Special Competition: Beauty Pageant

At those words, Valkyrie smiled for the first time.

It was like an iceberg melting and all things coming back to life. The fleeting charm of it left the Explorers dazed.

But that breathtaking smile lasted only an instant before the rising murderous aura washed it away without a trace.

"Since that is the case, then I can strike without worry."

As Valkyrie spoke, her delicate hand did not reach for the blade at her waist. Instead, she assumed the opening stance of a fist technique.

The next instant, the atmospheric pressure throughout the arena abruptly dropped. Soul Intent surged like a tidal wave, and before her fist had even been thrown, the earth was already trembling.

As murderous aura spread around her and nearly concealed her figure, her pale fist struck out.

Lu Li stared fixedly at Valkyrie without blinking. He watched as that punch went from slow to fast, then, upon reaching its target, erupted with both yielding and rigid force.

At the same time, Soul Intent converged like rivers flowing into the sea before erupting at a single point. The successive force reverberated and struck again and again like rolling waves.

Boom—

A thunderous sound resounded between heaven and earth. The shockwave sent several nearby contestants flying, and the only people in the arena who could remain standing were Lu Li and Pantyhose Milk Tea.

Under everyone's shocked gazes, the number on the testing crystal rapidly jumped. In an instant, it had become four digits and was still climbing rapidly.

1000... 2000... 3000... all the way to 9999!

Even after reaching its limit, the successive force of that Soul Intent did not dissipate.

Crack—

With a crisp sound, cracks first spread across the crystal ball. Then, as though a dam had burst, it shattered beneath that force