"Gah? It’s over already! Tch..."
Xiao Ba grumbled, looking unsatisfied as if things ended before they even began. The Enigmatic Thousand-Headed Bird circled around Xiao Ba, its massive body flapping its wings, with dozens of heads chattering non-stop, seemingly telling Xiao Ba about its recent valor.
Green quietly merged the Horned Skull Magic Wand into his body and shook his head.
This Demon-Hunting Sorcerer, though quite strong among Second-Level Wizards, was, to Green, merely so-so. Whether it was the super strong melee attacks or the Annihilation Force elemental attacks, the opponent couldn’t withstand them. Not to mention the auxiliary attacks from the Thousand-Eyed Giant Crab, the Enigmatic Thousand-Headed Bird, and the Usher Flame Soul Giant.
The strength gap between the two was simply too vast. The opponent was just a regular Second-Level Demon-Hunting Sorcerer.
"Let’s go back."
Green murmured to himself, and with a flash, he left the World Fragment with Xiao Ba, the Enigmatic Thousand-Headed Bird, and the Thousand-Eyed Giant Crab.
...
Achenso challenged Green. After winning all three challenges from the third place, the second place on the Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings proceeded to this challenge.
Many Second-Level Demon-Hunting Sorcerers participating in this Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings competition eagerly looked at the Crystal Ball information.
Could Achenso defeat Green and ascend to the first rank in this Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings?
Perhaps a fierce, heaven-shaking duel was underway in the arena?
People speculated everywhere. Just then, spatial fluctuations appeared on the World Fragment’s Teleportation Array, showing a figure. Was the outcome decided so quickly?
With a "thud," a Flesh-Winged Giant Lizard fell out first. As some of the onlooking Demon-Hunting Sorcerers identified this as Achenso’s Synthetic Beast, the next moment, Achenso himself also fell out.
"He lost?!"
"It seems this Wizard Green indeed possesses formidable strength; otherwise, someone with a three-match winning streak like Achenso wouldn’t have lost like this."
The onlooking Demon-Hunting Sorcerers murmured among themselves. A few even flew forward, hoping to inquire about Green���s combat tactics, all aiming for the first-place reward in this Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings.
If they could gather valuable intel on the first-ranked Demon-Hunting Sorcerer’s battle style, it would give them more confidence in future challenges.
Another spatial fluctuation flickered, and Green, Xiao Ba, the Thousand-Eyed Giant Crab, and the Enigmatic Thousand-Headed Bird appeared. On the Thousand-Eyed Giant Crab, a gray-white mask surveyed the surroundings. Green nodded slightly at the Demon-Hunting Sorcerers looking his way, then turned and left.
Achenso was courted with Wizards’ Etiquette by several sorcerers, being asked about Green’s combat information. Annoyed, Achenso waved them off, tightly clenching his teeth as he left their encirclement.
...
Ten years later.
Give up the second-place reward?
It once sounded simple, but at critical moments, few would willingly hand over a second-place reward already in their grasp, continually conceding to drop below the hundredth place, waiting for the next chance at the Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings?
No!
Wrong, some would do it.
At least those who had challenged Achenso for the third place on the Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings, after failing, some wouldn’t exclude letting themselves lose intentionally when challenged, waiting for the next opportunity.
Now, two more third-ranked Demon-Hunting Sorcerers had challenged Achenso and failed. However, even though Achenso once again had three consecutive victory opportunities, due to previous challenge failures, he couldn’t challenge the first rank on the Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings again. Thus theoretically, Achenso became a roadblock for all Demon-Hunting Sorcerers aiming for the ultimate target.
This invisibly shielded Green from numerous challenges!
"Chirp chirp chirp, big brother, should we still..."
The Golden Silk Monkey did not continue. Achenso naturally knew what its soul partner meant but remained silent without responding.
"How’s the third place doing?"
Tapping on the table, Achenso asked in a low voice, feeling quite frustrated. Even after three years had passed, the effortless way that terrifying sorcerer with the white mask easily swatted away his proudest witchcraft attack while he couldn’t resist the opponent’s casual strike, deeply stung Achenso’s heart.
How could someone be so strong as a Second-Level Wizard as well!
All these years, his family had pinned high hopes on him, pouring in a vast amount of resources, all for the hope that Achenso would one day ascend to Third-Level Great Sorcerer, adding another pillar of support to the family.
If he advanced to a Stigmata, the family would not only provide full support, but several friendly families would also pour resources, supporting the construction of the Sorcerer’s Tower, far more convenient than Stigmata advancements from the Holy Towers’ outer academies.
The Golden Silk Monkey jumped from the experiment table to Achenso’s shoulder, handing him the Crystal Ball. The magic power stirred the Force of Nature to float mid-air, inside which appeared information about a witch named Yachi.
"Three times?"
This witch had already won three times, yet showed no intention of challenging Achenso, seemingly waiting for something.
After pondering slightly, Achenso seemed to understand something, gave a cold sneer, and stopped paying attention.
A month later!
A visitor arrived uninvited at Achenso’s Demon Hunting Castle, with short golden hair and enticing red lips. The witch smiled and nodded in salute at Achenso and Little Jin who opened the castle’s gate, a colorful butterfly flapping its wings perched atop her Magic Wand.
"Humph, Yachi?"
Recognizing the witch, Achenso directly called her by name. Yachi smiled graciously.
"Master Achenso, you know the purpose of my visit, don’t you?"
After being welcomed into the Demon Hunting Castle, Yachi spoke confidently with a smile, while Achenso sneered disdainfully, "Do you think... by telling you about that person’s battle strategies, you’d have a chance?"
Seeing Yachi still confident, Achenso’s expression grew more sarcastic.
"No, you’ll only feel more hopeless!"
Yachi didn’t speak, pulling a large bundle of combined Witch Essence from the wide sleeves of her Wizard Robe, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it toward Achenso.
"I imagine Master’s goal is to ascend to Third-Level Great Sorcerer with the undeniable strength of first place on the Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings. These Witch Essences should sufficiently compensate for the resources spent preparing for this Seven Rings Sacred Tower Rankings battle, so how about letting me take the second place?"
"Heh heh..."
Achenso glanced at the Witch Essences beside him and laughed deeply, "Since you want this second-place achievement, why not challenge the first place directly?"
The witch smiled, "Because I’m not confident in defeating the Master."
"Deal!"
Achenso put away the Witch Essences and signed the Seven-Ring Contract.
.........
PS: There’s something going on at home these days, and I’ll make up for it with a burst of updates in a few days. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at ReadNovelFull.com; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m. to read.)