"Even Master Howler is here. It looks like we'll be leaving empty-handed.""Plans don't always unfold the way we want.""I thought we could forge ahead, but now it appears surrendering is our only option."Everyone shook their heads and let out collective sighs.Damien's reputation preceded him as one of the top elite in the southwest, and his status seemed unmatched. Despite Dustin being a young grandmaster, everyone thought he would be powerless in the presence of such top-tier individuals, considering the significant gap that exists between grandmasters.Dustin raised an eyebrow. "The master of the Drakes Dominion Order, right? You're the top elite in the southwest, often referred to as the peak level of martial arts?"While observing Damien's presence, Dustin sensed that he was likely in the late stages of being a grandmaster. Undoubtedly, Damien's strength positioned him as a regional overlord.With his hands casually tucked behind his back, Damien downplayed his skills. "I

Tobias hung on the wall in a precarious life-or-death situation, and Elder Greene of the Drakes Dominion Order spat blood due to severe injuries. Everyone stood frozen in shock, their attention fixed on the distressing scene. The elites from the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect were left dumbfounded. They struggled to come to terms with the unbelievable sight before them.Tobias and Elder Greene had long been acknowledged for their formidable strength. While not officially recognized as grandmaster martial artists, their prowess was on par with those who held such prestigious titles. Years of dedicated refinement and experience had bestowed upon them a distinctive advantage. Even when confronted by ordinary grandmasters, they possessed the capability to put up a formidable fight. Their collaborative efforts had yielded a remarkable track record of overcoming grandmasters together.Tobias and Elder Greene weren't expecting victory, but at the very least, they could

"Huh?"The sudden change threw everyone off guard. Everything happened in a split second, and they barely had any time to react. Dustin took Alexander down in a blink of an eye. In an instant, Alexander was already seriously wounded. To most of the martial artists, Alexander, the leader of Frostwing Sect, was flung toward a wall in a heartbeat. The entire situation happened too rapidly."H-How is this possible?" Bran was dumbfounded when he saw how badly injured Alexander was. His eyes widened in disbelief. He had never imagined that Alexander would be defeated tragically, let alone lose in a fight. After all, Alexander was one of the five strongest people in the Southwest. He was a grandmaster martial artist with excellent abilities.Aside from Damien, the master of Drakes Dominion Order, no one could rival him in the entire southwest. Bran thought it was a sure victory for Alexander in this battle. However, things seemed to have taken an entirely different turn. Not

"Show Master Howler some respect. Leave half of everything behind and let's get going."They started moving upon Grace's orders. Some took the jewelry with them, while some loaded themselves with the Soul Elixir. Though they were instructed to leave half of them behind, they all took more than they should. Nevertheless, Damien turned a blind eye to this even though he already saw right through them.Dustin's power was so intimidating that everyone was extremely wary of him now. They dared not take the risk, nor did they want to go against him. If a commotion broke out, they would most likely end up with nothing. After all, the palace was surrounded by different forces. If the fight didn't end well for both parties, there would be other forces who would gladly benefit from it. As a result, Grace and her companions stepped out of the Underwater Palace with their loaded bags. Though the elites of Drakes Dominion Order and Frostwing Sect were itching to lunge at them, they didn't

"Hmph! He's just putting on a show! What's so impressive?" Garrett grumbled under his breath as he watched Dustin's receding figure. A man wouldn't reject the advances of a beautiful woman who approached willingly. Garrett believed that Dustin was merely putting on a noble act, presenting one side while hiding his true intentions in the shadows. However, while he was displeased, he dared not act recklessly due to the significant gap in strength between them. After muttering to himself, he departed with the members of the Black Scorpion Squad.Their expedition to the Deadlands this time had resulted in heavy losses. Fortunately, they managed to secure a considerable amount of treasure. After selling their loot, it would undoubtedly leave them with wealth enough to last a lifetime. "Seems like you got the wrong idea, Sophia. Dustin was never interested in you," a disciple from the Embersteel Order mocked. Sophia was undeniably beautiful but had a nasty character, marked by