“What a swift sword! What sharp perception!”
“Who would've thought General Zhang’s ultimate move would be broken so easily—unbelievable!”
“We were hoping General Zhang would help us reclaim our pride, but in the end, he still lost.”
Looking at the broken guandao and the stunned expression on Zhang He’s face, the onlookers couldn't help but break into discussion.
They all knew full well how powerful Zhang He was.
As a martial arts master at the peak of his cultivation, he was nearly unbeatable when wielding his guandao.
No one had expected that, at the critical moment, Dustin would break through with a single sword strike.
The defeat was sudden and astonishing.
Many felt it was a pity, believing Zhang He was just a bit unlucky—otherwise, he might have won.
But to the truly skilled, the situation looked entirely different.
Under the circumstances where Zhang He used his ultimate move, and Dustin was supposedly restricted in movement, to still land the decisive sword strike—this was no simple feat.
It was a domination in both speed and technique—a clear demonstration of strength.
By now, Zhang He was already panting heavily, while Dustin remained composed, showing no signs of strain.
And this was Dustin after fighting three consecutive matches.
From beginning to end, he remained calm and confident.
It was evident that Dustin had been concealing his true strength all along—even while fighting Zhang He, he hadn’t gone all out.
So although Zhang He lost, his defeat was by no means unjust.
The expert brought in by the Third Prince was far superior to anyone here.
“Hahaha… Brother Logan, your reputation is well-deserved! You've truly opened our eyes today!” Li Juntang was the first to react, clapping and laughing heartily.
The other soldiers followed suit, breaking into applause. Their gazes toward Dustin became even more respectful.
He first defeated Deputy Wu, and then General Zhang—winning two back-to-back battles with grace and ease. His strength was unquestionable.
Most notably, Dustin was about the same age as them, yet already a seasoned martial arts master.
Such talent was rarely seen.
“General Zhang, thank you for the match.”
Dustin cupped his hands respectfully and gracefully returned his sword to its sheath.
“Mr. Rhys’s strength is extraordinary. I admit my defeat wholeheartedly!” Zhang He gave Dustin a deep bow, showing his respect.
Others may not have seen the full picture, but as the one fighting, Zhang He knew all too well how insane that sword strike was.
It struck after he had already made his move—so fast, he couldn’t even see it clearly.
Most importantly, Dustin found an opening in his technique in that brief instant, which was truly terrifying.
He could only look up to such a genius.
“Zhang He, Wu Yong, what do you think now? You finally understand the saying: there's always someone stronger, right?” Li Juntang said with a meaningful smile.
“Your Highness is right. We were arrogant, thinking a bit of cultivation made us special. After witnessing Mr. Rhys’s strength, we truly feel ashamed,” Zhang He said sincerely.
“Indeed! Mr. Rhys has made us realize our shortcomings. From tonight on, we’ll work harder and never slack off!” Wu Yong added.
Dustin's strength was undeniable.
And even though he won both matches, he had been respectful, not making their losses look too bad.
His character was praiseworthy.
“Alright then, you all continue training. I have a few words to discuss with Mr. Rhys.”
Satisfied with the effect of his remarks, Li Juntang didn’t stay at the training grounds and soon left with Dustin.
Once outside, Li Juntang smiled and asked, “Brother Logan, what do you think? My soldiers aren’t bad, right?”
Dustin, being an ultimate grandmaster, had given his generals quite a fight—something worth being proud of.
“They're top-notch, even better than I expected,” Dustin nodded with a smile.
“Hahaha… While they may not compare to you, they’re still rare talents in all of Stonia,” Li Juntang said proudly.
He had invested a lot of effort into building this elite team.
Of course, this was only his overt force. He also had a hidden unit unknown to outsiders, reserved as his trump card.
“Your Highness has profound resources—truly admirable,” Dustin offered a polite compliment.
“Oh, it’s just small tricks. What I really need is someone like you, Brother Logan—someone who can truly lead. Only then will my team be complete,” Li Juntang said with deep meaning.
Dustin simply smiled without responding directly.
“Of course, I’m not asking you to decide right away. You can take your time to think about it.”
Li Juntang laughed casually, “As the saying goes, even if the deal doesn’t go through, the friendship remains. No matter what, it won’t affect our relationship.”
“Of course,” Dustin nodded.
“Alright, you’ve fought three battles just now—you must be tired. Go get some rest.” Li Juntang didn’t press the issue further.
“Mr. Rhys, this way please.”
A beautiful maid on the left gracefully stepped forward to lead Dustin toward the inner courtyard.
As Dustin’s figure disappeared into the distance, Li Juntang narrowed his eyes slightly, then turned to another maid and instructed, “Go call in the Matchmaker—have her accompany Mr. Rhys.”
The maid's lashes trembled slightly, and she quickly nodded in agreement.
Everyone knew the Matchmaker was the prince’s beloved.
No one expected that, to win Dustin over, His Highness would actually be willing to offer her up.
It was truly shocking. - Vivek
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