"Phoenix Soaring!"Under immense pressure, Emeret used every ounce of his strength. His internal energy surged like a tidal wave, and he channeled it into his silver sword. It flared with a sharp glow that was nearly blinding.Then, he leaped into the air. He merged with his sword and transformed into a massive Sacred Phoenix. With a mighty cry, the phoenix flew toward the golden sword descending from above.The silver phoenix, gleaming from head to tail, flapped its wings and unleashed a wind storm. Its power was overwhelming, and it seemed like it could break through the clouds and soar into the sky. After a brief pause in midair, it turned toward the golden sword.Another loud boom resounded as the earth trembled and energy surged in every direction. The entire battle ring rumbled while the protective barrier rippled like waves. It shook violently as if it were on the verge of collapse.At the center of the explosion, the golden sword collided with the Phoenix's beak. The sword
"I lost." Emeret lowered his head and struggled to utter those words.Though reluctant, he had to admit the gap between him and Glenn was too wide to ignore. Continuing the fight wouldn't just mean defeat, but he might end up losing his life for nothing."You did well to withstand my strikes and still be standing," Glenn remarked coldly before leaving the battle ring.Emeret's skills were decent, but they barely piqued his interest."Congratulations to contestant number two, Glenn Hadley, for his victory." Oron quickly announced the results. In an instant, the spectators erupted into thunderous applause. Though the match was brief, the explosive clash had captivated everyone, especially Glenn's overwhelming strength, which left a lasting impression in their minds.If he didn't draw his sword, things would have been fine. But the impact was nothing short of earth-shattering and unmatched once he drew it."What a pity." Alloy shook his head in mock disappointment from the main sp
"For the fourth match, let's welcome contestant number four, Caleb Foyer, and contestant number five, Dustin Rhys."As Oron's voice boomed, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Dustin and Caleb stepped onto the battle ring. This last quarterfinal match was shrouded in suspense. Both contestants had emerged as underdogs in the tournament.Caleb had gained instant fame after defeating Sam, who ranked ninth on the Legendary List. In contrast, Dustin took down two powerful foreign contestants in succession, which showcased his remarkable strength. Hence, everyone eagerly anticipated their showdown."Who do you think will win this match?""It should be Caleb, right? He's a chosen apprentice of Sacred Wrym Summit. After all, he has mastered the Glow Incantation, Stormcraft, and Divine Talismans. Even Sam, with the sacred weapon of the Dawson Clan, couldn't defeat him. That shows just how powerful Caleb is.""Not so fast! I think Dustin is someone
Dustin didn't flinch as the electric serpent charged toward him. Instead, he channeled his mystical energy into a spear and thrust forward. He was eager to test the strength of Stormcraft.The true energy spear collided with the Stormcraft and unleashed a loud crack of thunder. Energy rippled outward and dispersed in every direction. Their energies collided with such force that neither gained the upper hand.Neither Dustin nor Caleb gained the upper hand in this exchange, yet neither backed down. They continued to trade blows in a fierce, close-quarters fight. Each strike resonated like a drumbeat in a relentless battle."I can't believe Dustin is holding his own against Caleb. This is unbelievable.""Dustin is pretty strong, so it's not surprising he can fight like this.""You don't get it. Dustin is renowned for his lethal sword techniques. Yet, he's standing firm against Caleb, who used Glow Incantation and Stormcraft, just with his fists. That speaks volumes about his cultivat
"Really? Since you're so confident, I'll be watching closely," Alloy replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. The chance to mess with Cyrus was too good to pass up.When Cyrus had sparred with Seth, he had been defeated by just one move. Since that day, he had lived in Seth's shadow. In other words, Seth had become the inner demon that Cyrus could never shake off—a haunting reminder of his limits.As the tension brewed between Alloy and Cyrus in the stands, the situation in the battle ring had changed.Caleb was engaged in an extended battle, and the strain on his internal energy had reached a critical point. He needed to maintain his Glow Incantation while using Stormcraft for his attacks. This combination led to a rapid depletion of his energy.In contrast, Dustin focused primarily on close-range combat. He relied on his agility and brute strength to unleash punches and kicks while creating openings. Additionally, he only used his internal energy to counter Caleb's Stor
"What?"As Caleb stared at the disintegrated Soul-Bind talisman, his expression changed dramatically. He hadn't expected that a sword descending from the sky would disrupt his plan at such a critical moment.When did this sword appear? How had he failed to notice it?Before he could react, the black sword moved again.With a soft hum, the black sword seemed to have a mind of its own as it turned in midair and struck the Summit Shift talisman at lightning speed. The talisman in the air exploded in a brilliant flash of yellow light and scattered into tiny sparks.Dustin finally relaxed as the overwhelming pressure lifted. He slowly opened his palm, and the black sword circled him before landing precisely in his hand."No wonder they call it a legendary Divine Talisman. I've finally experienced its power firsthand today." He gripped the sword with one hand and flashed a faint smile, but his expression turned serious.While the Summit Shift talisman hadn't fully immobilized him, it
As the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman took shape, a massive trigram formation suddenly appeared at the center of the battle ring. It spanned across the ring, whirling and transforming with relentless speed.At that moment, Dustin was standing inside the enchantment circle. He suddenly felt overwhelmed by tremendous pressure. Unlike the crushing force from the Summit Shift talisman that affected his body, this pressure came from his mind. He felt as if he were confined in a cage and unable to escape, regardless of how hard he struggled.Unlike the explosion Caleb had used against Sam, the Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman now showcased its true power."You shouldn't have given me time to prepare. Your arrogance is your downfall." Caleb let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the enchantment circle in place.The Eight Trigrams of Divine Talisman was powerful but required several seconds to cast—a timeframe that could be deadly against a skilled opponent.During his fight with Sam
"Who the heck is this kid?" Oron glanced at his trembling hands and felt a chill run down his spine. He failed to gain the upper hand in the earlier clash with Dustin and suffered an unexpected setback. He was already an ultimate grandmaster, with a cultivation and mastery of the Glow Incantation that surpassed Caleb's. By all accounts, subduing a younger opponent should have been a piece of cake.But that exchange just now had brought him to a stark realization—Dustin had been holding back this whole time and hadn't used his full strength. Otherwise, Caleb wouldn't have lasted this long.The realization unsettled Oron. There were always extraordinary talents out there, but the potential Dustin had displayed was genuinely terrifying. To put it plainly, he was a beast on the same level as Glenn."What happened? Why did the judge step in?""Can't you see? Caleb has already lost. If the judge hadn't stepped in, that sword would have killed him or left him severely injured.""Exactl