After Eight Rounds

A middle-aged man stood there, dressed in an azure military uniform.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, his posture ramrod straight. His silver-gray hair was cut short.

There was little expression on his face, but his deep blue eyes held an exceptionally calm, appraising gaze.

His weapons were a pair of metal gauntlets, each set with a pale-blue energy core. Fine scratches covered their surfaces, traces left behind by countless battles.

His aura was powerful, not the flamboyant kind, but a deep, restrained strength.

The rules within his body circulated with extraordinary stability, every energy node vibrating at the most precise frequency.

Someone from the Azure Star Realm.

Xu Wuyi had seen similar descriptions in Federation intelligence.

The Azure Star Realm's martial system was closely integrated with technology. When their Grandmasters fought, they used methods similar to Smart Brain assistance to optimize their attack rhythms.

But this man was different from the Azure Star Realm Grandmasters Xu Wuyi had encountered before.

His aura was more settled, more seasoned.

He felt like a blade sharpened countless times, without a single chip along its edge, every inch honed to utmost sharpness.

The middle-aged man spoke, his voice low and carrying a metallic texture.

"My name is Karlso. Deputy Commander of the Seventh Legion of the Azure Star Realm. I have entered Divine Intent for forty-seven years."

He paused, his deep blue eyes fixed on Xu Wuyi.

"I know who you are, Xu Wuyi, the youngest Divine Intent Grandmaster of the Star Origin Federation."

Xu Wuyi looked at him without speaking.

Karlso flexed his gauntleted hands, his knuckles letting out faint crackles.

"Perhaps you don't know this, but the Azure Star Realm noticed you at least a year ago."

"Your physical body is strong," he said. "Very strong. I have seen many Grandmasters in