Pillar of Yita

Soon, the results that Gita got back confirmed the guess — she had taken a shortcut and directly obtained the basic data of the two genius teenagers, the Silver Forest Spear, from the intelligence unit of the Tabopolis Oak Knights Order.

As expected, Wu Di was an eleventh-level Alchemist, a male human, from the Colin Ishurian Alliance, seventeen years old in reality, having been in Eteliria for four years, one of which as a Trainee.

Everyone was surprised by this data; this guy had entered Eteliria even a year younger than Gita, becoming a Trainee at thirteen. What kind of talent was that?

The other boy was much less impressive, ID Liuli Yue, a tenth-level Alchemist, also a male human from the Colin Ishurian Alliance, seventeen years old in reality, having been in Eteliria for three years, one of which as a Trainee.

”Tsk,” Tianlan looked at the information and snorted. ”It’s about the same level as Tata, self-important.”

”This information is rather rudimentary,” Hudi commented after reviewing the data.

”Can’t be helped,” Luo Yu helped Gita to answer: ”These two must be the new Combat Artisans that Silver Forest Spear has been training as their main force, and they have always maintained strict secrecy. Getting this information was already not easy.”

Tianlan said nonchalantly, ”Anyway, we won’t bother about that Wu Di for now. As long as the next opponent is defeated, Brother Ade can teach that detestable troublemaker a lesson.”

”What about the information on the next opponent?” A Papalarian had to tiptoe just to barely lean on the edge of the table while looking up at everyone else.

Luo Yu and Gita exchanged glances.

Red Leaf, Fang Hong’s next opponent, happened to come from the Tabopolis Oak Knights Order, and as Trainees of the Knight Order, they obviously couldn’t betray the information of their own Guild.

Tianlan hadn’t reacted yet, blinking her eyes as she watched them.

Fang Hong, however, realized this and was about to say it wasn’t necessary to know the details, so as not to make it awkward for the others. But at that moment, a master and her servant approached the table, making him involuntarily stop and turn to look at them.

In fact, everyone’s eyes were drawn to these two sudden arrivals — a tall, silent and quiet maid. In front of her was a delicate, melancholic girl, her skin as white as snow, reflecting dazzling light.

Even the surrounding sounds subconsciously quieted down a bit.

”What a beautiful lady,”

Fang Hong even heard Tianlan exclaim in awe.

”We meet again, good evening, everyone,” the girl said softly, her voice ethereally clear: ”May I sit here? There are no other seats available.”

Luo Yu frowned slightly, about to refuse, but someone had already excitedly replied: ”Of course you can!”

The young man looked speechlessly at Tianlan, who was beside him.

”I’m called Tianlan’s Fantasy, you can call me Tianlan, beautiful lady,” Tianlan said with great curiosity, scrutinizing the other party and the huge box in her hands — sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder if the other party’s slender waist would break under the weight of that huge box.

”Little... sister?” The girl was taken aback for a moment, looking at Tianlan through her veil with her pale blue eyes.

Those eyes were transparent, with not a single secret in them, as if she was openly presenting her inner world, causing Tianlan’s heartbeat to quicken, even though she herself was a girl.

The girl paused for a moment before introducing herself: ”My name is Hilveld, this is my maid, Xiesta.”

The maid, with light purple eyes full of skepticism, looked at each person present, but still placed her hands together over her apron and leaned forward slightly to greet everyone with a bow.

And after getting permission from Tianlan, Hilveld finally put down her suitcase by the chair and let out a sigh of relief.

The surroundings became a bit quiet for a moment, in front of such a doll-like beautiful girl, everyone didn’t know what to say.

Hilveld seemed to be accustomed to this, initiating conversation: ”Were you discussing the participating contestant just now?”

Fang Hong finally reacted and nodded.

Hilveld replied: ”I know her name is Red Leaf, she’s nineteen years old and, according to your words, I am a native, so I’m not sure how long she has been in this world. However, she’s a thirteenth-level Alchemist registered with the Gula Port Artisan Association, and she is adept at using a Flexible Construct, namely Annihilator QV700.”

”Annihilator?” Fang Hong was surprised: ”Magic Guided Flexible Construct?”

Gita glanced at him and then at the blonde girl before softly replying, ”She’s right, it... it is like that...”

”How do you know that?” Luo Yu frowned and asked the girl, his tone unfriendly.

His questioning tone earned a forceful twist on his arm from Tianlan, causing him to wince in pain.

Hilveld seemed not to notice the malice and softly answered, ”Because I also live in Gula Port. Miss Red Leaf is a very famous Invoker and Combat Artisan in Gula Port, and her reputation among the commoners there is also very high.”

Luo Yu then closed his mouth.

Hilveld continued, ”Sorry, I don’t know if this is of any help to you all, but that’s all I know...”

”Of course, it is helpful!” Tianlan immediately responded loudly, casting an annoyed glance at Luo Yu.

Fang Hong was still thinking about the Magic Guided towards Flexible Construct thing when the sound of the loudspeaker echoed in the competition arena:

”Contestant Xiaya, contestant Xiaya, please come to the stage—”

Upon hearing this peculiar pseudonym, Tianlan turned back and cheerily said to Fang Hong, ”It’s your turn, it’s your turn, Ai... no, Brother Xiaya, good luck! Your goal is the next opponent!”

It looked like she had automatically dismissed Wu Di, who used the Fearless One, as out of consideration since that was a bit too much of a monster: the actual combat power of the Fearless One could basically be considered equivalent to a level seventeen War Profession Professional.

Even with blind confidence, she didn’t think that Fang Hong stood a chance of winning.

Fang Hong also nodded, then stood up and walked toward the center of the arena. As he did so, he buckled the brass buckle of the Magic Guided Reactor, adjusted its position, and then turned back to look at Atira and the others. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Fang Hong unexpectedly caught a somewhat peculiar gaze directed at himself—it was Hilveld’s gaze.

However, the girl quickly lowered her head again.

The crowd converged, and the light from that side was obscured. Just as Fang Hong momentarily hesitated, he had already reached the competition stage.

It quieted down slightly around him—

Since not many people paid attention to the outer competition arena, many were seeing Fang Hong, the ’lucky one’ of legend, for the first time. Most onlookers were curious since, for so long, the only one who had managed to advance from the outer to the final round was Fang Hong alone.

Though it was through unconventional means.

Fang Hong even heard some whispered discussions labeling him with titles that made one laugh and cry, like ’Lucky Xiaya,’ and ’Alchemist who stepped in dog poop,’ and so on.

At the same time, it was his first glimpse of his opponent from the Tabopolis Oak Knight Order—Red Leaf, an energetic young girl wearing a simple shirt, engineer’s leather skirt, and boots.

The equipment on her body didn’t seem very special; there were almost no ’brand-name’ items—the Magic Guided Reactor was a product from the Emerald Bird Workshop one tier higher than his, but in terms of price, it was far less than luxury items like ’Central Nerve.’

The ports on the Magic Guided Reactor were filled with plugins, including a shield generation device, shield recharge device, and an external cooling device attached to the exterior.

As soon as Fang Hong saw this external cooling device, he tensed slightly, suddenly recalling an ancient tactic related to the Magic Guided Flexible Construct.

Overload Stream—

He instinctively looked toward her left hand and sure enough, he saw a dial-like device. The opponent, noticing Fang Hong’s gaze, subconsciously covered it up, but it was futile because Fang Hong had already recognized what it was—a Magical Stabilizer.

Indeed, it was the Overload Stream.

Fang Hong thought to himself that it had been a long time since he saw this tactic; even in the virtual community, it had been at least several years.

On the other side, Red Leaf also furrowed her brows as she looked at Fang Hong. She didn’t know what his unintended glance meant earlier—was it just a coincidence, or had he perceived something?

But the Overload Stream was a very niche school of thought, and she didn’t believe that a player from the outer competition could discern the peculiarities of this Magical Stabilizer. In fact, not to mention a player from the outer competition, even the two geniuses from the Silver Forest Spear—

Red Leaf doubted if they could recognize it.

Between Combat Artisans themselves, there is a world of separation.

...