The brief stir caused by the explosive news has died down for now, as people must focus on matters of equal importance.

Who is the strongest in the 2690th Sixteenth Continent Martial Arts Competition.

The largest betting pool across the vast Western Continent has closed, with opulent guests from all over the world wagering fortunes, with the Golden Dragon counted in astronomical figures.

After the first two battles, the suspended Sky Arena is already battered, yet this masterpiece of Magic Energy Industry still floats in mid-air.

The female host's tone is solemn and grave.

As in every year, the finals will not be explained, nor will there be a live broadcast, as inserting some barren words would only make this "ceremony of the king" seem mediocre.

"As always, please have the two contestants come on stage, and the battle will officially begin after the bell of the Eternal Clock Tower rings."

The female host has turned off her mic, holding her breath, waiting for the sacred moment to arrive.

At 9:33 each year during the Stargazing Festival, the bell of the Eternal Clock Tower rings once, announcing that certain celestial bodies in the sky have completed a cycle.

The crowd in the stands waits eagerly, afraid to miss the pinnacle duel of the strongest contenders.

In the adventurer's guild newspaper, Xiao Long and Gedre have fought countless times, but the real victory or defeat begins now.

Regardless of the royal family's special seats, the church's special seats, or the invited VIP guests from various countries,

they temporarily lay down whatever they have at hand, intending only to witness the moment of championship.

Several seats among the top sixteen contestants are empty, as they are being treated, each with different expressions.

But regarding the two Descendants of the Overlord,

Kai Deng is full of worries.

Saleret's expression is unreadable behind his ghostly mask, but he looks meaningfully toward the High Priest and Qiande in the church's special seats, as if trying to discern whether the matter was intercepted halfway or already present at the scene.

Not only the prestige of the Royal Court is embarrassed, but the church's face suffers even more.

The Pope's mindset is unknown, whether he is embarrassed himself or if it is a more powerful blow at the Emperor.

Gren looks calm.

Galen, however, is somewhat short of breath, while this girl remains composed, staring intently, indicating that her bet is on either Xiao Long or Gedre.

It is getting closer and closer to 9:33.

The two contestants have also ascended the stage.

Xiao Long is still wearing a white open-neck shirt, with a Brave Cavalry half-cape draped over his shoulder, nimbly stepping back and forth between the walls of the training ground and the surface of the floating platform, landing lightly in the arena.

With a muffled thud,

Gedre leaps up, landing directly on the sky ring, causing cracks to appear on the ground.

Xiao Long remains carefree and composed, showing no sign of tension.

In contrast, Gedre's gaze is extremely deadly, and the surrounding air is as stiff as cement, full of hostility, ready to explode at a touch.

"Is it necessary to use such heavy hands?"

When Xiao Long sat in the special seat, it was also visible that Gedre was conserving time and energy, not caring about anything else offstage, only focusing on his own state.

This man is extremely ruthless.

Among the top sixteen battles, aside from the match between Julius and Corpse Collector Calvin, where Calvin was seriously injured, but that was at the level of recuperating for ten days to half a month before recovery,

those who faced Gedre, one had already died, and another was completely near death, impossible to save unless by extreme means.

"Don't stand in my way, or I'll cripple you."

Gedre knows Xiao Long's nature wouldn't surrender.

What he is as a good man has nothing to do with him; all obstacles must be flattened at the lowest cost.

The Emperor did not personally attend.

The most terrifying explosive thought has already sprouted; tonight will be a turning point in all future history of the Western Continent.

The final odds have been revealed.

Amazingly, the supporters of the two, the amount wagered, unexpectedly balance each other, with minor differences that could be ignored, almost doubling the stakes after deducting the organizer's handling fee.

Of course, this seems too boring.

In the top sixteen competition, there is a leverage rule; ending the battle within minutes can earn even more.

This is unrestrained gambling.

For Gedre, it is the same; to him, the lookers' faces are all ugly, these worthless things aren't fit even to be fed to dogs.

When the Emperor campaigned eastward, a bridgehead was built, named Heaven Port.

After the war ended, the coast of Beima had no peace for more than ten years; pirates plundered wealth, ravaged women, reenacting less than one ten-thousandth of the past agony.

This trauma... echoes thunderously for a long time.

Meanwhile, in Aran's mainland, beasts fight in the arena, with song and dance flourishing.

Gedre knows, it's just like that, merely like that, but...

He still wants things to be what they were meant to be.

What's even more blood-boiling is the whitewashed balance.

Hatred in his throat is like a searing iron brand, burning his breath shaky.

He wants to take this Continent Martial Arts Competition to its pinnacle.

Long since given up the notion of returning alive, Rodrigo the Eleventh will build him a proper grave.

Today...

Here, at the scene of the Continent Martial Arts Competition, this is the place of his burial!

He has sunk to the deepest abyss, disdainful of the furthest reaches of Hell, wanting to burn everything into ashes.

The bell of the Eternal Clock Tower has yet to ring.

Xiao Long senses that terrifyingly intense killing intent from Gedre, raising his wrist, and a sword from the weapon rack flies into his hand.

Though not a Qi Sect master,

Xiao Long has traveled the world, seeking out masters, learning a bit of everything.

Gedre also steps to the weapon rack; he no longer confines himself to the form of the weapon, anything is the same, since Xiao Long uses a sword, he will fully accompany him.

He also draws a long sword from the weapon rack, staring intently at Xiao Long.

Everyone waits for the bell to ring.

It seems the atmosphere of the standoff between the two is too terrifying and grim, affecting the whole venue; the once uproarious noise gradually dies down to quiet whispers.

The atmosphere is infectious, until the whole venue is silent, only the royal family's special seats and VIP seats have some fragmented exchanges.

Xiao Long's expression also turns solemn, losing that mysterious air of "I come to save you."

...

Gedre also steps to the weapon rack; he no longer confines himself to the form of the weapon, anything is the same, since Xiao Long uses a sword, he will fully accompany him.

He also draws a long sword from the weapon rack, staring intently at Xiao Long.

Everyone waits for the bell to ring.

It seems the atmosphere of the standoff between the two is too terrifying and grim, affecting the whole venue; the once uproarious noise gradually dies down to quiet whispers.

The atmosphere is infectious, until the whole venue is silent, only the royal family's special seats and VIP seats have some fragmented exchanges.

Xiao Long's expression also turns solemn, losing that mysterious air of "I come to save you."

The atmosphere is infectious, until the whole venue is silent, only the royal family's special seats and VIP seats have some fragmented exchanges.

Xiao Long's expression also turns solemn, losing that mysterious air of "I come to save you."