmm?” Ben found it strange.

Chapter 981
He had no problem lifting thousands of pounds with his strength. How
was it possible that
he could not lift a sword?
“Try again,” Walter urged.
Ben didn’t dare to hesitate. Taking a deep breath, he clasped both
hands tightly on the sword’s hilt and pulled it upwards with all his
might..
His veins popped, and his face flushed. He used all his strength, but
the sword did not budge an inch.
“Master Chasey, this won’t work. I can’t lift it.” Heaving a long
sigh, Ben was already drenched in sweat.
“What a piece of trash. How could you not be able to lift just a
sword? Let me do it!”
Nathan couldn’t take it anymore. He voluntarily walked up and pushed
Ben aside. Then, he spat into his palms and rubbed them together.
Setting his footing right, he grabbed the sword’s hilt and deeply
breathed. Mustering up all the true energy he had, he pulled up sharply.
The black sword remained unmoving.
“Damn it! I don’t believe this!” Nathan frowned. Unwilling to accept
defeat, he tried several more times.
And it was still the same. The sword remained motionless as though it
was a part of the stone chamber.
“Master Chasey, there’s something odd about the sword. It can’t be
removed.”
Nathan felt both ashamed and helpless. In the end, he had no choice
but to give up. “I think you’ll have to do it yourself.”
“Hmph! I can’t believe you guys can’t handle such a small task. What
an embarrassment!”
With a dark expression, Walter walked up to the sword with his hands
behind his back.
He circled the sword once to make sure it was not dangerous.
Then, he grabbed the sword’s hilt. He gave it a sharp pull,
Still, the sword remained motionless.
“Hmm?” Walter’s eyes narrowed. He increased his force on the sword
but to no avail.
With all his disciples‘ eyes on him, Walter felt embarrassed that he
could not pull out the sword. Hence, he reached out both hands to grasp
the sword’s hilt and crouched down.
“Get up!” Walter roared, unleashing all his true energy in one go.
The entire stone chamber began to rumble, and pieces of rubble fell
around them. For a moment, dust and sand rained down on them.
It was as though an earthquake. It was scary.
The stone chamber continued rumbling, but the black sword remained
unmoving.
“Too much! This is too much!”
Walter gritted his teeth. He had put every last bit of his strength
into it but failed. He
kicked at the sword to vent his anger.
“That’s odd. Could that be a fake sword? Why else is it not budging?”
“If even Master Chasey can’t dislodge it, who can?”
“The Celestial Blade appears to slay all evil; only by the Fated One
to wield.‘ Could it be
possible that the sword has a mind of its own and will pick its
owner?”
Everyone exchanged looks of bewilderment as they whispered among
themselves.
“Let me try.” All of a sudden, Dustin approached the sword.
Somehow, the sword looked familiar to him. He even felt a sense of
liking for it.
He felt like they were old friends and were finally meeting again
after a long time.
“Hmph! Even Master Chasey can’t do it. Do you think you’d be able
to?” Nathan rolled his
eyes at Dustin in disdain.
“The sword has a mind of its own. Of course, you can’t do it with
brute strength.”
Dustin slowly closed his eyes and began feeling the mysterious
sensation from the sword.
“Nonsense! It’s just a sword! How can it have a mind of its own?”
“Don’t overestimate yourself, young man.”
“Even Master Chasey can’t do it. Do you think that you’d be able to?
You’re just going to embarrass yourself!”
The Azure Mist disciples jeered, each with a look of contempt on
their face.
Master Chasey was halfway to becoming a grandmaster. If he found it
impossible to lift the sword, what more could a nobody like Dustin?
“Young people tend to think too highly of themselves.”
Walter shot Dustin a sidelong glance and said coldly, “You think
you’re better than me, don’t you? Do you think that you’ll be able to
perform a miracle when even I can’t?
“Mark my words. Nobody will be able to extract the sword. Not even
the gods! If you can do it, I’ll get on my knees and take you as my
mentor!”
He had barely finished his sentence when Dustin suddenly opened his
eyes.
A dark glow flashed, and Dustin suddenly lifted two fingers. He
pointed at the sword and lifted it upwardly with his fingers.
“Up!” he shouted.
A clanging sound was heard.
The black sword lifted off the ground and circled in the air twice
before falling straight into Dustin’s outstretched palm.
Walter stood there dumbfounded.

Chapter 982
Looking at the black sword in Dustin’s hand, everyone was astonished.
It was simply
unbelievable.
They had tried hard to pull the sword out, but none succeeded. And
now, it came out by
itself and flew straight into Dustin’s hand.
The most shocking thing was that Dustin hadn’t touched it the entire
time!
He had simply pointed two fingers at it and made a lifting motion
through the air. The
sword seemed to have sensed him beckoning it, so it launched out of
the ground and
landed straight in his hand.
But why?
They had put in so much effort and thoroughly tried to get it out,
all to no avail.
Why did the sword come to Dustin just because he had motioned to it?
Was the sword discriminating against them? Or had it simply ignored
them?
“No! No way! How could it have been so simple for him?” Nathan’s eyes
widened in
disbelief.
Even Master Chasey had not been able to pull the sword out! Why had
it gone to Dustin of its own will? What was going on?
“Oh my goodness! Am I seeing things? Did the sword just fly out by
itself?” Vanessa gulped, unable to come to terms with what she just saw.
“Does the sword have a mind of its own? Is that why it decided for
itself who should be its owner?” Emily wondered, shaken.
“The Celestial Blade appears to slay all evil; only by the Fated One
to wield.”
Looking at the message on the ground, that was the only conclusion
she managed to draw from it.
“You–How did you do it?” Walter’s brows furrowed. He lost his
composure.
He could not understand why Dustin was able to pull the sword out
when he could not.
Did the sword regard Dustin, the young man, better than Walter?
“I don’t know. All I did was beckon it, and it came on its own
accord.”
Dustin looked at the black sword in admiration.
He was adept with swords, but he rarely used them. Because of his
power, no regular sword seemed good enough for him.
But this one was different. It felt like it was tailor–made for him.
The blade was made of meteoric iron. It was so sharp that it could
slice through almost any material. Dustin could feel an immense power
within it that could destroy the world.
“Celestial Blade? Impressive.” Dustin smiled. He slowly caressed the
sword, growing fond
of it.
“Dustin! Congratulations on getting a sword of your own! Seems like
it belongs to you now.
“Emily smiled.
“Hang on!” Walter suddenly piped up.
“Young man, there’s something unusual about this sword.
“If I’m not mistaken, this should be a dangerous object. It might put
you in danger if you keep it around you. Why don’t I safe–keep it for
you?”
Dustin raised a brow. “Sir Chasey, I think it’s fate that the sword
chose me. It’s not dangerous.”
“I’m doing this in consideration for your safety, young man. You
wouldn’t be able to handle such a dangerous object. Let me guard it.”
Walter reached out to take the sword from Dustin.
It was rare to come across a sword with a mind of its own. He wasn’t
about to let it slip through his fingers.
If he were to own the sword, it would greatly enhance his powers. He
might even be able to put up against a grandmaster if he had it!
“Sir Chasey, I’ll keep it safe myself. Don’t worry about it.”
The smile on Dustin’s face started to fade. He was beginning to see
what kind of a person Walter was.

Chapter 983
This old geezer was abandoning his morals for his gain. He was greedy
to make the sword
his.
“Young man, let me make this clear. I’m not asking for your opinion,”
Walter said coldly.
“Like they say, an innocent man will become a target if he possesses
a prized possession.
This sword isn’t suitable for you.
“Give it to me, and you can uphold your honor.
“Sir Chasey, it sounds like you’re threatening me.” Dustin narrowed
his eyes.
“I’m just giving you advice–a wise man understands his circumstances.
You’re still young,
and you’ll have many more opportunities.
“You don’t have to destroy your future over a sword, don’t you
think?” Walter continued.
He was determined to get the sword at all costs. He would have done
this long ago if he
didn’t care about his reputation.
“Master Chasey, the sword chose its wielder. Dustin is fated to have
this sword. What
you’re doing isn’t right, don’t you think?” Emily frowned.
She never thought her righteous master would completely turn his back
on someone over
a sword.
He was even making threats.
“Shut up!” Walter glared at her.
“What do you know? This sword has no owner, so finder’s keepers!”
“Dad! Dustin already got the sword. Don’t tell me you’re going to
snatch it from him?”
Vanessa said with furrowed eyebrows. She looked angry.
“Stupid girl, you’re my daughter! Why are you siding with the
outsider?!” Walter felt embarrassed.
“I’m just pointing out the facts!” Vanessa said indignantly.
“Dustin saved our lives before. We haven’t even had the chance to
repay him yet, but you’re already threatening him. You’re such a bully!”
“Hmph, if we hadn’t brought him here, he might never have found this
treasure!
retorted fiercely.
“Not to mention, I just want that one sword. What’s the big deal? If
we find another treasure in the future, we’ll let him have it!”
“But…”
“That’s enough!”
Vanessa wanted to say something, but Walter interrupted her angrily,
“I like this sword. I
have to have it no matter what!”
“What if I don’t give it to you?” Dustin said with a cold look.
“You won’t give it to me? Don’t blame me when I stop playing the nice
guy!” Walter
shouted.
As he spoke, his body exuded an overwhelming aura. He looked like a
ferocious beast baring his teeth.
“Stop!” Vanessa stood in front of Dustin and defended him.
“Dad, Dustin saved my life before. If you’re going to do something
reckless, then you’d have
to kill me first!”
“Move out of the way, stupid girl!” Walter flew into his rage.
He thought that the daughter that he’d raised would support him.
“Dad, we can’t be ungrateful! You taught me this!”
Vanessa bit her lip, spreading her arms wide to protect Dustin. She
looked like she was
ready to face death.
“Forget it, Master Chasey. You’ll find a better treasure next time.
There’s no need to fight.”
Emily advised.
“Shut up!” Walter was furious.
He slapped Emily across the face and screamed, “You ungrateful brats,
I taught you to respect your teachers, not rebel against them!”
Emily cupped her cheek with a frown. She looked at Walter in shock,
like she didn’t recognize him anymore.

She never thought that her master would become so uncompromising.
“Sir Chasey, you need to know where to draw the line. Don’t make
mountains out of molehills,” Dustin said coolly.
This old geezer was blinded by greed.
It was a shame because he had such a great disciple and an awesome
daughter.
“Enough talking! Give me the sword, or don’t think about leaving this
place!” Walter
threatened.
“You want the sword? Fine, I’ll give it to you.” Dustin nodded and
flung the sword.
It spun in the air a few times before lodging itself back in the
mystical formation, just like how it was before.
“Go on, pull it out if you can.”

Chapter 984
“Go on, pull it out if you can.
Dustin didn’t want to waste his breath any longer. He tossed the
sword back to its original
spot and walked out the stone doors.
There were three stone doors in the stone room. Dustin simply chose
one and entered.
He didn’t prolong the situation for Emily’s and Vanessa’s sake.
Instead, he chose to go his
separate way.
After all, it wasn’t like Walter could retrieve the sword. There was
no harm in leaving the
sword here.
The most important thing was the Shadowbloom.
Once he found the Shadowbloom, he could still return and get the
sword.
“Stop right there, punk!”
As Walter watched Dustin walk away, his anger flared. He raised his
hand and was about to
deliver a lethal blow.
“Stop!” At that moment, Vanessa suddenly jumped between them.
Walter jumped in fright. Afraid that he would accidentally injure his
daughter, he stopped
himself.
Ultimately, he watched Dustin and the two others slowly walk into the
darkness.
“Stupid girl, how dare you go against me over an outsider? You’re
incredibly foolish!”
Walter stamped his foot in disappointment.
How did he raise such an ungrateful child?
“Dad, the treasure is important, but you can’t give up your
conscience!” Vanessa said
righteously.
“You-”
Walter raised his hand to hit her, but in the end, he stopped
himself.
He only had one precious daughter. He couldn’t hurt her.
1/3
“Master Chasey, he is gone, but the sword is here. Why don’t we try
again?” Emily said
tentatively.
“Hmph! I refuse to believe that only that punk can pull it out!”
Walter gritted his teeth and approached the sword again. Then, he
grabbed the hilt with
both hands and tried to lift it.
However, the sword didn’t budge. It reacted differently than it did
in Dustin’s presence.
“Useless! Trash! I’ll destroy you!”
Walter tried a few more times, and his embarrassment turned into
anger.
Since he couldn’t get it, he wanted to destroy it. He slammed his
palm on the hilt of the
sword.
“Boom!” There was an explosion.
The sword didn’t move. Instead, an invisible force forced Walter to
stagger backward.
Suddenly, blood rushed through him, and his arm went numb.
He couldn’t pull it out nor destroy it. He was about to die from
frustration.
After composing himself, he left two disciples there to guard it.
Then, he led the rest of the
group through the other stone door.
There was no point in trying. Perhaps there were better treasures
inside.
Inside the dim tunnel, Abigail was still upset. “Sir, that old
bastard crossed the line. Why
didn’t you teach him a lesson?”
“There’s no need to create additional problems for ourselves. Let’s
find the Shadowbloom
first,” Dustin said indifferently.
The sword had already bonded with him. He could summon it anytime, so
he wasn’t
worried it’d get stolen.
As they were walking, Azalea stopped in her tracks. “Doctor, there’s
another crossroad
ahead.”
At some point, a crossroad had appeared.

Looking into it, they saw that each cave was unfathomably deep. It
was pitch black, so they had no idea where it led.
“Why is this place just like a maze? There are all sorts of
crossroads.” Abigail frowned,
looking nervous.
If they took the wrong road, would they be in danger?
“Keep walking forward.”
Dustin swept his gaze over his surroundings and quickly found his
bearings.
They continued trudging ahead, following the twists and turns of the
tunnel. After half an
hour of walking, they saw a bright light.
They picked up the pace. They realized it was a brightly lit burial
chamber when they got
closer.
The burial chamber was huge. All sorts of lifelike humanoid statues
surrounded it.
In the very middle of the statues was a giant bronze coffin.
**
There were all sorts of strange symbols covering the coffin. It
looked like it was filled with
dark energy.
“Sir, don’t you feel like this place is eerie?” Abigail shrunk
backward. For some reason, she
felt nervous.
Those lifelike stone statues next to the coffin creeped her out the
most. Their cold, beady
eyes seemed to be staring straight at her.
Goosebumps broke out on her skin.
“They’re just statues. What are you afraid of?”
Dustin looked around, but he didn’t sense any living creatures.
“Doctor, there are some writings here.” Azalea stepped forward to
find a stone tablet in
front of the coffin.
On the stone tablet were the words, “Disciple of the Jade Maiden
Sisterhood; Kowtow thrice before the tomb.”

Chapter 985
“Sir, we’re not disciples of the Jade Maiden Sisterhood. Should we
pray?” Abigail asked.
“We should respect the dead,” Dustin said, nodding.
Iris was a great legend. Although she already passed, she deserved to
be respected.
“Okay.” Abigail agreed. She kneeled in front of the stone tablet and
kowtowed.
Suddenly, the stone tablet began rumbling. It sunk into the earth and
disappeared.
Then, an exquisite box emerged from the stone tablet’s original spot.
“Sir, there’s something here!” Abigail’s eyes lit up, and she
immediately opened the box.
A golden pearl was Inside the wooden box. It was dazzling and
sparkling.
The golden liquid inside was spinning like a whirlpool. It was
absorbing the spiritual energy from its surroundings.
“Oh my gosh, is this the Celestial Pearl?!” Azalea’s eyes grew wide
with shock.
Even the ever–composed Dustin was surprised.
He never thought the box would contain a legendary sacred relic of
the martial world–the
Celestial Pearl!
“What’s a Celestial Pearl?” Abigail cocked her head in confusion.
Wasn’t it just a pretty jewel? Why were they freaking out?
“Abigail, you struck gold this time!” Azalea was jumping out and down
in excitement.
“The Celestial Pearl is one of the three major sacred relics. It’s
the best, something that numerous martial artists could only dream of!
“Its biggest use is in increasing the speed of cultivation by 10 to
100 times! With the Celestial Pearl, a loser could become a genius
overnight!
“Of course, if a genius got their hands on this treasure, their power
would be unimaginable!
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that once the Celestial Pearl
appears, there will be a
bloodbath in the martial world!”
By the end of her explanation, her face was flushed.
1/3
This prized treasure in front of them could make someone a whole new
person and achieve great heights!
Who wouldn’t be envious?
“Huh, it’s that powerful?” Abigail was shocked and found it hard to
comprehend the
situation.
She’d assumed that it was some kind of decorative jewelry. She didn’t
think it was such a
big deal.
“Abigail, remember, you can’t tell anyone about the Celestial Pearl.
Or else, there’ll be consequences!” Dustin warned her sternly.
Even he couldn’t help but feel a desire for this treasure.
“Sir, this is too precious. I can’t take care of it. You should take
it.”
Abigail was a little scared, so she handed the Celestial Pearl to
Dustin without a second
thought.
“Abigail, you-!” Azalea’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Was that girl stupid? Did she give away this treasure that could
change one’s fate that
others desperately search for?
Even a fool wouldn’t do this!
“You silly girl, you’re the one who followed the writings, so the
Celestial Pearl naturally belongs to you. You keep it.” Dustin smiled and
pushed her hand back.
“What?” Azalea was once again dumbfounded.
She thought Dustin would be overjoyed, but he unexpectedly turned it
down.
Was he also stupid?
“Sir, you’re more talented than me. You would use it better.” Abigail
shoved it to him again.
“If I use it now, I won’t improve much. A beginner like you needs it
to increase your cultivation speed.” Dustin pushed it back.
“I don’t want it, you take it!”
“Don’t be silly, keep it!”
“I don’t even want it!”
“You need it!”
The both of them pushed it back and forth. In the end, they got so
worked up that they
almost fought.
At the side, Azalea’s lips twitched. She looked at the scene before
her, not knowing how to
feel about it.
Did they think this was a game?
This was a F*cking sacred relic of the martial world!
This treasure made countless martial artists crazy with desire!
Could the two of them at least show it some respect?!

Chapter 986
Seeing the two of them fight non–stop, Azalea couldn’t stand it
anymore. “If neither of you wants it, why don’t you give it to me?”
If she was shameless enough, they might give it to her.
“Don’t be stupid!” Dustin glared at her.
He forced the Celestial Pearl back into Abigail’s pocket and said,
“Take care of it. This treasure chose you. If you push it back, I’ll be
mad!”
“Oh okay, then. I’ll use it for a while, then give it to you.” After
hesitating, Abigail still
decided to keep it close to her.
She thought that once she grew stronger, she could help Dustin more.
When she touched the Celestial Pearl, she could feel a cooling energy
flow into her body
and her core. It empowered her internal energy and strengthened her
circulatory
pathways.
If this continued, she would have another breakthrough within three
to five days.
Her cultivation speed was advancing fast!
“Alright, let’s look around. Do you see any Shadowblooms here?”
Without wasting time, Dustin began searching all over.
The tomb contained many treasures. There were powerful weapons,
ancient martial arts texts, and priceless artifacts.
Each item’s worth could give a person a comfortable lifestyle for a
lifetime.
However, Dustin wasn’t interested in these. On the other hand, Azalea
took everything
that she could find.
After searching the entire tomb, Dustin didn’t find any Shadowblooms.
The only place he hadn’t searched yet was the bronze coffin.
“Sorry!” Dustin faced the coffin and bowed deeply. Then, he pressed
his palm to the
coffin’s lid and pushed.
Metallic creaking sounded as the coffin slowly opened. Dust rained
down below.
1/3
When Dustin looked inside, his eyes widened.
He found the remains of a man wearing a beautiful suit.
On his chest was an exquisite flower.
The entire flower was black, and it emitted a dim glow.
It gave off a mysterious, sad, gloomy, yet beautiful feeling.
It was eerie and enchanting but also fierce. It looked like it came
from another world.
With just one glance, he was captivated. This flower was none other
than the
Shadowbloom.
“As I thought, it’s here!” Dustin was overjoyed.
With this Shadowbloom, Natasha could be saved.
“Please forgive me for offending you.”
Dustin bowed another time, then reached for the Shadowbloom.
“Sir, behind you!” Abigail suddenly exclaimed.
“What?”
Dustin turned his head. One of the stone statues behind him was
suddenly moving.
There was a crackle as the statue’s outer layer began to crack and
fall off piece by piece.
Then, the statue’s eyes snapped open!
The stone layer on its body exploded when it opened his eyes.
At the same time, a white figure burst through the rock and slammed
Dustin in the chest.
Frowning, Dustin raised his arm in response.
“Boom!”
When both of them touched, Dustin staggered backward from the
momentum, wobbling
on his feet.
Every step backward that he took left a deep footprint on the ground.
On the other hand, the white figure landed gently on the ground.
White mist swirled
around it, giving it a holy yet evil aura.

Chapter 987
Abigail was shocked. She hid behind Azalea, trembling.
She was fearless in most aspects, but supernatural stuff scared her.
“Who are you?” Dustin frowned, his face hardened.
He was caught off guard. But the fact that the person could push him
back with a single palm strike proved their strength.
The person before him was definitely an ultimate grandmaster!
“This is my tomb. Who do you think I am?”
The mist surrounding the figure dissipated.
Soon, they saw the face of a white–haired woman with a youthful
appearance appear
before them. She possessed a beauty that could captivate nations.
Even with white hair, her face looked like she didn’t age. Her deep
eyes seemed to have witnessed and seen all of life’s experiences through
everything.
“Your tomb?” Dustin was stunned.
His expression then shifted. “Are you Iris Meskill?”
“Iris Meskill?” Even Abigail and Azalea were stunned, their face full
of disbelief.
Didn’t Iris die 50 years ago? Why was she alive? What was happening?
“You know my name, yet you dare steal from my tomb? Are you asking
for death?”
Iris’s tone was calm, yet it conveyed chilling pressure.
“Madam Iris, we didn’t come here to steal from you. We’re here to
obtain the Shadowbloom
to save a life,” Dustin explained.
“Do you know how precious the Shadowbloom is? Why should I give it to
you?” she replied
impassively.
“Please state your conditions, and I’ll fulfill them as best as
possible.” Dustin bowed
respectfully.
“Conditions?” Iris snorted.
1/3
“If you can revive my husband, I’ll give it to you.”
“Madam Iris, this is a difficult request.”
Dustin frowned slightly. “How can a dead man be brought back to
life?”
There was nothing but bones left of the person in the coffin. Not
even God could bring him
back to life.
“Since you know that the dead can’t be brought back to life, don’t
covet the Shadowbloom
anymore.
“Since you were polite earlier, I won’t kill you. Leave.” Iris waved
her hand dismissively.
“Madam Iris, I must take this flower back with me!” Dustin was
determined.
“Take? What makes you think you can?” Iris‘ gaze grew colder.
“I’d like to try.” Dustin was solemn.
“Aren’t you afraid of death?” She narrowed her eyes.
“Even if I die, I must take this flower back!” Dustin was resolute.
“Very well, I’ll grant your wish!”
Iris‘ anger flared, and she leaped into the air. Her palm strike was
aimed at Dustin.
Although it seemed like a harmless strike, it carried explosive power
that could
disintegrate a person.
Dustin felt his scalp tingle before it hit him, and every hair on his
body stood on its end. A
sense of danger surged within him.
Fifty years ago, Iris was already a top ultimate grandmaster. After
50 years, her cultivation. had reached an unimaginable level, surpassing
all others.
“I’m giving it all I got!”
Dustin gritted his teeth. He jabbed a silver needle into the back of
his head.
This was the Rhys family’s secret technique. By sacrificing a portion
of their life force,
they could bring out their untapped potential and gain a temporary
boost in strength.
Dustin’s eyes turned bloodshot as the needle entered his body, and
his veins bulged
against his skin.

Energy surged within him like an erupting volcano. He was
unstoppable.
Breaking through the constraints of a grandmaster, he took a huge
leap forward and stepped into the realm of an ultimate grandmaster!

Chapter 988
At the same time Dustin broke through a new realm, Iris‘ killing palm
strike was about to
land on him.
Dustin couldn’t evade in time and had to face her head–on. Similarly,
he extended a palm
strike.
The moment their palms met, an explosion rang out.
Dustin flew back like a cannonball. He crashed into the wall behind
him, leaving a human-
shaped dent in.
The entire chamber shook, causing stones to fall.
Dustin felt a sharp pain in his throat and spat a mouthful of blood.
His complexion turned
pale.
“Sir!” Abigail’s expression shifted.
She was about to rush up to help but was grabbed by Azalea. Azalea
knew they had no place in a fight of that magnitude.
Iris was already a revered figure 50 years ago. After years of
seclusion, she was now invincible, a true immortal of earth!
It was impressive that Dustin wasn’t killed on the spot before such a
terrifying figure.
“You are skilled. Unfortunately, you are too young.
“Leave. I don’t wish to kill you,” Iris said indifferently, her hands
behind her back.
He could become the chosen one since he achieved such strength in his
twenties. Even she might have been weaker than him in those years.
Dustin coughed and struggled as he crawled. He felt as if his body
was about to fall apart.
Defeated by a single strike, Dutin was completely outmatched!
Even when he used his secret technique to break through a new realm,
he was still
incomparable to Iris. He couldn’t even defend against her.
“I must bring home the Shadowbloom today.”
Dustin wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth and staggered
forward resolutely.

“You’re asking for death!” Iris‘ gaze grew even colder.
“I don’t have any other choice.”
Dustin continued on fearlessly. His determined gaze was fixed on the
coffin.
“You’re incredibly stubborn!” Iris raised her hand again, striking a
palm from a distance.
The golden aura shaped like a palm shot out, carrying an explosive
force. It struck Dustin.
Dustin flew back again as another explosion rang out. He crashed
heavily into the wall, leaving another dent.
He spat out another mouthful of blood. It added to his injuries.
It looked as if he would collapse at any time.
Dustin gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand upright. One
unsteady step after the other, Dustin moved forward slowly.
Every step he took left a bloody footprint on the ground.
“What?” Iris frowned.
She didn’t expect Dustin to be that stubborn. He was severely
injured, finding it hard to stand. Yet, he was still walking toward
death.
How could there be such a foolish person in the world?”
“I’m giving you another chance. Leave immediately, or die!” Iris
warned sternly.
“No matter what it takes, I’m returning with the Shadowbloom.”
Dustin took a deep breath, his burning gaze unwavering.
“Let’s see how long you can hold on!” Iris‘ expression darkened.
She shot out another palm strike from a distance. It landed on
Dustin’s chest.

Chapter 989
Dustin felt his chest collapse He was thrown high into the air before
crashing heavily onto the ground
He spat out a third mouthful of blood that landed in a splat far from
him. It was a horrifying sight
“Sir!” Abigail screamed. Her eyes reddened, her face full of grief
and anger
She wanted to rush forward, but Azalea held her tight So, she could
only watch as Dustin. suffered
“One more step just one more step… Natasha is still waiting for me. I
can’t fall now!” After collecting himself, Dustin clenched his teeth.
Swaying unsteadily, he forced his battered body to stand upright. He
was trembling and weak
He was like a flickering candle that would go out at any moment.
“Sir, just give up! Let’s give up the Shadowbloom. If you continue
like this, you will die!” Abigail was anxious as tears started flowing.
She could tell that Dustin was already at his limit. Another strike,
and he would be dead.
Drip, drip, drip …..
Dustin remained determined. He straightened his body and staggered
forward.
Blood continued to drip from his mouth and nose, falling to the
ground.
“Dustin! Don’t push it anymore! Is it worth it for a woman?
“She won’t live either if you die!” Azalea screamed. Even she
couldn’t bear to continue watching.
She couldn’t understand Dustin. Was there someone in this world more
important than
their own life?
Looking at his unwavering gaze, she was moved. She even felt jealous
of Natasha for
having a man willing to sacrifice his life for her.
“Why? Why are you so desperate?” Iris frowned. She looked at Dustin,
conflicted.
13
Even she admired Dustin’s strong willpower His tearless efforts
especially reminded her of her younger self.
“The Shadowbloom Imust get the Shadowbloom Imust save her!” Dustin
mumbled to himself
He took difficult steps forward, but he was determined. As long as he
lived, he would not give up
Right then, Iris fell into a daze. She realized something when faced
with Dustin’s tenacity.
She was reminded of herself from many years ago.
Back then, she traveled to the corners of the world. She faced a
difficult journey and risked her life, all for the love of her life.
But what came of it?
She finally found the Shadowbloom after suffering through all the
hardships, only to return and find her lover dead.
She was hysterical, feeling pain and desperation. And yet, there was
nothing that could bring him back.
She owed him an apology, but he would never get to hear it. He could
only lay in this icy cold coffin, deep in slumber for eternity.
“When the world is vast and boundless, only the yearning for love
knows no bounds.
“Silas, you said you would wait for me. But why can’t I see you
again?”
Iris shut her eyes. Two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.
At that moment, she thought she saw a nobleman walking toward her
with a smile. He
then wrapped her in a tight embrace.
Everything was beautiful and serene. It was enchanting.
Only when she opened her eyes did the beautiful dream fade away.
“I know how it feels…”
Iris sighed softly. She reached into the coffin, took out the
Shadowbloom, and tossed it
into Dustin’s hands.
“I’m giving you this flower. Go and save that person.”
“What?” The sudden turn of events left Dustin stunned.
After he came back to his senses, he bowed repeatedly. “Thank you,
Madam Iris!”
Even though he didn’t understand what happened, it was a positive
development.
“I hope you and your loved one will be together forever,” Iris said
wistfully.
Both of them had a similar experience, but they had opposite fates.
Dustin’s lover was still alive, and they had a beautiful future. Her
lover had long since passed away…

Chapter 990
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, Iris
had held back.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult for him to walk.
“Sir, you were stubborn earlier. We could have looked for another way
without using the Shadowbloom. Why did you have to push yourself?”
Abigail complained.
“We were out of time. I had to take a gamble.” Dustin shook his head.
Natasha was in critical condition, and he wasn’t sure how much longer
she could hold on.
If he missed this chance, it might be too late.
“You were willing to give up your life for the sake of a woman. I’m
unsure if I should.
describe you as foolish or crazy in love,” Azalea said.
If there were a man who would risk his life for her like that, she
would never let him go. It was unfortunate that the man before her
already belonged to someone else.
“Let’s go. It’s time we head back.”
Dustin circulated his energy to heal his injuries temporarily. Soon,
they made their way back through the dark passage.
As they were walking, the ground suddenly started to shake.
Followed by a roar, a large amount of sand fell. The tomb sharted
shaking violently.
Cracks started to form as if the tomb was about to fall apart.
“This is bad! It’s an earthquake! Run!”
The three of them grew worried and quickly ran toward the exit. They
dashed as if their lives depended on it.
They were underground. If they ended up being buried alive, the
consequences would be unimaginable!
After two minutes, the three of them finally exited the tomb. Their
faces were covered in dust.
Not long after they escaped, they heard a thunderous sound. The
entire passage had collapsed, burying everything inside.
“That was close! We almost didn’t make it!”
Abigail patted her chest. The lingering fear she was feeling was
evident on her face.
“It was probably Madam Iris’ work. She doesn’t wish to be disturbed
anymore.” Dustin looked at the collapsed tomb with a frown
Iris Meskill was a legendary figure in Dragonmarsh. She was a heroine
among women and a revered figure akin to God.
Yet, in the end, she was bound by love. She willingly chose to be
buried underground with her dead husband, never to see the light of day
again.
Her love story was tragic yet inspiring. It deserved respect.
“Sir! It looks like a fight is starting over there!” Just then,
Abigail pointed ahead.
Dustin looked over and saw the disciples of Azure Mist surrounded by
the elite martial artists of major sects.
The tomb’s location had been leaked, and everyone who caught wind of
it hurried over,
trying to get whatever they can.
Meanwhile, Azure Mist had already managed to collect many treasures
from within.

Chapter 991
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!”
“That’s right! Do you think we’re idiots? You think you can fool us
with just a few words?”
“Chasey! I’ll give you one more chance. Hand over the treasures right
now, or you’ll regret
it!”
The crowd was getting angry. They were ready to act at any moment.
“I told you, we don’t have anything!”
Walter growled darkly, “All of you belong to reputable sects. Are you
going to rob us?”
“Chasey! You killed my fellow Skycrane disciple, and yet you remain
stubborn. I am going to seek revenge today!”
One of the elderly men suddenly leaped into action, taking the lead
in the assault.
“Attack!”
Several sect leaders exchanged glances and charged forward
simultaneously.
Over hundreds of elite martial artists surrounding Azure Mist joined
and charged forward.
“You bastards!” Walter gritted his teeth.
He took out a Divinix he found in the tomb and swallowed it.
After taking it, it would provide a significant boost in strength and
cultivation for a short time. It would allow the weak to overcome a
stronger opponent in critical situations.
However, the downside was that they would turn exceptionally weak
once the drug’s effects wore off.
“Ah-!”
As the tablet took effect, he let out a fierce growl. His veins
bulged, and his face turned red.
Surges of overwhelming power erupted from him in an instant.
His skills had stayed stagnant for almost a decade. Today, he finally
broke through his limits, entering the realm of a grandmaster!
“Hahaha… All of you can go to hell!” Walter laughed confidently.
With a powerful thrust of both palms, he unleashed the mighty force
of a grandmaster. It surged toward the crowd like a tidal wave.
Three resounding explosions echoed through the air.
As the force swept through the landscape, rocks shattered, huge trees
toppled, and the earth erupted in a storm of debris.
Those who had charged forward were sent flying and spat out blood.
They were like leaves caught up in a storm, utterly powerless.
Even the leaders of the major sects were pushed back violently. Their
internal energies. were thrown into disarray, making it difficult to
withstand the force.
“H-How is this possible? You broke through?” The leader of Skycrane
widened his eyes in
disbelief.
His opponent was weaker than him in the past. How did he suddenly
become so much
more powerful?
“Those below the level of a grandmaster are nothing but trash. It
seems this saying holds
Walter’s spirits soared as the tremendous power flowed in him. He was
now filled with pride.
Only when he entered the realm of a grandmaster did he truly
understand what it meant to have the whole world beneath his feet.
“Master Chasey, congratulations on becoming a grandmaster!” The
disciples of Azure Mist were excited and congratulated Walter.
They had thought that they were doomed. They never expected that
Walter would break through at a critical moment.
Even though it was through the tablet’s power, it was now enough for
him to dominate the entire scene.
“Hahaha…” Walter cackled like a maniac, his gaze sweeping over the
major sects.
“Come at me, you bunch of trash! I’ll take down ten of you at once!”

Chapter 992
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. None of us are a match
against him. We would only be asking for trouble by going against him.”
“I agree, we should just let it go. There’s no need to risk our lives
for a few treasures.”
The sect leaders whispered amongst themselves, and it was clear that
they were ready to retreat.
“What are you all whispering about? Since you guys won’t fight, I’ll
make the first move!”
Walter didn’t waste time. He took a deep breath and thrust his palms
forward once more.
With a deep rumble, two big shadow palms shot out. Like two large
trucks, they surged forward.
toward the sect leaders.
Once the leaders had been defeated, the rest wouldn’t be a concern!
The effects of Divinix would only last for half an hour. Walter knew
he needed to end the battle as
quickly as possible.

“Retreat!”
The leader of Skycrane’s eyes widened in shock. Realizing he was no
match for Walter, he decided
to retreat.
The rest of the group wasn’t brave enough to confront Walter, fleeing
even faster.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Walter didn’t plan on letting them go. He chased after them
immediately.
“You reckless madman! I won’t let you get away with it!”
Suddenly, a purple-clad figure shot out from the trees like an arrow
released from a bow. It
charged straight for Walter.
“Go to hell!” Walter sneered.
Changing directions, he channeled the force of a grandmaster,
delivering a powerful palm strike.
After breaking through, he gained confidence like never before. He
believed he was unbeatable.
Their palms collided with an explosive force that echoed throughout
the forest.
The purple-clad figure flipped backward and landed steadily on his
feet. On the other hand,
Walter let out a miserable groan and flew back several meters.
He fell to the ground, disheveled.
“Dad!”
“Master!”
The disciples of Azure Mist were shocked. They hurriedly rushed
forward to help him up..
Walter’s body trembled, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. He
instantly lost his momentum.
and confidence from before.
“How could this be? I was defeated?”
Walter was shocked and terrified. He found it hard to believe.
Under normal circumstances, he should have been superior and
undefeatable, earning the respect.
of all.

How did he suffer defeat, losing his imposing air halfway through?
“You overestimated yourself!”
Right up front, a purple-robed elderly man stood with his hands
behind his back. He looked prideful.
Although he appeared frail, he had a powerful air to him. He stood
there like he was unshakable.
“Master! Why are you here?” The leader of Skycrane lit up upon seeing
him.
The purple-robed elder before him was none other than the founder of
the Skycrane-Theodore Crane!
He was also known as the Venerable Crane.
“Hmph! If I didn’t come, would you have been able to obtain the
treasure?”

Chapter 993
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 area and finally settled on Walter.
“I’m not asking for much. If you hand over the Celestial Pearl, I’ll
ensure your safety!”
“What Celestial Pearl? I have no idea what you’re talking about,”
Walter frowned.
“Acting stupid? I’m repeating myself one last time. Hand over the
Celestial Pearl, and I’ll spare your life.
“Otherwise, I’ll slaughter your entire sect!” Theodore yelled.
The only reason he came out of seclusion was for the Celestial Pearl.
Rumor had it that Madam
Iris had found the Celestial Pearl 50 years ago. He was certain that
it was in her tomb.
He could become an ultimate grandmaster with the Celestial Pearl
within five years!
“Sir Crane, I don’t have the Celestial Pearl. You must be mistaken!”
Walter tried to explain.
“Hmph! Since you refuse to hand it over, die!” Theodore’s expression
darkened.
Without another word, he thrust a palm strike from a distance, and a
giant shadow palm shot forth with an unstoppable force toward Walter.
Wherever the shadow palm passed through, it left destruction in its
wake.
Walter clenched his teeth. He attempted to gather his strength but
spat out another mouthful of blood instead. He almost collapsed.
“Don’t hurt my dad!”
Suddenly, Vanessa stepped forward. She attempted to shield her father
from the fatal blow with her own body.
“Die!”
Theodore Crane showed no mercy. His iron palm continued forward.
When it seemed like Vanessa was about to be killed, a silver needle
suddenly shot out with a sharp whistle.
Instantly, the shadow palm dissipated, protecting her from the
devastating blow.
“What?” Theodore raised an eyebrow, angry.
“Who dared intervene in my business?”
“Sir Crane, indiscriminate killing is not a good practice.” Dustin
emerged from the shadows with Abigail and Azalea.
“Dustin?” Vanessa lit up with joy at the sight of Dustin.
She couldn’t believe he had come to her rescue again in a life-anddeath situation.
Was this what they called fate?
“Brat, was that sneak attack from you?” Theodore’s gaze was hostile.
“Sir Crane, a few people from Azure Mist are my friends. I hope you
can go easy on them.” Dustin. lowered his head respectfully.
He hadn’t fully recovered from his injuries, so it was best to avoid
a fight.
“Hmph! Who do you think you are? Why should I even be listening to
you? Get the hell out of here!”
Theodore looked at Dustin with disdain.
How dare a mere kid challenge him? He didn’t know his place!
“Sir Crane, if you insist on continuing, we’ll have to settle it
through a fight.
“I hope you won’t regret it when you end up lying on the ground in
pain,” Dustin said seriously.
As soon as those words were spoken, the crowd fell silent. Everyone
widened their eyes in disbelief.

Chapter 994
“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 Venerable Crane as grandpa. You’re in
luck!”
“You should feel honored to become Sir Crane’s grandson. Don’t be
ungrateful!”
The crowd chattered incessantly. Their tones carried threats and
warnings but mostly mockery and jests.
“Dustin, the Venerable Skycrane is a force to be reckoned with. Hurry
up and apologize. That’s the only way to live!” Emily exclaimed.
Even her master, who had broken through another realm, was no match
for Theodore. It would be
even worse for Dustin.
“Dustin, you don’t have to worry about us! Just leave! Don’t get
yourself into trouble!” Vanessa
chimed in
She was grateful for Dustin’s help. But in the current situation, he
could not turn the tide.
He might get pulled into the mess if he insisted on being stubborn.
“Sir Crane, let me give you a piece of advice. It’s better to be
forgiving. Otherwise, things might turn ugly,” Dustin said calmly.
“You little prick! You won’t learn your lesson until you see death in
the eyes!”
Theodore looked at him murderously. “Since you want to put your nose
into someone else’s business. I’ll kill you first before killing all your
friends!”
“Wait!”
Walter panicked and said, “Sir Crane, this brat provoked you. If you
have to kill someone, kill him! It has nothing to do with us!”
“Hmph! Hand over the Celestial Pearl, and I will spare your life!”
Theodore spat out.
“Celestial Pearl?”
Walter quickly thought of something and exclaimed, “Sir Crane, I know
who has the Celestial Pearl. As long as you promise to let us go, I’ll
tell you immediately!”
“Oh? Where is it?” Theodore narrowed his eyes, showing interest.
“It’s with this brat!”
Walter pointed at Dustin and exclaimed. “Earlier, we had entered the
tomb together. But we soon had a disagreement and parted ways. If the
Celestial Pearl exists, it must be with him!”
At those words, everyone turned their attention to Dustin. Their eyes
were filled with greed and
desire.
The Celestial Pearl was a sacred relic of the martial world. It was a
treasure capable of granting a
rebirth. Who wouldn’t want such a treasure?
“Sir Chasey, we’re not enemies. Why would you harm me?” Dustin
frowned.
Walter and his daughter survived because he had rescued them. He
couldn’t believe Walter had
betrayed him just like that.
“Stop pretending, brat!”
Walter glared at Dustin. “You were inside for so long and the last to
come out. You must be hiding.
a lot of treasure.

“I’d advise you to hand them all over to Sir Crane. That way, you
might just be able to live!”
“You little prick, so the Celestial Pearl is with you. No wonder I
sensed a powerful force coming from you.”
Theodore rubbed his chin. His eyes gleamed as he said, “Hand it over
now, and I will forgive you for your insolence earlier!”
“Sir Crane, you believe him? I’ve never even heard of the Celestial
Pearl,” Dustin said indifferently.
“You’ve never heard of it? Then I guess you wouldn’t mind us
checking.” Walter sneered.
“I told you. I don’t have the Celestial Pearl. Suit yourself if you
don’t believe me.” Dustin couldn’t bother explaining further.
However, his cryptic attitude made him more suspicious.

Chapter 995
“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 l
ess 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 F*ck? 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 Th
eodore. His last bit of patience had worn away.
“You little prick! You won’t listen, huh? Then I’ll take it from
you!” Theodore’s anger had reached its peak.
He concentrated his energy on his feet and flew forward like a
shadow toward Dustin. His hand aimed straight for Dustin’s throat with en
ough force to crush steel.
“This is bad!”
Emily and her group
watched in horror. They could feel their hearts drop to their stomachs.
“Now suffer the consequences for defying Sir Crane!”

The crowd mocked gloatingly. Just when everyone thought Dustin was done f
or, Dustin suddenly made a move,
Instead of retreating, he shot forward like
a missile and punched Theodore.
Their collision was like a bomb exploding, a thundering
boom echoing across the scene.
A violent surge of energy befitting a grandmaster erupted when they
collided. It created a surging wave that swept outward.
The trees were uprooted, and debris flew everywhere.

The martial artists closest to them were lifted before crashing onto the
ground.

After they collided, Dustin staggered backward several steps. Each step l
eft a deep imprint on the
earth.
On the other hand, Theodore was forcibly pushed back more than ten
feet away. His feet sunk into the ground and hollowed out two twin
furrows on the ground.
He only came to a stop after crashing into a large tree.
“What?”
The crowd was dumbfounded. This was completely unexpected.
What happened?

Shouldn’t Theodore have Dustin crushed? Why did he end up at a disadvanta
ge instead?
What exactly happened?

“Are my eyes playing tricks on me? This brat is stronger than the Venerab
le Crane?”
“I–impossible! How old is he? He won’t be that good even
if he started training in his mother’s belly!”
“Damn it! I’ve never seen anything
like it. Could that brat be a grandmaster, too?”

“Wait! I remember now! It seems like he’s that revered young grandmaster
who killed Augustus Kline some time back!”
“What? He’s a young grandmaster?”
“Oh my God! He’s an absolute monster!”
After a brief moment of silence, the crowd exploded in an uproar.

Chapter 996
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 it! This spells trouble!” Walter wiped away the cold sweat from
his forehead, feeling unease.
It was one thing to take him in as a disciple. The problem was that
he wanted to take Dustin’s
sword and even slandered him.
If Dustin were to take revenge, the consequences would be simply
unimaginable.
“E–Emily. Did I hear it right? Dustin, is the famous young
grandmaster?”
Vanessa stood frozen in place, stunned.
“Handsome and has a strong sense of justice. Only in his early
twenties but is already a grandmaster…” Emily muttered to herself.
Her face lit with joy. “It is him! He checks all the boxes! He’s that
rare, talented genius that
everyone looks up to!”
By the end of her speech, her body was shaking. She was excited and
shocked.
Who would have thought the young grandmaster she looked up to had
been next to her all this
time?
She should have known earlier. Dustin’s temperament, strength, and
cultivation had far surpassed
He had defeated Magnus with a punch and lifted the black sword with
two fingers. These had shown his extraordinary abilities.
Now that his true power had been revealed, it was even more shocking.
The rumors were true. A young grandmaster should indeed be as
majestic as he was.
“Why is it him? Why?” Nathan clenched his teeth. Other than shock, he
felt pathetic.
All this time, he had thought Dustin was only slightly better than
him. He could crush him completely if he trained harder and achieved a
breakthrough.
Only now did he realize how vast the gap in their skills was.
He was a little divine–level martial artist, yet Dustin was already
challenging veteran
grandmasters.
It was a huge joke to say he could catch up to him in ten years.
“You little prick, I didn’t expect you to have another identity. I’ve
underestimated you.”
After a brief moment of shock, Theodore’s aura grew stronger and
fiercer than before.
“Sir Crane, it won’t be easy to deal with him. Let me help.”
Suddenly, they heard a commanding voice from above them. Following
the voice, a black–clad figure descended from the sky.
Just like a feather, he landed on the ground gracefully. Not one
speck of dirt was stirred from his landing.
After a closer look, the crowd noticed that it was a burly, white–
bearded old man.
The old man had a rugged appearance and a sharp gaze. He had a fierce
aura to him.
It was as if a transparent barrier surrounded him where he was
isolated from everything.
“Damn! Isn’t that the leader of the Soul Reapers, Graham Thorne? Why
is he here?”
The scene erupted into a frenzy after the white–bearded old man’s
appearance.
The Soul Reapers were the strongest sect in Balerno. They were almost
as famous as Boulderthorn.
And as the leader of the Soul Reapers, Graham Thorne was known as a
revered veteran grandmaster in Balerno. He was only second to that of the
leader of the martial world, Ronald Reeds.

Chapter 997
“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, Father Orson!”
After a closer look, the crowd erupted into an uproar once more. They
didn’t expect another
grandmaster to appear.
What was going on? Why were grandmasters gathering here today?
These elusive figures who rarely showed themselves suddenly made
appearances. Could it be that
they were all here for Iris‘ treasure?
“Father Orson, why are you here?” Theodore frowned slightly, feeling
the pressure increased.
Initially, he had thought of taking the Celestial Pearl for himself,
but it seemed impossible now.
“There was a rumor of the presence of an evil relic here. So I came
to investigate.
“It would be best to bring this evil relic back to the church and
seal it beneath the Holy Cross.
“That is the only way to prevent a catastrophe,” Orson declared with
conviction.
“Hmph! Nice words, but aren’t you just after it for your gain?”
Graham sneered.
He disliked those who pretended to be noble and righteous when they
intended to seize the treasure.
“You’re wrong. I’m here to rescue all of you,” Orson replied,
maintaining his composure.
“That’s enough nonsense for me.” Graham was growing impatient.
“Sir Crane, you’re the eldest among us. How do you think we should
divide the Celestial Pearl
between us?”
“Divide? We haven’t even gotten the item, yet you’re all already in a
rush?” Theodore raised an
eyebrow.
“Oh right, I almost forgot.” Graham slapped his forehead and turned
to Dustin.
“Young man, hand over the Celestial Pearl. We will discuss this
further.”
“Sir Thorne, I don’t have the Celestial Pearl. There must be a
misunderstanding here.” Dustin
denied it again.
Since the Celestial Pearl was with Abigail, he wasn’t lying.
“Young man, your words are meaningless. We have good senses.
“If you intend to keep it all for yourself, you’ll anger all of us,”
Graham warned.
“I’ll repeat it, I don’t have it. I’m sorry to disappoint all of
you.” Dustin shook his head.
“Brat! I’ve been treating you with respect since you’re a reputable
person. Don’t test my patience!”
Graham’s expression darkened.
“My friend, this evil relic just brings harm. Why don’t you let me
deal with it?” Father Orson said
with folded hands.
“You little prick, I’m giving you one last chance. Are you going to
hand it over or not?” Theodore
growled.
At that moment, the three grandmasters united to pressure him.
An invisible energy field enveloped Dustin. The energy field
intensified layer upon layer, attempting to force him into submission.
“I don’t have it, so how can I hand it over?” Dustin took a deep
breath, his gaze unwavering.
“Hmph! What a fool!”
The three grandmasters exchanged glances. Without another word, they
attacked Dustin simultaneously.
“Three against one? Aren’t you guys afraid of being ridiculed by the
martial world?” Suddenly, a booming voice came from nowhere.
At the same time, a white figure fell from the sky and landed in
front of Dustin. Then, he launched
With a loud boom, a huge palm shadow burst forth. It created a
tremendous shockwave that forced the three grandmaster’s back.
Their expressions turned serious.
“Michael Robinson?” Their faces fell after the three grandmasters‘
realized who the man was.

chapter 998
“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 and admired by people.
“Mr. Robinson?” Dustin raised an eyebrow, evidently surprised. He
didn’t expect to get aid at such
a critical moment.
“Dad, why are you here?” Seeing the familiar figure before her,
Abigail lit up.
Since they last parted ways, she thought seeing her father again
would be difficult.
“I heard something happened here, so I came over to check.”
Michael turned his head around and smiled. “How are you? You’re not
hurt, are you?”
“I’m fine, but these bastards are threatening us. They want to steal
our stuff and are even about to
attack Dustin.
“They’re too much!” Abigail ratted them out.
“I saw what happened earlier. Leave it to me.”
Michael nodded and turned his attention to the three grandmasters.
His smile disappeared, and his gaze turned cold.
“Three of you are respected figures. Don’t you think it’s laughable
for you to bully your juniors?”
“Sir Robinson, this is a matter between us. It doesn’t seem to
concern you,” Theodore said with a
frown
The treasure was right at the tip of their fingers. They couldn’t
believe it was getting further away
from their grasp.
“Sir Crane, Dustin is a close friend of mine. How do you expect me to
ignore it when you bully him?
“Michael said sternly.
“A close friend?”
The three grandmasters exchanged surprised glances but appeared
concerned.
It was hard enough to go against Dustin alone. Now, with Michael
entering the fray, the tension
was high.
Compared to Dustin, Michael was harder to deal with with his status
as one of the five ultimate
grandmasters.
“Sir Robinson, do you know he is hiding the Celestial Pearl?”
Theodore suddenly asked.
He tried to entice him with the treasure, attempting to create a rift
between them.
“So what? He was skilled enough to get his hands on it.
“On the other hand, you guys are just committing daylight robbery.”
Micheal roared.
“Hmph! The Celestial Pearl is a sacred relic of the martial world.
Everyone has the right to get
their hands on it!
“What makes that brat think he can have it all to himself?” Graham
remained stubborn.
“Sir Robinson, the Celestial Pearl is an evil relic. Using it will
cause chaos in the martial world.
“The danger can only be prevented by handing it over to me,” Orson
spoke solemnly, his hands
clasped
“Sir Robinson, the Celestial Pearl is not a personal possession. It
should be shared with everyone,
and its use should be discussed.
“Taking it for himself will only lead to public outrage, don’t you
think?” Theodore said calmly.
As long as the three were on the same page, they still had an
advantage in a three–on–two fight.
“Seems I haven’t made myself clear. Let me repeat myself.”
Michael’s tone grew louder as he spoke, “Dustin has my support! Leave
with your people if you’re
smart enough. Otherwise, I’ll beat you into submission!”
213
His words created a trenzy among the crowd.
“What the hell? Neptune truly lives up to his reputation! He’s so
6061”
“Isn’t he too confident? He doesn’t care about the three grandmasters
at all!

Chapter 999
“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!”
“Amén.”
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
hurricane began to take shape.
“Michael Robinson! Don’t forget that we are at an advantage in a
three–on–two fight!” Theodore
yelled.
“Three–on–two fight?”
Michael shook his head.
“No, no, no. You guys are mistaken. There is no need for Dustin to
join in the fight. I alone am enough to go against the three of you.”
His words stunned the crowd.
Neptune was going to go against three grandmasters alone?
What a joke!
Theodore and his gang were a group of veteran grandmasters, not some
novice wannabes. He was
asking for trouble by going against three alone.
“Michael Robinson! You are too reckless! I’ll teach you a lesson
today!” Theodore was livid.

He leaped forward, leading the attack.
“You arrogant fool! Let’s see how skilled you are!” Graham followed
closely, aiding him in his
attack.
“Sir Robinson, let me save you from your internal suffering!” Orson
refused to be outdone and shot
forward.
A golden light enveloped his body,
The three grandmasters launched an attack from three different
directions.
“Great! Come at me!” Michael laughed heartily and shot into the air,
turning into a streak of light.
At that moment, the four engaged in intense combat. They moved so
fast that it made it
impossible to tell them apart.
After they collided, thunder roared one after the other.
The grandmaster energy they released was tremendous as it swept
across all directions. The soil was upturned, and giant trees were
uprooted wherever it went.
Everything in its way couldn’t withstand their force. The onlooking
martial artists could only
retreat further and further.
A single ripple from a grandmaster’s attack was enough to injure
divine–level martial artists
seriously.
“What the hell? Are they really fighting? Neptune is going against
three on his own! This is
incredible!”
“Is this what a grandmaster’s battle looks like? It’s terrifying!”
The crowd looked on in apprehension.
“Sir, will my dad be alright?”
Abigail was nervous as she watched their shadows darting around. She
knew how strong her
father was.
But it was hard to come out victorious in a match against three.
“There’s no need to worry. Mr. Robinson will be fine.”
Dustin smiled. “Even though the three of them are strong, they won’t
be able to hurt Mr. Robinson.
“To be precise, anyone below the level of an ultimate grandmaster is
no match for Mr. Robinson.”

Chapter 1000
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 infinite and boundless as if it could be
drawn upon without limits. Instead of growing tired, he grew stronger as
the battle continued.
They finally understood how strong the five ultimate grandmasters‘
were.
Even when the three worked together, they couldn’t overpower him. The
outcome would be
obvious if it were a one–on–one fight.
It seemed like Neptune was not just an empty nickname.
“Sir Thorn, Father Orson! We will be at a disadvantage if we continue
fighting. It’s time to use our
special move!”
Theodore called out to the other two. He had turned worried after
seeing the extent of Micahel’s
power.
“That’s right! We must use our full power! Otherwise, our defeat
would leave us humiliated!”
Graham gritted his teeth. Beads of sweat were starting to form on his
forehead.
“I will engage him head–on. The both of you attack him the best you
can,” Orson said.
“Alright, it’s settled!”

“Get ready. Now!”
After they exchanged glances, they moved at the same time.
Orson exuded a ray of golden light, enveloping Michael within it. The
strands of golden threads formed a dense net and trapped Michael within
it.
“Moonlight Crane!” Taking the opportunity, Theodore used his killing
move.
He transformed into a huge white crane and dove toward Michael.
“Flickering Souls!” Not wanting to fall behind, Graham manifested
into ghostly shadows, dashing
forward like a cannonball.
“Prismatic Blade Strike!”
Michael’s body shook, and he broke free from the restraints. He
raised an arm and made a
horizontal slash at them.
With a sharp whistle, a crescent–shaped white radiance shot out. It
expanded until it resembled a
massive sickle and hit them..
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Three explosions went off; the ground shook from the force.
The first explosion broke Orson’s ray of golden light.
The second explosion blew up Theodore’s crane.
The third explosion disintegrated Graham’s ghostly shadows.
It was as if the three of them were struck by lightning. They were
thrown across the forest and crashed, creating three craters on the
ground.
“What? Did he defeat three grandmasters? How is that possible?”
“What the F*ck? He’s a monster!”
The crowd was dumbfounded as they took in the scene.
They thought it would be an easy win since it was three against one.
They didn’t expect Michael
to defeat three people simultaneously with just one move.

Chapter List