Swallowing the Stars: Starting with the Battle of Geniuses

Chapter 117 The Death of a Noble

The match completely ignited Ronaldo's ferocity. No longer caring about energy consumption, he conjured up tens of thousands of illusory bodies to attack Hunzhen.

The result of that attack had made him deeply understand a principle.

Relying on his size to outlast Hunzhen, he absolutely cannot win. Given the opponent's killing efficiency, he will be blasted into dust in less than ten minutes!

The only option is to fight to the death!

Countless rays of light cut through it.

One after another, the illusory bodies were pierced and dissipated.

However, some of them eventually managed to get close to Hunzhen, forcing Hunzhen to take defensive measures.

"There's hope!"

During the match, Ronaldo's eyes lit up.

The best defense is a good offense.

Hunzhen's size is insignificant compared to his. As long as one attack is successful and causes damage, there is a chance to severely injure or even kill Hunzhen.

Therefore, Hunzhen had to reduce the proportion of his psychic weapons used for attack and devote more energy to defense.

As the match progressed, Tronaldo's attacks became increasingly fierce.

Despite the flying blood and falling feathers, he never lowered his attack frequency.

Attack! Attack! Only attack!

Hunzhen's gaze swept over the frenzied Ronaldo, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.

He showed no mercy whatsoever.

He did not use any additional talents or abilities, and even deliberately suppressed the amplification of law power brought by the several times the law compatibility, only maintaining the normal basic limit of 100 mental power amplitude and the power brought by law comprehension.

Continuously switch between using the third level of the Primal Light Form and the fifth level of the Dark Ring of the Primal Divine Weapon to attack and deplete the opponent's energy.

The fourth level of absolute space and the sixth level of black annihilation spacetime are not used to consume the opponent, because the former is too large to control and the latter, although the power is increased, the cost-effectiveness is reduced.

On the contrary, alternating between the original light style and the dark ring allows for a highly efficient and steady reduction of Tronaldo's power, much like a machine working.

No matter how close Tronaldo got to the game, he could never break through that seemingly one-step-away defense.

It can only be worn down, worn down, worn down by Hunzhen—

Until they fell into the abyss of despair.

"Match with Tronaldo."

Hunzhen softly uttered his name, declaring in a calm tone, "There is only one reason for your defeat: you are far weaker than me. That's all."

A hundred meters in front of him, the match star, Ronaldo, covered in wounds and devoid of flesh, like a skeleton, collapsed like a small mountain. He knelt on one knee, slowly raised his head, and looked at Hunzhen, who was suspended in mid-air, with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

In just a few minutes of intense fighting, this once majestic and terrifying nobleman was reduced to a wretched state, resembling a corpse in the wilderness.

In contrast, Hunzhen's face was also pale, as if the energy drain over those few minutes had left him nearly exhausted. However, compared to the near-death nobleman in front of him, he had only suffered excessive energy expenditure but had won without sustaining any injuries.

The audience fell silent.

They considered many possible outcomes: Hunzhen would be crushed and killed by the overwhelming power of the nobles; Hunzhen and the great nobles would both be severely injured, Hunzhen would narrowly win, and Hunzhen would create a new legend...

But I never imagined it would be such a one-sided situation.

Hunzhen didn't lose a single hair, defeating the match Tronaldo as easily as beating a dead dog.

The host was the quickest to react among the audience. He was momentarily at a loss for words at the result, and finally hurriedly turned on his microphone: "I declare this match—"

The declaration of victory or defeat was stuck in his throat.

But then Hunzhen appeared out of thin air directly in front of his head, slowly raising his hand.

"Wait, stop—!"

In the crystal chamber in the sky, a nobleman, having discovered Hunzhen's intentions, cried out in fury.

Om-!

The torrent of light directly destroyed the skeletons.

The sounds emanating from the crystal chamber abruptly ceased.

It seems unbelievable that Hunzhen actually dared to kill a high-ranking nobleman.

Even though the rules of the Grand Martial Arts Festival clearly state that once you step onto the arena, your life or death is up to fate.

But... isn't this an unspoken rule?

Aside from the early Grand Martial Arts Festivals where some third-class nobles were defeated and killed on the arena by lower-class races, nowadays, no lower-class race dares to defy their superiors and kill a noble in full view of everyone.

Besides... he's a high-ranking nobleman!

The host's brain completely shut down; he couldn't continue commentating, he just wanted to leave this place of trouble right now.

Hunzhen seemed completely oblivious to the eerie atmosphere, and reached out his hand towards the silver crystal core floating in front of him, which emitted a pure glow.

"You bastard!"

"Don't touch it with your filthy hands!"

Above the sky, a crystal chamber exploded with a deafening roar. After a Silver Demon Clan member, standing eighty meters tall, burst the chamber, he slammed his fist into the defensive field, sending terrifying ripples through it—but failed to penetrate it.

Hunzhen's gaze followed the fist that had stopped in the field and looked up, meeting the eyes of the nobleman with bloodshot eyes and a violent aura.

Nobles are not afraid of death, and they do not grieve or rage for their companions, but only when they perish in normal wars or when royalty kill each other.

Being killed one-on-one by an inferior race is tantamount to offending the dignity of royalty, but the meaning is entirely different.

Hunzhen calmly put away the Abyss Crystal Core, a cheerful smile appearing on his face, and said, "In a hurry?"

"Aaaaaah!!!"

The rage of this nobleman, who revealed his true nature and had a rugged appearance, reached its peak. He went berserk and bombarded the defensive field thousands of times in a single second.

Finally, with a whoosh, the attack concentrated on a single point caused cracks to appear in the field.

A sinister grin spread across the face of the nobleman.

"Tebeo, stop!"

A chilling voice rang out from the sky.

Silver chains extended from the void, binding and imprisoning the nobleman's arms, preventing him from unleashing the final blow that would shatter the domain.

Tebeo's face stiffened. He raised his head and forced a smile that was both ferocious and painfully conflicted: "Your Highness, he killed our kin in front of everyone, and you still want to protect him?"

That forced, ugly smile was filled with resentment and doubt.

An exquisite wheelchair emerged from the crystal chamber at the highest point.

On the wheelchair, that goddess-like figure instantly captivated the audience, leaving them mesmerized.

"This is a rule established by the Silver God."

Milirat said calmly, "Before the outcome is decided, life and death are left to fate, and no one may question the result. Are you going to defy the will of the gods?"

"I dare not." The cold gaze of the contestant swept over Hunzhen's face before he finally lowered his head.

Milirat made the final announcement: "Tebeo, due to your violation of the rules by attacking the arena's defensive perimeter and attempting to attack a participant in the Grand Martial Arts Festival, you are hereby disqualified. Any objections?"

"No objection."

With Milirat's characterization of the incident, the controversy came to an end.

But everyone knows that this is just a halftime break, and this matter is not over yet.

Even if it's within the rules, how can something as significant as a lower race killing a noble possibly end here?!

……

Before Hunzhen left the arena, Milirat waited for him at the exit of the waiting room.

"Oh, isn't this Her Highness the Princess? It's been a few days, and you've finally figured out how to play the tsundere version?" Hunzhen waved and greeted her with a cheerful expression.

"ha……"

The latest novel is first published here!

Milirat sighed softly, then used her spatial powers to create a small, secluded domain to prevent anyone from prying her eyes out, and said, "Mr. Hunzhen, I really hope you can behave yourself a little before the Grand Martial Arts Festival ends..."

"I've always been very well-behaved," Hunzhen said innocently. "Look, you yourself said that everything I've done is within the rules."

Millirat widened her eyes slightly and pursed her crimson lips: "You shouldn't have forgotten that your husband is being targeted by several factions of noble families, right? Why would you deliberately do something so provocative? No, perhaps it's my fault for not reminding you... Even the rules established by the Silver God cannot completely restrain the royal family. When you do something that exceeds their tolerance limits, they will disregard the rules of the game and risk their own lives to kill you."

Looking at Milirat's earnest advice, Hunzhen dropped his playful expression, casually scooped up an abyssal crystal core, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, this thing should be related to 'Knights,' right?"

"Is this why you chose to kill?"

"It takes up a portion of it."

As for what the other part is, even if Hunzhen didn't say it, Mililat could guess a little.

"I didn't expect you to know about the 'Life Core,' let alone guess some of its function..."

Milirat gently touched her chest, her expression somewhat complicated.

Because such a life crystal core also exists within her body.

Seeing Hunzhen handling the life crystal core from the competition Ronaldo like it was a toy made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Since Hunzhen had already guessed a little bit, Milirat didn't intend to hide it and began to tell this taboo information for the lower race.

"Mr. Hunzhen, your guess is somewhat of a lucky accident. You should know about 'Pure Abyssal Source Power,' right?"

Hunzhen nodded naturally, but frowned slightly: "You mean, this isn't actually a higher level of 'Pure Abyss Source Power'?"

Millirat nodded, then shook her head: "If absorbed directly, it is indeed a higher-level 'Pure Abyssal Source Power.' You asked before whether our Abyssal Royal Family's Life Core is related to your becoming knights, and the answer is yes. But... it is not the reason you can become knights. It is merely the catalyst for you to become knights, and after becoming knights, it is a top-tier resource that allows you to perform a function similar to our Abyssal Royal Family's 'devouring evolution,' further enhancing your 'knight bloodline.'"

Hunzhen suddenly felt enlightened.

Millirat frowned slightly and continued, "When you become a knight, our Abyss Royal Family will naturally provide you with a Life Core. And with the talent you've shown so far, even if you don't join my ranks, but instead join another royal bloodline faction, obtaining a Life Core to enhance your knightly bloodline wouldn't be particularly difficult. You could get one by spending a little time doing some things for them. Mr. Hunzhen, forgive my bluntness, but making enemies like this for a Life Core, even a first-class one, is not wise."

Upon hearing this, Hunzhen was also surprised, and stopped what he was doing: "So generous? You just let lower races absorb your most precious things to increase your strength?"

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

Come to think of it, the city walls and feathered ships all seem to have used the remains of royalty.

They don't seem to really mind?

However, because this thing is the true essence of energy, its importance is significantly different from that of ordinary corpse flesh and blood, he has always had a misunderstanding.

No, that's not right. If that were the case, it wouldn't be possible for the Virtual Universe Company to set it up as a cultivation task.

So there's only one truth...

"Among the lower races, perhaps only the knight class is truly qualified to possess this..."

"And with Milirat's protection and the talent I've shown so far, I'm considered a shoo-in for knight? So, there's no problem?"

Hunzhen finally realized the truth.

It's not that it's not difficult, it's just that his strength is completely beyond his capabilities, so the cultivation task seems easy.

At this moment, looking at the life core in his hand, he suddenly didn't feel that it was valuable; instead, it felt like he was holding a hot potato.

Milirat's subsequent remarks further solidified the conjecture about Hunzhen.

"Valuable? Indeed. But unfortunately, so far, we haven't found a way to utilize the life core other than direct absorption. And neither the Silver Demon Clan nor the Black Demon Clan can evolve by absorbing the life core of the other, nor can they absorb the life core of their own kind. In other words, even if we keep this, we can't use it ourselves, and carrying it carries the risk of it being taken by the Black Demon Clan for evolution. Only by bestowing it upon you, a lower race, can we make the most of it."

At this point, she slowly put down her teacup.

"Now you know you're in trouble, right?"

Millirat smiled slyly and teased in a lighthearted tone, "If hatred and hostility were ranked, our Silver Demon Clan's hostility towards the Black Demon Clan would be level three. Ordinary acts of disrespect would be level one, and your previous suspicion of killing royalty would have been level two. Now, to kill a high-ranking noble in full view of everyone, and then so provocatively pocket the life core dropped upon death, that's almost... level three? For the Nofi family faction, it might even be level four!"

Looking at the beaming Millirat, Hunzhen rolled her eyes: "Have you forgotten your place, my princess? So you're now at level three hostility towards me?"

"Me? If they knew about my abnormality, they might hate me even more than they hate you and the Dark Demon Clan."

Millirat shook her head, then her smile faded. She raised her index finger and said seriously, "In short, before the Grand Martial Arts Festival ends, try not to wander off. It's best to stay by my side so I can take care of you. Only after you win the Grand Martial Arts Festival and obtain the qualification of Imperial Guard will you have a temporary reprieve."

Hunzhen looked at Milirat, who was lecturing her like a mother hen, with a slightly strange expression: "Just because I'm a 'rising star' of a lower race, and I can also help you promote your Humanity Committee, you're helping me like this? Your Highness, do you have some bad intentions towards me? Be honest, otherwise... I'm really a little scared."

"It seems that it's only me who considers you my friend..."

Milira looked at Hunzhen's embarrassed expression after she said those words, shook her head, and said calmly, "Mr. Hunzhen, do you know? To me, you are the first and only person in this world who has truly treated me as an equal. To me, you... are indeed special and unique."

After saying this, Milirat suddenly accelerated her wheelchair, passing Hunzhen by a small distance, seemingly not wanting him to see her expression at that moment.

The only person with whom I can communicate on an equal footing...

Hunzhen was stunned for a moment.

He reflexively wanted to refute with phrases like "Aren't there other royal bloodlines?" or "What about the members of the Humanity Committee?"

But he suddenly realized that the former, seemingly the closest under Milirat's "genetic mutation," was actually the most estranged, while the latter... needless to say, he knew very well that everyone on the Humanity Committee considered themselves subordinates and servants.

He suddenly felt a little embarrassed and hurriedly followed after them, and together they left the arena.

A man dressed in a black jacket and looking like a waiter handed over an envelope: "Lord Hunzhen, my master invites you to his residence for a chat."

The envelope bore the emblem of a lance, and below it was written in a language that could be translated as "Valent."

This is an invitation from a knightly family.

(End of this chapter)