"Boss, the competition has started."

"I'm watching," Su Changfeng replied, "Each team should watch the entrances and exits, and as soon as the match ends, take action."

"Understood," the crackling voice in the communication crystal paused, then added, "Boss, why don't we just make a move now? They should be stopped here anyway."

"You really think so?"

"Boss, you don't really think he can win the championship, do you?"

Su Changfeng's tone was very calm: "In that match with Elpaxin, didn't you see it?"

"But no matter how strong he is, he's just one person, and that young guy from Elfendo, they're investigating his background... He and that Alchemist from Fenris have targets; if we rank the targets, they should be at the lowest tier, right?"

"Then who is first?"

"Of course, it's the Alchemist from Fenris, but..."

Su Changfeng couldn't help but smile lightly.

"Just watch," he replied nonchalantly.

There was still a quarter of an hour until the competition began—

The crowd in the square suddenly began to move, like ripples spreading out after a pebble is dropped into the water.

The dense crowd was pressing apart to the left and right.

Fang Hong saw from afar a team entering from the north side of the square. At first glance, he recognized the girl named Vikki, who seemed somewhat distracted, and behind her was that bespectacled, squinting boy, whose learning ability Fang Hong found even more impressive than the girl's.

He had seen these two once in Elpaxin; as for the others, he didn't remember as clearly, only seeing a few familiar faces from the distance.

The people from the Ancient Tower were here.

And on the field besides them, the people from the Shadow Throne were present as well. Fang Hong glanced in that direction but couldn't see them clearly through the crowd. He recalled that he didn't have much of an impression of the contestants from that team either.

He hadn't yet seen the people from Shadow Throne when the next team entered the field.

It was the team from Elfendo.

Leading them was Rolin, naturally.

This very handsome young man raised his head to look at the arena upon entering, attracting a wave of discussion. Even if people didn't know beforehand, they understood his deeds through word of mouth by now:

During the Dragon Slaying Campaign of Idus, at the critical moment, he took the Dragon Strike Gun from the hands of a top Artisan Master and killed the Evil Dragon Toragotos.

Although this was somewhat exaggerated, and the dragon slaying was by no means accomplished by him alone, in this era, how many dragon slayers exist? This had already become a contemporary hero story, inevitably reminding people of the feats of the previous dragon slaying hero, Yoshude.

Moreover, the local team of Elfendo would certainly receive more support.

The atmosphere on the square was fiery, with many fervently shouting Rolin's name.

To be honest, Mulan also wanted to join in.

"I would bet," said Hawk-Beak Bean, "that there are quite a few plants in the crowd here, it's a fools' tax really."

Leaving the former to grit his teeth and glare back at him.

Fang Hong looked at his communication crystal.

No news had come back from Parker and Xiangzi yet, but Tianlan sent him an encouraging message: "Brother Ade, go for it, charge!"

It even included an exaggerated emoji—

Which made him smile wryly.

Then he put away the communication crystal, glanced again towards the Elfendo team. Of course, they had more than just Rolin; there were three other equally excellent young individuals, two of whom were Invokers, and one a native.

The native was named Linen, twenty-one years old, who had entered the Hall of Thousand Doors three years ago, now working in the Magic Guided Department of Elfendo, but truly excels in the domain of crystal.

Besides Linen, the two Invokers were not top-tier, which was the Count of Westwood Sibika's effort to avoid stealing the thunder. It was obvious that they were going to great lengths to promote their own student.

After the Elfendo team, Golande's representative team was still absent.

Fang Hong turned back, noticing Liuli Yue frowning all the time, he couldn't help but offer a word of comfort: "Don't worry, there are others besides your Silver Forest Spear in the Artisan Association's team."

This superficial remark greatly displeased Liuli Yue: "You said earlier there's no need to participate in the official match."

Fang Hong hurriedly laughed it off: "This isn't the official match either."

The others couldn't help but snicker.

Liuli Yue rolled her eyes.

Fang Hong promptly added: "Really, don't believe me? How about we make a bet?"

Liuli Yue turned around: "Bet on what?"

Fang Hong suddenly thought of a perfect prank: "Whoever loses will name their work 'I am a Pigeon' later."

But he soon couldn't laugh anymore—

...

Ten minutes later.

Three contestants from Silver Forest Spear looked at Liuli Yue with interest, joking, "Liuli, why did you come to join this competition?"

"Are you intending to change to an Alchemist?"

"Liuli, this is treason."

The few of them laughed together.

Liuli Yue simply gave them a standard reply in her mind and then turned back with a dark face, expressionlessly staring at Fang Hong and asked:

"... What was the bet you were talking about earlier?"

Fang Hong was dumbfounded.

What terrified him even more was a beautiful lady emerging from behind the group of contestants, smiling as she greeted them:

"Hello, Ade, and Liuli Yue."

"Miss, Miss Red Leaf."

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