Chapter 281: Alternative High Profile

Mo Tong had originally intended to boast a bit more and belittle the list of the top ten experts, but seeing Old Black's excited appearance, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva and close his mouth.

No matter how much he might disagree with others, Mo Tong was still very respectful of Hei Wu Kai.

This was a man who feared neither heaven nor earth, not even the Heavenly King, and for him to be so excited and so concerned, it was clear that the so-called 'acquaintance' on that list was extremely terrifying, and this was someone who ranked relatively low on the list from the War Academy...

Entering the Soul Void Illusion was inherently incredibly dangerous. It was right for Old Wang not to make plans, as no one knew what they would face once inside. With the threat of the Nine Gods, it might be bearable for ordinary people; after all, apart from a few war-loving lunatics, most were unwilling to risk injury.

But for someone like Old Wang, who was on the enemy's must-kill list, it could truly be hell.

...

The territory of the League of Blades is relatively complex. The core is made up of the main continent formed by the human great duchies of Debang, Longyue, Sakuman, and Xifeng. Additionally, there are the barren plains in the southwest where orcs gather, the free ports and small duchies along the southeastern coast, and the archipelagos scattered across the Abyssal Sea and the Dragon Abyss Sea.

Aurora City and Dragon City both belong to the northern region of the League of Blades, and the distance between them isn't too far. With the magic rail train, it only takes three days to travel.

Most of the scenery outside the magic rail locomotive window was golden wheat fields and continuous cities. However, starting from the fifth day when they entered the northern region, desolate areas gradually increased. Rocky, barren mountains were everywhere, and there were also smaller, scattered villages surrounded by earth walls that looked low but practical, giving a sense of vigilance. It was common to see guards patrolling the wilderness.

This was the intersection of the borders between the Nine Gods and the League of Blades. While large-scale wars were rare, small-scale burning, killing, and looting occurred frequently. Both sides' garrisons often disguised themselves as bandits to carry out such activities. Initially, it might have been some unruly or venting garrison troops doing this privately, but as you raid me and I retaliate, this back-and-forth has continued for over a hundred years, evolving into a tacit military operation. It served to plunder resources, eliminate border forces, and train troops, but it made life unbearable for the villagers in these border regions, leading to frequent refugee flows.

Three days passed in a flash.

On a desolate plain stood a magic rail station. The long magic rail line extended into this solitary station, and with a screeching brake sound, the magic rail train slowly came to a stop on the platform.

This was the station of Fort Blade.

Dragon City did not have a magic rail service. Fort Blade was the garrison camp of the League of Blades south of Dragon City, located several miles from the magic rail track and still a considerable distance from the Dragon City border. Setting up the garrison camp here was mainly to facilitate transportation and protect the magic rail line, which was costly due to the engraved runes.

As soon as the locomotive stopped, many soldiers dressed in the uniforms of the League of Blades gathered around, unloading boxes of various supplies.

After several days on the magic rail train, everyone was already tired of sitting and now got off the train with great enthusiasm, carrying their belongings. The station, which looked lonely from afar, was now bustling with activity.

When Old Wang and his group got off, there were already people responsible for reception waiting here. Seeing that Wang Feng and his companions were wearing the attire of the Rose Holy Sanctuary, the receptionists immediately came forward, smiling and said, "Ladies and gentlemen of the Rose Holy Sanctuary, please follow me."

The group followed him onto a modified motorcycle. It took only a few minutes to leave the station, and they soon saw the defensive works of the Blade Fortress in the distance.

It was a stone wall about six meters high, encircling a large area on the wasteland. Though it was called a military fortress, it had more the appearance of a small town, permanently housing fifty thousand troops of the Blade, led by the highest commander, the legendary hero of the League of Blades, the Undying Sword Demon Akray.

His name was truly thunderous,

During the days on the train, Winnie had mentioned him no less than ten times. He seemed to be an even more formidable figure from the older generation, a war god of the Blade, capable of taking on ten thousand enemies alone. Otherwise, he could not have maintained the stability of Dragon City for so many years, keeping the Nine Gods at bay despite their numerical advantage, not daring to cross the line openly. According to the receptionist driving the vehicle, the Divine Blade Fortress of the Nine Gods stood opposite, just tens of miles away. Although it was out of sight, its camp was even larger, with a permanent garrison of around eighty thousand.

Upon entering the fortress, they found that almost all the disciples of the Holy Sanctuary who were to participate in the Dragon City conflict had already arrived.

There were ample training grounds, and Old Wang's group was among the last to arrive. Many Holy Sanctuary disciples had come early to train, and some had already toured Dragon City or engaged in skirmishes with the other side. Of course, most of these encounters were mere probes; no one wanted to risk injury before entering the Soul Void Illusion.

As they entered the East District camp arranged by the military for the Holy Sanctuary disciples, the number of Holy Sanctuary disciples around them increased. They wore various unique and recognizable outfits, but all bore the emblem of their respective Holy Sanctuary, a clear sign of identity and a heavy honor.

To be honest, whether one can seize an opportunity depends on luck, but honor is something that can be earned through strength, tangible and visible. Everyone was here for this, except for the Rose Holy Sanctuary.

These guys seemed to have no concept of honor. From Captain Old Wang to 'miscellaneous worker Ah Xi,' they all dressed as casually as possible. Wearing the Rose's attire was out of the question; it would be like shouting to the Nine Gods, 'Come and destroy me!' Old Wang said that the top ten core strengths of the Rose were low-key, low-key, and even lower-key!

However, this low-key approach became a form of high-profile in such an environment. When registering at the front desk of the East District camp, many people glanced at them frequently. Not wearing Holy Sanctuary attire was unheard of here. Who were these people?

People's gazes automatically skipped over Wang Feng and Fantasi, who looked weak, and quickly focused on Hei Wu Kai, causing many eyes to light up.

It wasn't just the Li family that could obtain information on the participants. Hei Wu Kai of the Yaksha clan was clearly one of the top five experts in the Holy Sanctuary according to any intelligence agency. His appearance and attire were well-known among the Holy Sanctuary disciples, making him instantly recognizable.

"Another expert has arrived."

"Black Wu Kai of the Eightfold Assembly?"

"The Light of the Holy Sanctuary has ranked this guy fourth in the Holy Sanctuary. Hey, the Yaksha Wolf Tooth Sword, I really want to challenge him." Someone said with burning eyes, not out of arrogance, for no one here was weak. The so-called top ten experts were just opinions from various sides, and even their respective top ten lists varied. Besides, there were many others who were not well-known within the broad scope of the Holy Sanctuary but whose strength might not be inferior to those in the top ten.

"Damn, the little demon star of the Li family is here too..." Someone recognized Winnie.

"There's also a beast woman. Is that girl a beast woman? Is she the one called Kela?"

"A rare sight for a beast person... I heard that the Nine Gods also have beast people involved, but that's the prince of the golden bloodline of the Beast Race, quite different from this mixed-blood Awakened."

"Heh, it seems these are the people from the Rose Holy Sanctuary. Dressed so casually, are they afraid of being recognized? It’s really clever of them."

The surrounding area began to buzz with murmurs, as Rose successfully caught the attention of many.

To be honest, Rose was quite famous here. Whether it was Black Wu Kai, listed among the top ten experts by various parties, or Winnie Lee, renowned in several Holy Sanctuaries, or the awakened beast person Kela, all of them were hot topics and the 'darlings' of the Light of the Holy Sanctuary. It was hard for others in the Holy Sanctuary to not recognize them.

Black Wu Kai still had his usual laid-back demeanor, while Winnie and Kela looked equally relaxed. Being the center of attention was something they were used to, though the reasons for their attention varied. Mo Tong, standing beside them, was gnashing his teeth in frustration, his face filled with murderous intent.

It was one thing for intelligence to underestimate him, but how could everyone in the Holy Sanctuary be blind? They recognized Black Wu Kai, Winnie, and even Kela, but no one recognized him. He was strong too!

Ah, spit! How did he end up as unknown as Fantasi and Wang Feng, becoming an extra in Rose's story?

"You're Wang Feng?" The warrior responsible for registration looked at Old Wang, confirming again.

"Yes..." Old Wang had just responded when he felt the buzzing around him suddenly quiet down.

"He's the Wang Feng?"

"I thought he'd be a bespectacled bookworm."

"The creator of the Fusion Runes, on the Nine Gods' hit list." Someone chuckled, "Looks like he's in good spirits, with a positive attitude. If I were him, with such limited strength and being targeted by the Nine Gods, I would probably have lost my appetite and sleep."

"Hah, didn't you see how Rose pleaded for him, even going so far as to invite the Eightfold Assembly?"

The whispers around them grew louder and more focused. Clearly, as someone receiving special treatment, Old Wang seemed to be more famous than Hei Wu Kai.

"Hello everyone, this is Wang Feng, please take care of me, please take care of me." Hearing the buzz, Old Wang waved enthusiastically to the crowd, though few responded.

Beside him, Mo Tong's mouth was agape, his previously murderous expression now one of utter despair.

Damn, even a rookie like Wang Feng is more famous than him? This is just... unjust!

"Here are your room keys, Room 53 in Building Jia," the registration officer smiled as he handed a key to Old Wang, "You arrived just in time. At two o'clock this afternoon, Lord Yakelei will address all the Holy Sanctuary disciples. If you miss it, given Lord Yakelei's temper, you'll regret it."

...

Though the Fortress of Sharpness was a fortified city, its interior did not feature tall buildings like ordinary towns. Most structures were one or two-story barracks and training grounds, with squads of purple-sashed inspectors patrolling the camps.

The assembly area was in the hall behind the assigned dormitories.

The hall, which could seat hundreds, was gradually filling up. The seats had no names attached, but those with lesser fame or weaker abilities naturally took the back rows, while the front rows remained sparsely occupied.

"The guys from Azure Holy Sanctuary are really overstepping their bounds, sitting in the first three rows despite being unknowns. Look at them, acting so smug, truly unaware of their own insignificance..."

"If I remember correctly, Azure Holy Sanctuary didn't even make it to the top thirty-two in last year's Hero Tournament, barely better than the Rose next door..."

"Ha, look at them grinning like fools, thinking they've secured their spots. The top-tier ones haven't even arrived yet, and the front rows are still mostly empty. No one's paying attention to them now, but once the hall fills up and there aren't enough seats in the front, they'll know what it feels like to sit on pins and needles!"

The hall hummed with low murmurs, discussing trivial matters, but soon, these whispers were drawn away by the arrival of 'celebrities.'

The first to enter were five people, led by a man with red hair, dressed in loose martial attire and hands clasped behind his back.

On his chest was the emblematic mountain badge of the West Peak Holy Sanctuary. With thick eyebrows and large eyes, his expression was fierce, clearly the type who wears his emotions on his sleeve, always ready to act on impulse.

"The West Peak Holy Sanctuary has arrived!"

"It's Zhao Ziyue, where’s his Eternal Spear?"

"Brother, that’s the Eternal Spear... the soul weapon of the West Peak Holy Sanctuary, capable of being summoned and dismissed at will. Do you think it’s like the mass-produced items from your foundry?"

Zhao Ziyue walked straight to the front row and sat down, stretching his arms out to either side, immediately occupying three seats. His demeanor was domineering, while his fellow disciples sat in the second row behind him, exuding their own air of pride as they scanned the room without reservation.

"Hey, coming in here and stirring up trouble, don’t make your eyes so big or they might pop out," someone muttered in annoyance.

Zhao Ziyue, sitting in the front row, clearly heard this and a smile flickered at the corners of his mouth. They were just a few envious and jealous scoundrels. He had earned the reputation of the West Peak Holy Sanctuary through his victories in the Heroic Tournaments, and he had seen plenty of such small-minded individuals hiding in the shadows. Why should he care?

"Sword of Truth Ye Dun!"

"Blood Moon Lady Jiaoxi!"

A wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.

A man's name is like a tree's shadow; the Sword of Truth had long been recognized as a leader by at least half of the Holy Sanctuary’s disciples. At the mention of his name, almost everyone in the hall turned to look. Zhao Ziyue, who had been arrogant a moment ago, stood up immediately.

Entering the hall now was a handsome man with golden hair and blue eyes, clad in silver light armor. A broad silver Sword of Truth was strapped to his back, its thick and long hilt alone measuring nearly half a meter, looking majestic and awe-inspiring. By his side was the Blood Moon Lady Jiaoxi, wearing a tight-fitting mage robe and a blood-red cloak, her slender figure and chiseled features complemented by the symmetrical blue arcane marks on her face, reminiscent of the style of the Dragon-Elephant clan of the Eightfold Assembly.

"Old Ye, Jiaoxi." Zhao Ziyue, no longer domineering, greeted them warmly.

"Where are Gule and Max?" Ye Dun smiled as he approached.

"Probably still competing in the training ground," Zhao Ziyue said with a smile. "After all that fuss, they should be here soon. These two, despite being far apart most of the time, often write to each other and get along great, but it seems they can't meet without arguing."

"Just don't let it turn into a real fight like last time," Jiaoxi said coolly.

The three of them sat in the front row, chatting and laughing, looking very close.

The Apex Holy Sanctuary, West Peak Holy Sanctuary, Sakuman Holy Sanctuary, Moon Worship Sect, and Endless Abyss—these five were known as the old cornerstone Holy Sanctuaries, among the first to be established on the continent of the League of Blades. With their long history and deep traditions, they consistently ranked in the top ten out of the 108 Holy Sanctuaries. Each one was already extremely powerful, yet they maintained close ties and private alliances. In past Hero Tournaments, these five would often team up to fiercely attack other Holy Sanctuaries, then conserve their strength and play it safe when facing each other, often securing the top eight spots. This was a well-known fact.

Holy Sanctuaries were also ranked, with clear distinctions between the strong and the weak. To these few, the Holy Sanctuaries clearly belonged to a different tier.

The buzzing chatter around them grew louder, and someone enviously remarked, "Looks like they're going to form an alliance again."

"What do you mean 'again'? They've always been in an alliance, haven't they? These five have been breathing through the same nostril for ages. We've suffered many losses due to their tactics in the Hero Tournaments. If we enter the Soul Illusion Realm, their advantage will only be greater, leaving no room for others to seize opportunities."

"If they form an alliance, we should learn from them. Brother, I'm Aytu from the Judgment Holy Sanctuary. Interested in joining forces with us?"

"You're the Aytu who took down the Abyssal Serpent in last year's Hero Tournament?"

"Who here is truly afraid of them? Count our Shanan Holy Sanctuary in too!"

As the gathering time approached, more and more renowned experts entered, and each arrival naturally sparked a round of discussion.

Xiao Bang, the Son of the Dragon, and Aota, the Winter's Child of the Ice Spirit Holy Sanctuary, were all widely recognized as top ten contenders and highly talked-about figures, causing much buzz around them. However, when the few from Dark Demon Island entered, the buzzing voices around them fell slightly silent.

They were completely shrouded in thick black cloaks, with dark mists swirling around them, exuding a mysterious aura.

Dark Demon Island rarely participated in the Hero Tournaments, so they didn't appear often, but they still consistently ranked in the top five among the Holy Sanctuaries, their strength widely acknowledged.

To most people, Dark Demon Island seemed no different from Hell Island. Those who came from there were often labeled as cruel and deathly, and daring to gossip about them behind their backs was tantamount to courting death.

At this point, most people had arrived, and the venue was abuzz with chatter. The style of Dark Demon Island kept others at bay, and the crowd subtly divided into three groups: one from the five core Holy Sanctuaries, another from Dark Demon Island itself, and the rest from other Holy Sanctuaries.

Many were quietly assessing their positions, when suddenly they noticed an outlier.

"Look, it's someone from the Rose Holy Sanctuary."

"That's Hei Wu Kai, the Yaksha, and the one in front is Wang Feng?"

"Hah, so this is what someone on the Nine Gods' hit list looks like... Seems pretty ordinary."