An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2332
**Chapter 2332**
Penelope suddenly spoke up. “Gentlemen, this young man has a deep history with my guild. It’s still a mystery which guild he’ll join.” A knowing smile spread across her withered face.
Earlier, one of her subordinates had reported that Dustin was very close to Abigail. Since joining the Mystic Arts Order, Abigail had never been this close to any man, especially not on their first meeting.
Even though Dustin had changed his appearance, Penelope suspected he was Logan Rhys, who ranked first on the Legendary List. He was also the future Prince of West Lucozia.
Penelope thought it was unlikely that someone of his status would join any guild in the martial world. If he wanted to, the palace would never approve. Her reason for getting involved was simply to enjoy the show. She looked forward to seeing Alloy and Cyrus’s 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. Your techniques are unsuitable for ordinary people. Why involve yourself in this?” Cyrus said indifferently.
“He’s right,” Alloy added. “Some things are just not meant to be. This young man doesn’t seem fit for your guild. Perhaps you should give up.” Even though he was competing with Cyrus, Alloy would prefer not to face another strong rival.
“You never know until you try. He might find my advanced techniques appealing,” Penelope replied with a sly smile.
“We’ll see,” Cyrus said calmly. He was confident that with the Sword Union’s prestigious reputation, he could win this competition.
The personal training program was so appealing that no one could resist joining. Their guild was famous as the best place for swordsmen, and everyone wanted to be a part of it.
“I can’t wait to see how this turns out since both of you are so interested,” Alloy said with a smile, choosing not to say anything more.
Dustin was already a consultant for the Celestial Alliance and had a close bond with Alloy’s daughters, Alicia and Aurora. If Alloy played matchmaker, he could gain a valuable son-in-law. After all, his daughters were stunning, and having Dustin as a son-in-law would be more beneficial than just having him as a top 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 twenty-four to the ring.”
A young man dressed 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, resembling a small coffin. He slung it diagonally across his back.
When the masked man set the box down, it hit the ground with a heavy thud, causing 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?” someone in the crowd quickly recognized him.
“Sam Dawson? He’s ranked ninth on the Legendary List,” another person chimed in. “Rumor has it 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 limbs or even severe internal injuries like 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 lay in wait. Once they were unleashed, no one could stop them. Even a grandmaster martial artist would be completely defeated. It was truly frightening.
“With the thousand-talon coffer with him, Sam must be aiming for the tournament,” the spectators whispered to each other. Every martial artist on the Legendary List was highly skilled, and Sam was no exception. At a young age, he had already become a grandmaster and was particularly good at using hidden weapons and poisons.
Based on his sheer destructive power, he would definitely rank among the top three on the Legendary List. With his skills and the Dawson Clan’s powerful weapon, the thousand-talon coffer, he was a strong candidate for the tournament.
“Damn it! Why do I have to face such a tough opponent now?” Caleb, sitting among the Sacred Wyrm Summit disciples, looked at his number and sighed in frustration. He had hoped to easily reach the top eight, but now he had to face a strong 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 called out again.
When Caleb didn’t respond, Oron shot him a fierce glare, warning him of the consequences for not stepping up. Under the pressure of Oron’s intimidating look, Caleb reluctantly stood up and made his way to the battle ring. If it were up to him, he would have simply given up.
He couldn’t help but wonder 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 prepare himself and face the challenge ahead.