Rising to Fame

The Rising Underdog

As dusk settled, the first day of the tournament drew to a close. After three grueling rounds, only four contestants remained in each group. Tomorrow, the top two from each would be decided, advancing to the next stage of the competition.

Without a doubt, Ronald had become the tournament's biggest dark horse. Beyond his endless supply of bizarre artifacts, the major factions had assessed his cultivation to be at the peak of the Body Refinement Realm, Third Layer.

Yet, there was a vast gap between the Third and Fourth Layer—it was a true bottleneck. The ten strongest young contenders of this era had all surpassed the Fourth Layer, making it clear that while Ronald's performance was extraordinary, few believed he could claim the championship.

The betting odds reflected this harsh reality. The wager for Ronald to win it all was a staggering 1 to 100—an outright dismissal of his chances. Even Ronald himself had no real confidence in emerging victorious.

Still, following his orders, Black Moon placed a 50,000-gold bet on him. If he won, great. If he lost, it was just pocket change…

A Night of Reflection

As night descended, Ronald sat cross-legged on his bed, a spirit stone in hand, absorbing its energy in deep meditation.

Though he had yet to unleash his full power in today's battles, Li Haotian's final attack had left his sword arm faintly numb even now. That last strike was no ordinary move—it was the equivalent of a self-destructive blast from a spirit weapon, something not to be taken lightly.

He remained in a meditative state until midnight, allowing his body to fully recover.

From his robe, he pulled out a small, milky-white orb, his brows furrowing as he recalled the day's events.

This was the very gem he had pried off the ancient crown in that underground chamber. Later, he had discreetly placed it atop the ancestral statue in the Administrative Hall. Not knowing its purpose, he intended to use the upcoming auction to seek an appraisal.

However, something unusual had happened during today's battle. The tournament platform had absorbed blood in a disturbingly unnatural way. At that moment, the orb inside his robe had trembled slightly, as if responding to the phenomenon.

That alone was enough to make him more cautious.

This tournament—this so-called bride selection—was clearly far more than it appeared on the surface.

Based on what he had witnessed in the underground chamber, the old legends of the human race, and the whispers of forgotten history, a wild speculation had formed in his mind.

But the theory was so absurd that even he struggled to believe it.

After a long moment of contemplation, he tucked the gem away, took a deep breath, and resumed his training.

The Morning After

By dawn, Ronald and the other contestants had already gathered at the martial arena.

But this time, something was different.

As he walked through the crowd, the way people looked at him had completely changed.

Gone was the ridicule. Gone was the mockery.

Instead, there was awe. Respect. Even… fear.

The continent revered the strong, and after yesterday's performance, Ronald had undoubtedly earned that title.

He had even begun receiving flowers from noble young ladies.

Watching their shy and admiring gazes, Ronald was absolutely delighted. He smiled warmly, nodding to them in greeting.

With his delicate features and bright, cheerful demeanor, he looked like nothing more than a handsome, sunny young man. That only made the girls swoon harder. Their eyes practically sparkled with infatuation.

From afar, Qin Xue's expression darkened with outrage.

"Dream Rain-sis! Look at that pervert acting all smug! It's infuriating!" she huffed, stomping her foot.

Mia, observing her former husband from a distance, said nothing. She simply chuckled softly and shook her head.

Shadows Behind the Scenes

Surprisingly, Li Haotian had not shown up today.

Yesterday's crushing defeat had dealt a devastating blow to his pride. He had locked himself in his chambers and refused to see anyone.

Meanwhile, Qin Ji frowned. "Duan Fei, any news on where that man built his faction?"

The muscular swordsman bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, I've sent scouts everywhere over the past two days, but we've found nothing. If he has a base, it's likely not within the Chaos Edge region."

Qin Ji's gaze flickered with thought.

"Oh? That's interesting…"

After a brief pause, he waved a hand. "Forget it. Have the scouts withdraw. We'll deal with him later."

"Yes, Your Highness."