Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong was pondering the opponent’s name when, on the other side of the crystal, the handover was already completed. Vikki held the crystal and said, ”Contestant on the other side, don’t you think this method of competition is too childish? How about we change the way of the competition?”

Fang Hong was slightly stunned: ”Change the way of the competition?” For some reason, he subconsciously recalled the crisscross light grid chessboard he saw when entering the room. The things on that chessboard were very similar to the training content on the software that Shana and the others had given him.

”Liox’s Beast Chess,” Vikki replied, ”In the Second World, this is the most popular competition form for Combat Artisans today. You should have heard of Liox, right?”

Fang Hong nodded. The owner of this name was the inventor of the Walker, Fearless One, and Shield Bearer series of flexible constructs, one of the greatest artificers in the history of Colin Ishurian, and one of the Great Alchemists. However, the reason for his status as a Great Alchemist was not his outstanding level in flexible construct design but because Liox-Spark was the designer and creator of the first Magic Guided Floating Battleship in Eteliria’s history, remembered for this achievement in the world’s history.

”He is also the creator of the ’Margin’ technique,” Vikki said. ”You are a student of Mr. Ande Ulriel. Ande Ulriel was a famous Fairy Master in the Southern Region, and since he took a liking to you, you must be a Combat Artisan as well, right?”

”That’s right!” Sonan’s muffled voice interjected, ”Old Blacksmith, your student must be a Combat Artisan, right? I almost forgot about that. How can the competition method for Combat Artisans be the same as that for ordinary craftsmen?”

The Dwarf’s voice was loud and booming. The ordinary craftsman contestants in the hall couldn’t help but have a blackened face upon hearing this. But they could only silently curse ’MMP,’ as ordinary Alchemists couldn’t match up to Combat Artisans. While the pinnacle of both professions might stand on equal footing, famous Combat Artisans in Eteliria’s history often had proficiency in craftsmanship as well.

But the reverse is not quite true—

Ande Ulriel, after hearing the Dwarf’s words, also had a not-so-good look on his face. He had seen Fang Hong’s metal gauntlets before and wasn’t worried this young man was not a Combat Artisan. But the confrontation between Combat Artisans is much more direct and intense than that of ordinary craftsmen, and Fang Hong’s previous performances made him truly doubt how much skill this young man actually had.

And after Old Copper Nose lost one round, the person sent this time is sure to be even more formidable. Frankly, the multiple parallel skills displayed by Zheng Yongzai earlier had already given him some psychological shadows.

The old man pondered for a moment, but not too long.

As his old opponent, the Dwarf keenly sensed his hesitation. Sonan chuckled inside the crystal and amusingly asked, ”Old Blacksmith, why are you not speaking? Don’t tell me your student is actually just an ordinary Alchemist?”

”...How about we stick with the original competition method?” the Old Dwarf probed deliberately.

But Ande Ulriel heard the teasing intention behind those words, his snow-white eyebrows twitching slightly, his face clouded. He snorted heavily, not even asking Fang Hong’s opinion, and with a cold and stern expression replied, ”There’s no need for that; old codger, whatever way you want to compete, go ahead—”

He agreed quickly, causing the Old Dwarf to be taken aback.

But it was Fang Hong who was truly confused, opening his mouth yet swallowing back the words ’Wait—’. This wasn’t his competition; why wouldn’t these people ask the opinion of the person involved? He hadn’t agreed, had he?

Moreover, while he knew Liox, he had no concept of this so-called Combat Artisan’s ’Beast Chess’. Surely there must be some sort of rules?

Instinctively, he was about to inquire, but just then, the voice of Hilveld came through: ”Wait a moment.” Fang Hong was slightly stunned and felt touched; his Miss Ship’s Officer was always so considerate.

Hilveld picked up the crystal and said, ”Mr. Sonan, the competition method is up to you to decide, but we should add a little extra wager, right?”

”—What?” Fang Hong was dumbfounded. Shouldn’t she be helping him ask about the rules? What is this?

”Extra wager?” The Old Dwarf found it quite interesting, ”Quite right, we should bet something. I still haven’t earned back the design drawing I lost to the Old Blacksmith last time. I almost forgot, but what do you intend to wager, little girl from the Albert Family?”

Ande Ulriel, with a dark face, finally replied, ”Old Copper Nose, you’re overthinking it; you didn’t lose just that one thing to me—”

This remark undoubtedly hit the Old Dwarf’s sore spot, prompting him to curse, ”Don’t forget, your embarrassing stories are plenty as well, Old Blacksmith. Don’t force me to reveal them in front of everyone.” ”Dare you?” ”Why wouldn’t I dare?” Thus the two fell into a back-and-forth confrontation.

It was Hilveld who interrupted them, ”Mr. Sonan, I need some of the Star Solution from the Dulun School; you should know what that is, correct?”

The Old Dwarf was slightly stunned, not expecting the little princess of the Albert Family to need such a thing.

This indeed troubled him somewhat. He scratched his head and said, ”Ah, that stuff... it’s the secret formula of the Elvin Family, the Guild does have some...” The Old Dwarf mumbled, ”But it’s not easy to get a hold of...”