Number One Martial Arts Tournament

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Although both the Xid Empire and the warring states of Omar implemented policies of "closed-door policy" to prevent the loss of their people, this did not slow down the development of Black Dragon City much.

Black Dragon City is like a soaring dragon; once it breaks free of its restraints, no one can stop it.

The powerful military has created a stable living environment, and the newborn population in Black Dragon City has entered a period of explosive growth.

Residents have become wealthier, with enough surplus money and resources to feed newborns and spend on education and healthcare.

Moreover, urban policies also include subsidies to encourage childbirth, making the cost of raising children very low.

The widespread availability of modern medical care has led to extremely high survival rates for infants, even in ordinary households.

The most significant increase in numbers was seen in the Kolman Tribe, whose numbers have grown from less than 10,000 when they first arrived in Black Dragon City to tens of thousands now. Those who initially migrated to the Karatva Basin were the strongest and healthiest members of their tribes. Now that the city has provided them with a stable living environment, their lives revolve around fighting and procreation, naturally leading to a population explosion.

Moreover, because Black Dragon City is located west of the Alkolon Mountain Range, where the black fog is dense, and because there is a "toxic aftereffect" medicine to eliminate the black fog, the new generation of citizens is significantly better in health than the previous generation.

The number of people with residency rights in Black Dragon City now exceeds 50 million. Adding temporary residents, the total reaches hundreds of millions.

Although it's called a city, it already has the population of a large kingdom.

In Black Dragon City, permanent residents receive a free Black Iron Potion when they reach the appropriate age.

This means that everyone can advance to the Transcendent level here.

Even the boiler operators, stonemasons, and plumbers in the city are all Transcendent!

Of course, most permanent residents have spare money to buy a better "silver" or "gold" potion to improve their quality of life and lay a better foundation for their future advancement to High-tier Extraordinary.

Unlike those Established Nobles territories, Black Dragon City's own "Black Dragon Potion Guild" has almost completely disclosed all the recipes for silver and Black Iron Quality potions.

Those recipes that were considered the exclusive property of nobles in other noble territories are like a universal Common Tongue Literacy Dictionary here; even Potionry Apprentice can recite hundreds of recipes.

This almost completely disrupted the entire potion market.

The monopoly of the nobility became completely meaningless.

Those veterans could never understand why the higher-ups in Black Dragon City would make these "private treasures" public.

Scarcity drives up value; the less something circulates, the easier it is for prices to be manipulated. This ensures that wealth remains permanently concentrated in the hands of a small group of resource-controlling elites.

Now that the recipe has been published, ordinary potion makers can freely concoct various basic potions.

The price of the potion was instantly driven down to near the cost price.

The monopoly on magic potions has become a joke.

This was a disaster for the nobles of both empires.

Those Established Nobles discovered that they had not only lost their most important "cash cow" for thousands of years, but also that their territories were suffering a massive exodus of potion masters!

Previously, there was a wave of mechanics "escaping" because of the most advanced Steam Machinery heritage in the Black Dragon City Ice Ridge Wasteland.

Now, however, it's a frenzy of potion masters fleeing. The reason is that Black Dragon City offers countless free recipes and the ideal learning environment for Potionry, giving hope to resource-starved potion masters who are flocking there.

Before Black Dragon City, potion makers operated as their own systems, and their recipes and refining techniques were mostly secret and unique.

Because they are not publicly available or transparent, many potion makers treat their few recipes as "family heirlooms."

Perhaps he will only pass it on to his disciples when he is about to die.

This is also the most important reason why the entire potion industry has developed slowly, and why formulas have become increasingly lost, incomplete, and erroneous.

The nobles, in turn, used recipes and resources as leverage to win over potion masters to serve them.

Now, this balance has been broken.

The recipes held by the Established Nobles are no longer attractive; they can be found for free anywhere in Black Dragon City.

Potion-making talents from various territories are also continuously converging on Black Dragon City.

The Established Nobles thought it was a "despicable tactic" by the Black Dragon City's higher-ups to win over potion masters.

But what they didn't know was that it was Rein and others who truly had foresight.

Maintaining the status quo and monopolizing potions could indeed bring Black Dragon City immense wealth. However, this would also mean that humanity's Transcendent development on the Ice Ridge Wasteland would continue to be as slow as before, or even regress.

They now know of the existence of the "outer realm" and that those covetous enemies will not let the "Black Demon Tribe" have an easy time.

The crisis is imminent.

Becoming stronger is the only truth.

The "Black Emperor's Treasure Map" has now spread, and the Three-Eyed Race's evil god has also learned of its existence on the Ice Ridge Wasteland, where a large number of enemies may invade at any time.

Only when everyone Transcendent can more exceptionally Transcendent individuals emerge. When disaster strikes the Ice Ridge Wasteland someday, they will have a greater chance of survival.

However, it's impossible for Rein and his team to tell everyone about their plans.

For now, only the higher-ups know about things happening outside our territory.

Otherwise, if the information is completely released, it will only cause unrest and panic among the lower-class people and will not serve any purpose.

While the inhabitants of Black Dragon City knew nothing of any "outer realm," they knew only that their lives were visibly improving day by day. They had inexplicably gone from slavery to a comfortable, prosperous life.

People also sincerely praised the great and selfless city lord, "Rein Hermes".

Black Dragon City came into being because of Rein.

With Black Dragon City, the people had everything they needed.

In the city's major squares, there is never a shortage of fresh bouquets at the base of the statue of Rein. Every morning and evening, large numbers of people spontaneously come to worship and pray.

They hoped that the city lord would always be healthy and that this wonderful, dreamlike life would never end.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

On this day, a piece of intelligence was spread throughout the entire Ice Ridge Wasteland via the Black Gold Merchant Guild's channels, the underground black market, and intelligence merchants.

In the main hall of the imperial palace of the Xid Empire, a dozen or so men dressed in black tailcoats, their faces unusually pale, had gathered.

This is a group of High-tier Vampire, at least prince level.

Sitting on the Imperial Throne was not Emperor Dracula XIX, but a beautiful woman, the Blood Ancestor Lilith Dracula.

Everyone was holding an emergency meeting with serious expressions.

"I never imagined that after Omar was destroyed, an even more troublesome threat would emerge."

"Yes. In recent years, Black Dragon City has been like a termite, draining the lifeblood of our empire. If this continues, we may be returning to the impoverished and backward days of ten thousand years ago."

"That guy named Rein from Black Dragon City, I don't know where he got his hands on this 'constitutional monarchy' thing, and he's come up with so many strange policies, abandoning his noble status and promoting equality for all. It seems like he's sacrificing his own interests, but instead of collapsing, he's become stronger and stronger."

"Yes. I suddenly feel that our empire's advisors are a bunch of idiots! They kept predicting that Black Dragon City's bullshit system would collapse in two or three years, but look at them now? Heh, they're doing just fine, while we old guys' positions are unstable. Anyway, there's been a slave revolt in my territory in the last six months. If this continues, we'll all be doomed sooner or later."

"."

The vampire princes complained incessantly upon meeting, pouring out their grievances to each other.

The situation was similar in everyone's territory.

While their "closed-door" policy has indeed slowed down population loss, it has also led to a sharp economic downturn.

Moreover, news of Black Dragon City couldn't be suppressed; everyone knew that there was a "City of Hope" west of the Alkolon Mountain Range.

If you suppress it too much, it turns into a slave revolt and a popular uprising.

The situation is getting worse.

Hearing everyone's complaints, Emperor Rogier's face darkened.

At that moment, the alluring woman on the throne beside him spoke.

"I didn't gather you here today to discuss those old issues."

Lilith swept her gaze coldly over her group of blood descendants in the hall, her tone utterly rude as she rebuked them, "Anyway, you fools can't solve anything except complain!"

"."

The youngest of the vampire princes, all of whom had lived for a hundred years, were scolded and had no temper at all, keeping their heads down and not daring to refute.

At this moment, Lilith tossed out a newspaper and said, "This is some intelligence that Nightingale recently gathered. Take a good look at it."

She paused, then continued, "Within two days at most, this intelligence will spread throughout any territory of the empire."

The Blood Prince looked at the intelligence report and exchanged bewildered glances.

Their hearts skipped a beat at the same time, and they thought to themselves: Could it be that Black Dragon City has stirred up some trouble again?

Upon reading the contents of the newspaper, they were all greatly shocked!

"The Number One Martial Arts Tournament? Wait, how can the prizes be like this!"

"How did those guys in Black Dragon City get their hands on the 'Blood Demon Sequence Inheritance' that is a secret of our Dracula Clan? Not only do they have potion recipes, but they also have inherited Cultivation Method!"

"Has someone leaked the information?"

"."

Upon reading the intelligence report, the princes immediately realized that something was terribly wrong.

Although the intelligence was only fragmented, they immediately recognized it as the unique Extraordinary Sequence of their Dracula Clan!

It suddenly occurred to me: Could there be a mole among them?

Impossible! No one can defy the bloodline restrictions of the vampire clan and betray the great [Blood Ancestor] Lady Lilith.

"No, look, it's not just our Dracula Clan, but also the Heimerson Family's 'Golden Victory Sequence,' the Kadar Family's 'Death Song Sequence,' and the Primo Family's 'Storm Sequence.' What's going on here?"

"Where did those guys in Black Dragon City find out about so many Transcendent inheritances?"

What exactly are they trying to do?

"."

Before everyone could speculate wildly, the Blood Ancestor spoke up.

"In addition to this intelligence, Lord Rein of Lord of Black Dragon City also sent a separate invitation to our Dracula royal family, inviting me to Black Dragon City to discuss matters related to 'outside the realm'."

Upon hearing this, the princes began to discuss among themselves again.

"Inviting us to discuss this? They're probably up to no good, aren't they?"

"Outer realms? What outer realms? I think it's probably a conspiracy by those guys in Black Dragon City. We've been exploring for so many years and haven't found any way to the outer realms. As for the Three-Eyed Evil God's will that descended upon City of Radiance, we still don't know where it came from. I think those guys in Black Dragon City are just spreading alarmist rumors."

"Yes! Lady Lilith, I think there's something fishy about this."

"."

This suggestion was met with opposition from almost everyone to any meeting.

How could they not know the current strength of Black Dragon City?

Not to mention the invincible Wyvern Legion, the Mechanist Legion is simply unmatched.

Even in terms of high-end combat power, the two great empires combined might not be able to match it.

Cavo, Mafat, Habu, Ymir, Canossa, Bazel, Guy. There are more than a dozen legendary-level combatants alone.

Black Dragon City is now a "dragon's den and tiger's lair"; anyone who goes there will die!

Moreover, during the battle of Omar's collapse, they even attempted to assassinate Rein in Wussenbar. Although they failed, the enmity was forged.

No matter how you look at it, this invitation seems to have ulterior motives!

Lilith listened with a furrowed brow, equally puzzled by the purpose of Black Dragon City's invitation.

After a moment's hesitation, she continued, "The guys from Black Dragon City sent the invitation, so they obviously know we'll definitely come back."

"Ah?"

The crowd was puzzled.

At this moment, Lilith took out the invitation again and said, "This invitation also contains the exclusive inheritance of our 'Blood Demon Sequence.' Moreover, the inheritance on it is not the incomplete legendary or Gold Potion Recipe of our inheritance, but the original 'epic recipe' used by the Seventy-Two Divine Generals advance! Of course, some key information is missing."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically. "What!"

Original recipe?!

This is something even the Dracula Family doesn't have. How did those people in Black Dragon City get it?

In an instant, they realized that Black Dragon City must have discovered some ancient ruins and found the Seventy-Two Divine Generals Inheritance.

That's why Lilith said earlier that the other side was certain they would go.

No one can resist this temptation.

Obtaining the original epic Extraordinary Sequence might allow us to glimpse the ultimate secret of how the great beings of the Monkell Civilization became gods.

At this moment, Lilith said with a solemn expression, "Moreover, it's not just our Dracula Family; all the families with top-tier lineages within the empire, the experts from the common people, and even Omar will receive the news within a few days. In other words, this 'World Martial Arts Tournament' in Black Dragon City will attract almost all the experts from the Ice Ridge Wasteland."

After a pause, she said with a serious expression, "That's what I haven't figured out."

Will Transcendent masters from all over the world gather in Black Dragon City?

Then wipe them all out in one fell swoop?

Even if Black Dragon City is arrogant, it wouldn't dare to do this.

Moreover, they don't need to at all.

If the goal is to weaken the two great empires, then if things continue as they are, these two old empires will eventually be "drained" sooner or later. There's no need to resort to such an outrageous method.

At this moment, Lilith sighed softly and said, "Aside from a crisis from 'outside the realm,' I can't think of any other reason why they would do this."

Clearly, she had already decided to go. She squinted her eyes and said, "So, I definitely have to go. I'll go see what those Anshe guys are up to. Besides, if something unexpected happens and I want to leave, they won't be able to stop me."

Hearing that even the Blood Ancestor had said this, the princes had nothing to say.

Within a few days, the intelligence spread throughout all territories of the Ice Ridge Wasteland in various ways.

In the southern province of Sid, a high-ranking knight lord looked at the newspaper in his hand and muttered to himself, "The Number One Martial Arts Tournament? Huh, the prizes actually include my 'Storm Sequence' lineage's lost exclusive divine skill. Those guys in Black Dragon City actually found it."

On a desolate wasteland, a lone hunter draped in animal skins picked up a newspaper from a passing caravan. After reading it, his gaze turned westward. "An epic potion of 'Barbarian War Sequence Inheritance'? Black Dragon City, huh. Looks like I'll have to check it out."

Inside a five-story Magic Tower of the Black Sorcery Guild, an old witch, her eyes gleaming, read the newspaper, "'Famine Divine Art' has actually appeared in the world!"

A wandering poet who frequented a tavern was looking at the newspaper in the tavern, reading, "The exclusive domain of 'the Poetry Law'."

For a time, because of the "Number One Martial Arts Tournament" with its generous rewards, High-tier Extraordinary beings on the Ice Ridge Wasteland set off for Black Dragon City.