The positions of the final five to participate in the finale will be determined.

The wandering horse turned back and asked, "Lady Aisha, how is the competition preparation going?"

"Everything is fine, but you know those old curmudgeons, they are holding their breath to atone for past disgraces. The young people that Rosetta selected from the guild, I've seen them and they are far from ready, they barely have a grasp of what alchemy is. To defeat the opponent, especially the team from the Iron Oak Duchy, I think it's going to be difficult—"

"Is it really that difficult this year?" The wandering horse, being just a landscape broadcaster, didn't know much about this area. On the way here, he had hastily done his homework and knew that the China Competition Region was generally in decline, but he hadn't realized that it was to this extent.

Aisha shook her head.

The Ancient Tower, situated to the east of the Cloud Sea and north of Ishurian, is a United Kingdom composed of several small states. The local customs are fierce, and they have always had territorial disputes with Ishurian. Also, because in the region of Cloud Sea there are only these two large national powers belonging to the same competition region, the competition between the two in the annual Continental League has been particularly fierce.

One could even say they have become sworn enemies—

After all, in Eteliria, there is no such thing as "friendship first, competition second."

It is said that before the accession of the new King of Colin, the previous King Abidian would send his court alchemists to visit the various countries of the Ancient Tower every year; in reality, it was a blatant show of strength that made the nobles of the Ancient Tower's various duchies grind their teeth in frustration.

The Continental League has a long history, even predating the three major super events, and to this day, it has been held for the eleventh time. The one who has won the championship the most is undisputedly the Osh Empire, the dominant force in the Alchemy Realm. Colin Ishurian is not far behind, with the number of trophies it possesses.

In the face of such strength, the people of the Ancient Tower naturally had nothing to say.

But in recent years, the situation has gradually changed, especially with the overall decline of the Chinese competition region in the last few years, and Colin Ishurian has suffered consecutive losses in various competitions. Two years ago, in the competition, almost all four of Colin Ishurian's participating teams were wiped out, and in the end, it was only thanks to an unknown mysterious team that a second place was secured.

This year, in the first half of the round-robin stage, more than half of the twenty-two teams from Colin Ishurian had already sunk—a situation unprecedented in history, so much so that it alarmed the Colin Royal Family.

"You see, not just the Colin Royal Family, the Sanctified Forge Hall has also sent people. We have to secure at least three of the five seats, otherwise, we won't be able to hold our heads up in front of the people of the Ancient Tower for the next two years. Chairman Sauon is so worried his hair has turned white, and this year, even the team from the Elpaxin Artisan Association doesn't have an advantage in front of them," Aisha replied.

The two had already arrived at the support structures on the plaza.

The square today was naturally different from usual, with festive draperies pulled above and banners erected, and even a layer of carpet laid on the walkways.

The wandering horse looked around, only to see the surrounding stands packed with people, a sea of black heads. Not far away was the VIP stand, covered in crimson and filled with standing knights; he recognized these as the Morning Knights from Colin. The red knights were guarding only two people—one of whom was Earl Shanduo, the Chief Praetor of Elpaxin—a tall figure with shoulder-length black hair as his striking feature.

The other, a portly man with a slightly balding head, was dressed in an exquisite robe, and appeared to be in his forties. The Dwarf lady turned back and told him, "That is Prince Coleman."

Only then did the wandering horse understand. Prince Coleman was born into the direct line of the Colin Royal Family, the younger brother of the former King Abidian—the only surviving child out of the two children of Queen Fosha, and the fourth son of a count whose husband's identity had never been made public, the current young king's uncle.

It was said that this man was born extremely intelligent but was handicapped with a clubfoot and hare lip, causing his appearance to be unpleasant and disliked by court officials.

This was the wandering horse's first encounter with the widely known Prince, and there were too many rumors about him in Colin Ishurian. Some said he was cruel and lustful, while others argued he was cold and just. However, one thing almost certain was that he was not favored by the new king, who was merely fourteen years old—

Regardless, his highness the Prince was a heavyweight figure on this competition field in Elpaxin.

It was no wonder the Dwarf lady mentioned the pressure the Elpaxin Artisan Association was facing.

However, as an Invoker, he had little interest in the political landscape of the Kingdom of Colin, and his gaze shifted to the side. Next to the crimson knights was a deep, dark iron—an orderly row of Ishurian Dwarves seated, mainly from the Steelbrow and Lowland clans. This time, without needing Aisha's reminder, the wandering horse recognized these Dwarves' origins.

The Dwarves were silent and did not whisper to each other, their expressions solemn—these inhabitants of the underground Eldron were skilled in metallurgy and alchemy, and the shakeup of Colin Ishurian's status in the Alchemy Realm affected them much more deeply.

His gaze shifted past the Dwarves and further eastward to the representatives of the Knight Nation of Ancient Tower. Nearby, the staff of the Artisan Association were adjusting the last group of Projection Crystals, where a few dwarves clad in Elpaxin Artisan Association Alchemist robes were in a heated dispute with them.

The wandering horse let out a slight start. "What are they doing? Are those from the Ancient Tower Artisan Guild?"

"Indeed they are," the Dwarf lady said, frowning. "Those are the Invokers from the Ancient Tower Artisan Guild, they—"

She was about to say more when suddenly a thunderous cheer erupted from outside the stadium, drawing both their attention.

Both the wandering horse and Aisha turned their heads towards the commotion. The Dwarf lady's eyes widened as she saw the crowd that was entering, while the former already exclaimed ahead of her.

"Avenquin Elves, why have they come too?!"

"Briana-Kalanxil—!"

Outside the Artisan Association's gate.

Fang Hong watched in disbelief at the caravan on the other side of the street and the Elf lady stepping down from the carriage. He was unfamiliar with many things in this First World, but the silver-clad Elf Guards—Guard of Dawn, from the Egno Elf Royal Court—he knew well.

And the elegant lady, he just happened to know her.

"Hero of the Battle of Bain, daughter of Alanya, the Unicorn Ranger, the mistress of the Bow of Distant Stars—how did she come here?" Reed also rose to his feet, curiously watching the scene, scratching his mane with a paw: "Elpaxin is truly strange today. The harvest festival doesn't seem to be due yet—how odd, the Avenquin Elves have come too; they have been secluded in the Forest of Summer's End for a long time and haven't appeared in the public eye."

The three silently watched as the Elf Princess disappeared inside the Artisan Association. It was quite a while before they snapped back to reality.

Fang Hong and Reed exchanged glances, both somewhat perplexed.

The Avenquin Elves are remnants of the Numelin Elves, who allied with the Colin Ishurian after the Giants' War and maintained good relations with humans before the loss of the Morning Light Holy Sword, but had grown distant ever since.

Until the Battle of Bain over a decade ago when the Osh Empire invaded the Southern Region of the Kingdom, the Avenquin Elves sent an army to help the Colin People resist the Empire's forces. At that time, Briana Karanshil, as the daughter of the Elf King Alanya, also participated in the battle and became one of the Seven Heroes post-war, the most legendary Ranger.

Her feat of slaying a Floating Island Whale with a single arrow from the Bow of Distant Stars was captured on video by enthusiasts. It is still widely circulated in various communities and is one of Eteliria's most classic battle examples.

However, after that, the Princess Far Star sequestered herself in the Forest of Summer's End and had been in seclusion for at least thirteen years, not appearing before the world again.

In fact, if it weren't for her signature long white hair, Fang Hong would have almost failed to recognize this hero frequently featured in promotional posters of the China Competition Region.

"Why would she appear here?"

Fang Hong was equally puzzled.

As a 'Chosen' from the China Competition Region, he had grown up listening to the legendary tales of the Elf Princess. The Seven Heroes of Colin Ishurian were the dream of many young people in the China Region, and now that he finally saw them with his own eyes, Fang Hong almost subconsciously followed the Elf Guards without thinking.

But before he had taken a few steps, someone stopped him—

The one who stopped him was a staff member from the Artisan Association.

...

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