An Understated Dominance

 The bustle of Stonia was left far behind. Dustin did not leave immediately. Instead, on a night with a bright, clear moon, he quietly arrived at Margaret’s private residence outside the palace. On the stone table were a few dishes and a pot of clear wine. Margaret, dressed in plain casual robes, was drinking alone under the moon. When she saw Dustin, she wasn’t surprised. She simply smiled and pointed at the stone bench opposite her, as if she had already anticipated his visit. “Leaving already?” she asked casually, pouring him a cup of wine. Dustin sat down, took the cup, feeling the warmth of the porcelain between his fingers, and nodded. “Mm. What needed doing here is done.” Margaret raised her cup, her expression earnest. “This time… I truly owe you. Without you, I might not have even reached Penglai Island, let alone obtained a life-saving pill for my father.” Dustin lightly touched her cup with his. The crisp sound cut off her words. “There’s no need for this between us. You...

 Li Weimin slowly stood up, his entire being refreshed and vigorous, with none of his former frailty remaining. “As expected of an Immortal Essence Pill — truly miraculous!” He smiled, his gaze sweeping past Margaret before landing on Dustin. He nodded lightly. “Logan, my worthy nephew, I must thank all of you.” He knew very well that without Dustin’s intervention, this pill would never have been retrieved. “There’s no need for courtesy, Your Majesty. Seeing you safe and well, I have fulfilled my promise.” Dustin said calmly, “This journey to Penglai was extremely perilous. Princess Margaret endured countless hardships in search of the medicine and nearly lost her life. Since Your Majesty has recovered, you should clearly recognize her devotion and achievements.” How could a man like Li Weimin fail to understand the meaning behind Dustin’s words? His gaze toward Margaret softened with warmth and pride. This daughter of his was not only talented in both literature and martial arts —...

Immortal-energy escape light streaked across the sky, traversing a thousand miles in an instant. In less than half a day, Dustin had already carried everyone across the boundless sea, returning to the Central Plains. He did not stop in any coastal province or county, heading straight toward the heart of the Dragon Nation —  Stonia . Beneath the clouds, mountains and rivers blurred past, cities and villages lined up like patterned tiles. The familiar scent of the mortal world rushed toward them, so different from Penglai Island’s mixture of immortal splendor and demonic eeriness — it felt like a lifetime ago. Margaret clutched the jade box holding the Immortal Essence Pill tightly, her fingertips pale from the force. Her heart swelled with both excitement at returning home and deep worry about her father’s illness. Though Dustin had stated clearly that this pill could extend life for ten years, without seeing her father recover with her own eyes, her heart couldn’t rest. The three p...

 Li Juntang was the first to gather himself, putting away all visible emotions. He stepped forward with a warm, humble smile and bowed deeply: “Master Rhys is truly a being beyond mortal comprehension! Not only can you suppress evil demons, but you can even refine such an immortal-grade pill! To speak frankly—my brothers and I have long been worried about Father’s dragon-body illness, wishing we could bear it in his stead. Might Master Dustin be willing to open the pill furnace again and refine a few more Immortal Essence Pills for us as well? Whatever medicinal ingredients or price you require, as long as you speak, we will spare no effort to fulfill it!” Li Wenxing and Li Guanglong reacted immediately, both stepping up to echo the request. Their words were earnest, and their gazes burned as they stared at Dustin. A great contribution… and ten years of additional life. Either one alone was enough to tempt them deeply. However, Dustin slowly shook his head, his tone carrying an unq...

 Just then, a series of slightly chaotic footsteps came from the edge of the ruins, breaking the deathly silence. “Someone’s here?!” A-Long immediately tensed, barking out a low warning. The remaining guards swiftly gathered and shielded Margaret. Dustin also lifted his gaze slightly. His spiritual sense flowed out like liquid mercury, sweeping across the surroundings before settling again. It seemed he had already noticed. A group of people carefully walked out from between drifting smoke and fallen giant pillars. The three leading the group were none other than the three princes who had been separated on the island earlier— Li Wenxing, Li Guanglong, and Li Juntang ! The soldiers behind them had been reduced in number, and those who remained were all injured, their clothes torn, their faces exhausted. Clearly, they had encountered many dangers on their way. The three princes looked extremely bedraggled—robes ripped, hair crowns askew, faces smeared with dust and blood. They had fo...

 The chaotic currents and seven-colored immortal radiance swirling around Dustin slowly withdrew, gradually calming until all returned to stillness. He felt the vast, star-sea–like immortal essence within his body—mighty yet perfectly responsive to his will. But instead of joy, his heart was heavy and complicated. Because this power came at a terrible price: the complete self-sacrifice of Xuan Chengzi and the young mountain-spirit child— two living beings who had given up everything. His gaze swept toward the place where their figures had vanished. Only faint specks of blue-yellow light remained, flickering like the last fireflies of a summer night— stubbornly glowing, as if expressing both reluctance and hope. Dustin faced the empty air and bowed deeply. This bow honored their sacrifice— their guardianship— and the righteous spirit that, though their bodies had perished, remained forever in this world. “Senior… little friend… rest easy. The monsters here have been purged.” His voi...

Almost at the same moment, the child revealed a radiant smile. His small body erupted with an intense earthy-yellow glow—the most primordial power within him, the core essence of the mountain-spirit he was born from. Without the slightest hesitation, he poured that vast earth essence—accumulated over countless years—into a thick yellow torrent that followed Xuan Chengzi’s azure beam, merging into it and surging forward together. The two streams—one containing Xuan Chengzi’s lifetime cultivation, life origin, and divine soul flame, and the other containing the child’s purest mountain-spirit earth origin—rushed madly and without reservation into Dustin, who was buried beneath the ruins. “No!!” The demonized Ao Kun roared in fury and shock. His dragon claw slammed down fiercely, but only shattered the rapidly fading afterimages that Xuan Chengzi and the child had left behind. Their bodies, after offering up everything, had already turned into pure energy particles and scattered into the w...