Penelope suddenly spoke up. Gentlemen, this young man has a deep history with my guild. So, it’s still a mystery which guild he’ll join.” Her withered face held a knowing smile.
Earlier, her subordinate had reported that Dustin was very close to Abigail. Since joining the Mystic Arts Order, Abigail had never been this close with any man, especially not on their first meeting.
Although Dustin had changed his appearance, Penelope suspected he was Logan Rhys, who was ranked first on the Legendary List. He was also the future Prince of West Lucozia.
She thought it was unrealistic for someone of his stature to join any guild in the martial world. Even if he wanted to, the palace would never approve.
Penelope’s motive for getting involved was simply to enjoy the spectacle. She looked forward to seeing Alloy and Cyrus’ frustrated expressions when their attempts to recruit Dustin failed. The thought of their dismay amused her greatly.
“Madam Penelope, the martial world has always kept its distance from your Mystic Arts Order. Besides, your techniques are unsuitable for ordinary people. Why involve yourself in this?” Cyrus said indifferently.
“He’s right,” Alloy chimed in. “Some things are just not meant to be. This young man doesn’t seem fit for your guild. Perhaps you should give up.”
Although he was competing with Cyrus, Alloy would be happy not to deal with another strong rival.
“You never know until you try. He might find my advanced techniques appealing.” Penelope smiled slyly.
“We’ll see,” Cyrus said calmly.
He was confident that with the Sword Union’s prestigious reputation and his personal training, no one could resist joining. Their guild was known as the ultimate place for swordsmen, and everyone aspired to be part of it.
“Since both of you are so interested, I can’t wait to see how it turns out,” Alloy said with a smile. He chose not to add anything further.
Dustin was already a consultant for the Celestial Alliance and had a close relationship with Alicia and Aurora. If Alloy played the matchmaker, he could have a valuable son-in-law.
After all, his daughters were stunning, and having Dustin as a son-in-law would be more beneficial than having him as a best student.
After Dustin’s victory, the next match began.
Oron stepped onto the battle ring and announced loudly, “The ninth match is about to start. Please welcome contestants number nine and 24 to the ring.”
Then, a young man in black with a cold gaze floated onto the ring. He wore a half Hellfire mask and carried a large box made of black gold on his back.
The box was two feet wide and six feet long. It resembled a small coffin, and he slung it diagonally on his back.
When the masked man placed the box on the ground, it made a heavy thud. The impact caused the battle ring to tremble slightly.
“He’s carrying a black gold box and wearing a Hellfire mask. Could this be Sam Dawson from the Dawson Clan?”
After the masked man took his position, it didn’t take long for someone to recognize him.
“Sam Dawson? He’s ranked ninth on the Legendary List.”
“Rumor has it that he has high cultivation and is an expert in hidden weapons and poison. He’s known for his brutality. Crossing him could lead to losing your limbs or, at worst, severe internal injuries such as ruptured intestines.”
“That black gold box must be the Dawson Clan’s sacred weapon, the thousand-talon coffer. It’s rumored to contain thousands of hidden weapons. Once unleashed, no one can stop them.
Even a grandmaster martial artist would be obliterated beyond recognition. It’s truly terrifying.”
“With the thousand-talon coffer in tow, Sam must be gunning for the tournament.”
The spectators murmured among themselves.
Every martial artist on the Legendary List was a top-tier talent, and Sam was no different. At a young age, he had already become a grandmaster. He also excelled in using hidden weapons and poisons.
He would definitely rank among the top three on the Legendary List based on sheer destructive power alone. Given his skill and the Dawson Clan’s sacred weapon, the thousand-talon coffer, he was a strong contender for the tournament.
“Damn it! Why do I have to face such a tough opponent now?” Sitting among the Sacred Wyrm Summit disciples, Caleb looked at his number and sighed exasperatedly.
He had hoped to advance to the top eight with minimal effort. But now, he needed to face a formidable opponent from the Legendary List in the first round. This unexpected challenge was more than he had bargained for.
“Contestant number 24, please come to the ring,” Oron shouted again.
Seeing that Caleb didn’t respond, Oron shot him a piercing glare, which meant there would be consequences for backing down.
Under the pressure of Oron’s intimidating stare, Caleb reluctantly stood up and walked toward the battle ring. If he had his way, he would have conceded.
He wondered why they had to engage in such violent matches when he could have been comfortably sleeping at home.
Unfortunately, his elders had given strict orders. If Caleb didn’t perform well, he wouldn’t have a moment’s peace in the future. He had no choice but to brace himself and face the challenge.
