BXBX NOVEL Chapter 74: The Empire's Grand Gesture
Using his Star Insight, Sterl had already analyzed the level 95 player, who possessed master-level purple-quality skills and master-level techniques.
At this moment, almost all players with detection skills had their eyes glued to Ring One, not daring to blink.
Even the previously arrogant eldest prince showed a look of interest. Undoubtedly, such a powerful second-class player held significant value for the competing princes.
The only exception was the Fourth Prince, whom Sterl had chosen to follow in his quest. The Fourth Prince watched the figure below with a faint smile and openly declared, "This one is mine. Don\'t even think about taking him."
"Yours?"
"I wouldn\'t dream of taking what\'s yours."
"Heh."
"Hehe." The eldest prince\'s expression turned rigid, a shadow of malice flickering in his eyes before he regained his composure.
In Ring One, the two contestants squared off. One was a player from an alien race that looked very similar to the Earth Humans, around level 80, and possessed several master-level blue-quality skills.
The other contestant was a girl dressed in a light blue robe, holding a staff, with matching light blue hair.
Sterl, being an unsophisticated person, had no idea what the other person\'s status was. However, the exclamations from the surrounding players filled in the gaps.
"That\'s a player from the Blue Water Tribe!"
"The Blue Water Tribe that produced a demigod and had their entire race\'s bloodline enhanced!"
"No wonder we haven\'t heard of this female player before. She must be newly awakened as an official player, rapidly advancing thanks to her racial bloodline."
Blue Water Tribe? What\'s that?
Sterl was still puzzled, but luckily he had subordinates now. He picked one at random and sent a curt message: "Compile and send me all the information you have on the Blue Water Tribe."
His subordinate responded instantly, sending a long message.
After reading it, Sterl understood what the Blue Water Tribe was all about.
The Blue Water Tribe was originally a very ordinary merfolk race. Before entering [Transcendence], they were merely a small clan. Everything changed when a legendary figure emerged from the Blue Water Tribe, reaching the demigod realm!
What did reaching this status mean? The information from Sterl\'s subordinate provided some insight.
Sterl already knew that third-class players could improve their descendants\' bloodline, enhancing their natural talents. Legendary players could amplify this effect, giving their descendants better innate abilities and improved aptitude in magic and martial arts.
But demigod players were even more extraordinary. They could trace their bloodline back to its origin, enhancing the innate talents of all those sharing the same race!
Of course, this enhancement had its limits. The Earth Humans had produced four demigod figures in total. Due to their large population, the enhancement didn\'t cover the entire race. Instead, three of these demigods\' descendants formed separate families and left the Divine Mountain Empire to develop independently.
The descendants of the remaining demigod who stayed behind became the current rulers of the Earth Human race, residing in Base Zero.
By the way, the information Sterl\'s subordinate provided was overly detailed. It mentioned that among the four demigods of the Earth Human race, one had the opportunity to ascend to the divine realm.
However, after seeking a breakthrough and entering a special dimension, that legendary figure disappeared without a trace, and it\'s been over 600 years since then. The family of this demigod also chose to separate themselves from the human race on Earth.
Back to the main topic, the Blue Water Tribe was originally an ordinary merfolk race. After a demigod enhanced their entire race\'s talents, successive legendary figures further optimized their bloodline.
Due to their small population, the Blue Water Tribe\'s overall aptitude improved generation by generation, making them one of the top-tier races in the Divine Mountain Empire!
Members of the Blue Water Tribe generally started with C-level talents, and most players could achieve second-class status or higher. Because of their small population, they rarely had significant conflicts with other races, including the Earth Humans, with whom they maintained good diplomatic relations.
The girl in the mage\'s robe before them seemed to be a newly emerging genius from this tribe! Judging by the murmurs Sterl overheard, her name was "Faye". But beyond that, there was no additional information.
As the golden light protecting the players on each platform slowly dissipated, the battle was about to begin.
All eyes were on Ring One, especially those of Sterl\'s "boss," the Fourth Prince, who was completely focused.
The Fourth Prince had previously sent out many loyal priests to secretly win people over during the first phase of the trial, with remarkable success.
His most prized recruits were three experts.
One was George Tiffin from the Thorn Administrative Region, a level 91 B-class professional.
Another was a mysterious player from the Val Administrative Region, who called himself "David." His level, talent, and profession were unknown, but he could unleash a powerful purple-quality summoning meteor ability, easily killing ordinary second-class players. He was suspected of having third-class strength.
The Fourth Prince had used an arcane skill to probe him, but he still doubted whether "David" was aiming to become a legendary third-class player.
Because David\'s ability, known as Celestial Stars, was terrifying, but theoretically, a talented second-class player could achieve it.
Nevertheless, the Fourth Prince knew this was a talent he had to seize.
The final expert the prince recruited was Faye from the Blue Water Tribe, for whom he had paid a hefty price to win her over.
However, during the first phase of the hidden mission, this female player had been protected by two guards and hadn\'t made a move.
The Fourth Prince was now eagerly anticipating Faye\'s performance. Was her talent worth the investment?
As the battle on the platform was about to commence, the eldest prince spoke again, "Come on, everyone, show your bravery and skill to the fullest!"
"I promise you, the winner of this competition will receive the arcane skill legacy of \'Mountain\' from our Divine Mountain Empire."
This announcement changed the atmosphere of the entire venue.
"They\'re giving away \'Mountain\'?"
"How could that be a joke? Isn\'t that arcane skill only passed down within the royal family?"
"Did I hear that right?"
...
The players below looked puzzled, each one in disbelief.
After making that declaration, the eldest prince maintained a calm expression, and none of the other princes present offered any rebuttal.
The arcane skill was typically not shared outside the Divine Mountain Empire because the empire only possessed B-level arcane skills. However, the empire was now actively recruiting talent for a plan that had been ongoing for centuries.
If successful, it would mean that the empire had a chance to acquire an A-level arcane skill! For such a goal, offering a B-level arcane skill was deemed worthwhile.
Moreover, the Divine Mountain Empire did not intend to provide the entire arcane skill but only portions of it, thereby binding the trial winners to their cause...
"A B-level arcane skill! There\'s a great chance of advancing to legendary status!"
"This time, we must give it our all..."
As the players on the scene excitedly discussed this revelation, the battles on the platforms erupted.
Unfortunately...
The results of the first round were disappointing. On all four platforms, the disparity in player strength was significant. The more powerful contestants easily ended their battles with a single purple-quality skill, leaving no room for any real spectacle.
Sterl overheard some players nearby murmuring, "The purple skill used on Platform 2 lacked long-range output... The skill on Platform 3 seemed to enhance weapons..."
Despite their earnest analysis, the battles ended too quickly to ensure the accuracy of their observations. Sterl couldn\'t be bothered to listen further.
The last platform to determine a winner was where Faye from the Blue Water Tribe stood. Her opponent appeared somewhat formidable, being over level 80 and capable in combat.
However, the fight never really began. The level 80+ player seemed to have faced Faye before. Standing on the platform, he merely smiled wryly and said, "Holy Maiden of the Blue Water Tribe, I am no match for you. I concede."
"I hope you\'ll remember this favor." he added before jumping off the platform with ease.
Faye responded with a gentle nod and a smile, "Our tribe will remember your gesture of friendship."
Facing an opponent far weaker than herself, the young girl displayed grace and kindness, leaving everyone feeling as if they had been bathed in a spring breeze.
However, countless spectators cursed in their hearts.
After all that anticipation, this is what we get to see??
Faye\'s true strength remained completely concealed.
The crowd, frustrated, could only wait for the next round. However, it was equally lackluster, with mismatched opponents leading to swift conclusions.
Before long, the first round of the 161-to-81 selection ended.
Eighty players now sat dejectedly in the audience seats, having lost the opportunity to earn further rewards.