An Understated Dominance

“The younger generation truly is taking the lead,” Alloy said, narrowing his eyes. His expression showed a mix of . surprise and delight.

Even though he knew Dustin was Seth’s disciple, he never believed Dustin could defeat Glenn. The outcome was completely unexpected.

He lost his bet, but he wasn’t upset. At the very least, the Sword Union didn’t claim the title. The Celestial Alliance still had a chance to make their move.

The next challenge was figuring out how to recruit Dustin into his guild. Training resources and empty promises wouldn’t be enough, especially with the Sword Union and the Mystic Arts Order also having their sights set on him.

Alloy knew he needed a more creative approach. Then, he thought about Dustin’s close ties with his daughters. He figured a little matchmaking might just tip the scales in his favor.

. “You’ve been holding back all this time, and now you’re finally making waves,” Penelope said, grinning. She was pleased with Dustin’s performance.

Since Abigail was still single, she figured that making Dustin her husband would be a huge asset to the Mystic Arts Order.

Although it didn’t fully align with the guild’s traditions, the rules were set by people and could always be rewritten. After all, times had changed.

“Those with true potential aren’t bound to small places. When the time comes, they’ll rise to greatness.” Kaden sighed.

Before the match ended, no one had predicted that Dustin would win. This dark horse had left everyone stunned.

Seeing Glenn had admitted defeat, Kaden stood and declared, “The match is over. I am proud to announce that this tournament’s champion is Dustin Rhys.”

The spectators erupted in cheers, and applause echoed throughout the venue.

Dustin and Glenn’s extraordinary performance held the audience spellbound. No one had ever witnessed a battle so intense and thrilling. They reduced the arena to rubble and shattered the defensive formation.

Even with their energy completely drained, they delivered a breathtaking display of swordsmanship. For the spectators, risking danger to witness this fight was more than worth it. This was a match they would remember

forever.

“Haha… he did it! Dustin won!”

“My big gamble paid off! I’m rolling in it now!”

. “Damn, what bad luck! I should’ve bet on Dustin to win.”

Some were overjoyed, while others were downcast. The ones who had bet on Dustin were ecstatic, while those who had placed their bets on Glenn sighed in disappointment.

But the small group of gamblers didn’t dampen the mood of the majority. The atmosphere was still electric, and Dustin’s name echoed throughout the venue.

After the tournament ended, it was time to award the prizes. The top three contestants would receive rewards.

First up was third-place winner Abigail, followed by second-place Glenn. Both received rare and priceless treasures. The rewards were valuable additions to the Sword Union and the Mystic Arts Order.

As for the champion, Dustin didn’t receive his prize right away. Instead, Kaden personally escorted him into the Sacred Wyrm Summit manor.

It had been announced earlier that the winner would receive the Sage’s secret treasure, but the exact nature of the prize remained a mystery.

Dustin had already guessed that the secret treasure was likely related to the Dracan essence. That was the very reason he had entered the Combat Tournament in the first place.

After leaving the venue, Dustin followed Kaden through several doors before finally entering the inner

sanctum.

“After that intense match, you should rest for a while. I’ve got something urgent to take care of. I’ll be back soon, “Kaden said.

“Someone, bring tea for our guest!” He led Dustin to a seat and instructed someone to bring tea and snacks before leaving.

By the time dusk settled in, everything at Sacred Wyrm Summit was running as smoothly as always, with its usual calm order. Since Dustin was already there and wasn’t in a hurry, he decided to relax. He sipped his tea and waited quietly.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Kaden finally returned. But this time, he wasn’t alone.

A tall, elderly man accompanied him.

He had a round face, a full head of

white hair, and a portly build. His cheerful, welcoming expression made him appear friendly. Yet, Kaden was entirely deferential in the presence of the elderly man.

Upon seeing the elderly man, Dustin’s expression changed. He quickly rose and bowed his head. “Greetings, Ancient Sage. I’m Dustin Rhys.”

Indeed, this unassuming, elderly man with a round face was none other than the legendary figure who had reigned supreme in the martial world for years -Arion Foyer.

“Don’t be so tense, kid. Take a seat.” Arion chuckled and lightly patted Dustin’s shoulder with none of the usual superiority expected from an elder.

Dustin nodded and took a seat as instructed. Although he had anticipated this moment, seeing Arion

in person was an entirely different experience.

Arion might have looked ordinary at first glance, but his presence was as deep and limitless as the ocean. The . greater his cultivation, the more suffocating his energy felt to Dustin.

It wasn’t something Arion deliberately projected, but rather the overwhelming sensation of being utterly insignificant in the face of such power. Even with Dustin’s own cultivation, standing before Arion made him feel small, like an ant.

“You take a seat, too.” Arion gestured for the tense Kaden to sit beside him.

“Kid, congratulations on winning the championship. On top of your standard reward, you can ask Sacred Wyrm Summit for one favor.

“As long as it doesn’t go against martial world ethics and is within our power, we’ll do everything possible to make it happen,” Arion said: He eased his bulky frame into the chair and smiled warmly.

Dustin’s eyes lit up at the offer.

The prestige of Sacred Wyrm Summit was unquestionable, and now Arion was offering Dustin a personal favor. This alone could drive other factions mad with envy, as it was worth far more than any mere treasure.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Still, Dustin hadn’t figured out what to ask yet. After thinking briefly, he replied, “Ancient Sage, I haven’t really thought it through. Can I save it for later?”

“Of course.” Arion chuckled. “But don’t wait too long. What if I drop dead one day and can’t fulfill my promise?”

“Ancient Sage, stop joking. You’ll live to be 100,” Dustin quickly replied.

“100?” Arion raised an eyebrow and laughed even harder. “You’re funny, kid.”

Noticing the odd look on Kaden’s face, Dustin suddenly realized his mistake.

Arion was nearly 200 years old.

Dustin’s words could either be taken as a blessing or a curse. He quickly understood he had misspoken.