And so, one forfeiture after another played out on the arena stage.
Then came the contestant ranked ninety-second: a young man in a star-patterned robe. It was Ji Tianji.
Every eye turned to him. He was the heir of the renowned Heavenly Secrets Pavilion; his strength had to be formidable!
Ji Tianji stepped slowly onto the stage. His gaze swept over the top-hundred rankings, then he smiled faintly and looked toward the spectators. "I forfeit this match."
The declaration sent an uproar through the crowd.
Even the heir of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had forfeited?
With that, he stepped down from the stage and returned to his seat.
His bearing, his tone, his expression—everything about him was utterly at ease.
If he couldn't win, he couldn't win. There was nothing shameful about it.
Accepting that he was ordinary wasn't so painful.
Violet, ranked ninety-first, stood as well and likewise announced her forfeiture.
Her reasoning was much the same.
The Little War King, ranked ninetieth, rose to his feet.
Unlike the two before him, a fierce fighting spirit burned in his eyes!
He didn't want to forfeit!
He lived for battle!
The Little War King's fists trembled slightly, not from fear, but from excitement.
His gaze swept across the prodigies of the Human Realm before settling on a young man who looked about his age.
The young man wasn't tall, but he was exceptionally sturdy, with an honest, solid presence among the crowd.
His skin was a healthy wheat-brown, his face plain and sincere, and when he smiled, two deep dimples appeared.
The Little War King chose him because he sensed there was more to him than met the eye.
"Human Realm, Steel Pillar."
The moment Steel Pillar stepped onto the stage, sharp gasps rose from the spectator stands.
"Steel Pillar?!"