Every contestant who reached the top eight was a rare genius handpicked from thousands. Their popularity was sky-high, and just showing up was enough to create a buzz. Glenn, Fenley, and Abigail, the favorites to win, were mainly in the spotlight.
In addition to the matches, someone had secretly set up a betting pool. For many gamblers, the outcome of the tournament finals would decide whether they would win big or lose everything.
The stands were nearly packed by the time Dustin and Grace arrived at the venue. When the audience spotted him, many rose to their feet and applauded to show respect.
While his reputation and skill might not rival those at the top of the Legendary List, his performance had been impressive.
He had defeated two foreign contestants and brought honor to Dragonmarsh martial artists. That was enough to earn him widespread admiration.
“Faith! Dr. Rhys! Over here!” Alicia called out from the reserved section for Celestial Alliance disciples.
She stood and waved at Dustin and Grace. Her radiant smile caused the hearts of many nearby young men to race. As the fifth-ranked beauty on the Beauty Ranking, even her simplest expressions were captivating.
“Let’s go.”
Dustin and Grace exchanged smiles and accepted the invitation. They walked over to sit beside Alicia. The seats were spacious, and there was a small table filled with fruits and snacks.
“Dr. Rhys, it’s the final showdown today. How do you feel? Are you confident you can break into the top three?” Alicia asked with a smile.
“I’ll give it my all and leave the rest to fate. I’ll take whatever comes my way, Dustin said indifferently. 11
“Now that’s the right mindset.” Alicia chuckled. “Anything can happen in the ring. Until the final moment, you never know how things will unfold.”
“Alicia, the draw for the matches is about to start. Where’s Mr. Hudson?” Grace scanned the crowd but didn’t see Fenley anywhere, which struck her as odd. He had been there early for the tournament matches yesterday, so it was hard to believe he would skip out today.
“He went into seclusion last night. My father didn’t let anyone near him, so I have no idea what’s happening.” Alicia shook her head.
Earlier that morning, she and Aurora had planned to call Fenley to join them for the ride. But her father had stopped them and warned them to keep quiet.
“Seclusion?” Grace raised an eyebrow. Isn’t it a little late for that? If he misses the match, it’ll be a huge blow.”
Such a major event wouldn’t make an exception for anyone. While someone could step in to draw lots in their absence, missing the match meant immediate disqualification.
“I don’t know what they’re thinking.” Alicia sighed. “But Fenley should make it in time. He’s been preparing for this match for a long time, so I doubt he’d give up easily.”
Grace nodded and chose not to say anything.
“Here he comes! Fenley’s here!”
Aurora suddenly exclaimed. Her eyes lit up as she pointed toward a figure in the distance.
Everyone turned to see Fenley and Alloy striding confidently toward them. Fenley seemed even more vibrant. His whole demeanor had changed. If he had been sharp and bold yesterday, now he exuded calm and composure.
“Fenley! Over here!”
Alicia stood and waved as Fenley glanced her way. After exchanging a few words with Alloy, he made his way over.
Meanwhile, Alloy headed to the main seats facing the battle ring. As the guildmaster of the Celestial Alliance, he wasn’t about to squeeze in with the younger generations. The only ones worthy of sitting alongside him were Cyrus, Penelope, and Kaden-his equals.
“Fenley, how did it go? Did your seclusion training make a difference?” Alicia asked eagerly as soon as he took his seat.
“Thanks to the Advancil Godfather gave me, I’ve broken through to the next level,” he replied with a smile.
After a night of intense training, he had fully absorbed the effects of the Advancil. He crossed the final threshold and broke through to the ultimate grandmaster level.
“Another breakthrough?”
Alicia and Aurora exchanged a quick glance, and understanding dawned on them. Their faces broke into bright smiles.
“That’s amazing! Congratulations on your breakthrough. Looks like the championship title in this Combat Tournament is well within our reach.”
Before his breakthrough, Fenley was already formidable. Now that he had advanced further, his strength must have multiplied.
“It’s too early to talk about winning. But after my breakthrough, I do feel much more confident,” he said with a faint smile.
Fenley had watched the top eight contestants compete yesterday and knew they were all tough opponents. He wouldn’t have felt very confident about his chances in the past, but now everything had changed.
Advancing from halfway to ultimate grandmaster to genuinely achieving the title might have seemed like a small step, but his strength had grown exponentially. He could now confidently consider himself a formidable force to be reckoned with.
