"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
"Thank you." Crystal sheathed her sword and nodded at Aurora. She had to admit Aurora was a tough opponent. Even though Aurora was a few years younger, their skills were almost on par. Crystal knew Aurora would become someone to watch out for in the future."Aurora lost? How…" Alicia was stunned and incredulous. She had anticipated Aurora's victory, especially after using the Ennea Chorus technique. But in an instant, everything had changed."Her talent and strength are impressive, but she lacks experience. Although she lost, she learned a lot. I believe she'll advance even faster from now on," Fenley remarked impassively. He appeared unfazed by the outcome. It was as if he had anticipated it.Aurora's cultivation level was on par with Crystal's, but she lacked battle experience and mastery of technique. Her training was too diverse. She had a basic understanding of everything from hand-to-hand combat to various weapons but wasn't proficient in any.In contrast, Crystal had hon
"Crystal, if you can advance to Group A and make it into the top ten, you'll be famous. Then, the guild will pour all their resources into your training," Miles said excitedly."I might have a chance to advance to Group A, but there's no way I can make it into the top ten." She shook her head. She continued, "Most contestants in Group A are grandmasters. Who knows how many of the top ten are from the Heavenly Immortals list? With my current strength, I'm not even close to competing with those beasts."Crystal knew her limits. Even if she were against an early-stage grandmaster, her chances of winning were slim. She knew competing with those beasts from the Heavenly Immortals was out of the question. After all, those who made it into that list were at least a late-stage grandmaster."Don't be discouraged. Not all the elites from the Heavenly Immortals list will be competing. We can still try our luck." Miles chuckled.There weren't many participants listed in the Heavenly Immort
As the sun dipped below the horizon and night descended, Bailey, known as the Grizz Lord, was 30 miles from the Sacred Wrym Summit in a secluded mountain villa.Seated at the dining table, he feasted on meat and gulped down the wine. His mouth was gleaming with grease.The 16-foot-long table was filled with a variety of meats. At the center was a giant cow's head, with its cooked and reassembled body behind it. There were also suckling pigs, whole lambs, chickens, ducks, fish, and other meats surrounding it. The table was filled with 30 to 40 different types of meat without any vegetables.Bailey grabbed different pieces of meat and stuffed them into his mouth with incredible speed. He devoured them like a ravenous beast. The two maids standing nearby watched in astonishment as hundreds of pounds of meat disappeared before their eyes as he wolfed them down in large pieces.This amount of meat could have fed over 100 people, but he could have polished it off at the rate he was e