"Huh?" Dustin was taken aback by the sudden outburst and felt a bit bewildered.He glanced around the living room and noticed the intense glare from the burly man, Donny Zedd. Then, he asked tentatively, "Are you talking to me?""Who else would I be talking to?" Donny shot back.He glared at Dustin and shouted, "Don't you have any manners? You waltz in here without so much as a 'hello' and plop yourself down like you own the place. Do you have no respect for us?""Manners?" Dustin arched an eyebrow skeptically.He replied icily, "Do we even know each other? Why should I bother with pleasantries? And even if I don't hold you in high regard, what's it to you?""Hey! Are you looking for trouble, kid?" Donny bristled with anger, ready to throw a punch, but was intercepted by a man in white, Lucian Whitman, with a sly grin."Easy there, don't get all worked up. This kid just seems clueless about etiquette. Let's show him the ropes. No need for violence, especially with the host aroun
"Elder Mason, you think an apology will cut it? Aren't you letting this punk off too easy?""Yeah, just look at Donny. He's coughing up blood. If we let this slide, what'll happen to our reputation?""Elder Mason, this punk deserves punishment. Even if we spare his life, he shouldn't escape justice. In my opinion, we should break his legs first!"Everyone voiced their anger. Their eyes burned with hostility as they glared at Dustin."What's wrong? Don't my words mean anything to you?" The elder raised his head and glanced at everyone. His expression was calm yet commanding.That single glance had the power to silence everyone present. It instilled fear in them that prevented anyone from expressing discontent.After all, the elder was Garrett Mason, the infamous Cosmos Demons. He was a grandmaster martial artist, feared and renowned throughout the land. He was known to be merciless, as he would wipe out entire families at the slightest provocation.Just mentioning his name was
"Kid, you've certainly surprised me with your skills," Garrett admitted as he stood up slowly.He continued, "But that doesn't justify your boldness in my presence with your limited skills." As he spoke, an imposing energy surged from within him. The martial artists felt the air grow heavy, and each breath became a struggle."This grandmaster's strength is no laughing matter! Is this what Elder Mason is capable of?"They couldn't help feeling a mix of awe and apprehension. Just a mere display of power had them rooted in place. After all, that was the might of a grandmaster martial artist.Despite the tension in the air, Dustin stayed composed. His eyes locked on Garrett's with unwavering resolve."You've got talent, kid." Garrett stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He added arrogantly, "I'm willing to offer you another chance. I'll let this incident slide if you swallow your pride and apologize. I might even make an exception and take you under my wing.""What? Take
Garrett struck his palm toward Dustin. A thunderous crash echoed through the room, changing the surrounding area.A white shadow palm surged forward with the force of lightning and pressed on Dustin. Accompanied by the fierce howling wind, everything seemed to warp as it tore through the air.Everyone in the room turned pale with fear. They scattered in all directions to avoid being caught in the chaos. After all, the sheer power of a grandmaster martial artist was enough to kill them with a single blow.Despite Garrett's attack, Dustin didn't flinch. His expression remained composed. But as he prepared to retaliate, a commanding shout interrupted."Stop!"Suddenly, another burst of internal energy materialized into a shadow palm as it shot from the doorway. It narrowly missed Dustin before colliding with Garrett's shadow palm.The impact echoed with a loud crash, unleashing a torrent of terrifying energy. The living room quaked violently as the furniture splintered and drinks sp
When Garrett slammed his hand on the table, the other martial artists stood up and expressed frustration."Mr. Styles, you know there's a code in the martial world. We can tolerate waiting, but leaving Elder Mason waiting like this? That's downright disrespectful.""You're right! It doesn't matter who they are since nobody should keep us waiting like this!""Mr. Styles, this guest's behavior is completely unacceptable. We should just show him the door!"The room was filled with frustration and anger. Garrett's remarks ignited a spark while they had shown patience out of deference to the Hall of Gods. The other martial artists wasted no time in releasing their bottled-up frustration."It's not about disrespecting you, but it's evident that this guest lacks respect for the Hall of Gods," Garret said.He emphasized, "He has kept us waiting well beyond the agreed-upon time. Such arrogance shouldn't be tolerated.""Elder Mason and esteemed guests, I apologize for mishandling this m
The room fell into a sudden hush like time had frozen. Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before them.First, they glanced at Lucian, who was seriously injured and spewing blood. Then, their attention shifted to the drunken man swaying unsteadily.Confusion clouded their minds. They had witnessed Lucian delivering a decisive blow directly to the drunkard's face.Yet, why was the drunkard unharmed while Lucian suffered serious injuries?"What the heck just happened? How did Lucian get tossed like that?""It... it must be the drunkard's protective armor energy! Thunderbolt Fist's punch went smack into that armor!""Protection armor energy? Wait, could this beggar be a grandmaster martial artist?"After a brief moment of silence, the room exploded into chaos.No one could have predicted that this disheveled, stinking drunkard would be a formidable adversary.Lucian, alias Thunderbolt Fist, was a legend in the martial world. He was renowned for his bone-crushing blo
"Who the hell are you? Tell us your name!" Garrett's face tensed as he frowned.Despite his attack, the beggar remained unruffled and composed. Not only did the beggar's counterattack neutralize Garrett's strike, but it also sent him stumbling back.Garrett realized the beggar's skill surpassed his. It was hard for him to fathom how someone so unassuming could wield such power."Ah… excellent wine!" The drunkard remained indifferent to Garrett's question and fully engrossed in his drink.Sensing Garrett's mounting frustration, Hank stepped in. "Let's not get worked up, gentlemen."He stood between the two parties with a smile. "You know what they say about a friendly spar can break the ice. After our little tussle earlier, I bet we all better understand each other now. Allow me to make the introductions."With a gesture toward the drunkard, he said, "This gentleman here is the esteemed Mr. Willard Lent. He is also known as the Wein Sage. I'm sure many of you are familiar with his
Hank remained unperturbed when confronted with everyone's apprehension. It was as if he had foreseen their anxieties.Despite his affiliation with the Hall of Gods, his upbringing in Dragonmarsh had endowed him with a profound understanding of the strength of Sacred Wrym Summit.Even the most renowned elites wouldn't dare to challenge the Sacred Wrym Summit.Hank reassured, "Fear not, everyone." Then, he gestured for silence and waited until the room fell quiet before continuing, "I understand your worries. But rest assured, we won't send you into danger unprepared. "Even if we venture into the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit, we'll take all necessary precautions to minimize risks.""Mr. Styles, what's the Hall of Gods' plan? It's better to be straight with us so we know where we stand," Garrett asked."Yeah, let's have some transparency here. We need to know what we're getting into," the others chimed in.They weren't eager to be sacrificial lambs and charged mindless