Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

But when Allah lowered his hand, Sirin saw that his ten fingers were trembling slightly.

The amplitude is very small.

If it weren't for Siren's keen observation, it would have been almost impossible to detect.

Many people around turned their gaze toward Allah.

I have high expectations.

There is reverence.

There has also been scrutiny and questioning.

As the first in the inner courtyard of the Holy Light Monastery, Allah carries far more on his shoulders than ordinary participants.

Elena also saw his hand.

She frowned slightly.

"Senior Brother has participated in several ranked matches, why is he still nervous?"

"I'm nervous precisely because I've participated before."

Siren recalled the Knight Promotion Tournament at the Fight Club.

Back then, every battle could determine whether a person's years of hard work would be recognized.

The more important something is, the harder it is to treat it with a calm mind.

"Who can truly remain calm during a competition like this?"

Allah's replacement match began soon.

His opponent was a fourth-tier cultivator from the Sea Demon Temple who was skilled in close combat.

When the battle broke out, Allah was initially visibly stiff.

The water mine's power, which should have flowed freely, experienced several brief periods of stagnation.

The opponent seized the opportunity to close in continuously, unleashing a powerful punch that struck the water curtain, eliciting gasps of surprise from the monastery's spectator area.

But as the battle continued, Allah gradually regained his breathing.

Purple light spread out from underfoot.

The lightning pattern moved in the water, covering an area of ​​nearly a hundred feet.

Every step the opponent takes causes ripples on the water's surface.

Allah used these shocks to anticipate the direction of the attack and finally seized the opportunity during the thirty-seventh encounter.

A bolt of purple lightning rose from beneath the water curtain, piercing through the opponent's protective energy.

Immediately afterwards, Allah placed a hand on his chest.

A naval mine exploded.

The opponent was blasted off the edge of the field.

Allah wins.

After this battle, he did not rest for long before entering the semi-finals.

The opponent is from the Ironblood Ascetic Order, and his physical strength is close to perfection.

Allah's small world of water mines was torn apart twice by his opponent. After nearly two hundred moves, Allah finally sent a wisp of lightning energy into his opponent's heart meridian at the cost of taking a punch to his left shoulder.

The ascetic knelt on the ground, unable to continue circulating his energy.

Allah has won again.

The viewing area of ​​the Holy Light Monastery was in complete uproar.

Many people stood up and shouted the name of their eldest brother.

But Allah did not laugh.

His outer robe was torn at the shoulder, a trace of blood remained at the corner of his mouth, and his chest heaved violently.

Two consecutive high-intensity battles have significantly reduced his condition.

And the next opponent is Aldridge.

In the Sea Demon Temple area, the blond man finally stood up.

He unfastened the metal clasp on the outside of his dark blue robe and handed it to the disciple beside him.

Inside was a close-fitting black combat suit.

They were not carrying any weapons.

Aldridge walked onto the field empty-handed.

The roar in the arena suddenly rose.

Countless people called out his name.

He participated in several Star Ring ranking competitions, and each time he was stronger than the last.

Rumor has it that this person has already reached the fourth-tier extreme realm and has hunted down several real fourth-tier sea beasts alone in the outer sea.

Allah stood at the other end of the field, his hands hanging naturally at his sides.

My fingertips were still trembling slightly.

The referee glanced at the two players.

"Semi-finals."

"Holy Light Monastery Allah, to the Sea Demon Temple Aldrich."

"start!"

Allah immediately deployed his small minefield.

A large expanse of purple light rapidly spread from him.

Lightning patterns intertwined, sealing off Aldrich's surroundings.

Faced with lightning powerful enough to severely injure an ordinary fourth-tier opponent, Aldrich simply raised his right hand.

Clench your five fingers together.

boom!

A muffled thud echoed through the air.

A layer of deep blue lightning and fire suddenly rose from his body.

The purple light was evaporated into a large cloud of mist as soon as it approached.

Allah's expression changed slightly, and he extended both palms forward simultaneously.

Dozens of mines coalesced into long spears, thrusting towards Aldridge from different directions.

Aldridge finally took a step.

His speed wasn't exaggerated.

It was as if it knew in advance where each mine would land; it simply turned to the side, lowered its head, and raised its hand to avoid or destroy all the attacks.

The distance between the two quickly shortened.

Allah attempted to retreat.

Suddenly, the stone surface beneath their feet cracked.

A deep blue lightning bolt had somehow seeped into the ground and suddenly rose up from behind him, blocking his escape route.

A pincer attack from both sides.

Allah gritted his teeth and turned around, compressing the entire small world of the mines in front of him.

The purple light transformed into a thick lightning shield.

Aldridge landed a punch.

There are no complicated moves.

There was no remarkable momentum.

The moment the fist made contact with the lightning shield, the purple water mine suddenly collapsed inward.

Crack!

The first crack appeared on the surface of the lightning shield.

Then came the second and third rounds.

In just two breaths, the little world that Allah had painstakingly maintained was completely shattered.

Deep blue lightning surged in through the crack.

Allah's body trembled violently, blood gushed from his mouth, and he was sent flying dozens of feet backward.

Before he even landed, Aldridge was already beside him.

He pressed a palm against Allah's chest.

Allah crossed his arms and forcefully blocked the attack.

boom!

Allah crashed heavily onto the edge of the field.

Large patches of skin on his arms were charred black, and his strength was almost completely dissipated.

The arena was deathly silent.

From start to finish, it took less than twenty breaths.

Allah struggled to get up.

As soon as his palms touched the ground, his arms lost their strength again.

The referee appeared between the two.

"The victor is Aldrich of the Sea Demon Temple."

Cheers erupted from the Sea Demon Temple area.

Aldridge turned and left.

I did not look to Allah.

It was as if they had just finished an ordinary match.

Allah was helped off the stage by the monks of the monastery.

After losing in the semi-finals, he competed for third place.

Perhaps it was Aldridge's fight that shattered his long-standing tension, or perhaps he had nothing more to lose.

In this battle, Allah fought remarkably steadily.

Despite his arm injuries, he used the Water Mine World to wear down the fourth-level extreme realm of the North Sea Merchant Alliance, ultimately securing third place.

There wasn't much cheering in the viewing area of ​​the Holy Light Monastery.

third.

For most people, this is already a ranking to be proud of.

But Allah wants to be number one.

What the monastery wanted was also to be number one.

The real final was a foregone conclusion.

Aldridge defeated the Ironblood Ascetic in less than a hundred moves, taking the gold cup of this ranking tournament into the Sea Demon Temple.

As the golden trophy rose in the center of the arena, the deep blue banner of the Sea Demon Temple covered half of the light screen.

Allah is in third place.

A bronze medal hung on his chest.

He kept his head down and never looked at the golden cup in the center.

After the awards ceremony, people from all sides slowly left the venue.

No one spoke in the rest area of ​​the Holy Light Monastery.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Allah returned from the field, walking much slower than usual.

He did not accept the pharmacist's help, but walked to the wall and sat down by himself.

This usually composed and powerful fourth-tier extraordinary individual was now looking down with his shoulders slightly hunched, making him appear somewhat old.

Swain’s top disciple, Alvin, suddenly stood up.

His ribs were still wrapped in bandages, and his face was pale from the injuries.

"Beatled up like this..."

Alvin stared at Allah, his voice laced with suppressed anger.

"How dare you call yourself the senior disciple?"

The expressions of the people around them changed drastically.

Bruno quickly grabbed his shoulder.

"Senior brother, calm down!"

"Let me go!"

Alvin struggled to his feet and shouted, "We've all pinned our hopes on him! The monastery has given him the best medicine, the best meditation room, and the abbot is personally guiding him in building his own little world!"

"And the result?"

"Even Aldridge couldn't last twenty breaths!"

"Stop talking!"

Another disciple stepped forward and pulled Alvin back.

"Brother Allah has done his best."

"Try your best?"

Alvin sneered.

"Every year I try my best, but every year is 'next time'!"

"He's participated three times already!"

"The next round will be Allah's last chance to participate in the ranking competition. Every year there's a chance, every year the performance is poor; I think next time I should be allowed to participate!"

"We're going to lose anyway!"

The atmosphere in the rest area became increasingly oppressive.

Allah kept his head bowed and did not refute.

Elena's eyes were already red.

She walked quickly to Allah and knelt down.

"Senior Brother, don't worry about it."

"Senior Brother Alvin was just feeling down; he didn't mean to say that."

Her voice trembled slightly with a sob.

"We'll have another chance next time."

"You came in third place today, which is already better than many others. With another five years of training, you'll definitely do better next time..."

"Next time?"

Alvin continued to sneer.

Bruno suddenly covered his mouth.

An elder standing nearby finally lost his temper and shouted in a deep voice:

"That's enough!"

The voice carried a fourth-level pressure.

Everyone fell silent instantly.

The elder swept his gaze across the crowd, his face grim.

"The outcome is already decided, what's the point of arguing here?"

"Go back, all of you."

The disciples left one after another.

Alvin was forcibly taken away by Bruno.

Elena wanted to stay, but Allah gently pushed her hand away.

"Let me sit alone for a while."

His voice was very soft.

Elena opened her mouth, but ultimately did not continue to persuade her.

Xilun stood at the back of the crowd, quietly watching everything.

Allah sat on the cold ground, his eyes blank.

Ten years of cultivation.

Participated in the competition three times.

From the age of nineteen when he entered the Holy Light Monastery, he devoted almost all his time to extraordinary spiritual practice.

Lacking experience in the first competition, I was eliminated in the top eight.

He came in second place the second time.

Everyone said they could do it next time.

Five years later, he returned to the court, only to be easily defeated by rookie Aldridge, finishing in third place.

There are very few opportunities in life that we can truly seize.

Each setback and hardship may serve as a stepping stone to self-improvement.

More likely, however, it will only lead to repeated self-torture, ultimately resulting in lifelong regret and becoming an insurmountable inner demon.

Siren has seen too many people die before "the next time" comes.

Lund.

teacher.

Those familiar faces from Fight Club.

They may have all thought that they could change their fate when the next opportunity comes along.

But fate did not give them a second chance.

Xiren turned and left the rest area.

Do everything you can to the best of your ability.

That way, even if we ultimately fail, at least we can have peace of mind.

Besides, no one can guarantee the outcome.

On the return trip, the monastery arranged for several steam-powered vehicles.

Siren and Elena were sitting in the same car.

The wheels of the car vibrated rhythmically as they rolled over the frost-covered stone road. Outside the window, the city remained bustling; news of the Sea Demon Temple's victory had spread throughout Star Ring City.

Elena leaned back in her seat and remained silent.

"Don't make that face."

Xilun glanced at her.

"Who owes you money?"

Elena did not respond.

Xilun thought for a moment, then took out the prepared banknotes from his pocket and handed them to her.

"I paid back the money."

Elena took it instinctively.

She looked down and counted them once.

Six hundred pounds.

The money was borrowed when I bought the "Cang Lei Spear Technique".

"When did you become so rich?"

"Blackwood Valley Mission".

"The bounty and payment have been settled," Siren said.

"oh."

Lena put the money away, but there was still no smile on her face.

Xilun was slightly puzzled.

Elena used to keep urging him to pay back the money.

Now that she has received the money, her mood seems unchanged.

"Are the results of qualifying really that important?"

Elena looked up at him.

"You don't understand."

That's why I asked.

A steam engine drove across a stone bridge.

The river water beneath the bridge reflects the gas lamps on both banks, their shimmering light and shadows swaying with the ripples.

Elena remained silent for a long time before speaking softly.

"I've known my senior brother for a long time."

"I am a native sect monk. My father took me to practice in the outer courtyard of the monastery when I was a child."

"The eldest brother was admitted from an outer island."

"He was nineteen years old then, and had just become a second-tier extraordinary being. His clothes were old and his accent was heavy. It was his first time entering the monastery's dining hall, and he didn't even know that inner disciples could get an extra serving of meat for free."

Memories surfaced in her eyes.

"We all rely on sectarian practices."

"Practice meditation with undivided attention, toughen up your body, and learn how to use your energy."

"Back then, I always felt that cultivation was like a game that would never end. As long as I was stronger than yesterday, as long as I mastered a new method, I would be happy for a long time."

"Our sect is our only world."

Inside the steam engine, only the low rumble of mechanical transmission remained.

Elena looked out the window.

"We don't know how to farm, we don't know how to treat diseases, we don't know how to make medicines or weapons."

"I don't understand fields or mysticism, let alone music, painting, or those things that can truly enrich life."

"The only thing we excel at is extraordinary power."

"If you can't even prove yourself on the field, then sometimes you really don't know what the meaning of your existence is."

Xilun did not interrupt.

Elena's voice grew softer and softer.

"Is it merely for the sake of tirelessly cultivating oneself, until one day one becomes a mere skeleton?"

"Those tedious practices, those sacrifices, pains, and scars, always need something to prove they were worth it."

"The trophy."

"glory."

"And the sound of everyone calling out names."

"At least in that moment, we can tell ourselves that all these years haven't been wasted."

Siren looked at Elena.

He suddenly understood why Allah was so fixated on that golden cup.

This is more than just a game.

For Allah, that was the answer to ten years of spiritual practice.

The steam car was parked at the entrance to the inner courtyard.

After Elena got off the bus, she did not head towards her residence.

"I want to go see my senior brother again."

"Go."

Elena took a few steps, then turned back and asked:

Aren't you coming?

Xilun paused briefly, then followed.

Allah resides in a separate courtyard on the east side of the inner courtyard.

When the two arrived, it was already completely dark.

The courtyard gate was not closed.

The stone lamps emitted a dim, yellowish light.

Just as Elena was about to knock on the door, she heard an old man's voice coming from inside the main hall.

"Aren't you satisfied yet?"

Her raised hand froze in mid-air.

Xilun stood under the veranda without saying a word.

The room remained silent for a long time.

Allah's hoarse voice finally rang out.

"teacher."

"I did it three times."

"For the first time, I told myself I was still young."

"I lost the second time, but I told myself I still had a chance."

"today……"

His voice gradually trembled, carrying an uncontrollable sob.

"Today, when I was on the field, I couldn't even block one of his punches."

The old man sighed.

"You've done your best."

"Third place is also an honor."

"no the same."

Allah said in a low voice.

"I don't want a third one."

"I want to see us win."

"Junior sisters, junior brothers, teachers, the abbot, and everyone in the monastery."

"I want to see our people win the championship."

"I want to lift that golden cup together with everyone."

Silence fell in the room once again.

After a long while, the old man finally asked:

"Allah."

"What exactly are you trying to prove?"

Outside the door, Elena's eyes glistened with tears.

Xilun also raised his gaze.

Allah inside the house seemed to slowly raise his head.

His voice was still hoarse, but clearer than before.

Every word carries a stubborn, almost obsessive power.

"I want to prove..."

"The Holy Light Monastery is the strongest."

As the last word fell, it was as if a heavy stone had crashed into the night, rippling through the silent courtyard.

Elena stood outside the door, her eyes slightly red.

She raised her hand as if to knock on the door, but then slowly lowered it.

There are many words of comfort.

There will be another chance next time.

Third place is already very good.

You have done your best.

But Allah has heard these words far too many times today.

For someone who only wants to be number one, repeatedly emphasizing that being number three is also something to be proud of is itself a kind of cruelty.

Xilun stood quietly for a moment, then turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Elena followed.

The two walked on the stone slabs, gradually moving away from the courtyard lit by dim yellow lights.

Do you think the senior brother can win next time?

After walking quite a distance, Elena suddenly asked.

Xilen did not answer immediately.

The next StarRing rankings will be held in five years.

Five years is enough for a genius to leapfrog to a higher level, and also enough for another genius to completely fall behind.

Aldridge has reached the fourth level of the extreme realm.

The small world of thunder and fire displayed today, in terms of power, control, and change, firmly surpasses Allah.

Five years later, will the other person still be waiting in the same place?

Of course not.

"I have no idea."

Xilun spoke calmly.

Elena paused slightly, seemingly surprised by his direct answer.

"However, at least he knows what he wants."

Xilun looked up into the distance.

Even under the cover of night, Star Ring City remains brightly lit.

Steam-powered vehicles trailed white smoke as they drove through the streets, while cheers celebrating the Sea Demon Temple's victory echoed from the taverns.

Several airships flying dark blue flags slowly swept over the city, casting huge shadows on the rows of rooftops.

The glory of the victors is often built on the silence of the losers.

"Knowing what you want is better than not even knowing why you're cultivating."

Elena glanced at Siron from the side.

"And what about you?"

"revenge."

Xilun did not evade the issue.

Elena fell silent.

She had already guessed some things from Xilun's occasional emotional expressions, but this was the first time she had heard him say it so clearly.

There was no passion.

There was no resentment or bitterness.

He spoke those two words with utmost calmness, as if he were merely stating an ordinary thing to do the next day.

But it is precisely this tranquility that makes people feel inexplicably depressed.