Pillar of Yita

His silver-gray gaze turned to the arena above—there, the final duel was about to begin.

The staff was nervously preparing the field and tools, as the large constructs were far from ordinary creations. Under Phales' instructions, two enormous arenas were laid before the audience.

People were reviewing each material needed, and the most precious Core Crystal even required special approval from the Council—a group of alchemists in various colored coats gathered in the square, fervently debating...

Ande slowly spoke: "But just as with your reasoning," he turned, looking at Count Westwood Sibika, the son of an old friend: "Ade is my student. Even if at this moment no one stands by him, I must support him—"

"George, do you understand what I mean?"

Count Westwood Sibika did not respond.

The old man had already turned again and stepped towards the stage.

Because of Alchemy.

This was the transition of old and new civilization, the passing of the torch.

Su Changfeng watched the somewhat chaotic square and the praetor's guards surrounding it with a fierce gaze, his facial muscles unmoving, showing no change in expression.

He then looked back at the young man preparing on the arena, withdrew his gaze, and picked up the Communication Crystal discreetly. After a moment of silence, Su Changfeng spoke:

"All units, attention."

"Check equipment, report positions."

"Observe the surroundings, look for weaknesses."

"After the competition, execute the second special operation plan."

His voice was suppressed to be very low.

To ensure no one around could hear clearly.

Because Su Changfeng was well aware of the tricks of the craftsmen, there were certainly Clockwork Fairies lurking around. But those things were of no concern to him.

"Boss," the Communication Crystal emitted a static noise: "Are we really going to act?"

"But isn't this somewhat against regulations...?"

Su Changfeng chuckled: "Are you all fools? Who said we're breaking the rules?"

"But, boss?"

Su Changfeng gradually pulled back his smile, turned serious: "Listen to my order, Stargate Port Order No. 47, authorized by the Central Command of the Third Combat Zone. Combine the Dragonfire Guild and Rain Listener cases, officially begin the Shadow Throne capture operation, all units time—"

He raised his pocket watch.

"A quarter of an hour later—"

Su Changfeng took a slight breath: "Officially commence the action."

"Mission objective one, ensure informant safety."

"Mission objective two, capture Shadow Throne senior members."

"Mission objective three, secure target's safe departure from Fanric, await Liupanshui Ship support."

"Understood," the static voice from the Communication Crystal responded: "But boss, there are Super Competitive League people there, what if they interfere?"

Su Changfeng flashed a toothy grin, coldly replied: "Treat them equally."

"Boss, isn't this inappropriate, the league will go crazy..."

"Let them go crazy," Su Changfeng sneered, not paying the opponents any mind: "I'm not responsible for them."

In one corner of Spire Square.

Spectators were moving to the sides to avoid.

In the crowd, Diket stood leaning on his sword, quietly watching the direction of the arena. Centered around the uniquely charismatic knight, frost slowly spread from where the sword sheath touched the ground.

People watched in horror as he placed his right hand over his left, resting on the sword hilt, unmoving like a statue. But the spreading frost extended several feet.

A slight cracking sound.

The ground of the square cracked open.

The crowd gasped, seemingly seeing a golden light seep from the knight's sword into the ground.

Only for these few exclamations to soon be drowned by another storm-like cheer that rang from the other end of the arena, sweeping across the entire square's sky.

There, two staff members carefully carried a nearly half-meter long blue-purple crystal onto the stage.

"Isn't that the Dragon Soul Crystal's Primordial Crystal Stone!"

"Heavens, the Council even brought this out."

"But isn't this too unfair?"

"What can be done, making large constructs uses the best materials. But there are only so many best materials; this is not an ordinary duel. Getting support from the Council is an advantage in itself—"

An alchemist knowledgeable in the audience explained expertly.

Phales silently watched the scene.

He certainly understood these tricks from the other side, and with the majority of the Council supporting Pudra, it was naturally biased. Especially since these acts were within the competition rules, it was not considered a violation. Because to make large constructs, participants were initially required to provide their own materials.

The Council's willingness to cover the material costs for both sides was already benevolent, leaving little room for criticism from other angles.

But he said nothing more, merely gazing silently at the other side of the arena.

There—

Fang Hong naturally heard the cries from outside the arena, but he did not clearly hear what people were discussing, only seeing the young man named Rolin slowly walking from outside the field to his side.

Rolin suddenly stopped, casting a dark look at him, and asked, "Aren't you afraid?"

Fang Hong paused for a moment: "Why should I be afraid?"

Rolin pondered for a while, then slowly replied, "You know the outcome of this competition is actually of no consequence to you."