“Oh? It’s them?” Dustin was surprised and raised an eyebrow when he saw Aurora and Crystal step onto the battle ring.
He knew they had signed up for the tournament, but he hadn’t expected them to face off against each other. One was a skilled disciple of the Sword Union, while the other was the daughter of the Celestial Alliance’s guildmaster, Alloy.
This elite showdown between two major guilds would be quite a spectacle.
“Fenley, do you think Aurora has a shot at winning?” Alicia asked suddenly.
He shook his head and replied, “It’s hard to say.”
He continued, “Aurora’s opponent isn’t someone to underestimate. If I’m not mistaken, she’s a Sword Union disciple. Her sharp gaze and strong presence suggest her cultivation is quite advanced.”
“A Sword Union disciple? That sounds like trouble,” Alicia said, frowning.
Despite their small numbers, members of the Sword Union were carefully hand -picked elites. They shouldn’t be underestimated, regardless of age or gender.
In the past, there was a conflict between the Celestial Alliance and the Sword Union. This left many Celestial Alliance members with lingering psychological trauma. The mere mention of the Sword Union made them wary.
Aurora already stood out among her peers with her remarkable talent honed through dedicated training under Alloy. Alicia knew her sister could easily defeat ordinary martial artists, but confronting a disciple of the Sword Union presented a much tougher challenge.
“With a stunning beauty on each side, today’s match is absolutely thrilling.”
“One’s fiery, and the other’s icy. Both are stunning in their own unique way. I can’t pick between them. It’s a tough decision.”
“Only kids pick sides. I want both!”
“Do you think this is a beauty contest? Get real! Do you really think you have a shot with women like them? Take a good look at yourself in the mirror.”
Aurora and Crystal’s entrance stirred the spectators into a frenzy. The young men, in particular, couldn’t contain their excitement. They openly declare their love.
Female martial artists were already rare, and such beauties were even more uncommon, Each of them alone would have attracted attention. But two gorgeous women were about to face off in the battle ring, which drew even more attention.
Many were eager to see these beauties in action. Some even hoped for a spectacle that would be a feast for their eyes. With that anticipation, the spectators grew excited.
“I’m Aurora Marshall from the Celestial Alliance.” After stepping into the battle ring, Aurora nodded respectfully toward Crystal, who stood opposite her.
Aurora was dressed in a red outfit, her hair tied back in a ponytail. She looked incredibly sharp and confident. Her smile made many of the male spectators’ hearts race.
“Come on, everyone! It’s a beauty showdown! This rare event calls for your bets!” Abigail shouted enthusiastically from below the battle ring.
Upon hearing her call, the crowd rushed forward to place their bets to support their favorite contestants.
The vibrant scene left Abigail beaming. It was clear that the appeal of beautiful contestants was a powerful draw. She made a mental note to use this strategy more in the future.
“Ruby, should we place our bet too?” Miles, seated in the audience, felt restless. He had become addicted to gambling and felt uneasy whenever he skipped placing a bet. Past losses had made him more cautious.
“Of course we should!” she exclaimed confidently. “We should support Crystal.”
She grabbed a small bag of celestial stones and approached the outdoor betting table. Slamming it down, she shouted, “Number 22, all in!”
“Huh? All in?” Miles was shocked. His eyes were twitching. He had meticulously saved up celestial stones, and staking everything felt like a daring gamble.
“Miles, what are you waiting for? Place your bet!” Ruby urged. She had unwavering confidence in Crystal.
“Okay. I’ll bet…” His voice trailed off. He hesitantly pulled a handful of celestial stones from his bag and placed them on Number 22.
“Is that it? Don’t you trust Crystal?” Ruby frowned, clearly annoyed.
“Of course I do,” Miles replied with a forced smile. “With her advanced cultivation and excellent swordsmanship, she’s got at least a 90 % chance of winning.”
“Then, you should go all in.”
Before he could react, Ruby snatched the bag of celestial stones from his grasp and slammed it onto the betting table.
Miles was startled. Just as he was about to reach for the stones, the dealer had already taken them.
His heart sank with a feeling of despair washing over him. Those celestial stones meant everything to him. Losing them meant losing any chance to recover from his mounting debts.
He had planned to play it safe and bet only on sure wins. But his cautious strategy was no match for Ruby’s impulsiveness. If he lost this time, he would be left with nothing.
