Thaddeus was defeated. After risking his life and mustering his final strength for one decisive blow, Dalen effortlessly overwhelmed him.Thaddeus had lost his will to fight. His body could endure no more, and he feared Dalen's unpredictable prowess.Despite Dalen's youth, his cultivation was ten times stronger than Thaddeus'. Even when Thaddeus gave everything he had, he couldn't penetrate Dalen's defenses.It was an overwhelming sense of despair. Even in his prime, Thaddeus wouldn't have had the confidence to continue the match.Thaddeus' words prompted the referee to declare the final result, "Contestant Number 5 concedes. Contestant Number 19 is the winner!"The arena echoed with cries of despair, curses, and insults."Dammit! What a useless ascetic priest. He couldn't even handle a pretty boy. Such a disgrace.""Father Savier? He should call himself a jester! All talk and no skill. What a waste!""Screw you! You made me lose everything. Why don't you just die already!"So
"Me?" Dustin was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Fenley to steer the conversation toward him.Still, he nodded and said, "Sir Hudson is right. With Dalen's talent and strength, he definitely has what it takes to challenge the top ten in the Legendary List." Dustin had a lot of faith in Dalen."Since he can earn such high praise from both of you, he must be someone worth keeping an eye on," Alicia said thoughtfully.Unfortunately, Dalen was from the Shadow Citadel. She might have convinced him to join the Celestial Alliance if he had come from a smaller guild."A handsome and capable talent like him is a rare find these days," Aurora remarked. Her eyes were sparkling with interest.While she wasn't instantly smitten with Dalen, his striking looks certainly made her take a second glance."We win. Crystal, did you see that? Mr. Shade won." Ruby jumped up excitedly when Dalen's victory was announced.Her joy came from his win and her successful bet. The thrill of winning
"Oh? It's them?" Dustin was surprised and raised an eyebrow when he saw Aurora and Crystal step onto the battle ring.He knew they had signed up for the tournament, but he hadn't expected them to face off against each other. One was a skilled disciple of the Sword Union, while the other was the daughter of the Celestial Alliance's guildmaster, Alloy.This elite showdown between two major guilds would be quite a spectacle."Fenley, do you think Aurora has a shot at winning?" Alicia asked suddenly.He shook his head and replied, "It's hard to say."He continued, "Aurora's opponent isn't someone to underestimate. If I'm not mistaken, she's a Sword Union disciple. Her sharp gaze and strong presence suggest her cultivation is quite advanced.""A Sword Union disciple? That sounds like trouble," Alicia said, frowning. Despite their small numbers, members of the Sword Union were carefully hand-picked elites. They shouldn't be underestimated, regardless of age or gender.In the past, t
"Miles, don't worry. You know how strong Crystal is. Handling that little missy should be a piece of cake!" Ruby said.Seeing the concern on his face, she couldn't help but offer some reassurance. "Relax, Crystal will definitely win this match. Trust me."Crystal wasn't just naturally talented but also extremely diligent. She has prepared thoroughly for the Combat Tournament. While winning the championship wasn't guaranteed, Ruby was confident Crystal would advance to Group A and compete against the top talents."I hope so," he said with a forced smile. He had full confidence in Crystal's abilities. He would bet everything on her if she faced a slightly weaker opponent. But her opponent was Aurora—the daughter of Alloy, guildmaster of the Celestial Alliance. Aurora had been rigorously trained since childhood. So, she matched Crystal in cultivation level, combat skills, and secret techniques.With these two facing off, it was hard to predict who would win. Miles could only hop
Aurora's strikes were swift, but Crystal's reflexes matched them. As Aurora's crescent blades sliced through the air, Crystal's sword was already in motion."Windbreaker Slash!" Crystal called out as her longsword trembled violently. A flurry of sword shadows appeared and clashed fiercely against Aurora's dual blades like a raging wind.The metallic clangs echoed as Aurora's attack was instantly deflected.Crystal lunged forward from behind the dissipating shadows and aimed her sword at Aurora's chest and abdomen. With the remaining shadows masking her move, the thrust was silent and undetectable. It was deceptively harmless but filled with hidden danger."Aurora, watch out!" Alicia's expression changed.She recognized Crystal's skill in swordsmanship and extensive combat experience. With a single deceptive move, Crystal shifted from defense to offense and took control of the match."Huh?" Aurora's eyes widened in shock. She didn't need Alicia's warning, as her instincts had al
"Hmm?" Crystal frowned as she watched the strands of hair flutter down from above.Aurora's unexpected Boomerang Slash had caught Crystal off guard. She had narrowly avoided a hit by quickly ducking her head.If she had been just a bit slower, it wouldn't have been just her hair but possibly her head.Despite Aurora's young age, her skills were impressive. This realization prompted Crystal to approach the situation with greater caution."Quick reflexes," Aurora commented as she smoothly retrieved her weapon with a flick of her wrist.The technique she had just executed was a signature move of her own creation. It was challenging for anyone encountering it for the first time. The fact that Crystal had managed to evade it just in time disappointed her."Your technique is decent but lacks refinement," Crystal remarked coldly.If Aurora's earlier move had been more precise, she might not have evaded so easily."Really? Let's see if you can handle this!" Aurora snorted and charged a
"Galactia!" Aurora advanced with her blade held firmly in both hands as she slashed horizontally. Blinding flashes of blade light erupted and swept toward Crystal like a violent storm. The air whistled with the sheer power of her strikes, and the intensity was terrifying.In contrast to her previous rapid and aggressive assaults, Aurora now revealed her ultimate technique—the Phoenix Dance. A legendary female grandmaster created this superior blade technique a century ago. It melded powerful offense and defense with a touch of feminine elegance. It was beautiful and deadly."Vibro Slash!" Crystal stood firm and composed as the blade light surged toward her. She shook the longsword in her hand violently and thrust it out suddenly. An expert observer would notice that her sword was vibrating intensely in a small, controlled manner. Though it appeared unremarkable, it concealed a profound mastery of swordsmanship.With a series of metallic clashes, Crystal's vibrating sword shatt
"Oh no! Crystal's in danger!" Miles sprang to his feet. His eyes widened in shock as he watched Aurora's terrifying attack. Fear etched across his face.Her power was far greater than he expected. Her strike was on par with a grandmaster."Crystal, hang in there!" Ruby urged. She clenched her teeth as she watched intently. Though her expression didn't show it, she was just as tense as Miles.The match was no longer just about victory or defeat. It was life or death, and one wrong move could be fatal."I didn't expect Aurora to improve so quickly. She's about to break through to grandmaster level," Fenley said, nodding in approval.Aurora and Alicia were equally talented in martial arts. However, Alicia's dedication fell short. Despite being two years older, Aurora's strength had already surpassed hers."Yes." Alicia smiled proudly. "She is now halfway to becoming a grandmaster, and her Phoenix Dance technique is incredibly refined. Few can match her when she's at her best.""I'm