"Just look at your face—I can tell you're lying. Not a shred of sincerity." Rowena pouted.
"I'm telling the truth! I never thought you'd actually grasp the wind element—that really shocked me. And you even know dual-wield sword arts, which is super eye-catching. Two-Wood, I never expected you to be such a hidden expert!" Evan Chu laughed.
"Big Bro Evan's right! Honestly, when we saw you unleash that martial art just now, we were all stunned. Who would've thought a little girl could be this fierce? Respect, respect!" Gavin Wei chimed in.
"You guys know who I am?" Rowena immediately asked when she heard Gavin say that.
"We don't know your real identity, but we figured out you were a girl in disguise the moment you walked into the restaurant. We just didn't say anything. For a girl to have this kind of power is seriously impressive. Two-Wood, what's your real name?" Evan Chu asked.
"Getting this lady's name isn't that easy—unless you promise me one thing!" Rowena grinned.
"Forget it, we're not that curious about your name. Two-Wood works just fine, don't you think?" Gavin laughed.
"Heh, Two-Wood is just a play on 'Lin.' Since you're a girl, there should be a 'Wang' before 'Lin,' so your real name is actually Rowena Luo." Evan Chu said.
Rowena never expected Evan Chu to actually guess her name. She secretly admired his smarts, but refused to admit it out loud. "I'm not telling you guys. Maybe if you agree to my condition, I'll consider it."
"Stubborn as a dead duck! Just give it up already! We're not falling for your tricks!" Gavin said, totally unfazed.
Rowena was about to retort when a voice echoed from the sky—it was General Roland. "The second trial has officially ended, and the results everyone’s been waiting for are out."
"Anyone who lasted forty seconds has cleared the round. If not, you’re eliminated. This time, just over five hundred people remain for the final trial."
General Roland paused, since most people were already grumbling, their faces full of disappointment and frustration.
More than three thousand candidates were knocked out in one go. It was a harsh truth for many to swallow. Some strong contenders had held back out of fear of the bell’s backlash, and now deeply regretted it.
Gavin was grinning from ear to ear. "Big Bro Evan, I made it! Did you hear that? I actually passed this round!"
Evan Chu looked at Gavin’s excitement and understood exactly how he felt—half was for making it to the next trial, and half was for getting to stick with him.
"Don’t celebrate too soon. You’ve still got one more trial ahead. Don’t get cocky—things can flip on you before you know it." Evan Chu said calmly.
Just then, two royal guards approached the group, and General Roland walked over, his golden armor blazing in the sunlight.
"I know it’s hard for many of you to accept, but that’s just how it is. The Heavenly Dragon Empire only wants the strongest. You’re all still young—there’ll be more chances to serve the empire next time."
"Now, the top ten from the second trial are here. I know you’ve all been waiting for this moment. Let me announce these ten—step up and claim your rewards."
General Roland immediately called out the numbers for seven people, leaving the last three unannounced to keep everyone in suspense.
After the seven each received their Starstones, he said, "Now comes the most exciting moment—I'm announcing third place."
Then he called Rowena's number. Everyone was stunned that Rowena took third place—she was the true dark horse, appearing out of nowhere.
Everyone knew the top two were Evan Chu and Ying Tianqiu, but no one knew who would actually be first.
"This time, the results are unusual—two people have identical scores. I’m sure you all know who: the first and second place from the first trial."
"Since Logan Zhao is only at the Earth Martial Realm but achieved this result, he deserves first place. Ying Tianqiu, who’s already at second-layer Heaven Martial, will take second. I’m sure you all understand—the gap between Earth Martial and Heaven Martial is enormous."
It was the fairest outcome, but Ying Tianqiu immediately stepped forward and shouted, "I refuse! Why is he first? If he’s really that strong, let him face me in a life-and-death duel!"
Ying Tianqiu’s challenge was instantly echoed by many in the crowd—everyone wanted to see Evan Chu take him on.
But Evan Chu stepped up too and said, "If you want first place so badly, you can have it. I don’t care about some silly title. And anyone who wants to fight him, go ahead—I’m not wasting my time."
Evan’s words instantly annoyed a lot of people—how arrogant could he be, calling himself 'young master' in front of a notorious rich brat like Ying Tianqiu? Was he asking to get killed?
"Let you have it? I, Ying Tianqiu, don’t need some loser like you to let me win! Just look at yourself—if you’re a real man, fight me! If you’re just a coward, I’ll let you off!" Ying Tianqiu shouted, full of swagger.
"Enough! Ying Tianqiu, this is the training field—don’t bring your thug attitude here, or I won’t be polite!" General Roland called out, unable to stand it any longer.
"General Roland, you’re being unfair, of course I won’t accept it. Even if I have to complain to my father, the prime minister, I’m in the right! Today, that punk has to fight me, or I won’t let it go!" Ying Tianqiu shouted.
"Heh, some people really have no shame. A Heaven Martial expert bullying me, an eighth-layer Earth Martial cultivator, and acting like it’s all so righteous—if it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to stand here. Even ghosts would be ashamed!" Evan Chu said, deliberately provoking Ying Tianqiu so General Roland would teach him a lesson.
Ying Tianqiu wanted nothing more than to kill Evan Chu on the spot, but with General Roland present, he held back. "You won’t be cocky for long, punk. Just wait and see."
Ying Tianqiu turned and left. Anyone who placed top three in both the first and second trials would be promoted directly. General Roland didn’t say much about Ying Tianqiu’s departure—maybe out of respect for the prime minister.
"Logan Zhao, rest easy. In the capital, nobody dares act out in front of me—not even the prime minister’s son. Stick to the training field these next few days and avoid unnecessary trouble," General Roland said.
"Thank you for your concern, General. I know what to do!" Evan Chu replied, then left, leaving everyone stunned.
Evan Chu quickly caught up to Ying Tianqiu and said, "If you really want a fight, I’ll give you one. Two days from now, bring whoever you want—I don’t care. But one thing’s clear: life and death, no blame!"
Evan’s sudden challenge was actually Luna’s idea. After Ying Tianqiu left, Luna told Evan he had to eliminate this guy—there was something terrifying on him. If Evan didn’t kill him now, it would become a huge disaster in the future…