The night wind passed quietly through the shattered field, carrying traces of scorched stone and scattered spiritual energy. Around her lay the aftermath of the battle. Cracked star metal flooring, faded rune marks, and the lingering pressure of three young geniuses who had fought with everything they had.

Max, Lucia, and Isabella had already withdrawn to recover.

Lady Virelia alone stayed behind, her sharp eyes fixed on the broken ground where Max had stood.

"His combat awareness is excellent," she murmured softly. "But will that alone be enough to stand against the true monsters gathered here?"

Her voice was calm, yet a trace of concern hid beneath it.

She had deliberately arranged the three-way battle for one purpose.

It was never meant to test Max’s raw strength.

She already knew he lacked the cultivation foundation to dominate opponents of the same generation through power alone. What she wanted to witness was his instinct, his adaptability, and the speed of his decisions when trapped under pressure from multiple enemies.

And the result had exceeded expectations.

Max had stood his ground against Lucia and Isabella simultaneously. He had read openings that others would never notice. He had evaded fatal attacks by the narrowest margins. He had turned enemy momentum into his own advantage again and again.

That kind of battle sense could not be taught easily.

It was the experience of someone who had fought countless battles.

Yet Lady Virelia’s expression did not relax.

Because she understood something Max perhaps did not yet fully grasp.

Lucia and Isabella were talented, but among the countless geniuses invited to the Smelting Trial, they belonged to the lower ranks of this gathering. Strong enough to shine in ordinary places, yet not enough to terrify the stage that would open tomorrow.

The real opponents were different.

Those monsters stood at the peak of the Law Manifestation Realm. They had deeper foundations, stronger bloodlines, greater resources, and years of brutal tempering behind them. Many of them could suppress lesser geniuses with a single move. Some likely possessed abilities so absurd that even elders would take notice.

Against such figures, combat awareness alone might not be enough.

Lady Virelia slowly looked toward the distant sky where stars glimmered above the Violet Star Palace.

"I can only hope the Smelting Trial is not decided purely by cultivation realm or brute strength," she said quietly. "If it values battle sense, judgment, and adaptability... then he still has a chance."

She knew large trials often contained strange tests.

Some measured comprehension. Some tested control. Some rewarded courage under pressure. Others threw participants into chaotic battlefields where instinct mattered more than realm.

If tomorrow favored that kind of environment, Max could shock everyone.

If not, then the road would become dangerous.

After standing there for several moments, Lady Virelia finally turned and walked back toward the mansion.

Her footsteps were slow, thoughtful.

When she entered her chamber, the doors closed softly behind her.

The night deepened.

And across the vast guest district of the Violet Star Palace, countless geniuses rested in silence, each believing themselves destined to rise tomorrow.

Yet somewhere within the vast territory of the Violet Star Palace, beneath the calm surface of this grand gathering, a conspiracy was already taking shape.

Far from the guest mansion assigned to the Black Dragon Clan, another luxurious residence stood quietly among the many scattered across the district. From the outside, it appeared no different from the others. Elegant walls, glowing crystal lanterns, silent guards stationed in hidden positions. Nothing about it suggested danger.

But inside one of its sealed chambers, the atmosphere was cold and sinister.

The room was dimly lit, with formation barriers layered across every wall to block sound, aura, and spiritual probing. At the center stood a black table engraved with communication runes. Above it floated a holographic projection of a young woman, her figure formed from streams of pale blue light.

She was beautiful.

But the beauty in her face was overshadowed by the malice in her eyes.

Standing before the projection was a young man dressed in rich robes embroidered with silver stars. His eyebrows were sharp like blades, his features handsome, and his bearing carried the confidence of someone long accustomed to being admired.

The holographic woman spoke first.

"Have the people from the Black Dragon Clan arrived?"

Her tone was casual, yet an undercurrent of impatience hid beneath it.

The young man clasped his hands behind his back and smiled faintly.

"They arrived not long ago."

The woman’s expression shifted instantly.

"And Max?"

The moment she spoke that name, the pleasant mask on her face twisted into naked hatred. Her eyes darkened, and even through the projection, the venom in her emotions was obvious.

The young man noticed this and found it amusing.

"He is here as well."

"Good."

The woman’s lips slowly curled upward into a cruel smile that carried no warmth at all.

"I do not care what methods you use. I do not care whether it is during the trial, outside the arena, or through others."

Her voice became colder with every word.

"I want Max dead."

The young man’s eyes narrowed slightly.

This was no small request. Killing a participant during an event hosted by the Violet Star Palace was dangerous, especially with so many forces present. But he remained calm, waiting for what came next.

The woman leaned forward slightly within the hologram.

"In return, I will personally ensure you are carried into the top one hundred of the Cosmic Ascension Conference."

The room fell silent for a breath.

Then the young man laughed softly.

Top one hundred.

That ranking represented glory beyond imagination. Countless geniuses across regions would kill for such an opportunity. To secure it through one transaction was worth almost any risk.

"It is a deal then."

He smiled as he spoke, confidence and greed shining in his eyes.

The woman’s twisted expression softened into satisfaction.

"I hope to hear good news tomorrow."

Her laughter rang through the chamber, sharp and cruel like glass scraping metal.

A moment later, the holographic figure dissolved into scattered light.

The room darkened once more.

That woman was none other than Mira, daughter of the Master of the Sword God Palace, the same arrogant princess whom Max had humiliated and taught a bitter lesson within the secret domain of Orion.

The young man remained where he stood, eyes gleaming with calculation. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"To enter the top one hundred of the Cosmic Ascension Conference..."

He chuckled and slowly clenched his fist.

"And all I need to do is kill a genius from one of the weakest third-rate forces."

His smile gradually became vicious.

"What a generous bargain."

Outside the mansion, the night remained peaceful.

Inside, murder had already been decided.