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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1172
The next morning, the martial arts alliance headquarters was filled with people. The news of Dustin challenging Ronald had spread rapidly in the martial arts world.Many martial artists from different guilds gathered to witness this epic showdown.As a young grandmaster, Dustin was already well-known in the martial arts world of Balerno. His achievements at the tournament of Knighthood Society, his victory over Augustus, and his remarkable feat in the Black Forest had become legends. These tales were not only widely known but also greatly admired.Many young martial artists admired Dustin and dreamed of following in his footsteps.Ronald was the leader of the Balerno martial arts. He was the strongest among the top five grandmasters, a title that instilled fear in many.A young grandmaster had challenged the leader of the martial arts alliance. The news would naturally attract a large crowd. The alliance headquarters entrance was packed with people from various guilds of Ba
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1173
A loud smack sent Toddy sprawling to the ground. He was stunned and couldn't get up."Hey, why did you hit him? Don't you have any manners?" the girl with the ponytail exclaimed. She was furious at the enforcement team captain's unreasonable behavior. She never expected them to resort to violence at the slightest disagreement."Manners? We're the martial arts alliance. We make the rules here!" the captain said arrogantly.He continued, "You second-rate guilds have no right to be here. Now, get lost. I'll make you regret it if I ever see you again!""You're abusing your power! I'll report you!" The girl couldn't suppress her anger."Report us?" The captain's face darkened. "You bitch! You're asking for trouble!"With those words, he suddenly drew his sword and swung it toward the girl.She cried out in fright but couldn't dodge the attack in time. Just as the sharp blade was about to strike her, a large hand grabbed the captain's arm.The sword hung in midair, unable to land i
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1174
The girl with the ponytail hugged Dustin and Cornelius. "I'm Lyn Rosier, a disciple of the Moonlight Reverence. What's your name?""I'm Rhys, and this is Mr. Adler," Dustin replied."Hello, Mr. Rhys and Mr. Adler," Lyn responded respectfully."Damn it! How dare you hit me?" Having been slapped earlier, Toddy was still seething with rage. He immediately lunged at the unconscious enforcement team captain. Then, he let loose a barrage of punches and kicks to vent his frustration.The unjust slap had filled Toddy with murderous intent."That's enough, Toddy, stop it. If you keep this up, someone could die." Lyn quickly intervened when she saw the situation was getting out of hand."Hmph! He deserved it. He's just a bully!" Toddy, still angry, kicked a few more times before finally walking away."Mr. Rhys, Mr. Adler, this is Toddy," Lyn said."Nice to meet you." Dustin nodded with a faint smile."Hmph! Who told you to get involved?" Toddy looked hostile."Huh?" Dustin was baffle
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1175
"Alright, Toddy. Please stop this nonsense." Lyn pleaded when Cornelius's patience had reached its limit.She continued, "No matter what, Mr. Rhys and Mr. Adler have helped us. Aren't you being rude to them?"She knew that if Dustin hadn't stepped in sooner, she might have died. Now that Toddy was being so rude, it really annoyed her."Lyn, these guys are looking down on us. I just want to prove that Moonlight Reverence is just as good and show them what we're made of!" Toddy asserted."That's not proof, that's provocation. If you keep acting like this, I'm going to get angry!" Lyn scolded."Okay, I'm sorry. I won't act up anymore. Please don't be mad," Toddy apologized and tried to appease her. "Mr. Rhys, Mr. Adler, I'm really sorry for Toddy's behavior earlier. I hope you can forgive him." Lyn turned to Dustin and Cornelius to apologize."Since you're a reasonable young lady, I'll let it pass," Cornelius finally relented."Tsk, you're just putting on a show," Toddy muttered.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1176
At those words, some martial artists looked at Toddy with disdain.They were stunned at the audacity of this newcomer. He claimed to be better than the young grandmaster.The young grandmaster had defeated Augustus and was now challenging Ronald. Even the most talented leaders of the major guilds would not have the audacity to be so arrogant. They were baffled as to how a nobody like Toddy could muster the courage to boast in such a manner."Toddy! Choose your words carefully!" Lyn frowned. She whispered, "The young grandmaster is a once-in-a-century prodigy. He's in a league of his own, far above the rest of us. How can we even begin to compare?"Without a pause, she added, "He became a grandmaster in his twenties. Meanwhile, we haven't even reached the divine level. The difference between us is immeasurable. Even if we practice endlessly, we will never be able to catch up.""Hey, Lyn, you are making someone else look good while making yourself look bad. You should know that
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1177
"What? Josie of the Frostlanders?"As those words were spoken, the crowd was in an uproar. Boulderthorn was already one of the top major guilds in Balerno. As the chief of the subsidiary guild, Josie was renowned in the martial world. She stood out among her peers with her unfathomable cultivation skills and outstanding swordsmanship."I've heard that Josie is cold and ruthless. She never hesitates to kill others. Those brats are in trouble now.""Serves them right. A disciple from some third-rate guild dares to compare himself to a young grandmaster? He's really ignorant and arrogant!"The crowd began to whisper as if they were preparing for a show. In martial arts, strength spoke for itself, and the strongest was in charge."So, you're Josie. I've heard so much about you," Lyn greeted Josie respectfully. At that moment, Lyn tried to defuse the tension. However, Josie ignored her and glanced at Toddy. She said coldly, "You just claimed to have extraordinary talents and
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1178
Josie impressed everyone with her agility."Cloud palm technique!" she shouted. As she got closer, her palm hit Toddy from below. She aimed for his chest and abdomen.Toddy scoffed, "Just a petty trick." But before he could fight back, her palm hit his chest.In an instant, it felt as if he had been hit by a speeding car, and he flew several feet into the air. He spat out a cloud of gruesome mist in the form of blood. With a dull thud, he crashed to the ground and slid several feet before coming to a halt."Toddy!"The Moonlight Reverence disciples were shocked and rushed to his side. They couldn't believe their senior had been defeated so easily.A single blow was enough to send Toddy flying. It surprised them, and they began to doubt his supposed strength. Some wondered if Toddy was as weak as he looked."He was talking big before the fight. I thought he'd be strong because of his confidence. It turned out to be the opposite.""He's completely useless. He couldn't even take
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1179
"If you're not skilled enough, you shouldn't even think about trying a surprise attack.""Being brought down in a single move is embarrassing, and now, you've also lost your dignity.""If I were you, I'd probably look for a place to hide."When Toddy's surprise attack failed, the crowd erupted in laughter at his expense. Their faces were full of scorn and mockery.Dealing with such public humiliation was hard for anyone."No … this can't be real."Surrounded by ridicule, Toddy began to doubt himself for the first time. He was the strongest senior disciple in Moonlight Reverence. With his exceptional talent and strength, he was destined to become a grandmaster.Yet, he had suffered a humiliating defeat and injured himself in a failed surprise attack. He wondered if the difference between them was so great or if he really lacked the ability."You ungrateful punk! I spared you, and you still had the gall to launch a surprise attack?" Josie's expression turned icy. "If you want t
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Chapter 2530
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
Chapter 2529
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
Chapter 2528
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Chapter 2527
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
Chapter 2526
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Chapter 2525
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
Chapter 2524
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
Chapter 2523
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
Chapter 2522
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
