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墨書 Inktalez
Just this one intuition, one judgment.
Mu Yan was already certain that the young man in front of her, who appeared to be of similar age, was a contestant, a highly threatening opponent. Despite this certainty, she found it hard to believe and felt somewhat disheartened, but the facts were undeniable.
The attention of a stunning beauty was something that Step did not notice; otherwise, he might have become vain again.
Sean Sterling did not waste any words after coming out; he simply glanced at everyone and said calmly, "Let's go." Once he finished speaking, he walked ahead on his own.
Step shrugged, exchanged glances with Kalandor and Reynold, then smiled at Ah Heng before following along.
As they left the castle, Step noticed that several groups of people were gradually gathering outside.
Among them, he spotted the enchanting figure of Chief Judge Elena. At that moment, she and her group were conversing with the bald man and the handsome young man he had seen earlier. From their demeanor, it seemed that the two men held Elena in high regard.
Before long, Step saw Beck leading Gaia and a few others approaching from another direction with a group of unfamiliar people. Observing Beck's walking posture, Bu Xin couldn't help but blurt out, "Just by looking at how you walk, I can tell how much of a fool you are."
"Idiot." Watching Beck's foolish expression with his eyes wide open and nostrils flared, Step's muscles twitched involuntarily; he felt an urge to rush forward and give this Fellow a good beating. Sean Sterling also seemed unwilling to engage with Beck any further; he shot a cold glance in Beck's direction and then instructed Ah Heng to prepare the carriage for departure.
Before Beck's group could get close, two handsome servants swiftly brought over the carriage.
Step and the others boarded one by one. The elegant and beautiful Silverhorn Horse snorted loudly as its hooves began to move toward the royal city. In front of the carriage, Ah Heng rode a tall horse to clear the way while eleven elite guards closely followed behind the rolling wheels.
The journey was smooth since the castle was located in the inner city and not far from the royal city. In just half an hour, Step and his companions arrived at the royal city and disembarked from the carriage.
Golden splendor and imposing grandeur!
Step couldn't help but feel a sense of awe; indeed, it was a symbol of power at its peak in the secular world. The magnificent scenery would undoubtedly instill reverence in ordinary people, causing them to hold their breath involuntarily and feel a sense of restraint throughout their bodies.
This was a pressure of great momentum.
Although it was merely a duchy, to Step, it felt like an enormous entity. He felt powerless against just the Aldra Family of Crook Duchy; let alone an entire duchy?
While lost in thought, a group of six palace servants dressed in blue brocade shirts hurried over. Ah Heng dismounted voluntarily and spoke with them for a moment. Soon after, the six blue-clad palace servants greeted everyone before leading them into the royal city.
The banquet was set in Lotus Hall within the royal city. Step and his companions were the second group to arrive; before them, another group had already arrived—also led by a Judge accompanied by three young talents, each possessing extraordinary strength.
However, Mid-Level seemed to be an insurmountable threshold; none of these three young talents had broken through to Intermediate level or even reached Quasi-Mid-Level.
Bu and Kalandor exchanged a smile before each returned their gaze elsewhere. Although they shared a close friendship, after the incident involving Gaia, it seemed that a special interest had formed between them, establishing a preliminary bond of friendship.
In the grand Hall of Transformation, adorned with murals of unknown deities and surrounded by various uniquely shaped Azure Crystal statues, an array of exquisite musical instruments crafted through alchemy was displayed.
The essential oil made from the fat of the rare Intermediate Level beast, Mammoth, was simmering in the ivory hidden compartments of the surrounding walls. The captivating fragrance wafted through the incense burners, instantly enveloping the luxurious palace in a dreamlike atmosphere.
Above the hall, several large and beautifully designed magical lamps hung in succession. These lamps formed a lotus flower pattern, rotating slowly around a mysterious melody. Looking up, it resembled a lifelike lotus swaying in the wind, spinning endlessly and resplendently.
The bright halo of the magical lamps illuminated the entire hall with an ethereal glow, casting light on everyone and evoking a sense of sacredness akin to Anran.
At the center of the rotating magical lamps was a row of dazzling gemstones. Among these gems were rare pink diamonds, priceless emerald blood beauties, and invaluable luminous stones, along with numerous crystal cores from Intermediate Beasts.
Gazing at the luxurious scene on this flower-patterned ceiling, Bu was mesmerized, feeling as though he was beneath a brilliant starry sky formed by gemstones. The radiant light from the various gems shone upon him, creating a comfortable shiver throughout his body—a sensation that stirred one's desire for wealth.
The palace housed many precious musical instruments passed down from different periods of the Fran Continent. Some had strange shapes resembling large cauldrons with additional corners, while others appeared plain and unremarkable like ordinary stone slabs.
Beneath these instruments were thick cork pads used to secure them. The cork was adorned with deep blue star stones. Whenever some maidens dressed in alluring one-shoulder fitted dresses rhythmically struck the various instruments in the hall, enchanting melodies accompanied by their gentle emotions would slowly resonate, bringing peace to all.
Bu enjoyed listening to the captivating melodies that rippled through the hall. In this peculiar Fran Continent, there was no heavy metal rock music, no light music, no jazz, and no rhythm and blues—only an exotic charm and unique sensations.
As the beautiful notes gradually spread, time flowed slowly.
Before long, the other Judges responsible for eleven cities arrived with their respective contestants Shan Shan. The Judges were senior students from Holy Light Academy; upon meeting again, they naturally gathered to reminisce. Meanwhile, contestants selected from the Twelve Great Cities exchanged glances filled with hostility.
The Twelve Great Cities had a total of Thirty-Six Contestants gathered here; their presence was indeed formidable. Each young person present was not ordinary; they were all exceptional talents among thousands, hiding numerous tricks up their sleeves and possessing considerable strength.
Despite this, Bu remained the most eye-catching among the thirty-six individuals—like a moon surrounded by stars—his Glory shining brightly.
Unlike Gaia, who concealed her true strength through special means, Bu's power was evident without any pretense. Anyone with even a slight discerning eye could see that he had reached Intermediate-level strength.
Such an impressive presence drew frequent glances from many contestants present who secretly observed Bu while calculating their own strategies.
The Peak Showdown was crucial—it was at the core of the entire Qualification Challenge and determined whether one could become a student at Holy Light Academy. Many contestants were eager to fight for this moment.
Bu's remarkable strength did not go unnoticed; everyone recognized him as the most threatening presence among them and scanned him closely to discern his true capabilities.
Enduring the gazes of those around him, Step felt somewhat restrained in his heart, but he maintained a smile on his face, appearing calm and composed. At that moment, two elegantly dressed Servants entered the hall, accompanied by a group of beautiful young girls, calling out in high-pitched voices, "Duke Habia has arrived..."
Hearing the words from the two pale-faced Servants, Bumenlu displayed a strange expression as he looked at their groin area, humorously speculating, "Could it be that these two are also castrated eunuchs? Their tone is so peculiar, neither male nor female, it sends shivers down my spine."
Two rows of female Servants entered the hall and stood in two lines. Step quickly spotted a richly dressed elderly man with a crown on his head striding toward them with an imposing presence.
This old man had a hawk-like gaze and a radiant complexion. His slightly aged face exuded an aura of authority without anger, and when he blinked, it seemed as if lightning flashed from his eyes, making anyone brave enough to look at him feel intimidated.
Following closely behind this elderly man were two young men, also dressed splendidly and exuding an extraordinary demeanor. Their powerful strides indicated they possessed considerable strength and were physically well-built.
"Greetings, His Excellency Habia..." This elderly man was clearly the true ruler of Crook Duchy—Habea III. The many Judges present clasped their chests in reverence, and even Elena smiled charmingly as she gave a slight bow. Seeing this, Step and the other participants quickly followed suit in bowing.
Although Holy Light Academy was a powerful force within the intermediate dynasty and its students held exceptionally high status—comparable to that of princes from some intermediate dynasties—Duke Habia, as the actual power holder of Crook Duchy, commanded respect and authority that could not be overlooked. Many Judges, despite their noble status, did not dare to appear too casual or disrespectful.
"Hahaha... there is no need for such formalities. Please rise," Duke Habia said as he approached, raising his hands lightly with a smile on his face, clearly appreciating the gestures of respect.
Upon hearing this, everyone obediently stood up. The enchanting Elena stepped forward gracefully, her rounded legs moving smoothly as she approached with a smile. "Your Majesty truly deserves to be the ruler of a nation; your strength has reached Intermediate Level 5, setting an example for us all. I am Elena, representing Holy Light Academy to greet Your Majesty and wish you good health and longevity."
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