Within the imperial capital of Gale Great Star.
Because the semifinals had been abruptly canceled, the place was shrouded in a strange yet boisterous atmosphere.
News that a cultivator had withdrawn from the competition overnight had already spread through every street and alley of the imperial capital.
Inside a popular tavern, the arguments were nearly enough to blow the roof off.
"What a coward! He made it all the way to the semifinals, only to flee at the last moment. He's brought shame upon all cultivators of the starry sea!"
"What a waste of the fortune I spent on my ticket!!"
"You can't put it that way. That was someone who wiped out the Rohl Family with a wave of his hand! If it were you, would you dare go up?"
"I..."
"Hahaha! Look at that, he doesn't dare say another word!"
"If you ask me, that fellow cultivator was the wise one. Keeping your life matters more than any hollow reputation!"
The man who had spoken first was immediately choked until his face turned crimson. He fell silent, drawing a burst of laughter from the people around him.
At that moment, an ill-timed, chilly voice suddenly rang out from a table in the middle of the tavern.
"If I had the chance, I'd truly like to go up."
"Unfortunately, that king with something wrong in his head wouldn't allow it."
As soon as those words were spoken, the entire tavern fell silent.
Countless scrutinizing gazes turned in unison toward the speaker.
He was a young man dressed in black, with a cold and sinister air about him.
Even under the lock of everyone's stares, he continued drinking as though no one else existed.
Beside him sat a companion whose expression was somewhat helpless. The companion tugged at the young