"I think that's enough for now. At least then you wouldn't say there was nothing you earned on this journey," Max said, and the group began moving again.

It was not long before they crossed the outskirts. Far ahead they could see a large castle-like building standing in the middle of a tall fenced area. Max stood in front of the group and beckoned to them to come closer.

"We arrived exactly on time and everyone would be paid their money and rewards for coming with us on this journey. Only a few select would go with us into the city. The rest of you can stay here," Max said, delivering the good news to them.

The adventurers cheered, and some of them moved to separate areas to settle down. But their eyes stayed up as they watched certain people move away from the crowd and go to stand with Max.

"So those were the nobles," someone amongst the group uttered.

From the way these people dressed, it was actually hard to differentiate them. Some of the adventurers licked their lips, their greed displaying on their faces. If they had known there were royal bloods among them, they would have done something worse.

It was completely reasonable why Max had chosen to keep the identities of these people secret.

Reith stood by the corner, no expression on his face, as he watched Milly move to stand by Max. Seeing there was nothing else to do, he moved to a separate corner where no one was present.

If it had taken three days to get here, then it would take another three days to return. Which meant he would not have time to rest before the Final Selection. He could not afford to rest.

Although he had broken into the Master Stage of the Core Realm, he could not afford to relax. Many of his competitors were from affluent families. Getting resources needed for breakthroughs was like drinking water from a large ocean.

It was so much easier for these wealthy families and students. They could get A-class and S-class weapons as if they were plucking fruit from a tree, while he did not even know the class of his weapon. Students like this could get any techniques they wanted, and he would not be surprised if a number of them had already reached the stage of Core Adept.

The Regional Insignia would definitely select prodigies. What if these people had also upgraded their cultivation emblems?

It was a headache.

"Do I even have a chance?" The headache seemed to increase the more Reith thought about it.

Then he stared into space and laughed lightly. He remembered what he had told Isho when they were still in the Libro Cultivation Event, so he could not believe he was undermining himself.

"It's best to focus on what I can do now than what would happen then. I have to make use of my remaining time," Reith said, looking at the tree.

Then he stretched a finger forward, concentrating his hana energy into that single point, and pointed it towards the middle of the tree.

"Passing a thread through a needle," Reith chanted like it was a mantra.

Then he fine-tuned the energy in his body, and in the next breath, lightning shot out from his finger and whipped towards the middle of the tree.

"Your direction is too predictable and your casting is slower," Milly's voice echoed from behind him.

"That was too easy to read," Milly said again, her tone carrying more bite than patience. "Anyone could dodge that. You shoot straight every time."

"Yeah I know." Reith sighed. "What do you think I should do?" His lips pressed in a thin line.

Then Reith fired again without waiting for her to talk, but once again he missed his target.

"So what do you think?" Reith turned to her when he was finally frustrated.

Milly walked forward and touched the charred spot on the tree. "Why do you keep stretching out your fingers like a child? Hana isn't on your finger, you know. It's everywhere," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Didn't you tell me—"

"I said focus, not trap it," Milly cut in. "You're locking it inside yourself. Hana isn't meant to stay hidden in your body. Bring it out and let it surround you."

"Oh?"

"Yes, of course. Do you think your opponent is going to stand and watch you fire?" Milly raised a brow. "I think playing with a wood has dampened your thinking."

Her tone was sharp, piercing an arrow into Reith's heart.

He had thought that fighting in the woods would sharpen his skills, but here was someone else saying something different.

Reith tried again, wanting to guide out his Hana outside his body and maybe he could select a few lines and then fire the lightning whip strike.

But since Reith did not say anything, Milly stepped forward.

"Why don't you come with me to the city and you can practice with some of the fighters we have in the palace?" she said.

Reith could swear that he saw the hint of a smile on her face.

But before he could answer, someone else stepped out of the shadow.

"You shouldn't be inviting random people to the palace, Princess Millicent." The voice belonged to Tia.

"Tia. What I choose to do is my business and not yours." Milly crossed her arms over her chest, before she turned to Reith.

Tia slightly frowned. "Your father—" This wasn't a good idea. The royals shouldn't mix with lowlifes and peasants

"Reith, would you go or not?" Milly instantly cut her short.

She hated the fact that Tia would bring up her father. She hated that man but her face was neutral and very unreadable

Reith thought about it. This was another chance to improve his skills, and there was no way he was letting this slip by him.

He turned to Tia, who subtly showed him the glint of her blade as if telling him to dare. Ignoring her, he looked back at Milly.

"Yes, I'd go."

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