"Amazing."
Dustin couldn't help but mutter as he gazed at the rotating Death Wheel of All Life floating before him. Its appearance had elevated his strength in every possible way.
First, his cultivation speed had skyrocketed. With the wheel's aid, he could now absorb the ambient vitality of the heavens and the essence of all things far more efficiently on par with a second-order spirit-gathering formation.
And if he combined the wheel's boost with an actual second-order spirit-gathering array?
Then his cultivation would soar sixteen times faster than the norm.
With that kind of speed, even trash-level techniques would lead to rapid breakthroughs. But Dustin wasn't cultivating trash. He cultivated the Pure Yang Arts a technique known for its steady power and solid foundation. His rise was inevitable.
Second, his comprehension of martial techniques had transformed. The mysteries behind every stance, form, and flow were no longer vague. Now, even fourth-grade martial arts could be mastered swiftly, and achieving perfection was only a matter of patience and effort.
Just as he was immersed in the serenity of cultivation...
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sudden pounding on the door snapped him out of his focused state. His brows furrowed. Being disturbed during cultivation was more than rude it was dangerous.
With a flick of his finger, a beam of energy swept through the air. The door creaked open, revealing an elderly man standing respectfully outside.
"Young Master Dustin, the Hall Master requests your presence at the Martial Hall."
The old man was no stranger to him—one of the loyal servants at the Hall Master's side.
"The Hall Master?" Dustin stood, his voice calm. "Do you know why he seeks me?"
The servant bowed slightly. "A guest from the New Stone City Martial Hall has arrived accompanied by a talented girl. She has challenged several of our elites... and defeated them all. The Hall Master wishes for you to respond."
Dustin's expression darkened.
New Stone City one of the neighboring territories within Xandora County was no friendly sibling. Every city in the region had its own Martial Hall, all established by Salmoris, the grand martial sect. While officially allied, the Halls were rivals, constantly measuring their talent against one another through challenges and duels.
Dustin, the current strongest in Novaridge's Hall, had no choice but to accept this challenge to preserve their honor.
On the Martial Field of Novaridge Martial Hall, a large crowd had already gathered.
In the upper pavilion, the Novaridge Hall Master sat beside a plump middle-aged man the New Stone Hall Master. On the stage below, two young fighters clashed fiercely. One was Damien, a core member of Novaridge Hall. The other was a striking girl in red robes.
"Heh... Hall Master of Novaridge," the New Stone Hall Master said with a grin, "I hear your Hall's prized genius is a Pure Yang Arts practitioner. Care to make a wager?"
Friendly bets between Martial Hall leaders were commonplace. Pride was often weighed in gold or treasures.
"Oh?" The Novaridge Hall Master chuckled. "What do you propose?"
"That aquamarine bracelet you won from me three years ago," New Stone's leader said with a sly smirk.
Smack!
A sharp slap echoed across the field. Damien was flung off the stage, a handprint blazing across his cheek. Rage and disbelief burned in his eyes.
Gasps and angry murmurs rippled through the watching disciples.
"How shameless! She already won why slap him in the face?"
"She's beautiful, but so vicious! Does she think we have no pride left in Novaridge?"
The red-clad girl stood tall, eyes brimming with disdain.
"Is this all Novaridge Hall has to offer?" she scoffed. "A bunch of boys who can't even handle a girl?"
Her words stoked fury, but none could refute her. She had already crushed several of their top disciples.
In the pavilion above, the Novaridge Hall Master's expression turned grim.
"Heh... don't be angry, my friend," the New Stone Hall Master chuckled, stroking his beard. "Kids say foolish things."
"Is she the Energy Gathering genius your Hall is so proud of?" the Novaridge Master said coldly.
Indeed, he had heard of this prodigy Alayna, a girl who'd broken into Energy Gathering before turning sixteen.
With Troy and Hansan still in seclusion, and Damien defeated, Dustin was the only hope left to salvage their reputation.
"Dustin's here!"
"It's him!"
"Dustin can beat her! He's our strongest!"
Excitement erupted as a black-clothed youth walked calmly toward the stage, a longsword strapped across his back.
On the platform, Alayna raised a brow.
"No. 1, huh?" she said with a smirk. "Let's see if you're worth that title."
Dustin's eyes flicked to her not with awe, but scrutiny. His spiritual senses locked onto her lifeline.
Energy Gathering Realm, First Layer.
Same as him. A fair match.
Ignoring her, Dustin first bowed deeply toward the Novaridge Hall Master in the pavilion.
"This is Alayna," the Hall Master said solemnly. "She entered Energy Gathering recently and defeated all your peers. Can you handle her?"
All eyes turned to Dustin.
This duel would determine Novaridge's pride.
"I can." Dustin's voice was calm, yet unshakably firm.
A wave of true energy rippled from his body. The crowd gasped in unison.
"He broke through?"
"Dustin's an Energy Gathering warrior now?!"
"Dustin! Dustin! Dustin!"
The cheers were deafening. Hope surged in the hearts of the disciples.
Even the Hall Master was visibly moved. He hadn't expected Dustin to break through so soon.
"Haha!" the Hall Master of Novaridge laughed. "So, you still want to bet?"
The New Stone Hall Master narrowed his eyes, unsettled by Dustin's aura.
He cultivated Pure Yang Arts and still broke through so early...?
"What, no longer confident?" the Novaridge Hall Master teased.
"Hmph. Same realm. It doesn't guarantee victory," New Stone's leader huffed. "Fine. If Alayna wins, I take back the blue crystal bracelet."
"And if Dustin wins?" Novaridge's leader grinned.
A pause. The other man winced slightly.
"...Then I'll give you a bottle of Innate Pills."
That stirred the crowd. A bottle of third-grade pills used to assist breakthroughs into the Innate Realm is an extremely rare and valuable reward.
"Agreed," the Novaridge Hall Master said without hesitation. "Dustin, this fight is for our Hall's dignity. Show no mercy."
"Yes, Master." Dustin stepped forward, leaping onto the stage.
Alayna, spear in hand, sneered. "So, even your top dog is still trash."
She had been treated like a star from the day she joined New Stone Hall. Arrogance was her second skin.
Dustin didn't respond. He had no love for flashy types, especially not arrogant ones.
Alayna spun her spear and pointed it at him. "Be proud. Few are worthy of this weapon."
Then she struck. Her spear flashed forward, true energy bursting from the tip
But Dustin didn't draw his sword.
Instead, he moved his footwork strange, almost ghost-like...