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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1949
After an hour, Jackson walked into the hotel room carrying a whole sack of eclipse spiritstones and poured all of it on the table."Ms. Linsor, these are all the eclipse spiritstones that I managed to collect. This is around 70% of all the eclipse spiritstones out there. "Those who have the remaining ones are either uncontactable or they refused to sell." Jackson gave her a simple explanation of what happened.Initially, he didn't want to spend any of Grace's money. Hence, he tried to explain the gravity of the issue to those who had the eclipse spiritstones. Unfortunately, no one believed him. It was useless even when he tried to use the Embersteel Order's reputation to convince them. Most of the people he approached thought that he was a liar. They thought that he was jealous of them for having the eclipse spiritstones in their possession. As such, he was trying to steal the eclipse spiritstone from them by lying.In desperation, he could only follow Grace's idea of purc
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1950
At night, Deadlands was very cold, with a bitingly cold wind that stung the face. In the morning, it would become extremely hot, like a fire pit. If a person cracked an egg on a rock, it'd be cooked in a minute. The average person wouldn't be able to endure the extreme weather in Deadlands. They'd only be barely surviving, even with enough resources. The real test was on one's determination and the ability to endure stress.Dustin, Grace, and the rest of the team moved steadily forward, following Ryan's map. They walked from night till morning and vice versa. Due to their group size, the team wasn't going very fast. The good thing was that Grace had prepared everything well in advance, and the team consisted of only the elites in their own trade. They were able to resolve any trouble that they ran into quickly.As night descended, Grace instructed the team to set up camp when she found a suitable spot.They had been traveling for quite a long time, and everyone was physica
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1951
Dustin was awakened by footsteps outside the tent at the break of dawn. He quickly turned around to get up and was watchful.Soon, he heard Osley speaking. "Ms. Linsor, something bad happened!" Instead of barging into the tent, Osley stood outside to report the incident to Grace."W-What?" Grace slowly opened her eyes when she heard the commotion. She slipped out of the sleeping bag and slipped into her jacket. She then asked, "What happened, Mr. Will?""When I was doing my routine check, I saw a lot of desert rats around our camp. I followed their trail and realized that the rats had destroyed our supplies!" Osley replied anxiously."What?" Grace's expression instantly became serious when she heard that. She quickly walked out of her tent and questioned in a serious tone, "Didn't I arrange for someone to stand guard through the night? How did the desert rats get to our supplies?""I have no idea as well. It was already too late when I discovered the problem." Osley appeared d
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1952
This was, without a doubt, very bad news.""Ms. Linsor! What happened? Where did the desert rats come from?" Garret asked as he walked toward her."Captain Wilder, shouldn't I be the one asking that question?" Grace said indifferently, "You've been to Deadlands many times and are very familiar with this place. You even chose this place for us to set up camp. "Don't you know that there would be desert rats around this area?""Ms. Linsor, I had no idea this would happen." Garett quickly explained, "Normally, desert rats will only appear at the border of the oasis, and even then, they are only active in a specific area. "The place that we chose to set up camp is not in that area. The invasion shouldn't have happened.""Ms. Linsor, accidents are inevitable. Once we're in Deadlands, you should have prepared yourself for all scenarios. Our captain has done his best. No one knew that there'd be desert rats here. "If you want to blame anyone, you should blame your subordinates fo
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1953
"Ms. Linsor, this is what we found around the camp. It has a strange smell, and it must have attracted the desert rats." Osley held a pile of black stuff in his hands and walked over to Grace and others. The pile of black stuff was the size of green peas. It appeared to be some sort of bait and had an awful stench."What's this?" Grace was a little curious. She moved forward and gave the foul-smelling substance a sniff."It looks like a mixture of food and chemical substances. I experimented with it just now. The stench of this mixture can quickly attract desert rats," Osley explained."Hence, the desert rat invasion of our food supplies wasn't an accident. Is someone plotting against us?" Grace's suspicions were quickly confirmed. It was obvious that this bait for the desert rats was not produced naturally."That's very possible." Osley nodded and replied, "This black substance was sprinkled around the camp of our food supplies. It was an obvious attempt to lure the desert rat
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1954
The group traveled through a desolate expanse of endless sand, a monotonous scene void of life. However, a surprising change awaited them as the barren landscape transformed into a vibrant oasis filled with flowers, plants, and trees.It was a stark contrast to the lifeless terrain they had just crossed. Up ahead, an expansive and endless forest emerged, an unusual sight in the expectedly barren Deadlands. The sudden appearance of this flourishing oasis left them in awe.The oasis ahead looked like two different worlds. On one side, yellow sand stretched out, barren and desolate. On the other side, lush greenery extended as far as the eye could see."Wow! Who'd have thought we'd find this in the middle of Deadlands?" "Is this really an oasis? It looks more like a forest!""With all these green trees, sweet-smelling grass, and blooming flowers, it's like stumbling upon a hidden paradise!"Amid their amazement at this unexpected sight, the group couldn't contain their astonish
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1955
Upon entering the lush oasis, it felt like stepping into paradise, eliciting smiles on nearly everyone's faces as they ventured further. Grace led the way, with Dustin closely following, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.Despite the seemingly serene environment, hidden dangers lurked beneath the surface and within the trees, taking the form of poisonous creatures. Though currently unseen in the daylight, as night fell, it would be their opportune moment to emerge and hunt."Hey, look over there! What's that?"The excitement in the voice of a Black Scorpion Squad member rang out, drawing everyone's attention as he pointed ahead. As they turned to look, they discovered three fruit trees nestled amidst dense vegetation. The tree branches were laden with vibrant red fruits that glistened like rubies in the sunlight."Are these revitalberries?" someone asked."Revitalberries? The ones that boost cultivation and extend life?""Wow! Look at all these revitalberries! We
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1956
A Black Scorpion Squad member was perched on the tree. He plucked the first revitalberry and reached for the second. Suddenly, his arm spasmed involuntarily in response to the sharp sting. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a red bug on his palm, roughly the size of an ant.The red bug tore through his skin with razor-sharp mandibles and burrowed into his flesh. Panic surged as he tried to swat it away, but his efforts proved futile. In a matter of moments, the red bug had embedded itself deep into his arm, gnawing at his flesh while laying eggs.The intense pain forced the Black Scorpion Squad member to scream, and he fell from the tree. His arm rapidly decayed, swarming with countless red bugs, creating a nightmarish scene."Help! Somebody, please help!" The Black Scorpion Squad member cried out in distress, writhing on the ground. His body seemed to wither before their eyes as if he were turning into a desiccated corpse. In a heartbeat, the once-muscular man transformed i
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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
Chapter 2521
Austin's expression also turned serious as he saw the doubt in Dustin's eyes. He knew Dustin wouldn't worry over nothing.There were many strange beings in Streuqua, including vampires, werewolves, and the like. These supernatural species were notoriously hard to kill. Even after being decapitated, they weren't necessarily dead.Austin wasn't sure if Poseidon had that kind of ability. After all, the Hall of Gods and its so-called royal gods were still a mystery to most people in West Lucozia.To play it safe, they needed to recover Poisedon's head for their own peace of mind.Out on the water, Jaxon led a team of soldiers and ship crews to comb the sea in search of Poisedon's severed head.At the docks, all eyes turned to Warrick, Mulder, and the others. They had been tied up and were now being dragged before Dustin and Austin one by one.Warrick looked pale, but there was a certain defiance in his eyes. He knew his fate was sealed. After Dustin killed Poseidon, Warrick knew his
