Sterl had no time to pay attention to the mocking remarks from the otherworldly yers. His focus was entirely on Ring One.


    The reason was simple: one of the contestants was a level 95 yer!


    Using his Star Insight, Sterl had already analyzed the level 95 yer, who possessed master-level purple-quality skills and master-level techniques.


    At this moment, almost all yers 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-ss yer held significant value for thepeting 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 dered, "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 hisposure.


    In Ring One, the two contestants squared off. One was a yer from an alien race that looked very simr 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 exmations from the surrounding yers filled in the gaps.


    "That''s a yer 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 yer before. She must be newly awakened as an official yer, 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 n. 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-ss yers could improve their descendants'' bloodline, enhancing their natural talents. Legendary yers could amplify this effect, giving their descendants better innate abilities and improved aptitude in magic and martial arts.


    But demigod yers 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 theirrge poption, 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, sessive legendary figures further optimized their bloodline.


    Due to their small poption, 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 yers could achieve second-ss status or higher. Because of their small poption, they rarely had significant conflicts with other races, including the Earth Humans, with whom they maintained good diplomatic rtions.


    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 yers on each tform slowly dissipated, the battle was about to begin.


    All eyes were on Ring One, especially those of Sterl''s "boss," the Fourth Prince, who waspletely 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 sess.


    His most prized recruits were three experts.


    One was George Tiffin from the Thorn Administrative Region, a level 91 B-ss professional.


    Another was a mysterious yer 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-ss yers. He was suspected of having third-ss strength.


    The Fourth Prince had used an arcane skill to probe him, but he still doubted whether "David" was aiming to be a legendary third-ss yer.


    Because David''s ability, known as Celestial Stars, was terrifying, but theoretically, a talented second-ss yer 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 yer 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 tform was about tomence, the eldest prince spoke again, "Come on, everyone, show your bravery and skill to the fullest!"


    "I promise you, the winner of thispetition 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 yers below looked puzzled, each one in disbelief.


    After making that deration, 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 n that had been ongoing for centuries.


    If sessful, 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 yers on the scene excitedly discussed this revtion, the battles on the tforms erupted.


    Unfortunately...


    The results of the first round were disappointing. On all four tforms, the disparity in yer 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 yers nearby murmuring, "The purple skill used on tform 2cked long-range output... The skill on tform 3 seemed to enhance weapons..."


    Despite their earnest analysis, the battles ended too quickly to ensure the uracy of their observations. Sterl couldn''t be bothered to listen further.


    Thest tform to determine a winner was where Faye from the Blue Water Tribe stood. Her opponent appeared somewhat formidable, being over level 80 and capable inbat.


    However, the fight never really began. The level 80+ yer seemed to have faced Faye before. Standing on the tform, 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 tform 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 disyed 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 remainedpletely concealed.


    The crowd, frustrated, could only wait for the next round. However, it was equallyckluster, with mismatched opponents leading to swift conclusions.


    Before long, the first round of the 161-to-81 selection ended.


    Eighty yers now sat dejectedly in the audience seats, having lost the opportunity to earn further rewards.