An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

Form up!

Upon seeing the various forces closing in, Grace issued a swift command. Her nearly hundred-strong

guard team immediately shifted their formation, arranging themselves into a charging wedge.

Unlike the ordinary martial artists of the martial world, Grace's guards were well-trained and had

seamless coordination.

While they might not be a match for the martial artists in one-on-one combat, they could unleash

extraordinary combat strength on the battlefield.

Especially in their formation, they were an unstoppable force.

As the martial artists advanced, they were violently pushed back by the large formation, unable to

withstand the impact.

Grace's entire team resembled a gigantic wedge, slicing through the crowd and rapidly approaching the

palace gates.

Under normal circumstances, Grace's group wouldn't have advanced so smoothly.

Fortunately, most of the factions were engaged in fierce battles with the beasts, diverting their attention

away from Grace's team. As a result, their advance was unstoppable.

"This is great! Following them was the right decision!" Sophia, who hid behind the charging formation,

observed the nearing palace gate with growing joy.

She had anticipated fierce resistance, but the situation turned out surprisingly smooth. The chaos had

played to her advantage.

"Break the door!" As they closed in on the palace gate, Grace issued another command.

Several divine-level martial artists stepped forward, channeling their internal energy. Simultaneously,

they struck the palace gates with force.

A loud bang echoed, and the palace gate quivered, shedding layers of dirt and revealing its original

bronze hue. It exuded an ancient and mysterious aura.

"What?" The divine-level martial artists exchanged bewildered glances as they stared at the seemingly

immovable bronze gate.

They had strong internal energy with force equivalent to ten thousand pounds.

However, despite their collective strength concentrated in a single palm strike, the gate remained

resolute. Just how sturdy was this gate?

"Again!" Grace's determination remained unshaken.

The divine-level martial artists took a deep breath, channeling the internal energy from their entire

being, before striking the bronze gate simultaneously with their palms.

Another loud bang echoed, causing the bronze gate to shake more violently with more layers of dirt

falling off.

However, after the shaking, the bronze gate stood firm, showing no signs of yielding.

Meanwhile, other martial artists had noticed the scene, particularly Yonah and Bran. Their expressions

hardened as they realized Grace's group was attempting to breach the door.

Abandoning their ongoing battles, they and the disciples of their sects swiftly moved toward Grace's

group.

They would never allow anyone to seize the treasures before they did.

"What a useless bunch! Allow me!" Aidan, who had been standing at the back, grew anxious to see

Grace's men fail to break the door.

He took large strides forward, gathered his strength, and then threw a powerful punch at the bronze

gate.

The earth shook as a loud explosion echoed.

The bronze gate began vibrating violently. Cracks started to form from the point of impact, spreading

rapidly and soon covering the entire gate.

However, the bronze gate didn't shatter.

"It's pretty tough!" Aidan raised an eyebrow, delivering another punch, putting more force this time.

Another resounding explosion echoed, and the robust bronze gate finally cracked, revealing a dim

entrance.

"It's breached! It’s finally breached!"

"Aidan is truly formidable!"

A wave of joy swept through the crowd.

The bronze gate was exceptionally robust, and it wouldn't have been breached without the strength of

a grandmaster.

"Let's explore the place!" Grace signaled, and a few people in front immediately ignited torches before

cautiously entering the palace.

The palace turned out to be a royal tomb. No one knew what traps might be hidden inside. If they

accidentally triggered any of them, it could possibly lead to fatal results.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew out from the depths of the palace. It stirred up dust and smoke,

extinguishing the torches held by those at the forefront.

Simultaneously, a pungent stench, reminiscent of decaying fish and shrimp, filled the air.

"It's foul here! What the hell is this smell? It's so disgusting!" The sudden putrid stench prompted

everyone to reflexively shield their mouths and noses.

At that moment, Dustin frowned, sensing imminent danger. He shouted, "This is bad! It's not safe!

Retreat!"

Soon after, two red "lanterns" materialized in a dim section at the palace's end. The lanterns hovered

eerily in midair, emitting a strange glow.

A single glance sent shivers down everyone's spine, instilling a sense of chilling dread.

After its appearance, it swiftly advanced toward the group, accompanied by the sound of metal

scraping against the ground.

"Fall back! Retreat immediately!" Upon seeing the red lanterns, Grace's expression shifted dramatically,

issuing a swift order to retreat.

Despite the uncertainty, her well-trained guards followed her command implicitly.

However, before they could make a complete retreat, the two floating red "lanterns" swiftly reached the

palace entrance.

A massive shadow swept by, and several guards who couldn't escape in time were swallowed by the

shadow, disappearing without a trace.

It was only when the shadow came to a halt that everyone saw its true form—a giant black python,

measuring about 70 to 100 feet long.

The python had a single horn on its head, boasted a body thicker than a water tank, and sported

jetblack, armor-like scales. Beneath its abdomen, two razor-sharp black claws extended.

The red lanterns everyone thought they had seen were, in reality, the eyes of this monstrous black

python.

With claws, a horn, and lantern-like eyes, it transcended the mere categorization of a python,

resembling more of a legendary black serpent!