Legend of Dragon Son-in-law
Chapter 1465: 1465: Dustless

Chapter 1465: Chapter 1465: Dustless

“I’m afraid before long, my men will call for reinforcements. And you, all alone, will find yourself in dire straits.” Damari Tennyson looked at the tattered longsword in his palm, shaking his head. “I, Tennyson, wish for a fair duel with you. But the people backing me… might not share my sentiment.”

“I am the City Lord. In Swimming City, who would dare lay a finger on me?” Ian Jorden’s face turned dark.

On his way here, he had found an excuse to slip away unnoticed.

He initially thought that with his abilities, dealing with a group of insignificant rogues wouldn’t prove challenging.

On the elevated central platform, he had held back, reluctant to reveal his full strength under so many watchful eyes.

But what he hadn’t anticipated was that the assassin before him had also concealed their powers!

He hadn’t had time to notify the City Lord’s Mansion.

If reinforcements for his opponent arrived, Ian Jorden’s fate would undoubtedly hang by a thread!

Though this weighed heavily on his mind, he would never admit it out loud.

“City Lord, if you’ve been holding back, then the City Lord’s Mansion would’ve already sent men. Yet until now, not a single shadow has appeared—doesn’t that say something?” Damari Tennyson gripped his sword with both hands, coughing softly. “Come on then, let’s fight to our heart’s content!”

“Extinction Saber!”

Ian Jorden roared, veins pulsing across his face as his muscles tightened to their limits!

“Bathing World Divine Sword!”

Damari Tennyson likewise unleashed everything he had, holding nothing back!

CLANG!

A crisp sound rang out.

Cracks faintly appeared on the wall in front of Julius Reed.

“Great Grandmaster!”

Gabriel Young gasped, quickly approaching Julius Reed’s side to take a closer look!

In the middle of the roadway, two figures stood ten meters apart, both appearing utterly weakened.

“The City Lord?” Recognizing one of them, she exclaimed in surprise, “It’s actually the City Lord! Rumor had it that he’s crossed the threshold of Great Grandmaster and is on the brink of breaking through. Seeing him today, the rumors seem true. And that swordsman—he’s also a top-tier Great Grandmaster.”

“Nonsense about breaking through!” Julius Reed scoffed dismissively. “Martial arts is without hierarchy, and even less with levels.”

“Why do you say that?” Gabriel Young raised her head, surprised.

What kind of expert would claim that martial arts had no ranks?

Martial artists perceive the essence of heaven and earth—those deeply attuned are called Grandmasters.

Those able to refine their energy further, facing the next threshold, are deemed Great Grandmasters.

These distinctions have remained constant for millennia.

Every martial artist knew this well.

“If martial arts had ranks, wouldn’t every duel start with people reporting their levels and comparing them? And if someone had the higher rank, there’d be no need to fight at all,” Julius Reed chuckled faintly, shaking his head. “The spirit of martial arts lies in the will to fight! Struggling against others, battling against the heavens, growing relentless, never retreating! Could a Grandmaster not kill a Great Grandmaster? Could a martial artist not defeat a Grandmaster? At the end of the day, we’re all humans. And being human means we’re all mortal!”

Gabriel Young froze slightly.

It seemed… this really made sense.

If one were to ambush or strike a wounded opponent, a Grandmaster might indeed kill a Great Grandmaster.

“The so-called ranks are merely a way for exceptional martial artists to showcase their vanity and differentiate themselves from the less capable. If everyone was simply called a martial artist, who could tell how strong you truly are?”

Julius Reed glanced at Gabriel Young, “If I say you’re a woman, then perhaps some men see you and ask, ‘Wanna go out?’ But if I say you’re the matriarch of Swimming City’s top family, men on meeting you might grovel and beg, ‘Sugar mama, please take me in.’ You are always you. But with a title bestowed upon you, the attitudes of those around you instantly change.”

“The so-called ranks that martial artists talk about serve the same purpose. It’s nothing but the top-tier having the need for recognition, feeding their own desires.”

His words left Gabriel Young stunned.

It was as if thunder had struck her mind.

Every sentence resonated deeply.

Could such insights really come from someone so young?

“If I weren’t the Young Family’s matriarch, how would you treat me?” Gabriel Young tilted her head skyward, her expression filled with expectation as she asked.

“Apologies, but in that case, you wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to meet me.” Julius Reed patted Gabriel Young’s shoulder, reassuring her, “Whatever concerns you have, let’s address them after we’re finished here. For now, I think I may have encountered an old acquaintance…”

His feelings were tangled.

Julius Reed hoped for Ian Jorden’s death, yet also wished Ian Jorden would live.

As an old friend, if Ian Jorden were alive, Julius Reed would surely be glad.

But Ian Jorden’s survival would mean the events of years past were entirely a conspiracy!

Even The North Sea’s invasion of Demarco Mount could have been part of this plot.

Under usual circumstances, Julius Reed would seethe with fury.

He despised deceit and disliked tangled, convoluted affairs.

But now, Julius Reed felt numb.

He stood at the heart of the vortex, immersed in a world of unyielding complexities.

Especially upon regaining certain memories—remembering that sword thrust atop Snow Mountain years ago, when Grace River personally pierced his chest—Julius Reed realized the truth behind the truth might yet remain hidden.

The Seven Veins, Pendleton—where among them was there not enigma?

In the middle of the road.

Ian Jorden raised his head and smiled, his mouth wide.

Blood dripped relentlessly from the corners of his mouth onto the cracked concrete road.

South Loop Road was a desolate industrial area, rendered sparsely populated due to severe pollution, with road repairs being an impossible luxury.

The road here remained cemented from thirty years ago.

Full of fissures.

“You’ve lost,” Ian Jorden straightened his back, gripping his saber tightly as he stepped toward Damari Tennyson. “Ultimately, I am a cut above you!”

“More than a cut,” Damari Tennyson sighed, gently snapping his sword.

The sword that had accompanied him through decades of battles.

Broken.

“Speak—why did you impersonate Xander Cook’s dead loyalist and ascend the high platform to kidnap someone?” Ian Jorden held his saber single-handedly, his face cold.

This matter clearly reeked of conspiracy!

“I told you before. Since you’ve won, you can kill me. But I won’t speak, and I certainly won’t reveal the truth. Some matters are destined to remain buried in the stomachs of men,” Damari Tennyson said, his demeanor placid.

Martial artists have always held life and death in indifferent regard.

Of course, there were always those terrified at the thought of dying.

“Do you truly choose death over admitting anything?” Ian Jorden sighed, slowly raising his saber.

The opponent was too formidable—he couldn’t afford to leave behind any hidden dangers.

“Watch out behind you.”

Damari Tennyson suddenly spoke.

At those words!

Ian Jorden spun sharply, his saber held defensively across his chest!

WHAM!

A blurred shadow tore through the lingering sunlight, crashing directly onto the blade!

With unstoppable momentum, Ian Jorden was flung backward like a broken kite, tracing an arc through the air before slamming heavily onto the ground!

SPAT!

Blood erupted from his mouth and nose.

“The City Lord is all title and no substance—a mere featherweight.” A man clad in white robes, face veiled with a white mask, holding a fan made of white paper, spoke faintly with a laugh.

After finishing, he bent down and gently brushed the ground with his right hand.

A sheet of frost spread outward from his fingertip, slowly creeping toward Ian Jorden.

“So powerful!”

Gabriel Young trembled uncontrollably; even from hundreds of meters away, she felt utterly shaken.

The midsummer air seemed tinged with coolness!

“Powerful, is he?” Julius Reed was unimpressed.

“He’s one of the top experts I’ve ever seen!” Gabriel Young nodded firmly.

“Excuse me, but there’s only one top expert, and that’s me—no one else comes close.”

Julius Reed leapt forward!

Ian Jorden must not die!

He had to save Ian Jorden!

BANG!

A longsword sliced sharply through the air, piercing straight into the ground!

The frost shattered into fragments!

“Elaenor Wood!” Julius Reed grinned.

“I’m wearing a mask,” Elaenor Wood froze, perplexed by how her masked identity was recognized.

“Mask or cremation, nothing can hide your flamboyance,” Julius Reed declared, reaching out with one palm into empty space!

The longsword settled perfectly into his grasp!