"Shen Yu, are you still worried?"


    The calm voice of the elder beside him snapped him out of his thoughts. Shen Yu turned his head, gazing at the wise face of the old man. There was a slight hesitation in his eyes, but he quicklyposed himself and answered seriously, "No, Master. It''s just… after seeing Lord Lein in person, I can only imagine how strong his disciples must be."


    The elder let out a soft sigh, then lightly patted Shen Yu''s shoulder. "Don''t push yourself too hard," he said gently, though his tone remained firm.


    Shen Yu nodded, though the turmoil in his heart still lingered. He turned his gaze back to the stage, where Isabel had now taken over the event. The woman stood tall with a confident posture, her voice resonating throughout the arena.


    "The Friendship Duels will be divided into three groups," Isabel said, her sharp gaze sweeping over the audience before she continued.


    The first group was the Direct Duel, consisting of participants with tier-1 to tier-3 strength. This duel would be further divided into smaller groups based on each participant''s power level. There was no limit to the number of participants—anyone who wished to test their abilities was wee to join.


    As soon as Isabel finished exining, the atmosphere in the audience stands shifted. Excited whispers spread across the venue. Some businessmen and first-tier hunters exchanged nces, their eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. This event was not just a showcase of strength but also a golden opportunity to elevate their reputation.


    "Next, the second group is the Skill Duel between cksmiths and Alchemists," Isabel continued, this time directing her gaze toward a specific section of the audience.


    Although cksmiths and alchemists had not yet reached the same level of recognition as fighters, their presence was bing increasingly significant. With the rapid development of the Divine Sky Realm, these professions had be crucialponents in the power ecosystem. In fact, several cksmith and alchemist organizations had already been established to strengthen their standing.


    In one corner of the stands, a group of young men in brown uniforms bearing the emblem of a misty hammer were engaged in an animated discussion.


    "Amazing! We cksmiths finally get to participate!" eximed a chubby man with rosy cheeks.


    "This must be thanks to Master Bagus," added a woman beside him. "He must have suggested this to the Guardians!"


    "Whatever the reason, we have to win!" another chimed in, clenching his fist with determination. "We must not disappoint Master Bagus!"


    They were direct disciples of Bagus, the head of the cksmith division in the World Market Trade Alliance. With full ess to the alliance''s resources, they had been trained with top-tier facilities rarely avable to most people. There was no excuse to feel defeated before even stepping into battle, even if their opponents were from the Cui race and the Silent Forest Elves—who had honed their craft for hundreds of thousands of years.


    The cksmith and alchemist apprentices from the Cui race and the Silent Forest Elves in the audience were also brimming with excitement. Their eyes sparkled with anticipation, not just for the opportunity to showcase their skills but also for the rewards at stake. Though they remained mostly silent, they paid close attention to the exnation with unwavering focus.


    Isabel waited for a moment, ensuring the audience had refocused before continuing. After a brief pause, she spoke again, her voice firm andmanding.


    "Finally, the third group is the Trial Realm Duel," she announced with a serious tone. She then borated on the Gate of Fortune Duel, apetition far more challenging than the previous two.


    This duel would be directly overseen by Lein and the other Guardians. Only rulers or cultivators at the Master and Grandmaster levels were eligible to participate. Unlike the previous duels, which were open to the public, the Trial Realm Duel had strict regtions. Additionally, three additional teams would be randomly selected topete. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    As Isabel concluded her exnation, the atmosphere in the stands changed. While the audience had responded with cheers earlier, this time, their reaction was much quieter. Not because the duel was uninteresting, but because its challenge was so immense. Besides the fact that Masters and Grandmasters were fewer in number, this duel would also be closely monitored by the Guardians. Any form of cheating would be exposed immediately.


    Among the crowd, Shen Yu felt his heart sink into his stomach. "One more chance…" he murmured to himself. If he were selected for the group led by Lein, there was a high possibility that he would be unable to use his system''s abilities. However, if he ended up in the group under Guardian Aleron or Tauriel, he might still have a chance to survive. So far, his system had yet to be detected by either of them.


    "Shen Yu, prepare yourself. In one hour, the group selection will begin."


    The elder''s voice beside him was firm, directed not only at him but also at the other top disciples.


    "I want to be in Guardian Lein''s group! He''s so handsome!"


    Shen Yu turned toward the voice and saw a junior female disciple with a flushed face. The girl, Mei Ling, looked absolutely smitten, as if Lein''s presence was the only thing upying her mind.


    "Mei-Mei, you''re acting so differently today," another disciple remarked in confusion. Normally, Mei Ling was gentle, lively, and innocent. But now, she looked like a bride eagerly awaiting her groom.


    "Mei-Mei, focus! Stop joking around!"


    The elder''s voice rang out again, sharper this time.


    In an instant, Mei Ling''s expression changed. She straightened her posture and nodded quickly. "Yes, Master! Mei-Mei will focus!" she dered firmly.


    Jing Bao, the ninth disciple, chuckled at his junior''s antics. Casually, he ruffled Mei Ling''s hair while teasing, "Silly girl."


    "But you already have a handsome man beside you. Why are you aiming for another?" he continued yfully.@@novelbin@@


    Mei Ling only huffed and turned away, as if silently dering that Jing Bao''s handsomeness was far inferior to Lein''s. In her eyes, in every aspect, Jing Bao could neverpare to the Guardian she admired.


    While the others continued their yful banter, Shen Yu simply let out a long sigh. This was precisely why he rarely spoke. His juniors always discussed things he found irrelevant. It was better to remain silent than to waste energy on meaningless chatter.