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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2312
"Look! Veronica is stepping onto the ring.""Veronica has been perfecting her skills for ten years. She's definitely going to make an impact this time!""Go, Veronica! Bring glory to the Celestial Alliance!"The Celestial Alliance's disciples cheered as they watched Veronica stride confidently onto the battle ring.As the top guild of Dragonmarsh, its disciples took great pride in their status. To them, anyone from their guild was bound to be superior to opponents from another guild.Aurora smiled and said confidently, "With Veronica competing, this match should be a clear win for us." Given Veronica's skills, she might struggle against a well-known genius, but her opponent was an unknown young martial artist. For someone of Veronica's caliber, this was hardly a challenge."Her opponent is from the Mystic Arts Order, so we shouldn't underestimate them." Alicia shook her head slightly.Veronica would have a clear advantage if it were just a matter of martial skills and cultivat
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2313
The spear hummed and shimmered with silver light as it exuded a bone-chilling cold. The air began to warp wherever it passed, letting out a sharp, ear-splitting screech.Azalea didn't dare take it head-on. She quickly retreated, and her hands formed intricate signs as she murmured an incantation. She pointed toward Veronica, who was chasing her.The battle ring suddenly erupted with a mass of black vines. These vines, almost as if they possessed a mind of their own, shot up with incredible speed.It wrapped around Veronica's feet and rapidly coiled upward. Within the blink of an eye, her legs, hips, and waist were ensnared entirely. She was immobilized."Huh?" Veronica frowned.She was about to raise her spear to counterattack when two thicker vines shot up from the ground, wrapping around her arms and forcefully pulling them apart. Within seconds, the black vines had her tied up like a prisoner.What was most alarming was the sheer strength of these vines. They were incredibly t
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2314
In the stands, someone clenched his fists in frustration as he watched Azalea use the Elysian amulet. It had once been his prized possession, but he had lost it in a bet. The loss stung, and the gambler's fate seemed richly deserved."Madam Penelope, your guild has impressive resources. Even one of your disciples gets to use an Elysian amulet. It's quite enviable." Alloy's tone was laced with subtle probing."When it comes to wealth and influence, the Celestial Alliance takes the lead. We only have a bit of heritage," Penelope said coolly."You're too modest," he responded with a knowing smile. "But if this young disciple has earned your favor, she must be extraordinary. I'm eager to see how she performs.""Your disciples are no pushovers either," she said with a faint smile.Cyrus observed the insincere exchange with a sneer. There was no room for all this pretense in the battle ring, so just get on with the fight."I didn't expect you to have an Elysian amulet?" Veronica's fa
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2315
"Not again!" Veronica's face paled.At that moment, the effects of her paralysis started to wear off. She didn't have time to hesitate when she saw the frost arrows descending again. She gripped her spear and spun it wildly, creating a blur of afterimages. Her spear spun like a helicopter rotor, whipping up strong winds that formed a protective barrier about ten feet in front of her. The incoming frost arrows struck the wind barrier with a series of crackling sounds. The impact forced Veronica to stagger backward, and her arms were numb from the force. The Blood Ward she had used earlier had drained her energy significantly. So, now she struggled to keep up when facing Azalea's relentless assault."Void Mire!"While Veronica was still defending against the frost arrows, Azalea performed another hand seal. She crouched and slammed her hand onto the battle ring's surface.Suddenly, a bizarre scene unfolded. The ground beneath Veronica's feet turned soft and swampy, like quicksa
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2316
Veronica was unwilling to accept her loss in this match.In terms of raw strength, she was unquestionably stronger than Azalea, with at least an 80% chance of winning in a direct confrontation. But Azalea's arsenal of divine artifacts, pills, and unpredictable techniques made her nearly impossible to defend against.In the end, Veronica was worn down and had no choice but to concede. The frustration gnawed at her."Mr. Marshall, it seems your Celestial Alliance disciples aren't as formidable as they're made out to be," Cyrus said with a smirk.He had been at odds with Alloy for years. They were constantly competing in the open and behind the scenes. Hence, Cyrus was happy to watch Alloy stumble."One unexpected loss doesn't mean much. Besides, your Sword Union may not fare any better," Alloy responded calmly.Veronica was his favorite disciple, so her early defeat blew his pride."Really? Then, let's see who wins in the end." Cyrus smiled. He couldn't wait to see Alloy's reactio
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2317
"Grand Sorceress, these... These treasures are far too valuable. I don't think I can accept them." Azalea was taken aback when she looked at the dazzling array of treasures before her.When Abigail had previously given her the Elysian Amulet and Gerandium, it had already stirred up some dissent. If she accepted these as well, she would undoubtedly become the target of envy and resentment among the Mystic Arts Order disciples."Valuable? I earned all these from the betting pool that I set up. I didn't spend a dime. Just take them, and don't worry about it. If anyone dares to gossip, I'll tear their mouths apart," Abigail said as she looked around.The nearby Mystic Arts Order members were startled and quickly averted their eyes. They pretended not to notice anything.They knew very well what Abigail was capable of. Ever since she became the Grand Sorceress, the first thing she did was clean house within the Mystic Arts Order. She dealt with dissenting voices swiftly and brutally.A
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2318
Jermaine's speed was remarkable, and his strikes were swift, like lightning. The spectators barely had time to blink before he was standing in front of George with his steel sword aiming at George's neck.Jermaine, who had fought through a tough Group B contestant, hadn't reached grandmaster level. But he had the strength of one, and this was the source of his confidence.Despite being attacked, George didn't react. He stood there blankly without trying to dodge the attack.Jermaine smirked at the sight. He knew this was the weakness of a big guy with slow speed. Their sluggish reactions made them easy targets for attacks.As expected, his steel sword struck George's neck. But soon, the smile on his face disappeared.The scene he had anticipated, where the strike would separate George's head from his body, didn't happen.Instead, the sword, which was supposed to be indestructible, created a shower of sparks upon hitting George. It was as if Jermaine was striking a hard, dark st
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2319
Before Jermaine could react, George grabbed his neck and lifted him with one hand as if picking up a chicken.Jermaine's breath hitched, and his face quickly turned red. He began to struggle frantically, kicking and flailing, but he still couldn't break free.George's grip was like a steel clamp as he tightened it. "You're ridiculously weak." He shook his head and looked at Jermaine disdainfully.Jermaine was so weak that he couldn't even block one of his moves. The worst part was that George had only used a fraction of his strength. George soon lost interest in tormenting such a weak opponent. After all, only strong opponents could stir his excitement. He knew that killing strong foes was the only way he could intimidate the Dragonmarsh martial artists. But now he was disappointed to face such a weak opponent like Jermaine."Shadow Slip!" Faced with the crisis, Jermaine quickly formed a hand seal.His body suddenly shrank, and he slipped out of George's grasp like a boneless
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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
