[Every emotion and resonance tonight will leave a profound mark on the development of the Continent Martial Arts Competition, becoming the overwhelming strength that carries on to the next tournament.]

Now, let's focus on the four champion candidates; they have reached their peak state!

Ladies and gentlemen, let's meet at the glorious rendezvous as the Champion Battle of Eternal Calendar 1293 unfolds in this Sky Arena to crown the strongest on the continent!]

The cultural performance segment of the Continent Martial Arts Competition has ended.

Qili's singing had passed as well, with a breath so steady it seemed endless, deep tones that bore no muddiness or loss of emotion, and a range that climbed to a high pitch as clear and bright as sunlight breaking through the clouds, yet without any strain or crack in the voice, instead exhibiting a full penetrating power.

Unlike the immersive experience at a live event, there were also numerous radio quality issues; people didn't understand the artistry and just thought this woman's voice was powerful, that she sang well enough.

But that didn't matter.

"It…it's starting!"

Liszt's heart skipped a beat. Fen's claim was that Lostra would issue the news punctually after the performance, and the time had come.

"Is my big photo already flying all over the world?"

Shadi couldn't imagine how many girls would take his handsome photo for mining.

"The most exciting half-hour is coming!"

Morison was also on high alert; he had no interest in the singing, only caring who the hell was the strongest on the continent.

This was indeed the highest specification event in the world, bar none.

The radio station was still broadcasting.

The draw for the champion battle's division had quickly been made, after all, there were only four people.

The rule was a two-on-two battle, with the losers fighting for third place and the winners facing off in the final showdown to claim the strongest on the continent.

Hearing the draw result, Liszt's heart sank halfway

If Brother Dao was fighting Julius, it would be fine, next would be Gedre, best not to face the Divine Sword.

But the groups had been drawn.

Xiao Long VS Saleret, Gedre VS Julius.

This was still a good thing; at least Xiao Long was extremely showy, so there was no worry about Brother Dao not surviving.

The pin-up photos were ready, Brother Dao was in place, the coffin commentary was in place.

If all went according to plan, Zote should already be at the martial competition site, just waiting to be unveiled.

It was just lacking Zote.

One could hardly imagine the splendid expressions of the sect charlatans and the high-ranking officials of the Royal Court.

"One gram! Immortal Emperor! Use the Corpse Fist on the Emperor!"

Rein encouraged Mika.

"Go on, Savior of the Brothel-goers!"

Because Saleret betrayed Chuan Che, he now just wanted to rise to the heavens alongside the Immortal Emperor.

In Liszt's eyes, the gentleness receded, leaving only a glint of cold light.

Come on.

Play with the old Emperor, a hard stick and a sweet date.

But strictly speaking, this sweet date was also mother-sent for coffin-threatening purposes, belonging to the hard stick.

A wake-up call to the overlord of the world!

At this moment.

The final warm-up before the champion battle, the last wager before the closing of the market, the pool's Golden Dragon soared to astronomical numbers.

Mika's mission had long since been completed.

At the end of the Boundary Sea, above the heavens, in the Ultimate Ancient Land, Qili's rehearsal makeup-dressing room and resting area.

The room wasn't big, just the standard room of the venue, cloakroom, full-length mirror, makeup table, some unused costumes and winged staff-like performance props piled in the corner, and the decor was simple, like any ordinary backstage.

The lighting was gentle, with only recessed light strips embedded in the wall and ceiling on.

There was only one person in the room.

The noise outside was too loud, preparing for the final champion battle, the four candidates were in place, and Mika, already distracted and restless, became even more anxious due to the clamor.

He took off his hat and placed it on the makeup table, and just waited, unable to sit still, pacing back and forth in place.

Strangely enough.

Despite all the times he had fantasized about what to say to easily win over Qili, all those memories evaporated in an instant.

All he could recall were the hypnotic lines from the erotic novels.

No matter how he thought, it was only some obscene clichés or banter white as snow, completely unworthy of this moment's gold content.

Damn it…

It seemed he had no talent.

"Calm… calm…"

Mika looked at himself in the mirror, with runed tattoos slashed across half his face like a monster.

He suddenly realized.

Indeed, most people enter Hell propelled by other forces, from others or the environment, beyond their control.

But those who propel themselves are different, seeing what's at the end of Hell.

Indeed, at the end, it might not be hope, only further… crueler Hell.

There was nothing at the bottom of the abyss of desire.

Just the whiteness and void brought by emotional overdraw, nothing but whiteness… and emptiness.

Voices of conversation came from outside the door.

"I'll go deal with the balance payment with the organizer and the arrangement for tomorrow's celebratory banquet, I'll be right back."

Even the assistant could only say so.

The Eternal Sect could not be defied; if it were just lower-level Holy Professors or Priests, the Evgeny Consortium might handle them.

But this was a direct decree from the Pope, a pronouncement from the messenger of the Eternal and Time Dragon in the mortal realm.

It was God's command.

And he also informed Qili, who surely could understand.

"Then hurry back."

Qili took a deep breath too, hesitating at the makeup room door for a good while.

After contemplating for a while on the weight of the Pope's decree.

Finally, she pushed the door open and entered.

Mika, highly strung and completely unprepared, was somewhat startled, left utterly frozen, mind blank.

It was… a real person.

The uncrowned queen of the adventurer's guild charts, the portrait silhouette on various promotional posters, the woman who just sang the theme song at the Continent Martial Arts Competition.

It was… her, herself.

And Qili hadn't changed out of her costume, still in her performance black-and-gold vintage backless gala dress.

Looking from afar and being this close were two different concepts.

It was an unparalleled impact.

When she ran through the autumn plains, the wheat waves weren't swaying but were burning into wildfires, exploding the rising evil thoughts into flying wheat husks, leaving only humble love and admiration sinking to the earth.

Mika…

Was completely frozen, utterly blank, unable to hear anything, only the ringing in his ears.

The difficulty of the final boss of a thirty-thousand-year war far exceeded expectations, Mika was instantly defeated upon first encounter.

"Hello?"

Qili smiled politely, not as terrifying as imagined, not the exaggerated religious monster depicted in novels.

Being clergy, having strange tattoos on his face wasn't surprising, Qili wasn't that knowledgeable about religions.

This person's appearance had nothing to do with handsomeness, but it was within the tolerable range, just very ordinary, but rather tall. After all, he was someone who had survived vicious battles and made meritorious contributions.

"Uh…"

Mika regretted it immediately after speaking, what was 'uh'? What exactly was he doing?

Qili, used to such sights, wasn't surprised and put her mind at ease.

Moving within various social circles, she had a knack for judging people; many men, once they recovered from seeing her, the first thing they did was to show off their prowess, what business they were currently doing, what real estate they had, which high-ranking dignitaries' dinner parties they attended.

This wooden performance showed him to be an honest man, with nothing worth boasting about, wanting to display allure but unable to, he was the diligent, by-the-book type.

She completely relaxed and closed the door, sitting on the chair in front of the makeup table, beginning to remove the accessories from her hair one by one.

Just say something, give an autograph, and send him on his way.

"Nothing to say?"

Qili had experience dealing with this kind of person, as long as she showed a haughty attitude, he would pressurize himself and leave embarrassedly.

What a fool, she thought of him surviving the war as an aide.

Mika really didn't know what to say.

"In about half an hour, I might die here."

He was indeed risking his life coming here; he could have retreated safely at the previous inn but still wanted to meet Qili once.

Yet Qili felt a chill on her scalp.

She had evidently misunderstood, did she misjudge? Religious charlatan… that meant extreme madness! Completely beyond normal reasoning.

Half an hour… death… what did he intend to do?

"I'm not actually an officer of the Eternal Church; my partners and I killed those people, and I…pretended to be him."

Mika stood behind Qili.

Qili sat on the chair, removing her hair ornaments.

Their gaze met in the mirror.

An extreme reversal.

Qili was somewhat frozen and horrified because there was no trace of joking in that man's tone in the mirror.