The Magistrate!!!

The entire arena remained frozen after the Magistrate intervened.

Thousands of spectators stood silently while staring at the center stage where Tony’s flaming fist had stopped mere inches away from Peter Jaint’s chest.

The terrifying heat radiating from the Fire Dragon Heart Punch was enough to make nearby cultivators sweat. Even after the technique had been forcibly interrupted, the lingering pressure remained in the air.

Tony slowly lowered his fist. His eyes landed on the Magistrate. The man stood like an iron mountain.

The moment Tony felt that overwhelming aura, he immediately reached a conclusion.

Strong... Ridiculously strong. If this fellow existed in the modern world, he would definitely be considered a Supreme Rank cultivator.

The difference between them wasn’t merely cultivation. It was the difference between a stream and an ocean.

Yet before Tony could speak, another figure stepped forward.

Boom!

The Clark Family Patriarch slammed his cane against the arena floor. His furious voice instantly echoed throughout the combat hall.

"How shameful!"

The old man’s eyes burned with anger as he glared directly at the Magistrate.

"A dignified Magistrate personally interfering in the affairs of the younger generation. I have truly broadened my horizons today."

The crowd immediately became excited.

The duel wasn’t over. The real show had just begun.

The Magistrate’s expression darkened. "My son accepts defeat." His voice carried the authority of a ruler. "This duel ends here. Let us stop before things become ugly."

The spectators exchanged looks. Many nodded... That sounded reasonable.

Unfortunately... The Clark Family Patriarch wasn’t interested in being reasonable.

The old man suddenly burst into laughter. "My son accepted defeat."

The Patriarch repeated those words while shaking his head. "What magnificent words."

The crowd immediately sensed danger.

The old man slowly walked forward. His gaze never left Peter Jaint.

"A warrior issued a challenge... A warrior climbed onto this arena... A warrior fought publicly before the entire city." The Patriarch suddenly pointed toward Peter. "Yet now that same warrior wishes to leave without properly accepting his defeat?"

His smile widened. "What a joke."

Peter’s face instantly became ugly.

The crowd started whispering.

The Patriarch wasn’t finished. "Oh, forgive me. Perhaps I judged incorrectly. Perhaps your son isn’t a warrior at all."

The arena became quiet... Everyone knew what was coming.

The old man looked directly at the Magistrate. "I never expected the mighty Magistrate to raise such a spineless son. A fellow brave enough to issue challenges but incapable of facing the consequences of defeat."

The words struck like arrows.

Several spectators nearly laughed out loud.

Tony stared in silence. ’Wah... This old man is definitely more evil than me.’

The Magistrate’s eyes became increasingly dangerous. Yet the Clark Family Patriarch remained completely fearless.

"If I had such a son, I would personally beat him to death before allowing him to embarrass the family."

The spectators exploded.

The drama was far more entertaining than the duel itself.

The Magistrate clenched his fists. "My son already accepted defeat. What more do you want?"

The Clark Patriarch smiled. "Simple... The loser must lose something. Your son lost. My grandson spared his life. Therefore leave behind something equal to the value of that life."

The Magistrate’s face immediately darkened. A treasure equal to the value of his son’s life couldn’t be some cheap compensation.

The entire city was watching. Every major family was watching. If he offered something insignificant, the story would spread throughout the kingdom.

After several moments of silence, the Magistrate finally spoke.

"The Eastern Spirit Stone Mine."

The spectators gasped.

Several family heads stood immediately. Even the Clark Family elders looked surprised.

The Magistrate continued. "I grant your family one hundred miles from the outer region to the core area."

The crowd erupted.

That was no small gift. That was an enormous fortune.

The Clark Family Patriarch smiled. "Indeed... That sounds worthy of your son’s life."

Before anyone expected it... Tony suddenly stepped forward. "No... We don’t want it."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The Clark Family Patriarch turned around so quickly his neck almost cracked.

"What?"

The old man stared at Tony.

"We don’t want the mine." Tony said with a decisive look.

The Patriarch’s face twitched. Several elders nearly fainted.

’A Spirit Stone Mine! And this idiot was rejecting it!’

The Patriarch immediately grabbed Tony by the shoulder and pulled him closer. "Have you lost your mind? Do you know how valuable that mine is?"

Tony whispered back. "Grandfather, listen carefully. Wether believe me or not... those material things won’t help our family. Please chose knowledge. Choose techniques. Choose something we can carry back."

For the first time, the old man stopped arguing. Several seconds later, the Patriarch straightened his back. Then turned toward the Magistrate.

The Magistrate immediately felt something was wrong. "What do you want?"

The Patriarch laughed. "My dear Magistrate, I suddenly changed my mind."

The Magistrate’s eye twitched.

The Patriarch pointed toward Tony. "My grandson deserves something better. I want access to the Imperial Edicts left behind by Dragon Lord Tang Jae-Chun."

Boom!

The entire arena exploded.

Even several city experts nearly dropped their weapons.

The Magistrate’s face changed instantly.

The Imperial Edicts...! Those weren’t ordinary cultivation manuals. They were national treasures. Historical inheritances. The foundation of countless martial paths. Even obtaining temporary access required enormous merit.

The Magistrate had spent years preserving his right to use them. For Peter... For his son who will carry his legacy. And now this old fox wanted them.

The Magistrate’s aura surged. "Don’t go too far."

The Clark Patriarch laughed. "Too far? Did my grandson issue the challenge? No. Did my grandson lose? No. Did my grandson need saving? No."

The crowd laughed.

Peter almost vomited blood.

The Patriarch continued mercilessly. "Your son challenged him... Your son lost. So naturally, your son must pay."

The entire city watched... No one interfered. Because everyone knew the old man was right.

Peter suddenly stepped forward. "Father! Please don’t agree."

The Magistrate remained silent.

Peter’s face became desperate. "Give them money... Give them mines... Give them treasures... Anything. Just don’t give them the Imperial Edicts."

The spectators immediately became suspicious. Why was Peter so desperate?! Only Tony understood.

Mark Smith wasn’t afraid of losing resources. He was afraid of Tony becoming stronger.

The Magistrate closed his eyes. Then sighed. Finally... His hand entered his robe. A golden-coin appeared. Imperial sign and Covered with dragon markings. The token grants access to imperial edicts.

The Magistrate tossed it toward Tony. Tony caught it effortlessly.

The moment the coin landed in his palm, the entire arena erupted.

The Patriarch examined it briefly. Then nodded. Authentic... Completely authentic.

The Magistrate didn’t say another word. He simply grabbed Peter by the collar. The defeated young master looked unwilling. The next moment, both figures shot into the sky.

Boom!

A streak of light vanished beyond the horizon. The Magistrate had left.

The duel had ended.

Tony stood in the center of the arena while holding the Imperial Coin.

The old monk and Elsa stared at the coin with desire.

And for the first time since entering the Dream Realm, everyone reached the same conclusion.

Tony Clark had not merely won a duel. He had robbed a Magistrate in front of an entire city.

And somehow... He had done it legally.